A Fruitful Journey

"Rest assured, Your Highness! This old man will teach you everything he knows, holding nothing back!"

Yang Wudi cupped his fists and gave his solemn promise.

A smile tugged at his lips, and he could not hide how pleased and proud he felt.

Dai Xuanyu nodded in acknowledgment. The stone that had hung over his heart for so long had finally fallen away.

It worked! Relief washed over Dai Xuanyu.

Now all he had to do was study Pharmacology under Yang Wudi.

Step by step, he could learn everything Yang Wudi knew about Immortal Herbs.

After all, winning over Yang Wudi and the Breaking Clan had gone so smoothly.

Dai Xuanyu saw no reason to tell Yang Wudi what he knew about Immortal Herbs just to dangle a promise before him.

For now, he would keep a few more cards in his own hand.

Secrets were the key to success.

Of course, if Yang Wudi proved sincere and worked hard for him, Dai Xuanyu would not be stingy.

He would arrange two Immortal Herbs for Yang Wudi.

One would help Yang Wudi evolve his Martial Soul and reach the rank of Titled Douluo sooner.

Dai Xuanyu was eager to see Yang Wudi's Martial Soul evolve and to watch him break through to Titled Douluo.

In the original story, Yang Wudi had become so absorbed in medicine while trying to restore his clan that his cultivation had suffered.

More than a decade later, he had only just reached level eighty-two as a Soul Douluo.

Yet in actual combat, he was the strongest of the Four Single-Attribute Clans.

During the fall of the Heaven Dou Palace, support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had even let him suppress a Titled Douluo while still a Soul Douluo—an achievement that defied the heavens.

The other Immortal Herb would be the Aromatic Silk Beauty.

To an apothecary as fanatical about making medicines as Yang Wudi, it held a temptation stronger than any other treasure in the world.

With the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Yang Wudi could make many medicines he had never dared attempt before.

Its fragrance could also cause many medicines to transform and produce even greater effects.

In the Breaking Clan, in Yang Wudi's hands, such an Immortal Herb would be priceless—something worth trading his life for.

Both together would leave nothing to chance.

With his mind made up, Dai Xuanyu raised a hand and gave a small wave to Dai Long, Zhu Xuan, and the others standing nearby.

They understood at once and withdrew the Soul Power they had used to block their hearing.

Dai Long and Zhu Xuan approached with their auras concealed. Wang Hao, the commander of the death warriors, followed at the rear, almost as if he were not there.

All three, however, fixed their eyes on Dai Xuanyu and waited for the crown prince's orders.

Standing in the hall, Dai Xuanyu announced clearly, each word distinct:

"From this day forward, Elder Yang and the Breaking Clan will serve under me."

"Elder Yang will also become my teacher and instruct me in Pharmacology. Once this visit to Great Cloud City is over, he will return with me to the imperial city and meet my father."

"As you command!"

Dai Long and Zhu Xuan answered in unison, "Congratulations, Your Highness!"

They were naturally delighted for Dai Xuanyu.

He truly was a crown prince who had awakened the Saint King Martial Soul!

The greater the ability Dai Xuanyu displayed and the stronger his forces became, the more likely he was to unite the entire continent one day.

Dai Long then said to Yang Wudi with a warm smile, "I'll be counting on you, Brother Yang. Sorry for the trouble."

"Not at all, not at all..." Yang Wudi hastily replied with modesty.

Before a Soul Douluo as powerful as Dai Long, he would not dream of putting on airs.

As for Wang Hao, the commander of the death warriors, after congratulating Dai Xuanyu,

he respectfully addressed Yang Wudi as "Elder Yang" and offered his congratulations as well.

Dai Long and Zhu Xuan were pillars of the imperial family and Soul Douluo-level experts. They could afford to treat Yang Wudi so casually.

Wang Hao, a mere commander of death warriors, could not.

They all served the crown prince. Building a good relationship with Yang Wudi could only benefit him.

For a while, the reception hall was full of good cheer.

But as they talked, Yang Wudi seemed to have something he found difficult to say.

Dai Xuanyu noticed and said, "Teacher Yang, if something troubles you, please speak freely. I'll help however I can."

With everyone looking at him, Yang Wudi stopped holding back.

"Your Highness, the trouble is that I may not be able to leave Great Cloud City with you for Star Luo Imperial City."

"Oh? Why is that?" Dai Xuanyu asked.

"The Breaking Clan has only a few dozen direct descendants left. Yang Lin and I must handle many matters ourselves."

"If I leave without warning, I could easily throw our current plans into disarray."

"I'll have to depart Great Cloud City some time after you, Your Highness, so I can make the necessary arrangements for the clan."

After hearing Yang Wudi's concerns, Dai Xuanyu said with a hearty laugh:

"Teacher Yang, you needn't worry about any of that. I've already thought it through."

"I brought people suited to the task on this trip. They'll help you manage the Breaking Clan."

"That will free you to focus on cultivation, research the Pharmaceutical Arts, and teach me..."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Yang Wudi said gratefully.

It never occurred to him that Dai Xuanyu might be trying to strip him of power or take control of the Breaking Clan.

To put it bluntly, the Breaking Clan had only a few dozen direct descendants left.

Take away the elderly, the women and children, and those too weak to fight, and only a dozen or so could be counted as combatants.

The two Soul Douluo-level experts accompanying Dai Xuanyu could sweep through the entire Breaking Clan on their own.

If Dai Xuanyu coveted the Breaking Clan's Pharmaceutical Arts, there would be no need for such elaborate measures.

Besides, Dai Xuanyu had laid his cards on the table: he wanted to study Pharmacology, not the Breaking Clan's Pharmaceutical Arts.

Yang Wudi therefore felt entirely at ease with the people Dai Xuanyu intended to send.

With their help, he could set down much of his burden and concentrate on his own work.

"It seems your concerns are settled, Teacher Yang. Then leave with me tomorrow."

"As you command, Your Highness." Yang Wudi nodded readily.

My visit to Great Cloud City is finally over. Dai Xuanyu was delighted.

He had not expected it to go so smoothly. Now he could move on to his other plans.

As for the local Wind Sword Sect, Dai Xuanyu intended to leave it alone for the time being.

Approaching it now would not be worthwhile.

Once Feng Bailong gradually came to recognize reality, Dai Xuanyu would make his move.

Nor could he rush matters with the other three Single-Attribute Clans connected to the Breaking Clan. He would have to draw them in slowly.

A concrete plan had already taken shape in Dai Xuanyu's mind.