Father Emperor, I've Found That You're Really a Stickler.

What a joke. He was already the crown prince, so why should he attend morning court?

Dai Mobai shifted into a more comfortable position and soon fell asleep.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Yue's familiar voice suddenly sounded by Dai Mobai's ear.

"Your Highness, wake up."

With anxiety on her face, Li Yue pushed Dai Mobai, who was lying in bed.

"No."

Dai Mobai turned over without even opening his eyes.

"Someone's here!"

Li Yue glanced fearfully toward the entrance of the bedchamber, then lowered her voice.

"So what if someone's here? I'm the crown prince already. Can't I enjoy myself a little?"

Dai Mobai brushed away Li Yue's arm and stubbornly refused to get up.

Li Yue turned to look at the Star Luo Emperor and Duke Spirit Cat, Zhu Song, who had already approached the bed. She was so anxious that tears nearly fell from her eyes.

"Your Majes—"

She bent to salute, but the Star Luo Emperor stopped her with a wave of his hand.

Seeing the gesture ordering her to withdraw, Li Yue bit her lip lightly, gave Dai Mobai a look as if wishing him luck, then turned and left.

Glancing at Dai Mobai's back, the Star Luo Emperor calmly extended a hand and patted his shoulder.

"Don't touch me. I'm making this clear: no matter who comes today, it won't work."

Dai Mobai shook his shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of impatience.

Seeing Dai Mobai's movement, Duke Spirit Cat Zhu Song, standing behind the Star Luo Emperor, felt his heart nearly stop in fright.

His daughter had only just managed to escape the fate of mutual slaughter. He did not want history to repeat itself over this matter.

"Even if I come, it won't work?"

The Star Luo Emperor looked at the hand Dai Mobai had shaken off and spoke softly.

The atmosphere in the room visibly fell silent.

After several breaths, Dai Mobai got up from bed as though nothing had happened.

"Father Emperor, Duke Spirit Cat."

Dai Mobai bowed in salute, his posture impeccable.

If not for the few wrinkles still on his clothes, no one would have guessed that he had been sleeping in bed a moment ago.

"You still haven't answered my question."

The Star Luo Emperor looked Dai Mobai up and down before speaking again.

"Father Emperor, I've found that you're really a stickler."

Dai Mobai's straight back relaxed slightly, and a helpless expression appeared on his face.

"I'm a stickler? Wasn't that what you said yourself?"

"I didn't expect Father Emperor and Duke Spirit Cat to already be standing beside my bed."

Dai Mobai spread his hands helplessly.

"Enough. We'll let it go for today, but tomorrow, no matter what, you must appear at morning court—even if you sit there and sleep."

The Star Luo Emperor did not dwell on the matter for long.

"Father Emperor, I haven't officially taken over your position yet. Having a crown prince attend morning court is completely meaningless."

Dai Mobai felt that he could still fight for it. After all, the chair in the main hall was far too hard; it could not compare to the bed in his bedchamber.

"It's nothing more than a matter of attitude. Besides, if attending morning court is meaningless, does sleeping in count as meaningful?"

The Star Luo Emperor countered.

"Father Emperor, that is where you're mistaken. I may look like I'm sleeping, but in truth, I'm cultivating Soul Power."

Dai Mobai straightened his expression and spoke with complete seriousness.

"Cultivating Soul Power?"

The Star Luo Emperor laughed, though it was a laugh of exasperation.

Still, he had plenty of patience for his most outstanding child.

"I'll treat it as though you are cultivating Soul Power. Don't say I'm not giving you a chance. Your Soul Power is currently level thirty-eight. I'll give you half a year. If you can raise your Soul Power to level forty within half a year, I'll grant your request not to attend morning court."

"Father Emperor, do you mean that?"

Dai Mobai became interested.

"A ruler's word is no jest."

The Star Luo Emperor answered solemnly.

"Then starting tomorrow, I won't have to attend morning court?"

Dai Mobai became excited.

"The agreement will only take effect once you break through to level forty, so you still have to go."

Thinking Dai Mobai had misunderstood, the Star Luo Emperor corrected him.

"No, Father Emperor, you misunderstood what I meant. What I mean is, I've already broken through to level forty."

As he spoke, Dai Mobai released his Soul Power.

His aura erupted, and the corners of Dai Mobai's robes and his hair stirred despite the absence of wind.

The Star Luo Emperor and Duke Spirit Cat were a Titled Douluo and a Soul Douluo respectively. They could not have been more familiar with the fluctuations of a Soul Master's Soul Power.

Dai Mobai's Soul Power was indeed at level forty, and he had only broken through not long ago.

Zhu Song instinctively looked at the Star Luo Emperor, and their gazes met in midair.

With that single glance, the disbelief in Zhu Song's eyes deepened severalfold.

The Star Luo Emperor, who had ruled the Star Luo Empire for over twenty years and had never displayed his emotions on his face, now wore a trace of shock as well.

To Zhu Song, who had followed the Star Luo Emperor since his youth, this was simply unbelievable.

But when he considered Dai Mobai's age, the disbelief in Zhu Song's eyes diminished considerably.

After all, even the Star Luo Emperor, the strongest among the previous generation of princes, had not possessed level-forty Soul Power at Dai Mobai's age.

"Father Emperor, what you said just now still counts, right?"

Dai Mobai spoke, breaking the quiet atmosphere within the bedchamber.

"It counts. Starting tomorrow, you need not attend any nonessential events."

The Star Luo Emperor's gaze refocused.

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Dai Mobai saluted once more.

"You need not thank me. This is your own ability."

The Star Luo Emperor waved his hand.

"There is one more matter. My Soul Power has broken through to level forty, and I need a suitable Soul Ring to advance, so I wish to make a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow."

Dai Mobai had not forgotten about obtaining a Soul Ring.

"Although the Royal Hunting Ground has Soul Beasts of suitable age, your martial soul is mutated and may not be compatible. So, granted."

The Star Luo Emperor nodded and approved Dai Mobai's request.

"Oh, right."

Then, as if recalling something, the Star Luo Emperor turned toward Zhu Song.

"If I remember correctly, Zhu Qing also broke through to level twenty a few days ago and has yet to find a suitable Soul Ring. Have her go with Mobai tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Knowing that the Star Luo Emperor intended to arrange contact between Dai Mobai and Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Song immediately lowered his head and accepted the order.

"Tomorrow, I'll send a unit of White Tiger Guards to escort you to the Star Dou Great Forest. As for close protection, let your shadow guard handle it. Her strength is sufficient."

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Dai Mobai was happy to save himself the trouble and had no objections.

"Very well. I have matters to attend to. I'm leaving."

The Star Luo Emperor nodded and turned to leave.

"Farewell, Father Emperor."

Dai Mobai bowed in salute.

After the two men left, Dai Mobai flopped back onto the bed and enjoyed his leisure time once more.

At the same time, Dai Mubai endured the jolting ride and lashed the black horse beneath him again, urging it onward.

After riding through the night, his eyes were bloodshot, and his hair had become far more disheveled.

"Just wait. I, Dai Mubai, will return! Hyah!"

He took one deep look in the direction of Star Luo City before vanishing into the dust.

The next day, Dai Mobai dressed with the assistance of palace maids.

Once he left the palace, a carriage had already been waiting outside for a long time.

The coachman lifted the carriage curtain. Dai Mobai focused his eyes on the inside, and his face filled with surprise.