Dai Mubai Returns to Star Luo, I Will Climb to the Top Step by Step

Compared to the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City, was built to be far more ferocious.

In addition, the difference lies in the fact that Heaven Dou City is more prosperous and commercially developed, while Star Luo City is more desolate.

The towering city walls were built of dark gray boulders, and a silver tiger head relief was embedded on the outward-facing side of the crenellations, clearly the Evil Eye White Tiger of the House Dai.

The streets in the city are wide enough for eight carriages to pass side by side, but with the crowds, they cannot actually accommodate that many carriages passing side by side.

This is the Star Luo Empire that Dai Mubai wants to return to.

When he first returned, he dared not reveal himself at all, wearing a large cloak to cover his figure and face.

Although he has not been a prince for many years, he is still the subject of much discussion in the streets and alleys.

Do you think we'll see the two princes team up for this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament?

"That runaway prince? What makes him think he can sit at the same table as Prince Dai Weisi? A man like that is useless even if he's alive."

"Exactly! A complete coward, do you really expect him to go on stage and embarrass the empire?"

Such comments flooded Dai Mubai's ears. He never expected that even after so many years of fleeing the Star Luo Empire, he would still be the subject of such a high level of discussion.

This may be related to the fact that, in all the years since the founding of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai is the only prince who has ever run away.

He couldn't accept such criticism, so he fled in haste and has been hiding in the palace ever since, unwilling to face anyone, until his father, the emperor, summoned him.

Dai Mubai arrived at the palace with his back ramrod straight.

He actually had a premonition about why his father, the emperor, wanted to summon him.

But I had no choice but to come.

Not only must they come, but they must also be impeccably groomed, dressed appropriately, and even the smallest detail of their hair must conform to royal decorum.

In the Qianming Hall, where political discussions were held, the guards on either side of the hall's entrance watched Dai Mubai walk into the hall, then exchanged a glance.

The two guards were dressed in glittering, magnificent armor, carrying halberds and longswords at their waists. They were handsome, with tall, strong figures.

Dai Mubai could hear the two guards whispering and criticizing him.

"The Third Prince has actually returned? How dare he even show his face here?"

"Who says otherwise? After running away for so many years, you've really disgraced the Star Luo Empire. How could you possibly come back?"

"He's made history. Throughout history, the Tian family's Evil Eye White Tiger Martial Soul has always been male, fearless of death. Perhaps only his White Tiger is female."

"Pfft."

Then came a suppressed chuckle.

From behind, Dai Mubai didn't show any particular reaction.

But his face was frosty, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent.

It was one thing to mock Dai Mubai as a coward, but to say that his Martial Soul, the Evil Eye White Tiger, was female, undoubtedly touched a sore spot in Dai Mubai's heart, causing him to immediately break down.

But he maintained his original walking pace without stopping at all.

Because Dai Mubai has no right to be angry.

These people were no ordinary individuals to become the emperor's personal guards; they were all descendants of high-ranking nobles whose ancestors had followed the founding emperor in establishing the country, which enabled them to serve as the emperor's personal guards.

A cowardly prince is not recognized at all in the bloody and ruthless Star Luo Empire.

Dai Mubai's current status is even lower than that of these noble descendants, who have real access to the emperor. Dai Mubai was only summoned by his father, the emperor, today.

Placing these people around is both a way to win them over and a way to use them as hostages.

Dai Mubai walked into the Qianming Hall step by step, the light inside the hall flowing across his face.

The Star Luo Emperor sat on the throne at the far end in front of him. The chair was shaped like a crouching White Tiger, with tiger claws on the armrests and the tiger's head at the top of the backrest. The tiger's eyes were two gems of different colors, known as the Evil Eyes.

Dai Mubai walked up to the emperor. The emperor's face looked much older than Dai Mubai remembered. The white hair at his temples had spread from his temples to behind his ears, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.

Two rows of courtiers stood on either side of him, each with the same expression on their different faces: disdain, mockery, and contempt.

There was no respect or pity whatsoever.

In the Star Luo Empire, which advocates bloody competition, the weak do not deserve respect, let alone pity.

Kneel down.

The emperor's voice was not loud, but in the Star Luo Empire, nothing carried more weight.

Dai Mubai's knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground.

"How dare you come back? A prince, abandoning everything he should have done to wander outside, do you know you've brought shame upon the royal family? Such cowardice and timidity have never been seen before in the history of the empire!"

The emperor's voice suddenly turned stern, Dai Mubai trembled.

In the Star Luo Empire, this is a sin.

His father could easily use this as a pretext to put him on trial.

Dai Mubai hurriedly begged for forgiveness, "Father... Your son knows he was wrong."

"You admit you were wrong? Do you think a simple 'admit you were wrong' can erase everything? Do you know that your escape has made the entire royal family a laughingstock? Do you know that you almost destabilized the whole country!"

"Smack!"

That was the sound of a hand slapping the armrest.

As a Sheda Empire, the bloody competition within the royal family is the very reason for the House Dai's legitimacy. If the prince is weak, wouldn't that disrupt the entire narrative of the empire's bloody competition? How can the nobles who have emerged victorious in the bloody cruelty be made to submit?

Dai Mubai broke out in a cold sweat, but also felt deeply humiliated.

Fear is a basic human right; how can you blame him?

Dai Mubai could feel the contemptuous gazes of the court officials upon him.

"Your Majesty, although the Third Prince has committed a grave error, he still carries royal blood in his veins. Since he is willing to return and admit his mistake, why not give him a chance to make amends? For example... send him to guard the northern border for a few years, which would also temper his character."

The Northern Border was the front line facing the Heaven Dou Empire. In the history of the empire, only princes who were about to be deposed were sent to the Northern Border to supervise the army. They would then be deposed on the grounds that "they had supervised the army for more than ten years, but had not been able to advance and had not made any achievements." They would be forced to commit suicide.

"That's right. Although the conditions for guarding the northern border are tough, it's a good experience for the Third Prince. It's much better than him indulging in pleasure and being a good-for-nothing outside."

All sorts of strange, sarcastic voices—they want me dead!

That's right, that's why my father summoned me.

Even the Star Luo Empire, known for its bloodshed and cruelty, had to avoid internal strife. The purpose of summoning Dai Mubai and publicly rebuking him for his lack of virtue was to let the court officials see that the empire's rule had changed.

"No! I won't go to the North!"

Dai Mubai suddenly stood up and roared, his voice even faintly carrying the roar of a tiger.

His reaction surprised all the courtiers; how did this kid suddenly become so bold?

Dai Mubai's father was even more shocked.

Perhaps, my son isn't beyond saving.

Thinking of this, Dai Mubai's father announced, "Dai Mubai, from this day forward, you will be confined to the Star Luo Royal Academy to reflect on your mistakes. You are not to leave without my decree. You may leave."

Upon hearing his father's words, Dai Mubai knew he had passed a test. His father was still willing to invest resources in his upbringing, so he knelt down to pay his respects and then turned to walk towards the entrance of the main hall.

Throughout the journey, the officials on both sides did not respect Dai Mubai because of the emperor's decision; they still looked at him with disdain.

Dai Mubai was secretly furious.

Just you wait, you snobbish bastards! Fortune changes every thirty years, and I'm going to climb to the top step by step!

He, Dai Mubai, is determined to make a name for himself at the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!