Even though I spent every day drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, I would definitely inherit the throne

Toji said expressionlessly, "Fine. Let me go out for a bit, and I'll come back tonight to pay you."

"Sorry, but no." The loan officer smiled and shook his head.

Soul Masters possessed all sorts of bizarre abilities, and their Soul Skills were almost impossible to guard against. Who knew whether these Soul Masters might slip away the moment someone let their guard down?

"When I come back to pay, I'll give you an extra ten percent in interest," Toji said expressionlessly. Ignoring the loan officer's reaction, he turned and headed for the casino's entrance.

Based on the information from his Li Bai clone, Toji calculated that if he went to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace now, he would probably arrive just in time to run into Qian Renxue, Ning Fengzhi, and the others. The appearance of a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring like himself would surely max out today's limit of 8,000 Emotion Points.

The loan officer could sense that Toji's Soul Power exceeded his own, so he did not rashly try to stop him. Instead, he hurriedly contacted his superior using a special Voice Transmission Soul Tool.

By the time Toji reached the entrance, a group had already blocked his way. Their leader held a staff, with five Soul Rings beneath his feet: white, yellow, yellow, purple, and purple.

He tapped the casino floor with his staff, his face expressionless. "Leave the money you owe, or sign this agreement. Otherwise, don't think you're getting out of here easily."

Toji expressionlessly assessed how much time he had. Spending a minute playing with them would be fine.

He studied the agreement the staff-wielding Soul Master handed him with interest, only for the corner of his eye to twitch violently.

Were they treating Soul Masters like slaves?

These nobles really had no shame. They were probably no different from those shriveled old fossils in the Zenin Clan. Sure enough, they were all birds of a feather.

No matter the world, those at the top bullied those beneath them, and strength ruled supreme.

Without a change in expression, he tore up the agreement in his hands.

The staff-wielding Soul Master's expression turned cold. He was about to threaten Toji when a vicious slap landed across his face.

The Soul King flew backward, his head embedding itself in the wall. Even the staff Martial Soul in his hand vanished.

In his last moment before losing consciousness, he thought, Was he cheating? With that level of Soul Power, he should be a Soul Ancestor at most. How did he send me flying?

Toji continued forward expressionlessly. No one dared stop him now, and everyone else stared at him with a mixture of fear and shock.

A few tried to speak up and stop him, but Toji casually sent them flying with a few slaps.

Before leaving, he calmly said, "I'll be back to settle the debt by tomorrow at the latest."

Heaven Dou City, at the entrance to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Outside the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Toji casually glanced up.

One look at the outer walls was enough to reveal the extravagance within.

Its style was completely different from Spirit Hall's understated grandeur. The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace flaunted its immense wealth, displaying imperial majesty to the fullest.

Spirit Hall was simple yet imposing, its Six-Winged Angel embracing all.

Each had its own merits.

"What are you here for?" Just then, a man wearing a lavish white robe approached. He looked sickly and weak, his face dark with displeasure.

By the Douluo Continent's standards, where twelve-year-olds had nearly adult builds, the person before him looked about eleven.

"I'm here to see His Majesty Xue Ye." Toji looked at the person before him and frowned slightly. Why did this feel like the setup for showing off and putting someone in their place?

"How dare you! Who do you think you are, calling my imperial father by name? Believe me, I can have you put to death by a thousand cuts!"

Toji understood now. This guy was deliberately picking a fight.

He had learned a little about the customs of the Douluo Continent. In the ancient era back home, calling an emperor by name would naturally have been a capital offense, but here, adding "His Majesty" after the name was actually a sign of respect.

Xue Beng glared viciously at the man before him. Today, the Soul Douluo Dugu Bo and his uncle Xue Xing, who supported him, had come to the palace to welcome Sect Master Ning and Sect Master Yu on their visit to offer their regards.

As it happened, Dugu Bo had brought his granddaughter Dugu Yan along. Xue Beng's pea-sized brain got to work. If he wanted to avoid ending up like the other princes, who had "died of poisoning after being shot eight times," while also avoiding a lifetime as a useless prince living off the throne, he needed a backer of his own.

Dugu Bo was a level 89 Peak Soul Douluo, not far from becoming a Titled Douluo. Rounding up, wouldn't that give him a Titled Douluo as a backer? Besides, the sight of Dugu Yan made Xue Beng swallow hungrily.

With that in mind, Xue Beng had made the rare effort to dress like a respectable person, hoping to get closer to Dugu Yan. In the end, she had driven him away with a look of disgust.

That was why Xue Beng was in such a foul mood today. She was just some damned woman. I could find one in a pleasure house or brothel.

Though he comforted himself that way, he was still angry. Then he happened to run into someone he could take it out on.

"Are you sick?" Toji looked Xue Beng up and down and calmly delivered the question.

[Detected intense emotional fluctuations from Xue Beng. Emotion Points +1,000]

This was Xue Beng?

Toji regarded the future Heaven Dou Emperor with a strange expression.

Was this the useless prince Xue Beng whom Tang San took as a disciple, who supposedly spent all his time patiently concealing his ambitions but was actually enjoying himself all along, and who got his face beaten to a pulp at Heaven Dou Royal Academy by Dai Mubai, a prince from the neighboring Star Luo Empire?

"How dare you insult me!" Xue Beng burned with rage. He had wanted to go up and beat Toji, but when he saw the arms beneath the man's short-sleeved T-shirt, thicker than his own thighs, he lost his nerve.

Just then, the patrolling guards noticed the argument between Toji and Xue Beng and hurried over.

"Your Highness, Fourth Prince, what happened?"

Xue Beng was instantly delighted. "This man insulted the Heaven Dou Imperial Family! He must be a spy from the Star Luo Empire. Arrest him at once!"

"Yes!"

The guards were shocked and furious. When a lord was humiliated, his servants deserved death—and this insult had happened right on their doorstep. Unless the man before them was a Titled Douluo, no one could save him.

But judging by his Soul Power fluctuations, he was a Soul Ancestor at most.

The guards raised their weapons, and some summoned their Martial Souls. They surrounded him, ready to attack at any moment.

Toji did nothing. He merely glanced casually at them.

That single glance made everyone present feel their hair stand on end.

Why did this man seem full of openings, yet give them the feeling that the moment they moved, they would die?

Was this guy really just a Soul Ancestor?

Yet his stance alone made him seem terrifyingly strong!

Toji silently counted down.

Three, two, one...

"Why is everyone gathered here? Has something happened?" A calm, gentle voice rang out.

Only then did the guards snap out of it and notice the arrival of Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen, Xue Qinghe, and the others.

"Fourth Brother, have you caused trouble again?" Xue Qinghe frowned slightly, speaking like a good elder brother exasperated with his younger sibling. "Didn't I already tell you not to disgrace our imperial father?"

Xue Qinghe!

Xue Beng nearly ground his teeth to pieces. He lowered his head, concealing the murderous intent in his eyes. He deeply resented this elder brother who had killed his second and third brothers, yet always loved lecturing him.

But he had to keep concealing his ambitions. Otherwise, once his peerless talent was exposed, Xue Qinghe would surely fear him and have him assassinated as well.

Yes, even though he often went out drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, enjoyed every moment of it, and was only level 14 at eleven years old, he was merely biding his time all along, firmly believing that sooner or later, he would bring his brother down.