"Feng'er, I heard you gave Zhuqing two Wind Thunder Leopard King spirit bones. Such precious treasures, how did you obtain them?"
Xu Ruyun asked casually, as if making small talk.
"He bought them with money," Zhuqing, who had been silent until now, spoke up in his defense. "You might not know, but the first fortune he ever made was from writing books. His pen name was 'Tentacle Monster.'"
"Tentacle Monster!?"
Xu Ruyun and Zhuyun spoke in unison, their voices filled with shock.
Zhuyun's eyes locked onto Lu Feng. "You're the mysterious genius author of Battle Through the Heavens, Tentacle Monster?"
Before Lu Feng could answer, Zhuqing chimed in with pride. "Yes, that's him. The first time I met him, I felt like I'd seen him before. Later, I realized, I had seen his portrait printed in the books."
The portrait only bore a fifty percent resemblance, but she had still managed to find the similarities.
Lu Feng took Zhuqing's outstretched hand and chuckled. "I wouldn't call myself a genius author. Just scraping by."
"Scraping by? A book that earns millions of gold spirit coins is just 'scraping by'?" Zhuyun rolled her eyes.
Zhu Yan burst into laughter. "So it seems Feng'er is both a scholar and a warrior. With such a son-in-law, what more could one ask for?"
Xu Ruyun's brows furrowed slightly, as if weighed down by some unspoken thought. Her alluring eyes flickered with contemplation,, the more she learned about Lu Feng, the more she realized how extraordinary he was.
'One day, I'll make this young prodigy fall at my feet and serve my purposes… The Star Crown Sect's plans could be greatly accelerated.'
Thinking this, a bewitching smile spread across her lips. "Feng'er, come. Try this fresh scallop from the Southern Sea, Auntie Thirteenth peeled it just for you."
With exaggerated warmth, she scooped one from the scallop porridge, using her delicate fingers to pluck out the meat before placing it in Lu Feng's bowl.
The cooking here wasn't overly refined, the scallops had simply been tossed whole into the porridge to simmer.
Lu Feng's breath hitched slightly, but he could only accept it with a strained smile.
As soon as the meal ended, he quickly excused himself.
Just as Zhuqing had said, he had a lot to do today, they were leaving in the afternoon, and there was still packing and preparations to handle.
Lu Feng didn't have much luggage. Anything that could be bought with money could be purchased once they reached Suotuo City; no need to haul it all the way there.
But for Zhuqing, this was her first long journey, and she wanted to be thorough, preferring to bring as much as possible. After all, they had a carriage.
Not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, Lu Feng accompanied her to Star Luo City's shopping paradise, the Pan-Continent Plaza, also home to a branch of the Merchant Alliance.
Zhuyun tagged along as well.
In the past two months, the sisters had rekindled their bond quickly. Blood ties ran deep, and their childhood affection for each other had left a foundation to rebuild upon.
Previously, Zhuyun had always been the dominant one. She could have easily eliminated Zhuqing, without her, Dai Mubai would have had an even harder time competing against Dai Weis. And though Dai Weis had repeatedly urged her to take decisive action, deep down, Zhuyun still held onto that lingering affection, unable to bring herself to strike the final blow.
Zhuqing had sensed this as well.
Lu Feng handed Zhuqing a Merchant Alliance unlimited spending card and accompanied the two sisters as they strolled around.
Zhuqing paused in front of a lingerie boutique. "This is my favorite brand."
"I've always used this one too," Zhuyun said, smiling at her sister. "The fabric is the most comfortable in Star Luo City, breathable, stretchy, perfect for us agility-attack types."
The sisters shared similar tastes. As speed-focused fighters, they had high standards for undergarments that could keep up with their movements.
Zhuqing sighed. "Suotuo City is a small place, and Shrek Academy is out in the countryside. They probably don't carry this brand there."
"Then buy a few extra sets just in case."
Zhuyun glanced back at Lu Feng, who was trailing behind them, then leaned in to whisper in Zhuqing's ear. "They also sell… interesting things here. Like sexy lingere and fishnet stockings."
