Rich Second-Gen, Day Three

With two little dawdlers stopping to look at flowers and touch grass, they still missed the opening of the show.

Under the cover of three Titled Douluo, the group of six quietly entered the banquet hall. Salas, Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop stationed in the Heaven Dou Empire, had already been dragged into the muddy waters. An investigation revealed that the Soul Elder guard who had injured Dai Mubai possessed deep ties to Spirit Hall!

The Star Luo Empire's First Prince, fiercely protective of his younger brother, challenged Salas before the bishop could even speak, demanding an explanation.

His son having been implicated, His Majesty Xue Ye covered his face with both hands, shaking his head and shrugging.

Dai Mubai, who had been injured and was still immersed in the healing abilities of a Titled Douluo, looked pale-faced, his Evil Eyes vacant and pitiful.

The Star Luo Empire's First Prince's fiancée stood united with her fiancé against their common enemy, while the Third Prince's fiancée supported her fiancé's injured arm, her gaze icy.

What kind of fantastical scene was this!

The Two Great Empires, who had been sabotaging each other, had united because of Spirit Hall! Hooray!

The Heaven Dou and Star Luo nobles nearby whispered and pointed at one another. Some particularly emotional noblewomen had already begun wiping away tears with handkerchiefs as they watched the two mutually supportive Star Luo couples. How touching! What sincere feelings! What harmonious, loving relations between the two nations!

Salas felt speechless. Salas felt helpless. Salas felt that this was utterly absurd!

Would no one speak up for Salas?!

Ming Sui and Ning Rongrong widened their eyes, terrified of missing even the tiniest detail.

In that quiet yet bustling atmosphere, everyone played their part in a splendid performance. Salas, whom the two empires had pushed into the leading role, finally regained his senses and began acting.

"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, I believe there may be another side to this matter. Please permit me to investigate immediately." Salas struggled to maintain his composure and ordered the red-robed bishop beneath him to begin the investigation at once.

"I request that investigators from Star Luo and Heaven Dou join as well," Dai Weisi proposed. "The three sides working together will be faster."

Salas gritted his teeth and agreed.

"The Third Prince has been injured, after all. He should rest first." Xue Ye had composed his expression and spoke gently. "The investigation will also take time. I believe the outstanding investigators of Spirit Hall and the two empires will bring us results soon enough. Until then, please proceed to the lounge and rest for the time being. Everyone else may leave first."

Salas also wanted a quiet place to think. Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai had no objections either, and the leading players temporarily left the stage.

Once they had departed, the people in the banquet hall did not leave immediately. Instead, the place erupted with a boom. The nobles attending from both empires began discussing the matter fervently, reminding Ming Sui of a classroom after the teacher had left. She and Ning Rongrong stretched out their little ears to catch the gossip, only to be dragged home by their respective parents.

Dai Mubai's lounge.

His fiancée Zhu Zhuqing was no longer calm. "Your elder brother did that on purpose."

"He did not really accomplish anything. Competition is like this—either you die or I do. It began the day our Spirits Awakened, didn't it?" Dai Mubai was surprisingly calm.

"The rules are like this: the strong prey on the weak. I understood that long ago, but I did not want to accept it. Zhuqing, I was wrong before. I always held onto a sliver of hope, believing there might be an exception. You were right. We still need strength. We are young, so we cannot win right now, but that does not mean we cannot win later."

Zhu Zhuqing's catlike eyes sparkled. "I'll always stay by your side. We'll grow stronger together."

Dai Mubai thought of Ming Zhen. His Spirit was clearly a Support System Spirit, yet the pressure radiating from him made everyone submit in their hearts. Strength was the solution to everything. "After this incident, Heaven Dou will most likely not keep me as a hostage any longer. I may return to my country, but my competition with my elder brother and the others will become even fiercer. Zhuqing, you must be careful."

After returning to Ming Residence, the couple let Ming Zhen go back and rest. After dealing with a few miscellaneous matters, they returned to their bedroom to rest.

