"Brother Mubai, this isn't the place to talk. Why don't we go to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel first?"
Li Xiaoyao did not directly refuse Dai Mubai's request.
Tang San was an ungrateful wretch who could never be raised properly.
Oscar was tied too deeply to Shrek Academy.
Neither of them was worth his investment.
As for Dai Mubai, Li Xiaoyao valued the population of the Star Luo Empire even more. Just how immense would that faith be?
Although Chronos could keep him young and immortal,
he still wanted to become a god—perhaps even become someone the Douluo God Realm could do nothing against.
"Alright! I'll treat everyone to this meal today!"
Li Xiaoyao's lack of refusal made the weight hanging over Dai Mubai's heart suddenly fall away. His tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and a trace of barely noticeable delight flashed through his eyes.
Under Li Xiaoyao's familiar guidance, they soon arrived at the top floor of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel.
After reserving a tea room and ordering some food, they began discussing the matter from before.
After setting down his empty teacup—
Li Xiaoyao spoke.
"Brother Mubai, just as I said earlier, my family has certain rules. Our family's exclusive secret formulas cannot be leaked, so I hope you can understand."
"But if you want to purchase the finished product, that won't be a problem. You will bear all the costs yourself, and afterward, you only need to give me some compensation."
There were still two years until the Soul Master Elite Tournament. Before then, he could make suitable preparations for the future.
If Dai Mubai could become Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, gathering the power of faith would become extremely easy. That would bring him tremendous benefits when he became a god in the future.
"Uh... this... Brother Xiaoyao..."
"Is your request really that simple?"
Dai Mubai could hardly believe that Li Xiaoyao would make such a simple request. Wasn't that practically giving it away for free?
Due to the Star Luo Imperial Family's caution and suspicion, Dai Mubai felt there was a trap here, just waiting for him to jump into it himself.
A trap?
Of course there was a trap!
As for how much the formula would cost, wouldn't that be entirely up to Li Xiaoyao?
While emptying Dai Mubai's pockets for profit, he could also pave the way for his future ascension to godhood. He was making a killing.
To him, it was merely a minor matter that cost him some time, yet he could obtain an endless stream of faith from the Star Luo Empire in the future. This deal guaranteed profit without loss.
As for whether Dai Mubai might fail in his struggle for the throne?
There was no question about it—it was impossible.
With Li Xiaoyao taking action, Dai Mubai's bid for the Star Luo Empire's throne would be as steady as an old hound. It would only depend on whether Dai Mubai could offer a price that satisfied him.
Naturally, he would not say any of that aloud.
Thus, Li Xiaoyao said,
"Brother Mubai, rest assured!"
"The reason I made such a simple request is merely because I'm making a small investment in you."
"If, two years from now, you can defeat your elder brother Dai Weisi in the Soul Master Elite Tournament, then my family and I will naturally continue increasing our investment in you."
"But if you fail in your bid for the Star Luo throne, then I will terminate all investments and will not provide you with any further help."
"After all—
I, Li Xiaoyao, never make a losing deal."
As soon as Li Xiaoyao said this, Dai Mubai came to a sudden realization.
So Li Xiaoyao valued his status as a Star Luo prince competing for the throne and wanted to invest in him beforehand.
As long as he defeated Dai Weisi in the Soul Master Elite Tournament two years from now, he would receive the support of Li Xiaoyao and his family.
By the same logic, if he lost to Dai Weisi in the Soul Master Elite Tournament two years from now,
that would prove he was already dead. There would be no future for him, so he would have no need for Li Xiaoyao and his family's support.
After figuring all this out—
Dai Mubai instead felt relieved.
"Phew! Brother Xiaoyao, no words can express my gratitude!"
"I understand what you mean."
"At the Elite Tournament two years from now, I will personally defeat Dai Weisi! The throne of the Star Luo Empire is mine for the taking!"
"If I can take control of the Star Luo Empire then, Brother Xiaoyao's family will be the Star Luo Empire's staunchest ally. Whatever you ask for, as long as it is within my abilities, I will never refuse!"
Li Xiaoyao smiled but did not respond.
Instead, he raised another topic.
He said,
"Brother Mubai, there is no need to be so courteous."
"If you ask me, this matter isn't that serious!"
"Besides defeating your elder brother Dai Weisi, you actually have another path you can take."
Dai Mubai: ∑(O_O;)
Ah... this...
I have a second path?
How did I not know about this?
"Brother Xiaoyao, what do you mean by that?"
If there truly was a second path, he could keep it as a fallback.
Li Xiaoyao merely smiled and spoke slowly.
"Brother Mubai, even if you lose to Dai Weisi, it doesn't matter. Find a place to cultivate in seclusion for ten years or so. Once your Soul Power breaks through to Titled Douluo, return to Star Luo with thunderous force."
"At that time, what would it matter even if Dai Weisi sat on the throne? No matter how many troops he commanded or how many Soul Masters he had, they could never keep a Titled Douluo who wanted to leave."
Li Xiaoyao's tone was calm and casual, as though he were discussing the most ordinary matter.
"A Titled Douluo is already among the continent's peak fighting forces. Stirring rivers and seas, crossing ten thousand miles through the sky—such things are nothing unusual. Even if Dai Weisi mobilized the entire nation to surround you, they could only watch helplessly from behind."
"More importantly, the Star Luo Imperial Family would never allow you, a Titled Douluo, to perish! You carry the Imperial Family's bloodline and would be one of the empire's strongest assets. Once you broke through, you would become Star Luo's most precious foundation."
Li Xiaoyao's voice carried an unquestionable certainty.
"Whether it is the Imperial Family's clansmen, the military elders, or the court ministers, none of them would sit by and watch the Star Luo Empire lose the peak combat power of a Titled Douluo. Nor would they allow Dai Weisi to commit such a foolish act of tearing down his own walls.
After all, a single Titled Douluo would be enough to raise the Star Luo Empire's strength to another level."
"As long as you break through to Titled Douluo, there will be no need to hide. The Imperial Family will only seek every means possible to protect you.
Even if Dai Weisi hates you to the bone, he will have to swallow his pride and accept it. Would he dare defy the will of the entire Imperial Family and fight a Titled Douluo of the Imperial Family to the death?"
Li Xiaoyao lifted his teacup and blew away the floating foam, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Two paths lie before you: either settle it in the Elite Tournament two years from now, or endure for ten years and break through to Titled Douluo.
By then, no one in the Star Luo Empire will be able to stop you or dare harm you. Taking back everything that belongs to you will simply be the natural course of events."
The Douluo Continent was, in the end, a world where strength reigned supreme.
As long as Dai Mubai became a Titled Douluo, who among the Star Luo Imperial Family, the military marshals, and the court ministers would remember that he had once failed in the struggle for the throne? Who would care that he had once lost to Dai Weisi?
Before you continue