Douluo Dalu: Beginning with Signing in with Yan Lingji

Chapter 186: Zhao Ming's Power, Shocking

"Zhuqing, do you know what you're saying?" Zhu Zihao said sternly.

"I know. He's my boyfriend, and he's the one I care about most," Zhu Zhuqing replied, her eyes unwavering as she faced her father.

"And you have the nerve to say that? Don't you know you still have a marriage contract with Dai Mubai?" Zhu Zihao's anger flared, his body trembling with rage.

"The marriage contract with Dai Mubai was arranged by you. I have no feelings for him. The one I love is Zhao Ming," Zhu Zhuqing said as she clung tightly to Zhao Ming's arm, seeking a sense of security.

Zhu Zihao's fury intensified. He couldn't believe that his once obedient and well-behaved daughter dared to defy him like this. She had done something so outrageous and still acted as if she was justified.

"You must be Zhao Ming. Judging by your appearance, you might have some decent background, but it's still far from being on par with the Zhu family. My daughter, Zhu Zihao's daughter, is not someone you can hope to attain," Zhu Zihao said, trying to suppress his anger as he looked at Zhao Ming arrogantly.

He believed that his precious daughter must have been influenced by this young man. She had been sheltered within the Zhu family all her life and had never ventured outside. It was understandable that she could be deceived by sweet words and false promises.

This was his failure as a father.

But fortunately, she had returned before things went too far. If she had been outside with this man for longer and something irreversible had happened, it would have been his fault.

Thankfully, there was still a chance to correct things.

"So, you want me to leave Zhuqing?" Zhao Ming's eyes narrowed as he looked at Zhu Zihao, a hint of coldness in his gaze.

"Of course. If you agree to leave my daughter, I can promise you wealth and status. You're a soul master, right? I can even have people assist you when you need to hunt soul beasts and obtain soul rings. How about it?" Zhu Zihao offered.

He knew his daughter well; from her reaction, he could tell that she genuinely had feelings for this young man, something he couldn't accept. The best way to resolve this was to make her see this man's true nature, to make her lose all feelings for him. That way, everything could return to normal.

"Father," Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her brows, about to argue with Zhu Zihao, but Zhao Ming gently pulled her back. This was something he needed to handle.

Zhu Zihao, a mere Soul Emperor, was of no consequence.

He respected Zhu Zihao as Zhuqing's father, so he didn't want to escalate things. However, if Zhu Zihao persisted, he wouldn't hesitate to show him true strength.

Zhu Zihao's cultivation was barely at the level of a newly-advanced Soul Emperor, comparable to Li Yusong.

With Zhao Ming's current strength, defeating him would be effortless.

"And if I refuse to leave?" Zhao Ming chuckled, his eyes cold as he looked at Zhu Zihao.

"Then you'll die," Zhu Zihao sneered. As the head of the Zhu family and a duke of the Star Luo Empire, even the emperor treated him with respect. Killing a mere boy was nothing—no one could stop him.

"It's the first time someone has spoken to me like this. You think you, a mere Soul Emperor, can kill me?" Zhao Ming sneered.

He took a step forward, and suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from him, enveloping the entire testing platform and the surrounding area.

Zhao Ming's aura continued to rise, the ancient and primal energy of the Undying Firebird making Zhu Zihao's heart clench with a deep-seated fear. At the same time, a dark gold energy emanated from Zhao Ming's right hand, the aura of the ten-thousand-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

The atmosphere around them distorted under the pressure of the savage, murderous, and overwhelming force.

"How is this possible?" Zhu Zihao's face filled with shock as he stared at Zhao Ming. He hadn't expected Zhao Ming to possess such immense power.

Sensing Zhao Ming's aura, Zhu Zihao's expression darkened as he immediately released his martial spirit. Two yellow, two purple, and two black rings emerged—the standard configuration of a Soul Emperor. His Soul Emperor aura surged toward Zhao Ming, intending to suppress him.

Zhao Ming's aura collided with Zhu Zihao's Soul Emperor pressure, creating a loud, muffled sound.

Zhu Zhuqing watched anxiously, not out of concern that Zhao Ming might be injured, but worried that her father might get hurt. She knew Zhao Ming's strength well; even before their trip to the Star Dou Forest, he had been able to defeat Li Yusong, another Soul Emperor. His power would only have grown since then.

Nearby, Zhu Zhuyun's eyes widened in shock as she watched Zhao Ming, utterly speechless.

She knew how young Zhao Ming was. He was definitely under twenty, possibly even younger. For someone of his age to possess such strength—he was undoubtedly a prodigy.

Such a talent would surely become a Titled Douluo in the future.

The thought of him reaching the Titled Douluo rank sent a shiver through Zhu Zhuyun.

Neither the Zhu family nor the Dai family currently had a Titled Douluo. While there were many Titled Douluo in the Heaven Dou Empire, they were rare in the Star Luo Empire. Although the Zhu and Dai families' martial soul fusion technique could rival the power of a strong Titled Douluo, the fusion skill had many limitations compared to a pure Titled Douluo.

With this realization, Zhu Zhuyun glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, a hint of relief in her usually cold eyes.

Her sister had finally found a good match.

Women of the Zhu family had never truly been free. Despite their noble status, the hardships they faced were known only to themselves. Zhu Zhuyun didn't want her relationship with Zhuqing to remain strained forever.

Sometimes, she felt a pang of sorrow watching her sister suffer alone. But she had to be harsh; if she weren't, Zhuqing would never have left her, and that would have only put her in more danger.

Sometimes, she wished she could protect her sister, but those who supported Davis's claim to the throne wouldn't show any mercy.

Leaving, going to the Heaven Dou Empire, had been the best option for her sister.

Originally, she thought Zhuqing would never return. But now, she was back, and she had brought back a talented boyfriend. This was the best outcome she could have hoped for.

With that thought, she felt a sense of relief.

Now, she was determined to help Zhuqing convince their father to allow her to be with this prodigiously talented young man. If Zhuqing could stay with him, she would find her happiness. The Zhu family would also gain a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse in the future. And she would no longer have to be caught between her sister and Davis's power struggles.

If Zhuqing stayed with this prodigy, her engagement with Dai Mubai would be severed, freeing her from the royal family's political conflicts once and for all.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 44𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.