Xu Jiujiu: You Can't Hold Back!

"You came to see me for tea, not just to catch up, were you?" Dai Huabin picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Xu Jiujiu, she poured herself a glass, but didn't drink it right away. She held the glass with both hands and slowly circled her fingertips around the rim.

"I came to tell you something."

Her tone was much less polite than usual.

"Star Luo Imperial Academy will not forfeit in tomorrow's semi-final."

Dai Huabin put down his teacup. "I know."

"Although I can't beat you, I want to see your strength."

Xu Jiujiu, he looked up, his deep blue eyes reflecting the twilight outside the window.

"True strength isn't the kind you casually unleash when you're in the Reserve Team fighting against the Qianling Academy."

Dai Huabin smiled and said, "You're quite observant."

"You haven't played seriously at all in these matches."

Xu Jiujiu hit the nail on the head.

"Reserve Team fought against the Celestial Spirit Academy and Cloud Luo Academy, you sent Wang Dong'er and the others to train. You made one move against Qianling, but only used Domain of Eternal Freeze to suppress them. Main Team against the Righteous Heaven Academy and Spirit Battle Academy, you didn't even get a chance to participate."

She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the low table. "Dai Huabin, throughout the entire elimination rounds, how much of your true strength did you actually hold back?"

"Quite a few."

Xu Jiujiu, she was taken aback by this frank answer, then laughed.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you tomorrow."

She paused, then added:

"My Star's Guard Absolute Defense is ready, you don't need to hold back."

Dai Huabin nodded. "I know about your Absolute Defense and Star's Guard. Don't worry, I'll go all out tomorrow."

Xu Jiujiu, his fingers, which had been holding the teacup, tightened slightly.

She was well aware of the disparity in strength between the two sides.

Shrek Main Team boasts two powerful Soul Emperor, Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng, and the rest are all top-tier Soul King.

Not to mention Dai Huabin's own trump cards, which no opponent has been able to force him to reveal to this day.

Even if the entire Star Luo Imperial Academy were to go, their chances of winning would be virtually nonexistent.

But Xu Jiujiu didn't care about winning or losing.

What she cares about is confirming one thing.

"Okay, I also want to see just how much difference there is between you and me."

Xu Jiujiu, his tone calmed down.

The two remained silent for a few seconds.

The only sound in the tea room was the faint hum of the water temperature-maintaining array in the teapot.

Xu Jiujiu suddenly spoke, her voice softer than before:

"Huabin, I have one more question for you."

"You say."

Are we friends now?

Dai Huabin glanced at her.

When this princess of the Star Luo Empire sat opposite him, much of her royal air faded.

When she asked that question, it sounded more like a teenage girl of similar age confirming a relationship.

"Of course," Dai Huabin answered readily.

Xu Jiujiu, his eyebrows lifted slightly, as if he had received a satisfactory answer.

Dai Huabin added:

"Jiujiu, continue your cultivation diligently. With your talent, don't let worldly things affect you too much."

That's a very straightforward statement.

He paused for Xu Jiujiu, then quickly understood what he meant.

Royal family, court politics, marriage alliances, and courting.

These things are indeed consuming a lot of her time and energy.

Her cultivation level of 57 Soul King is already top-tier among her peers, but if she could focus more on cultivation, she would go even further.

"You certainly know how to lecture people," Xu Jiujiu snorted, his tone devoid of any displeasure.

"It's just the truth between friends."

He remained silent for Xu Jiujiu, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly changed the subject.

"By the way, Meng Hongchen from the Sun Moon Academy has been asking about you again lately."

Dai Huabin nearly choked on his tea. "What do you mean 'that'? I have nothing to do with her!"

"Two days ago, she asked someone to find an information brokerage in Star Luo City and specifically checked your enrollment record at the Shrek Academy."

Xu Jiujiu, he put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Please, I'm a princess of the Star Luo Empire. I have ways to get this kind of information."

Dai Huabin put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.

Meng Hongchen investigating his background was not unexpected in itself.

Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy has always valued intelligence warfare, and he had hardly revealed his core strength in the previous matches, so it was impossible for his opponents not to be wary.

"What did she find out?"

"Didn't find anything useful."

He shook his head Xu Jiujiu.

"Your file is already in a semi-sealed state at Shrek. The only information available to outsiders is basic information such as your enrollment date, grade, and public competition records."

Dai Huabin nodded.

She stood up Xu Jiujiu and straightened her skirt.

"It's almost time, I should go back and prepare for the competition." She paused at the door of the tea room.

"Huabin."

"Um?"

See you on the field tomorrow.

She didn't turn around, and her tone held a hint of defiance compared to when she arrived.

"I'll show you that the captain of the Star Luo Imperial Academy is no pushover."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and left.

The tea room quieted down, Dai Huabin sat alone for a while.

The Star's Guard and Absolute Defense, which have been around for Xu Jiujiu, are indeed extremely troublesome abilities at the level of 57.

Perhaps it's time for me to get serious.

Dai Huabin got up and walked out of the tea room, heading towards his room along the corridor.

As I reached the corner, a golden figure leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

Di Lingxi.

She changed into a pale white dress, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, and she was surrounded by a soft golden halo.

When she saw Dai Huabin come out, she tilted her head.

"Finished talking?"

How long have you been waiting here?

"Soon."

Di Lingxi walked to his side and followed him forward.

"She... wants you to not hold back when you hit her tomorrow?"

Dai Huabin turned his head and glanced at her. "Did you hear that?"

"It's just a wall between us; my hearing is excellent."

Di Lingxi's tone was very calm, as if she were talking about something insignificant.

"This princess has a lot of backbone; she knows she can't win, but she still goes for it."

After they had walked a few steps, Di Lingxi suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"Huabin."

"Um?"

"Am I still not allowed to play in tomorrow's game?"

Dai Huabin stopped and looked at the blonde girl beside him.

A rare hint of anticipation flickered in Di Lingxi's beautiful eyes.

She is the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, an auspicious Emperor Auspicious Beast, with Soul King cultivation level of 58, and each of the five Soul Skills of the Golden Dragon Martial Soul is terrifying.

If she were allowed to play, there would be no need to play the semifinals at all.

The problem is, Di Lingxi isn't from the Shrek Academy, nor is she on the competition roster.

"No, you're not on the competition roster. Let's do it next time. Next time, we'll fight side by side."

Di Lingxi was silent for two seconds, then loosened her grip on his sleeve.

"All right."

Her tone was flat, but the disappointment in her beautiful eyes was obvious.

"Then I'll continue watching you fight from the sidelines."

Dai Huabin reached out and ruffled her hair:

"After the competition ends, I'll take you to the best barbecue restaurant in Star Luo City."

Di Lingxi's hair was a little messy from his rubbing, but she didn't pull away.

"Keep your word."