The Aggrieved Cat

Star Luo Imperial Palace, Mail Room.

This was where items entering and leaving the Star Luo Imperial Palace were collected and distributed. All goods passing in or out of the palace had to go through here and undergo rigorous inspection to ensure they were harmless before being sent to their proper destinations.

But some people clearly could not wait for such a sluggish inspection and came here in person.

"I heard there's a letter for me, sent from Nuoding City?" Dai Mubai asked the Mail Room staff as he arrived at the entrance.

"Third Prince." The staff member first bowed, then said, "There is indeed a letter. We prioritized its inspection and were just about to deliver it to you."

"No need. I came to get it myself. As long as the inspection's done." Dai Mubai took the envelope from the staff member and was about to leave when he saw a little girl running over.

It was Zhu Zhuqing.

Ever since the banquet that night, her engagement to Dai Mubai had existed in name only. Both the Dai and Zhu families tacitly avoided mentioning the engagement again.

Just as Chen Feng had expected, after Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing voluntarily severed their Martial Soul connection, they gained the freedom they had longed for.

They gave up things they did not care about in the slightest, yet gained precious familial affection and successfully escaped that damned whirlpool of tradition.

Not only that, their actions set an example for the Dai and Zhu families, giving those from both clans who did not wish to participate in the succession struggle a way out.

This filled both adults and children of the two families with gratitude toward them. Not everyone was ambitious; some valued family and friendship more than power and authority.

Before this, such people had lived in constant fear because of those traditional rules, terrified that one day, some child whose Martial Soul awakened would drag them into the heirs' duel.

Now things were different. With heirs already established in both families, those who came after and did not wish to be drawn into conflict now had a path to follow.

"Your Highness the Third Prince, was there a letter from Nuoding City?" Zhu Zhuqing asked urgently, panting as she looked at the envelope in Dai Mubai's hand.

"Yes, it's for me." Dai Mubai waved the envelope in his hand.

"There was only one?" Zhu Zhuqing peered into the Mail Room, only to see the staff shake their heads.

A trace of grievance appeared on her face. "Why did he write to you but not to me?"

Zhu Zhuqing pouted, then turned and ran off.

Dai Mubai watched her run away in complete confusion.

"Because I was the one who asked him to write to me."

Shaking his head, he felt that girls' thoughts were truly hard to understand. He opened the envelope and read as he walked.

As he read, Dai Mubai gradually slowed to a stop.

He changed direction and headed out of the palace.

Inside one of the palace halls, a valiant middle-aged man was reviewing official documents at his desk.

After a while, a White Tiger Guard entered carrying a document, knelt, and said:

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince just submitted an article to the Newspaper Office. The editor-in-chief has sent the manuscript over for your review."

An attendant behind the middle-aged man stepped forward and placed the document on the desk.

The middle-aged man picked it up and opened it. After giving it a cursory glance, his expression suddenly turned solemn.

He carefully read through its contents once more and asked:

"Did Mubai write this himself?"

"The editor-in-chief of the Newspaper Office said that when the Third Prince submitted it, he specifically emphasized that the author of the article should be registered as 'Chen Feng,'" the White Tiger Guard replied.

"Chen Feng? The one who previously advised Mubai and had him replace his second soul skill?" the middle-aged man asked.

"Yes."

"Chen Yun said that child is only seven?"

"Steward Chen said so, and the Third Prince confirmed it as well."

"Mm." The middle-aged man fell into thought.

He lightly tapped the desk and said:

"Send two Senior Stewards to Nuoding City. See whether they can bring that child to the Royal Academy. Remember, be gentle in your approach. We cannot make an enemy of such a genius."

"Have Chen Yun and Mubai go as well. It will be easier to talk with familiar faces there."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The White Tiger Guard accepted the order and departed.

The next morning.

Inside the Council Hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi, elegant and refined in bearing, sat in a large carved rosewood chair, reading a newspaper.

"...The traditional method of classifying Martial Souls divides them into Tool Spirits and Beast Spirits based on whether they can possess the body. But from the perspective of Martial Soul Evolution paths, Martial Souls should be classified as Biological Spirits and Tool Spirits.

"The greatest difference between Biological Spirits and Tool Spirits is that the former possess a certain degree of life. The characteristics of life are growth and mutation, which means Biological Spirits have greater potential for development than Tool Spirits, and their descendants have more possibilities for mutation...

"Hmm... that is rather interesting."

Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to continue reading, he saw a young man in a white martial outfit enter. The man bowed and said:

"Sect Master, Flender the Four-Eyed Cat Owl requests an audience outside the sect. He says it is urgent."

"Flender? He actually has something urgent to discuss with me?" Ning Fengzhi found it somewhat strange. "Let him in."

"Yes." The young man quickly backed away and left.

Before long, a disheveled middle-aged man with a somewhat bedraggled expression walked in.

Seeing Dean Flanders in such a state, Ning Fengzhi raised his brows in surprise. He casually set the newspaper in his hand aside and asked, "Dean Flanders, don't tell me you... flew here all the way?"

"Yes, Sect Master Ning. I have an urgent matter and wish to see Sword Douluo." Flanders spoke wearily.

He knew his old friend Yu Xiaogang's personality well. If it were not an utterly urgent matter, Yu Xiaogang would never have told Flanders to seek out Liu Erlong.

Since Yu Xiaogang had said so, it meant he was in serious trouble and needed a powerful expert to get him out of it.

Thus, Flanders had raced here without pause, finally reaching the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as quickly as possible.

Hearing Flanders's words, Ning Fengzhi considered for a moment, then waved to the Servant attending nearby and said, "Go invite Sword Douluo to the Council Hall at once. Tell him there is an urgent matter."

Since Flanders claimed it was urgent and had flown here all the way, Ning Fengzhi decided to summon Sword Douluo first, lest some truly serious matter be delayed.

As for the specifics, he could ask about them slowly now.

"Dean Flanders, what is it that has you so urgently seeking Uncle Sword?"

Flanders did not conceal anything. "There is something I want him to see. I suspect it may be connected to Sword Douluo.

"Of course, I am not entirely certain. If this turns out to be a misunderstanding, I hope Sect Master Ning will not take offense."

Flanders first made some allowances for himself in case this turned into an embarrassing misunderstanding, then took a sheet of paper from his robes.

"Please take a look, Sect Master Ning. This is it."