Inside the room, after Ma Xiaotao revealed her strength, Xu Jiujing, Weina, and their entourages grew noticeably more restrained—especially the two Title Douluo.
The woman in red was of little concern—an ordinary Title Douluo, nothing special. But the woman in blue could feel a heavy threat pressing down on her. Even though Ma Xiaotao was only a newly ascended Title Douluo, the danger she radiated was unmistakable.
Ma Xiaotao had already been a subject of scrutiny from the continent's major powers. As the personal disciple of Shrek Academy's Dean Yan Shaozhe, and bearer of the Ultimate Fire martial soul, her future position as one of Shrek's leaders was inevitable. Someone like her could never go unnoticed.
For the blue-robed woman, the dread was personal. A Title Douluo of the Ultimate Fire? Even newly ascended, Ma Xiaotao was already comparable to her, a rank-95 Super Douluo. And worse, Ma Xiaotao's martial soul perfectly countered her own. In a true fight, victory was far from guaranteed.
Only after Zhu Ziyang broke the tense silence did Xu Jiujing and Weina manage to force smiles back onto their faces.
They both spoke at once:
"Granny Manyi!"
"Elder Muxing!"
At their summons, the two Title Douluo—Nebula Douluo Manyi and Snow Demon Douluo Muxing—relented. Each took a step back and sat down.
"Ziyang, please forgive her," Xu Jiujing said with a polite smile. "Granny Manyi is my protector. She was a little… overzealous just now."
"Hehe, no harm done," Zhu Ziyang replied mildly, though in his mind he reviewed what he knew of the woman.
Nebula Douluo Manyi, a rank-93 control-type Title Douluo with the martial soul Nebula Fan, a long-established powerhouse and royal consecrate of the Star Luo Empire.
"Ziyang—may I call you that?" Princess Weina interjected smoothly, following Xu Jiujing's lead.
"Of course," Zhu Ziyang said with an unchanged smile.
"Thank you." She let out a small breath, then continued. "Elder Muxing was also… overly agitated. On her behalf, I apologize."
The blue-robed elder's face twitched, her lips parting slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.
Zhu Ziyang smiled again, unbothered. Inwardly, he recalled her identity as well:
Snow Demon Douluo Muxing, a rank-95 assault-type Super Douluo with the martial soul Snow Demon Flower. She was the Great Elder of the Snow Demon Sect, a consecrate of the Heavenly Soul Empire, and a famed powerhouse of her generation.
The Snow Demon Sect was no ordinary sect. Since the founding of the Heavenly Soul Empire, it had stood as the empire's guardian sect, its ties to the royal family exceptionally close. The Wei clan's hereditary martial soul was the Snow Lotus, while the sect's iconic soul was the Snow Demon Flower. The two were soul beast pairings—one embodying life and healing, the other raw destructive might.
It was said that the Snow Demon Sect's real roots were not so simple. According to the Tianyuan Pavilion's intelligence, they were very likely a hidden branch of the Body Sect.
Weina brightened after Zhu Ziyang accepted her apology. "Thank you, truly!"
"Haha, good—now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, we can finally talk business," Xu Jiujing said cheerfully.
"Yes, yes, let's," Weina agreed with a smile. "I feel guilty enough for wasting so much time already."
"Hehe. Of course we can," Zhu Ziyang replied, his lips curling into a faint, mocking smile. His tone turned suddenly cold. "But… given the weight of the matter, why don't you have the old ones behind you step forward? You two… aren't qualified to sit at the same table with me."
"What?"
The smiles on Xu Jiujing and Weina's faces froze, their expressions stiff with disbelief. They exchanged glances, utterly stunned.
This time, even the two Title Douluo held their silence. They were furious, but with Ma Xiaotao present, they dared not lean on their seniority.
Yet Snow Demon Douluo Muxing could not restrain herself. "Boy, aren't you going too far? Even if you are Shrek's golden child, our Weina is a princess. Her status is no less than yours. How dare you say she's unqualified?"
"Hehe."
Zhu Ziyang leaned back lazily against the sofa, lifting the teacup Ma Xiaotao had poured for him. He sipped lightly before speaking, his voice calm but cutting.
"Both Princess Jiujing and Princess Weina are my friends. In private, we can share a seat as equals. But here, I am not Zhu Ziyang the friend. I am the Head of Shrek Academy's Tianyuan Pavilion. And in that capacity—"
His smile sharpened. "You are not qualified to sit with me. Understand?"
His words were not loud, but they fell like thunder.
Xu Jiujing, Weina, and their two protectors all shot to their feet, their faces pale with shock.
Could it be true? Could the authority of Shrek's Tianyuan Pavilion already lie in the hands of this twenty-year-old youth?
The very idea was unthinkable. But looking at Zhu Ziyang's serene confidence, and Ma Xiaotao's unshaken smile, they realized with dawning horror—it was no lie.
Xu Jiujing suddenly recalled a memory. When Elder Mu had passed away, she had been in Shrek Academy. She remembered his final words. Could it be… Zhu Ziyang had already reached the Title Douluo realm at just twenty years old? A dual-Ultimate martial soul Title Douluo?
Her whole body trembled. If not for Nebula Douluo Manyi supporting her, she would have collapsed. Her voice shook as she stammered, "I… I understand. Granny Manyi, let's go."
Without hesitation, Xu Jiujing turned and left the suite.
Weina quickly followed, forcing a strained smile as she said, "Ziyang, forgive us. We'll relay your words exactly." Then she and her two protectors also withdrew.
The suite was left quiet, with only Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao remaining.
Ma Xiaotao promptly slipped into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Zhu Ziyang's eyes flashed with disdain, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Heh. To think they wanted to lead Shrek Academy? Truly laughable."
"Ziyang, when do you think they'll come back?" Ma Xiaotao breathed against his ear, her tone both teasing and intimate.
"My guess? No later than tonight," Zhu Ziyang replied with a knowing smile.
"You're that certain?" Her eyes glimmered with mischief. "Then let's make a bet. If they don't come tonight, then I want you to…"
She leaned in close, whispering in his ear.
Zhu Ziyang's eyes lit up with excitement. "And if they do come?"
"Then… I'll grant your wish instead," Ma Xiaotao murmured, her cheeks blooming red as her gaze flickered down shyly. The usual Fire God Douluo's boldness was gone, replaced with rare softness.
"Deal," Zhu Ziyang grinned, exhilarated.
Their flirtation was soon interrupted. Returning from a stroll through Mingdu, Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Wu Huan'er came back into the suite—alongside Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and the rest of the Tang Sect team.
"Zhu Ziyang! We've got a big business deal to discuss!" Tang Ya burst in, her voice loud and brash, making everyone else roll their eyes.
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