Delusional Fools

"Mister Xiaoyao, I would like to ask, how did you manage to absorb a Soul Ring beyond your rank?"

Zhu Zhuqing did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Oh? You're asking about that?"

Li Xiaoyao smiled mysteriously, and then—

"That is, of course, a secret passed down by my family!"

"May I ask why Classmate Zhuqing is inquiring about this?"

Li Xiaoyao naturally knew of Zhu Zhuqing's desire to become stronger.

But even so, he would not rush to help her—that was the foolish behavior of a sycophant.

He had to make this little kitten come and beg him.

"Mister Xiaoyao, I won't hide it from you!"

"I want to become stronger, ideally to the point of reaching Titled Douluo..."

"I wonder what price I would need to pay to obtain the secret of your family's ability to absorb Soul Rings beyond one's rank?"

Zhu Zhuqing's expression was solemn.

There was not a hint of a joke in her tone.

She was currently a level 27 Soul Grand Master, not far from becoming a level 30 Soul Elder. If her third Soul Ring could have a few thousand more years of age, she would be able to get ahead of everyone else.

As the saying goes, one step ahead, every step ahead.

Perhaps by the time she reached the level of a 4-ring Soul Ancestor, she would be able to absorb a black ten-thousand-year Soul Ring just like Li Xiaoyao.

"Classmate Zhuqing, I am very sorry!"

"The secret passed down by my family regarding absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's rank is naturally something that cannot be revealed."

"However, if it is just a matter of helping you absorb a Soul Ring beyond your rank—that is not a problem."

"So! What can you give me?"

There were many ways to increase the age of a Soul Ring one could absorb, but Li Xiaoyao would not act without reason.

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. He never did business at a loss, especially when it involved secrets that could change the landscape of the continent.

"What can I offer?"

Li Xiaoyao's counter-question—

That left Zhu Zhuqing silent.

Having fled from the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire—

She truly had nothing of sufficient value to offer.

Gold Soul Coins?

She did still have some on her.

But Gold Soul Coins certainly couldn't buy an opportunity like this.

The chance to become stronger was right before her eyes, yet she was empty-handed, lacking even the bargaining chips for an equivalent exchange.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were filled with unwillingness and embarrassment.

"Classmate Zhuqing, think it over clearly before you come to find me again!"

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing couldn't meet his conditions—

Li Xiaoyao naturally wasn't going to rush to give it away.

He was just about to stand up and leave.

Only to hear—

"Mister Xiaoyao, please wait!"

Zhu Zhuqing began to panic.

This was her hope for becoming stronger—

And then fighting her way back to the Star Luo Empire.

She couldn't just give up so easily.

At the very least—she had to try.

"What is it?"

"Does Classmate Zhuqing have anything else to say?"

Li Xiaoyao asked in return.

"Mister Xiaoyao, let me introduce myself!"

"My name is Zhu Zhuqing, and I am the daughter of the Ghost Duke of the Star Luo Empire!"

"If it's alright with you, I would like to tell you my story!"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Li Xiaoyao with a complex expression.

Penniless as she was now, she could only use her future as a bargaining chip.

"Mm! Go ahead, I'm listening!"

He hadn't expected Zhu Zhuqing to reveal her identity so directly.

This piqued Li Xiaoyao's curiosity.

After all—

The Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire were mortal enemies.

Once her and Dai Mubai's identities were exposed, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would absolutely not tolerate their presence.

At best, they would be captured and used as bargaining chips to demand spoils from the Star Luo Empire; at worst, they would be dragged out and executed to offer a sacrifice to the banners.

There was no third possibility.

Consequently, Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative to state her position—

"Mister Xiaoyao, to tell you the truth, the main reason I am asking for your help to improve my strength is to become stronger and survive.

Given your family background, you must be aware of the history between the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Family and our Nether Duke Zhu Family..."

"I am the daughter of the Nether Duke Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire, and Dai Mubai is a prince of the Star Luo Empire.

According to the traditions between our two families since ancient times, Dai Mubai and I were betrothed from a young age, and we have been dragged into the imperial struggle..."

"In the rules of the Star Luo Empire, the victor ascends to the pinnacle of imperial power, while the loser becomes a sacrificial lamb and dies.

Whether it is to survive or to defeat my elder sister and Dai Weisi, I need power—power sufficient to crush everything..."

"If I cannot become stronger and cannot defeat my elder sister and Dai Weisi, then both Dai Mubai and I will die in the future.

I do not want to become a sacrificial lamb. I want to live, so I must become stronger..."

As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, she became somewhat emotional.

This was the reason she yearned to become stronger and yearned to change her fate.

"Wow! Boss Dai!"

"I never expected you to be a prince of the Star Luo Empire, and to have such a stunning fiancée!"

Oscar, who had been eavesdropping, was full of shock.

"Little Ao! Shut up, be quiet!"

Dai Mubai lowered his voice to snap at him.

His eyes held a hint of complexity and helplessness.

If he had been given a choice back then—

He wouldn't have wanted to flee the Star Luo Empire in such a pathetic state.

Just as Zhu Zhuqing wanted to seek Li Xiaoyao's help to become stronger, he too was trying to get on the other's good side.

Dai Mubai looked at Li Xiaoyao with great trepidation.

How he hoped that Li Xiaoyao would agree to help Zhu Zhuqing.

Under the expectant gazes of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing—

They heard Li Xiaoyao speak.

"Hmm! I understand the situation now!"

"So! What price can you pay?"

"Or rather—what price can you and Dai Mubai pay?"

Even after hearing the young girl's tragic story—

Li Xiaoyao remained unmoved.

He was a selfish person.

It was impossible for him to be so generous that he would offer his services for free just because someone cried him a sob story.

Without sufficient profit, who would be willing to expend time and effort for a stranger?

"Mister Xiaoyao, as long as you can help me become stronger, once Dai Mubai and I fight our way back to the Star Luo Empire, defeat my elder sister and Dai Weisi, and ascend to the pinnacle of the empire's power—"

"I will certainly remember your kindness, Mister. With the power of the Imperial Family and the Zhu Family, we will forge an alliance with your family, remain on good terms for generations, and never betray this debt of gratitude."

Zhu Zhuqing made her promise directly.

"Tsk! You babbled on for so long!"

"And in the end, you're just trying to feed me empty promises?"

After saying this, Li Xiaoyao walked straight out of the pavilion.

Returning to his wooden cabin, he shut the doors and windows without hesitation, leaving Zhu Zhuqing standing alone in the pavilion, disheveled in the wind.

Are you kidding me?

You want me to put in the effort and dump resources into training you, Zhu Zhuqing, into a Titled Douluo?

And yet, you turn around and want to go back to join forces with that degenerate Dai Mubai, who's mastered every vice in the book?

A single word of thanks—

Followed by a promise of a blank check with no expiration date.

And you think that's enough to get my help?

Am I, Li Xiaoyao, that desperate?

Or is it just that you, Zhu Zhuqing, are dreaming too big?

Inside the wooden house, Ning Rongrong was fuming with rage.

"Brother Xiaoyao, that Zhu Zhuqing is delusional!"

"She wants you to exhaust yourself helping her get stronger, and all she offers is a 'thank you' and a future alliance? Does she really think your family's resources just fall from the sky?"

And to think she actually wanted to be friends with Zhu Zhuqing.

This was the result?

Li Xiaoyao chuckled.

"Sister Rongrong!"

"How about Brother Xiaoyao helps you get stronger instead?"

"All I need from you is—"