The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft dappled patterns of light into the room.
Lin Ciyan was Xu Jiujiu asleep in his arms.
She lay curled up on her side, her long golden hair scattered on the pillow, her fair shoulders exposed outside the silk quilt, and faint red marks from last night's pleasure still lingering on her skin.
He gently moved his arm, let out a soft moan Xu Jiujiu, and subconsciously snuggled closer to him.
This movement caused the silk quilt on her chest to slip down slightly, revealing her alluring curves.
Lin Ciyan was about to cover her up when he suddenly frowned.
I sensed that a lot of people had come downstairs.
The footsteps were chaotic, there were at least twenty people, and... they were all Soul Master!
One of the auras was particularly powerful, clearly at the level of Titled Douluo!
" For Jiujiu." Lin Ciyan gently shook the beauty in his arms.
Xu Jiujiu, her eyelashes fluttered, and she groggily opened her eyes. " Ci Yan... what's wrong?"
"There are people downstairs, a lot of them," Lin Ciyan said in a low voice.
Xu Jiujiu stunned for two seconds, then his senses began to expand.
The next second, her expression changed slightly.
"They're my brother's men..." She sat up, the silk quilt slipping down, her upper body fully exposed to the morning light, but she didn't care at the moment. "And... Grandpa Feng is here too."
The "Grandpa Feng" she mentioned is one of the Titled Douluo worshipped by the Star Luo Imperial Family, Super Douluo powerhouse with the title "Star".
"How did they find their way here?" Xu Jiujiu frowned.
Lin Ciyan pointed to the floor of the room...
Last night, when the two Martial Soul Resonance, the phantom of the Star Crown and the aura of the Holy Radiance Qilin intertwined. Although the residual energy fluctuations were weak, Titled Douluo could indeed detect the anomaly if he examined it carefully.
"It was my oversight." He sighed for Xu Jiujiu, but then raised his chin. "But it's good that you found out."
She threw back the silk quilt and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the carpet, not caring at all that her perfect, naked body was exposed to Lin Ciyan's eyes.
In the morning light, her body was breathtakingly beautiful.
Her long, slender legs were straight and well-proportioned, her waist was so thin it could be encircled by a single hand, and Xuezi's milky white skin swayed gently with her movements, her pink tips were tender and alluring.
Xu Jiujiu, she walked to the clothes rack and began to put on her clothes unhurriedly.
First came the moon-white close-fitting undergarment, then the silk inner garment, and finally the pale gold palace dress.
Every movement was graceful and composed, as if she were about to face not an elder brother who was about to interrogate her, but a normal morning meeting.
Lin Ciyan also got up and dressed.
The two had just finished dressing when there was a knock on the door.
" Jiujiu, open the door." A deep, steady male voice came from outside the door, his tone carrying suppressed anger.
Xu Jiujiu, she glanced at Lin Ciyan, a slight smile playing on her lips, and walked over to open the door.
A man in his thirties was standing outside the door.
He was dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, with a handsome face and a resemblance between his eyebrows and Xu Jiujiu, but with a greater air of imperial majesty.
It was none other than Xu Jiawei, the current emperor of the Star Luo Empire.
Behind Xu Jiawei stood an elderly man with white hair, none other than Douluo, the Star Luo Imperial Family Family's "Star" Feng Ping.
Further behind were more than twenty palace guards dressed in dark gold armor, each exuding a powerful aura, at least at the Soul King level.
Xu Jiawei's gaze went straight past Xu Jiujiu and landed on Lin Ciyan in the room.
Seeing Lin Ciyan's striking long blonde and white hair, and that young yet calm and composed face, Xu Jiawei's eyes darkened even more.
" Lin Ciyan?" he asked coldly.
"Your Majesty." Lin Ciyan nodded slightly, as if to offer a greeting.
"Brother, what brings you here?" Xu Jiujiu stood in the doorway, his tone calm.
"Why am I here?" Xu Jiawei chuckled in exasperation. "Last night, Elder Feng sensed unusual Soul Power fluctuations around here, suggesting someone had infiltrated. I was worried about your safety, so I brought people over to check early this morning, and the result..."
His gaze swept across the room.
The bedding was disheveled on the soft couch, a faint, ambiguous scent lingered in the air, and her radiant, moist face remained for Xu Jiujiu...
Everything is self-evident.
"It turned out that there was a man hiding in my sister's room." Xu Jiawei stared at Lin Ciyan, his voice icy.
"And it lasted all night!"
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Feng Ping Douluo stepped forward, his level 93 aura faintly enveloping Lin Ciyan.
But Lin Ciyan simply smiled slightly, and the aura of the Holy Radiance Qilin flowed naturally, with the Auspicious Domain quietly unfolding.
The oppressive force, upon reaching the edge of the domain, vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.
Feng Ping's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze towards Lin Ciyan became more serious.
"Brother, Ci Yan is a guest I invited," Xu Jiujiu said calmly. "We are mutually in love, and whatever happens is our business."
"Mutual affection?" Xu Jiawei stared at her.
" Jiujiu, you are Star Luo Princess! Your marriage concerns the interests of the nation; how can it be treated so lightly!"
"Child's play?" Xu Jiujiu laughed. "Brother, I'm nineteen years old this year, not a child. I know what I'm doing, and I know what I want."
She turned and walked to Lin Ciyan's side, taking his hand in hers. "I want him."
These blunt words made Xu Jiawei's face even uglier.
Lin Ciyan felt the warmth of Xu Jiawei's hand, looked at Xu Jiawei, and said frankly, "Your Majesty, Jiujiu and I are indeed mutually in love. What happened last night was beyond my control. If I have offended anyone, I am willing to bear all the responsibility."
