The Vote Begins!

Xiao Wu watched from the side, her cheeks flushed and her heart racing. Unwilling to be outdone, she came over and hugged Dai Mubai's arm, rubbing against it.

"Brother, you were so cool back then!"

"!!!"

Faced with the admiration and affection of the women around him, Dai Mubai remained calm.

He enjoyed their affection, but there was little pride in his eyes.

Dai Mubai reached out and gently flicked Qian Renxue's nose, smiling as he said,

"That's all it takes to impress you?"

"I only blocked one attack."

"Dai Weisi was so weak that if I couldn't even block that, how could I have unified the continent and ascended the throne later?"

His tone was casual, as if he were talking about something utterly trivial.

His composure in the face of any crisis only made the women admire him more.

After all, he himself was the very embodiment of invincibility.

White World, Spirit City.

Another Bibi Dong stood on the terrace of Pope Palace, gazing intently toward the Star Luo Empire.

"Star Luo..."

She murmured to herself.

In her original plans, the two great empires were nothing but corpses waiting to be buried; sooner or later, Spirit Hall would annex them.

But the Sky Screen—and the man shown on it—had stirred a hint of unease in her.

"To possess such composure and strength at five..."

"After several decades, just how powerful has he become?"

"..."

Bibi Dong turned around and looked at Gui Mei behind her.

"Pass down my orders."

"Deploy every hidden agent. Gather all available intelligence on Emperor Dai Mubai of the Star Luo Empire."

"I want to know all his preferences, his weaknesses, and... his current strength."

"Yes!"

The subordinate accepted the order and vanished into the darkness.

Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Hao held a huge jar of wine in one hand. His beard was unkempt, and he looked utterly downcast.

But at that moment, a glint of light suddenly blazed in his cloudy eyes.

"Atta boy."

"What domineering fist intent."

He took a swig of strong liquor. The fiery liquid slid down his throat, making his heart, dormant for many years, beat faintly once more.

"To think the Star Luo Imperial Family produced a freak like that."

"Looks like the whole continent really is about to change."

Tang Hao looked at Tang Xiao beside him and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Big brother, the sect has kept its gates closed for years. Maybe... it's time we looked outside."

Tang Xiao nodded gravely.

"Indeed."

"If the Sky Screen is telling the truth, then the Star Luo in the White World is probably nothing like the one we remember."

Sea God Island.

Bo Saixi here felt no trace of regret like her counterpart in the Black World.

She stood by the sea, listening to the waves crash against the rocks, her heart filled with anticipation.

Because in this world, that man truly existed.

On that continent.

"Dai Mubai..."

Bo Saixi gazed toward the horizon where sea met sky, her eyes shining.

"Will you come to Sea God Island?"

"Could you be the variable mentioned in Lord Sea God's divine oracle?"

She had a feeling.

One day, they would meet.

The images on the Sky Screen shifted.

Dai Weisi did not remain unconscious for long. After all, he was a Soul Master, with a constitution far stronger than an ordinary person's.

A short while later, he slowly came around, supported by a few lackeys.

The first thing he did upon waking was look at the five-year-old child still standing in the same spot.

Little Dai Mubai's clothes weren't even rumpled.

With his hands behind his back, he looked at Dai Weisi, who was in a sorry state, a mocking smile on his young face.

"Elder brother."

"So this is the hard lesson you wanted to teach me?"

"Looks like Martial Soul Awakening didn't make you any smarter."

"Or maybe..."

Little Dai Mubai took a step forward.

It was only a small step, but it frightened Dai Weisi and his lackeys into retreating as one.

"Maybe a good-for-nothing stays a good-for-nothing, even after awakening a Martial Soul."

Those words struck harder than his punch had.

Dai Weisi's face turned deathly pale. His lips trembled as he tried to argue, but not a word came out.

The facts spoke for themselves.

He had lost.

He had been utterly and completely defeated.

"Let's go!"

Dai Weisi glared at Dai Mubai venomously, gritted his teeth, and fled the scene in disgrace with his lackeys.

At that point, the scene froze.

Immediately afterward, a line of huge golden characters appeared in the very center of the Sky Screen.

[First Comparison Round Complete]

[Vote Begins]

[Question: Five-year-old Black World Dai Mubai vs. five-year-old White World Dai Mubai. Who is stronger?]

[All living beings in both worlds, please cast your votes.]

[Note: Follow your truest judgment. Anyone who votes maliciously against their true feelings will be punished by the Heavenly Dao!]

As soon as the words appeared, both worlds erupted into an uproar.

Black World.

Was there even a choice?

Anyone who wasn't blind could tell who was stronger.

One was a brat who had been forced to kneel and did nothing but throw tea and abuse his servants.

The other had trained in martial arts from the age of three and could send a Soul Master flying with one punch at five—a peerless prodigy.

The difference between them was like heaven and earth.

Heaven Dou Empire, Shrek Academy.

Flender pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"There's no suspense at all."

"That Dai Mubai from the White World really is ridiculously powerful."

Zhao Wuji rubbed his bald head and said in his deep, rumbling voice,

"Much as I hate to admit it, the facts are right in front of us."

"If our Mubai had been even half that capable when he was five, he wouldn't still be fighting Dai Weisi for his life now."

The students were discussing it among themselves, too.

They were Dai Mubai's classmates and friends, but with the Sky Screen's warning hanging over them, no one dared risk their life for a vote.

"That's punishment from the Heavenly Dao, after all."

Ma Hongjun hunched his shoulders and muttered,

"I'd better just vote for the White World."

"I'll vote for him, too."

Oscar chimed in right after him.

Before long, a flood of votes began pouring in for Dai Mubai of the White World.

Even the most devoted supporters of the Star Luo Empire had to grit their teeth and vote for the "enemy" Dai Mubai after witnessing that battle.

After all, their loyalty was to the strong.

And Dai Mubai of the White World clearly fit their vision of a "great emperor" far better.

However...

Just then, a discordant voice rang out.

"This is utterly absurd!"

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, his face full of indignation.

He looked at the Sky Screen with disdain.

"What punishment from the Heavenly Dao?"

"It's nothing but a trick meant to scare people!"

"I, Yu Xiaogang, have studied Martial Soul Theory for decades, and I've never heard of any power capable of reading people's minds!"

He turned to Tang San beside him and spoke earnestly.

"Xiao San, remember this."

"As a Soul Master, you must make up your own mind. Never let a show of bluster like this frighten you."

"That boy from the White World may have won, but he didn't win honorably!"

"He attacked by surprise!"