DD Black White [266-267] (Patreon)

Chapter 266: Brave Meng Meng

Sunlight streamed in, casting two long shadows on the ground.

This was Meng Hongchen's first time experiencing such intimacy. Her movements were awkward and inexperienced, like an innocent young girl untouched by the world.

Lu Jingming, on the other hand, was completely different. With his wealth of experience, he simply smiled gently at Meng Hongchen's nervousness and naivety, using his warm, strong hands to softly guide her.

Their lips met, and time seemed to freeze in that moment, yet also felt like an eternity.

After a long while, when Meng Hongchen began to tremble slightly from lack of breath, Lu Jingming reluctantly released her.

Meng Hongchen felt as if all strength had left her body. She collapsed softly into Lu Jingming's embrace, her eyes full of shyness and dazed desire.

"Xiao Ming, I want...!"

Meng Hongchen's face was as red as a ripe apple. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, as if summoning all her courage to force those few words from her delicate pink lips. Her voice was as soft as a whisper.

If not for Lu Jingming's keen senses and the fact that Meng Hongchen was nestled in his arms, he may not have heard those faint words.

"Alright!" How could Lu Jingming refuse such a proactive and passionate request from Meng Hongchen?

A flash of heat passed through his eyes as he swiftly scooped Meng Hongchen up in his arms. Those strong arms seemed capable of holding up the heavens for her.

As ripples appeared in the air around them, the two figures instantly vanished from sight.

"Wuu!"

At that moment, Castorice, who had just hurried over, witnessed this scene.

She couldn't help but let out a whimper, the sound like that of a dejected, defeated dog.

After much patient consoling from Cerydra, she had finally worked up the courage to find Lu Jingming and confess her feelings. But she never expected to be a step too late, with Meng Hongchen already occupying Lu Jingming's embrace.

She crouched down helplessly, her eyes full of loss and dejection, like a pitiful purple moth.

…

Lu Jingming's strong hands traced along Meng Hongchen's trembling body as he gently laid her on the silk sheets. Her snow-white hair fanned out beneath her like spilled moonlight. She gazed up at him with a mixture of nervous anticipation and burning desire, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Xiao Ming…" she whispered again, reaching for him with trembling fingers. He caught her delicate hands in his, pressing tender kisses to each palm, making her gasp softly.

"Relax, Meng," he murmured against her skin. "I'll take care of you."

His lips found her neck, trailing hot kisses down the column of her throat. Meng Hongchen arched beneath him with a whimper, her inexperienced body hypersensitive to every touch. When his mouth closed around one rosy peak, she cried out sharply, her fingers tangling in his hair.

"Ahh~! Xiao Ming… it feels…" she panted, unable to form coherent thoughts as pleasure coursed through her. His tongue swirled expertly, drawing desperate little sounds from her throat.

Lu Jingming's hands were not idle, sliding down her sides to grip her hips. His thumbs traced maddening circles on her hipbones as he kissed his way down her flat stomach. Meng Hongchen squirmed beneath him, her face flushed crimson.

"Please…" she begged, though she hardly knew what she was begging for. Her body was on fire, aching for something just out of reach.

He smiled against her inner thigh before pressing a kiss there. "Tell me what you want, Meng'er."

"I-I want you," she managed between gasps. "All of you. Make me yours completely."

Lu Jingming groaned at her words, his control threatening to snap. But he forced himself to go slowly, preparing her thoroughly with gentle fingers until she was writhing and crying out his name.

Only then did he position himself above her, capturing her lips in a deep kiss as he slowly pressed forward. Meng Hongchen's nails dug into his shoulders at the initial pain, tears gathering in her eyes.

"Breathe," he whispered, peppering her face with soft kisses. "The pain will pass soon."

True to his word, the discomfort gradually faded into pleasure as he began to move. Meng Hongchen's gasps of pain transformed into breathy moans of ecstasy. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, pulling him deeper.

"Xiao Ming! Xiao… Ming!" she cried out, lost in sensation. Her inner walls clenched around him rhythmically as waves of pleasure crashed over her.

Lu Jingming's movements grew more urgent, driven by her passionate response. "Meng'er… my beautiful Meng'er…" he groaned against her neck.

