After I stopped trying, a rich woman trained me into a demon emperor.

"Looks like we need to speed things up."

Zhou Ran closed his eyes and began to circulate his cultivation technique, absorbing the sparse spiritual energy between heaven and earth to consolidate his cultivation after the fierce battle.

……

The capital city, the Song family mansion.

Inside a quaint and antique study.

"Snapped!"

A priceless Ming Dynasty porcelain cup was smashed to the ground.

Song Tiancheng, the head of the Song family, was listening to his subordinates' report with a livid face.

"What did you say? Total annihilation?!"

"Is the ghost dead?"

The Shadow Mercenary Group is dead too?

Even the Zhao family father and son were burned to ashes?

The reporter, kneeling on the ground, trembled.

"Yes...yes. According to our informants in Jiangcheng, there was a huge explosion at the Wu family villa last night, and..."

And then lightning struck.

"Thunder?"

An elderly man with white hair sitting in the armchair next to him suddenly opened his eyes.

He was wearing a gray Taoist robe with a Tai Chi symbol embroidered on his chest.

This person was none other than the Grand Elder of the Wuji Sect, Daoist Lingxu.

"Could it be that the kid has a magic weapon that can attract lightning?"

or……

A successor of the Celestial Masters sect?

Lingxu Daoist frowned.

"No matter who he is!"

"He dared to kill members of my Song family and ruin my grand plans; he must die!"

Song Tiancheng roared through gritted teeth.

"Master Song, please calm down."

Lingxu Daoist stroked his beard, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.

"This boy was able to kill Xing Lie and also summon thunder; he must possess a great treasure."

Perhaps, he is also a recipient of some ancient inheritance.

"The Jiangcheng ruins are about to open. If we can capture him, force him to reveal his legacy, and then use his blood to consecrate the array, we might be able to greatly increase our chances of entering the core of the ruins."

Song Tiancheng took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart.

"What insightful opinion do you have, Taoist Master?"

"If brute force doesn't work, then we'll use strategy."

Lingxu Daoist smiled sinisterly.

"I heard this guy is loyal and righteous?"

Although he killed the Zhao family father and son, he still has many classmates and friends in Jiangcheng, right?

Song Tiancheng's eyes lit up.

"What the Taoist priest means is..."

Lingxu Daoist took out a small black bottle from his robes.

"Since this kid is good at fighting, let's have a literary contest and put this in the wine."

This is "Spirit-Dispersing and Tendon-Softening Powder," specifically for cultivators.

"If he drinks it, even a celestial being would be rendered powerless."

"At that point, won't we be able to manipulate them at will?"

Upon hearing this, Song Tiancheng revealed a ferocious smile.

"Alright! We'll do as the Taoist priest says!"

......

As the sun set, Zhou Ran ended his day of cultivation.

He opened his eyes and exhaled a long, stale breath.

My phone vibrated.

He picked it up and saw that it was an unfamiliar number.

After the call connected, a somewhat familiar voice came from the other end, carrying a hint of probing and ingratiation.

"Feed?"

Is it Jay Chou?

I'm your college counselor, Lao Wang.

"that……

Tomorrow is our school's 10th anniversary celebration, which is also a class reunion.

You were the most handsome guy in our department back then, you absolutely have to come!

"Oh, by the way, I heard Su Xiaoxiao is coming too. She's going to apologize to you in public..."

Upon hearing this name, Zhou Ran's lips twitched.

Apologize?

It seems some people still don't learn their lesson.

"Jay Chou, this gathering is at the Jiangcheng Hotel. You're the most successful person in our department!"

Even the department head has to wait for you to start the meal.

On the other end of the phone, counselor Lao Wang was still rambling on and on.

Zhou Ran did not refuse outright.

He sensed the unnaturalness in Lao Wang's tone.

With Zhou Ran's current level of spiritual awareness, he could even hear the faintest breathing sounds from the other end of the phone.

Old Wang wasn't alone; there were others nearby.

This is a setup.

Moreover, it was a scheme specifically set up for him.

"Okay, I'll be there on time."

Zhou Ran replied casually and then hung up the phone.

Since the Song family and Wuji Sect wanted to sabotage the gathering, he would go and see what kind of trouble these clowns could cause.

As soon as I hung up the phone, Chen Ya came over with dinner.

"Hongli went to the company to deal with those fickle people. I'll stay with you today."

She was wearing a loose silk loungewear set, her long hair casually tied back, showing less of the sharpness she displayed in the business world and more of a gentle, domestic side.

"Whose call was that?"

Chen Ya asked casually, handing a glass of hot milk to Zhou Ran.

"My former counselor invited me to a class reunion."

Zhou Ran took the milk and took a sip.

"A class reunion?"

Chen Ya raised an eyebrow slightly, then chuckled softly.

"In these kinds of situations, it's nothing more than people comparing themselves to each other, showing off who's doing well or who's married well."

What are you going to do?

"Of course, it's to show off."

Zhou Ran chuckled.

"I've hooked up with two rich women in one go, I'm going to brag about it to those bastards in the physical education department."

Chen Ya couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

"Do you need me to make some arrangements?"

"No need to be too high-profile."

"but……"

Zhou Ran glanced at his Adidas T-shirt, which he considered cheap and low-class.

"It's definitely time for a new outfit."

Chen Ya's eyes lit up. She put down the tray in her hand and enthusiastically pulled Zhou Ran up.

"Then leave it to me!"

I guarantee you'll outshine everyone else and show them what a real male god is!

A few minutes later, Zhou Ran was led by Chen Ya to a double mahogany door next to the master bedroom on the second floor.

Pushing open the door, even Zhou Ran, who was well-traveled and knowledgeable, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

This is a walk-in closet that is 200 square meters in size.

Under the soft, warm light, neatly arranged glass cabinets display countless unopened haute couture menswear, watches, and leather shoes.

From bespoke Zegna suits to limited-edition Patek Philippe pieces, the sheer variety makes this a veritable treasure trove for men.

"They were all made to your size."

Chen Ya leaned against the doorframe, her eyes glazed over with a hint of smugness.

"How is it? Hongli and I prepared all this for you. Do you like it?"

The next hour became Zhou Ran's day of suffering.

Chen Ya was in high spirits, as if she were dressing up her favorite doll.

"This is too old-fashioned."

"This is too flashy; I don't like other women staring at you."

"This... tsk, it covers up your muscle definition."

Finally, at Chen Ya's insistence, Zhou Ran changed into a handmade suit in the style of Naples, Italy.

The dark charcoal gray fabric and extremely fitted cut, without stiff shoulder pads, perfectly fit Zhou Ran's broad shoulders and narrow waist.

He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were slightly undone, revealing a section of his collarbone and the faint outline of his chest muscles.

When Zhou Ran stood in front of the full-length mirror, Chen Ya's breathing visibly paused for a beat.

The man in the mirror had shed his usual languid and casual demeanor; now, he possessed striking features and exuded a powerful aura.

The noble and domineering aura emanating from him made him seem less like a recent college graduate and more like the head of a powerful family who held the power of life and death.

I really want to... lock you up here and not let you go anywhere.

Chen Ya stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Zhou Ran's waist from behind, pressed her cheek against his broad back, and her voice trembled slightly.

Zhou Ran grasped her soft hand in return, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Let's go. If we don't leave soon, those old classmates will be getting impatient."