Clear Sky Sect, the Zhu Family's Concern

Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Xiao stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the golden Ranking List in the sky as he murmured under his breath.

"Three women capable of raising levels..."

"Medicine that can regenerate severed limbs..."

He slowly turned around and looked at the several elders behind him, whose expressions were equally grim. His voice was somewhat low.

"Gentlemen, three! A full three peerless beauties, all from the same faction!"

"Have we, the Clear Sky Sect, remained hidden for too long?"

"Now, with a storm brewing, this Dark Night Arena we have never even heard of possesses such resources..."

As he spoke, a trace of anxiety for the sect's future flashed through Tang Xiao's eyes.

"If we continue cowering here and turn a blind eye to this..."

"Once Spirit Hall or some other faction obtains these opportunities and their strength soars, then..."

"Our Clear Sky Sect will be left far behind, or even... face nothing but destruction!"

Hearing this, the elders looked at one another, each seeing the urgency in the others' eyes.

Tang Xiao took a deep breath and no longer hesitated. "Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder!"

"Sect Master." The two old men nodded.

"You two are to leave the sect at once!" Tang Xiao said solemnly.

"Go to Moonlight Pavilion in Heaven Dou City and find Yuehua."

"Yuehua has spent years among Heaven Dou's nobles. She should be well-informed."

"Ask her whether she knows anything about this Dark Night Arena, and who its Arena Master is."

"If you find out..."

Tang Xiao paused. A trace of decisiveness flashed through his eyes, and he waved his hand. "Negotiate with that Arena Master."

"Tell him that if he is willing to part with one of the peerless beauties on the Ranking List and give her to our Clear Sky Sect..."

"Even if we have to drain more than half the sect's savings, even if it costs us dearly, we must buy her!"

In a world where strength reigned supreme, an opportunity capable of raising a Titled Douluo's level was ten thousand times more precious than any gold or silver!

Fourth Elder frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Sect Master, what if that Arena Master refuses to sell?"

Tang Xiao pondered for a moment. "If he refuses... then act according to the circumstances."

The meaning behind those words was profound.

"Understood!"

Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder exchanged a glance before transforming into two streaks of light and vanishing into the vast snowy mountains.

Tang Xiao turned back toward the boundless sea of clouds, a deep melancholy appearing on his face.

"Grandpa... where exactly did you go?"

"After all these years, are you still alive?"

At that thought, the image of his high-spirited younger brother surfaced in Tang Xiao's mind once more.

"And Hao Di... where are you now?"

"Seeing such Divine Medicine, you would surely risk everything for it too..."

Star Luo Empire, the Zhu Family estate.

The Zhu Family's courtyard was exceptionally quiet.

A beautiful mature woman dressed in a luxurious purple gown stood beside the flowers in the courtyard.

She had taken excellent care of herself. Though already a married woman, time seemed to have favored her especially.

Not only had it left no marks on her face, it had instead refined her into a woman of dignified and grand mature charm.

She was the Zhu Family's current Family Head, Zhu Yuming.

At that moment, she raised her slender neck and quietly watched the information on the Heavenly Curtain, her Beautiful Eyes filled with countless thoughts.

At that moment, an old maid with graying hair hurried over. "Family Head."

The old maid lowered her voice and moved close to Zhu Yuming. "Someone has come from the palace."

"They were sent by His Majesty to ask our Zhu Family..."

"Whether any young woman in the family has awakened a form like the Catwoman on the Ranking List?"

Upon hearing that, Zhu Yuming rolled her eyes without the slightest attempt to hide it.

She waved her hand impatiently, her tone cold. "Tell them no!"

The old maid silently nodded. "This old servant gave them the same answer and has already sent them away."

After the old maid withdrew, a trace of worry gradually appeared on Zhu Yuming's face.

She turned to look at an elder who had been standing not far away.

"Great Elder, what do you think of this Peerless Beauty Ranking?"

Great Elder looked up at the Heavenly Curtain and pondered for a long time before slowly speaking. "Family Head, this time... I fear it is a calamity!"

