A playful smirk tugged at the corners of Zhou Sichen's lips, tinged with a trace of teasing as he spoke,
"Elder Xuan, Your Majesty, I'm just a young and inexperienced junior—how could I possibly have any unrealistic ambitions? Please don't overthink it or misinterpret my intentions."
Though his smile seemed light-hearted, there was a barely perceptible sharpness in his gaze—keen and quietly observing.
Elder Xuan looked at Zhou Sichen's expression and shook his head with a sigh, his face softening with an indulgent smile, the kind one would give to a clever yet troublesome child.
"You really are sharp as a tack. Since you've already guessed the truth, then there's no need for me to keep hiding it."
He paused, his expression becoming warm and filled with hope.
"This marriage alliance—truthfully, it's a path Elder Mu planned for you in advance. It's a key move among many possibilities. Don't underestimate Princess Jiujing—her talent is a once-in-a-century rarity. If the two of you join forces, you'll complement each other perfectly. Neither of you will be shortchanged, and together you could achieve great things."
Beside him stood Xu Jiawei, the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire and Jiujing's elder brother. His gaze was calm and measured, and he silently nodded in agreement.
To outsiders, his easy approval of his sister's marriage might seem overly casual—out of character, even.
But only he understood just how formidable Zhou Sichen truly was.
If he weren't fully aware of the young man's terrifying strength and potential, with his iron-blooded temperament and absolute authority in the empire, how could he so casually use his beloved sister as a political bargaining chip?
Princess Xu Jiujing stood silently nearby, her bright eyes subtly scanning everyone's expressions, taking in every detail.
Inwardly, she mused, Could there be some darker scheme hidden behind this seemingly simple marriage alliance?
Her gaze chilled slightly, falling on her older brother. This man, who usually stood above all others as Emperor of Star Luo, said nothing now—quietly waiting for an explanation.
Zhou Sichen noticed Jiujing's scrutiny and sighed softly, his expression a little helpless.
"To be honest, Your Highness," he said with calm sincerity, "I already have a few close female companions at my side. If the Princess were truly to marry me, I fear I wouldn't be able to treat her with the exclusive respect and devotion she deserves. She might have to endure a more subdued role among them."
There was no evasion or pretentiousness in his tone—only honesty.
Xu Jiujing's brows arched, a flash of irritation flickering in her eyes. But she quickly regained composure.
Her gaze narrowed slightly, her voice laced with intrigue.
"You are surprisingly forthright, Senior. I imagine the ones capable of making me 'take a back seat' are those few extraordinarily talented girls in this year's Shrek Academy main team, aren't they?"
Zhou Sichen met her gaze, unflinching, and nodded without hesitation.
"Indeed. That's why I'm laying all the cards on the table now, so the Princess won't be caught off guard in the future."
Though a pang of bitterness rose in her heart, Xu Jiujing, trained in royal etiquette since childhood, didn't show it. Her upbringing gave her the grace to smile gently despite her inner frustration.
Raising her chin slightly, she responded with a composed smile,
"Since His Majesty has already made the decision, how could I, as his sister, dare disobey his golden words?"
Despite the pleasant tone, hidden beneath her smile was a swirl of complex emotion.
Xu Jiawei, watching from the side, immediately picked up on her displeasure—he knew his sister all too well.
Still, he wasn't worried. In his view, once Jiujing truly understood Zhou Sichen's power and potential, she wouldn't mind him having multiple companions. After all, a genius of Zhou Sichen's caliber would never be confined to traditional expectations.
Of course, he also understood that using his sister as a political tool was less than noble.
But this had been discussed with Jiujing beforehand. While he hadn't told her the full truth, he had at least secured her tentative agreement before arranging for the two to meet.
Sensing the atmosphere becoming a bit tense, Elder Xuan chuckled to ease the mood.
"Well, in that case, let's consider the marriage tentatively agreed upon. But let's not announce anything just yet—this is a sensitive matter. Shrek and Star Luo's cooperation must proceed discreetly and gradually."
Xu Jiawei nodded without hesitation.
"That's for the best. This concerns the future of both our nations—caution is paramount."
Zhou Sichen and Xu Jiujing met each other's gaze involuntarily. Their eyes locked midair, and in that silent moment, they each saw the same deep helplessness mirrored in the other.
On first impression alone, neither found the other unpleasant.
Zhou Sichen was handsome, refined, and possessed unfathomable strength. Xu Jiujing was elegant, poised, and prodigiously gifted.
But Zhou Sichen had never once considered her in a romantic light. As he'd said, his heart and energy were already divided among those who stood by him, and the responsibilities he carried allowed little room for more.