"Why did you summon your Spirit today? Didn't you not want to attract attention?" Tang Yunhua asked in confusion.

Ming Zhen frowned. "That is what I wanted to discuss with you. The aura in the imperial palace was wrong. The proportion of Holy Element aura was far too high, so I released my Spirit to sense it. That aura stirred for a moment, then disappeared again. Something is wrong."

"Sacred Aura? Even the Sacred Aura of the imperial family's Swan Spirit cannot compare to your Holy Light Scepter. For the concentration to seem excessively high even to you... could it be Spirit Hall's angel?" Tang Yunhua's expression turned solemn as well. "Why did the crown prince not appear today? He should not have missed an occasion like this."

"Ning Fengzhi said he was ill, though it was not serious, so he did not have Gu Rong guard him. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has truly taken in an ancestor to worship." Ming Zhen sneered.

"Yuehua sent word that Spirit Hall has developed increasingly rapidly over the past few years. Its openly displayed forces are not numerous, which is interesting. If they have nothing to hide, why act in secret?" Tang Yunhua said calmly. "Spirit Hall is growing powerful. The sect will likely send me word soon. Keep a low profile and do not reveal yourselves lightly."

Yuehua was the younger sister of the current Clear Sky Sect Master. She had grown up alongside Tang Yunhua, and the two shared a deep bond. Yuehua possessed the Talent Domain Noble Ring, but her Soul Power had stagnated at level nine. She taught etiquette at Heaven Dou Empire's royal etiquette academy, Moonlight Pavilion, while secretly handling matters such as passing intelligence for the sect. Tang Yunhua had come here to protect her as well.

"Yuehua's domain has reached maturity, so there is no need to worry about her. It is Second Brother, from whom there has still been no news, who worries me most." Ming Zhen had never given up searching for his second brother, Tang Hao, over the years. Qian Xunji, the then Pope of Spirit Hall, had hunted the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Blue Silver Emperor, who was Tang Hao's wife. The Blue Silver Emperor sacrificed herself to Tang Hao, making him a Titled Douluo and severely injuring Qian Xunji. The latter died soon after returning to Spirit Hall. Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's First Enshrined Elder, moved against the Clear Sky Sect to avenge his son Qian Xunji. The Clear Sky Sect had no choice but to seal itself away and retreat, while Tang Hao vanished without a trace.

Before Ming Zhen and Tang Yunhua became Titled Douluo, they had trained alongside Eldest Brother Tang Tian, Second Brother Tang Hao, and Ah Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor. The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts that provided Ming Zhen and Tang Yunhua with their ninth Soul Rings had also been found by Ah Yin—enemies of all Soul Beasts. When they were hunted, all the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest had celebrated. Later, their different cultivation paths had led them to train separately, leaving them absent when Ah Yin suffered disaster. They had been close friends, and Ah Yin's sacrifice remained their eternal regret.

Thinking of the past, the couple fell silent for a long time. "The situation feels wrong. I am considering leaving the imperial capital," Ming Zhen said slowly.

"We no longer need to risk our lives for the Heaven Dou Empire anyway. Once we settle the clan members, we can take our daughter and Steward Ming, travel while searching for Second Brother," Tang Yunhua agreed.

Outside the window, drifting clouds gradually swallowed the moon.

A secret chamber in Spirit Hall's main headquarters in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Salas, once so imposing, knelt on one knee. "This subordinate failed in his duties. I beg Second Worship to punish me."

Spirit Hall's Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, was over one hundred and forty years old and possessed level ninety-eight Soul Power.

"If this old man had not reacted in time, the plan would have been exposed by the Holy Light. Since such talent cannot be used by Spirit Hall, he must be eliminated sooner or later." A cruel, chilling voice echoed from every direction within the secret chamber.

Salas was drenched in sweat. The pressure of a Titled Douluo made his teeth chatter.