Their bodies moved together in perfect harmony, building toward an explosive peak. When it finally crashed over them, Meng Hongchen screamed his name, her back arching off the bed as stars burst behind her eyes. Lu Jingming followed moments later with a deep groan, holding her tightly against him.

Afterward, they lay tangled together, catching their breath. Lu Jingming brushed Meng Hongchen's sweat-dampened hair from her face, pressing tender kisses to her flushed cheeks.

After their first passionate coupling, Meng Hongchen's initial shyness melted away into burning curiosity and desire. She straddled Lu Jingming's hips, her white hair cascading over her shoulders as she gazed down at him with hungry eyes.

"Teach me more," she whispered, rolling her hips experimentally. "I want to feel every possible way to be joined with you."

Lu Jingming groaned at her boldness, his hands gripping her waist. "Like this, Meng'er," he guided her movements, showing her how to rise and fall in a rhythm that made them both gasp. Her tight heat gripped him perfectly as she rode him, growing more confident with each stroke.

"Ahh! Xiao Ming!" she cried out as pleasure built rapidly. Her back arched, presenting her breasts to his eager mouth. He sucked and nibbled, making her walls clench around him.

When she began to tire, he flipped them over, taking her from behind. Meng Hongchen's moans grew louder as he found new depths inside her. Her fingers clutched the sheets desperately.

"Harder!" she begged, pushing back against him. "Please, Xiao Ming, I need more!"

He obliged, increasing his pace until the sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room. His hand snaked around to rub her sensitive bud, making her scream in ecstasy.

They moved through position after position, Lu Jingming showing her the endless ways they could bring each other pleasure. Against the wall, bent over furniture, her legs over his shoulders—Meng Hongchen wanted to try everything.

"You're insatiable," he panted admiringly as she sank down on him again, her inner muscles squeezing him deliberately.

"Only for you," she moaned, grinding against him. "I'll never get enough of this feeling."

Hours passed in a blur of passion. When they finally collapsed in exhaustion, both were covered in sweat and love bites. Meng Hongchen curled against his chest with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you for showing me such pleasure," she murmured sleepily. "Though I think I might need more practice…"

Lu Jingming chuckled, pulling her close. "We have all the time in the world, my eager little minx. Rest now—you'll need your energy for what I plan to teach you next."

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she drifted off to sleep, already looking forward to their next lesson in intimacy.

Time passed, and the night passed without incident.

…

In the morning, the sun rose in the east.

Sunlight streamed into the room, golden rays peeking through gaps in the curtains to dance in a corner. Dust motes rose and fell, carried by the gentle breeze.

Silky white hair cascaded down a flawless jade back. Delicate skin flushed a faint pink.

Slender arms, graceful shoulders, and exquisite collarbones. Long, shapely legs pressed together. She was like a perfect work of art, lovingly carved by the gods. Even her adorable little toes curled cutely.

The stunningly beautiful white-haired girl lay sprawled atop Lu Jingming, a sweet smile on her fair face.

The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains into the room.

Lu Jingming slowly opened his eyes to see Meng Hongchen sleeping peacefully before him.

Her hair was slightly disheveled, casually scattered across the pillow. Her adorable sleeping face exuded a lazy contentment.

Lu Jingming didn't wake her. He carefully shifted the white-haired girl draped over him, handling her as gently as a priceless treasure. Then he quietly climbed out of bed.

After last night's intimate encounter, Lu Jingming discovered an interesting fact - that Meng Hongchen, despite her apparent fragility, had an inner core of toughness. She possessed a carnivorous personality.

Not only was she tough, but she was also quite proactive.

Meng Hongchen's willpower and endurance truly impressed Lu Jingming. She far surpassed Zhang Leyuan, nearly rivaling Yae Miko.

In Lu Jingming's view, Meng Hongchen was a worthy opponent, with the ability to go toe-to-toe with him. Of course, in the end he still came out on top.

Thinking of this, Lu Jingming couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Poor Zhang Leyuan - from his observations lately, it seemed nearly impossible for her to shed her status as the weakest player in this arena.