His cultivation path would only become more arduous, time increasingly scarce. He could barely keep up with those already by his side—how could he afford to start anything new?
The proposal had simply come too suddenly, leaving him with no room to prepare.
Still, if blame were to be assigned, Zhou Sichen knew it wouldn't be fair to criticize Elder Mu or Elder Xuan. Their intentions, after all, were for his benefit.
What surprised him most was that Elder Mu, despite seeing through his innermost thoughts, had still chosen to help him—to guide and support his future path.
Even if there were hints of personal agenda in Mu Lao's decisions, they had no negative impact on Zhou Sichen. That was why he could only feel resignation, not resentment.
After all, when someone truly had your best interests at heart, how could you hold it against them?
Xu Jiujing's thoughts mirrored Zhou Sichen's in many ways.
Previously, she'd only seen him from afar, a fleeting glance while resting off-stage. Even then, he stood out from the crowd.
Later, after being introduced by Elder Xuan, her curiosity had grown. She was of marriageable age, after all—getting to know a promising candidate was only natural. Even if nothing came of it, there would be no loss.
But things had escalated too fast.
They'd gone from mutual curiosity to talks of marriage in the blink of an eye.
Worse, the man before her—despite his honesty—had openly declared that she wouldn't be his only companion, that she might need to submit to others.
Even with her gentle temperament and good upbringing, Xu Jiujing couldn't help but feel a bit stifled.
Still, she maintained the bearing of a royal princess, her smile never wavering. She didn't lash out at Zhou Sichen.
Of course, had he not been so exceptional—surpassing her in some ways—she might've scoffed at his words and scolded him for his arrogance.
Breaking the silence that hung in the air, Zhou Sichen asked,
"So… is this matter now settled, just like that?"
Xu Jiawei's expression grew solemn.
"This is far from a hasty decision. It's something I've weighed carefully, balancing all pros and cons."
"Sichen, this is the boldest decision I've made since ascending the throne. I'm betting everything on you. I trust you won't disappoint me—or the Star Luo Empire."
Hearing Xu Jiawei address him so intimately, Zhou Sichen offered a polite smile and replied,
"Then I shall accept this honor, Your Majesty. Since you've invested in me today, I promise you—I will repay your trust a hundredfold in the future. That is my word."
Xu Jiawei exchanged a glance with Elder Xuan. The two elders shared a quiet smile of mutual understanding.
With Zhou Sichen's rise, even the traditionally cautious elders of Shrek Academy had begun to feel the influence of his bold spirit and immense potential. Their once conservative outlook was slowly shifting.
After all, Zhou Sichen wasn't rising alone—he'd brought with him others like Ye Guyi, Ma Xiaotao, and Cao Jinxuan. A generation of monstrous talent now stood behind him.
Whatever the future held, with such promising youths, the continent that once belonged to Douluo would surely shine again.
And watching all this unfold from the sidelines, Xu Jiujing remained full of silent questions.
She pouted slightly, her voice a mix of playful complaint and quiet determination.
"Even if I don't know exactly what you're scheming, I can more or less guess. As one of the people involved in this arranged marriage, don't I have the right to know at least a bit of the inside story?"
At this moment, any previous resistance in her heart had eased. What remained was mostly curiosity—she truly wanted to know what kind of bargaining chip could make her brother take such a significant step.
As soon as Xu Jiujiu spoke, Xu Jiawei turned his gaze toward Zhou Sichen, eyes filled with expectation.
He, too, hoped Zhou Sichen would seize this opportunity to reveal some of his true strength, to help his sister understand and accept the arrangement more willingly.
And deep down, he was excited himself to witness what Zhou Sichen would reveal.
Elder Xuan chuckled and added at just the right moment,
"There's only the four of us here—no outsiders. Sichen, I think it's time we showed His Majesty a bit of our sincerity, so he and Princess Jiujiu can feel more at ease."
Zhou Sichen nodded. He understood—it was time to offer Xu Jiawei a true reassurance.
He slowly raised his right hand, the movement graceful and steady. A soft golden glow rippled out like water, and from the depths of a mysterious space, a radiant golden Contract Book began to materialize.
The book pulsed with an ancient and mysterious aura. The runes on its surface shimmered faintly, as if whispering secrets long forgotten.
At the same time, four black soul rings and one red soul ring suddenly emerged from Zhou Sichen's body—a total of five soul rings radiating an overwhelming pressure. Each ring emanated unique soul energy fluctuations and an unmatched glow.
The oppressive soul power flooded the hall like a crashing tidal wave.
