The girls turned their gaze and saw a familiar figure emerging from the thicket.
He was carrying a huge Man-Faced Demon Spider on his back.
They first noticed the man's changed features and let out soft exclaims of surprise.
Xiaowu wondered, "Brother Yu, why have you disguised yourself back to your original appearance?"
Luo Yu approached with a smile, shaking his head.
"I'm too famous now. Revealing my identity would probably lead every major power to pay a visit. It would be too annoying if every move I make is watched by a crowd of people."
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth and snickered from the side.
"Everyone else dreams of their name spreading across the continent and aspires to be approached by the major powers. Only Brother Yu finds fame too troublesome."
Ye Lingling spoke up:
"I think Brother Yu's approach is correct. If a bunch of major powers came to recruit Brother Yu, no matter which one he agreed to, the others would harbor ill intentions."
"Mainly because Brother Yu's talent is simply too terrifying. Once he grows, he will definitely become an ultimate fighting force that rules the continent, enough to make all major powers uneasy."
Xiaowu pursed her red lips.
"Brother Yu has my mom to protect him and the Star Dou Forest as a backing. He's not afraid of those powers harboring ill intentions. They can try to win him over, but if they dare to lay a hand on him, that's courting death."
Ye Lingling said, "Brother Yu improving his strength in secret and keeping low-key for a few years will definitely allow him to soar to the top, unstoppable. There's no harm revealing his identity then."
Seeing the girls each insisting on their point of view, Luo Yu gestured with his hand.
"To be honest, I really don't take any of the major powers seriously, not even the so-called Seven Great Sects."
"If they harbor ill intentions, just crush them."
"What I'm really afraid of is not them harboring ill intentions, but them coming to my door every day bringing granddaughters and gifts. That's too annoying."
The Zhu Zhuqing sisters and the other girls felt quite odd after hearing Luo Yu's words.
The upper three families, the Lower Four Sects.
For soul masters, those are colossal entities that are unattainable.
They are the top forces that one would break their head to join.
Nobody even dares to entertain the thought of challenging them.
Yet, such terrifying powers seem like they can be crushed at a snap of the fingers coming from Luo Yu's mouth.
If it were anyone else saying this, even if it was a Hyper Douluo, the girls would think that person has definitely gone mad. But coming from Luo Yu, they couldn't help but believe him.
Besides, those two ultra-powerful soul beasts were standing there respectfully. The terrifying Three-Headed Hell Mastiff that appeared earlier had even bowed and scraped before Luo Yu, who knows how powerful Luo Yu's background must be.
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes were full of admiration, nearly shooting out little stars.
A man with qualifications like Luo Yu couldn't be found throughout the entire continent; even looking back in history, it's virtually impossible. She felt fortunate that she had been so decisive in offering herself at the Rose Hotel.
Back then, she knew Luo Yu was strong, but she hadn't realized he was terrifyingly so, in terms of both strength and background.
Zhu Zhuqing's emotions were similar to her sister's.
Who would have thought that a man whom they encountered randomly roasting meat in the woods would possess such talents and charisma?
Zhu Zhuqing was extremely grateful to the heavens for arranging her to meet Luo Yu in the vast sea of people.
It was unbelievably lucky.
Little did she know, it wasn't so much a fated encounter as it was Luo Yu using his own "automatic navigation" to follow her.
Ning Rongrong walked up to Luo Yu with pouted lips and asked, "Brother Yu, are you just going to stay this way and not change back?"
Luo Yu shook his head, "Of course not, it's just for the time being."
He was mainly concerned about the Divine Realm Envoy that Gu Yuena had mentioned.
To be cautious, he planned to lay low for a day or two. He wasn't planning on explaining the situation about enemies from the Divine Realm to the girls.
Upon receiving Luo Yu's response, Ning Rongrong smiled broadly.
"Hehe, that's good. I prefer your original look."
Xiaowu touched her chin with her fingers, pondering. "No doubt about it, total face-fan."
Ning Rongrong glared at Xiaowu, stood tall with pride, and said righteously, "So what if I'm a face-fan? I'll be upfront about it, I'm not only after Brother Yu's good looks! I'm also craving his body."
Xiaowu and the Zhu Zhuqing sisters, along with Ye Lingling, were completely astonished.
This... this doesn't sound like something the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect would say.
Zhu Zhuqing muttered under her breath: "Rongrong, you sound like a female bandit."
"What female bandit?" Ning Rongrong retorted with her chest puffed out, snorting, "This is called being honest and outspoken. Don't tell me what you're all thinking isn't the same as me."
The other girls suddenly weakened their stance, staying quiet.
Not a word to refute Ning Rongrong.
They glanced at Luo Yu cautiously.
Can't help it—they feel guilty.
"Hey, hey, hey, acting like I'm not here, huh?" Luo Yu interjected from the side with a face full of black lines.
He had always thought he was the hunter, and the pretty girls were the prey.
But now, it seemed something was slightly off.
They were brazenly craving his body; it was too arrogant. When he got back, he'd teach this girl a lesson first!
