Facing Youming, Grand Duke, Zhu Zhuqing did not hesitate to strike back.
In contrast, the face of the Youming Grand Duke changed unpredictably.
Eventually, his face was filled with uncontrollable rage, "Enough, for the sake of the family, you must return to the Xingluo Empire with me and give the royal household an explanation."
As he spoke, he even used powerful Soul Force Pressure.
His decision was clear, to use Zhu Zhuqing to give the Star Luo Royal Family an explanation.
And Zhu Zhuqing, after withstanding the pressure from the Soul Douluo, seemed to struggle.
Hmph!
She grunted softly, and her Martial Soul immediately manifested.
At the same time, four Soul Rings rose up from beneath her feet.
Yellow yellow purple purple.
Especially the last purple Soul Ring, so dark it was almost black.
"Soul Ancestor!"
"How could you possibly be a Soul Ancestor-level expert?"
"Moreover, such a powerful soul power fluctuation indicates that you're no ordinary Soul Ancestor!"
The voice of the Youming Grand Duke contained barely concealed surprise.
You must know, when Zhu Zhuqing left home, she was merely a Grand Soul Master in her twenties.
How long has it been?
In just a few short months, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power rank had soared by several tens of levels, surpassing Soul Elder and reaching Soul Ancestor!
"Counting the time, you're only thirteen years old but have already reached the realm of Soul Ancestor, it's simply unbelievable."
The Youming Grand Duke became more and more shocked as he thought about it.
What Zhu Zhuqing was doing was simply defying the heavens.
He asked himself, when he was thirteen years old, he wasn't even a Soul Elder.
"There are some things, even if I told you, you wouldn't understand," Zhu Zhuqing said while resisting the Soul Force Pressure.
"Hmph, don't think that just because you have shown such a tremendous talent, I will change my mind," the Youming Grand Duke said, suddenly increasing the output of his soul power.
What was his status, and how could he tolerate his own daughter defying him?
"Heh, who would have thought that the dignified Youming Grand Duke is actually a bully within his own domain, and on top of that, one who throws his weight around because of age," a new voice suddenly entered the scene.
Right after, Qin Xiao's figure appeared out of nowhere, standing between Zhu Zhuqing and the Youming Grand Duke, instantly breaking the eerie atmosphere between them.
Huff...
Puff...
Zhu Zhuqing breathed heavily with relief.
In contrast, the Youming Grand Duke's face looked increasingly ugly.
"Who are you?"
He asked Qin Xiao coldly, "Why interfere in a matter between father and daughter?"
"Who am I?"
Qin Xiao laughed, "Since you came here based on the messages transmitted by Dai Mubai, he should have mentioned me. After all, I am the root of all evil..."
"The root of all evil?"
The Youming Grand Duke frowned and then seemed to have a sudden realization.
"Wait! You're Qin Xiao, the Titled Douluo-level powerhouse mentioned by Dai Mubai."
Yes!
He was confident he was not mistaken, for only a powerhouse at the Titled Douluo Level could so easily dissolve his Soul Force Pressure.
And only such a strong figure would dare to face someone of his status and power with such ease and humor.
Only...
"You're actually so young?" the Youming Grand Duke looked at Qin Xiao, his shock growing.
However, in Dai Mubai's testament, there wasn't much described about Qin Xiao.
He and the Star Luo Emperor had only received two pieces of information.
One was Qin Xiao's name.
The other was his Titled Douluo cultivation level.
Of course.
They didn't know that Dai Mubai already hated Qin Xiao to the bone and refraining from slandering Qin Xiao was already a sign of his restraint.
How could he possibly praise Qin Xiao, the eighteen-year-old Titled Douluo who had killed the Sect Master of the Hao Tian Clan, destroying the clan altogether?
Though it was the truth.
Yet, Dai Mubai felt that this was glorifying Qin Xiao.
Therefore, in the end, he did not mention Qin Xiao's deeds in the testament.
"Right, I am Qin Xiao."
Qin Xiao nodded, then added, "Now, while I still regard you as Zhu Qing's father, you better leave quickly."
"You, you want to drive me away?"
The Youming Grand Duke was taken aback.
