The Background of Wu Sidu

Agreeing casually would not only be a massive burden on his own body, but it could also disrupt a delicate balance, inviting more requests that would be difficult to refuse, or even leading certain forces lurking in the shadows to believe he still had "plenty of energy to spare."

He did not rashly make a decision for his master; this was not a matter he should interfere with.

He thought for a moment, changed the subject, and asked about another doubt that had been circling in his mind for a long time.

"Master, I recall that the royal family of the Star Luo Empire is the Dai Family, right?"

"That is correct."

Zhen Hua nodded.

He found it a bit strange that Wang Chuan would suddenly ask about this.

"Then why did Wu Sidu appear on the Douluo Continent?"

"I observed her Martial Soul, which is the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Nether Spirit Cat. These are clearly the iconic inherited Martial Souls of the Star Luo royal Dai Family and the Zhu Family."

"Given the twin Martial Soul talent she has displayed, she would likely be one in a million even on the Star Luo Continent."

"How could they let her leave Star Luo and come here all by herself?"

Wang Chuan voiced his questions.

A peerless genius bearing two top-tier inherited Martial Souls should, by all logic, be strictly protected and cultivated with all their might by the Star Luo royal family. How could she have "drifted" to the Douluo Continent and even seem somewhat "free"?

Upon hearing this, a knowing smile appeared on Zhen Hua's face as he explained.

"So that is what you were curious about."

"The situation with the Wu girl is somewhat special."

"Both of her parents are indeed of the bloodlines of the Dai and Zhu families, but they both belong to relatively distant collateral branches."

"When the Dai and Zhu families moved their entire clans to the Star Luo Continent back then, not all of their kin went with them."

"Many collateral branches remained on the Douluo Continent for various reasons, continuing to multiply and thrive."

"The ancestors of the Wu girl were among them."

"Then why is her surname Wu, instead of Dai or Zhu?" Wang Chuan pressed.

"Why is there any need to be confused by that?"

Zhen Hua laughed.

"Her grandmother was a woman from a collateral branch of the Dai Family who married her grandfather, and her grandfather's surname was Wu, so she naturally took her father's surname."

"It is just a surname; it does not affect the fact that she inherited the Martial Soul bloodlines of both families."

Zhen Hua paused, his tone becoming somewhat sentimental.

"However, it is precisely because of this rare talent that she has been targeted since she was young."

"The branches of the Dai and Zhu families in Star Luo City, although separated from the main line by the vast ocean and not as closely connected as they once were, still hold significant power."

"They saw immense potential and value in the Wu girl and began placing their bets on her early on, providing massive amounts of resources to assist her cultivation."

"Correspondingly, she also bears expectations and pressures far beyond those of an ordinary person."

Speaking to this point, Zhen Hua sighed softly.

"She is also a pitiful girl."

"She appears infinitely glorious, with exceptional talent and endless adoration, but in reality, she is not the master of her own fate, and her future path has likely been clearly mapped out for her long ago."

"Even... she may not even be able to decide her own marriage."

He did not spell it out, but Wang Chuan already understood.

Having accepted such immense benefits from them, she naturally had to pay the corresponding price.

Wu Sidu's future was already deeply tied to the interests of the Dai and Zhu family branches on the Douluo Continent.

Wang Chuan fell silent.

His previous guess had been confirmed.

While Wu Sidu's ability to reach the four-ring level at eleven was certainly due to talent, there must have been vast resources piled up behind her.

In this world, talent determines the ceiling, but resources often determine whether you can successfully reach that ceiling.

Just like himself—if not for the Spirit Pagoda and Zhen Hua's cost-free investment, as well as the medicinal meals prepared by Mu Ye using top-tier ingredients that he enjoyed every day during this period.

His current physical fitness would never have reached the level of a top-tier Six-Ring Soul Emperor.

Tang Wulin in the original story appeared to be "self-made."

In reality, he had the Golden Dragon King's God King-level origin slowly transforming his body from within; the essence of it was the most top-tier, most compatible resource possible.

Huo Yuhao from ten thousand years ago had even more constant miraculous encounters: Life Gold, the origins of the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, Myriad-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow, the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well...

Which one of these was not a heaven-defying opportunity that one could only hope for but never seek?

Therefore, without these resources...

Even the best talent could be reduced to mediocrity.

"So that's how it is..."

"Thank you for telling me, Master."

Wang Chuan understood in his heart, gaining a deeper comprehension of the maturity Wu Sidu possessed that defied her age, as well as the complex emotions she occasionally revealed.

He stood up and bowed respectfully to Zhen Hua.

"This disciple will take his leave. Master, please rest early and do not overexert yourself."

Zhen Hua looked at the beloved disciple before him, who possessed talent unparalleled in the current age, a steady and clear-minded temperament, and the thoughtfulness to care for his elders.

The wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out, his eyes filled with gratification and affection.

This child was truly perfect in every way; the more he looked at him, the more pleased he was.

"Go on, go on. If you need anything, just come find me."

Zhen Hua waved his hand kindly, watching as Wang Chuan exited the office and gently closed the door, only then turning his gaze back to the blueprints on the table.

In the days that followed, Wang Chuan maintained his high-intensity rhythm of cultivation and forging, while Wu Sidu seemed to have truly "settled in," becoming a frequent visitor to the forging room.

Although Wang Chuan still occasionally "ordered" her to handle trivial tasks like delivering materials or organizing tools, he also began consciously engaging her in combat training.

He restrained the vast majority of his power, focusing more on guiding her and feeding her moves to help Wu Sidu familiarize herself with different combat styles and hone her fighting techniques and the application of her Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Wu Sidu also cherished these opportunities immensely, going all out in every sparring session and making significant progress.

A subtle and tacit understanding had formed between the two of them.

Until this day, when Zhen Hua summoned Wang Chuan to his office.

"Xiao Chuan, sit."

Zhen Hua's expression was gentle as he pointed to the chair opposite him.

"There is something I would like to hear your thoughts on."

Wang Chuan sat down as instructed, waiting quietly for what was to come.

"Not long from now, the Sky Sea Alliance Grand Competition, centered around the five major cities of the eastern coast and their surrounding regions, is about to be held."

"It is a grand event that takes place every three years and covers an extremely wide scope."

Zhen Hua spoke slowly.

"The competition categories are numerous, including real-combat confrontations for Mecha Masters, duels for Battle Armor Masters, pure Soul Master competitions, as well as skill contests for auxiliary professions such as Forgers, Mecha Makers, Designers, and Repairers."

"All categories are divided by age groups, primarily into the under-fifteen youth group, the fifteen to twenty young adult group, the twenty to thirty adult group, and the older over-age group."

He looked at Wang Chuan, his eyes filled with inquiry.

"I recall that your student status is still at East Sea Academy, so based on your age, you are eligible to participate in the youth group."

"How about it? Are you interested in experiencing it?"

"Seeing geniuses from other cities and other schools of thought is beneficial for broadening your horizons and tempering your temperament."

Wang Chuan pondered for a moment and asked:

"Master, with my current strength and reputation."

"It seems I don't really need to rely on this kind of competition to prove myself, do I?"