"Mister Xiaoyao, may I ask how you managed to absorb a Soul Ring beyond your level?"
Zhu Zhuqing did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
"Oh? You want to know that?"
Li Xiaoyao gave a mysterious smile. Then—
"That is, of course, a secret passed down through my family!"
"May I ask why Classmate Zhuqing wants to know?"
Naturally, Li Xiaoyao knew that Zhu Zhuqing wanted to become stronger.
But even so, he would not rush to help Zhu Zhuqing—that was the foolish thing only simps did.
He had to make this Kitten come begging to him.
"Mister Xiaoyao, to be honest!"
"I want to become stronger, preferably strong enough to reach Titled Douluo..."
"What price must I pay to obtain your family's secret to absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level?"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was solemn.
There was not the slightest hint of jest in her voice.
She was currently a level-twenty-seven Soul Grandmaster and was not far from becoming a three-ring Soul Elder. If her third Soul Ring could gain several thousand more years of cultivation, she would be able to pull ahead of the others.
As the saying went, one step ahead, every step ahead.
Perhaps by the time she became a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, she too could absorb a black ten-thousand-year Soul Ring like Li Xiaoyao.
"Classmate Zhuqing, I'm sorry!"
"The secret my family has passed down for absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level naturally cannot be revealed."
"But if you only want me to help you absorb a Soul Ring beyond your level—that is not a problem."
"So! What can you give me?"
There were many ways to increase the age limit of Soul Rings one could absorb, but Li Xiaoyao could not possibly act for free.
There was no such thing as a free lunch. He never made deals at a loss, especially when it involved a secret capable of changing the balance of the entire continent.
"What can I give?"
Li Xiaoyao's question—
Immediately silenced Zhu Zhuqing.
Having fled from the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire—
She truly could not produce anything valuable enough.
Gold Soul Coins?
She still had some on her.
But Gold Soul Coins certainly could not buy such an opportunity.
Her chance to grow stronger lay right before her eyes, yet her hands were empty. She did not even have bargaining chips for an equal exchange.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were filled with unwillingness and embarrassment.
"Classmate Zhuqing, think it over first, then come find me!"
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing could not meet his terms—
Li Xiaoyao naturally would not offer it up on his own.
He was preparing to stand and leave.
Then he heard—
"Mister Xiaoyao, please wait!"
Zhu Zhuqing began to panic.
This was her hope of becoming stronger—
And then returning to the Star Luo Empire.
She could not 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.
"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 possible, I would like to tell you my story!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Li Xiaoyao with a complicated expression.
Now that she was penniless, she could only use her future as a bargaining chip.
"Mm! Go ahead. I'm listening!"
Li Xiaoyao had not expected Zhu Zhuqing to reveal her identity so directly.
That made him curious.
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 Empire's Imperial Family would absolutely not tolerate them.
At best, they would be captured and used to demand spoils from the Star Luo Empire. At worst, they would be dragged out and executed as a sacrifice to the banner.
There was absolutely no third possibility.
Thus, Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative to state her position—
"Mister Xiaoyao, to be honest, the main reason I sought your help to improve my strength was so I could become stronger and survive.
Given your family background, I imagine you know about the connection 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, while Dai Mubai is a prince of the Star Luo Empire.
According to the tradition between our two families since ancient times, Dai Mubai and I were betrothed from childhood and became entangled in the Imperial Family's struggle..."
"Under the rules of the Star Luo Empire, the victor ascends to the pinnacle of imperial power, while the loser becomes a sacrifice and dies outright.
Whether it is to survive or to defeat my Elder Sister and Dai Weisi, I need strength—strength sufficient to crush everything..."
"If I cannot become stronger and cannot defeat my Elder Sister and Dai Weisi, then Dai Mubai and I will both die in the future.
I do not want to become a sacrifice. I want to live, so I must become stronger..."
As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, she became somewhat emotional.
This was why she longed to become stronger, why she yearned to change her fate.
"Wow! Dai the Boss!"
"I never thought you were actually a prince of the Star Luo Empire—and that you even had such a stunningly curvy fiancée!"
Oscar, who had been eavesdropping, wore a face full of shock.
"Oscar! Shut up and keep it down!"
Dai Mubai rebuked him in a low voice.
There was a trace of complexity and helplessness hidden in his eyes.
If he had been given a choice back then—
He would not have wanted to flee the Star Luo Empire in such a sorry state either.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing wanted Li Xiaoyao's help to become stronger, was he not also trying to build a relationship with him?
Dai Mubai looked at Li Xiaoyao anxiously.
How he hoped Li Xiaoyao would agree to Zhu Zhuqing's request.
Under Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's expectant gazes—
Li Xiaoyao spoke.
"Mm! I understand everything now!"
"So! What price can you pay?"
"Or rather—what price can you and Dai Mubai pay?"
Even after hearing the girl's tragic story—
Li Xiaoyao remained unmoved.
He was a selfish man.
He could not possibly be generous enough to help for free just because someone cried and told him a sad story.
Without sufficient benefit, who would be willing to spend time and effort on a stranger?
"Mister Xiaoyao, as long as you can help me become stronger, once Dai Mubai and I return to the Star Luo Empire, defeat my Elder Sister and Dai Weisi, and ascend to the pinnacle of imperial power—
We will surely remember your kindness. With the strength of the Imperial Family and the Zhu Family, we will form an alliance of friendship with your family. Our families will remain harmonious for generations, and we will never betray the aid you have given us."
Zhu Zhuqing made her promise directly.
"Tsk! After babbling on for so long!"
"In the end, you were just going to sell me a fantasy?"
After saying that, Li Xiaoyao left the pavilion at once.
Returning to the wooden cabin, he shut the doors and windows without hesitation, leaving Zhu Zhuqing alone beneath the pavilion, disheveled in the wind.
Was this a joke?
You wanted me to spend effort and pour in resources—to raise you, Zhu Zhuqing, into a Titled Douluo.
Then you wanted to turn around and go back to join forces with Dai Mubai, who was proficient in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling?
One word of thanks—
And then a blank check that might never be cashed.
And with that, you wanted my help?
Was Li Xiaoyao being cheap?
Or was Zhu Zhuqing dreaming too beautifully?
Inside the wooden cabin, Ning Rongrong was fuming.
"Brother Xiaoyao, that Zhu Zhuqing is far too delusional!"
"She wants you to go through all that trouble to help her become stronger, all for a word of thanks and an alliance in the future. Does she think your family's resources are blown in by the wind?"
She had even wanted to be friends with Zhu Zhuqing.
And this was what she got?
Li Xiaoyao smiled.
"Sister Rongrong!"
"Then how about Brother Xiaoyao helps you become stronger?"
"All I need is for you to—"
Before you continue