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"St–so strong! I never thought Junior Brother Feng could be a mere Soul Emperor and still behead a Titled Douluo!"
Oscar was so shocked he could barely speak, his words tripping over themselves.
Lan Minghua's temper flared; he planted a kick on Oscar's backside. "Look at your junior brother, then look at yourself. That's the gap, pretty boy—got it?"
Oscar, still unconvinced, rubbed his rear and stood up.
"Master, how can you say that! Junior Brother Feng is almost ten years older than me, and I'm already a Soul Emperor too. In terms of soul power, I'm clearly the superior one here."
Lan Minghua shot him a sideways glance. "I call you weak and you still won't admit it. In a moment, I'll shatter that so-called advantage of yours."
Oscar puffed up in protest, scowling. "We'll see about that. I just don't believe anyone at my age can surpass my soul power."
Lan Minghua didn't answer—someone else did it for him.
Just as Oscar swaggered and blustered, a cool voice sounded by his ear.
"Oh? Really? Little Ao, don't tell me you've forgotten about me?!"
That familiar tone froze Oscar's face on the spot.
Crap—how did I forget about her!
He laughed awkwardly and turned toward the figure that had appeared behind him at some point.
"Haha, how could I? How could I ever forget you, Zhuqing!"
Compared to two years ago, Zhu Zhuqing had grown even colder. She had been studying the assassin's path for the past two years; naturally, her aura had become more aloof.
Yet before Lan Minghua and Oscar, that frosty air melted away.
Zhu Zhuqing wrinkled her nose, stepped forward, and pinched Oscar's ear between her fingers.
"Ow, ow, ow—Zhuqing, easy!"
"Easy? I thought your skin was thick. At just this much, and you're already whining?!"
Lan Minghua watched the playful bickering without interrupting.
Two years earlier, when Zhu Zhuqing left to train with Qi, she'd worried some woman would bewitch Oscar and steal his heart. She confessed first.
Oscar accepted, and the two became the Tianlong Gang's recognized couple.
After a while, in order to escape her grip, Oscar hurriedly said, "Zhuqing, you must have business with Master. Don't keep him waiting!"
Zhu Zhuqing flicked his ear away with a huff. "Hmph. Backtalk the master like that again and see how I deal with you."
Then she stepped up to Lan Minghua and bowed respectfully. "Master, what did you need from me?"
Lan Minghua nodded. As he projected the scene of Feng Xiaotian's recent battle with Ling Leizhu (Thunder Boar), he said, "Over the past two years, the Star Luo Empire's strength has skyrocketed. They can't hold back their ambition and are preparing to strike at the Tianlong Empire. You—what do you think?"
As a native of Star Luo, Zhu Zhuqing understood that empire well.
After watching the projected battle and hearing Lan Minghua's words, she understood his intent and offered what she knew.
"Star Luo is a martial empire. They've produced more than thirty Titled Douluo in two years—arrogance is inevitable. With that many Titled Douluo, the royal clan won't sit still."
Lan Minghua rolled his eyes. He'd known all that already.
Truly a couple with Oscar—her brain seemed to have dulled a bit.
"What I'm asking is: does Star Luo have anyone you care about? If they get hurt, that would be… troublesome."
Zhu Zhuqing flushed, realizing she'd misunderstood.
She stuck out her pink tongue and shook her head. "No. I have no ties to anyone in Star Luo now. Even the Lingcat Clan—they have nothing to do with me anymore."
The Lingcat Clan was the Zhu family of Star Luo—Zhu Zhuqing's own clan.
Lan Minghua wasn't surprised by her answer.
He'd had designs on Star Luo for two years. To be prepared, he'd sent people to investigate early on.
The Lingcat Clan was a great clan in Star Luo, but only thanks to the royal family.
If their Nether Spirit Cat martial soul didn't fuse with the Evil-Eyed White Tiger for a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they'd be just middling.
And the price for becoming a great clan was steep.
Any girl awakened with the Nether Spirit Cat had to be matched to a Star Luo prince—no conditions attached.
No matter the prince's character; if the ages fit, the match was made.
Thus, Zhu Zhuqing became Dai Mubai's fiancée with no chance to resist.
Even so, she endured.
Who would have thought that coward Dai Mubai, afraid of Davis, fled Star Luo for the Heaven Dou Empire?
Through those years, she was mocked and scorned.
Her clan and the royal family alike would have preferred Zhu Zhuqing dead.
With such a nation and such a family, Zhu Zhuqing, of course, felt no attachment.
Lan Minghua nodded. "In that case, when we campaign against Star Luo, you should come along and temper yourself."
Zhu Zhuqing hadn't yet reacted when Oscar jumped in first.
"What? Master, you can't be serious! Star Luo has over thirty Titled Douluo—and no shortage of Contra and Soul Saints."
"Zhuqing's only a Soul Emperor. Isn't it too dangerous to send her?"
Zhu Zhuqing felt warmth bloom in her chest at Oscar's fretful tone.
But Lan Minghua snorted. "What? You want to go in her place?"
Oscar gritted his teeth, straightened his face, and said, "If it's for her, I could—"
He didn't finish. A flying slipper smacked him in the face and sent him tumbling.
Lan Minghua deadpanned, "You talk like you aren't also a Soul Emperor. And speaking of soul power, you're sixty-five. Zhuqing's already sixty-six. You're lower than she is, got it?"
Oscar rubbed his head in embarrassment. Indeed, his cultivation trailed Zhu Zhuqing's now.
Before he could argue more, Lan Minghua's voice cut in, calm. "Relax. How could I bear to send Zhuqing to her death? Since Star Luo provoked us first, of course we won't sit on our hands."
"I only want Zhuqing to go back and take one last look at her homeland. She might not get the chance again. And Oscar—do you still not grasp the Tianlong Gang's strength?"
No sooner had he spoken than two or three dozen figures appeared on the rear mountain of the Tianlong Gang's grounds. Every aura was formidable—Titled Douluo level.
These were the rewards Lan Minghua had drawn over the last two years thanks to the "Master's Merit" lottery.
Not all were rank ninety-five, but even at the same rank, they far outclassed Star Luo's "hothouse" Titled Douluo—cultivation forced up too fast to be solid.
Lan Minghua gave the order. "You'll accompany Zhuqing to Star Luo. Cull the Titled Douluo they're so proud of."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Zhu Zhuqing had changed over these years; she no longer hesitated. "Thank you, Master," she said at once.
Immediately, those Titled Douluo led Zhu Zhuqing in secret toward the Star Luo Empire.
At the same time, the Star Luo Empire still basked in the glow of its newfound might, unaware their first battle was already lost.
In the Star Luo imperial palace, Dai Yutian stared greedily at the map, his gaze fixed on the Tianlong Empire as though it were within arm's reach.
"Tianlong Empire, Spirit Hall—it matters not! The one to unify the continent will be my Star Luo Empire!"
Just then, a figure stumbled into the hall in panic, rolling and scrambling to his knees.
"Y–Your Majesty, terrible news!"
(End of Chapter)