All Preparations Made, Visiting the Breaking Clan!

Inside the room, Dai Mobai's low voice echoed with a rhythmic cadence.

Li Yue sat before the desk, her wrist hovering lightly as the wolf-hair brush glided with a soft rustle across the plain white rice paper.

Her handwriting was elegant and upright, the ink spreading slowly across the page to form rows of neat, orderly characters.

Yet, as time passed, the movement of Li Yue's brush grew increasingly sluggish.

Eventually, her right hand came to a complete halt, the brush suspended in mid-air with a single drop of ink trembling at the tip, neither falling nor clinging.

Her bright, clear eyes were fixed intently on the rice paper, her pupils slightly constricted in shock.

Even though she had only written half the text, and even though Li Yue only possessed a superficial understanding of spear techniques, that did not prevent her from recognizing the extraordinary nature of this Spear Manual.

Every move recorded on the paper subverted her entire understanding of spearplay.

"Your Highness, is this... a Spear Manual?"

Li Yue turned her head to look at Dai Mobai, her cherry lips parted in disbelief.

"Didn't you see the title?"

Dai Mobai smiled.

"No, I mean, is this a Spear Manual created by Your Highness?"

Li Yue shook her head, pausing to reorganize her thoughts.

Such spear techniques were enough to establish a sect; if they had been written by a predecessor, they would surely be renowned throughout the continent.

Yet, she had never heard of them.

"Of course not."

Dai Mobai shook his head, denying it quite bluntly.

"I heard this from someone else. Strictly speaking, I am merely a messenger."

He was not lying.

This Spear Manual originated from the world of his past life; Dai Mobai had simply studied it once and happened to remember it.

But these words took on a different meaning in Li Yue's ears.

She had served as his shadow guard since Dai Mobai was six years old.

For nine years, the two had been inseparable, and she had never left his side.

If this Spear Manual had truly been heard from someone else, it would have been impossible for her not to know.

As for whether he had heard it before he was six—

Li Yue had considered that possibility.

But what were the odds of a child under six hearing a Spear Manual capable of founding a sect and remembering it word-for-word until now?

The probability was not zero, but it was so infinitesimally small that Li Yue felt it wasn't worth considering.

Therefore, she leaned toward another explanation: Dai Mobai was being modest.

Li Yue gave Dai Mobai a deep look and did not press the matter further.

She picked up the brush again, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and turned her gaze back to the rice paper.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, as the final word fell from Dai Mobai's lips, Li Yue finally stopped writing.

In the interval while waiting for the ink to air-dry, Li Yue finally asked the question that had been buried in her heart for a long time.

"Your Highness, this gift... who exactly are you planning to give it to?"

"A Spear Manual, naturally, must be given to someone who uses a spear."

Dai Mobai leaned back in his chair, arms pillowing his head, his tone casual.

"Someone who uses a spear?"

Li Yue frowned slightly, lowering her head in thought.

There were many Soul Masters on the continent who used spears, but for someone to warrant a personal visit from Dai Mobai and such a generous gift, they could not be an ordinary person.

She sifted through names in her mind one by one, and suddenly, her brow relaxed.

"The Breaking Clan?!"

Li Yue's head snapped up, a flash of realization in her eyes.

That was it.

While many on the continent used spears, the only one who could push the art to its limit and was worthy of such importance from Dai Mobai was the head of the Breaking Clan—Yang Wudi.

"Correct."

Dai Mobai nodded, his gaze filled with a hint of approval.

"Subjugating the Breaking Clan is one of the goals of my trip."

He had no reason to hide anything from Li Yue, so he spoke plainly.

Given the current national strength of the Star Luo Empire, taking down the Heaven Dou Empire was not a problem.

However, this continent was not merely a struggle between two nations; there was also Martial Soul Hall, which loomed over both great empires and styled itself as the enforcer of law.

How to deal with Martial Soul Hall, which could intervene in the war at any moment, was the most thorny problem in this game of chess.

To this end, Dai Mobai and the Star Luo Emperor had spent three full years formulating a meticulous plan.

Subjugating the Breaking Clan, which had settled within the borders of the Star Luo Empire, was one part of this plan.

"I have heard that Yang Wudi is reclusive and headstrong."

Li Yue frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of contemplation.

"Your Majesty previously intended to recruit him, but even offering him the position of Imperial Spear Arts Chief Instructor failed to win him over."

As she spoke, her tone suddenly shifted, becoming resolute.

"But I believe Your Highness will certainly be able to win him over."

"You have that much faith in me?"

Dai Mobai smiled, stood up from his chair, and walked toward her step by step.

"I do."

Watching Dai Mobai approach, Li Yue's pretty face flushed a shade of crimson she could not control.

Yet she did not dodge; instead, she suppressed the shyness in her heart and nodded gently.

She had seen Dai Mobai create too many impossibilities.

Since he said he could win over Yang Wudi, then he certainly could.

Dai Mobai drew closer and closer, until Li Yue could hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.

The familiar scent of him washed over her, carrying the faint fragrance of pine soot ink and a scent that inexplicably put her at ease.

Li Yue closed her eyes instinctively.

Her eyelashes fluttered gently, and her lips parted slightly, forming an arc of anticipation.

Her chin lifted unconsciously, as if waiting for something to descend.

Then, she heard a rustling sound.

It was the sound of paper snapping through the air.

Li Yue opened her eyes just in time to see Dai Mobai pick up the dried Spear Manual from the table, fold it, and store it away in his Soul Tool.

His movements were calm and unhurried, even carrying a deliberate, measured pace.

Li Yue blinked, a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashing in her eyes, so fast it was almost invisible.

However, before she could process this small emotion, a warm palm reached out, his thumb and forefinger gently pinching her chin to tilt her face upward.

Dai Mobai leaned down, his gaze leveling with hers.

A smirk played on his lips, and his voice dropped low, carrying a breath that only the two of them could hear.

"Business first; your reward will be given to you tonight."

Li Yue's pupils dilated slightly, and the crimson that had just faded from her cheeks surged back, even hotter than before.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat felt blocked, unable to squeeze out a single word.

Dai Mobai chuckled, leaned down to peck her pink lips, then satisfied, released her chin and turned to walk toward the door.

"Let's go, to the Breaking Clan."

Li Yue took a deep breath, raised her hands to pat her cheeks, and forced herself to calm down.

She stood up from the chair, straightened her lapels, regained her usual capable appearance, and hurried to follow Dai Mobai's stride.

It was just that the flush on her ears would likely not fade for some time.

"Junior Dai Mobai, having long heard of the Breaking Clan's great reputation, has come specifically to pay a visit."