Zhu Family head Zhu Zihao and the three elders had arrived at the main hall early. Today, they were all somewhat distracted. The family assembly was an important occasion, but they had no mind to pay attention to it now.
The Zhu Family had no shortage of Soul Emperors or Soul Saints. Only someone like Xu Ran, who had a chance of breaking through to Titled Douluo, could draw their attention.
At today's family assembly, Xu Ran alone was worth their attention.
A twelve-year-old, rank thirty-one Soul Elder-such a genius had not appeared in the Star Luo Empire for centuries.
Now that a genius of this caliber had appeared in their Zhu Family, it meant that heaven was watching over them.
Zhu Zhuqing was also in the main hall. She wore a long black dress edged with gold patterns that outlined her full curves. With her slender legs, she stood there like a crane among chickens.
Countless gazes in the hall turned toward her, unable to help feeling dazzled, yet also helpless and rueful.
Zhu Zhuqing had the best talent in the Zhu Family, even slightly better than the eldest young lady, Zhu Zhuyun. But her fiancé was a good-for-nothing and a coward, and that had already sealed her fate.
Since ancient times, beautiful women had often suffered ill fates. Unless something unexpected happened, Zhu Zhuqing's fragrance would fade and her jade would shatter in a dozen or so years.
Zhu Zhuqing simply ignored their gazes. Over all these years, she had grown accustomed to how others looked at her. She never cared what others thought, either. She lived only for herself. How anyone else saw her meant nothing to her.
Her beautiful eyes kept scanning her surroundings, searching for Xu Ran. After a long while, Zhu Zhuqing felt somewhat disappointed. She had not seen Xu Ran again since that night. He seemed to have evaporated from the face of the earth. Now, even at the family assembly, there was no sign of him.
Was Xu Ran disappointed in me? But with our respective positions, how could we possibly be together? Even if I had feelings for him, what would it matter? Could we possibly have the power to resist the imperial family?
She did not want to drag Xu Ran down, yet her heart had still ached a little when he left. Had Xu Ran left for good? Would he ever come back? Unease stirred in her heart. Although she had only met him a handful of times, there was no denying that Xu Ran had already left a mark on her heart.
"Zhu Zhuqing, sorry I'm late." Xu Ran spotted Zhu Zhuqing as soon as he entered the hall. She was clearly beautiful today, wearing a long dress that revealed a small stretch of her lovely, snow-white legs, drawing countless furtive glances.
Today was the family assembly, and he had to get the family head, Zhu Zihao, to break off Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai's engagement. Then he would have an opportunity to make that request. With his talent, Zhu Zihao might even promise Zhu Zhuqing to him in marriage.
"Xu Ran, you're finally here. I thought you weren't coming to the family assembly today." Zhu Zhuqing abruptly raised her head. Hearing his voice again filled her heart with irrepressible delight. She looked at his face and let out a long breath. Clearly, she had been overthinking things. Xu Ran was so kind; how could he possibly be angry with her?
"I've washed your clothes." Zhu Zhuqing came up to Xu Ran and handed him the clothes she was holding against her chest.
"Thank you. You're so good, Zhu Zhuqing, and so capable. Whoever marries you someday will truly be blessed." Xu Ran took the clothes and smiled as he spoke. Zhu Zhuqing was so capable. If they got together someday, would she become even more capable?
He could not help looking forward to it. Zhu Zhuqing was the sort of girl who liked to give quietly from behind the scenes, the good-wife-and-loving-mother type.
"Don't talk nonsense." Zhu Zhuqing's lovely face flushed, and she could not help punching Xu Ran, though it did not hurt. It looked more like a little girl acting coy. This side of Zhu Zhuqing immediately surprised everyone present.
"Who is this guy? How is he so close to the second young lady?"
"And the second young lady was just holding his clothes. What's going on? Could they have...?"
Countless disciples could not help forming a bold guess. Returning his clothes? Could Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing have already done that? Otherwise, why would she need to return his clothes?
Countless imaginations began running wild.
At the same time, they were somewhat disgruntled. Who was Xu Ran? They had never even heard that name. Why did he get to be so intimate with Zhu Zhuqing? And she seemed to have some affection for him, too.
"I am Zhu Ling, a rank twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster. I've come to seek your instruction." A young man in a fitted black outfit walked straight up to Xu Ran, his voice dripping with disdain. Even if he could not win Zhu Zhuqing over himself, he could not allow another man to do so. A woman like Zhu Zhuqing had beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms, and such fine talent, too. What did Xu Ran amount to?
Zhu Ling's voice drew everyone's attention. Zhu Zihao and the three elders also turned their gazes toward them, watching the scene with interest. They, too, were curious about Xu Ran's strength.
