Starting from Douluo to Capture Goddesses

"All members of the Zhu Clan, heed my command and escort the young miss to safety." Zhu Zihao issued the order decisively, casting a glance at his daughter Zhu Zhuyun, who absolutely must not come to harm. Zhuyun and Xu Ran's love ran deep, and should anything happen to Zhuyun, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Zhu Zihao looked around, his heart heavy with worry.

He had long known that a conflict between the Zhu Clan and the Dai family was inevitable, but he had not expected it to come so swiftly. Previously, there had been no inkling of the Dai family making a move against the Zhu Clan, but now, they had suddenly and unexpectedly joined forces with the Xu family and even brought over Xu family's best fighters, clearly intent on annihilating the Zhu Clan with the speed of lightning before they could cover their ears.

Even Zhu Zihao, who knew Emperor Dai very well, felt a deep sense of fear and regret at this moment.

He had thought that even if the Dai family took actions against the Zhu Clan, they wouldn't be able to annihilate them in a short period. As soon as he received any unfavorable news, he would immediately contact Xu Ran and seek help from Xu Ran's allies in the Tiandou Empire.

But he could never have imagined that the Dai family would plan so secretly without their notice, without letting a single piece of information slip through.

Now, even if he wanted to seek help, he feared that there was little chance of success. Time was running out. To seek help would require at least seven or eight hours, and the Zhu Clan obviously couldn't hold out that long.

At this moment, several of the Zhu Clan's centenarian elders all took action, each possessing the "Cultivation Level" of an eight-ringed Soul Douluo. Other disciples of the Zhu Clan, with bloodshot eyes, watched the surrounding fighters and followed Zhu Zihao's orders, retreating towards the rear.

In a battle of this level, these people, not yet fully grown, were of no use to the situation. They looked at the beautiful young girl in the black dress, willingly using their lives to shield her.

At this moment, there was a unanimous hatred in the Zhu Clan. Even those who were greedy for life and feared death became brave when they knew that death was almost certain.

Zhu Zhuyun's fists tightened as she watched the scene before her, feeling helpless.

Over the years, her "Cultivation Level" had just barely advanced to the Soul King Late Stage, still some distance from the Soul Emperor, and she was completely unable to participate in a battle of this level.

"Father... I'm sorry," Zhu Zhuyun bit her red lip as she watched the scene unfold before her. The once mighty Zhu Clan now seemed to face the brink of extinction. How could she not feel distressed?

She felt that it was all her fault, her constant refusal to marry Davis, which had led the Dai family to become increasingly suspicious of the Zhu Clan and eventually even join forces with the Xu family to act against the Zhu Clan.

And with this one act, it was either them or us.

But the royal household came prepared and with assistance; how could they possibly stand a chance?

"Zhuyun, it's not your fault. I, your father, have been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Since ancient times, the change of imperial power has always been a clash of iron and blood. Death is nothing unusual. Our Zhu Clan has coveted the throne; that this day has arrived is but expected. If there is someone to blame, it is me. I was too complacent. I should have asked Xu Ran for a few powerful fighters to station with us long ago. It's just that... it's too late for anything now," Zhu Zihao's eyes were filled with guilt. He had previously thought that the Zhu Clan would certainly be informed before the Dai family made a move, and that there would be enough time for him to make arrangements.

He had grossly overestimated the Zhu Clan's strength. The power accumulated by the Dai family as the royal household over many years, and the forces they had wooed, was more terrifying than he had imagined.

"But..." Tears shimmered in Zhu Zhuyun's beautiful eyes.

"You all go first. If you can escape, our Zhu Clan still has hope. As long as Xu Ran is alive, our Zhu Clan will always be the master of the Xingluo Empire," Zhu Zihao roared.

Xu Ran was always the soul of the Zhu Clan.

Even though Xu Ran seldom returned to the Zhu Clan, and the Zhu Family Young Disciples rarely saw him, Xu Ran was the pillar of their hearts, and even his influence and authority in the Zhu Clan were much higher than Zhu Zihao's.

Mentioning Xu Ran was also to inspire the Zhu Clan's fighting spirit and belief.

"Even if we die today, Xu Ran will avenge us!"

"The Zhu Clan fights to the death without retreat. Wait until Xu Ran avenges us!"

"Haha, you Dai family, Xu family, for laying hands on us today, you will inevitably suffer a calamitous disaster!"

Countless roars of rage rose and fell in succession.

Every member of the Zhu Clan ignited their fighting spirit.

They wore faces of mockery, well aware of Xu Ran's strength—the very reason for their unshakeable faith. He was the leading figure in the entire Continent's Martial Soul community! What were the Dai family and the Xingluo Empire in comparison to such a character?

He was a legend who emerged from the Xingluo Empire, with him at their side, the Zhu Clan would forever stand unyielding!

"Xu Ran…"

The Dai family and others from rival forces showed faces filled with terror upon hearing this name.

No wonder they were concerned, for the man behind that name had become too terrifying.

When the entire Continent echoed with his resounding fame, Xu Ran could not possibly be a weakling.

With a reputation hard to live up to, even the Martial Soul Hall had recognized Xu Ran as a genius beyond compare, with no one in the Martial Soul Hall to rival him, let alone others who were probably far inferior.

The Zhu Clan, with such a fearsome junior among their ranks, did they truly wish to become enemies with the Zhu Clan?

If the Zhu Clan did not perish this time, what if they rose from the ashes under Xu Ran's lead to become even more dreadful? What good would come to them, who offended the Zhu Clan to death?

A single name, boosting the Zhu Clan's morale while causing the enemy forces to fall apart.

This was the current influence of Xu Ran.

Even though he mainly operated in the Tiandou Empire, Xu Ran's fame was, in fact, the highest in the Xingluo Empire.

The Xingluo Empire's status in terms of Martial Soul was far inferior to the Tiandou Empire, with all major Martial Soul families congregating in the Tiandou Empire, naturally making Xingluo weaker by comparison. The emergence of an exceptional genius in the Xingluo Empire naturally excited the nation even more.

"Haha. Just Xu Ran alone makes you all tremble in fear. Do you still dare to confront our Zhu Clan? Puhaha. It's just laughable. Xu Ran will surely annihilate you one by one."

Zhu Zìháo and other young disciples of the Zhu Clan watched the scene, scoffing in succession.

Having accepted life and death, in this moment, they were united like never before because of Xu Ran.

"If only Xu Ran were here, how wonderful would that be?"

"Just Xu Ran alone could drive back a million strong army. With his unmatched strength, a casual move of his would probably resolve today's crisis, wouldn't it?"

Zhu Zhuyun watched this scene, her beautiful eyes shimmering with splendor.

Such is the man to be. In this lifetime, to spend a beautiful night with such a man would be enough.

Who else could possess such terrifying deterrent power? Even the powerful from the Martial Soul Hall seemed weaker. A single name made them fear as if facing a tiger—should Xu Ran really appear, how would they dare target the Zhu Clan?