Zhu Qing's face flushed. "I don't wear stuff like that."
"You might not, but a certain man might enjoy seeing you in them, especially when you're alone."
"Huh?" Zhu Qing froze for a second before her gaze flicked toward Lu Feng. Realizing what her sister meant, her fair cheeks turned crimson. "Sister, you're really… Fine, let's go in and look."
Turning back to Lu Feng with a hint of shyness, she said, "This kind of store isn't for men. Don't follow us in, go explore somewhere else for now."
"Oh, sure, no problem."
Lu Feng grinned.
This worked out perfectly, he needed to stop by the Merchant Alliance's headquarters to handle some business anyway.
As he walked away, he faintly overheard Zhu Qing asking Zhuyun in a hushed voice: "Sister, which fabric scent do men like the most?"
"How would I know? Why do you ask?"
"...Never mind. It's nothing." Zhuqing hesitated, then dropped the subject.
Zhu Yun: "..."
A few minutes later, Lu Feng stood at the top floor of the Merchant Alliance's office tower.
He had called a small high-level meeting with elders like Bai He, Yang Wudi, and Niu Gao.
The atmosphere was lively, the room buzzing with excitement.
Bai He beamed. "Congratulations, Alliance Master, on your wonderful match!"
Yang Wudi boomed with laughter. "Our Alliance Master finally has a fiancée!"
Niu Gao nodded approvingly. "The Third Miss of the Zhu family is the most beautiful woman in the Star Luo Empire. You've got excellent taste."
Bai He waved a hand. "Now that our Alliance Master has awakened a divine-level martial soul, reached level 33 in just two months, and effortlessly crushed Star Crown's so-called genius Xu Wei… with such unparalleled talent, even if the Star Luo Emperor had a daughter, he'd probably be desperate to marry her off to you!"
Niu Gao stroked his thick beard and let out a hearty laugh. "Hah! Well said!"
The mention of Lu Feng awakening a divine-level martial soul brought a glimmer of tears to the eyes of the old men.
These were men who lived by clear principles, men of passion and loyalty.
For years, they had yearned for this miracle even more desperately than Lu Feng himself.
Once, they had been nothing more than minor sects clinging to the Hao Tian Sect's coattails, living under its shadow. But after being discarded like trash by the Hao Tian Sect, they suffered brutal retaliation from the Spirit Hall, their forces decimated. Under the Spirit Hall's sanctions, they struggled to survive, constantly fearing the day the Hall might wipe them out on a whim.
Then, at their lowest point, Lu Feng arrived.
He led them through the thorns, carving a path from darkness into light.
Not only did he help mend their strained relations with the Spirit Hall, but in just a few short years, he built the Merchant Alliance into the towering empire it was today.
Millions of members. Businesses spanning the entire Douluo Continent. Merchant fleets crowding the oceans like schools of fish.
Production, transportation, sales, distribution, chain hotels, specialty stores, land development, mass production of armor and weapons, every project and innovation Lu Feng spearheaded brought staggering returns.
Without him, these old men would still be cowering in uncertainty, barely scraping by.
But Lu Feng treated them like family. Respected them. Gave them real authority, entrusting each with major responsibilities based on merit. No longer did they have to bow their heads to others, now, wherever they went, they were met with reverence.
In the past, even the lowest-ranking Spirit Hall bishop or imperial city lord could shout them down. Now? Those same people had to greet them with polite smiles.
With ample resources and wealth at their disposal, their soul power cultivation had flourished.
Lu Feng even went out of his way to procure rare spirit herbs to further boost their strength.
And yet, they felt they had given him nothing in return.
Their greatest regret had been Lu Feng's lack of soul power.
But now? Not only had that regret been erased—he had awakened a divine-level martial soul, stunning the world in one fell swoop. How could they not weep with joy?
And then, as if that weren't enough, Lu Feng had somehow recruited a reclusive Title Douluo to serve as the Merchant Alliance's elder. The entire continent was left in shock.