Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Zhu Zhuyun, Martial Ancestor Takes Another Wife
Flender and Oscar stood to the side, the latter watching the scene unfold with excitement, while Flender's eyes sparkled as if spotting a golden goose ripe for plucking.
Before long, Ma Hongjun, armed with only two soul skills, found himself thoroughly outmatched by Dai Mubai. Just as the beating reached its peak, Flender finally intervened, showcasing his strength as a Soul Sage (Soul Saint).
With a smooth-talking pitch, he convinced Dai Mubai to join Shrek Academy.
To ease tensions, Dai Mubai waved a magnanimous hand, inviting Flender, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun to indulge in the pleasures of the Heaven on Earth Pavilion.
"Boss Dai, from now on, you're our big brother!"
"Boss, count me in too!"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun, lacking any semblance of shame, were quickly won over by Dai Mubai's wealth, while Flender, satisfied with a generous tuition sponsorship, was beaming.
The next day.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others emerged arm-in-arm from Heaven on Earth Pavilion, brimming with satisfaction and a sense of camaraderie. Their admiration for Dai Mubai as their leader had soared.
"Boss, look ahead! There's a beauty—an absolute stunner!" Ma Hongjun exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he fixated on a woman about thirty meters away.
The woman was dressed in an elegant azure gown that accentuated her perfect curves. Even though only her back was visible, her fair, long legs and peach-shaped figure left Ma Hongjun salivating, his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul stirring restlessly.
"She really is something!" Dai Mubai appraised her with a whistle of admiration. "Just from her back, she's leagues ahead of all the women at Heaven on Earth Pavilion. With hips like that, she's built for childbearing. The only question is—will her face mesmerize or terrify?"
"Surely the contrast can't be that bad," Oscar speculated confidently. "I'm betting she's a top-tier beauty!"
"Wanna bet on it?"
"Bet, my foot! With my vast experience with women, I can tell she's no ordinary lady. Even if she's not a nation-toppling beauty, she's at least a high-class gem!" Dai Mubai declared, his tone dripping with expertise.
"Boss, I think she heard us. Is she coming over to beat us up?" Oscar muttered, noticing the woman had stopped in her tracks.
"What's there to fear? Judging by her age, she's probably no match for the three of us. Besides, we've got the headmaster with us!" Dai Mubai replied dismissively. As the second prince of the Star Luo Empire, he had grown accustomed to acting without restraint, even if his older brother overshadowed him at home.
Flender frowned, a sense of familiarity tugging at him as he studied the woman's back. He murmured cautiously, "Be mindful of your actions. Strong individuals abound here, especially those connected to Martial Sect. Don't—"
Before he could finish, Flender's eyes widened, and he froze in place.
The woman had turned around.
"Second Dragon Sister… No, it's Jade Phoenix… Zhou Yufeng!"
Dai Mubai's pupils constricted. He hadn't met Zhou Yufeng before, but he had seen her portrait. She was one of the most untouchable figures on the continent. His elder brother had once been scared off by her alone.
In an instant, Zhou Yufeng closed the distance between them. Her imposing presence, inherited from her mother, loomed over them like Mount Tai.
At that moment, even Ma Hongjun, who had been ogling her with wild thoughts moments ago, dared not utter a word. Despite her stunning figure and breathtaking beauty, her aura was overwhelmingly oppressive.
BAM!
Before Ma Hongjun could react, a fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying. Several of his teeth shattered as he hit the ground, unconscious.
"Miss Zhou, this is a misunderstanding—" Dai Mubai began, only to meet the same fate. A single punch knocked out all his teeth, leaving him spinning through the air before landing lifelessly.
"Can we not hit the fa—" Oscar's plea was cut short as he too was struck down.
"Hmph."
Zhou Yufeng cast a cold glance at the trio sprawled on the ground like beaten dogs before her gaze landed on Flender's horse-like face. Without a word, she turned and walked away.
"So ugly and so shameless, and you still dream of courting my mother?" Zhou Yufeng scoffed internally, having recognized Flender immediately. His whispered "Second Dragon Sister" had not escaped her sharp ears.
With a resigned sigh, Flender hoisted the three unconscious men onto his shoulders and began trudging back.
The sound of rolling carriage wheels caught his attention as a luxurious vehicle passed by.
"Isn't that Dai Mubai? What happened to him?" exclaimed a curvaceous woman inside, her tone brimming with curiosity.
She was Zhu Zhuyun, the eldest daughter of the noble Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire.
