Winning Over the Breaking Clan

Dai Xuanyu tapped a finger lightly against the edge of the table, his expression composed, as though the weighty promise he had just made were nothing out of the ordinary.

Across from him, Yang Wudi had gone rigid. Even his breathing had stopped.

"Your Highness, do you truly mean that?!"

The moment Dai Xuanyu finished speaking, Yang Wudi could not help asking.

His voice was low, but he could not hide the tremor at the end of it.

Yang Wudi stared hard into Dai Xuanyu's eyes, searching those Evil Eyes and Double Pupils for the slightest hint of a joke.

There was none.

Young as Dai Xuanyu was, his Evil Eyes and Double Pupils held a deep certainty.

A noble title. A fief.

In the Star Luo Empire, such things were possible only by decree of the Star Luo Emperor himself.

Even the subordinate kingdoms and duchies needed the Star Luo Emperor's permission to grant a noble title.

Unlike the loosely governed Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Imperial Family's word was the only one that mattered within the Star Luo Empire.

Could he really be serious?!

Looking at the richly dressed child before him and recalling how casually he had spoken, Yang Wudi felt as though something had seized his chest and squeezed.

He wanted it to be true, so the Breaking Clan could rise again.

Yet he feared it was merely a promise the Fourth Prince had made before he had the power to keep it.

At that thought, Yang Wudi's gaze drifted to the mountain of precious medicinal herbs piled nearby.

What he had been reluctant to concede suddenly seemed far less important.

Yang Wudi drew a deep breath and forced down the excitement surging through him.

After weighing his words, he finally asked in a grave voice, "May I ask, Your Highness, if the Breaking Clan pledges its allegiance to you..."

"How will Your Highness guarantee that we receive a title and a fief?"

"And if word of the Breaking Clan's ennoblement spreads and Spirit Hall turns its sights on us, what stance will Your Highness—and the Star Luo Imperial Family—take?"

Yang Wudi's voice was steady, but the fists clenched inside his sleeves betrayed his unease.

That settles it, Dai Xuanyu thought, his interest stirring.

He had caught every detail of Yang Wudi's reaction and understood what the man truly wanted.

Dai Xuanyu chuckled inwardly, but his face remained calm and undisturbed.

He slowly raised his eyes and said evenly, "To the world, I remain the Star Luo Imperial Family's Fourth Prince."

"But in truth, my father has already named me Crown Prince."

"He has withheld the announcement only to avoid unnecessary trouble and give me time to grow.

So you may rest assured, Clan Leader Yang. My word represents the will of the entire Star Luo Empire."

"As for Spirit Hall..." Dai Xuanyu's voice dipped, taking on a chill. "If they dare use the Breaking Clan as a pretext to make trouble, the Star Luo Imperial Family will not shy away from a fight."

He had his reasons for making such a promise.

Spirit Hall was still keeping its head down and building its strength. What could it do even if it found out?

There was no chance it would act rashly over the Breaking Clan.

What? He's already the Crown Prince? But the Fourth Prince is only six years old?!

Yang Wudi's pupils contracted. He opened his mouth but could not speak at once.

He was still taking in everything Dai Xuanyu had revealed.

Dai Xuanyu, however, was not finished.

From the storage bracelet on his wrist, he took out a gold token the size of his palm.

Forged entirely of red gold, it bore four boldly carved characters at its center: [As Though the Emperor Were Present].

So everything His Highness said was true.

Yang Wudi stared at the token, then recalled how easily Dai Xuanyu had ordered two Soul Douluo powerhouses to block their own hearing.

At last, the weight hanging over his heart began to lift.

Yang Wudi did not know that the rules of succession had changed for this generation of the Star Luo Imperial Family.

But he had no need to ponder any of that.

All Yang Wudi needed to know was that the six-year-old before him was the Crown Prince—the future emperor of the Star Luo Empire!

Yang Wudi took a deep breath, stepped back half a pace, and bowed. His voice was solemn:

"Then from this day forward, I entrust the Breaking Clan to Your Highness, the Crown Prince. My life is yours to command as well."

"Good, good, good." Dai Xuanyu hurried forward and helped Yang Wudi up himself, smiling as he said, "Clan Leader Yang, there's no need for such words. We're family now—why speak as though we're strangers?"

That word, "family," warmed Yang Wudi's heart, and a rare softness appeared in his expression.

He straightened and looked at Dai Xuanyu with newfound respect.

Dai Xuanyu pressed his advantage. "Once this trip to Great Cloud City is over, I'll report to my father and have Clan Leader Yang granted an office and a title, along with a fief set aside for the Breaking Clan to live on."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Yang Wudi bowed again, genuine warmth now filling his voice.

In that moment, his regard for Dai Xuanyu rose still further.

This young Crown Prince had not only made him a weighty promise but had treated him with remarkable humility.

After being shown such respect, Yang Wudi would have been blind to his good fortune if he still hesitated.

The two then spent half an hour discussing the details of the title, the fief's location, and arrangements for the clanspeople.

The longer they talked, the more astonished Yang Wudi became.

The Crown Prince truly was remarkable. At only six years old, he handled these matters with the ease of a master.

That, in turn, made Yang Wudi feel even more secure in placing his trust in Dai Xuanyu.

Once they had settled the broad outlines, Dai Xuanyu set down the calligraphy brush in his hand and turned to Yang Wudi, his tone sincere:

"Elder Yang, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'll need you to return with me to the Star Luo Imperial City."

Yang Wudi blinked. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"Besides discussing the title and fief in detail, I'd like to ask you to be my teacher."

Yang Wudi froze.

As he saw it, why would Dai Xuanyu, Crown Prince of the Star Luo Imperial Family, need an outsider like him to teach him?

If Yang Wudi were a Titled Douluo, that would be understandable.

But he was only a Soul Saint who had yet to break through to Soul Douluo.

What could he possibly teach a Crown Prince like Dai Xuanyu?

The two Soul Douluo powerhouses at Dai Xuanyu's side alone could teach the Crown Prince far more than he could.

"Your Highness..." Yang Wudi hesitated, then cupped his hands. "I'm merely a Soul Saint and haven't even reached the Soul Douluo realm. How could I be worthy of such a responsibility?"

Dai Xuanyu smiled faintly, his gaze clear and earnest. "I've been drawn to the study of medicine since I was young."

"In my eyes, only a master like you, Elder Yang, could teach me the principles of medicine."

After a pause, he added, "Cultivation rank has no bearing on one's ability to pass on knowledge."

"After all, what I wish to learn from you is the study of medicine."

"Your knowledge of medicine is a treasure worthy of being passed down through the ages!"