"Let Heaven Dou and Star Luo investigate what they wish. The great plan is about to succeed, so we may as well offer them a small benefit. Use this matter to tie up their attention, then make another move and lure Ning Fengzhi out of the imperial capital. In seven more days, the deed will be accomplished. Do not let your guard down."

"Yes, this subordinate understands."

The joint investigation team of Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Star Luo Empire began its investigation with great fanfare, proceeding with tremendous momentum and incredible speed.

Those following the matter only felt that it was progressing with a strange smoothness. The investigation team quickly found the mastermind who had directed the guard. This culprit fully confessed to the crime and even seemed to discover his conscience after being reprimanded by Spirit Hall. When the adjudicators were not paying attention, he directly committed suicide to atone for his crimes.

That made things rather boring.

On a peaceful and auspicious day, the Heaven Dou Empire bid farewell to the Star Luo Empire's guests. The Star Luo delegation departed with exactly as many people as it had arrived with, returning intact.

That day, ten days remained until Ming Sui's Spirit Awakening.

Only ten days left! Steward Ming was nervous, overjoyed, expectant, and uneasy.

What kind of Spirit would the young mistress he had watched grow up awaken? Would she inherit Madam's Sky Shaking Hammer, or Master's Holy Light Scepter?

Would it mutate? In what direction would it mutate? Wait, it would not mutate in a bad direction, would it? Impossible, absolutely impossible!

The young mistress's awakening day was also her birthday. They had to hold a family banquet, so the items in the storeroom needed to be taken out and displayed!

The young mistress had used the Hidden Weapons she had recently learned to pick fresh lotus leaves for him. Wuwuwuwu, how touching. Write that down—the kitchen had to make lotus leaf rice for the young mistress!

The young mistress's outfit was goose yellow. Prepare a light blue one too. Wait, add a crimson one. Tender green would look nice too, and purple had charm as well. Make them all, make them all!

Oh my, the young mistress had slept for nearly twenty days without nightmares! Tell Master and give the night watch team a bonus. Well done, young mistress!

The young mistress was about to awaken her Spirit. Was she nervous? Should he have a chat with her? Ah, but his own Spirit had mutated in a weaker direction. That was unlucky. Better not mention it!

"Grandpa Steward, you should rest more lately," Ming Sui said with concern when she encountered the energized Steward Ming in the garden. She truly did not want this lovable old man, whose heart and eyes were filled with their family, to exhaust himself.

"Thank you, young mistress. I'm not tired. The young mistress is about to awaken her Spirit. Are you nervous?" Hehe, the young mistress cared about him. Wait, why had he asked that? Never mind, since he had already asked, he might as well say more. "Young mistress, please do not find me too talkative. Spirit Awakening is a profoundly mysterious matter. Anything can happen, so do not worry. No matter what, Master and Madam will make preparations for you. My own father and mother were both Soul Masters, and their talents were fairly decent, yet when I awakened, my Spirit mutated into a Ledger Spirit. Although I could cultivate, I could not fight. But I did not think much of it. After coming to Ming Residence, this Spirit instead helped me with my work, and I have still lived a good life."

Ming Sui listened attentively to the old man's rambling. Yes, fifty-year-old Ming Zhen was in the prime of life, while sixty-year-old Steward Ming had already begun to grow gray hair. That was the difference Soul Power made. Ming Sui knew how much the people of Douluo Continent valued Spirits, yet this old man was selflessly opening up his painful experiences just to soothe the anxiety of a younger person he loved. How could Ming Sui not be moved?

After listening carefully, Ming Sui earnestly promised the old man, "I have Father, Mother, and Grandpa Steward. I won't worry."

In a corner not far from them, Ming Zhen and Tang Yunhua watched the old man and the child. They decided that once Ming Zhen awakened and began cultivating, Steward Ming and Ming Sui would attend cultivation lessons together.

Time flew by. Tomorrow was Ming Sui's sixth birthday.