Her

The Star Luo Emperor spoke to Lu Feng with solemn gravity: "Whatever the Spirit Hall can offer you, my Star Luo Empire can match and even exceed. On my honor as emperor, I pledge that if you remain with us, the empire will devote all its resources to your cultivation. Whatever your needs are, we will do our best to fulfill them. So would you... consider bearing the name Dai?"

At those final words, Dai Weis and Chrysanthemum Douluo stiffened.

The Emperor was staking everything.

He was proposing to adopt Lu Feng as his royal son!

In a world where strength reigned supreme, which is mostly followed by Star Luo, this offer would make Lu Feng the member of imperial family. Not just elevating his status, but potentially positioning him to compete with Dai Weis for the throne itself.

Lu Feng smiled, neither submissive nor arrogant: "Your Majesty's grace humbles me. But I'll keep my name. I desire nothing... except her."

All eyes followed his outstretched finger to where Zhu Zhuqing stood, red cheeks, caught between shock and disbelief.

The square plunged into silence. Everyone froze on their place.

For three heartbeats, no one moved.

Then whispers erupted!

"All this... for a girl?"

"That's the Zhu family's third daughter—Zhu Zhuqing!"

"But she's betrothed to Third Prince Dai Mubai!"

"Someone's getting cuckolded today..." {t/n: (≧▽≦) }

"He's rejecting a path to Ultimate Douluo and imperial adoption just for her? Damn romantic."

"I am so envious .."

Zhu Zhuqing, accustomed to being overlooked, now burned beneath ten thousand stares. Her mind went blank, scarlet heat raced down her neck. Yet beneath the panic, surged something unfamiliar radiating tide of joy that shattered the ice around her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes following down on her jade white face.

She has never felt like this before. Her world had always been cold. In the Zhu household, affection was myth let alone love. Even her so-called fiance, Dai Mubai, had abandoned her without a glance.

Yet this white-clad kid treated her as treasure. Before all these witnesses, he'd chosen her over power, prestige, everything.

He confessed to her in front of thousands of people!

Beside her, Zhu Zhuyun bit her full lip until blood threatened to leak. She glared at Lu Feng with her eyes full of shock and envy.

The Emperor's gaze lingered on Zhu Zhuqing.

'Zhu Zhuqing's figure and beauty were unparalleled in the Zhu family, perhaps even the entire Star Luo Empire. Yet her talent, while excellent, couldn't match her sister Zhu Zhuyun's. Still, rumors spoke of her relentless cultivation habits and an almost frightening stubbornness...'

His expression flickered, then he exhaled a sigh of relief. At least the boy wouldn't join the Spirit Hall. Let hot blooded youth chase romance, a pretty leash was easier to pull than chains of gold.

Then, his gaze shifted to Zhu Yan, patriarch of the Zhu family.

The marriage contract between Third Prince Dai Mubai and the Zhu family's third daughter needed annulment before Lu Feng could claim Zhu Zhuqing. Though the Emperor had already decided, protocol demanded the Zhu patriarch's consent.

Zhu Yan's heart swelled with happiness though his face, schooled by decades of political games, showed nothing. Recognizing the meaning behind Emperor's eyes , he bowed: "This matter rests entirely in Your Majesty's hands."

What family would refuse a son-in-law like Lu Feng? The boy's peerless talent had made the Emperor and Chrysanthemum Douluo shed all decorum. Moreover, Dai Mubai was already losing the royal succession race against Dai Weis.

The Zhu family's ancient tradition of binding itself to the royal family clan through brutal competitions couldn't outweigh a father's desire to secure his daughter and his house, a brighter future.

Chrysanthemum Douluo cursed inwardly. 'If only Hu Liena were here, this boy clearly has a weakness for beauty.'

Both the Spirit Hall and Star Luo Empire found themselves starving for top-tier support-type Soul Masters. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Nine Heart Begonia firmly pledged to the Heaven Dou Empire, neither power could recruit from those legendary bloodlines.

Yet before them stood this miracle orphan, a control/support dual-system Soul Master wielding a God-Level Martial Soul, his auxiliary capabilities potentially eclipsing even those storied clans.

'Soul power exceeding twenty levels...' Chrysanthemum Douluo's fingers twitched. 'A once-in-an-era genius.'

The implications were staggering. Whoever secured this youth would gain an advantage that could tilt the continent's balance of power. No wonder their noble behaviour had shattered like cheap porcelain.

'I must inform Her Holiness immediately,' the Title Douluo resolved. Even his status couldn't authorize what this situation demanded, only Pope Bibi Dong herself could decide their next move now.

Sensing Yueguan might still scheme, the Emperor decisively declared "Third Prince Dai Mubai, having long abandoned his duties by fleeing the empire, is hereby released from his betrothal to Zhu Zhuqing."

After speaking, Emperor winked in the direction of Zhu Yan.

His message was clear, Clean up the Aftermath.

Generations of intermarriage between the royal family and Zhu clan was bonded by their complementary Martial Soul Fusion Techniques, that made them a family. But announcing Zhu Zhuqing's new engagement immediately would humiliate the already-fallen prince. Inviting damage to the royal reputation afterall Dai Mubai was still a prince.

It would be better to let Zhu Yan handle the rest.

Zhu Yan, understanding the Emperor perfectly after decades of serving the throne, approached Lu Feng with a measured smile: "As her father, might I suggest we discuss these private matters at my home?"

Though avoiding explicit consent in public, his invitation screamed approval. Zhu Zhuqing's betrothal to Lu Feng was now inevitable.

A union that could raise the Zhu family from ust a vessel clan to a power wielding influence across the entire Douluo Continent.

"As you wish, honored patriarch." Lu Feng bowed to his future father-in-law.

Before leaving the central square, he exchanged a glance with Niu Gao and others in the crowd. Previously, as a non-soul master, he'd needed protectors, like the Defense Clan's leader. Now, things were different.