Starting from Douluo to Capture Goddesses

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Outside Zhu Zhuqing's boudoir, in the courtyard,

Zhu Zhuqing sat on a stone chair, her slender legs stretched out straight on a stone platform, her eyes gazing at the distant sky. She was daydreaming.

She had just sought her father and clarified everything; only now did she truly understand what kind of genius Xu Ran really was.

A twelve-year-old Soul Elder, in the history of Xingluo Empire, one could count such geniuses on one hand, and Xu Ran was one of them. Such a talent, even the Zhu Clan would try its best to win over. That's why they had gladly arranged her marriage to Xu Ran.

At this moment, scene after scene of her time spent with Xu Ran flashed through her mind, and even she wasn't sure of her feelings for him. She was just a young girl, still unaware of what love was, nor could she recognize if her feelings for Xu Ran were that of love.

And there was Dai Mubai—even though she didn't wish to mention that name, she had to admit, Dai Mubai was the Third Prince of Xingluo Empire, and his marriage would represent the royal household's prestige. Even if her family had agreed, there would still be a long road ahead for her and Xu Ran to be together.

The influential figure in Xingluo Empire would not tolerate any shame coming to the royal household.

"Stop thinking about it, no matter what happens in the future, I will always stand in front of you." Xu Ran quietly approached Zhu Zhuqing from behind, embracing her from the back, feeling the soft and fragrant girl in his arms, his heart filled with contentment.

"Don't move, I'm just holding you, I won't do anything else." Sensing the thoughts of the girl in his arms, Xu Ran said, and couldn't help but hold her a bit tighter, letting Zhu Zhuqing's perfect delicate body press tightly against his chest.

He buried his face in the girl's soft black hair, gently smelling the scent that belonged uniquely to her.

Zhu Qing really is beautiful, at least she's the most beautiful girl he had seen in the Zhu Clan so far.

Moreover, Zhu Qing is now his fiancée, with the testament of the marriage contract, she belonged solely to him. Should anyone dare to lay a hand on her, he would surely destroy them with a single sword strike.

Zhu Zhuqing's body was somewhat stiff, being held in Xu Ran's arms, her heart pounding erratically, and she hardly dared to breathe out loud. She originally wanted to move away from Xu Ran's embrace, but she could feel Xu Ran's deep attachment and care for her. It was something she had been lacking since she was young. Thus, for a moment, she was somewhat reluctant to leave.

"Xu Ran, will you protect me in the future? Protect me forever and ever?" Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly; she didn't know what the future held. She only knew that being with Xu Ran would be very difficult.

"I will, unless I die," Xu Ran said without hesitation, his eyes full of determination. Although he lusted after Zhu Qing's body, he would never consider their relationship a mere fling. The girl he liked, as long as she peacefully lay in his arms, that was enough. If a man couldn't protect his woman, what was the point of living?

"Don't say such things," Zhu Zhuqing covered Xu Ran's lips with her jade-like hand, not wanting him to continue. She didn't want Xu Ran to encounter any misfortunes.

"Mhm. I won't say it anymore," Xu Ran said with a smile, his gaze inadvertently drifting to a certain place.

Zhu Qing, really quite ample.

From his current position, looking down the expanse of her snowy white skin from her fragrant shoulders, he could even...

"Don't look around," Zhu Zhuqing turned her head only to notice Xu Ran's gaze. She was immediately embarrassed and annoyed.

Shielding her chest with her jade hand, Zhu Zhuqing glared at him with annoyance.

Shameless Xu Ran, still claiming he's not a lecher, sneaking peeks at her.

"A fair maiden is good for a gentleman to pursue. It's not like I'm purposefully lecherous, and besides, it's my nature, I can't change it. Moreover, I'm looking only at my treasure, Zhu Qing, and no one else," Xu Ran said with a bit of amusement. Zhu Qing really is cute; it's just that no one in the Zhu Clan cared for her, leading her to become closed off and cold. But no matter how cold she was, he would warm her up.

"Who's your treasure?" Zhu Zhuqing blushed, wondering how she had never noticed Xu Ran's shamelessness before, calling her his treasure. And also somewhat lecherous, always glancing at those places.

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"Who else could it be, my betrothed with a marriage contract in hand? If you are not the treasure of my household, then who is?" Xu Ran chuckled softly, his fingers lightly coiling around Zhu Qing's long hair, reveling in the silky touch.