"Who knows?" Zhu Fugui, her father, replied with a shake of his head. "This area is near Martial God City, a place teeming with strong cultivators, many of whom are tied to Martial Sect. Dai Mubai may be a prince, but his arrogance likely got the better of him. Here, his royal status means little to true powerhouses."
"So, daughter," Zhu Fugui cautioned, "we must tread carefully here. Do not act recklessly!"
"Don't worry, Father. I understand," Zhu Zhuyun assured him. The reputation of Martial Sect loomed large, and even a prince like Dai Mubai was insignificant before its might.
As their carriage approached Martial God City—the fabled sanctuary of the Douluo Continent—Zhu Zhuyun's resolve deepened.
She was determined to secure a connection to Martial Ancestor, if not through him directly, then through his esteemed descendants.
Passing through the grand city of Martial Saint and traversing another stretch of road, Zhu Zhuyun finally laid eyes upon the fabled Martial God City, a sacred site revered across the Douluo Continent.
"My heavens, this city is enormous!"
Standing before the towering structure, Zhu Zhuyun was overwhelmed by the sight of the five-hundred-meter-tall fortress. From her vantage point at the city gates, she felt as insignificant as an ant gazing up at the heavens.
"The three characters 'Martial God City' contain the true essence of Martial Path, imbued by the Martial Ancestor himself. You mustn't stare directly at them," Zhu Fugui, her father, cautioned.
"I understand!" Zhu Zhuyun nodded, her heart brimming with awe and reverence for the Martial Ancestor.
The saying "Better to be the concubine of a hero than the wife of a common man" echoed in her mind.
Had Zhou Yi not appeared in her life, Zhu Zhuyun might have considered the second prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Weisi, a fine match. But compared to the Martial Ancestor, Dai Weisi was mere dust on the ground, while the Martial Ancestor shone like the moon in the heavens, an existence that irresistibly drew people toward him like moths to a flame.
With a heart filled with excitement and nervous anticipation, Zhu Zhuyun and her father finally secured an audience with the legendary Martial Ancestor after careful preparation.
"My heavens… The Martial Ancestor is so handsome."
The moment she saw Zhou Yi, Zhu Zhuyun was utterly captivated.
Though she'd heard tales of how Zhou Yi's wives maintained eternal youth thanks to his cultivation, and that he himself was equally unaffected by age, she had never imagined that he would look like a man in his twenties.
His star-like eyes and extraordinary aura exuded an indescribable magnetism.
Noticing Zhu Zhuyun's awestruck expression, Zhu Fugui hastily tugged at her sleeve and bowed deeply before Zhou Yi.
"Zhu Fugui greets the Martial Ancestor. May your martial path flourish endlessly, and your life span boundless!"
"This is my daughter, Zhu Zhuyun. She has admired the Martial Ancestor since childhood. Upon seeing your divine visage today, she is so overwhelmed that she may have acted improperly. Please forgive her."
Zhu Zhuyun snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She quickly joined her father in bowing.
"Patriarch Zhu, you overpraise me."
Zhou Yi lifted a hand slightly, and an irresistible force raised both Zhu Fugui and Zhu Zhuyun from their bows. The father and daughter were both startled by the effortless display of his overwhelming power.
Zhu Fugui, a Soul Douluo of considerable strength, felt as helpless as a child before Zhou Yi.
"Miss Zhu is blessed with both grace and talent—a truly delightful presence," Zhou Yi remarked, his gaze falling on Zhu Zhuyun.
Who could resist the charm of such a "big" feline, after all?
Zhu Zhuyun's heart soared at his words. Shyly lowering her head, she felt a mixture of joy and bashfulness.
Zhu Fugui, seeing this, was elated. It seemed the Martial Ancestor was interested after all.
"My daughter has long admired the Martial Ancestor. Might she have the honor of serving at your side?" Zhu Fugui ventured, his voice trembling with anticipation.
"Very well," Zhou Yi nodded slightly.
Zhu Fugui was overjoyed. Were it not for Zhou Yi's presence, he might have shouted in triumph to release the excitement surging within him.
Zhu Zhuyun's face burned as her heart raced. Her joy was tinged with nervousness and a sense of disbelief.
Soon, the wedding date was set.
Half a month later, the ceremony would take place.
News of the impending union spread like wildfire, shaking the previously tranquil Douluo Continent.
Once again, after thirty years of calm, the Martial Ancestor was taking another wife!
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