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"Truer than gold!"
Chu Chengzhou slapped his chest proudly, then reminisced: "Actually, Nana and I were fated. Back in the Star Dou Forest, I kidnapped her once—perhaps that's when we started having feelings for each other."
Hu Liena: Don't lie! You locked me in a dark room after 'feelings'?
"And during the Spirit Master Tournament—we were rivals, but also kindred spirits."
Hu Liena: This part's true! Mwah~!
"Later, when I went to train in Slaughter City, I coincidentally met Nana there too. I'm sure you can imagine what kind of place Slaughter City is. After enduring life-and-death trials together, we finally became a couple."
Hu Liena: We've been dating for ages!
SLAM—
Yan's wine cup crashed onto the table. Eyes hollow, he refilled his cup and drained it in one mechanical gulp.
My goddess has a boyfriend... but it's not me.
Hello darkness my old friend…
Chu Chengzhou and Xie Yue exchanged glances.
"Brother, don't be heartbroken. There are plenty of good girls in the world. How about I ask my mother-in-law to introduce you to someone? I noticed that Zhang Ping who teamed with you during the Spirit Master Tournament would suit you well."
Chu Chengzhou's words were earnest. Though Yan was his little sister's devoted admirer—and theoretically an enemy—Yan posed no threat to him. Besides, he was Hu Liena's childhood friend. Better to console him.
Yan: No! I only want Nana!
"Your mother-in-law?"
Xie Yue ignored the Zhang Ping remark, staring at Chu Chengzhou in shock.
"Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff, of course! I came here today to deliver betrothal gifts—and she accepted them."
Chu Chengzhou stated this as fact. Bibi Dong had accepted Hu Liena's share of the betrothal gifts.
SLAM—
Yan's cup shattered on the table again. His eyes grew even emptier as he downed another cup.
If Chu Chengzhou and Hu Liena were merely dating, he might still have hoped to win her back someday. But betrothal gifts? Accepted by the Pope herself? His chance was gone.
Yan: NO——!
'Sigh~'
Xie Yue shook his head, patting his friend's shoulder.
As an observer, Xie Yue had long known Yan's cause was hopeless. His sister was fiercely independent—and Yan's persistent "simp" devotion could never win the heart of such a strong-willed woman.
Sadly, no matter how often he'd warned his friend, Yan never listened.
In Xie Yue's view, winning his sister's affection wasn't hard. With similar ages, one simply needed to crush her pride with absolute strength, then sweeten the victory with tender words. It would be done.
Coincidentally—Chu Chengzhou had that strength. Add his handsome features and shared hardships, and his success was only natural.
SLAM—
A familiar sound echoed—but this time, it wasn't a cup. It was Yan's palm slamming the table.
The drunken Yan surged to his feet, eyes locked on Chu Chengzhou. "Chu Chengzhou! If you're a real man—accept my challenge!"
Chu Chengzhou glanced at Yan, speechless.
A mere Soul King—what makes you think you can challenge a Level 99 Limit Douluo like me?
True, Yan was still only a Soul King. Barely two and a half years had passed since the Spirit Master Tournament, and the Level 52 Soul King Yan still hadn't broken through to Level 60 to become a Soul Emperor!
"What, are you scared?"
Yan sneered, taking Chu Chengzhou's silence as cowardice.
"Eh~ I don't know my own strength. You're Nana's childhood friend—I'd hate to have her angry at me later."
Chu Chengzhou shrugged.
It wasn't that he lacked control—he was precise. But Yan was just a fifth-ring Soul King. He had no desire to fight.
As one of the world's strongest experts, Chu Chengzhou still had dignity. He wouldn't bully children.
"You—!"
Yan fumed. 'What's this arrogance? Am I not even worthy to be your opponent?'
"Alright, brother, calm down. Come, drink! Brother-in-law, you too! Waiter—bring us a fresh table!"
Spiritual power surged. Void Illusion Realm activated. Chu Chengzhou subtly altered Yan's mindset.
Instantly, Yan's attitude did a complete 180°. Under Xie Yue's stunned gaze, he sat back down. His face lit with warmth—as if reuniting with a long-lost brother.
Deep into the night, Xie Yue—newly gifted with a brother-in-law's present—staggered away supporting the utterly drunk Yan.
Chu Chengzhou left the tavern too. Under cover of darkness, he flew into the skies above Spirit Hall City.
This trip to Spirit Hall City had three purposes:
Deliver betrothal gifts Give Qian Daoliu the Soul Core Method Give Ning Fengzhi the answers he sought
The second goal was accomplished. The first wasn't perfect—but it had a promising start. Now came the third: hunting down the assassin who'd killed his second mother-in-law years ago.
Neither he nor Ning Fengzhi knew which Spirit Hall elder had struck that fatal blow. But Chu Chengzhou had a way.
Since Ning Rongrong's birth, only one Spirit Hall elder had fallen in these past dozen years: the ill-fated Sixteenth Elder, Dragon Blade Douluo.
Dragon Blade Douluo had witnessed Tang Hao's mass slaughter of high-level spirit beasts in the Star Dou Forest. With Tang Hao already an enemy of the Spirit Hall, Dragon Blade Douluo was silenced to cover the tracks.
If the killer wasn't this Dragon Blade Douluo—then by using Void Illusion Realm to interrogate every Titled-level elder of the Spirit Hall, Chu Chengzhou would find the truth.
Standing mid-air, Chu Chengzhou extended his spiritual power, scanning the city's Titled Douluos one by one.
Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu first? No. Skip the six Worships too.
These six weren't just powerful now—they'd been elite experts even a decade ago. They likely wouldn't stoop to such dirty work. Best to question the ordinary elders first.
If nothing turned up—then he'd interrogate the six.
'She Long? Hmm... I'll start with this weakling.'
Luck was on his side. Closest to him was Snake Lance Douluo She Long.
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