After all, Lu Jingming had only been intimate with three girls so far. Whether someone even less skilled would appear later remained unknown.

But by Lu Jingming's estimation, it would be very difficult to find a girl more inexperienced than Zhang Leyuan.

This poor bride would likely struggle to maintain her position as the official fiancée.

Lu Jingming gently tucked the blanket around the sleeping girl beside him, his movements incredibly light. Then he tiptoed into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and let the warm water wash over his body, slowly cleaning away the traces left from the night before.

After finishing his ablutions, he changed into clean, tidy clothes and headed out, intending to prepare breakfast for Meng Hongchen.

"Good morning brother-in-law!"

As soon as he stepped out, Lu Jingming saw Xiao Hongchen doing morning exercises with Childe. Xiao Hongchen's face bore a brilliant smile as he called out a friendly greeting.

"Morning!" Xiao Hongchen responded reflexively.

But a second later, he suddenly came to his senses, realizing something was amiss.

He quickly turned his head to stare intently at Lu Jingming, then rubbed his eyes, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. He seemed to be trying to confirm exactly which room Lu Jingming had emerged from.

"Lu. Jing. Ming. I'll kill you!"

When he confirmed that Lu Jingming had indeed come out of his sister's room, and with the appearance of having just showered no less, Xiao Hongchen exploded.

Early in the morning, seeing such a scene, anyone would realize the situation was far from innocent.

Add to that Meng Hongchen's eager personality, and the fact that Lu Jingming was clearly not the type of gentleman to refuse what was offered...

Xiao Hongchen instantly understood everything, and rage surged in his heart.

Faced with Xiao Hongchen lunging at him like an enraged demon, Lu Jingming reacted swiftly. With an agile spin, he easily pinned Xiao Hongchen to the ground.

"Brother-in-law, don't be angry! We're all family now. I still need to go prepare breakfast for Meng!"

Lu Jingming's face still wore a smile as he repeatedly called Xiao Hongchen "brother-in-law". But to Xiao Hongchen's ears, the term felt like a taunt, infuriating him further.

"Lu Jingming, you bastard! How dare you take advantage of my sister?! I'll fight you to the death!"

Xiao Hongchen struggled frantically while shouting to Childe, "Tartaglia, what are you doing?! Hurry up and help me!"

He desperately hoped Childe would help him teach this despicable Lu Jingming a lesson.

"This seems like a family matter... I shouldn't interfere," Childe scratched his head, looking confused.

Though he loved fighting, he truly didn't know how to get involved in this kind of sibling dispute.

"Brother-in-law, that's not fair of you. Meng and I are in love - how can you say I took advantage of her?"

Lu Jingming rolled his eyes helplessly, thinking that Meng Hongchen had been the one to initiate things last night. He had simply followed the flow of their feelings and the mood of the moment when becoming intimate with her. How could that be considered taking advantage?

"Lu Jingming, don't celebrate too soon. Even so, I won't accept you, you playboy."

Xiao Hongchen's biggest complaint about Lu Jingming was the sheer number of exceptional beauties around him.

He truly worried that the innocent Meng Hongchen would be bullied in such a complex web of relationships.

In his view, Meng Hongchen didn't have much competitive edge compared to the other girls.

But who could have guessed that his lovesick sister would eagerly offer herself up?

Deep down, he knew that given Lu Jingming's personality, if Meng Hongchen herself hadn't consented, he absolutely wouldn't have forced her.

Combining his understanding of his sister with their imminent departure from St. Freya Academy, he had basically guessed the truth - that his lovesick sister had most likely been entirely willing. He couldn't really blame Lu Jingming.

But even so, he couldn't help the anger burning in his heart. After all, the sister he'd grown up with had suddenly been plucked by someone he disliked. How could he not be furious?

"This is troublesome. You're about to become an uncle. If you don't accept it when the child is born, Meng will be heartbroken."

Lu Jingming deliberately sighed, his voice low as if it were truly the case.

"You... you...!"

The news struck like a bolt from the blue, instantly frying Xiao Hongchen to a crisp. He was completely stunned, as if all strength had been sapped from his body. He stopped struggling and fell into an existential crisis.

