Chapter 38 Asura God: It's just a mere barbaric world!
"Precious?"
Xiao Yan chuckled as he watched Zhu Zhuqing carefully holding the scroll, and casually waved his hand.
"Among the rewards bestowed upon me by that lord in the Heavenly Palace, this thing is at the very bottom of my storage ring."
"Practice hard. Once you've mastered the 'Netherworld Ghost Shadow Step,' if you perform well, I might consider teaching you another fighting technique."
These words caused an uproar throughout the entire Douluo Continent.
Douluo Continent, Star Luo Empire.
Inside the vast council hall of the Star Luo Imperial Palace, it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
All the civil and military officials knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe, and all their eyes secretly glanced at the man sitting on the pure gold dragon throne, the Star Luo Emperor.
At this time, the Star Luo Emperor had long lost his former majesty and composure.
He stared intently at the light screen floating in the center of the hall, his hands gripping the armrests of the dragon throne so tightly that the pure gold dragon head armrests were almost twisted into pretzels by his force.
His chest heaved violently, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Just now, he watched with his own eyes as his good-for-nothing son, Dai Mubai, begged for half a useless pill like a dog.
Immediately afterwards, he witnessed Zhu Zhuqing, who was originally supposed to become his daughter-in-law in the Star Luo royal family, gain unimaginable fortune because of choosing the right side!
That's a high-level Xuan-rank combat skill!
Although they didn't understand what the Xuan Rank was, seeing Zhu Zhuqing's terrifying speed—being able to transform into three afterimages even though she had only just begun to grasp the basics—made all the Title Douluo present feel their scalps tingle!
If that kind of movement technique were used on the battlefield, it would be like a death god reaping lives!
Not to mention that breakfast, where they ate meat from a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast as their main meal?
Drinking elixirs like tea?
"What sins have I committed?!"
Finally, the Star Luo Emperor could no longer suppress his emotions and stood up abruptly, letting out a roar.
Then he kicked over the imperial desk in front of him, scattering the memorials all over the floor.
"Dai Mubai, that unfilial son! That good-for-nothing!!"
"Such an extraordinary opportunity should have belonged to our Star Luo royal family! It should have been used to strengthen the Dai family's empire!!"
Emperor Dai Weisi paced back and forth in the main hall, like a furious lion trapped in a cage.
His heart bled whenever he thought of Zhu Zhuqing's current strength and potential, the terrifying young man named Xiao Yan standing behind her, and the unfathomable Heavenly Palace.
If Dai Mubai had been a little more ambitious back then, even if he had been a bit more principled or intelligent like Zhu Zhuqing, he could have managed to get close to Xiao Yan.
Now, it is his Star Luo Empire that is taking off!
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger..."
At the bottom of the steps, an elderly minister with white hair stepped forward shakily, his voice trembling:
"The most urgent task now is not to blame the Third Prince, but to find a way to save the Zhu family!"
"Miss Zhu Zhuqing is now a favorite of that Young Master Xiao, and also a subordinate of the Heavenly Palace."
"If she harbors resentment towards the Star Luo Empire..."
The old minister didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.
If Zhu Zhuqing were to return with her divine skills, given her current resources and growth rate, coupled with her vow to clean house, what could the Star Luo royal family possibly use to stop her?
Should I block it with my head?
Upon hearing this, Emperor Dai Weisi abruptly stopped in his tracks, his gaze instantly locking onto the head of the Zhu family, who stood at the head of the military ranks, his expression a complex mix of excitement and trepidation.
The emperor, who was furious just a second ago, suddenly forced a smile that looked more like a grimace on his face the next second.
"Minister Zhu! Quickly! Rise!"
Emperor Dai Weisi disregarded his imperial dignity and rushed down the steps to grab the arm of the Zhu family patriarch.
"Oh dear Zhu Aiqing, you have given birth to a wonderful daughter!"
"I have said long ago that Zhu Qing is a girl with extraordinary talent, a dragon among men, and will surely achieve great things in the future!"
"Seeing it today, I'm certain I hadn't misjudged you!"
The head of the Zhu family froze, cold sweat pouring down his face.
He thought to himself, "Your Majesty, you didn't say that before."
But at this moment, he could only force a smile and say, "Your Majesty flatters me. My daughter was just lucky."
"What luck? That's skill! That's vision!"
Having said that, the Star Luo Emperor waved his hand, interrupting him directly. Then, his expression turned solemn, and in front of the entire court, he loudly issued an order:
"Issue my decree!!"
"The Zhu family's effective education of their daughters has benefited the country!"