Most striking of all was the ten-thousand-year red soul ring. Its aura, exclusive to hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, surged forward like a wave of molten red fire, suffocating and overwhelming.
Even someone as seasoned and powerful as Xu Jiawei, a titled Douluo and the iron-blooded Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, couldn't help but have his pupils contract violently. A storm of shock surged in his heart.
So it's all true, just as Elder Xuan said! he thought. This youth... he's even more terrifying than I imagined.
A thirteen-year-old Soul King was already the stuff of legends. But this configuration—four black rings and one red—was beyond rare. It was unheard of. Impossible.
This sight alone completely solidified Xu Jiawei's decision. He now believed with absolute certainty that this marriage alliance would reshape the future of the Star Luo Empire.
As for Xu Jiujiu, she could no longer maintain the composure expected of a royal princess.
Her eyes went wide, her lips parted in shock, nearly enough to fit a whole egg inside.
The sight before her shattered everything she thought she knew about the world of soul masters.
"How is this possible?" she muttered in disbelief. "That kind of soul ring configuration... And wait, aren't you supposed to have the Bright Saint Dragon Martial Soul?"
Her gaze was locked on Zhou Sichen, eyes filled with confusion and burning curiosity—as if trying to see through all his secrets.
Zhou Sichen simply smiled, the curve of his lips calm but mysterious.
He retracted his martial soul. The five soul rings vanished like streaks of starlight, and the oppressive aura instantly dissipated. The hall returned to its tranquil state.
Neither Zhou Sichen nor Elder Xuan said a word. Both turned to Xu Jiawei, silently entrusting him to provide the explanation for Xu Jiujiu.
Xu Jiawei cleared his throat and began,
"Jiujiu, what you just saw is the Book of Contracts, a top-tier tool martial soul of the highest level. It possesses a unique ability—it allows the user to form contracts with soul beasts."
"Once a contract is established, the contracted soul beast can evolve along with the soul master's own cultivation. When Sichen becomes a Titled Douluo one day, the power of his contract beasts will allow him to rival nine Titled Douluo all by himself."
His voice was filled with awe and admiration.
"And remember—at the same level, soul beasts are naturally stronger than soul masters. Combine that with the fact that Sichen can fuse with his contract beasts… His strength will become unimaginably powerful."
Xu Jiawei paused briefly, eyes gleaming with conviction.
"With this ability, he has no weaknesses. Whether it's offense, defense, speed, or support, he can do it all—a true all-rounder."
Hearing this, Xu Jiujiu felt a storm surge in her chest. Her eyes sparkled with both shock and yearning.
Could such a powerful martial soul truly exist in this world?
But those soul rings she'd just witnessed—especially the oppressive force of that ten-thousand-year red ring—couldn't possibly be faked.
Just thinking about the pressure from that ring still made her heart tremble.
Xu Jiawei glanced at her expression and felt secretly satisfied.
Even he had only believed after seeing it with his own eyes. If not for Elder Xuan's personal explanation and Zhou Sichen's demonstration, he would never have staked his empire's future on a single conversation.
Now that he had witnessed it all for himself, he finally understood the terrifying potential this young man held.
Zhou Sichen smiled modestly and added,
"Your Majesty is right. Elder Mu is my teacher, and the power of the Bright Saint Dragon you mentioned—was something I was able to replicate thanks to the special properties of my martial soul. None of this would have been possible without Elder Mu's guidance and help."
His gaze carried sincere gratitude toward Mu Lao, a mix of genuine feeling and subtle theatricality.
Elder Xuan chuckled, a sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. Only the four of us can know. If word of this leaks outside this hall… well, that would be quite the problem."
Though his tone was light, the glint in his eyes carried a clear warning.
Xu Jiawei calmed himself and nodded solemnly.
"Of course. I understand completely. With Zhou Sichen alone, the balance of the continent could shift."
"And more than that," he continued, "Shrek Academy's current generation includes several talents on par with Sichen. Their presence will become the hope not only of Shrek Academy, but of the entire Douluo Continent."
His voice now carried boundless confidence and anticipation for the future.
"This time, it seems the only real winner of the tournament… is Star Luo!" Xu Jiawei couldn't help but exclaim with a laugh.
In his heart, he could already see the future glory of the Star Luo Empire—one forged through Zhou Sichen's power and influence.
Xu Jiujiu, meanwhile, was still staring blankly at Zhou Sichen, momentarily at a loss for words.
Her brother's words continued to echo in her ears as she struggled to process everything she had just witnessed.
The resentment and helplessness she had felt earlier had quietly faded away.
In their place was something new—deep curiosity and growing anticipation.
****
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