Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1658 - 686: Seventeen and Unrivaled That Year

In Doris's memory, Zhao Ji's previous life was truly nothing short of legendary.

She remembered her father once said that Zhao Ji wasn't born in the "Boundless Heart Sea," but in a ruined world.

And she was neither part of the ruling class nor a noble, not even a regular commoner. She was just an orphan who grew up living on scraps from a hundred families, scavenging for trash in cemeteries.

If the story unfolded normally, Zhao Ji might have died young during her long and harsh upbringing.

Or, relying on that innate ruthlessness, she might have survived and gradually climbed to wealth and prominence.

But in a stable, class-rigid environment, she was destined to find it nearly impossible to reach the peak of that world.

However... some people really are born with incredible Qi Yun.

When Zhao Ji was in her teens, that world—just like the present human world—was devoured by the "Boundless Heart Sea," ushering in the "Era of Disaster."

The descent of Supernatural Power, combined with the apocalypse, turned the whole world upside down. It also gave Zhao Ji an opportunity.

Relying on her extraordinary Talent, she rode the crest of the era....

The developments that followed were something like a more impressive version of Qiu Tu's story.

In just one year, Zhao Ji went from an ordinary person to the Sixth Rank, and reached the Eighth Rank in two years. Then she participated in the "Heavenly God Trial," and snatched the "Heavenly God Positional Frame" from the hands of countless veteran Great Evil Gods, ascending to become a Heavenly God herself, instantly becoming a powerhouse in her own right.

But even then, she didn't stop. She studied the structure of "cataclysmic ability" and, with innovative insight, discovered the "Disaster Equation Set," making those cataclysmic abilities no longer bound to individuals, but instead freely combinable by living beings.

After that, she uncovered the realm beyond Heavenly God, and found a method for advancement—directly causing a sensation throughout the "Boundless Heart Sea."

If things had stopped there, at best Zhao Ji would have just been a famed, researcher-type Heavenly God.

Her status in today's "Boundless Heart Sea" is exalted, but back in those times among that dazzling crowd of Gods, it wouldn't have been anything special.

However! Zhao Ji was not merely a researcher-type Heavenly God! Besides research, her combat power was absolutely outrageous.

Even though the world she originated from didn't offer her much warmth,

Perhaps the sense of homeland is ingrained in all living things. For her world's people, Zhao Ji fought the other Heavenly Gods multiple times. Almost... without a single defeat.

Her worst result was a draw, and only because multiple Heavenly Gods joined forces against her.

You could say that back then, Zhao Ji single-handedly subdued all of the Heavenly Gods of the "Boundless Heart Sea."

Even Doris's father, a peak Heavenly God, could only bow his head in submission before Zhao Ji.

And more importantly, get this—Zhao Ji was only 17 years old at the time.

Seventeen years old, number one under heaven.

This—was Zhao Ji.

This over-the-top list of achievements earned Zhao Ji countless admirers, male and female, in the "Boundless Heart Sea."

Back then, countless Evil Gods worshipped Zhao Ji fanatically. Many Great Evil Gods and Heavenly Gods tried to court her as well.

But Zhao Ji declined them all with a simple reason—"single-minded in the pursuit of the Dao"—and rejected everyone without hesitation.

Looking back now... Tian Qi quite possibly was just one of those lovesick followers who chased Zhao Ji and got nowhere.

Thinking like this, Doris couldn't help but recall the scene not long ago when Zhao Ji asked for information on Tian Qi. For no reason, Doris felt a little amused.

After all... Zhao Ji reincarnated and cultivated anew, changing her appearance, identity, even her name. But Tian Qi hadn't...

So, if Tian Qi really was a key follower back then, how could Zhao Ji possibly forget him? She would have recognized him at a glance.

Now Zhao Ji has to ask Qiu Tu for intel on Tian Qi—there's only one explanation: Zhao Ji has zero impression of Tian Qi.

And when Doris thought about Zhao Ji and Qiu Tu's ambiguous relationship now, her eyes curved, and she found things even more entertaining.

So, her slender fingers unconsciously twirled a few more strands of hair, then she blinked flirtatiously and feigned puzzlement, asking, "Is Lord Tianqi a little angry?"

"How odd. Who Zhao Ji is interested in—what does that have to do with Lord Tianqi?"

Her voice carried a hint of laziness, soft and sticky, extremely pleasant to the ear. Coupled with her intonation, what should have been an ordinary sentence instead sounded very ambiguous when she said it.

And that wasn't all—after teasing Tian Qi, she acted as if she'd just remembered something, and with her delicate hand covering her small mouth, she exclaimed in surprise, "Don't tell me... Lord Tianqi has feelings for Zhao Ji? Tsk..."

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Tian Qi panicked a little. He glanced around quickly, then lowered his voice and reminded her, "Lady Doris, hush."

"You can't just say things like that. Do you want to get us both killed?"

Doris, for all these years, had always been fearless, so when she saw Tian Qi appear so flustered, she immediately covered her mouth and laughed quietly.

Once she finished laughing, Doris batted her eyes flirtatiously at Tian Qi, then teased, "So what if you like her? Back then, so many people fell at Zhao Ji's feet—what's wrong with Lord Tianqi being moved, too?"

"Besides... it's no good to act like this—doing but not admitting."

At this, she hinted meaningfully, "Don't let Qiu Tu's serious look fool you. Under that coat, he can be every bit the rascal."

"And remember, even the fiercest women fear men who won't give up. Faced with Qiu Tu's relentless pestering, even Zhao Ji might waver."

Saying this, she glanced at Tian Qi, tutted twice, and continued, "Put the two of you together, Lord Tianqi—you're way behind."

Hearing this, Tian Qi: .....

Maybe the topic really was too sensitive, but after Doris finished, Tian Qi's face went completely blank and he remained utterly silent.