Lu Jingming inwardly laughed, allowing a faint, barely perceptible smile to show on his face.

On the Douluo Continent, the stronger one's bloodline and spirit, the harder it was to conceive children.

With his current physique far surpassing ordinary humans, plus his immensely powerful Dark Abyss White Flower martial soul, it would be no easy feat for Meng Hongchen to hit the jackpot. Especially after just one night.

Of course, it wasn't completely impossible. With extraordinarily good luck, they might actually win the prize.

But when he woke up this morning, Lu Jingming had already checked using his abilities. He was extremely sensitive to life energy - if Meng Hongchen had conceived, he would have definitely noticed.

"Bro, you're really not a good person!"

Even Childe couldn't stand by silently anymore, feeling Lu Jingming had gone too far. Sleeping with someone's sister then immediately teasing her brother...

Childe couldn't help but put himself in Xiao Hongchen's shoes. If his own sister Tonia found a yellow-haired punk like Lu Jingming, his reaction would probably be even more extreme than Xiao Hongchen's. He might don his Foul Legacy Transformation on the spot and unleash his ultimate techniques on that punk.

So he actually sympathized with Xiao Hongchen now, stuck with such an unreliable brother-in-law.

"Just kidding, but it'll happen sooner or later, brother-in-law."

Seeing Xiao Hongchen's state, Lu Jingming felt a bit guilty. His conscience kicking in, he reached out to help Xiao Hongchen up, gently brushing the dust off him and putting on a friendly expression.

To avoid putting Meng Hongchen in an awkward position between them, he needed to maintain a good relationship with Xiao Hongchen. The occasional joke to lighten the mood was fine, but going too far wasn't good.

"Damn you, Lu Jingming. Don't let me find out you've bullied my sister. If she suffers any grievances, I'll make you pay dearly, even if it costs me my life."

Xiao Hongchen was full of resentment, but truly helpless.

The rice had already been cooked. Given Meng Hongchen's infatuation with Lu Jingming, children were inevitable sooner or later. He had no way to prevent it.

Moreover, his grandfather Jing Hongchen also approved of this marriage. He had absolutely no say in the matter.

"I promise, I won't let her suffer any grievances. This is a man's vow."

Lu Jingming's expression turned serious. Though his love life was rather abundant, with many close female companions, he always cherished every relationship. He would never let any girl suffer.

"Fine, I'll trust you this once."

Seeing the sincerity in Lu Jingming's eyes, Xiao Hongchen ultimately chose to believe him.

After all, what's done is done. Apart from trusting Lu Jingming, he seemed to have no other options.

…

St. Freya Academy had always placed great importance on students' dietary health, specially equipping a professional team of nutritionists to serve the students.

Lu Jingming went to the cafeteria in person. After explaining his purpose, the nutritionists immediately sprang into action, swiftly preparing a top-tier nutritious breakfast for Meng Hongchen.

This breakfast was not only nutritionally balanced, but the combination of ingredients also took into account Meng Hongchen's spirit and soul power cultivation, aiming to provide her with the best possible meal.

After all, with Lu Jingming coming in person, they naturally had to give it their absolute best effort.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Meng Hongchen had slowly awakened.

She lazily leaned against the headboard, her slender fingers idly twirling strands of her silky hair, curling it around her fingertips in boredom.

Hearing the door open, she looked up to see Lu Jingming enter. Her face instantly lit up with joy.

She had expected Lu Jingming wouldn't be the type to sleep with her then leave irresponsibly. She figured he had likely gone to prepare breakfast for her. So after waking, she wasn't anxious, but rather waited contentedly for his return.

Lu Jingming smiled as he walked to the bedside. He gently sat on the edge of the bed, placing the tray on the nightstand. Then he lovingly stroked Meng Hongchen's hair, saying softly, "Time for breakfast, little sleepyhead."

Meng Hongchen blinked her bright, lively eyes. She slowly sat up, causing the blanket that had been covering her to slide down.

She reached out her delicate hand, gently pressing it against Lu Jingming's chest. She nestled into his embrace like a small bird seeking shelter. Then she tilted her head up slightly, her eyes full of desire.

