The Star Luo Emperor, "Definitely, definitely someone else saw it!"

Back and forth it went for a full hour, yet among the women brought by over a dozen noble families, not a single one could earn a nod from Chen Fan.

The atmosphere in the venue gradually turned subtle.

The nobles exchanged glances, their faces etched with a mixture of embarrassment and resentment.

They had brought the most carefully selected gems of their clans—some even from the direct bloodline with innate soul power above level five. How could they be as worthless as roadside cabbage in the eyes of this young Sect Master?

Could it be that only a genius of legendary caliber could catch his eye?

However, seeing the two Title Douluo standing behind Chen Fan, they could only suppress their dissatisfaction.

Compared to these nobles, some of the smaller fry watched with the mindset of mere spectators.

"These are all nobles of our Star Luo Empire. If even their daughters can't catch his eye, I wonder if anyone actually can?"

"I think it's unlikely. I heard this Seven Kill Sect's young Sect Master didn't even look twice at the Imperial eldest princess!"

In the center of the venue.

Chen Fan's gaze suddenly paused.

His eyes fell upon a seat further away, opposite the main table. The woman there was different from the others; she hadn't dressed herself up in flashy finery, but simply wore a plain, elegant cyan dress, sitting quietly beside a middle-aged woman.

The middle-aged woman had a dignified appearance, clearly the matriarch of some estate, and was whispering something to the girl.

The girl kept her head slightly lowered, the profile of her face bathed in a soft glow under the afternoon sun.

Chen Fan's gaze lingered for a moment, then he raised an eyebrow.

Chen Xin followed his gaze and was slightly startled. "That is..."

"Someone from the Zhu Family."

Xu Wensu, who had opened his eyes at some point, spoke in a very low voice. "From the Duke of Nether's Zhu Family. Her name is Zhu Qingxue."

"If there are no internal issues within the Zhu Family, the next head of the family—the heir to the Duke of Nether—will be Zhu Qingxue's younger brother."

"She is highly likely to... become the next Star Luo Empress!"

Chen Fan nodded without saying much, simply withdrawing his gaze to continue scanning the room.

Another half-hour passed, and over a dozen more noble families brought their women forward, yet none could satisfy Chen Fan.

"Hoo..."

Chen Fan leaned back, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed with some disappointment.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, raised his eyes to look at the assembled nobles, and spoke in a casual tone, "Everyone."

At his voice, the entire venue fell silent, and countless gazes turned toward him in unison.

"Thank you all for gracing me with your presence today."

Chen Fan set down his cup, his tone indifferent. "However, it is a pity that, as of now, there is no one who fully meets the criteria."

As soon as these words were spoken, a suppressed commotion rippled through the crowd.

The nobles wore various expressions—some disappointed, some unwilling, and others harboring a trace of resentment they dared not unleash.

"Sect Master, this..."

The old marquis from earlier couldn't help but speak up. "May I ask what exactly these criteria are..."

Chen Fan waved a hand, cutting him off. "A standard is a standard. There are no specific rules or boxes; if I feel it works, then it works."

The old marquis opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only shut it in frustration.

However.

Just then, as Chen Fan's gaze inadvertently swept across a figure directly opposite the main table, he suddenly paused.

The figure sat at a seat across from the main table, dressed in a vermilion phoenix robe, her hair coiled high, her makeup exquisite. It was none other than the Star Luo Empress, Zhu Qingque.

She had arrived at some point, bringing no attendants, sitting quietly at the edge of the crowd with an untouched cup of tea on her table, her gaze fixed calmly ahead.

Since the deaths of Dai Renfeng and Zhu Buchun, the prestige of the Star Luo Imperial Family had plummeted. Logically, they should have avoided the Seven Kill Sect's activities at all costs, fearing they might be noticed.

Yet, unexpectedly.

The Star Luo Imperial Family had actually sent someone?

And, even more surprisingly, Empress Zhu Qingque had come in person?

Chen Fan's gaze lingered on her for two seconds.

Though these two seconds were brief, to Dai Li, who was disguised in plain clothes among the crowd, they felt magnified a thousand times over.

Dai Li had come today as well.

But just as Chen Fan had surmised, the Dai Family's prestige had fallen to rock bottom, and they were terrified of being noticed by the Seven Kill Sect, so he had been extremely low-key.

He had even put on commoner's clothes and a human-skin mask; among so many nobles, not a single person had recognized him.

The reason for Dai Li's arrival was simple.

He had wanted to see for himself who Chen Fan would choose, so he could determine his subsequent strategy.

But when he saw Chen Fan's gaze linger on his own Empress, his heart tightened violently.

Fortunately, Chen Fan only took a single glance before withdrawing his gaze, saying nothing at all.

Dai Li quietly let out a sigh of relief, though his back was already soaked through with cold sweat.

The banquet continued for about another hour, but no candidate who could satisfy Chen Fan ever appeared.

Finally.

Chen Fan stood up. "Everyone, please begin the feast. I have taken up too much of your time."

With that said.

He turned and left the manor with Chen Xin and Xu Wensu, leaving the gathered dignitaries to exchange bewildered glances. Eventually, they silently took their seats to begin the banquet.

Dai Li did not dare to linger either; almost immediately after Chen Fan departed, he hurried back to the imperial palace.

"Huu..."

He dismissed all the palace attendants and sat alone in the imperial study. He did not light a single lamp, letting himself sink into the darkness as he exhaled a long, heavy breath, his face etched with struggle.

Earlier.

The gaze Chen Fan had cast upon Zhu Qingque felt like a thorn stuck in his heart, one he could not pull out no matter how he tried.

He knew, of course, that the look might not have held any deep meaning, but the crux of the matter was...

The current Star Luo Imperial Family simply had no capital to gamble with!

The two ancestors who had guarded the Dai Family were gone, and now, the entire Star Luo Imperial Family could not even produce a single Titled Douluo.

As for the Seven Kill Sect, Chen Jianjun could slay Dai Renfeng with two strikes, and Chen Fan could casually create a level 93 Titled Douluo. Adding Xu Wensu and Chen Xin, they had three Titled Douluos on the table alone.

What was even more terrifying was that the scene of Chen Jianjun drawing his sword that night had long since become Dai Li's nightmare.

Whenever the night grew deep and quiet, that scene would play over and over in his mind.

He was afraid.

He was afraid that if Chen Fan were ever in a bad mood, he would pin some trumped-up charge on him and drag him straight off the throne.

Just as he had once tried to pin a charge on Chen Fan—to pay him back in his own coin.

He was even more afraid that the Xu Family would seize the opportunity to rise.

Xu Wensu was now a Titled Douluo. If Chen Fan wanted to support the Xu Family to replace the Dai Family, it would be as easy as turning over his hand, given the current void in the Star Luo Imperial Family's combat strength.

"And!"

"I don't believe that just now... I was the only one who noticed!"

"There must be, there must be others who saw it too!"