"Not driving away, just a friendly reminder," Qin Xiao said with a slight smile, displaying his white teeth.
The Youming Grand Duke took a deep breath and demanded, "You, by what right do you do this? Even if you are at the Titled Douluo Level, you have no right to interfere in our family affairs."
"Family?"
"Heh."
Qin Xiao let out a cold laugh and then put his arm around Zhu Zhuqing's slender waist, "Even if you are Zhu Qing's father, you have no right to meddle in our family matters."
"What, 'our family'?"
The Youming Grand Duke's face was filled with astonishment.
Blushes of red flew across Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks in an instant.
"Isn't it obvious? Zhu Qing is now mine, a member of the Qin Family. Your Zhu family's rules no longer bind her. So, I'm asking you one more time, please leave," Qin Xiao said to the still-dumbfounded Youming Grand Duke with an air of irritation.
"A member of the... Qin Family?"
The Youming Grand Duke finally realized the situation.
Qin Xiao was determined to protect Zhu Zhuqing.
"But if Zhu Zhuqing does not return with me, how am I supposed to explain to the royal household?"
"The mouth is on your face; can't you say whatever you like? I believe with your intelligence, you will surely think of an appropriate solution, right?" Qin Xiao said meaningfully to the Youming Grand Duke.
What can I do... The Youming Grand Duke's complexion changed drastically, "Without Zhu Qing, I can't justify it to the royal household. Please, Your Highness, for the face of the Youming Clan, do not interfere in this matter."
Heh, still up to no good!
Seeing this, Qin Xiao frowned.
Zhu Zhuqing noticed Qin Xiao's reaction and couldn't help but reach out to gently pinch his arm.
Honestly, she was quite worried that Qin Xiao might accidentally kill the Youming Grand Duke.
Though she was thoroughly disappointed with the Youming Grand Duke as a father, she still didn't want to see him die by Qin Xiao's hand.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Qin Xiao reassured her as he gently stroked the girl's back, calming her uneasy heart.
Uh, are you showing affection here as if I don't exist?
The Youming Grand Duke's face turned even uglier.
"Is this really okay?" he asked with a livid expression.
"Indeed, it's not good; I should have sent you away first," Qin Xiao said seriously, nodding his head, and then suddenly bellowed, "Old Zhao, show the guest out."
Who is Old Zhao? The Youming Grand Duke was startled, but his eyes widened in the next moment.
A stocky man dropped from the sky.
Thump!
When the stocky man landed, the Youming Grand Duke felt the ground beneath his feet tremble.
"Old Zhao, I'll leave him to you. No need to hold back, just send him off with full force."
Qin Xiao instructed Zhao Wuji, then, with his arms around Zhu Zhuqing's delicate body, turned and walked away.
Closing the door and leaving Old Zhao in charge, Qin Xiao felt this move was very steady.
"You, you're just going to leave like this!"
The Youming Grand Duke was stunned. What does it mean to leave me here like this?
"I am Zhao Wuji, at your service," Zhao Wuji said to the Youming Grand Duke with a fist and palm salute.
"Zhao Wuji, you're the Immovable King Zhao Wuji?"
The Youming Grand Duke suddenly remembered Zhao Wuji's reputation.
"It's just a nickname given among brothers, not worth mentioning," Zhao Wuji said with a smile.
He meant to be polite, but the Youming Grand Duke seriously nodded, "Indeed not worth mentioning. You're no match for me, so step aside. I still need to find Qin Xiao and take back my daughter."
Zhao Wuji had heard of it.
After so many years, the Youming Grand Duke was at most at the Soul Saint Level. Zhao had been at the Soul Douluo realm for decades, how could he be compared to Zhao Wuji?
"His Highness has instructed me to send you away."
"Duke, please," Zhao Wuji said firmly, still standing in place, gesturing for the Youming Grand Duke to proceed.
"Hmph, Qin Xiao is one thing, but do you also consider yourself a Titled Douluo? Do you think, with just you, you can stop me?" the Youming Grand Duke asked Zhao Wuji with a deadly look in his eyes.
Zhao Wuji, however, responded with four words, "I want to try."