Feeling Meng Hongchen's passion, Lu Jingming took a deep breath. He grasped her jade-like hand, his voice low and slightly restrained as he said, "This is what you asked for."

….

When Lu Jingming and Meng Hongchen finally walked out of the room side by side, they found Xiao Hongchen waiting outside with a gloomy expression, clearly having been there for some time.

Seeing the sweet, blissful look on Meng Hongchen's face, Xiao Hongchen's dark mood eased slightly.

After all, he could see his sister's happiness with his own eyes. Though he still felt some dissatisfaction towards Lu Jingming, he couldn't say anything more upon seeing his sister so content.

Afterwards, Xiao Hongchen silently led Meng Hongchen away, clearly intending to find a place for a brotherly lecture.

Seeing this, Lu Jingming had no intention of getting involved. He trusted that Meng Hongchen was capable of handling communication with her brother.

Watching Meng Hongchen's retreating figure, Lu Jingming couldn't help but marvel inwardly. As expected of a soul master - her physical constitution was truly extraordinary.

Even after experiencing the pain of losing her virginity last night, then having another overtime match this morning, Meng Hongchen still walked normally, without any signs of discomfort.

An outsider would never be able to tell that she had transformed from an innocent girl into a mature woman.

Suddenly, Lu Jingming remembered something important, his heart jolting in shock.

As a Master, Meng Hongchen had a Servant - none other than Miyabi.

But last night he had been so preoccupied with Meng Hongchen that he'd completely forgotten about this.

Lu Jingming's mouth twitched. Where had Miyabi gone last night? She hadn't been waiting outside the room the whole time, had she?

Just thinking of that possibility made Lu Jingming's scalp tingle.

He hurriedly looked around but saw no sign of Miyabi. Lu Jingming rubbed his brow, inwardly frustrated at his carelessness this time.

As time passed, the days of exchange and study were coming to an end.

When the time came, Jing Hongchen would personally come to St. Freya Academy to bring Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen and the others back to the Douluo Empire.

However, Lu Jingming knew that some people likely wouldn't be returning with Jing Hongchen.

Take Ji Juchen and Jing Ziyan for example - they had actually long since met the graduation standards of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

During their time studying at St. Freya Academy, they had gained a great deal.

Ji Juchen was determined to follow Jingliu to further study swordsmanship. Moreover, St. Freya Academy was full of experts, with many opponents who could match him and satisfy his desire for battle.

Considering all factors, the chances of Ji Juchen leaving St. Freya Academy were extremely slim.

As for Jing Ziyan's feelings for Ji Juchen, they were as clear as day to everyone except perhaps the oblivious Ji Juchen himself.

If Ji Juchen didn't leave, Jing Ziyan naturally wouldn't go either.

Lu Jingming greatly admired Ji Juchen's strength and talent. He already had the idea of letting him serve as a Fatui Harbinger.

With Ji Juchen's abilities, he certainly qualified. Lu Jingming believed Ji Juchen could fully utilize his talents within the Fatui.

And Xuan Ziwen, who had now successfully advanced to become a 9th-rank soul engineer, likely wouldn't leave Haiyuan either.

In this continent's most advanced technological city, there was endless new knowledge waiting for him to study and research.

Xuan Ziwen had always been obsessed with research. After coming to Haiyuan, he was completely captivated by the knowledge possessed by the Herta. He spent all his time immersed in the laboratory, hardly going anywhere else.

Lu Jingming was even a bit worried that if Xuan Ziwen hadn't broken through to become a Titled Douluo with far superior physical constitution, he might one day work himself to death in the lab.

As Jing Hongchen's junior and also Kongde Ming's disciple, Xuan Ziwen held an important position in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

If he chose to stay in Haiyuan, he would inevitably face some troubles.

However, Lu Jingming had already made ample preparations for this. Jing Hongchen would be relatively easy to deal with.

Chapter 267: The Arbiter-Generals

Lu Jingming had long since made covert contact with Xuan Ziwen's teacher, Silvermoon Douluo Kong Deming, through other channels.

Though the two had never met in person, they both tacitly understood Zhang Lexuan's situation.

