Zhu Zhenyuan's head buzzed as he stepped into the Zhu family courtyard and saw his Second Daughter standing with Lu Yuan.
What kind of disaster is this?
He instantly understood the implication. He was no youth anymore; he knew exactly what such a scene meant. If word spread that Zhu Zhuqing, the betrothed of Crown Prince Dai Mubai, was openly walking side by side with another man—especially this infamous one—it would not just shame the Zhu family. It would drag the entire Xingluo royal family into ridicule.
"Lu Yuan?" he muttered, eyes narrowing.
Immediately, Zhu Zhuqing stood forward, face taut. "Father."
But Lu Yuan only squinted drunkenly. "Who's this guy? Trying to scare my little cat? You believe it or not, I'll beat you right here!"
"Presumptuous! I am Zhu Zhenyuan, Patriarch of the Zhu family."
"Zhu Zhenyuan?" Lu Yuan wobbled onto his feet, brushing dust from his robes. "Oh good. Then let's fight."
Zhu Zhenyuan blinked, dumbfounded. Fight? The moment we meet?
The spectators muttered in shock.
"What's going on? Why does it look like he wants to beat the Patriarch down?"
"Could it be revenge? Did our Zhu family offend him before?"
"No way. Our Patriarch is a Contra; this boy's just a newly risen Soul King."
"Doesn't matter what genius he is—that's three entire spirit ranks missing! There's no comparison!"
Even Bai Chenxiang panicked, tugging at Lu Yuan's arm. "Big Brother Lu Yuan, let's think carefully. The Patriarch is too strong. Last time with Titan you struggled already, remember?"
But Lu Yuan only shrugged her hand off, his blurred drunken eyes sharpening as he raised his long sword. His aura ignited. "I don't want to beat you. Just dissolve Kitty's ridiculous engagement. Refuse? Then I'll carve the answer out of you."
At last, Zhu Zhenyuan understood. His daughter's betrothal, the royal marriage pact with Dai Mubai—that was what this boy challenged.
"You brat." His face darkened, spirit power surging. "To spit upon the will of Xingluo's royal power itself? Then don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Ha!" Lu Yuan's laughter dripped with mockery. "So you won't agree… then take the beating you clearly want!"
Sword Qi Barrier
The five spirit rings around Lu Yuan lit in a shimmering blaze, and with them came something new.
Sword Qi spilled out of his body in an endless tide, not wild and scattered but controlled, ordered, cloaking him like an armor of blades.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened, lips parting in astonishment. She had never seen this before. The sword energy was defending him without conscious swing, protecting him like a barrier.
"He's even stronger than before," she whispered.
Cheering rose among the onlookers as Zhu Zhenyuan unleashed his own power. "Nether Cat—possess!"
Black light surged around him as his body blurred, splitting into seven or eight phantoms that darted across the courtyard. Zhu family members gawked.
"Is this really happening? Our Patriarch versus Lu Yuan!"
"The Soul King dares to face a Contra head-on… madness!"
The illusions fell upon Lu Yuan at once, claws slashing. Sparks showered brightly as they struck against the swirling Sword Qi barrier, their momentum slowed, their edges blunted.
"Nether Ghost!"
Zhu Zhenyuan's sixth spirit ring ignited. His body blinked, vanishing entirely from sight.
Gasps filled the crowd. "He's invisible! Where is he?!"
But Lu Yuan only smiled. Calm.
He closed his eyes, sensing. In the silence of his heart, Sword Qi tightened, sharpening. His aura knitted together until it became a spinning wall.
Chi-chi-chi-chi-chi…!
The sound echoed as faint claws scraped desperately against invisible blades. A figure reappeared behind Lu Yuan, sparks exploding as his sword cleaved backward in response.
Black mist scattered, only a clone. Zhu Zhenyuan narrowed his eyes. The child's instinct was terrifying. Even his strongest concealment couldn't slip past those swirling blades.