"From this day forth, the Zhu family is hereby designated as the foremost family protecting the nation, and they are exempt from bowing before the emperor!!"
"Furthermore, I intend to send the ancient Whale Glue and the eight-thousand-year-old ginseng, treasured in the imperial treasury, to the Zhu residence! To nourish Madam Zhu's body!"
"Minister Zhu, from now on, our two families will be even closer than before!"
"If Zhuqing sends back any letters, or needs any local specialties from her hometown, you must tell me immediately!"
Looking at the humble and obsequious emperor before him, the head of the Zhu family was flattered and overwhelmed, but also felt an unprecedented sense of superiority.
Is this a case of "when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven"?
Just because his daughter was a guard in that world, even the emperor had to be mindful of his feelings?
That world is so wonderful!
...
On the other side, the Spirit Hall.
Inside the Papal Palace, without Bibi Dong's presence, the remaining cardinals and platinum bishops sat around a round table, their faces pale and as if they had lost their parents.
On the light screen in front of them, the moment Zhu Zhuqing used the "Netherworld Ghost Shadow Step" was being replayed repeatedly.
"Too fast, really too fast..."
A platinum bishop in charge of intelligence spoke with a voice so dry it sounded like he was chewing sand:
"After frame-by-frame analysis by the technical department, it was found that Zhu Zhuqing's burst speed reached three times the speed of sound at the moment she unleashed that fighting technique!"
"And she didn't use any spirit ring skills!"
"It's just based on that so-called Dou Qi and the footwork on that scroll!"
"This is only 'high-level Xuan rank'? According to Xiao Yan, this is just the bottom tier?"
"If she masters it, even a Title Douluo probably wouldn't be able to touch the hem of her clothes, right?"
These words struck everyone like a heavy blow to the heart.
The Spirit Hall was able to dominate the soul master world because of its monopoly on soul skills and the accumulation of soul bones.
But now, a tattered book that someone casually throws out is more powerful than their treasured ten-thousand-year-old soul bone technique!
"And that pill..."
Another bishop pointed to the bowl of spiritual porridge that Zhu Zhuqing had left on the screen, his eyes filled with greed, and said:
"A single breakfast contains the energy equivalent to a soul master's month of arduous cultivation."
"Gentlemen, have you thought about this?"
"If the Xiao family, or the Heavenly Palace, really have as much resource as they say, then..."
"Then it will only take one year! Just one year!"
"That Zhu Zhuqing was able to be transformed from a Great Soul Master into a Title Douluo through sheer force!"
"Even...surpassing the Title Douluo!"
"What will our Spirit Hall use to fight them then?"
"Angelic light? Or is it us old bones?"
At that moment, everyone realized a terrible truth.
That is the cultivation system that Douluo Continent is so proud of. Compared to the resource-based dimensional advantage of that world, it's like using a broadsword and spear to fight against a machine gun. There's no comparison at all.
"Shouldn't we do something too?"
In the corner, a young bishop spoke timidly:
"If Zhu Zhuqing can join, why can't we?"
"Although our Spirit Hall's Pope is gone, the Holy Maiden has turned evil, and our elders have been captured and used as fertilizer, we still have many people!"
"What if we also prayed to the heavens, or even surrendered willingly?"
"Even if I went to work as a janitor in the Xiao family, wouldn't I be able to eat that kind of spiritual porridge?"
Once this idea came to mind, it grew wildly in everyone's hearts like weeds.
Belief?
Angelic glory?
Stop kidding me!
Faced with tangible benefits and the prospect of having enough meat from a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast to eat, who would still be willing to guard that broken statue that only cracks and bleeds tears?
Some bishops have even begun to secretly consider whether they should pack up the remaining items in the Spirit Hall's treasury and use them as a pledge of allegiance, in case they are chosen by the heavens someday.
...
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Council Hall.
"Crack!"
This is the eighth top-quality jade cup that Ning Fengzhi has broken today.
But he no longer cared. Even if the cup was worth a fortune, it was nothing more than a pile of meaningless broken stones in his eyes at this moment.
Ning Fengzhi slumped on the Sect Master's throne, looking as if he had aged twenty years.
His once refined face was now filled with dejection and jealousy.
He stared intently at the scroll of "Netherworld Ghost Shadow Step" in Zhu Zhuqing's hand on the light screen.
"High-level Xuan-rank items, I'll give them away as I please."
"The worst kind of stuff."
Ning Fengzhi gave a bitter laugh and turned to look at the empty hall.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin is gone, and his daughter has become a pet.
Now even his pride in being the richest man in the world has been trampled underfoot by Xiao Yan's words of being at the bottom.
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can spend millions of gold soul coins and incur countless favors in order to collect a self-created soul skill."
