Unable to Remain Above the Fray

"But even if the two empires went to war, would Poison Douluo really do something so outrageous? Wouldn't he fear being reviled for generations?"

Xu Dingchang, who had asked the question, no longer looked down on Dugu Bo.

But he had spent years cultivating in a secluded sect and knew little of how the world outside worked.

Deep down, he still believed that powerful people and factions would not readily go to extremes.

Xu Dingchang had underestimated how harsh the world was and how treacherous people could be.

Dai Yuan, who had been deep in thought, cut in:

"Elder Xu, when faced with a real threat of death, who has the heart for anything else?"

"And sometimes, even a threat to their position is enough for them to strike from the shadows without a shred of shame."

"Douluo Continent may have been peaceful for several years now."

"But I know all too well what the various factions did before that."

"They sent experts to assassinate promising talents from rival factions, colluded with insiders to sell intelligence, betrayed their families and sold out their masters for glory... The list goes on."

As a hawkish prince who had once served in the military, Dai Yuan knew these sordid affairs all too well.

He had even done more than a few such things himself.

At that point, Dai Yuan paused and turned to Dai Xuanyu.

He used Dai Xuanyu as an example:

"Why else would the Star Luo Imperial Family guard the secret of Xuanyu awakening the Evil Eyes Saint King martial soul and possessing Innate Level 20 Soul Power with our lives?"

"The moment word got out, other factions would likely send Titled Douluo to assassinate him."

Uncle, you're still underestimating how low those experts will stoop. Hearing Dai Yuan use him as an example, Dai Xuanyu almost laughed.

Not at Dai Yuan, of course.

Never mind his own heaven-defying talent.

In the original story, Tang San's talent alone had made Bone Douluo Gu Rong consider snuffing out the threat in its cradle.

The ease with which he reached for that idea made it hard not to suspect Bone Douluo did it often.

If Tang San's allegiance had not been broadly aligned with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect,

and if he had not built up so much goodwill, Ning Fengzhi would surely have agreed with Bone Douluo's suggestion.

It seems our ancestor was absolutely right to take the sect into seclusion. As Xu Dingchang listened to Dai Yuan, a flicker of relief crossed his mind.

He had hardly left the sect since childhood and had always cultivated in peace. It was as though a door to a new world had opened before him.

"Yes, Grandpa Xu. Uncle is right," Dai Xuanyu chimed in.

"But Dugu Bo is only an elder in the imperial family's service. Surely he wouldn't fight to the death for the Heaven Dou Empire?" Xu Dingchang still had his doubts.

Titled Douluo stood above ordinary affairs, and their ties to the imperial family were not that deep.

Even if the Star Luo Empire sent troops against the Heaven Dou Empire one day, they could stay out of it entirely.

After all, that was what those Soul Master factions had done years ago.

If Spirit Hall had not suddenly thrown its weight into the fray, the Star Luo Empire would have united all of Douluo Continent long ago.

Xu Dingchang knew that much, despite never having left the sect.

The Star Crown Sect was secluded, certainly, but it was not utterly cut off from the world.

Seeing this, Dai Xuanyu had no choice but to explain:

"From what we know, Poison Douluo became an elder to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family because of his friendship with Prince Xue Xing."

"To outsiders, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Dugu Bo stand on equal footing. As a Titled Douluo, he has always held an exalted position."

"So if the empire truly faced a crisis that threatened its survival, it would only be natural for Dugu Bo not to stake everything on one desperate gamble."

Dai Xuanyu paused briefly.

Then, at last, he voiced the opinion he had long held about Titled Douluo:

"But in this day and age, almost no Titled Douluo can remain above the fray."

Dai Yuan and Xu Dingchang exchanged glances, each seeing surprise and confusion in the other's eyes.

Titled Douluo stood at the very pinnacle of the continent's Soul Masters.

The world was vast. Where could they not go?

So how could Dai Xuanyu claim they could not even remain above the fray?

Seeing their confusion, Dai Xuanyu continued, "Grandpa Xu, Uncle, let me give you a few examples. You'll understand once you hear them."

"Once Soul Masters reach the level of Titled Douluo, they generally fall into two camps."

"Some still have the drive to climb toward higher realms. Others want to settle down in comfort and enjoy life.

"The first group far outnumbers the second. And even among the second, no one truly stops cultivating.

"Even knowing they may never advance again, they cultivate day after day, hoping to wear down the bottleneck drop by drop."

Xu Dingchang nodded slightly in agreement.

Xu Tianhai, the Star Crown Sect's sect master, was just such a man.

After becoming a Titled Douluo, his limited aptitude had made further progress all but impossible.

Yet he had never once given up on cultivation. He still hoped to pry open his bottleneck through sheer persistence.

"So here's the question: Is it easy to advance after becoming a Titled Douluo? Obviously not," Dai Xuanyu said, answering himself.

"Unless they encounter an extraordinary opportunity, most Titled Douluo must cultivate with the same dedication for a decade or more to gain even one or two levels of Soul Power, wearing down each bottleneck little by little."

"Titled Douluo may live long lives, but they're still human. And humans have limited time and energy."

"To reach higher realms, they have to push aside distractions and devote themselves to cultivation."

"But some matters can't be avoided. They have to spend time and energy dealing with them.

"So they often join a faction, trading their strength for resources, status, and a quiet place to cultivate.

"They let that faction handle certain matters for them. That leaves them far more time to cultivate."

"The two Titled Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword and Bone, are typical examples."

"The Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo of Spirit Hall are more extreme."

"For greater rewards, they've hitched themselves to Spirit Hall's wagon and gone wherever the current pope, Bibi Dong, sends them."

"Once they've made that choice and grown accustomed to it over the years, how could they possibly remain above the fray?"

"I see." Understanding dawned on Dai Yuan.

He had never given much thought to the way Titled Douluo and the factions they served bound themselves to each other.