Skywater City, City Lord Mansion.
This place lay on the border where the Far North of the Douluo Continent met human territory, yet there was not the slightest hint of bitter cold or desolation.
Beyond the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, a fine drizzle fell. It was not a gloomy gray, but a clear, cleansing rain that seemed to wash away the dust.
Neuvillette sat behind the broad desk, holding an ancient book in his hands, his gaze calm as water.
He had crossed into the Douluo Continent a million years ago and cultivated until he stood above the God Kings.
A million years was a lifetime of vicissitudes to ordinary people. To him, it was no more than a long tea break.
He rarely made a move. The world knew only that there was a Skywater City that safeguarded peace in the region, but not who its lord truly was.
Just then, a light, quick set of footsteps broke the quiet of the room.
High heels struck the expensive carpet with a dull, rhythmic thud.
Before she appeared, her sweet fragrance arrived.
A fresh, sweet scent wafted over. Then a petite figure lightly sprang up beside the desk.
Furina.
Today she wore a little blue-and-white dress. Her trademark top hat sat slightly askew, lending her an especially playful air.
A crafty glint sparkled in her mismatched eyes as she smiled at Neuvillette.
"Husband, what's troubling you?"
Furina leaned to one side and sat right on the corner of the desk.
Her beautiful legs, wrapped in white stockings, crossed without a care and swung gently, stirring up a fragrant breeze.
Neuvillette set down the ancient book and looked at her delicate face, giving a slight shake of his head.
"Nothing is troubling me."
"It's just that the world is so noisy and chaotic these days."
The outside world was already in utter turmoil.
The Spirit Hall Empire had been founded and declared war on the two great empires. Flames of war raged, and lives were lost in droves.
Though Skywater City had once been content to remain in a corner of the world, protected by his reputation, it would only be a matter of time before it was drawn into the conflict as the front lines stretched farther.
To him, however, it was all dust.
At worst, he could wipe out those reckless troublemakers who didn't know their place.
Furina gave a soft snort and leaned forward, fixing her beautiful eyes on him.
"Really? You're not worried?"
"Those young girls at Skywater Academy are practically beside themselves."
As she spoke, she reached out and naturally rested a hand on Neuvillette's shoulder, gently kneading it.
Her pressure was just right, and her technique practiced.
Neuvillette relaxed a little and leaned back against his chair, letting her work her not particularly skilled massage on him.
"What happened to them?" Neuvillette asked, his tone even.
Furina pursed her lips. Her hands kept moving, but the words tumbled out of her mouth like beans from a pod:
"It's because the Spirit Hall Empire is fighting so fiercely."
"That girl Shui Bing'er broke through to Titled Douluo a few days ago. Now she thinks she's strong enough to spread her wings, and she keeps clamoring to go out and put an end to the war."
"And Xue Wu and the others can't sit still either. They say they want to do their part for humanity."
At that, Furina suddenly stopped massaging and turned around.
She lifted her long, shapely legs and rested them right across Neuvillette's thighs.
White stockings hugged her shapely calves, her ankles slender and her toes pointed.
"Husband, my legs are sore. Give them a rub."
Furina pouted and pleaded without a hint of shame, her big eyes blinking expectantly.
Neuvillette's expression didn't change. He seemed to have grown used to her antics.
He reached out with his long, jade-like hand and gently grasped her delicate ankle.
It felt warm and smooth beneath his fingers.
He used no Soul Power, only the strength of an ordinary man, gently pressing into the firm muscle of her calf.
Furina's eyes narrowed in comfort. Like a cat being petted, she let out a satisfied little hum.
"Mmm... right there. A little harder."
Neuvillette increased the pressure as she asked and continued the earlier conversation:
"A master can show you the way, but the rest is up to you."
"Now that Shui Bing'er and the others have become Titled Douluo, they can protect themselves."
"Fledglings must leave the nest eventually. They have their own paths to follow. If they want to go out and make their way in the world, then let them."
He might be protective, but he had no intention of raising them like flowers in a greenhouse.
He had established Skywater Academy on a whim to provide a safe haven for talented youngsters in this chaotic age.
Now that they had learned what they could, it was only right for them to venture into the world and gain experience.
Enjoying a God King-level massage, Furina's lips curved upward, showing a row of pearly white teeth.
"Yeah, right."
"You make it sound so noble. I wonder who it was that went and investigated the whole family tree of that Soul Beast in the middle of the night after Shui Yue'er got a little hurt while hunting for a Soul Ring."
"You're so protective, husband. Just admit it."
She lightly kicked Neuvillette in the stomach, acting especially brazen.
Neuvillette's hands didn't stop. They even slid a little farther up her silky stockings and gave her springy thigh a squeeze.
"That was simply a teacher's duty."
His tone remained as proper as ever, though his hands moved with a tenderness only the two of them understood.
Furina's cheeks flushed, but she didn't draw her legs back. Instead, she snuggled closer to him.
The atmosphere in the room was just right, charged with intimacy.
Just then.
RUMBLE—!!
A tremendous boom shook them—not from thunder, but from a tremor deep in their souls.
In that instant, the sky over the entire Douluo Continent was torn open.
It was not shattered, but opened wide.
Boundless golden light poured down from the heavens, driving away the dark clouds. Even the steady drizzle outside Skywater City stopped at once.
A vast, solemn presence that none could look upon enveloped the entire world.
Neuvillette's hands stilled. He raised an eyebrow and looked out the window.
Furina was startled too. She quickly drew back her legs, hopped off the desk, and ran to the floor-to-ceiling window.
High above, an enormous golden scroll slowly unfurled, blotting out the sky and stretching across the ages.
Golden dragons coiled across it, auspicious light radiating in thousands of beams. Every line on it contained the principles of heaven and earth.
A line of gilded characters slowly appeared at the top of the scroll, illuminating the entire continent.
[Continent Rare Treasure Ranking]
Then a magnificent voice rang in the ears of every living being, regardless of species or location.
[The Heavenly Dao is clear; the Golden Ranking List has appeared.]
[All living beings of the Douluo Continent who possess rare treasures may be listed.]
[The first list is the Continent Rare Treasure Ranking, which records the ten greatest rare treasures in the world.]
[Those listed shall receive the Heavenly Dao's blessing and gain an unparalleled opportunity.]
When the voice faded, heaven and earth fell silent.
A moment later, the entire world erupted in uproar.
Inside the City Lord Mansion.
Neuvillette looked at the Sky Screen. There was little surprise on his face, only a hint of calm.
The Golden Ranking List had appeared at just the right time.
It seemed this chaotic age was about to get even more turbulent.
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