"The women of our Zhu Family are all exceptional in both appearance and figure."

"I think... Zhu Zhuyun is very likely to make the Ranking List."

At the mention of Zhu Zhuyun's name, Zhu Yuming's brows knitted tightly.

Great Elder sighed and continued, "If she truly makes the list, then the consequences..."

"I fear His Majesty..."

Great Elder stopped halfway through, but his meaning could not have been clearer.

Naturally, Zhu Yuming understood as well.

In the Star Luo Empire, where imperial power stood above all and strength reigned supreme...

Family ties and ethics were worthless before absolute power.

Zhu Zhuyun was nominally the fiancée of First Prince Dai Weisi and might even become the future Crown Princess.

But if that man Dai Yutian wanted to use the effects of Dual Cultivation to break through his own bottleneck and advance toward Titled Douluo...

He would absolutely not hesitate to lay his hands on his future daughter-in-law!

When that time came, who could stop him? And who would dare to?

"Powerless to control our own fate..."

Looking at the peerless beauties gleaming in Golden Light on the Ranking List, Zhu Yuming felt that they were not opportunities.

They were merely materials for the strong to improve their strength.

The wind swept through the courtyard, scattering flower petals. She sighed helplessly, her voice full of powerlessness.

"If that day truly comes... what can our Zhu Family do?"

Dark Night Arena, top-floor room.

After returning, Qin Chen looked at the evaluations on the Peerless Beauty Ranking, and a smile could not help appearing at the corner of his lips.

That long-sealed memory resurfaced once more.

"Xiao Chen, what's wrong?"

Liu Erlong, who had been lazily leaning by the Window Side, noticed the change in him and asked curiously.

"Maybe he's remembering the wonderful days he spent with Sister Jiang Zhu?"

Before Qin Chen could speak, Doudou had already leaped barefoot behind him.

Like a koala, she wrapped her arms intimately around Qin Chen's neck.

Her little face kept rubbing affectionately against his cheek.

She and Jiang Zhu were both nineteen now, but Jiang Zhu was a few months older, so she called her Sister.

"Sister Jiang Zhu is so gentle. She has so many admirers in the Duel Arena!"

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing puffed out her cheeks.

She lowered her head, continuously poking her two index fingers together as she muttered softly.

"I... I want to cuddle too... I can be very gentle too..."

Qin Chen reached out and rubbed her little head, then patted Doudou, who was hanging off him.

"She..."

Qin Chen softened his voice, and his gaze became somewhat tender.

"She's a little fool."

According to the original course of fate, Jiang Zhu would have caught Liu Erlong's eye because of her kindness and talent.

She would have joined Blue Tyrant Academy, become one of its finest students, and participated in the Continental Soul Master Elite Tournament as Shrek's substitute.

But Liu Erlong had followed him, so naturally there would be no Blue Tyrant Academy.

Thus, Jiang Zhu's fate had undergone a tremendous change as well.

Outside the Duel Arena's treatment room.

The fierce-looking contestants who had originally been waiting in a long line now quietly left the corridor one after another.

"Go, go, go. Let Miss Jiang Zhu rest for a while. We can take the chance to look at the Ranking List too."

"Exactly. A little flesh wound like yours is nothing."

Gradually, the area outside the treatment room became exceptionally quiet.

Jiang Zhu put away her Healing Scepter and slowly walked to the windowsill.

She raised her head and stared blankly at the names shining brilliantly on the Peerless Beauty Ranking.

"Can... I make the list too?"

She remembered how she had once been covered in wrinkles, how others had despised her appearance.

She remembered how he had shown not the slightest disgust, but had instead gently extended his hand and said, "Come home with me."

The next moment.

A crystalline tear slid down her fair, tender cheek.

"Drip."

The tear fell to the floor, splashing into a tiny blossom of water.

"Bzzz—!"

At that moment, the Heavenly Curtain high in the sky erupted with Golden Light once more, followed by the familiar scene unfolding.

[Memory Recall · Activated · Jiang Zhu]