"Do you not realize that Mr. Zhongli is my esteemed guest?"
"Mr. Zhongli's knowledge transcends mortal limits—he is a genius not seen in a thousand years."
"Ben Gong" (本宫) was a term typically used by empresses or crown princes. As the crown prince resided in the Eastern Palace, referring to himself as "Ben Gong" or "Gu" (孤) was entirely appropriate.
"Xue Qinghe's" face darkened. She had just recruited Zhongli as a guest of the Crown Prince's estate, and now someone was already trying to humiliate him?
This wasn't just an insult to Zhongli—it was a slap to "Xue Qinghe's" face!
If anything were to happen to Zhongli, wouldn't her entire advisory council collapse before it even began?
As she had said, Zhongli was a prodigy not seen in millennia.
Heaven had granted him wisdom and a mutated martial soul but denied him innate spirit power—perhaps this was the envy of the gods.
"Who are you people? Who sent you to harm Mr. Zhongli?"
"Xue Qinghe's" expression was stern, a flash of killing intent flickering in her eyes.
The Shrek group was completely dumbfounded.
What? This useless guy was actually this important?
The Crown Prince cared about him this much?
Ning Rongrong, in particular, was utterly bewildered.
She had met "Xue Qinghe" before—he was just like her father, Ning Fengzhi, refined and gentle to everyone.
He was known as an exceptionally wise and virtuous crown prince.
There had never even been rumors of him losing his temper.
Yet now, for the sake of a spirit-powerless nobody, he was furious!
Flender and the others twitched at the corners of their eyes. They had just arrived in Heaven Dou City and had already offended both the fourth prince and the crown prince.
The fourth prince was, to put it bluntly, just the biggest playboy—a man with no real power.
He could only rely on his uncle, Xue Xing.
But the Crown Prince was different!
This man was the future emperor of Heaven Dou. Even now, he wielded immense authority!
"Damn it, Xiao Bai really kicked an iron plate this time."
Zhao Wuji muttered with a grim expression.
The traditions of Shrek Academy—bullying the weak, fearing the strong, and being fiercely protective—were considered normal here.
After all, in a world like this, if you didn't know when to back down, you wouldn't last long.
Zhao Wuji and the others didn't think Dai Mubai had done anything wrong—they just felt he had provoked someone he shouldn't have.
"Hey, you so-called Crown Prince!"
At that moment, a petite girl, around 1.7 meters tall with legs making up two-thirds of her height, stepped forward.
Her face was pretty, but her demeanor was arrogant and domineering…
This wasn't surprising—she had been spoiled.
Whether it was the Sky Azure Bull Python, the Titan Giant Ape, or even Tang San, they had all indulged Xiao Wu without proper guidance, allowing her to develop this brash personality.
"A spirit-powerless waste like Zhongli—is he really worth your protection?"
"He's nothing compared to my San Ge. My San Ge is peerlessly wise and pure as jade."
"Too bad my San Ge would never stoop to being some guest of yours!"
Tang San's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something but held back.
Xiao Wu, why did she have to speak the "truth" like this? While he was indeed wise, he had no interest in getting involved with the royal family.
"Ah…"
Tang San rubbed his nose. Why couldn't Xiao Wu be a little more low-key?
"Hmph!"
"What did you just call me, you dumb rabbit?!"
Paimon crossed her arms and glared at Xiao Wu.
"Zhongli is not a waste!"
"Aside from mooching off others, he has so many good qualities that it would take three days to list them all!"
Xiao Wu didn't even register the latter part of Paimon's words.
All she heard was the first sentence.
"You dumb rabbit…"
"Rabbit?!"
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
It had to be a coincidence!
There was no way this little thing, with no spirit power, could see her true form!
Right, it must be because of her rabbit-ear accessories. The kid must have mistaken her for an actual rabbit.
Even if she guessed right, as long as Xiao Wu denied it and pretended not to hear, it would be fine!
"Oh? So you know how to defend your master, huh?"
"He's not my master!"
"You bullies!"
Paimon stomped her feet in frustration but could do nothing except sulk.
Seeing this, a faint amber light flickered in Zhongli's eyes.
At over six thousand years old, he had long mastered the art of remaining unshaken. The taunts of ants meant nothing to him.
But he shared one flaw with the Shrek group—
He was fiercely protective of his own!
Ants could provoke him all they wanted, but Paimon had come to this world with him. She was his contractor.
"Zhongli, they're bullying me!"
Paimon flew back behind Zhongli, pouting as she complained.
Hearing this, Zhongli said nothing. Just as "Xue Qinghe" was about to speak, Zhongli took a single step forward—
A surge of amber light erupted!
"Xue Qinghe" and Zhu Zhuqing froze, a sense of déjà vu washing over them.
His amber-gold eyes gleamed with divine light as an overwhelming pressure radiated from his body.
"…?!"
Wait, something's not right!
He—he wasn't a cripple…
"The Geo Archon!"
This power, this oppressive aura—it was all too familiar!
It was the same presence that had haunted her dreams night after night.
"Xue Qinghe" was stunned.
"After searching for him a thousand times, there he was—standing right before me in the dimming light."
"It's him. It has to be him!"
"Xue Qinghe" trembled, a mix of fear, excitement, and something indescribable surging through her.
As if remembering something, Zhongli paused mid-step. When he took his next step, his entire being underwent a earth-shattering transformation.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red.
Nine standard "soul rings" rose from beneath his feet, while a pair of amber draconic horns emerged atop his head.
"Boom—!"
The crowd recoiled in horror, instinctively stepping back.
"A… a Titled Douluo!"
"No—a Titled Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring!"
Flender and the others trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat drenching their foreheads and soaking their backs.
Paimon: "…?"
Paimon blinked in confusion, her tiny eyes filled with immense bewilderment.
Since when did Zhongli have these flashy rings?
Though Paimon loved to talk, there were some things she knew to keep quiet about.
For instance, Zhongli's true identity.
When introducing him to others, she always described him as just "Zhongli"—an ordinary, unremarkable man.
Not the Morax who had ended an era, nor the Geo Archon who had protected Liyue.
"Hm?"
Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing were equally puzzled. They didn't recall the Geo Archon having soul rings before.
What was going on?
Regardless, the Zhongli before them now was undeniably a terrifyingly powerful "Titled Douluo"!
Judging by his "martial soul avatar," his martial soul had to be a dragon-type!
And one with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring at that…
The group shivered uncontrollably, especially Dai Mubai, whose face had gone deathly pale, his eyes vacant.
First, they had provoked Dugu Bo. Now, they had angered someone far stronger—Zhongli…