With the Sun-Moon Empire's current situation growing ever more tangled—and the power struggles among the Holy Spirit Cult, the military, and Xu Tianran—Kong Deming felt increasingly ill at ease.

Once, confident in his own strength, Kong Deming had always supported Xu Tianran and let events run their course.

However, the outbreak of the Holy Grail War and the appearance of Servants shattered the old balance, forcing Kong Deming to act and seek a path of retreat for the Sun-Moon Empire.

Even though he had broken through to become a Super Douluo ahead of time and successfully forged his life-bound, rank-10 soul tool, he still felt powerless in Mingdu, that volatile center of storm and intrigue.

Lu Jingming shared Kong Deming's concerns. Just the level of trouble posed by the Servant Ju Zi had summoned was enough to flip the entire Douluo Continent, to say nothing of Xu Tianran's own concealed Servant and whatever methods he still had hidden.

There were only a few months left before the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Youth Elite Tournament to be held in Mingdu.

Lu Jingming knew perfectly well that the focus of this tournament was never the competition itself. Xu Tianran's true aim was to use the tournament as a pretext to gather all the Masters and Servants in Mingdu to propel the Holy Grail War forward.

The tournament was merely a smokescreen; the real main event was the Holy Grail War.

Thus, Lu Jingming directly arranged for Wang Qiu'er, Ye Guyi, and others to form a team to participate, while he himself and Robin and the rest would not enter into things on the surface.

After all, with Lu Jingming's current soul power at the Soul Douluo level, and with Robin and the others being Soul Sages who had already condensed soul cores, entering such a tournament would be blatant bullying—child's play—and hardly necessary.

Moreover, Robin and company's true combat power was far from what it appeared on the surface. Beneath the façade of Soul Sage, their real strength would leave many opponents in the dust.

So they decided not to take part in the tournament and couldn't be bothered to push other contestants around.

In any case, the tournament wasn't the point. Lu Jingming even doubted, given Xu Tianran's usual style, whether this Soul Master Tournament would proceed smoothly at all.

Xu Tianran was always a deep schemer—he might well be brewing a big move.

…

Heavenly Soul Empire — Body Sect.

Boom!

A thunderous report split the air as an axe blade wrapped in an azure gale cleaved down from on high.

The axe edge seemed to hold the power to rend the void, tracing a dazzling arc a thousand meters long as it slashed toward a mountain not far from the Body Sect.

At once, the mountain split down the middle like fragile paper under the force of the strike.

As the collapsing peak roared, it felt as though the entire range trembled.

Dust billowed skyward in a shroud, and the ground heaved as if in an earthquake. The Body Sect shook under the force of the impact.

At that moment, Du Busi's brow was beaded with cold sweat, his muscles shuddering uncontrollably.

It was a violent physiological reaction after a brush with death.

While the Body Sect members were still reeling from the sudden shock, a figure flashed in an instant to appear before Du Busi.

The newcomer raised a long, powerful leg and, without mercy, lashed out. A foot clad in a metal high heel met Du Busi's body squarely.

Boom!

The force in that kick made the air shatter like a brittle spiderweb.

Amid the resounding sonic boom, everyone from the Body Sect stared, aghast, eyes full of fear.

They watched as Du Busi—the Body Douluo who had only recently broken through to Ultimate Douluo and was in high spirits—was blasted away like a cannonball, smashing the crest off another mountain.

"Sect Master!"

"Grandfather!"

The Body Sect's elders and Princess Weina of the Heavenly Soul Empire cried out at once in shock and alarm.

Soon, the Body Sect's Grand Elder, Golden Body Douluo Jin Peng, pulled Du Busi with difficulty from the rubble.

Du Busi no longer had any of the luster he'd shown when breaking through to Ultimate Douluo.

He was utterly listless, breath weak, drenched in blood, and in a pitiful state. From the look of him, he had probably broken more than a few bones.

Bear in mind, Du Busi was a Ultimate Douluo with a Body Martial Soul; his physique was terrifying, comparable to a top-tier fierce beast.

Yet now, a single kick had nearly cost him half his life.

"Not bad—quite sturdy. You folks and your so-called Body Martial Souls can take a hit."