A Soul Elder at twelve-his cultivation speed was very fast. But what about his strength?
Cultivation and strength could not be equated.
"Just you? I'm afraid you aren't enough," Xu Ran said indifferently. The fellow feared this and that and dared not pursue girls himself, yet grew jealous when someone else succeeded. People like him were utterly shameless.
"Hmph, how arrogant. If you lose, stay away from Miss Zhu Zhuqing." As Zhu Ling spoke, he directly released his Martial Soul, the Hell Spirit Cat. His rank twenty-eight Soul Power fluctuations spread out, making quite a few disciples in the hall nod. After all, those here were of the younger generation. Zhu Ling was only sixteen, and his strength was about average for his age.
Zhu Ling had released his Martial Soul, but Xu Ran still stood motionless, looking as calm as a gentle breeze beneath light clouds.
His behavior directly enraged Zhu Ling. Seeing a trace of contempt and disregard in Xu Ran's eyes, he was instantly furious.
A mere collateral-branch disciple dared to ignore me?
Seeing Xu Ran's behavior, the surrounding Zhu Family disciples burst out laughing.
What level was Zhu Ling's cultivation? Yet Xu Ran still dared to show off? Without even releasing his Martial Soul, Xu Ran could not possibly be Zhu Ling's match, however strong he was.
"Xu Ran just wants to show off in front of the second young lady."
"He hasn't even considered Zhu Ling's cultivation. Rank twenty-eight is already pretty strong among the Zhu Family's younger generation."
"If Xu Ran can beat Zhu Ling, I'll chop my dick off right here."
Many disciples discussed it, and one well-endowed fellow even made that bold declaration. But the group who had previously witnessed Xu Ran's strength in the square said nothing, watching the show with interest.
Hearing all the discussion, Zhu Ling's confidence swelled to bursting. He sneered and charged at Xu Ran. He instantly unleashed his second Soul Skill, intending to show Xu Ran how strong a main-branch disciple was. A collateral-branch disciple who did not even possess the family Martial Soul actually dared to pursue the second young lady? He certainly had some nerve.
In his view, defeating Xu Ran might even attract Zhu Zhuqing's attention. Although he dared not become involved with her, having such a beautiful woman like him would still give him something to boast about.
But very soon, his fantasy was shattered.
Boom!
A tremendous crash rang out. Before Zhu Ling could even get close to Xu Ran, he was sent flying backward and fell several meters away.
And Xu Ran had not even released his Martial Soul.
Xu Ran had made only two movements: drawing his sword and sheathing it.
Both movements were clean and crisp, completed within a single second without the slightest dragging through mud or water.
The sight left all the disciples present dumbfounded. Even the family head, Zhu Zihao, and the three elders looked somewhat dazed, staring at Xu Ran in astonishment.
A rank twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster had been defeated in an instant, without Xu Ran even releasing his Martial Soul.
Was this for real?
Zhu Ling lay curled up on the floor in pain, unable to keep horror from rising in his heart. He had never imagined Xu Ran would be so strong. The power of that sword strike was far too terrifying. Never mind him-no one in the hall below Soul Elder could possibly withstand it. Just how strong was Xu Ran? A Soul Ancestor? Otherwise, how could he be so powerful without releasing his Martial Soul?
"Do you yield?" Xu Ran looked at Zhu Ling and asked indifferently. This was his first real battle, too, and the Martial Soul the system had bestowed upon him was evidently truly invincible. He had a feeling that, although he was only a Soul Elder, he could barely put up a fight even against a Soul King if he went all out.
"Yes, yes! I yield! I really yield, bro!" Zhu Ling nodded frantically. Looking at the pitch-black longsword in Xu Ran's hand, he could not help shuddering. If Xu Ran had released his Martial Soul, he probably would have been cleaved in two just now.
The other disciples around them seemed to shudder at the sight as well. When they looked at Xu Ran again, their gazes carried a trace of respect. In this world, the strong could obtain respect, and even everything else.
"Xu Ran is so strong, much stronger than I imagined."
Zhu Zhuqing could not help speaking in astonishment, a smile involuntarily appearing on her cool, lovely face.
Xu Ran's strength far exceeded her expectations. That display alone meant his true strength could at least rival a Soul Ancestor's. He was still so young. A youth like him should count among the continent's very finest geniuses, shouldn't he?
Xu Ran's future would be limitless. He even had a chance to become a Titled Douluo.
Starting today, there will be two updates daily. One at midnight, and one after five in the afternoon. Also: please send recommendation votes. Once the recommendation votes pass five hundred, there will be an extra chapter on top of the two daily updates. [195|500]
A little reminder: starting tomorrow, the plot will shift from quiet to something a little more interesting. Mwah! Remember to keep feeding me!