Lu Jingming wasn't entirely confident about Juzi's current arrangement; it was more of a trial-and-error approach.
If Juzi truly became the Empress War God of the Sun Moon Empire as in the original story, he would conquer the Sun Moon Empire without expending a single soldier.
Even if Juzi didn't succeed, it wouldn't matter much. After all, Juzi possessed exceptional military talent, and with a little cultivation, she could still become a trump card in his hand.
It was precisely for this reason that Lu Jingming specifically asked Herta to create that special level nine soul tool, just to ensure Juzi's safety.
He would never be stingy in providing due guarantees and support to those who worked for him. As for Juzi wanting to kill Duke White Tiger, let her kill him. Whether Duke White Tiger lived or died had no impact on him.
The little pink fox, being used as a hand warmer, looked utterly resigned, its limbs limp, allowing Lu Jingming to do as he pleased.
Who knew if, after recovering its memories and sentience, the God Child would give Lu Jingming electrotherapy for these past "black marks"?
Playing with the yarn-ball-like little fox in his hand, Lu Jingming raised his gaze to the boundless blue sky and white clouds, his profound eyes seemingly piercing through layers of space, looking towards the vast and endless cosmic starry sky, and the Divine Realm hidden within the stars, existing in another dimension.
Although everything on the Douluo Continent was currently under the control of that Divine King, a way to break the deadlock was not non-existent. That Divine King in the Divine Realm couldn't cover the sky with one hand; he also had enemies.
Furthermore, he couldn't constantly stare at the Douluo Continent, otherwise the God of Emotion, Rong Nianbing, wouldn't have taken a liking to Huo Yuhao while watching over the Douluo Continent for him.
Ever since he learned that he had transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, and specifically during the era of Tang Sect's Peerless Tang Sect, Lu Jingming had already begun to lay out his plans.
The Douluo Continent, he was determined to have. The Divine Realm, he also wanted. If it could be called the Tang Family Continent and the Tang Divine Realm, then why couldn't it be called the Lu Family Continent and the Lu Divine Realm?
"Xiaoming, it's your turn," a gentle voice interrupted Lu Jingming's thoughts. Across from him, Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly.
Before them lay a chessboard, with black and white pieces intertwined. The situation was disadvantageous for the black pieces, yet Lu Jingming, holding the black pieces, had not made a move for a long time.
"Sister Lexuan, do you know what the truth of this world is?" Lu Jingming didn't rush to make his move but looked at Zhang Lexuan and asked.
Zhang Lexuan blinked, a hint of confusion in her eyes. After a slight hesitation, she said, "The strong reign supreme?"
Lu Jingming nodded slightly, then slowly shook his head. He picked up a black piece with his slender fingers and pressed it firmly onto the chessboard with a crisp "thwack," breaking the brief silence.
This sound startled the groggy little fox, making it shiver. Its pink fox ears and tail instantly stood upright, looking remarkably cute.
"The principles of this world are nothing more than eight characters: Those who follow me prosper, those who resist perish!" Lu Jingming's eyes were cold, his tone icy and domineering, exuding a captivating and powerful aura.
Zhang Lexuan's heart trembled. She stared blankly at Lu Jingming, who suddenly felt like a stranger to her.
In her heart, Lu Jingming had always been that occasionally mischievous and naughty, yet deeply caring and gentle little brother.
But at this moment, the sudden dominance and coldness he displayed left her somewhat at a loss, and a hint of inexplicable panic arose in her heart.
Just as she was flustered, her peripheral vision inadvertently caught the chessboard, and her expression instantly froze. Then, as if she couldn't believe her eyes, she leaned closer for a careful look. Following that, a half-smile appeared on her face, and she chuckled softly: "Xiaoming, is there something missing on this chessboard?"
"Hmm? Sister Lexuan, what are you talking about? Nothing's missing, all the pieces are here!" Lu Jingming replied calmly, his expression unperturbed. At the same time, a faint black mist subtly swirled in his hand.
Upon closer inspection, several white pieces were slowly being swallowed by the black mist, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Oh, you!" Zhang Lexuan shook her head helplessly, extending her slender finger to playfully poke Lu Jingming's forehead, her beautiful eyes filled with indulgence. "I concede." Zhang Lexuan readily admitted defeat, looking at the white pieces, which were in a fatal trap due to the missing key pieces.
However, precisely because of this, that familiar feeling returned. The panic and sense of unfamiliarity that had just surged in her heart seemed to be merely an illusion.
Keqing, who was nearby, busy writing and drawing on a map, looked up at the chessboard when she heard the commotion.
A hint of disdain flashed in her beautiful purple eyes, and she gave Lu Jingming an adorable eye-roll. "You really are, you just can't stand to lose!" She didn't believe for a second that Lu Jingming, with his mediocre chess skills, could win against Zhang Lexuan, who had received genuine tutelage from Chang Li.
"Just tell me if I won or not," Lu Jingming completely ignored Keqing's disdain, instead pointing at the chessboard with a smug look, as if deliberately provoking her.
Keqing's mouth twitched slightly. She simply turned away, resuming her work, indicating she didn't want to bother with Lu Jingming, this thick-skinned fellow.
Lu Jingming felt a slight regret seeing Keqing not take the bait. He quite enjoyed bickering with "Keqing the Cat," after all, it was quite interesting, wasn't it?
"Squeak squeak—" The little fox, having been thoroughly frightened, finally recovered its senses. It angrily bared its teeth and claws, pouncing towards Lu Jingming, the culprit.
Zhang Lexuan rested her chin in her hands, sitting to the side and smiling warmly as she watched Lu Jingming, flustered by the little fox's "face attack," with gentle eyes.
Looking at this heartwarming scene, Zhang Lexuan suddenly thought, how wonderful it would be if time could stop at this moment, allowing this beauty to become eternal.
"Ah, it's the little fox! Little fox, we've come to play with you again!" Suddenly, two identical, childish voices broke the serenity.
The pink fox's body stiffened instantly upon hearing the voices. It no longer cared about settling scores with Lu Jingming and turned tail and fled.
Two tiny figures with blue long hair swept past Zhang Lexuan and Lu Jingming like the wind, chasing directly after the pink fox. The newcomers were none other than the twin sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.
Since the last banquet, the two sisters had been yearning for the Sea Cliff Villa. There were simply too many novelties here; for children, the attraction was irresistible.
Moreover, there was an adorable creature like the little pink fox, loved by everyone. The two sisters simply couldn't resist such temptation, so whenever they had free time, they would run to Lu Jingming's place.
Over time, they had become quite familiar with Keqing and the others. Now, the Golden Guard escorts would let them pass directly, even skipping the notification.