The Bigger the Storm, the Pricier the Fish (Please Read On)

"Sorry, Grandpa Chen. I'm late." Dai Luoli obediently walked up to Old Chen, his head hanging low, too afraid to meet his eyes.

"You've never been late before. This is the first time, so Grandpa Chen will give you a chance to explain." Old Chen looked stern, though he was only pretending.

Dai Luoli's little face flushed red. "I went to watch something exciting, but by the time I realized it, I was late."

"Something exciting?" Old Chen froze. So early in the morning, in such a huge duke's mansion—what could possibly be worth watching?

Dai Luoli hurriedly explained, "Grandpa Chen, I heard some people saying that someone from the Spirit Cat Duke's Mansion had come. I got curious and waited for a while, then I saw a really pretty girl arrive. She seemed to have a very high status, and a whole group of people surrounded her."

"The Spirit Cat Duke's Mansion?" Old Chen seemed to think of something, and his expression shifted slightly. "Come in. I'll let you off today."

"Thank you, Grandpa Chen." Learning that he would not be beaten, Dai Luoli immediately brightened up.

When the two returned to the living room, Huo Yuhao saw Dai Luoli again. What made him even more curious, however, was the thoughtful look on Old Chen's face. Something had likely happened.

"You're the person from last night." Dai Luoli quickly noticed the other person in the living room and stared at Huo Yuhao with wide eyes.

"He's a year older than you. You can call him Big Brother." Old Chen noticed Huo Yuhao observing him and quickly restored his expression. Stroking Dai Luoli's head, he spoke gently.

"Big Brother?"

Dai Luoli's face stiffened, and his gaze instantly turned several degrees colder. It was as though the words "big brother" were something he deeply hated.

Huo Yuhao secretly shook his head. Huo Yun'er was not the only one who had been bullied by the Duchess. Dai Luoli's Mother had suffered as well, though not nearly as severely. After all, Dai Luoli's Mother truly had status, and Dai Luoli had clearly encountered Dai Huabin far too many times while growing up. No wonder he loathed the idea of an older brother so much.

"Luoli, go warm up at the Training Ground first. Grandpa Chen will come over shortly." Old Chen had clearly noticed that something was wrong with Dai Luoli, and he helplessly shook his head.

"Yes." Dai Luoli gave Huo Yuhao a complicated look before turning and leaving.

"That child was like you. He was bullied by that little bastard Dai Huabin before too." Only after Dai Luoli had left did Old Chen stroke his beard and speak.

Huo Yuhao nodded calmly. He looked up at Old Chen and asked, "Old Chen, I noticed you were frowning just now. Did you run into some trouble?"

"You're quite observant." Old Chen shook his head. "More accurately, it's trouble for the duke's mansion."

Hearing this, a trace of curiosity immediately rose within Huo Yuhao. However, he did not press the matter and wisely stopped asking.

Yet Old Chen did not mind at all and casually explained, "Just now, the Spirit Cat Duke's Mansion sent someone over. Throughout the history of our Star Luo Empire, the White Tiger Family and the Spirit Cat Family have always intermarried, and the relationship between the two sides has been extremely close. If I'm not mistaken, that brat Dai Huabin has probably developed Martial Soul fusion with someone from the Zhu Family."

"According to past custom, that member of the Zhu Family will be sent to the Duke White Tiger's Mansion for a period of training. The main purpose is to let members of both families live together and strengthen their bond, laying a solid foundation for developing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill in the future."

At those words, Huo Yuhao immediately understood. In the Original Work, wasn't Zhu Lu the one who possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Dai Huabin?

No wonder Zhu Lu had always followed Dai Huabin at Shrek Academy. So she had been sent to the Duke White Tiger's Mansion at this time to cultivate their relationship.

"The reason this is troublesome is that a marriage alliance between the two families will make another group wary." Old Chen sighed.

"The Royal Family?" Huo Yuhao blurted out instinctively.

Old Chen's eyelids lifted slightly, and the look he gave Huo Yuhao was openly surprised. "That's right. But remember this well—don't spread such matters outside."

Huo Yuhao nodded thoughtfully, though a special seed had already been planted in his heart. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Old Chen stroked his beard. "All right, go prepare and wait at the Training Ground. This old man may not have much to teach you, but I can still lay down some foundations for your future cultivation."

"Yes." Huo Yuhao answered respectfully, then followed Dai Luoli's footsteps and left.

Only Old Chen remained in the vast living room. Looking at the clear sky outside the window, he shook his head and sighed. "The Royal Family is declining by the day and is no longer as powerful as it was at its peak. One of the two great duke's mansions commands heavy troops, while the other controls wealth. If the Royal Family and the duke's mansions fight in secret, the only one to benefit will be the Sun Moon Empire."

Star Luo Imperial Palace.

"After a hundred years, the two great duke's mansions have once again produced a pair of clan members capable of Martial Soul fusion. The timing truly could not be more perfect."

Behind an enormous Dragon Writing Desk sat a handsome young man. He was Xu Jiawei, the Star Luo Emperor, who had formally ascended the throne just a year ago. Yet as he spoke, no emotion appeared on his face. His deep gaze concealed his true thoughts.

"Imperial Brother, the two great duke's mansions are showing signs of fusion once more. Their influence was already enormous, and there are countless nobles attached to them. This is no good thing for us. The authority of our Royal Family is weakening by the day, the talented members of our own family are dwindling, and the nobles within the empire are stirring restlessly. The crisis is not far away. We must take forceful action to suppress some of those who wish to rise up."

"Otherwise, once the Sun Moon Empire frees up its hands, everything will be too late."

Across from Xu Jiawei sat the Golden-Haired Girl. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Though she was only a little over sixteen, one could already foresee the beauty that would one day topple nations. She was Xu Jiujiu, the eldest daughter most favored by the Previous Emperor and the Imperial Princess.

Still, as she spoke, worry inevitably showed on Xu Jiujiu's face. She was young, and many emotions could not be hidden.

In contrast, a faint smile appeared on Xu Jiawei's face. "Even forceful action must be taken at the right time. I have only just ascended the throne, so it is not suitable for me to make such moves."

"But if you make no move at all, Imperial Brother, these people will only become more unscrupulous and ever more rampant." Xu Jiujiu frowned.

"That is why I value the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament so highly." Xu Jiawei's words carried a deeper meaning.

Xu Jiujiu's gaze shifted slightly. "Imperial Brother, you intend to..."

Xu Jiawei said solemnly, "If we want to suppress the nobles, divide the Duke White Tiger's authority, strengthen centralization, and promote Soul Tools, then the tournament will be the most appropriate time."

Xu Jiujiu had wanted to ask more, but she suddenly stopped. She had clearly understood something as well. If even she could think of it, how could her Imperial Brother possibly have failed to?

Xu Jiawei rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked at the map of Douluo Continent hanging on the wall behind him. His gaze was sharp as fire. "Fishermen at sea all understand that the calmer the sea before a storm arrives, the greater the storm to come. But likewise, the bigger the storm, the pricier the fish."

"Then let us use this storm to clear out a batch of expensive fish."

Dear readers, today is the first round of recommendation PK. I'm asking for your continued reading and recommendation votes. Thank you, everyone!