Charisma has an undeniable impact on one's allure.
Elegance, after all, never goes out of style.
"Your fiancée is up there, huh? If the draw pits you against your precious Princess Jiujiu, that'll be interesting." The girls around Qian Ran teased, their jealousy thinly veiled.
Seeing how Xu Jiujiu radiated such regal charm, they couldn't help feeling inadequate.
Years of training at the Starlight Auction House had instilled in Xu Jiujiu a level of poise and elegance rare even among royalty.
Soon, the referee announced the draw results.
"We wish all four teams the best in demonstrating their full strength in the coming matches. The draw is complete; please prepare yourselves. Today's first match will be a team battle between Shrek Academy and the Star Luo National Academy. The second match will feature the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy against Dio Academy."
"Jinxed it," Qian Ran muttered, rolling his eyes. He had already anticipated this outcome.
"I wonder how strong this Princess Jiujiu is," Wang Dong'er murmured, her thoughts reflecting the unease shared by the other girls. Xu Jiujiu's outward advantages were comparable to their own, but her true strength remained unknown.
While Wang Dong'er and the others had spent the most time with Qian Ran, none of them bore the title of fiancée. Xu Jiujiu, despite entering the picture later, had claimed that title first, inevitably stirring feelings of envy.
Still, Qian Ran's betrothal to Xu Jiujiu was a logical result of the alliance between the Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire.
It wasn't as though Qian Ran could make such arrangements with all of them. That would be both impractical and exhausting to manage.
Xu Jiujiu's eyes shimmered as she realized her team would face Qian Ran's in battle. Her striking blue eyes took on a golden hue, exuding an ocean-like depth.
She glanced toward Qian Ran and the women around him, her graceful, aristocratic face displaying a faintly provocative smile.
"This girl…"
Qian Ran shook his head with a mix of amusement and resignation.
The Team Battle Begins
"Shrek Academy and Star Luo National Academy, team battle participants, step forward."
The referee for this match was none other than Tian Sha Douluo, one of the Star Luo Empire's Titled Douluo, possessing a rank of 92.
Emperor Xu Jiawei, now under the protection of the other three Titled Douluos, had returned to the imperial city and ascended the walls to watch the match.
Both teams stepped onto the arena simultaneously.
Even before the battle officially began, the tension between the two sides was palpable, their gazes crackling with fiery hostility.
Ma Xiaotao's eyes blazed like two roaring flames, her intense aura creating an oppressive atmosphere for her opponents.
During the draw, she had felt overshadowed by Xu Jiujiu's elegant demeanor as a team captain, leaving her slightly aggrieved.
Now, standing on the battlefield, Ma Xiaotao unleashed her powerful presence, transforming her temperament into something fierce and commanding. Neither side could gain the upper hand for now.
On the Star Luo side, the team's formation was unique. Six members arranged themselves in a triangular formation—one in front, two in the middle, and three at the rear—with Xu Jiujiu stationed at the very back.
Her golden gaze grew brighter, casting her as the undisputed commander of her team.
Xu Jiujiu's martial soul, the Star Crown, manifested as a crown composed of countless stars.
Historically, the Star Crown martial soul had held a prestigious place on the Douluo Continent, existing for over ten thousand years. Among top-tier martial souls, it was considered ancient and formidable.
Ten millennia ago, the Spirit Hall had recognized six martial souls as the strongest in the land, each representing one of the most powerful factions. The Star Crown was one of these six.
At that time, the empires of Heaven Dou and Star Luo each claimed three of the martial souls. Back then, the Star Luo imperial family descended from the White Tiger Duke's line, but the White Tiger martial soul was not among these six. Instead, the Star Crown stood as the foremost martial soul of the Star Luo Empire.
However, the Star Crown lineage had always been thin, its practitioners rarely appearing, akin to a hidden sect.
Approximately 4,000 years ago, when the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent, sparking conflict between the Sun Moon Empire and the original Douluo empires, the Star Luo Empire bore the brunt of the chaos. The White Tiger Duke's line nearly faced extinction.
The Star Crown Sect emerged during this crisis, seizing control of the imperial family. Since then, the Star Crown Sect had ruled the Star Luo Empire.
Though the Star Crown martial soul couldn't match the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in pure support, it excelled in combat-oriented assistance. The Star Crown was not just a support tool but also a weapon, making it a martial soul designed for battle.
After solidifying their control over the Star Luo Empire, the Star Crown Sect receded from public view. Over time, many forgot that the imperial family descended from a powerful soul master sect.
Xu Jiujiu's Star Crown martial soul, with its rich heritage, possessed potential on par with any Shrek prodigy.
In the Stands
From the imperial wall, Xu Jiawei observed the unfolding battle, then turned to Duke Dai Hao and the Duchess beside him.
"Still brooding over Yueheng's situation?" Xu Jiawei asked, noting the bitterness in Dai Hao's eyes. But for Xu Jiawei, Qian Ran was a crucial ally. He could sense that Qian Ran's connections within the Spirit Hall were extraordinary—some of their strongest members seemed to value his opinions highly.
Dai Hao remained silent. If Dai Yueheng hadn't suffered his injuries, he could be showcasing his prowess in this very tournament.
"Is it worth holding onto this grudge? If you were to humble yourselves, Yueheng's injuries might not be irreparable."
"Your Majesty, do you have a solution?" The Duchess's voice trembled with urgency, speaking before Dai Hao could respond. Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin were her flesh and blood, and watching Yueheng bedridden, unable even to care for himself, had been an unending torment.
"Whoever ties the knot must untie it. If Qian Ran intervenes, there might be hope," Xu Jiawei said plainly.
He had already seen Qian Ran's healing abilities during the incident with the Zhengtian team, something that hadn't escaped his notice as emperor.
Based on his experience, Qian Ran's healing techniques likely stemmed from an incredibly powerful soul skill. Even if Qian Ran couldn't fully heal Dai Yueheng now, his potential meant it was only a matter of time. As a future Titled Douluo, Qian Ran could likely mend such injuries with ease.
Xu Jiawei laid everything out for Dai Hao and his wife. He had no desire to see the White Tiger Duke's household and the Spirit Hall descend into irreparable conflict—it wasn't in the empire's best interests.
"Qian Ran's martial soul has healing capabilities?" Dai Hao and the Duchess were stunned.
"I'm telling you this because grudges are best resolved, not deepened."
"But his current rank is low—how could his healing ability be so powerful?"
"It might not be enough now, but his growth is inevitable. Besides, Qian Ran has repeatedly defied our expectations, proving us wrong every time we doubted him."
"I understand." Dai Hao's expression grew complicated, his emotions shifting unpredictably.
(End of Chapter)