Preparation

Thud—

A tremendous crash rang out.

Dai Yao collided with a Mystic Water Turtle over seven hundred years old.

In front of him, a white barrier blocked the charging Mystic Water Turtle, but it only held for a few seconds before the turtle broke through it.

Just as the Mystic Water Turtle continued ramming toward Dai Yao, Dai Yao used Explosive Step and escaped its attack range.

The Mystic Water Turtle roared in fury, because over the past day or two, this little bug before it had entered its territory again and again, constantly provoking it. And every time it smashed through that barrier, the little bug's speed would suddenly increase. Not only would he dodge its line of attack, he would even leave the boundaries of its territory.

After being toyed with several times, this time it did not go after Dai Yao again. It could never catch him anyway, so it could only snort white gas from its nostrils in anger.

"Thanks a lot, big turtle," Dai Yao said with a hearty laugh.

"This White Tiger Body Barrier still can't withstand the Mystic Water Turtle's charge. Good thing I didn't clash head-on with that Mystic Water Turtle when I obtained my Spirit Ring, or one charge would have broken my bones."

After obtaining his First Spirit Ring, he had to prepare for his duel with Dai Mubai. For that reason, he remained in Star Luo Royal Beast Garden and found a seven-hundred-year Mystic Water Turtle as a sparring partner.

His Soul Power had reached rank eleven. Part of the Spirit Ring's powerful energy had been absorbed by his body, while another portion had been liquefied, which was why his level was not high.

At present, he possessed three skills: the defensive White Tiger Body Barrier, the offensive Eight Extremes Collapse, and the movement technique Explosive Step.

Compared to monotonous training, real combat could improve him better. In his battles with the Mystic Water Turtle, his familiarity with these three skills deepened day by day.

At first, after White Tiger Body Barrier shattered, he had not even had time to use Explosive Step to escape, and the Mystic Water Turtle broke his bones with a charge. After one night, under Green Lotus's powerful self-healing ability, he had fully recovered.

The next day, he stood before the Mystic Water Turtle again, completely unharmed.

The Mystic Water Turtle, which originally flew into a rage at the sight of him, no longer attacked him now. It only found him annoying.

"After several days of real combat, I've gained a certain level of proficiency with these three skills. It's time to go back." He packed his luggage and returned along the original route.

On the way back, he saw the Guard Captain. Thinking of the guard who had wanted to murder him, he looked at the Guard Captain with a faint, ambiguous smile.

The Guard Captain had a guilty conscience too. Dai Yao's stare made his scalp tingle, and cold sweat slid down his face.

"Prepare the carriage. Back to the Imperial Palace." However, Dai Yao did not make things difficult for him. Right now, the most important thing to him was the duel, and he did not want to create more trouble.

After a day and a night.

Dai Yao returned to the Cold Palace. In front of its gate, Third Uncle was already waiting for him.

"Third Uncle."

"Not bad. After obtaining your Spirit Ring, you've grown quite a bit taller. You're just too thin. You need to eat more from now on." Dai Hengyu had received the news of Dai Yao's return and had long been waiting at the Cold Palace.

"By the way, how many years was your First Spirit Ring?"

"Close to four hundred years," Dai Yao said after a pause.

It was not that he did not want to tell the true age, but a seven-hundred-year First Spirit Ring was too shocking. Since ancient times, no one's First Spirit Ring had ever been able to absorb one of such a high age.

Nor could he explain why he could absorb a Spirit Ring of such a high age. If they truly investigated it to the end, Green Lotus's secret would definitely be exposed.

And so, he told a well-intentioned lie.

"Not bad, four hundred years." Dai Hengyu heavily patted Dai Yao's shoulder and said in pleasant surprise. In his estimate, Dai Yao would at most obtain a Spirit Ring of two or three hundred years.

"Don't get proud. The three princes' First Spirit Rings were all four hundred years old. Obtaining your First Spirit Ring only proves that you're qualified to compete with them." Dai Hengyu warned him.

He looked at Dai Yao and sighed. "The Empress learned last night that you obtained a Spirit Ring yesterday. Early this morning, under her push, it was decided that the duel would begin tomorrow."

"They won't leave me even a bit of breathing room. They really want me dead that badly." Dai Yao sneered. In the Empress's understanding, he had only obtained his First Spirit Ring yesterday, so he probably could not even use his Spirit Skill proficiently. That was why she set the duel for tomorrow. That way, he would undoubtedly lose.

But what they did not know was that he had already obtained his First Spirit Ring several days ago. In Star Luo Royal Beast Garden, through actual combat, he had already become completely proficient with his First Spirit Skill.

"What they're doing is truly ugly, but no matter where you are, how could there ever be absolute fairness?" Dai Hengyu's tone was somewhat bitter, and his fists clenched tightly inside his sleeves. He was also a member of the White Tiger Family, and in the family's oppressive atmosphere, he was all too familiar with this point.

"I definitely will, Third Uncle." Dai Yao smiled faintly, concealing the bitterness in his heart. A gap of nearly seven ranks in Soul Power was truly a Heavenly Chasm that was difficult to cross.

"There will be many honored guests at tomorrow's duel. The bishop of Spirit Hall in the Imperial City will also come. Rest well tonight, and tomorrow, bring out your very best. Although your hope of winning tomorrow isn't great, you must fight with style." Dai Hengyu gave his final instructions. In his heart, there was no suspense in the outcome of this duel.

... He truly could not calm his mind enough to cultivate, so Dai Yao came to the courtyard. Snow was falling from the sky.

Tomorrow's duel made him somewhat uneasy.

Dai Mubai was three years older than him and already had rank seventeen Soul Power. He had already made something of a name for himself at Star Luo Royal Academy. Within Star Luo Royal Academy, no one of the same level as him was his match.

White Tiger Spirit, rank seventeen Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. During these three years at the royal academy, he had never slacked off. In the original work, it was also only after he had fallen into complete despair over the struggle for the throne that he fled far away to the Heaven Dou Empire.

Moreover, when he was finally deified, his title was War God. As a Second-Class God, he could contend with a First-Class God. His combat talent was definitely not low.

Dai Yao had Twin Martial Souls, and there was also the mysterious Green Lotus in his spiritual world. His talent was extraordinary. But all of these were still only potential, not strength. He needed a certain amount of time to transform that potential into strength. Only then would he have the capital to stand against the Empress.

If only I had a little more time, Dai Yao thought helplessly.

He could not help but think back to that night six years ago, the day he was born.

Through a burst of squeezing pressure, he came into this world. Unlike other children, he opened his eyes the moment he was born.

He still remembered that woman saying gently, "Look, this child's eyes are so bright. From now on, let's call him Yao'er." After she finished speaking, the woman picked up Dai Yao and teased him affectionately.

Yet at that moment, several women suddenly rushed in, and screams immediately erupted in the delivery room.

Dai Yao watched with his own eyes as those women seized his mother by the throat. The sound of the woman's struggling echoed through the Cold Palace! As her struggles weakened, the woman's arms slowly drooped down.

That scene was carved into Dai Yao's heart.

Mother, don't worry. Sooner or later, I'll make the Empress go down to the Yellow Springs to see you. Tomorrow, I'll collect a little of the price first. Dai Yao made up his mind. Aside from exposing his Twin Martial Souls, no matter what price he had to pay tomorrow, he had to seize victory in this battle.