I started by submitting to the Douluo Continent, and the nation helped me become a god.

With a deep groan of exhaustion, the Pioneer-III came to a steady stop in front of the magnificent, breathtaking city gate.

The bumpy and tense journey finally came to an end, and Xiao Wu subconsciously let out a long sigh of relief. Her legs were a little numb from maintaining the same position for so long, but more than the physical discomfort, she was concerned about the unfamiliar city in front of her.

This city gate is incredibly tall, easily over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) high, more magnificent than any building she had ever seen. Two enormous stone statues stand on either side of the gate: one is a warrior clad in armor and wielding a long spear, the other a wise man in a long robe holding a scroll. The two statues are so lifelike, it seems they might step down from their pedestals at any moment.

Li Fulan unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the car door, and his long black hair shone brightly in the sunlight. He stretched, loosened his stiff neck, and then went around to the passenger side.

"We've arrived, get off the bus."

He opened the car door, bent down slightly, and gentlemanly extended his hand to Xiao Wu, who was still in a daze.

Xiao Wu stared blankly at that slender hand, then looked up at that handsome face, her mind racing with countless little rabbits. Somewhat mechanically, she placed her small hand in his palm and used it to jump off the car.

The moment she landed, her pink bunny ears involuntarily peeked out from her hair, trembling slightly with nervousness. This was a sign that her transformation wasn't yet fully mastered; whenever her emotions fluctuated wildly, those bunny ears would pop out uncontrollably.

Fortunately, she quickly realized this and hurriedly pressed her hair down to hide her exposed ears again.

Then she looked up and stared at the scene before her, completely dumbfounded.

It was a colossal city laid out in a hexagonal shape, with each wall adorned with enormous reliefs of Soul Masters. These reliefs depicted various postures: some throwing punches, some unleashing Soul Skills, and some riding Soul Beasts soaring through the skies—all showcasing the power and glory of Soul Masters. The tops of the walls were covered with flags, all bearing the same pattern—a complex emblem composed of six-pointed stars.

Above the city gate, three gilded characters gleamed in the sunlight.

Wuhun City.

Xiao Wu felt as if an invisible hand had suddenly clenched her heart.

This is hardly a scenic resort, nor is it some remote wilderness. This is clearly a sacred place for all Soul Masters on the continent, the headquarters of the Spirit Hall, and the nightmare of all Soul Beasts!

Her mother, a 100,000-year-old soft-boned rabbit, died here.

He died at the hands of the woman known as the "Pope".

"No...no, Master, what have you done to me?"

Xiao Wu swallowed hard, the movement clearly labored, as if a stone were stuck in her throat. Her small hand instinctively gripped Li Fulan's sleeve, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force, and her voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Is this still the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire?!"

She tried to sound relaxed, but her slightly trembling voice betrayed her inner turmoil.

Li Fulan seemed oblivious to her unusual behavior. With a casual wave of his hand, the massive off-road vehicle, resembling an ancient soul beast, instantly transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the silver ring on his left middle finger.

This maneuver using a spatial soul tool drew the attention of passersby. They whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with amazement and envy. A spatial soul tool capable of storing such a massive object must be incredibly valuable; it couldn't be acquired for less than a million gold soul coins.

Li Fulan lowered her head and looked at Xiao Wu's big eyes, which were flashing with surprise and uncertainty.

His eyes were watery, like two glistening grapes, reflecting his image. But upon closer inspection, one could see a cautious wariness and probing hidden deep within them, like a little rabbit that had strayed into a hunter's territory, desperately trying to conceal its fear.

A meaningful smile curved at the corner of his mouth, a smile that was gentle yet playful.

"This is Wuhun City, the most prosperous, safest, and most resource-rich place on the entire continent."

Li Fulan's voice was steady and gentle, as if she were introducing her own backyard, without any hint of anything unusual.

"As my apprentice, of course you should live in the best place, eat the best food, and receive the best education. Nottingham, that wretched place, is too small to contain a big fish like you."

He spoke so naturally, as if bringing his disciple to Wuhun City was a matter of course.

But Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat at that moment.

Spirit City? The Spirit Hall's lair? Are you kidding me!

She desperately suppressed the urge to turn and run away, but her legs trembled uncontrollably. A fear deep within her blood, like a cold snake, crawled up her spine, enveloping her in a chill.

My mother died at the hands of that woman, in some corner of this city.

This place is teeming with Title Douluos, and teeming with the natural enemies of soul beasts. If just one person sees through her true form, if just one person discovers she's a 100,000-year-old soul beast…

She's doomed.

