"Father, how did you suddenly become so strong?" After killing the National Preceptor's Nascent Soul, Lu Qianqian rushed forward, asking Lu Yunzong in disbelief.
"Hahaha." Lu Yunzong let out a hearty laugh, his heart immensely relieved now that the major threat was gone. At that moment, Lu Yunzong suddenly felt as though he was about to break through.
"Qianqian, Zhou Hong, wait for me for a moment, I think I'm about to break through," the Emperor said, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Ah." Zhou Hong and Lu Qianqian both trembled.
The Emperor took out a large handful of pills, stuffed them into his mouth, and then closed his eyes.
Zhou Hong and Lu Qianqian remained silent, waiting by his side.
In less than five minutes, Lu Yunzong opened his eyes. His aura surged. It was clear he had broken through to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul Integration.
"Wuwuwu!" Lu Yunzong cried, or rather, tears of excitement. He recalled that just a day ago, he had been drinking five to six buckets of water and urinating five to six buckets, constantly threatened by the National Preceptor, with the entire Lu Dynasty on the brink of destruction. Now, not only was his illness cured, the major threat eliminated, but his cultivation realm had also advanced to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul Integration.
He had every reason to weep.
"Father, are you alright?" Lu Qianqian quickly went to his side.
"Qianqian, you just asked me how I was able to kill the National Preceptor."
"Yes, how could you suddenly kill him?"
"All of this is because I encountered a noble person in my destiny."
"A noble person?" Lu Qianqian hadn't realized that her father was referring to Zhou Hong.
"He is Zhou Hong." The Emperor then explained Zhou Hong's atomic bomb formation.
Lu Qianqian looked at Zhou Hong in disbelief.
Lu Yunzong also walked up to Zhou Hong, bowed deeply to him, and said, "Zhou Hong, thank you."
"Your Majesty, there's no need for such courtesy. Congratulations on entering the mid-stage of Nascent Soul Integration."
"Zhou Hong, I don't know how to express my gratitude to you now. Besides bestowing Princess Qianqian's hand in marriage to you, what else do you desire? Just say the word."
Zhou Hong smiled and shook his head, "Not for now. If I truly need your help in the future, I won't hesitate to ask."
"Very well, from now on, you are family."
Zhou Hong smiled, not refusing.
"Then tonight, you and Qianqian shall consummate your marriage. I must witness your wedding night before I allow you to return to the Taigu Academy."
"Father, is there really a need to be so rushed?" Lu Qianqian lowered her head, her face flushing.
"Of course. Someone as outstanding as Zhou Hong, delays can lead to unforeseen changes. What if the deed isn't done and when you return to Taigu Academy, he's swayed by another woman?" Lu Yunzong said with a smile. Although Zhou Hong's current cultivation was low, his ability to create an atomic bomb formation was beyond ordinary. Furthermore, he possessed even more potent hydrogen bombs. If he were to create a hydrogen bomb formation, Lu Yunzong himself wouldn't dare to guarantee his survival.
Therefore, he had to ensure Zhou Hong and Lu Qianqian were married quickly, making him his son-in-law. This way, if they encountered any powerful enemies in the future, they could still rely on Zhou Hong.
"Zhou Hong, what do you think? Oh, by the way, you're single now, aren't you?" Lu Yunzong asked.
"This...!" Zhou Hong was at a loss for words.
"What? You already have a woman?"
Lu Qianqian also looked at Zhou Hong anxiously, feeling a pang of nervousness. It seemed she had truly fallen for Zhou Hong. Although she was his mentor and her cultivation was higher, Zhou Hong had helped her father kill the National Preceptor. Based on this alone, what did her superior cultivation matter when her abilities were inferior to his?
"I won't hide it from you. In my hometown, I do have women, and not just one," Zhou Hong said truthfully after some thought.
Lu Qianqian's face instantly fell, her mood dampened as if doused with cold water.
"Hahaha, in your hometown, the Purple Firmament Continent, you are already a peerless genius among millions. What are a few women? My harem has over 300!" the Emperor laughed heartily, unfazed.
"Qianqian, hurry and make the preparations. We will get married tonight to avoid any further complications."
Lu Qianqian was still in a daze, her emotions seemingly complex. She had assumed Zhou Hong was unattached, only to discover he had more than one woman.
"Qianqian, haven't you heard your father? Hurry and prepare. We're consummating the marriage tonight," Lu Yunzong called out again.
Zhou Hong could see that Lu Qianqian's previously cheerful mood had plummeted. He quickly spoke up, "Your Majesty, you and Instructor Lu are truly not suited to be lovers. I hope you won't force this."
The Emperor opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but Zhou Hong continued, "Your Majesty, if you truly consider me a noble person, then do not compel me. Instructor Lu is not ready yet, and this may not make anyone happy."
"Alright, I can agree to that, but you must also promise me one thing."
"Say it, and I'll agree to anything," Zhou Hong replied without hesitation.
"I've suddenly changed my mind. I don't want to take you as a son-in-law anymore," the Emperor said.
"Ah?" Zhou Hong couldn't quite understand Lu Yunzong's intentions.
"A son-in-law is still an outsider, after all. I want our relationship to be even closer."
"I don't understand," Zhou Hong shook his head.
"I want to adopt you as my foster son, and then, make you the Crown Prince, the future heir. What do you say?"
"Ah!" Zhou Hong was startled. Lu Qianqian also looked up sharply, staring at her father in disbelief.
"Father, are you joking with Zhou Hong?" Lu Qianqian stammered.
"No joke. Anyway, you're bothered by the fact that Zhou Hong has several women in his hometown. Since that's the case, why don't I take it a step further and adopt Zhou Hong as a royal prince and make him the Crown Prince? My Lu family is in decline, and after me, there will likely be no one capable of ruling this supreme empire."
"Your Majesty, please don't joke with me."
"Hehe, I am serious. If one day I die, and my Lu family has no one capable of bearing the title of King of the Supreme Empire, then all members of the Lu family will be wiped out by our enemies. Rather than that, it's better to make you the Crown Prince. After I die, you will become the King of the Supreme Empire. I believe your abilities are sufficient to uphold the Supreme Empire."
"But, I am unwilling," Zhou Hong refused.
"Why?"
"My surname is Zhou, and I am unwilling to change it to Lu."
"Hahaha." Lu Yunzong burst into laughter.
"Your Majesty, what are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing because I haven't asked you to change your surname. In the future, when you become King, you can even change the Supreme Empire's surname to Zhou if you wish. I only have one request: treat all members of my Lu clan with kindness."
"I don't understand. What are you trying to achieve?" Zhou Hong shook his head.
"What I'm trying to achieve is that if I truly perish one day, my Lu clan, with hundreds of thousands of people, will not be annihilated."