On this day, the entire Zhu residence was shrouded in an atmosphere of suffocating solemnity and killing intent, as if an invisible boulder weighed heavily on everyone's heart.
Deep within the estate, a hall specially used for major ceremonies—the Star Soul Hall—had been completely cleared out. Only the massive five-pointed awakening formation remained at its center, paved with obsidian and inlaid with intricate soul tool runes, flickering with faint starlight.
The hall was dimly lit, with only the glow of the formation and a few ever-burning soul lamps along the walls providing illumination.
The ceiling towered high above, adorned with grand murals of the Star Luo Empire's royal star-crown emblem and the Zhu family's Netherworld Hellcat totem. Under the dim glow, they appeared both majestic and oppressive.
Both sides of the hall were already filled with people.
Dressed in luxurious attire, their auras steady or sharp, they were all nobles and high officials of great importance within the Star Luo Empire.
Every gaze was fixed upon the central formation. The atmosphere was so heavy that even the sound of a pin dropping would be audible.
As the only "outsider" personally invited by Zhu Zhuqing, Lin Xia was arranged in an inconspicuous corner.
He stood with his arms folded. Larvitar, unusually, was not perched on his shoulder but lay quietly at his feet. Its crimson eyes scanned the surrounding crowd, wary of the powerful Soul Power fluctuations emanating from them, letting out a low, guarded rumble audible only to Lin Xia.
Lin Xia's gaze calmly swept across the hall.
He saw the Star Luo Emperor seated on the main high-backed throne, his expression imposing, his eyes deep as an abyss, fingers unconsciously rubbing the gemstone embedded in the armrest.
Beside the Emperor stood Zhu Yu.
She wore a more formal dark purple palace gown today, her bare feet hidden within ornate shoes. Her expression was calm, but within her perceptive, star-like eyes lay a trace of scrutiny and gravity. Occasionally, her gaze drifted toward Lin Xia, carrying a complicated meaning.
On the Emperor's other side stood two princes of contrasting temperaments.
He had neatly combed golden hair, a handsome face bearing a perfectly measured smile, and eyes sharp as an eagle, as if everything were under his control. He casually toyed with a jade thumb ring set with a deep blue gem.
Standing slightly behind him was Dai Mubai.
The moment Lin Xia saw Dai Mubai, his brows furrowed ever so slightly.
This Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire, who in the original story should have been full of vigor, now looked utterly miserable.
His golden hair was disheveled, clinging messily to his forehead. His face was deathly pale, and even his lips carried a faint bluish tint.
Most striking were his heterochromatic eyes—one sky-blue, one deep violet, now filled with undisguised fear, panic, and bottomless despair.
His gaze was locked onto the center of the awakening formation. His body was taut like a bow drawn to its limit, fingers clutching his clothing so tightly that his knuckles had turned white, as though the one about to face execution was not Zhu Zhuqing, but himself.
A heavy aura of cowardice radiated from him, in stark contrast to the composed confidence of his elder brother.
Lin Xia sighed inwardly, a chill spreading through him.
"So that's how it is…" he thought. "Fear of competition, fear of pressure, fear of death from failure. This cowardice and tendency to escape are already etched into his bones under such immense fate. No wonder he chose to abandon everything and flee to Heaven Dou, leaving all the burden and despair to Zhu Zhuqing alone. Pathetic… and despicable."
At that moment, a faint sound of footsteps broke the deathly silence in the hall.
Zhu Zhan, the current head of the Zhu family and father of Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun stepped forward.
Clad in a black robe embroidered with golden patterns symbolizing his status, his expression was solemn.
His gaze was incredibly complex, carrying a father's deep concern, the heavy responsibility of a clan leader, and an indescribable sorrow.
Half a step behind him stood Zhu Zhuyun.
The Zhu family's eldest daughter was also dressed in formal attire, her face beautiful yet devoid of joy. Her lips were tightly pressed, her eyes filled with overwhelming sorrow and helplessness, her gaze fixed firmly on the small figure ahead.
Under countless watchful eyes, Zhu Zhuqing slowly walked, step by step, into the center of the massive five-pointed formation.
She wore a brand-new, well-tailored black dress, outlining her slender figure.
Her long black hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, making her already pale face appear even more so.
Her head was lowered, long lashes trembling slightly like butterfly wings, casting shadows that concealed her emotions.
Her small frame appeared especially fragile under the pressure of the vast formation and the countless gazes around her, as if a single gust of wind could topple her.
Lin Xia could clearly see that her hands at her sides were tightly clutching her skirt, her knuckles pale from exertion, betraying the turmoil beneath her outward calm.
Zhu Zhan took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the heavy air in the hall into his lungs.
Then, he suddenly raised his hand, and his powerful Soul Power surged into the formation beneath his feet!
Buzz—!
The soul tool runes on the obsidian ground lit up instantly!
A deep blue light flowed like a living thing, rapidly outlining the complete five-pointed star formation.
Immediately after, countless tiny points of light, like scattered stars rose from the formation. Like awakened fireflies, they carried pure and powerful Soul Power fluctuations, gently yet irresistibly enveloping Zhu Zhuqing, who stood at the center.
The light grew brighter and brighter, rendering her small figure hazy and indistinct.
Everyone in the hall held their breath. Countless gazes, like tangible probes, tried to pierce through the veil of light to witness the result being born.
Dai Mubai's breathing became rapid, his body trembling uncontrollably. The fear in his heterochromatic eyes nearly overflowed. He subconsciously took a step back, as if the light were a devouring beast.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each second unbearably long.
Finally, at the very peak of the radiance—
A burst of cold, swift black energy, carrying faint spatial fluctuations and a chilling Soul aura, erupted from Zhu Zhuqing's body!
Shriek—!
A faint yet piercing cry, like that of a feline creature from the depths of the Netherworld, echoed directly within the souls of everyone present!
The light faded, and Zhu Zhuqing's figure became clear once more.
Behind her floated a solid phantom.
It was a jet-black spirit cat, its entire body as dark as ink, with only its eyes glowing an eerie green!
Its form was sleek and agile, limbs long and graceful, its claws flickering in and out of view. A faint layer of black mist surrounded it, as if it could merge into the shadows at any moment.
A sharp aura belonging to an agility-type beast soul, accompanied by a chilling Netherworld presence that seeped into the soul, spread instantly throughout the hall.
The Netherworld Hellcat!
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