Agreeing casually would not only place a huge burden on his body, but might also disrupt a delicate balance, inviting more requests that would be difficult to refuse. It might even make certain forces lurking in the shadows believe that he still had plenty of strength to spare.
He did not rashly make a decision for his master. This was not something he should meddle in.
After thinking for a moment, he changed the subject and asked another question that had lingered in his mind for a long time.
"Master, I remember that the Star Luo Empire's royal family is the Dai Family, right?"
"That's right."
Zhen Hua nodded.
He found it somewhat strange that Wang Chuan had suddenly brought this up.
"Then why is Wu Sidu on Douluo Continent?"
"Her Martial Souls are the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat. Those are clearly the signature inherited Martial Souls of the Star Luo Royal Family's Dai Family and the Zhu Family."
"With the talent she has displayed as a wielder of Twin Martial Souls, she would probably be exceptionally rare even on Star Luo Continent."
"How could they have let her leave Star Luo and come here alone?"
Wang Chuan voiced his doubts.
Such a peerless genius possessing two top-tier inherited Martial Souls should, by all logic, have been closely protected and cultivated with every effort by the Star Luo Royal Family. How had she somehow ended up on Douluo Continent, seemingly with a degree of freedom?
Understanding flashed across Zhen Hua's face, and he smiled as he explained.
"So that's what you were curious about."
"That girl Wu's situation is rather special."
"Both of her parents do indeed carry the bloodlines of the Dai Family and the Zhu Family, but they belong to relatively distant collateral branches."
"When the Dai Family and the Zhu Family migrated their clans to Star Luo Continent, not every member went with them."
"Quite a few collateral branches remained on Douluo Continent for various reasons and continued to grow and multiply here."
"That was the case with Girl Wu's ancestors."
"Then why is her surname Wu instead of Dai or Zhu?" Wang Chuan pressed.
"What's so puzzling about that?"
Zhen Hua smiled.
"Her grandmother was a woman from a collateral branch of the Dai Family and married her grandfather, whose surname was Wu. Naturally, she took her father's surname."
"A surname is just a surname. It doesn't affect the fact that she inherited the Martial Soul bloodlines of both families."
Zhen Hua paused, and his tone turned somewhat wistful.
"But it was precisely because of that rare talent that she was watched from a young age."
"The Dai Family and Zhu Family branches over in Star Luo City may be separated from their main line by the sea, and their ties may not be as close as before, but they still possess considerable power."
"They saw immense potential and value in Girl Wu, and began investing in her early on, providing enormous quantities of resources to aid her cultivation."
"In return, she bore expectations and pressure far beyond what ordinary people could endure."
At this point, Zhen Hua sighed softly.
"She's a pitiful girl too."
"She appears to have it all—extraordinary talent, endless admiration, and boundless glory—but in truth, she has little control over her own life. Her future path has likely already been arranged for her in every detail."
"Perhaps even... her marriage may not be hers to decide."
He did not spell it out, but Wang Chuan already understood.
After accepting such tremendous benefits from others, she naturally had to pay an equivalent price.
Wu Sidu's future had long been deeply bound to the interests of the Dai Family and Zhu Family branches on Douluo Continent.
Wang Chuan fell silent.
His previous suspicions had been confirmed.
Wu Sidu reaching four rings at the age of eleven was certainly due to her talent, but enormous resources must have been piled up behind it.
In this world, talent determined one's upper limit, but resources often determined whether one could successfully reach that limit.
Take himself, for example. Without the Spirit Pagoda and Zhen Hua's no-expense-spared investment, along with the medicinal meals Mu Ye had prepared every day from top-grade ingredients during this period—
His physical strength could never have reached a level comparable to that of a top-tier Six-Ring Soul Emperor.
Tang Wulin in the original story appeared to have risen from nothing.
Yet the God King-level origin of the Golden Dragon King within his body had been slowly transforming him. In essence, that was the finest and most suitable resource possible.
Huo Yuhao from ten thousand years ago had encountered one extraordinary opportunity after another: Living Gold, the origins of the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow, immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well...
Which one of those had not been a heaven-defying opportunity that could only be encountered by chance?
So, without such resources...
Even the greatest talent might fade into obscurity.
"So that's how it is..."
"Thank you for telling me, Master."
Wang Chuan now understood. He also gained a deeper understanding of Wu Sidu's maturity beyond her years and the complicated emotions she occasionally revealed.
He rose to his feet and respectfully bowed to Zhen Hua.
"This disciple will take his leave. Master, please rest early as well. Do not overwork yourself."
Zhen Hua looked at the beloved disciple before him, whose talent stood unmatched in the current age, whose temperament was steady and clear-sighted, and who also knew how to care for his elders.
The wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out somewhat, while his eyes brimmed with gratification and affection.
This child truly was good in every way. The more he looked at him, the more pleasing he found him.
"Go on, go on. If anything comes up, just come find your master."
Zhen Hua waved kindly as he watched Wang Chuan leave the office and gently close the door behind him. Only then did he turn his gaze back to the blueprints on the desk.
In the days that followed, Wang Chuan continued maintaining his intense rhythm of cultivation and forging. Wu Sidu, meanwhile, seemed to have truly made this place her home and became a regular in the forging room.
Although Wang Chuan still occasionally "ordered" her to handle trivial tasks like passing materials or organizing tools, he also began consciously sparring with her.
He held back the vast majority of his strength, focusing more on guiding her and feeding her moves, helping Wu Sidu familiarize herself with different combat styles, hone her fighting techniques, and practice the application of her Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Wu Sidu treasured these opportunities greatly as well. She gave her all in every spar, and her progress was obvious.
A subtle yet tacit understanding gradually formed between them.
Until one day, Zhen Hua summoned Wang Chuan to his office.
"Xiaochuan, sit."
Zhen Hua's expression was gentle as he pointed to the chair opposite him.
"There's something I'd like to hear your thoughts on."
Wang Chuan sat down as instructed and waited for him to continue.
"Before long, the Sky Sea Alliance Grand Competition, jointly organized around the five major cities along the eastern coast and the surrounding regions, will begin."
"This is a grand event held once every three years, encompassing an extremely broad area."
Zhen Hua spoke slowly.
"There are many events: practical Mecha Master combat, Battle Armor Master duels, pure Soul Master competitions, as well as skill contests for a series of auxiliary professions such as Forgemasters, Mecha Makers, Designers, and Repairers."
"All events are divided by age. The main categories are the junior group under fifteen, the youth group from fifteen to twenty, the adult group from twenty to thirty, and an overage group for those older than that."
He looked at Wang Chuan, his eyes seeking his opinion.
"I remember your student registration is still with Eastsea Academy. By age, you happen to qualify for the junior division."
"Well? Are you interested in going to experience it?"
"Meeting geniuses from other cities and other schools of thought would benefit both your horizons and your temperament."
Wang Chuan considered for a moment before asking,
"Master, with my current strength and reputation..."
"It seems I don't really need a competition like this to prove myself, do I?"
Before you continue