Early the next morning, under the Star Luo Emperor's arrangements, Dai Mubai set off for his fief with three thousand beauties.
It was called a fief, but it was really only about the size of three Holy Soul Villages.
It was not that they could not give him a larger one; there was simply no need.
"One day, I'll be back!"
Inside the carriage, Dai Mubai hardened his heart. Though he knew he could never manage it in this lifetime, he still shouted the words.
Surprisingly, he had only been castrated yesterday, yet his voice had already changed by this morning.
"Second Prince, you mustn't speak recklessly," the old servant accompanying him hurriedly warned. They were still close to the palace, and he feared someone with ulterior motives might overhear.
Dai Mubai was utterly unafraid. His little brother was gone already-could he still fear death?
Of course not. All he wanted was to die.
Yet he lacked the courage to kill himself.
And so, he was now a man torn by conflicting impulses.
His mind told him he should kill himself. With his little brother gone, what happiness could life possibly hold?
His body told him he should live on. A miserable life was better than a good death; even without his little brother, he could still find happiness.
In the end, Dai Mubai chose to obey his honest body.
But unable to perform, his mind had already begun to twist, which meant those three thousand beauties were in for dreadful suffering.
Naturally, however, Bai Ye had considered this.
Not long after Dai Mubai departed, Dai Weisi personally came to deliver the news. Notably, Zhu Zhuyun had made no effort to hide.
Dai Weisi had long prepared himself mentally. Otherwise, he would never have tacitly allowed Zhu Zhuyun to serve Bai Ye in such revealing clothes.
But now that he actually witnessed it, as a man, he still felt a sudden stab of pain.
Still, he was the eldest prince and heir to the Star Luo Empire. He needed only a second to compose himself.
Seeing this, Bai Ye chose to lay his cards on the table as well: he wanted the engagement dissolved.
With Dai Mubai's example before him, Dai Weisi agreed outright without consulting his father.
Seeing how accommodating Dai Weisi was, Bai Ye felt a little guilty. He immediately summoned his martial soul and revealed his soul rings.
"Holy Son..." Dai Weisi visibly began to tremble. To him, Bai Ye's actions meant he intended to kill him.
Zhu Zhuyun froze on the spot as well. Only Dugu Yan guessed something of his intentions.
"Crown Prince, it's not what you think." Bai Ye smiled faintly, and his third soul ring lit up as he activated Purification.
A halo descended upon Dai Weisi, instantly filling his entire body with warmth.
Purification could remove all negative conditions.
Besides poisoning, bleeding, and dizziness, that also included fatigue, anxiety, and more.
As the eldest prince, Dai Weisi had no unhealthy habits or major ailments, yet he still gained considerable benefits from Purification.
And Bai Ye was not yet finished extending his goodwill.
His fourth soul ring lit up: Rapid Healing.
Another halo descended upon Dai Weisi. Feeling the changes in his body, he even let out a moan of pleasure.
Moreover, his soul power broke through as a result!
"Thank you, Holy Son!" Dai Weisi's eyes shone. Only now did he realize how wise his choice had been.
At the same time, he felt sorry for Dai Mubai. After all, his brother had met Bai Ye before him. Had they built a good relationship, the heir to the Star Luo Empire would certainly not have been Dai Weisi.
Unfortunately, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger had failed to suppress his evil fire.
"You're welcome. Besides, I'm not finished yet."
Bai Ye then bestowed Honor Blessing upon Dai Weisi, wanting him to understand just how right his decision had been.
As soon as Honor Blessing took effect, Dai Weisi felt strength coursing through his entire body, and his face filled with disbelief.
"This..." Dai Weisi spoke in shock, but Bai Ye merely smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Only at this moment did Dai Weisi finally realize how terrifying Bai Ye was. Lingering fear gripped him as well. Thank goodness the Star Luo Empire had not made an enemy of Spirit Hall, or the consequences would have been unimaginable.
