Preparation for the Soul Master Tournament

Wang Dong'er only felt that the man before her was so handsome, leading a war to unify the world, and stirring up this final war to end all wars in the world.

"Alright, since we're all gathered here, let's stay and have a meal together."

Seeing that the others had yet to recover their senses, Xu Feng decided to keep them for a meal and incidentally discuss how to approach the Soul Master Tournament.

Yet just as he finished speaking, Huo Yutong suddenly grabbed his hand and gently scratched his palm, delivering a secret code only the two of them understood.

"However, before that, there are some matters to attend to..."

Xu Feng raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. The next second, Yanqing's figure appeared behind him, the blond youth with several flying swords hanging at his waist. Without a word, he immediately waved both hands, and those flying swords carried a piercing, cold light as they charged straight toward the darkest corner of the room.

In the corner, a place that had originally been completely empty, the sound of hurried breathing suddenly echoed, followed closely by a dark shadow that violently lunged out from the shadows, rolling in a flustered scramble to dodge the flying sword attack.

He was none other than the Nether Douluo, one of the eight great elders of the Holy Ghost Church. For this assassination, he had even gone so far as to use a Rank 9 Soul Tool specifically meant for concealing his aura and form.

Logically speaking, even a powerhouse at the level of a Titled Douluo was utterly incapable of discovering him with such precision, yet Yanqing's flying swords, as if they had grown eyes, had accurately forced him out.

"Impossible! How did you discover me?!"

The Nether Douluo stared fixedly at Xu Feng. He had clearly restrained his aura to the absolute limit and even used a soul tool to shield all soul power fluctuations. From the very beginning, Xu Feng's gaze had never once looked toward that corner; how could he possibly have known he was hiding there.

"Who knows..."

Xu Feng raised a hand and rubbed Huo Yutong's head. The passive ability possessed by Yutong was even more terrifying than he had imagined.

That fellow had only just revealed a trace of killing intent, not even having had the time to gather soul power, before she acutely captured it. This nearly precognitive perception was simply born for the battlefield.

Realizing he had been exposed, the Nether Douluo knew there was certainly no way the assassination could succeed, so he prepared to turn and flee. His figure transformed into a wisp of black smoke, dashing at high speed toward the window.

Yet Yanqing appeared before the window in the next instant. With only a crisp, soft chi, a sword light flashed past, and the Nether Douluo's body was severed clean at the waist. Fresh blood splattered, and both his upper and lower torso fell to the ground.

Yanqing withdrew his flying sword, cast a blank-faced glance at the remains on the ground, and then his figure dissipated as if he had never appeared.

"Come, let me see..."

Xu Feng had Meng Hongchen bring over the soul pistol, aimed it at the two corpses, and pulled the trigger several times in succession. Only after confirming that this fellow was thoroughly dead did he walk over.

"Such dark soul power, is it from the Holy Ghost Church? I didn't expect that the ones who would crack first would actually be them."

Xu Feng honestly hadn't expected that the first to dispatch a powerhouse at the Titled Douluo level to assassinate him would turn out to be the Holy Ghost Church.

Although assassins had never stopped coming since he became the crown prince, an assassin of Titled Douluo rank was a first. It seemed this evil soul master organization was also preparing to get involved in the continent's landscape.

"This Soul Master Tournament is probably not as simple as just a competition. Since the Holy Ghost Church has already made a move, we'll just play along with them."

Although a minor accident had occurred in the middle, the outcome hadn't changed in the slightest. Everyone still ate and drank as they pleased.

After everyone finished eating together in the Crown Prince Mansion, the others left, but Huo Yutong and Wang Dong'er stayed behind. Huo Yutong had something she needed to find Xu Feng for, while Wang Dong'er was purely curious and purely gluttonous, still wanting another portion.

"Yutong, you wouldn't want another portion too, would you?" Xu Feng looked at Huo Yutong half-jokingly, his gaze immediately falling upon Wang Dong'er nearby, who was buried in voracious eating with her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster's.

"What's wrong? I'm an Assault System Soul Master, my consumption is huge. What's wrong with eating a bit more?" Noticing the other's gaze, Wang Dong'er's cheeks instantly flushed with two blooming blushes, yet she still stubbornly raised her head, chopsticks gripping a piece of crispy pork, and retorted righteously.

"Besides, matches consume so much energy. Without eating more, where would I get the strength to fight? Do you actually want to see me starve to faint in the arena?"

"Nothing, eat as much as you want if you're hungry. As the crown prince of the glorious Sun Moon Empire, I'm not lacking this little bit of money." Xu Feng waved his hand. He never minded how much the people around him loved to eat; being able to eat was a blessing.

Right at that moment, Huo Yutong, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised her head, her gaze resolute as never before, and spoke her mind.

"Brother Feng, I want to win!"

Huo Yutong naturally understood that in this meticulously laid-out chess game, the victory or defeat of the Soul Master Tournament was originally the most crucial link in their plan. Losing the match would hand the Sun Moon Empire a justifiable excuse.

Yet at this moment, Huo Yutong did not want to rely on schemes and calculations, nor did she want victory to degenerate into a political bargaining chip. She wanted to stand upright and tall upon the arena, proving herself with strength, winning glory through combat, and proving her existence to that man.

"You can. Didn't I already say it? It's best if you can take first place. After all, reasons and excuses are things you can find at any time. If you want to win, then go win. I'm not petty enough to break a girl's heart over something like this."

Xu Feng wasn't going to stir up any backyard fires for himself, and he knew how to farm affection. The reason Huo Yutong was obsessed with victory was probably because of the White Tiger Duke, and naturally he wouldn't let his little cutie be heartbroken.

"Anyway, this war is one I will fight sooner or later, and any reason will do. Even if it's not this Soul Master Tournament, there will always be other opportunities. Therefore, you don't need to have too many misgivings; just go all out and do what you want to do."

Wang Dong'er wanted to say something, but she forgot she was still chewing a mouthful of food and nearly choked, hurriedly gulping down a mouthful of soup and muttering incoherently, "Then it's settled! This young lady will definitely beat them black and blue!"

"Yes, yes, then let us look forward to the young miss's performance when the time comes."

Xu Feng couldn't help sighing that the girls on the Douluo Continent were truly too easy to understand. Not only were they top-tier in looks and figures, but their personalities were also exceptionally top-tier.

The most important thing was how they spoke—they basically didn't beat around the bush with you, and they were especially easy to figure out. Romancing them was also extremely effortless. Huo Yutong was an obsession within her heart, while Wang Dong'er's method of farming affection was good food. As long as those conditions were met, affection points would soar on their own.