Wuhun element periodic table, rubbing black hole in Douluo

Chapter 417 Orange: Xu Tianran has met his demise in a righteous way!
Xu Tianran tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his deep gaze falling on Ju Zi. After a moment, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"The Shrek imprint is very deep, yet they don't seem to value national sentiment and don't seem to have much aversion to our Sun Moon Empire?"

Xu Tianran repeated Ju Zi's words, a knowing glint in his eyes, "Interesting, very interesting."

He pondered for a moment and said, "Ju Zi, do you think this person is inherently cold-hearted and doesn't care about his country? Or... is it that the Star Luo Empire, from which he was born, treated him badly?"

Xu Tianran chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Although geniuses should be treasured wherever they are, it's one thing at the national level and another at the local level. There's one set of rules above and another below. I've seen this kind of thing many times."

Before he became disabled in his early years, he had traveled incognito throughout the empire and knew firsthand how shocking the corruption and infighting among the lower-level officials was.

It is not impossible for a brilliant genius to be suppressed and ostracized, or even buried, in a local area if they do not have sufficient background support.

Thinking of this, Xu Tianran silently mourned for the Star Luo Empire for two seconds.

If such a genius truly harbors thoughts of leaving due to internal strife, it would be a tremendous loss for the Star Luo Empire, but an opportunity for the Sun Moon Empire.

He looked at Orange and smiled, "It seems that even you, Orange, think that the chances of directly winning them over this time are slim."

Ju Zi quickly lowered her head, her voice respectful: "This humble woman dares not speak presumptuously. It's just that Lin You's reputation is too great these days. Not only within the academy, but even among the various Soul Master Corps and many unaffiliated commoner Soul Masters, he has heard of him. He is widely known as a 'rising star of Soul Masters' and even has the nickname 'Father of Elements.' In terms of prestige alone, he is probably no less than some veteran level nine Soul Masters."

"Um,"

Xu Tianran nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Ju Zi, you're very observant, and your mind is becoming increasingly sharp. Indeed, Lin You's reputation has become an undeniable factor. Directly and forcefully trying to win him over might backfire, or even push him to the opposite side."

He paused, his fingers ceasing their tapping, his gaze sharpening once more: "Therefore, I am not in a hurry to have him serve the Empire immediately. The most urgent task is to forge a good relationship with him, a deep and lasting one."

Xu Tianran's gaze slowly swept over Ju Zi, from her beautiful face to her slender figure. It was an appraising look, devoid of any warmth, which made Ju Zi instantly feel a chill rise from her spine and her scalp tingle. However, she endured the discomfort and dared not show the slightest abnormality.

"tangerine."

Xu Tianran's voice was calm and even, "You've known Lin You for half a year now, and your relationship seems quite harmonious. Do you have any deeper understanding or inferences about his personality and preferences?"

Ju Zi's heart tightened. She composed herself and began to carefully recall every moment she had spent with Lin You over the past six months, selecting the parts that were suitable to tell Xu Tianran.

"Return to your highness."

Ju Zi carefully chose her words before speaking, “Lin You is a calm and reserved person. He doesn’t talk much, but he is meticulous and has amazing observation skills. He seems to have an extraordinary obsession with power. Whether it is cultivating soul power or studying elemental theory, he is extremely diligent and focused. He treats people with a seemingly peaceful demeanor, but in reality, he carries a sense of aloofness. It seems that very few people can truly enter his heart.”

"Oh?" Xu Tianran raised an eyebrow. "A sense of distance? How does he feel about you?"

Ju Zi's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm on the surface: "I am one of the better friends with him in the academy. Perhaps it is because I have no demands of him and am more honest with him that he is more approachable and friendly towards me than towards others."

"very good."

Xu Tianran nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with the answer.

He remained silent for a moment, as if weighing something.

Orange stood with its head bowed, barely daring to breathe, but its heart was already in turmoil.

She had a vague premonition that what Xu Tianran was about to say would be hard for her to accept.

As expected, Xu Tianran spoke again, his tone carrying an unquestionable command: "Ju Zi, your relationship with Lin You is a good starting point. I need you to further deepen your connection with him." He looked at Ju Zi, his eyes deep: "A genius like Lin You is of immeasurable value. If we can completely win him over to my side, the great cause of unifying the continent in the future will be much easier."

Xu Tianran's lips curled into a cruel smile: "Ju Zi, you've always been clever, you should understand what I mean. As long as you can make Lin You serve me wholeheartedly, when I rule the world, you can have all the riches, honors, power, and status you desire!"

These words struck Orange like a thunderbolt!
She instantly understood the blatant implication in Xu Tianran's words!
She was encouraged to use her relationship with Lin You, and even... sacrifice her own body, to win him over!

Orange's face turned deathly pale in an instant, her delicate body trembled slightly, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.

An indescribable sense of humiliation and icy despair instantly overwhelmed her.

She had always known that Xu Tianran was ambitious and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Orange also knew that in his eyes, she might always have just been a useful pawn, a handy tool.

Wasn't she also using Xu Tianran to achieve her past goal of revenge?

But she never imagined that Xu Tianran would be so blunt and so ruthless as to treat her as a bargaining chip that could be sacrificed at will!
The glimmer of hope that had once arisen from shared hatred and Xu Tianran's "kindness" shattered completely at this moment, vanishing without a trace.

Xu Tianran, oh Xu Tianran... I risked my life for you, shielded you from a fatal blow and nearly lost my own, and stayed by your side during your most desperate times... But in the end, in your heart, I was nothing more than that.

Even the most intimate tool is still just a tool.

Orange took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent waves of emotion and surging hatred in her heart.

She slowly raised her head, her face now calm, but the last glimmer of hope for Xu Tianran deep in her eyes had been completely extinguished.

She realized that expecting Xu Tianran to help her avenge her family was simply wishful thinking.

Her enemies were the empire's high-ranking officials and military generals, the forces Xu Tianran relied on and the foundation upon which he controlled the army.

Would she undermine the foundations of her rule because of her personal grudges?

Xu Tianran would never do such a "stupid thing".

Wanting revenge, wanting to change fate, in the end... he can only rely on himself, on Lin You's seemingly crazy yet hopeful plan!

Ju Zi slowly knelt down, her forehead touching the ground, her voice steady and devoid of any emotional fluctuation: "This humble woman... is willing to serve Your Highness like a dog or a horse."

"very good."

Xu Tianran nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand, saying, "Step down. Remember my words."

"Your Majesty, please retire."

Ju Zi kowtowed again, then slowly rose, head bowed, and retreated step by step from the brightly lit bedchamber.

But in her lowered gaze, a firelight flickered.

(End of this chapter)