Could it be... that Master has discovered this? Is he planning to capture me and offer me to the Pope in exchange for wealth and power? Or is he actually a member of the Spirit Hall, and taking me as his disciple was just a ruse?

Countless terrifying thoughts flooded Xiao Wu's mind like a barrage of comments, her face turning pale and then red, and her lips began to tremble slightly.

But the neural interference device activated in the back of her head, and she quickly forced herself to calm down.

No, no one except a Title Douluo can see her true form.

If he really found out, he could have just done it in Nottingham. It's remote and desolate there, surrounded by forests; if he killed her and buried her, no one would know. There was absolutely no need to take her on such a long detour, buying her snacks along the way and letting her ride in that super cool metal box.

And he treated her very well throughout the journey, even to the point of spoiling her. Whenever she wanted something, he would give it to her without hesitation. Could such a person be the kind of despicable person who sells out his apprentice for personal gain?

It must be... just a coincidence, right?

Perhaps he just happens to have some connection with the Spirit Hall, and brought her here simply to give her a better education. After all, he said he would train her to become the strongest Soul Master, and this place, with its abundant resources, is indeed a good place.

Xiao Wu took a deep breath, tried to adjust her facial muscles, and forced out a stiff but still cute smile.

"Wow...it's magnificent! This is the first time I've ever seen such a big city."

Her voice was a little hoarse, and her "wow" sounded noticeably affected. But she had done her best; acting was simply too difficult for a rabbit who had grown up in the forest.

Li Fulan chuckled inwardly as she watched her clumsy, almost transparent acting.

The girl's face screamed "I'm terrified," yet she pretended to be nonchalant, making her as adorable as a little rabbit with its fur standing on end.

However, he did not reveal the truth.

Sometimes, the highest level of strategy is to see through things but not say them.

"Let's go. Now that you've become my apprentice, you can't keep wearing that school uniform."

He naturally took Xiaowu's icy little hand in his. Her hand was so cold it looked like it had just been pulled out of the snow, and her fingertips were even trembling slightly.

Li Fulan's palms were warm and dry, and that sensation flowed through her like a warm current seeping into her stiff body.

Strangely, that temperature actually made Xiao Wu, who was in a state of stress, feel a sense of peace. Her tense shoulders unconsciously relaxed a little, and her clenched little fists slowly loosened.

Master's hands are so warm.

She thought to herself silently, then lowered her head somewhat embarrassed.

The two of them swaggered into the main road of Wuhun City.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their glazed tiles gleaming in the sunlight, reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors. Most of the passersby were dressed in fine clothes, and their soul power fluctuations were not weak; any random passerby could be a Soul Master of level 30 or above.

Li Fulan led Xiao Wu through a maze of twists and turns, passing through several bustling streets, and finally stopped in front of a high-end tailor shop called "Ni Chang Yun Yi".

The shop's facade alone was inlaid with no fewer than ten low-grade soul-guided gems for lighting. These gems shimmered softly in the sunlight, making the entire shop appear resplendent. Two uniformed servants stood at the entrance, their posture ramrod straight, yet their eyes were extremely sharp, able to instantly discern the identity and wealth of their patrons.

As you push open the door, a faint fragrance wafts into your nostrils. The scent is elegant and refined, neither pungent nor overpowering, but rather lingers perfectly around the nose, making you feel refreshed and relaxed.

The store's interior was even more luxurious than the exterior. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, mirrors covered the entire wall, and rows of exquisite hangers displayed a variety of fine garments. The materials and craftsmanship of those clothes clearly indicated they were expensive.

Several saleswomen in matching uniforms immediately came forward. They were all beautiful, with slender figures and well-trained professional smiles on their faces.

Their eyes were sharp; they immediately recognized the extraordinary material of Li Fulan's trench coat. The sheen and texture of the fabric were definitely from a top-tier workshop, worth at least tens of thousands of gold. Coupled with his aristocratic air of wealth and status, this gentleman was certainly no ordinary person.

"Sir, madam, welcome to Ni Chang Yun Yi." The lead saleswoman curtsied, her voice as sweet as honey. "How may I help you?"

Li Fulan casually pulled over a leather sofa and sat down, crossing his legs in a lazy yet domineering manner. He pointed to Xiao Wu, who was standing somewhat reserved to the side, a playful smile on his lips.

"Pick out a few outfits for her, the latest styles of the season, and the materials must be top-quality ice silk or velvet."

He paused, as if he was thinking about something.

"As for the style... cute, lively, and... well, the kind that makes your legs look longer."

The sales assistants exchanged knowing glances, a hint of gossip flashing in their eyes, before covering their mouths and giggling.

This gentleman really cares about this young lady; it's clearly not an ordinary master-disciple relationship.

