Chapter 199: The Loopholes of Divine Trials

After the explosion, it is time for the sage...

Qin Jian and Zhu Zhuqing embraced tightly, quietly savoring the long-lingering afterglow.

"Zhuqing... regarding the rules that bind me... I have some thoughts..." Qin Jian said, looking at the ceiling.

Zhu Zhuqing leaned against him, no longer having the anxiety that previously forbade him from mentioning a single word; she just idly drew circles on his chest with her finger: "What thoughts?"

"Rules always have loopholes..."

Qin Jian kissed her forehead and said: "I want to conduct some experiments to test where the boundaries of the rules lie, so perhaps we won't have to suffer so much..."

"How are you going to test it?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, looking up.

"The breakup test."

Qin Jian said in a low voice: "Zhuqing, the rules require that I cannot proactively tell you anything about my soul power cultivation or the acquisition of my Soul Rings, so I can only do it, and then you will have to experience it for yourself."

"A breakup doesn't necessarily have to be a real breakup; as long as the rules recognize it, that is my understanding," he said in a deep voice.

Zhu Zhuqing had a confused look: "I... I don't understand..."

Qin Jian pinched her delicate nose and said softly: "You only need to know that no matter what I do or say next, I still like you and want to be with you forever. Knowing this, then everything else doesn't matter, right?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly.

Qin Jian smiled and said: "Then let's begin..."

He gradually withdrew the smile from his face and then said to Zhu Zhuqing: "Now, we are broken up."

The soul power on Qin Jian's body remained completely still, and Zhu Zhuqing in his arms let out a snort of laughter: "Qin Jian, we just did that thing; I simply don't believe you would break up with me."

Qin Jian did not laugh, but instead said to Zhu Zhuqing, word for word: "I am not joking with you; we have truly broken up."

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes trembled slightly; she instinctively felt that Qin Jian was indeed not joking with this statement.

"Re... really?" she asked.

Qin Jian nodded.

But he discovered that the soul power on his body only fluctuated slightly, and then there was no other movement.

"After breaking up, we are not a couple, but you just said that you still like me and want to be with me forever, is that right?" Zhu Zhuqing asked urgently to confirm.

"Mm."

Seeing Qin Jian nod affirmatively, Zhu Zhuqing finally felt relieved.

The last trace of soul power fluctuation on his body also disappeared...

Qin Jian shook his head: "As expected, a breakup like this doesn't count as a breakup at all..."

He thought for a moment, then looked at Zhu Zhuqing and added: "But we have broken up after all, so..."

"Next, I will..."

He paused, and in the end, he closed his eyes, unable to bear looking at Zhu Zhuqing's expression, then continued: "I will fall for another girl, then date her, and do the things we did with her..."

Zhu Zhuqing was as if struck by a heavy hammer; her whole person was stunned.

"Are these things you said... true..."

Two lines of clear tears slid down, and Zhu Zhuqing murmured: "It's true... according to Rongrong's deduction, it is indeed like this... every time a new person will appear... this chapter belonging to you and me... has... ended..."

Seeing her sorrowful expression, Qin Jian gritted his teeth and offered no comfort.

Because the soul power within his body was fluctuating violently...

"Hum!"

Finally, a black Soul Ring rose from his body; the Fourth Soul Ring was complete!

"You..."

Zhu Zhuqing widened her eyes: "So your Soul Ring... can really be obtained this way... and the Fourth Soul Ring... is actually a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

In her shock, she even forgot her sorrow.

Qin Jian smiled bitterly and said: "I cannot say it, but I can show it to you; this is the rule."

"Actually..."

Zhu Zhuqing thought silently, and the pain in her heart lessened a little.

She stared blankly at Qin Jian and said: "I originally thought you were going to break up with me completely, just like what Rongrong experienced; now it is much better..."

"I never intended to possess you alone anyway; what I want is the peace of mind and reliance of being by your side..."

Her eyes grew brighter as she spoke: "So, as long as I can accept that you will like others and have another partner in name, there is no difference in other aspects, right?"

This was the significance of Qin Jian testing the boundaries of the rules; previously, he had to break up with the girl completely, hurting others and himself to obtain a Soul Ring, but now he did not need to do so.

He only needed to tell the other party that they were broken up in name, that he would have a new girlfriend, but that his heart still liked the other party, and that one day in the future, he would still be with her...

Uh... it feels like evolving from a pure little prince of every romance... into a scumbag who eats from the bowl while looking at the pot...

Qin Jian touched his nose, feeling a bit ashamed.

"Right!"

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly looked up at him and said: "What about what Rongrong said, that you would vomit blood if you hugged her?"

Qin Jian's expression tightened, and he said: "This is the second thing I need to test... which is the degree of contact allowed."

"The degree of contact?"

Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips and looked down, saying: "At the very least, regarding what just happened... we can't do that anymore, right?"

Qin Jian covered his face: "Don't mention that; even hugging is not allowed..."

He suddenly pulled Zhu Zhuqing into a hug, and then immediately let out a 'pfft' sound, spraying a mouthful of blood.

"You! You knew it wouldn't work, so why did you still hug me?!" Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly pulled away from him and said urgently.

Qin Jian shook his head.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him and sensed that the emotion in his eyes somehow always carried a bit of stubbornness.

Was he angered by these rules...

"Come, Zhuqing, try climbing onto my back!" Qin Jian suddenly turned and said.

However, as soon as Zhu Zhuqing got on, Qin Jian spat out another mouthful of blood.

"This... I was clearly able to carry Rongrong... where is the problem..." Qin Jian furrowed his brows.

Next, he began to stroke Zhu Zhuqing's cheek, and spat blood.

Patting her head, spat blood... combing her long hair, spat blood... even holding hands, it was also spitting blood!

"This is impossible! Why can I not do any intimate things with you?!" Qin Jian fiercely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said angrily.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes, not letting Qin Jian see the tears shimmering in them.

She knew that Qin Jian was also very sad right now, and she did not want to add to his burden.

"Zhuqing..."

Qin Jian's eyes suddenly brightened: "Perhaps I thought wrong... things like physical contact might not be fixed rules, but rather increase along with soul power..."

Zhu Zhuqing quietly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and looked up at Qin Jian again.

"I think... perhaps it was the same when Rongrong and I first broke up, unable to do any intimate things..."

Qin Jian's words made Zhu Zhuqing's eyes light up as well: "Qin Jian, do you mean to say that once your soul power level is higher, you can increase contact with me?"

Qin Jian nodded and said: "This is not hard to test; after we go back, I will go find Rongrong to try, it's just that..."

He said in a low voice: "Before I reach level 50, the two of us probably won't be able to use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, as the minimum requirement for that is holding hands, which we cannot do right now..."

Thanks to book friend 【Liuli Jiyue】 for the 1000 book coin tip!

Thanks to book friends 【Didiaode Xiaocao】, 【Zaixia Shijiu A】, 【Qiyuan Zhaoxi】, and 【Amogul】 for the tips!

(End of this chapter)