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue, "Hehe, I was just joking with what I said just now, Brother Yu, don't take it seriously, okay?"
Luo Yu was inwardly speechless.
Sure, I can take it as a joke.
But can your eyes, shining so brightly at me, be any more luminous?
After some more casual chatting, Luo Yu also used his Creation God Pupil to inspect the Soul Rings the girls had acquired. The additions were perfect and fitting, with no issues whatsoever.
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but ask curiously whether Luo Yu was really once a soul beast.
Upon learning that Luo Yu had indeed been a soul beast, the girls were already prepared and not only were they not panic-stricken, but they also thought it was incredibly cool.
As if to prove their heartfelt endorsements, one by one they walked up shyly. Without regard to the others present, they each delivered their own tender kisses.
"Mwah."
Ning Rongrong was standing on tiptoe, her soft hair and the hem of her skirt dancing in the wind.
Her red lips kissed Luo Yu's cheek.
After kissing Luo Yu, she quickly ran to the side, her fair cheeks burning red.
The Zhu Zhuqing sisters, Xiaowu, and Ye Lingling had already kissed him before her, and now they all seemed a bit coy, not daring to look at the others around them.
The surrounding air grew eerily quiet.
The Titan Ape and the Azure Oxpython had the decency to turn their heads away early on, looking elsewhere.
The cheongsam-clad, black-stockinged beauty, though biting on her silver teeth with jealousy ablaze.
The girls were bold enough to go up and kiss Luo Yu.
She dared not move.
After all, since Xiaowu had already kissed him, should she go next?
"A Wu,"
Hearing Luo Yu call her, the beautiful woman felt a surge of joy. Had he not forgotten about her?
Her feelings wavered, wondering what to do if this man kissed her in front of the children.
To accept or not to accept.
It didn't matter; she would follow his lead.
The beautiful woman pursed her red lips and walked over to Luo Yu.
Her pink eyes held both anticipation and shyness.
Luo Yu gave the Man-Faced Demon Spider on the ground, which was about to regain consciousness, a slap to knock it out again, "Please do me a favor and deliver this thing to Bi Bidong's hands. I don't trust anyone else to do it."
The beautiful woman's beautiful eyes paused.
Why was reality different from what she'd expected?
What was I anticipating?
Stupid man, weren't you going to kiss me!
Luo Yu found it very strange, wondering why the beautiful woman's gaze suddenly became so resentful.
Had he done something wrong?
A Wu adjusted her mood, puzzled, "Why would I take this soul beast all the way to that woman?"
Luo Yu's mouth curved up, "Just tell her it's a surprise from me."
"Once she kills the spider, you'll all understand."
A Wu pouted, "What's with the riddles and secrecy?"
Glancing at the Man-Faced Demon Spider, she assured, "Don't worry, I'll deliver it within a day."
Luo Yu patted her fragrant shoulder.
"Thanks for the effort, Aunt Wu."
A Wu's heart trembled at the name.
It was fine when others called her that, but it felt different coming from Luo Yu.
Why didn't you call me Aunt Wu when you invited me for late-night exercise games?
"I'm off to deliver this. Will you all be okay heading back to the academy by yourselves?"
Luo Yu shook his head, "Don't worry, with my current strength, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get in my way."
"Brother Yu, you've made another breakthrough?"
Ning Rongrong shouted, and the girls gathered around.
Luo Yu slightly revealed a trace of the hidden aura.
While the other girls had yet to react, A Wu's eyelids twitched in utter shock.
In just a short moment away from him, she could feel Luo Yu's strength had leaped several levels.
The aura of a superior being on the man seemed even more intense, filling her with awe and the impulse to kneel in submission.
Luo Yu smiled, "Feeling reassured now?"
"Reassured." A Wu swallowed her saliva.
Soon, A Wu was on her way with the Man-Faced Demon Spider to the Martial Soul Hall to see Bi Bidong.
The Azure Oxpython and the Titan Ape respectfully escorted Luo Yu and the girls to the edge of the Star Dou Forest.
The girls were on their way back to Shrek.
Ning Rongrong came up to him and whispered by his side,
"Brother Yu, when we sleep tonight, can you change back to your original appearance? Otherwise, Rongrong will feel a bit awkward."
Luo Yu rolled his eyes, "This face isn't borrowed from someone else. I designed it myself; it's one of a kind."
"But it's just not the same~" Ning Rongrong swayed Luo Yu's arm, coquettishly whining.
"Fine. If we're on the bed tonight, I'll change back." Luo Yu couldn't resist the little demon's coquetry.
"Aiya, Brother Yu, you're being too explicit,"
Ning Rongrong's face flushed red as she let out a light chiding.
Head bowed, her small hands intertwined.
Meanwhile, inside Shrek Academy.
Flander and Zhao Wuji were nearly in tears.
Three major powers approached with overwhelming aggression, and they were struggling to cope.
Hoping for Luo Yu to return and save the day.
----------
ps: I only got home after nine. It was a busy day, so I ask for the readers' understanding for the struggling author.
There will be five chapters on weekends and during the summer vacation. I remember the extra five I owe you all.