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At this moment, Zhu Hongxiu, seeing Dai Chengfeng's surprise, smiled and lowered her voice further, whispering into his ear with an air of certainty:
"Chengfeng, you're not young anymore. It's time to start cultivating a relationship with Zhuqing."
"Both your father and I are looking forward to the day when the two of you can connect on a deeper level and successfully awaken the fusion technique of our families' martial spirits—the Netherworld White Tiger!"
"This is the most important matter!"
Meanwhile, from behind the exquisite screen in the inner hall, a slender and graceful figure slowly stepped forward.
She was tall and lithe, her figure perfectly accentuated by a sleek black leather outfit that highlighted her delicate yet slightly unripe curves. Her beauty exuded a sensuality far beyond her years, combined with a natural aloofness that made her all the more striking.
Her waist-length thick black hair cascaded down her back like fine silk, smooth and lustrous.
Her flawless face glowed with snow-white skin, every feature meticulously crafted by nature. However, her breathtaking beauty was veiled beneath a layer of icy detachment that seemed to keep others at bay.
Especially her eyes—clear and cold—they gazed steadily at Dai Chengfeng.
Deep within her gaze, there was no trace of excitement or shyness one might expect from meeting her betrothed for the first time. Instead, there was only a calm clarity, and perhaps… a faint hint of scrutiny and coldness?
This woman was none other than Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Chengfeng's nominal fiancée!
Soon after, Zhu Zhuqing came to a stop a few steps away from Dai Chengfeng. Following the etiquette of the Star Luo Empire's nobility, she performed a perfect curtsy toward Dai Chengfeng, her supposed fiancé.
The movement was elegant and impeccable, leaving nothing to criticize.
But alas, it felt as though the gesture had been rehearsed countless times, devoid of any emotion.
"Zhu Zhuqing greets His Highness, the Fourth Prince."
Her voice matched her demeanor—calm, steady, and devoid of any fluctuation.
After completing the bow, Zhu Zhuqing raised her head once more. Her cold eyes settled on Dai Chengfeng, beginning her first true appraisal of him.
Finally, I've met him in person…
Zhu Zhuqing mused inwardly, her curiosity piqued. The man before her bore the signature dazzling golden hair of the Dai family. His features were sharply defined, with a high nose bridge and clear lip lines.
Moreover, he possessed a pair of extraordinarily rare heterochromatic eyes.
His left eye was a deep blue like the starry sky, while his right eye shimmered with the radiant gold characteristic of the Star Luo royal family, echoing his golden hair. This combination lent him an effortless aura of authority and aloofness.
These two distinctly different-colored eyes did not appear jarring on his handsome face. On the contrary, they added a mysterious and lethal allure…
Even Zhu Zhuqing, who rarely paid much attention to appearances, couldn't help but admit…
Dai Chengfeng was incredibly handsome!
His eldest brother, Dai Weisi, was already considered an exceptionally handsome nobleman, but compared to Dai Chengfeng, there was simply no comparison.
"Even if he truly is lazy and talentless…"
"Perhaps this face alone is enough to make countless maidens swoon?"
Zhu Zhuqing thought silently, recalling the two starkly contrasting rumors about Dai Chengfeng that had reached her ears over the years within the Star Luo Empire.
One version painted Dai Chengfeng, the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire, as a hedonistic playboy, indulging in pleasures and neglecting both cultivation and state affairs. He was infamous among the royal family as a wastrel, spending his days gambling and horse racing, showing no interest in governance or training. He was deemed the least qualified heir to the throne.
The crown should naturally pass to the eldest prince, Dai Weisi.
On the other hand, some secretive whispers from various sources portrayed a completely different image of Dai Chengfeng: a prodigy with extraordinary talent, whose soul power advanced at an astonishing rate. His military prowess was said to be nothing short of divine…
Only he could lead the Star Luo Empire to its peak!
"Which one is the real him?"
"Is it a carefully constructed facade, or does it reflect reality?"
Zhu Zhuqing had no definitive answer.
The cruelty and survival tactics of the Star Luo imperial family were rife with deception and calculation. She understood this world well: any outward appearance could be part of a meticulously orchestrated performance.
"But still!"
"This strikingly handsome face, coupled with those rumors of debauchery, seems to fit together seamlessly…"
Yet Zhu Zhuqing found herself unwilling to fully believe it.
Her instincts told her that Dai Chengfeng was no ordinary individual.
"So be it!"
"Rumors are just rumors. What you hear is false; what you see… is true."
"I'll personally determine whether Dai Chengfeng has the qualifications to become my future partner!"
She, Zhu Zhuqing, daughter of the Zhu family and inheritor of the Netherworld Spirit martial spirit, had her own pride and ambitions. A mere title as a princess consort would not satisfy her.
What she sought was the pinnacle of strength—the absolute power to control her own destiny.
Her partner must be stronger than her!
He must be someone who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her on the path to power, or even guide her forward.
A useless man, a prince with nothing but a title and a handsome face but lacking substance, was unworthy of standing beside her, let alone becoming her future husband and awakening the fusion technique of the Netherworld White Tiger!
"If Dai Chengfeng truly is the dissolute good-for-nothing depicted in the rumors, then this so-called 'cultivating feelings' and 'mutual understanding'…"
"Hmph!"
Zhu Zhuqing stopped dwelling on it. She decided to personally verify whether the dazzling yet enigmatic Fourth Prince Dai Chengfeng standing before her was a true dragon or merely a worthless insect.
Meanwhile, as Zhu Zhuqing scrutinized and contemplated Dai Chengfeng…
Dai Chengfeng, too, observed the young woman who had now transformed from his vague childhood memories into a stunning yet distant figure.
In his heart, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity and estrangement.
After all, although Zhu Zhuqing was his nominal fiancée, the two had only spent a few years together during childhood. Back then, Dai Chengfeng had little interest in spending time with a child, even if she was Zhu Zhuqing…
Thus, the amount of time he had spent with her was limited.
And ever since Dai Chengfeng awakened his martial spirit at the age of six and left Star Luo City, he had never seen Zhu Zhuqing again.
As such, they naturally weren't close. In fact, one might even say…
Dai Chengfeng's relationships with Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan might be closer.
However, despite feeling unfamiliar with Zhu Zhuqing…
Out of respect for his mother's presence, Dai Chengfeng forced himself to muster a warm and polite smile, adding a touch of gentleness to his tone.
"Miss Zhuqing, there's no need for formalities."
"You've come a long way. It must have been tiring. I didn't expect to meet you here again."
Dai Chengfeng's gaze met Zhu Zhuqing's scrutinizing eyes with calm confidence.
Yet, an odd feeling involuntarily flitted through his mind.
"If I'm not mistaken, this is Spirit City, not Tian Dou City, right?"
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