Dai Mubai: To a man, a woman is just a resource!

Dai Yichen smiled and walked out, saying to the two of them, "Then let's take a stroll around the palace together. This is Zhuqing's first time here, isn't it?"

"Zhuqing."

Only after Zhu Zhuyun called her did Zhu Zhuqing poke her little head out from behind her. Her big eyes looked at her sister, seemingly carrying a hint of resentment.

Dai Yichen thought about it. The only suitable place to wander around in the palace seemed to be the Imperial Garden. But this early in the morning, he did not know whether the two of them had eaten yet.

"Zhuqing, Sister Zhuyun, have you two had breakfast? How about we visit the Imperial Kitchen first?"

Zhu Zhuyun said, "Mm, that works. Neither of us has had breakfast yet. Zhuqing can also take the chance to see what the food in the palace tastes like."

The elderly man from before walked up to Dai Yichen and said quietly, "Fourth Prince, is there anything you would like to eat? This old servant can head over first and have the Imperial Kitchen prepare it."

After Dai Yichen awakened his Martial Soul and gained Dai Yutian's attention, the old man's attitude had made a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

Dai Yichen did not mind. He said, "Just make some nutritious porridge and meat. Oh, right, remember to add some Whale Rubber. One portion with fifty-year Whale Rubber, and two portions with two-thousand-year Whale Rubber."

The old man nodded slightly, then disappeared from the three's sight before long.

"Younger Brother Yichen, that was very thoughtful of you. You actually had him add Whale Rubber to the food. I heard Father mention the effects of Whale Rubber. It's gradually being regulated now, and it seems every prince only receives a limited quota."

Dai Yichen smiled without explaining. He had been the one to discover the effects of Whale Rubber in the first place, and his allotted share was naturally the greatest.

Besides, it was only somewhat useful during the early stages of cultivation. Its effects weakened later on, since high-year Whale Rubber was not so easily obtained.

"Sister Zhuyun, I remember you should be about to reach level thirty, right? And you're Eldest Brother's fiancée now. Is it really alright for you to be staying with me like this?"

Zhu Zhuyun smiled. "I've already reached level thirty. In a few days, I'm preparing to go to the Royal Soul Hunting Forest to obtain my Third Soul Ring. As for Dai Weisi, I'm accompanying my little sister. What can he possibly say?"

As the three of them chatted leisurely and slowly made their way toward the Imperial Kitchen, they encountered someone along the way—Dai Mubai!

Dai Mubai sauntered over with a frivolous look. He first looked at the two girls from the Zhu Family, then turned to Dai Yichen. "Yo, Fourth Brother, you're up so early. Heading to the Imperial Kitchen? Want to go together?"

Then his gaze fixed on the girl beside Zhu Zhuyun, and his eyes lit up slightly. "This must be Zhu Zhuqing, right? Nice to meet you for the first time. Hello, I'm your future fiancé, Third Prince Dai Mubai!"

Zhu Zhuyun: ???

Zhu Zhuqing: ???

Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips and turned her head away without the slightest courtesy. With a huff, she said, "You're not my fiancé! Brother Yichen already told me."

Dai Yichen also reached out and shielded Zhu Zhuqing behind him. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Dai Mubai with a half-smile. "Dai Mubai, you were born a year before me, so I respect you enough to call you Third Brother. But don't tell me you think I'm afraid of you? So early in the morning, are you trying to provoke me?"

Dai Mubai snorted coldly. "If not for you, once Zhu Zhuqing awakened her Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul a year from now, she would have been my fiancée. Because of you, I became the first person in the imperial family's history to have his fiancée stolen away!"

Dai Yichen said flatly, "So what? Father Emperor already said that the two of us would compete fairly and let Zhuqing choose for herself. Even if she were your fiancée, are you confident you could defeat Dai Weisi when you come of age? You've cultivated for over a year longer than I have. What's your Soul Power Level now? Don't you know it yourself? You have no sense of urgency at all, and you blame me?"

As though Dai Yichen had struck a sore spot, Dai Mubai became somewhat furious. "Even so, I'm still your Third Brother, and I'm stronger than you!"

Once he finished speaking, Dai Mubai revealed an ill-intentioned smile. "Didn't you say Zhu Zhuqing would choose? There's no need to make it so troublesome. Right now, the two of us will have a match. Whoever wins gets her as his fiancée! How about it?"

Dai Mubai knew that with Dai Yichen's Innate Full Soul Power talent, his Soul Power Level might surpass his before long. So, he had to strike first!

In truth, he knew that even if Zhu Zhuqing became his fiancée, he would never be able to defeat his eldest brother in the future. But he was still doing this simply to fight for a shred of pride. Otherwise, he would not be able to save face!

A fiancée was something I could choose not to have, but I could not be the one without one!

However, Dai Yichen refused. "Dai Mubai, if you want to fight me, I can fight you. But Zhuqing is not an object and should not be used as a wager!"

"HAHAHAHA!"

Dai Mubai threw his head back and laughed, his face full of mockery. "Fourth Brother, I've realized that you can be really pretentious sometimes. As a member of the imperial family, you should understand that women are nothing more than a resource for men!"

The moment those words came out, Zhu Zhuyun's expression changed slightly. She had long understood what Dai Mubai meant. Though unwilling, she acknowledged it in her heart. But for him to say it so directly was a naked insult!

Zhu Zhuqing's face also filled with hurt. Tears welled in her big, bright eyes, yet she still said resolutely, "Brother Yichen, I'm fine. Help me beat him up!"

Dai Yichen nodded. There was no expression on his face as he merely looked coldly at Dai Mubai.

Women were nothing more than resources for men?

What a joke!

Leaving aside how men and women had been relatively equal in the memories of his past life, even in this world there were many powerful women. For example, Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, the Ice Empress, the Snow Empress, even the Goddess of Life, and more. Did Dai Mubai dare say those words in front of them?

Did he really think that being a prince of a nation meant he could act without restraint?

For some reason, when Dai Mubai met Dai Yichen's utterly emotionless eyes, a trace of fear rose in his heart.

Damn it! He had cultivated for over a year longer than Dai Yichen. How could this be happening?

At the side, Zhu Zhuyun pulled Zhu Zhuqing back by the hand and shielded her behind herself.

With a flip of his right hand, the White Tiger Psychic Lock appeared in Dai Yichen's palm. He looked at Dai Mubai with an indifferent voice. "Are you prepared to pay the price for what you said?"

Arm!

Dai Mubai refused to be outdone. A yellow Soul Ring rose from his body. "White Tiger Possession!"

He thought to himself, I'm already at level fifteen Soul Power. There's no way Dai Yichen can beat me!

Over these three years, although he had slacked off at times, his talent was still one level higher than Dai Weisi's. With the imperial family's resources, he had reached the rank of Grand Soul Master. That was not bad at all!

PS: Dai Mubai's Soul Power growth rate fluctuated wildly. In six years, he went from level eight to level twenty-five, gaining seventeen levels of Soul Power. Yet during three years at Shrek, he gained twelve levels and reached level thirty-seven. Later, he could even remain stuck at level thirty-nine for half a year. Just take it as it is~~