"We can expend countless rare medicinal herbs to help our sect disciples increase their soul power by one level."
"But look at other people!"
Ning Fengzhi pointed at the light screen, his fingers trembling violently, his voice hoarse:
"He's just a guard! A newly arrived servant!"
"They're consuming elixirs we wouldn't even dare to dream of! They're practicing divine skills we've never even seen before!"
"And it's free! All you can eat!!"
"How unfair this world is!!"
Why Zhu Zhuqing?
Why not his Rongrong?
In terms of talent and background, how is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect inferior to the Star Luo Royal Family?
In terms of looks, Rongrong is just as good-looking as Zhu Zhuqing!
"If Rongrong hadn't been sent to that so-called Great Gan Dynasty back then."
"If Rongrong could also meet a master like Xiao Yan."
"Even if it means becoming Xiao Yan's maid."
"As long as I can eat that bowl of spiritual porridge, as long as I can learn even a move or two."
"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can break the curse that support-type soul masters cannot fight!"
"Unfortunately, one wrong step leads to a series of wrong steps..."
Ning Fengzhi looked at Zhu Zhuqing's spirited appearance on the light screen, and then thought of his own daughter's miserable state in the harem where she was scratched on the face by a cat and had to thank the empress.
"puff--"
Overwhelmed by pent-up frustration, Ning Fengzhi fainted again.
...
The divine realm, the committee.
Unlike the despair and shock in the lower realm, the Douluo God Realm was shrouded in mist and resplendent in gold, filled with a sense of superiority.
Around the round table, the five law enforcement officers gathered together.
Sea God Poseidon, clad in blue armor, looked at the scene in the sky with a disdainful sneer.
"Hmph, a bunch of ants from the lower realm, they've never seen anything like it."
Poseidon swirled his wine glass, his tone filled with disdain:
"It's just some food with slightly higher energy content and some slightly more refined mortal martial arts techniques, and they're already this scared?"
"That so-called 'Netherworld Ghost Shadow Step' looks flashy, but it has nowhere to hide under my divine sense."
"With just a flick of my finger, your so-called agility is nothing but a joke."
The Asura God beside him also had a stern expression and nodded slightly:
"The energy within Xiao Yan's body is mixed and impure. Although it seems to have strong explosive power, it lacks the baptism of laws."
"So-called Dou Qi is nothing more than a low-level form of brute force."
"Without a divine position, without a divine halo, one is ultimately just a mortal."
The God of Destruction snorted coldly, and a purple aura of destruction surged around him:
"What I can't stand the most is the pretense and trickery of the Heavenly Palace."
"What kind of cultivation technique? What's this 'no bottleneck' technique?"
"How arrogant!"
"In the path of cultivation, the laws are paramount. Their level, achieved by devouring flames and consuming medicine, has a weak foundation and is easily defeated."
"If I were to descend upon that world..."
The God of Destruction clenched his fist, a hint of arrogance flashing in his eyes:
"With just one bolt of destructive divine lightning, I can annihilate that Xiao family!"
"As for that Lord of the Heavenly Palace..."
The God of Evil's lips curled into a playful smile: "He's probably just a pseudo-god who's barely touched the threshold of the laws."
"He lorded it over others in that world because there was no true God in that world."
"When the barriers of our divine realm are breached one day, I would like to go and meet him."
"Let him know what true divine might is like!"
The gods exchanged a knowing smile, their laughter filled with disdain for the Doupo plane.
In their view, the Dou Qi Continent was nothing more than a wild land with a slightly higher energy level.
The people there don't understand the laws, they don't understand the divine order, they only know how to rudely attack the waves.
...
Meanwhile, in the Xiao family's backyard.
Beside the iron cage.
Zhu Zhuqing put away the scroll but did not leave immediately.
She carried the unfinished bowl of ginseng porridge and slowly walked to the iron cage.
As Dai Mubai smelled the alluring fragrance and looked at his stunningly beautiful fiancée so close to him, a glimmer of hope ignited in his eyes.
"Zhuqing, did you come to see me?"
"I knew you still had feelings for me..."
"Could I have just one sip of that porridge? Just one sip! I'm starving!"
Dai Mubai stretched out his dirty hand, trying to grab the bowl.
However, Zhu Zhuqing just looked at him coldly, her eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.
Whoosh!
Then, she flipped her wrist.
That priceless bowl of purple ginseng porridge, enough to allow a Soul Venerable to break through to the next level, was poured out on the ground outside the cage!
"Want some?"
Zhu Zhuqing's voice was icy and chilling:
"Then lick it."
[end of the chapter]