"You haven't won me over yet. If you're not good to me, I certainly won't marry you," said Zhu Zhuqing with a mix of embarrassment and haughtiness in her heart.

"Mmm. From now on I will treat you well, and in time, you will lie contentedly in my arms, my cherished one."

"Speaking of which, I'll be leaving tomorrow. I have some matters to attend to outside," Xu Ran said, his gaze drifting into the distance. Notting City, in the Tiandou Empire, is very far from here. He had to start his journey early.

"When will you return?" Zhu Zhuqing asked anxiously, feeling a bit aggrieved. She had just signed a marriage contract with Xu Ran, and now he was leaving. They had not been able to have a proper conversation, and she was unsure of Xu Ran's character, just as he was unaware of her depths. Was he really in such a rush to leave?

"Very soon, as soon as I return, I'll take you away from here. We'll go to the Tiandou Empire. Here, I fear the royal household might discover our relationship and strike against us." Xu Ran tousled Zhu Zhuqing's long hair. In a few months, it would be Shrek Academy's recruitment day, and he naturally intended to show off to Dai Mubai.

"Alright, I'll wait for your return," Zhu Zhuqing nodded, a glimmer of longing in her eyes; she, too, wanted to go out and see the world.

"Then I'm off." Xu Ran smiled, gave Zhu Zhuqing another hug, and then turned to leave.

He was now on his way to rescue the wayward girl, Xiaowu.

Xiaowu had yet to see through Tang San's self-righteous facade, the true face of this hypocrite.

Tang San claimed to be a champion of justice, annihilating the Martial Soul Hall, obliterating Slaughter City. But it was all for personal vendetta.

He reaped benefits from Slaughter City, even the Killing God Domain; then, in the blink of an eye, he destroyed it and even the Asura God's legacy vanished without a trace. 'Eating from the pot and cursing it' aptly describes his actions. Moreover, after reigning for tens of thousands of years as the Asura God in the Divine Realm, he had no thought of abdication. How could he pass on a legacy that he likely destroyed himself?

Having routed the Martial Soul Hall, he did nothing to help Soul Masters build a beneficial organization; countless common Soul Masters were unable to awaken their Martial Souls. During the Period of the Unrivaled Tang Sect, Huo Yuhao, with his innate Martial Soul, had to travel alone to The Far North for Soul Rings. One of 'The Seven Monsters', Jiang Nannan, was willing to sell herself for a mere ten golden soul coins each for Profound Water Pills.

Admittedly, the subsidies Martial Soul Hall provided to Soul Masters were forcefully extracted from the two empires. But without the Soul Hall, would the two empires have been so willing to part with their money? As emperors, they would prefer their subjects to be mediocre, ensuring that their rule was uninterrupted. Would they truly allow a force they could not fully control to grow stronger? If they were that generous, we would not have seen 'Burning of Books and Burying of Scholars,' 'Dismissal of the Hundred Schools of Thought,' or the 'Eight-legged Essay Imperial Examination.'

And what good did Tang San ever do?

The Grand Calamity that struck the continent during the Period of the Unrivaled Tang Sect could not be disconnected from Tang San. The end of the Martial Soul Hall meant that even the inheritance of the angel and Rakshasa gods was destroyed, leaving no successors. Without the Rakshasa God, no one could govern the evil Soul Masters. With the Seraph's lineage of Light, Holy, and Flame attributes broken, the evil Soul Masters lost a formidable nemesis.

He who styled himself as 'just' was in truth Douluo Planet's greatest villain. Divine decrees against descending to the mortal world meant nothing to him; he sent his daughter down, and afterward, his grandson, every ten thousand years, taking advantage of Douluo Planet's recovery to fleece it again and again.

Such a man, self-proclaimed as righteous, no different from Yue Buqun in Xu Ran's eyes.

And the pretense, always waiting until his teammates were in peril before acting. When Xiaowu was in danger, his power surged, and then he would save the day, winning over Xiaowu's heart.

But now that he had appeared, Tang San's fate was sealed.

He was destined for mediocrity, and of course, the fate of being cuckolded.

He would take Xiaowu from Tang San and show him what cruelty meant.

And after snatching her away, he intended to flaunt it in front of Tang San, to make him see how painful it is when the girl he likes is held in someone else's arms.