No wonder the Heaven Dou Empire had extended goodwill toward Spirit Hall. Apparently, the newly enthroned Emperor Qinghe had learned how terrifying Bai Ye was.
After Dai Weisi took his leave, Bai Ye went to the local Spirit Sacred Hall and found a Soul Douluo to keep watch over Dai Mubai.
His instructions were simple: Dai Mubai must not be allowed to do anything cruel to the three thousand beauties. As for what counted as cruelty, the Soul Douluo could judge for himself.
"Yes, Your Holiness." The Soul Douluo gladly accepted the order. To him, serving Holy Son Bai Ye was a gift from heaven.
"Good. Your efforts won't go unrewarded." Bai Ye immediately cast Purification and Rapid Healing on him.
The old man, who had looked seventy or eighty, actually became a middle-aged man.
His benefits did not stop there. He now even had the qualifications to attempt the breakthrough to Titled Douluo, a realm he had once had no hope of reaching!
"Thank you, Your Holiness." The middle-aged Soul Douluo dropped to his knees with a thud.
Bai Ye calmly accepted his gesture and said, "Go."
The middle-aged Soul Douluo set off at once, leaving Bai Ye much more at ease. His intention was to torment Dai Mubai, not the three thousand beauties.
Meanwhile, inside the palace.
Dai Weisi was reporting the dissolution of his engagement to Zhu Zhuyun to his father.
"You fool! Who gave you permission to agree on your own?!" The Star Luo Emperor flew into a rage. Neither of his two sons let him rest easy. Where did that leave the imperial family's dignity?
And that Spirit Hall Holy Son had gone too far!
"He's... gone too far!" At that moment, the Star Luo Emperor wished he could have Bai Ye put to death by a thousand cuts.
"Father, mind your words!" Dai Weisi's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly spoke up.
"Hm? What did you say?" The Star Luo Emperor was stunned. Was this really his outstanding son?
"Father, here's what happened..." Afraid the Star Luo Emperor's tongue would bring disaster upon him, Dai Weisi hurriedly recounted everything that had just happened.
After hearing him out, the Star Luo Emperor fell silent.
Only after a long while did he give Dai Weisi a meaningful look and say, "Son, you did very well."
Yes, Dai Weisi had done very well. Otherwise, he might have become another Dai Mubai.
At the same time, the Star Luo Emperor felt deep despair. Bai Ye could neither be killed nor surpassed.
It could be said that as long as Bai Ye lived, no second voice would be heard across the entire continent.
Fortunately, he had not lost all hope. As long as his empire survived, opportunities would remain. After all, Bai Ye could not live forever. When he died of old age, the skies over the Douluo Continent would change.
With that thought, the Star Luo Emperor began planning with Dai Weisi for more than a hundred years into the future.
Yet this was destined to be futile.
Because Bai Ye was a man who would become a heavenly god!
"Who are you?"
While strolling through Star Luo City with four beauties, Bai Ye suddenly found his path blocked by an old man and a young woman.
The next moment, the three Titled Douluo-Chrysanthemum, Ghost, and Poison-appeared and bowed to the pair.
"Greetings, Great Enshrined."
Bai Ye understood at once. The old man was Qian Daoliu, and the young woman was probably Qian Renxue, restored to her true appearance.
No wonder she possessed beauty that could topple a city and such an exceptional figure.
"You may leave," Qian Daoliu said mildly. The three Titled Douluo immediately withdrew, perceptively taking the four beauties with them.
"Greetings, Great Enshrined." Bai Ye bowed slightly. He did not know why Qian Daoliu had come.
After all, Qian Daoliu had not announced with gongs and drums that he wanted Qian Renxue to marry him.
"Mm." Qian Daoliu helped Bai Ye straighten and gave him a kindly smile. Then he turned to Qian Renxue and asked, "Xue'er, are you satisfied?"
Qian Renxue said nothing. Her eyes rested on Bai Ye's face, unable to look away.
She had said nothing, yet she had said everything.