Amid the Body Sect's reverent, almost terrified gazes, a fresh, boldly spirited voice drifted down.

A white-haired, fox-eared beauty in an azure battle robe hovered in midair.

She rested a sharp battle-axe on her shoulder, its edge glinting with a biting chill, proclaiming its extraordinary nature.

Currents of cyan wind danced around her like loyal guards, as if the world's wind itself had bowed to her, willing to heed her command.

"Feixiao, didn't we agree this was just a spar?" Weina couldn't help stepping forward, looking at Feixiao with exasperation.

Du Busi was the god-grandfather she revered; Feixiao was the Servant she had summoned.

When Du Busi learned that Weina had become a Master and successfully summoned a powerful being from another world, his curiosity and desire to test himself burned bright. He wanted to see just what power a so-called Servant possessed.

Who could have expected that as soon as the bout began, he'd be crushed with no chance to fight back, even questioning his life choices?

After only three exchanges, he had almost died—and that was with Feixiao holding back.

"Little Weina, that's not on me. I was already going easy."

Feixiao felt a bit awkward herself. Nearly beating her Master's god-grandfather to death was… less than ideal.

But Weina had praised her god-grandfather to the skies at the start—Ultimate Douluo this, apex powerhouse that—so Feixiao had been looking forward to a hearty duel between experts.

Instead, before she even put in any real effort, Du Busi had nearly gone to meet the King of Hell.

Good thing she'd hesitated to unleash her numinous might; otherwise he might have perished then and there.

"Are you… a deity from another world? To possess such terrifying power!"

Catching his breath, Du Busi stared at Feixiao, eyes alight with fervor.

He was deeply shaken. This was merely a Servant, not the true body, yet the pressure she exerted surpassed even the Snow Empress who had slain Dragon God Douluo Mu En back then.

If just a projection could be this powerful, then could her true body be one of those legendary God-Kings?

"A god? People from more primitive planets have called me that, but I'm just a general who leads troops."

Feixiao spoke offhandedly.

On worlds that hadn't touched the wider cosmos and were still relatively primitive, someone like her could indeed be addressed as a god.

But in the vast world she came from, such gods were nothing rare.

In their understanding, only those lofty Star Gods truly deserved to be called gods.

"I knew it!" Du Busi could hardly contain his joy. Weina had drawn a trump card.

Judging by the power Feixiao had displayed, even true gods might be nothing more than this.

With her on their side, they were all but assured victory in the coming Holy Grail War.

"Hmph. Sun-Moon Empire—whatever schemes you have, before absolute power they're nothing but futile."

Du Busi, overjoyed, had no time to mind his own injuries.

With Feixiao's strength on display, he had no worries left about the upcoming Soul Master Tournament the Sun-Moon Empire was about to host.

Given today's complicated situation across the continent, the Sun-Moon Empire still insisting on holding the tournament was suspicious to everyone.

All knew the Sun-Moon Empire would likely set layers of traps within the tournament.

Even so, it was an open conspiracy no one could refuse.

After all, the Soul Master Tournament had been held for ten thousand years. With its influence among soul masters, no empire could decline to participate.

Refusal would deal a heavy blow to one's prestige and shake one's standing on the continent.

Thus, although everyone knew this tournament was anything but ordinary—that the Sun-Moon Empire harbored ill intent—each major power had no choice but to send a serious team, not a perfunctory one.

The tournament was a continent-wide spectacle of the highest order, watched closely by all sides.

Failing to perform would invite doubts from every quarter, damaging one's reputation and position.

Just like when Shrek Academy lost the championship it had long dominated, and weathered no small amount of criticism with a notable hit to its reputation.

"Feixiao, are you really just a general?" Weina looked up at Feixiao, curiosity brimming.

Feixiao's dashing, heroic bearing was striking, but in Weina's mind, it was hard to believe someone with such transcendent power was merely a general.

In her experience, generals were tools wielded by royal authority. No matter how outstanding, they were insignificant before absolute powerhouses.

In their Heavenly Soul Empire, the commander-in-chief of all three armies was roughly on par in status with a Titled Douluo; compared to a figure like Du Busi, who ranked among the continent's top experts, the difference was a chasm.