"Take responsibility?" Xu Jiawei sneered. "How can you take responsibility? Do you know what 'Jiujiu' represents?"
"She is the most talented princess in the Star Luo Imperial Family in a hundred years, and the hope that may one day reach the Titled Douluo! Her marriage must be a political alliance to secure the greatest benefit for the empire!"
"So," Lin Ciyan suddenly asked, "In His Majesty's eyes, Jiujiu is merely a commodity to be traded?"
"Insolence!" Feng Ping shouted.
Xu Jiawei raised his hand to stop him, staring at Lin Ciyan: "That's not what I meant. But as a member of the royal family, having enjoyed the resources and glory that come with it, she must bear the corresponding responsibilities. This is her fate."
"What if," Lin Ciyan said slowly, "I could offer her something of greater value than a political marriage?"
Xu Jiawei frowned. "What do you mean?"
Lin Ciyan did not answer, but instead gently released a wisp of his aura.
It wasn't the pressure of Soul Power, but the inherent status of the Martial Soul.
The phantom of the Holy Radiance Qilin flashed behind him, its feet resting on auspicious five-colored clouds, its body surrounded by the radiance of the Five Elements.
The noble aura of the auspicious divine beast sent a chill down the spines of all the Beast Martial Soul Master present.
Especially Feng Ping... His Martial Soul is a variant of the Star Crown, the " Starlight Lion," and he actually felt an urge to submit to the Holy Radiance Qilin!
"This is..." Xu Jiawei's pupils suddenly contracted.
He himself was Soul Douluo, so he could naturally feel the suppression originating from the Martial Soul level.
"Me," Lin Ciyan, " Soul Power, level sixty-eight."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Soul Ring beneath his feet slowly rose up.
One yellow, one purple, two black, and two red!
The two red Soul Ring released intense fluctuations, especially the sixth ring, which had an icy blue and fiery red aura flowing within its blackness, radiating a chilling aura.
"In addition," Lin Ciyan continued, "I also have Second Martial Soul, the Light of the Five Elements, and currently have two Soul Ring, both of which are of 100,000-year quality."
The phantom of the Second Martial Soul appeared behind him, with two dazzling orange -Golden Soul Ring!
The entire hall fell silent.
Xu Jiawei opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Feng Ping gasped, his eyes filled with disbelief.
At such a young age, level 68, Twin Martial Souls and four Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?!
This goes beyond the description of genius.
This is a monster! This is a demon!
"Your Majesty should know that I am the grandson of Lin Qingmo of the Shrek Academy, and the last disciple of Mu En." Lin Ciyan put away his Soul Ring, his tone remaining calm. "But none of that matters. What matters is that I can offer Jiujiu far more than just the value of a political marriage."
He looked at Xu Jiawei, his gaze open and honest. "I can help her improve the quality of her Martial Soul... Last night, her Star Crown Martial Soul underwent a sublimation. I can protect her from any threat. In the future, I can even help her reach another level."
The phrase "another level" sent a jolt through Xu Jiawei.
Xu Jiujiu spoke up at the opportune moment, "Brother, last night my Soul Power broke through from level 58 to level 59, and the support ability of my Star Crown Martial Soul increased by at least 30%. All of this was Ci Yan."
She paused, then said firmly, "I don't want anyone but him. If you insist on forcing me into an arranged marriage, then I'll give up my princess status and go with him."
That was a resolute statement.
Looking into her determined eyes, and then at Lin Ciyan, Xu Jiawei Jiawei's anger gradually faded, replaced by a complex sense of helplessness.
He had known for a long time that his sister had been seeing Lin Ciyan.
Two or three years ago, when Lin Ciyan first made a name for himself at Shrek Academy, he had already taken notice of this young man.
I felt at the time that this boy was extraordinary, so I did not stop my sister from getting to know him.
But he never expected that in such a short time, this boy would grow to such a terrifying level!
Twin Martial Souls, Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring...
This goes beyond being described as merely "extraordinary".
This is practically a divine seed from historical records!
Xu Jiawei sighed deeply and rubbed his temples.
"That's enough." He waved his hand, signaling the guards to leave.
Feng Ping glanced at Lin Ciyan and silently left the room.
Only three people remained in the room.
Xu Jiawei walked in, sat down at the table, and pointed to the chair opposite him. "Sit."
Lin Ciyan and Xu Jiujiu exchanged a glance and sat down as instructed.
" Lin Ciyan," Xu Jiawei looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "I admit, your talent... astonishes me. Following you for the Jiujiu might indeed be more valuable than a political marriage."
He paused, then changed the subject. "However, you must understand. Jiujiu is Star Luo Princess, and her marriage is not just a personal matter. Even if I agree, there will be many voices from the court officials and other members of the royal family."
"So?" Lin Ciyan asked.
"So, you need to prove yourself," Xu Jiawei said earnestly. "Not prove your talent, but prove that you have the ability to protect Jiujiu and the ability to cope with any challenges that may arise in the future."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at Star Luo City.
"I'm giving you time. Before Jiujiu twenty-five, if you can become famous throughout the continent, possessing the strength and status to silence everyone..."
Xu Jiawei turned around and looked at Lin Ciyan: "Then, the Star Luo Imperial Family will marry their princess to you in a grand and glorious ceremony."
Lin Ciyan smiled.
He held Xu Jiawei's hand for Xu Jiujiu and looked at him:
"Your Majesty, then please wait and see."
Outside the window, the sun is rising.
A new day has begun.