"Don't worry, sir, we've got your back." The lead saleswoman patted her chest as a guarantee, then enthusiastically took Xiaowu's hand and led her to the rows of exquisite clothes racks.

Xiao Wu was taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm. She glanced back at Li Fulan, only to see the man leisurely leaning on the sofa, picking up the spiritual tea brought by the servant, and gesturing for her to "go."

"Little sister, your skin is so white, so smooth and delicate, like a peeled egg." A sales assistant exclaimed as she looked through the clothes on the hanger, "You would definitely look good in this pink lace tutu, it really suits your sweet temperament."

"And this white short dress, look at the design, it's fitted at the waist and has an A-line silhouette. Paired with these little leather boots, it will definitely accentuate your long legs and make you irresistibly charming."

"Oh, this off-the-shoulder top is also nice; it makes me look especially innocent yet subtly sexy..."

Xiao Wu was overwhelmed by the dazzling array of beautiful clothes.

As a rabbit who grew up in the Star Dou Great Forest, her "wardrobe" contained only a few outfits, all of which were hand-me-downs from her mother. She had never seen anything like this before; the colors and styles of the clothes alone were enough to make her little head buzz.

"Um... I really don't need it..." she whispered, trying to refuse.

"Little sister, don't be shy. Your husband has already given his approval, so just relax and choose what you like." The sales assistant smiled and pushed her into the fitting room. "Come on, try this one on first."

And so, Xiao Wu was forced to embark on her first real "shopping" journey.

She went in and out of the fitting room, and every time she changed into an outfit, she would come out for Li Fulan to "inspect" her. Pink tutu skirts, white dresses, light blue princess dresses, pale yellow floral dresses... all sorts of styles were worn in turn, making her look like a true lady of high society.

Each time she came out, Li Fulan would simply lift her eyelids lazily, glance over her, and then nod with a smile.

"This one is nice, I'll buy it."

"That one will do too, wrap it up."

"I'll take all of these."

His tone was nonchalant, as if those expensive clothes were nothing more than worthless radishes and cabbages.

Half an hour later, a small mountain had formed on the counter. The clothes, beautifully packaged in gift boxes, were piled up layer upon layer, almost reaching the ceiling.

The sales assistants' smiles were practically overflowing, stretching from their lips to their ears. This was a huge order; the commission alone would be enough for them to live on for months.

As Xiao Wu tried on the last light gold fitted dress, the most enthusiastic saleswoman helped her adjust the intricate ribbons at the back while gossiping with envy in her eyes.

"Little sister, you are so lucky."

Her tone was full of envy, and her eyes, peering through the mirror at Li Fulan who was drinking tea outside, gleamed with a gossipy light.

"That gentleman outside is handsome, so generous, and so patient with you. I've worked here for three years and seen so many rich people, but he's truly the first one I've ever met."

She helped Xiaowu tie the last bow, then stepped back two paces to admire her work, nodding in satisfaction.

"Is he your boyfriend? Oh my, you must have saved the galaxy in your past life! These days, it's incredibly hard to find a guy like him. Handsome guys are poor, rich guys aren't handsome, and those who are both handsome and rich already have girlfriends. Someone like him who is handsome, rich, and treats you so well is practically one in a million."

Xiao Wu looked at her completely transformed self in the mirror.

The girl in the pale gold dress stood gracefully, her long, black hair cascading over her shoulders, making her fair and delicate face appear even more exquisite. The dress's design perfectly accentuated her slender waist, and the hemline ended just above her knees, revealing a pair of straight and long legs.

Is this really her?

That wild girl who ran and jumped in the forest, covered in mud and leaves?

"Boy...boyfriend?!"

Xiao Wu's cheeks instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, the burning heat spreading from the base of her neck all the way to the tips of her ears. Her heart suddenly raced, pounding like a little rabbit jumping wildly in her chest.

"No...no, that's not it!" She waved her hands frantically, her voice cracking. "What...what nonsense are you talking about! We...we're not in that kind of relationship!"

But involuntarily, the image of Li Fulan's profile as she focused intently on driving flashed through her mind. That high, straight nose, those tightly pursed thin lips, and those deep, soul-stirring black eyes…

When he buys her snacks, does he smile especially gently?

When he holds her hand and walks down the street, is his palm especially warm?

When he said "pick clothes for her" just now, wasn't his tone particularly doting?

"He's mine..."

Xiao Wu stammered, trying to explain, but the word "master" circled around her lips several times, yet she couldn't bring herself to say it.

Her face grew redder and redder until she was practically steaming. She could only let out a soft moan, burying her head in her hands, too ashamed to look at herself in the mirror, her face as red as a tomato.