Chapter 469

Chapter 469: Dominant Presence

As the captain of the prince’s residence’s personal guards, Long Ming felt his very presence here demeaned his status—especially to summon someone without strength or background.

Though Zhou Luo appeared decent in strength and status to outsiders, he fell far short against royal factions like the prince’s residence.

Had Long Yu not ordered Long Ming here, he’d never have glanced at someone like Zhou Luo in his lifetime, much less met him.

The gap between them was worlds apart.

Thus, from the start, Long Ming confronted the other with supreme arrogance, lacing every word with contempt.

Yet unexpectedly, this seemingly easy target proved stubborn—daring even to unleash Foundation Establishment pressure against him.

How dare this fool oppress him? He wasn’t just the captain; royal blood flowed through his veins!

Recovering, Long Ming’s face darkened as he snapped, "Do you realize what you’re doing?"

Zhou Luo’s expression stayed calm, but his starry eyes turned icy, his voice burning with rage.

"Captain Long, it’s you who should understand what you’re doing!"

He knew clearly: before Long Yu, he could never clear his name.

Since so, why not act more forcefully?

This might intimidate them into holding back.

Before the words faded, Zhou Luo stood up, glaring at Long Ming as he declared coldly, "Captain Long, I barely know Long Yunshuang. If you insist she’s with me, come search my place."

"But if you use this to slander me, I’ll fight you to the death."

With that, he stormed off, sleeves flicked aside in visible fury.

Long Ming’s face remained stormy as he watched Zhou Luo leave. Suddenly, he grabbed a cup and smashed it against the floor. "You insolent Zhou Luo!"

Fury aside, recalling the prince’s orders, he dared not retaliate—only letting the man stride away unchallenged.

Outside the tavern, Zhou Luo felt his heart still pounding violently.

Leaving so arrogantly was a slap to Long Yu’s face. He wondered what the Ninth Prince would think.

But showing weakness would only invite attack.

Since they’d already targeted him, holding back served no purpose.

He’d said all he needed to say.

"Long Yunshuang, you’ve doomed me," Zhou Luo inwardly protested.

Thankfully, no one had seen her enter Zhou Fu—or the situation would’ve spiraled beyond control.

Returning home, Zhou Luo vowed not to leave Zhou Fu again. Better to focus on raising his children—perhaps luck would grant new trump cards.

Meanwhile, Long Ming relayed the day’s events to the prince’s residence via a special device.

Learning it all, Long Yu merely smiled faintly. "It seems Zhou Luo differs from the rumors."

Subsequently, he said nothing more.

However, the targeting of the Zhou family’s industries did not stop because of this; even the industries of Tian Xia Pavilion began to be targeted.

Clearly, even if Zhou Luo truly did not know where Long Yunshuang was, Long Yu was going to make him realize what a wrong choice it had been to cooperate with Long Yunshuang back then.

This left Zhou Luo feeling quite helpless, yet there was nothing he could do.

And just at this time, during his tireless efforts in baby-making, his persistence paid off—on that day, he finally succeeded in impregnating one of his concubines.

[Congratulations, host. Through relentless efforts, you have successfully impregnated your partner, earning one lottery draw opportunity.]

At this moment, Zhou Luo wished he could draw lots every single day.

Now that he had obtained a lottery draw opportunity with great difficulty, he was even more delighted and surprised than ever.

"I hope to draw a treasure similar to the puppet."

Zhou Luo prayed inwardly.

Only treasures like the Third Level Puppet, capable of providing him Golden Core-level combat power, would make him feel secure.

For relying on cultivation techniques, his physical body, and treasures, he was virtually unbeatable at the Foundation Establishment stage; only Golden Core masters could trouble him.

Because of that, what he urgently needed now were treasures to counter Golden Core masters.

If he could get another puppet, it would be ideal.

Still, thinking was one thing, but it likely wasn’t realistic.

After all, up to now in the lottery draws, he seemed not to have drawn the same item again.

"Start the lottery draw."

Gathering his thoughts, Zhou Luo looked at the reddish-purple roulette wheel and directly chose to draw.

The golden sphere of light spun rapidly; under his gaze, it gradually stopped in the magical artifact sector.

"A magical artifact? Could it be a top-grade magical artifact?"

Zhou Luo’s eyes lit up, and a spark of excitement stirred within him.

Currently, although his Cheng Sky Sword was a high-grade Foundation Establishment magical artifact, it fell short when compared to the top-tier Foundation Establishment magical artifacts carried by sect disciples.

If he could acquire a top-tier Foundation Establishment magical artifact, it would significantly boost his combat strength.

Though it wouldn’t grant him power to face the Golden Core stage, any improvement was welcome.

Zhou Luo quietly waited for the system’s notification sound.

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained Wanling Tower!]

[The reward has been automatically sent to the host’s backpack; please check!]

Upon hearing that mechanical voice, Zhou Luo’s mind shifted slightly.

It turned out to be a defensive magical artifact.

The name indicated defense at a glance; after all, he had once received a top-level first-level magical artifact, which was also a small tower.

Yet, tower magical artifacts could sometimes not only protect oneself but also strike enemies down.

He didn’t know how this Wanling Tower differed from that small tower back then.

It absolutely had to be a top-tier Foundation Establishment magical artifact, at minimum.

A high-grade Foundation Establishment magical artifact would also work, since he lacked defensive magical artifacts currently.

But why settle for less when he could get something better?

As he wondered, his gaze fell upon the small tower icon in his backpack.

Following his line of sight, the information of Wanling Tower appeared before him.

[Wanling Tower]

[Quality: Middle-grade spiritual artifact]

[Description: Originating as the masterpiece of a famed ancient refiner, it refines the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, infuses pure energy, undergoes tempering by sun-moon essences, possesses inherent spirituality that resonates with the wielder, amplifying their power…]

Reading the description, Zhou Luo’s eyes widened as if struck by lightning; his heart quivered intensely.

This was not a magical artifact at all, but a spiritual artifact.

In an instant, inner upheaval surged within him like stormy waves; he plummeted into profound astonishment.

In the world of cultivation, spiritual artifacts stood above magical artifacts; as artifacts bearing spirituality, their prime feature was their harmony with the user’s power and cultivation techniques, mobilizing energy dynamically to unleash more terrifying might, unlike rigid tools.

Zhou Luo had never imagined that merely hoping to draw a top-tier Foundation Establishment magical artifact would yield such an unforeseen delight.

Though differing by just a word, spiritual artifacts and magical artifacts belonged to distinct tiers—the former’s might could be ten times, or even dozens, that of the latter.

With this spiritual artifact plus the Third Level Puppet, he might truly not fear Golden Core masters!