So she truly couldn't imagine what kind of force could command someone like Feixiao.

"Hehe, Little Weina, different worlds differ by a gulf. I've learned a fair bit about yours now. Being summoned by you is a rare bond. How about I help you train a Cloud Knights? War isn't far from your doorstep."

Feixiao chuckled, glossing over the conceptual gap between a Xianzhou general and a Douluo Continent general.

As the Arbiter-General, Feixiao had a keen eye for war. She had already seen the tangled situation on Douluo Continent with clarity.

Her instincts had long caught the scent of war on the wind.

So she took the initiative to help Weina train an army to strengthen the Heavenly Soul Empire as a whole.

She was fond of Weina. The princess had high emotional intelligence, none of the arrogance common among royals, and was quite approachable—leaving Feixiao with an excellent impression.

Even if a hastily trained Cloud Knights couldn't match the Cloud Knights of Xianzhou Alliance in equipment or strength, it would still be more than enough for a continent-spanning war.

"Thank you, Feixiao. Being able to summon you may be the luckiest thing in my life."

Weina expressed her gratitude with sincerity.

She didn't know Feixiao's exact skill in drilling troops, but given Feixiao's terrifying power and the confidence befitting a general, Weina chose to trust her without hesitation.

She secretly resolved to return to the palace at once and do her utmost to persuade her father to hand over the Heavenly Soul Empire's most elite soul master legions to Feixiao for training and command.

"Perfect timing. My Body Sect has many highly talented disciples, but most aren't skilled in large-scale combat. Might I trouble you, Lady Feixiao, to train them into seasoned soldiers as well?"

Hearing this, Du Busi quickly followed Feixiao's lead, calculations humming in his mind.

He knew that training under someone like Feixiao would be an immense opportunity for anyone.

If not for saving face, he would have joined the drills himself.

"Mm. These kids are excellent seedlings. I agree."

Feixiao's gaze swept over the likes of Long Aotian in the Body Sect. In her eyes, though they were still weak for now, each had considerable potential. With careful honing, they could become fine soldiers.

Feixiao herself was a powerhouse who had tempered her body to the extreme, and the Body Sect's Body Martial Souls naturally amplified physical strength—perfectly matching her training approach.

Though their physiques could never compare to the Xianzhou long-liver race, it was quite feasible to forge a low-spec Cloud Knights.

If the other empires made no dramatic reforms, then once the Heavenly Soul Empire's version of the Cloud Knights took shape, it would likely vault to become the strongest army on Douluo Continent.

By then, the Sun-Moon Empire's proud Five Nation-Guarding Hands and their Beast King–class soul engineer legions—equipped with advanced soul tools—might struggle to withstand the Cloud Knights' fierce assault.

Such was the massive impact the Holy Grail War and the arrival of Servants would have on this world.

Even aside from the raw power they possessed, the very knowledge, the entirely different systems of science and force they brought from beyond would be enough to trigger sweeping shock and change across the continent.

In Lu Jingming's view, this change was positive—beneficial to Douluo's development.

Absorbing knowledge from other worlds could greatly accelerate the continent's growth and strength.

After all, there were no forbidden knowledge taboos on Douluo. Knowledge from elsewhere was welcome, the more the better.

Under the joint persuasion of Du Busi and Weina, the Heavenly Soul Emperor was finally convinced to entrust the empire's most elite soul master legions to Feixiao.

Together with the many Body Sect disciples eager to join in, it was easy to foresee that, under Feixiao's meticulous training, a mighty army capable of shaking the entire continent would soon be born.

Even as the Heavenly Soul Empire moved in high gear, the Star Luo Empire refused to be outdone and quickly took corresponding action.

Curiously, however, the Dou Ling Empire seemed utterly aloof, unmoved by the shifting winds, as if none of it concerned them.

In truth, the reason was that no Master had emerged within the Dou Ling Empire for this Holy Grail War.

In the original, the Dou Ling Empire had always had a faint presence on the continent. The only one to truly carry its fortune was likely Xu Sanshi.

Of course, others might also bear some measure of destiny—they simply weren't chosen.