Heaven Never Sealed Every Path

Early the next morning.

Dai Xuanyu left the residence early and headed for the palace, ready for his Martial Soul Awakening ceremony.

"Your Highness, Fourth Prince, this way, please." Guided by an attendant, Dai Xuanyu entered an opulent room.

The steward, Dai Xuan, followed him inside.

This was the Awakening Chamber where members of the Star Luo Imperial Family underwent Martial Soul Awakening.

Today, however, Dai Xuanyu was the only one here to undergo it.

Seeing the Star Luo Emperor inside, Dai Xuanyu quickly bowed. "Your son greets you, Father."

"Rise, Xuanyu."

"Today is your important day. You're the one everyone's here to see."

Dai Heng spoke warmly.

Perhaps it was because today was Dai Xuanyu's Martial Soul Awakening.

For once, the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Heng, showed none of his usual imperial authority. Instead, he seemed like a father with high hopes for his child.

After all, Dai Heng was genuinely pleased with his fourth son.

At times, he even found it a pity that Xuanyu had been born so late.

"Greetings..."

Dai Xuanyu then rose and greeted the other important figures in the Awakening Chamber one by one.

Apart from the few attendants, everyone here, whether conducting the ceremony or watching it,

was a core member of the Star Luo Imperial Family. Every one of them held an important position.

So even as the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Xuanyu could not neglect a single courtesy.

They returned his greetings in turn.

Quite a few imperial family members came today. My efforts these past years haven't gone to waste.

As he greeted them, Dai Xuanyu identified each person, their standing, and the offices they held.

What he found lifted his spirits.

For princes of the direct line competing for the throne in the Star Luo Empire, Martial Soul Awakening was far more than a simple ceremony.

It was also a chance to prove themselves.

It let branches of the imperial family that had yet to place their bets decide whether to back a prince and aid him in the coming struggle for the throne.

The imperial family members who had come with the Star Luo Emperor to witness Dai Xuanyu's awakening today

had not backed any prince before, and were already inclined to draw closer to him.

Otherwise, they would never have followed the Star Luo Emperor into the Awakening Chamber today.

That meant if Dai Xuanyu showed enough talent today,

they would side with him without hesitation and lend him their support.

Heaven never seals every path! Dai Xuanyu clenched his fists without realizing it.

Their presence was the greatest recognition his years of effort could have received.

Ever since learning he had been born into the Star Luo Imperial Family, Dai Xuanyu had walked on thin ice, never daring to slacken.

Yes, his age was a major disadvantage.

But Dai Xuanyu was no spineless good-for-nothing like Dai Mubai.

With the extraordinary gifts he had possessed from birth, along with years of effort and perseverance...

Dai Xuanyu had distinguished himself enough to win many people's interest. Quite a few had even entered his service.

Dai Xuan, the steward of his residence, had been among the first members of the Star Luo Imperial Family to pledge himself to Dai Xuanyu.

As the saying went: high risk, high reward.

Dai Xuanyu's chances of winning were indeed slim. But if he did win,

those who had placed their bets early would reap an incomparable reward.

For members of the imperial family in particular, the risk was much lower, while the reward remained the same.

For one thing, they were not of the direct line.

That ruled out any possibility of their ascending the throne themselves.

Thus, if these imperial family members wanted to raise their own standing and that of their branches, they could only support princes competing for the throne.

If the prince their branch backed ultimately won, their standing within the imperial family would rise dramatically.

"Your Highness, Fourth Prince, please come to the center." The elder conducting the Martial Soul Awakening gently directed Dai Xuanyu.

Dai Xuanyu did not hurry over. First, he informed the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Heng, "Father, your son will go now."

"Go ahead." Dai Heng nodded.

After bowing, Dai Xuanyu walked to the center of the Awakening Chamber as the elder had instructed.

"Rise!" As soon as Dai Xuanyu stood still, the elder gave a soft shout and mobilized his Soul Power.

Beneath Dai Xuanyu's feet, a Hexagram Light Array rapidly took shape.

A hazy golden light streamed from the six points of the hexagram. It gathered above Dai Xuanyu's head, then burst outward into a pale-gold dome.

So this is what Martial Soul Awakening feels like. Dai Xuanyu felt warmth spread through his entire body.

At the same time, he sensed a force within him being drawn toward the Hexagram Array.

Wait, why is there another force? Dai Xuanyu was puzzled.

Then realization struck, and wild joy surged through him.

Twin Martial Souls! I actually have Twin Martial Souls!

I knew it! I was born with Evil Eyes and Double Pupils, something even more extraordinary than Dai Mubai's...

At that moment, Dai Xuanyu's last worries vanished.

Twin Martial Souls meant Innate Full Soul Power, without question.

With talent like that, everyone from the imperial family present today would surely throw their full support behind him.

His age might be a serious disadvantage, but this was Innate Full Soul Power.

A ticket straight to becoming a Titled Douluo was enough to stir countless hearts and make them bet on him.

Xuanyu, what will your talent be?

Watching Dai Xuanyu enveloped in pale-gold light, the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Heng, could not help feeling expectant.

What he looked forward to was not the Martial Soul. In Dai Heng's eyes, any boy of the Dai Family was bound to awaken the family's inherited White Tiger Martial Soul.

What Dai Heng wanted to know was Dai Xuanyu's Innate Soul Power level.

He had placed great hopes in this fourth son of his.

Dai Mubai had been born with Evil Eyes, drawing plenty of attention.

With his excellent talent on top of that, he should have won the support of many people and factions.

But what had happened? He had turned out to be a coward, utterly destroying his chances of ascending the throne.

That had deeply disappointed Dai Heng. How could one of his four children be such a good-for-nothing?

Dai Xuanyu, by contrast, had been born with Evil Eyes and Double Pupils.

Double Pupils were the mark of a born sage, the bearing of a born king.

From the moment Dai Xuanyu was born, countless halos of promise had surrounded him.

And these were no ordinary Double Pupils. They were Evil Eyes as well.

That reminded Dai Heng of a legend passed down only within the imperial family, one long forgotten by people today!