"Hiss—"
The crowd collectively sucked in a cold breath, their gazes toward Paimon shifting dramatically.
"A useless layabout?"
How could someone of this level be called a useless layabout?!
Only this little creature would dare say such a thing.
"If not for her words, I would never have believed His Excellency was a 'social parasite'!"
"The Crown Prince said His Excellency's knowledge transcends mortal limits—as expected of His Highness! His judgment is impeccable!"
"So young, so handsome, and with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring… For the Crown Prince to recruit such an advisor, his vision is truly remarkable!"
"Just from his demeanor alone, His Excellency exudes nobility. Every movement carries profound meaning…"
Listening to the crowd's flattery, Zhongli's eyelid twitched.
They really know how to lay it on thick…
He shot the onlookers a mildly exasperated glance but chose not to comment.
His gaze then shifted to Dai Mubai, who was still slapping himself. Zhongli opened his mouth slightly, then hesitated.
He had originally intended to reason with Dai Mubai.
Who would have thought the other party would immediately drop to his knees?
A perfect demonstration of bullying the weak while fearing the strong.
"Punishment well-deserved?"
In Paimon's eyes, Dai Mubai had admitted his wrongdoing and received due punishment—that should be the end of it.
The idea of killing Dai Mubai? Such a thought had never even crossed her mind.
With a casual wave of Zhongli's hand, his "martial soul avatar" dissipated, and the "soul rings" vanished back into his body.
For him, simulating a soul master's combat style was child's play.
Since he was in the world of soul masters, it was only prudent to don a layer of disguise.
This was also why, upon realizing this was the Douluo Dalu universe, Zhongli had formed a contract with Paimon—having her pose as his martial soul was the perfect cover.
Back in Teyvat, to walk among mortals unhindered, he had even crafted a genuine glass orb as part of his disguise. Such precautions minimized unnecessary trouble.
Now, in Douluo Dalu, posing as a Titled Douluo served the same purpose—avoiding potential conflicts.
This was the wisdom of Morax!
"Even if he isn't the Geo Archon, he must be deeply connected to him."
Zhongli's current appearance differed significantly from the Geo Archon in her memories, but that familiar essence was unmistakable.
Perhaps the Geo Archon was what Zhongli would become in the future.
"In this world, demons and gods run rampant. Though I have no desire to rule, I cannot ignore the suffering of the people…"
These words alone revealed that the Geo Archon had initially been reluctant to wield his power.
Yet, with demons and gods running wild, plunging the world into chaos, the benevolent archon had no choice but to act—
For the sake of all living beings…
Wait a minute!
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed. A sudden realization struck her like a thunderbolt.
This guy's "Meteor" had smashed her too!
"Am I the villain here?"
Never in her wildest dreams had Qian Renxue imagined she would become the big bad of some theatrical tragedy!
After all, the Angel God had purged darkness, bringing clarity to Douluo Dalu.
As her descendant, Qian Renxue had upheld this legacy, hunting down corruption wherever it festered.
"How could I possibly be the villain?"
"This has to be a mistake!"
Her gaze flickered between Zhongli and Paimon, lost in thought.
In her dreams, she and Zhongli had no prior connection.
It wasn't until the Battle of Jialing Pass, when the gods clashed, that she had finally glimpsed his figure.
The Sea God, the Asura God, the Angel God, the Rakshasa God…
Tang San!
…Tang San?
Qian Renxue's eyes slid toward the Shrek group.
That utterly unremarkable youth—wasn't his name Tang San?
Before his Blue Silver Grass's second awakening, Tang San's appearance was painfully average—the kind that blended seamlessly into a crowd without leaving an impression.
"And the Shrek Seven Devils!"
At Jialing Pass, the Shrek Seven Devils had shone brightly, slaughtering countless elite warriors of the Spirit Hall.
If possible, Qian Renxue would either recruit them early—or eliminate them preemptively.
Since Zhongli had "revealed" his strength, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze toward him had shifted entirely, oblivious to "Xue Qinghe's" scrutiny.
That familiar sensation couldn't be wrong.
He was Morax.
"If that was our past life… will we become friends again in this one?"
Zhu Zhuqing's inner monologue drifted silently.
Her dreams differed drastically from Qian Renxue's—two extremes, perhaps even two separate visions.
Yet it was Zhongli who had taught her resilience…
Slap—
Slap—
Dai Mubai continued punishing himself. Without Zhongli's permission, he dared not stop.
The retraction of Zhongli's "martial soul" had at least assured him—he wouldn't die today.
His Excellency seemed satisfied with his repentance.
The strong needed no justification to crush the weak.
Just as nobles or soul masters could slaughter powerless commoners on a whim—or fabricate an excuse if necessary.
Dai Mubai had merely sought to vent his frustrations from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy by roughing Zhongli up for amusement.
Add to that Zhu Zhuqing's unusual reaction to Zhongli, and his rage had boiled over.
Yet in the end, he had become the spectacle.
After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Dai Mubau's face was swollen beyond recognition. Even his teammates grew uneasy watching this.
Though Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai had their conflicts, their shared ordeal in the Star Dou Forest had mended fences. Dai Mubai had even stayed behind to face the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape, buying time for the others to flee.
In life-and-death situations, grudges dissolved.
Dai Mubai, when it mattered, was a real man.
"Senior Brother, Dai Mubai has suffered enough. Could you… ask His Excellency to spare him?"
Ning Rongrong approached "Xue Qinghe," her voice barely above a whisper.
Addressing him as "Your Highness" would create distance—but "Senior Brother" invoked their bond. A strategic play for sympathy.
In this silence, everyone heard her plea—even Dai Mubai on his knees.
He never expected Ning Rongrong, of all people, to speak up for him after their past clashes.
To say he wasn't moved would be a lie.
Youth was the era of impulsive passion, of burning camaraderie.
This single act nearly earned Ning Rongrong Dai Mubai's undying loyalty.
"Xue Qinghe" snapped out of her reverie, giving Ning Rongrong a complicated look.
Not because of the request itself—
But because Ning Rongrong was also one of the Shrek Seven Devils.
"Junior Sister Rongrong, your friend erred and must face the consequences."
"Mr. Zhongli's talents are unparalleled in a thousand years!"
"Had he lacked strength today, and had I not arrived, such a genius might have been lost to the world."
"However…"