Offensive and Defensive
"Haha. Let's see where else you run," Lu Yuan barked. His soul power flared, and the long sword flung sharp arcs into the sky.
"Sword Formation!"
From above, stars rained down—endless sword blades, glimmering coldly like constellations made of steel.
Zhu Zhenyuan sneered. "Out of my sight!"
"Third spirit ability—Nether Walk!"
With a burst of speed, his form blurred, darting beyond the raining blades. He let the attacks fall behind, curling his lips. "What good are thousands of blades if none can touch me?"
Lu Yuan's eyes glowed. His hand slammed the hilt, voice roaring: "Polar Sword Formation!"
As though awakened with life, the countless blades froze, then shifted mid-air. In the next instant, they bent sharply upon trajectory, arcing down after Zhu Zhenyuan like loyal hounds chasing prey.
Gasps erupted.
"Self-created spirit skill!"
"Our Patriarch almost underestimated him!"
Zhu Zhenyuan grunted, shifting violently. His feet slammed the earth, body twisting back as he unleashed another skill.
"Fourth spirit ability—Nether Shadow Slash!"
Ten claw-blades scythed out in cold arcs, crescent moons of violet light. They roared forward, colliding violently with the thousands of flying blades.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The courtyard rang with clashing steel, sparking light filling the night sky. For a few breaths, neither side held advantage.
Yet among the crowd, whispers churned.
"Can you believe this? Lu Yuan's a Soul King. And he's forcing the Patriarch to retreat."
"Not forcing—look. He's pressing the fight. This is the upper hand!"
"Incredible… Our Patriarch's being pressured by a junior?"
Zhu Zhenyuan clenched his jaw. The crowd's whispers gnawed at him. He could not afford to lose face before his clan.
"Seventh Spirit Ability—Martial Soul True Body!"
With a violent roar and sharp cat's cry, Zhu Zhenyuan's form expanded, his aura surging. Dark light cloaked him, speed, power, and defense amplified all at once. His presence loomed over the courtyard like a thundercloud.
"The Eighth Ability—Nether Tenfold Claws!"
He blurred again, reappearing before Lu Yuan with ghostly speed. Ten razor-sharp strikes scythed down like a storm. Each claw strike carried the power to split granite, flashing with deathly brilliance.
The Crushing Speed
Chi-chi-chi-chi-chi!
The repeated claw impacts landed upon Lu Yuan's defending sword and the barrier of whirling Sword Qi. Sparks detonated outward in sheets of fire.
Lu Yuan's arms shook, the relentless onslaught giving him not a heartbeat to counter.
Bai Chenxiang and Zhu Zhuqing gasped as his body rocked under the waves of pressure.
"Brother Lu Yuan!"
"Lu Yuan!"
But the terrifying aura flooding the arena forced them back. They could only watch as he held firm, teeth bared, sweat flinging from him with each brutal clash.
And still, the Zhu family muttered in awe:
"He forced the Patriarch to unleash both his true body and his eighth spirit skill. This is unheard of."
"If I'd gone up earlier showing off, I'd already be dead."
"He's terrifying…"
Just as despair weighed heavy, the air itself twisted.
"Zhu Zhenyuan…"
The voice slithered like silk, cold and feminine. It seemed to seep from the shadows, wrapping around ears.
"…Long time no see."
Every gaze in the clan courtyard snapped upward.
A figure appeared as if birthed from thin air, drifting lazily above the tiles. He was tall, his face pale but wickedly handsome, framed by loose golden hair that shimmered faintly under moonlight. His posture was casual, almost mocking, scratching his head as if the gathered crowd beneath him were insects not worth a glance.
The courtyard fell into silence.
Lu Yuan paused, sweat dripping, eyes narrowing at the intruder. Zhu Zhenyuan's heart clenched with sudden unease.
Whoever this was… he was no ordinary guest.
--
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