Tang San VS Dai Mubai!

Emperor Xue Ye smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Good! Good! Since the Blue Silver King likes them, send them all to the Blue Silver King's Mansion!"

"Dai Mubai, why haven't you thanked him for his grace?"

Dai Mubai abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.

Thank him?

He had to thank him for taking his wives away?

But when he looked at the fully armed guards around him, then at Tang Yuan's indifferent face...

Dai Mubai lowered his head again and slammed his forehead heavily against the floor.

"Thank you... for honoring me with your favor, Your Highness the Blue Silver King."

Every word was squeezed out through clenched teeth.

Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

The stands were especially packed tonight, and the deafening cheers nearly lifted the roof off.

A streak of golden light flashed across the arena.

"ROAR—!"

A tiger's roar shook the entire venue.

A burly soul master screamed as he was sent flying backward. He crashed heavily at the edge of the arena, spat out blood, and immediately lost consciousness.

"The victor—the Evil Eye White Tiger!"

the host shouted excitedly.

Dai Mubai stood in the center of the arena, his upper body bare and his toned muscles on full display.

Intense Soul Power fluctuations radiated from his body, while three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—pulsed beneath his feet.

This was the power he had unleashed under extreme rage and humiliation.

"Who else!"

Dai Mubai roared at the stands.

"Are these the soul masters of Heaven Dou? They're all trash!"

"Every last one of them goes down in one hit!"

At that moment, Dai Mubai was like a wounded beast, frantically tearing at everything before him, trying to reclaim even a shred of his pitiful self-respect this way.

He had lost face at court, but he would win it back here.

He was a genius.

He had merely been unlucky enough to run into a freak like Tang Yuan.

Other than that, who among his peers could possibly be his match?

Waves of boos rose from the stands, though quite a few people cheered as well.

In this world that revered strength, victors always received applause.

Dai Mubai basked in those cheers.

They made him feel as though he were still that lofty prince, still that favored son of heaven.

"Tang Yuan..."

Dai Mubai wiped the sweat from his face, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"You're only stronger because you started cultivating a few years before me."

"In terms of talent, I'm no worse than you!"

"I have the White Tiger Martial Soul!"

"Just give me time. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—one day, I'll grind you beneath my feet!"

He roared recklessly atop the arena, venting the resentment in his heart.

He had won ten matches in a row.

Every single one had been a complete crushing victory.

That thrill gradually made Dai Mubai lose himself.

He even began to think he was unstoppable again.

Blue Silver King's Mansion, rear garden.

Tang Yuan sat in a pavilion with an ancient book in hand. Several exquisite pastries sat on the stone table beside him.

Not far away, the sisters Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing were dressed as maids, awkwardly trimming flower branches.

They had yet to adapt to their new identities, and their movements were notably clumsy.

Zhu Zhuqing in particular had unwillingness written all over her cold, beautiful face, yet she did not dare act out. She could only vent her frustration on the flowers and grass, her scissors snipping rapidly.

A black shadow appeared soundlessly outside the pavilion.

"Master."

Ying Qi knelt on one knee and presented a small slip of paper.

Tang Yuan did not even raise his head as he turned another page in his book.

"Read."

Ying Qi lowered his head to glance at the contents of the note, his voice calm and flat.

"Dai Mubai, the Second Prince of Star Luo, has won ten consecutive matches at the Great Soul Arena."

"On the stage, he openly clamored that... that Master only relies on having cultivated longer."

"He said that if he had been given the same amount of time, he would definitely surpass Master."

"He also said... that the soul masters of the Heaven Dou Empire are all trash."

After hearing this, Tang Yuan chuckled softly.

He closed the book in his hand.

"The more a person lacks something, the more they like to show it off."

"He wagged his tail and begged like a dog at court, yet once he got onto the stage, he started pretending to be a tiger."

He turned to look at the youth sitting cross-legged nearby, cultivating.

"Xiao San."

Tang San opened his eyes.

At this moment, Tang San wore a fitted combat outfit. He appeared more composed and reserved than before.

Yet the light in his eyes had grown even sharper.

With the resources Tang Yuan had poured into him and his guidance, coupled with the tempering of the Myriad Mother Qi Cauldron, he was long no longer that little child who only knew how to play with Blue Silver Grass.

Tang Yuan casually flicked the note over.

Tang San caught it and gave it a glance.

After just one look, his expression darkened.

An icy killing intent radiated from him, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

"Bastard."

Tang San crushed the note into powder.

"Master taught me cultivation methods and showed me the Great Dao. Is someone like him worthy of speaking about Master?"

In Tang San's heart, Tang Yuan was not merely his elder brother. He was also the parent who had given him a second life, his supreme benefactor and teacher.

A homeless dog like Dai Mubai actually dared to question Tang Yuan's strength in public, and even dared compare himself to Tang Yuan?

This was simply blasphemy against the "Dao."

"Since he thinks he's something now,"

Tang Yuan lifted his teacup and took a sip, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the pleasant weather.

"Then go teach him how to behave."

"You've just broken through Level 20. It's about time you found a decent punching bag to test your skills on."

"Dai Mubai's character may be lacking, but his White Tiger Martial Soul can take a beating."

Tang San rose to his feet and gave Tang Yuan a respectful bow.

"This disciple understands."

"..."

Tang San raised his head and looked toward the Great Soul Arena, the distinctive gleam of the Purple Demon Eye flashing within his eyes.

"I'll let him know what a true genius is."

"And I'll let him know that some words come with a price."

Tang Yuan waved a hand.

"Go."

"Don't beat him to death. Leave him with one breath."

"After all, he's our 'honored guest.' It wouldn't be fun if he died."

"Understood."

Tang San nodded, then turned and strode out of the garden.

His back was straight as a pine, every step firm and resolute.

Watching Tang San's departing figure, the smile at the corner of Tang Yuan's lips deepened.

He turned and looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still battling with the flowers and plants some distance away.

"Stop cutting."

"Come over and massage my legs."

The scissors in Zhu Zhuqing's hand paused, and she stiffly turned around.

She looked at the man who had taken her for himself and humiliated her fiancé, her eyes filled with humiliation and resistance.

But when she thought of her father's threat before she left, of the safety of the Star Luo Empire, and of Dai Mubai's cowardly appearance—

She took a deep breath and set down the scissors.

Step by step, she moved into the pavilion.

Then she knelt beside Tang Yuan's legs, extending her small, slightly trembling hands and placing them on his thighs.

Feeling her touch on his legs, Tang Yuan closed his eyes.

"Too weak."

"Didn't you eat?"

"..."