The Zhu Patriarch's head roared like struck drums when he saw his second daughter walk in with Lucien leaning lazily at her side.
This… this was wrong! Outrageous!
How could his daughter, officially betrothed to a royal prince of Star Luo, flaunt intimacy with another man publicly? If word spread, the entire royal family would be mocked as fools!
"Lucien, isn't it?" His voice was iron.
Lucien hiccupped, eyes sliding up. "Who's the old guy yelling at my kitten? Dare to scare her—believe it or not, I'll beat you!"
Servants gasped. Zhu Zhuqing herself froze. Even Bai Chenxiang covered her mouth.
Zhu Zhenyuan's face purpled. "Boy, I am Zhu Zhenyuan, patriarch of this house."
Lucien swayed to his feet, sword already dragging from its sheath. "Perfect. Then I have an excuse."
The hall erupted in confusion. No one understood what madness this was — a Soul King challenging a Contra?!
The Combat Begins.
With a guttural cry, Zhu Zhenyuan unleashed Nether Cat Possession. Blurred silhouettes fanned around Lucien, phantasms darting with cruel claws. A heartbeat later, he was gone entirely — vanished into his darkness technique.
But Lucien did not panic.
The flames on his sword flared; Sword Qi pooled and rotated around him. In mere breaths, a barrier of whizzing sword-light formed, a storm of cutting blades orbiting his drunken figure.
Clang—clang—!
The unseen claws raked against the barrier, sparks bursting — but could not penetrate.
Lucien laughed harshly, cutting behind himself — and sure enough, an illusory black mist clone was cleaved apart with shrieking force.
The Zhu clan gaped.
"What… what skill is this?!"
"He turned Sword Qi into… body protection?!"
"Unbelievable! He really forced Patriarch back!"
Even Zhu Zhenyuan staggered a step, unsettled. To have his sixth-ring Nether stealth blunted by a mere Soul King's sword storm… this boy was dangerous.
But humiliation was worse than danger. His clansmen whispered; even his authority quaked. His eyes sharpened.
"Seventh Ability — Martial Soul True Body!"
A spectral Nether Cat enveloped him, his speed exploding, claws dripping deadly aura.
"Eighth Ability — Nether Ten Combos!"
In an instant, he was upon Lucien, ten blades slashing faster than sight, a full moon of killing claws crashing.
Chichichichichi!
Steel screamed against steel; Lucien's long sword sparked under the endless barrage. His protective Sword Qi shattered piece by piece beneath the onslaught.
"Lucien—!"
"Big Brother Lucien!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Bai Chenxiang rushed a step forward, but the shockwaves of the clash sent them staggering back.
"He forced the Patriarch into True Body and 8th ability… with only five rings. It's madness!" gasped one elder.
"Madness? It's a miracle!" muttered another. "A Soul King doing this… who dares believe it?"
And then—
The air warped suddenly, mist curling like twisted petals.
A silken male voice, delicate and mocking, drifted over the battlefield.
"Zhu Zhenyuan… it has been a long time."
A figure of flamboyant beauty shimmered into sight, blond hair cascading, every movement unctuous as poisoned honey. Standing there, his presence alone scratched at every heart.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan.
Behind him, the shadows coiled — a familiar suffocating chill signaling his twin, Ghost Douluo, lurking just out of sight.
The Zhu estate froze, whispers quaking.
…Spirit Hall had arrived.
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