Summoned by the Star Luo Emperor

Before long, the group arrived in Star Luo City.

After returning to the Imperial Prince's Residence, Dai Chengqian first arranged accommodations for Dugu Bo. He was a Titled Douluo, after all, and could not be treated lightly.

Once Dugu Bo was settled in,

He then sent people to summon Zhu Zhuyun and Asuya to the Imperial Prince's Residence.

He currently had two bonded Red Luans: Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun.

Aside from them, Asuya and Dugu Yan were Candidate Red Luans.

As for Meng Yiran, although her Affection had reached 50 points and met the requirements for bonding as a Red Luan,

But she had yet to come to the Star Luo Empire, so Dai Chengqian decided not to bond with her for now.

If Meng Yiran changed her mind about coming after he bonded with her, they would have no time together, and her Affection might gradually decline. The losses would outweigh the gains.

Everyone invited to the Imperial Prince's Residence was a candidate for his team or its reserve roster.

However, they were not yet familiar enough with one another, which was why Dai Chengqian had called them all over for a meal.

He planned to have everyone eat together and get acquainted.

Soon, Zhu Zhuyun and Asuya arrived at the Imperial Prince's Residence.

Once everyone was there, Dai Chengqian led them to a small garden in the Eastern Courtyard.

Since this was a gathering for the younger generation, Dugu Bo did not attend.

The banquet had already been laid out in the garden.

Servants were still bringing fresh dishes from the Kitchen.

Dai Chengqian looked at everyone and smiled.

"Take your seats. Eat whatever you like, and make yourselves at home."

"Sixth Prince, you're just the best! Then I won't hold back!"

Asuya had long since started drooling. At Dai Chengqian's words, she darted into a seat and began frantically stuffing the food on the table into her mouth.

The others were all meeting Asuya for the first time. Their eyes widened at the sight of her ravenous, beastlike eating.

Dai Chengqian smiled and began explaining Asuya's background to the other three.

"Her name is Asuya. She comes from a frontier tribe, and her martial soul is the Red Leopard.

"Don't underestimate her. She has innate full soul power.

"Her family also has a special talent that lets them increase their soul power by 'eating' soul beast flesh and blood."

After hearing Dai Chengqian's introduction, the three young women looked at Asuya again, a trace of surprise entering their eyes.

Soul masters with innate full soul power were exceedingly rare.

Once everyone was seated, Dai Chengqian introduced the others as he had Asuya.

What Dai Chengqian had not expected was that the women would get acquainted far faster than he had imagined.

Before long, the four were chatting animatedly.

As the only man present, Dai Chengqian gradually found himself excluded from the conversation.

After eating for a while, Dai Chengqian set down his chopsticks and addressed them.

"I'm sure you all know that my next goal is the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament.

"All four of you are candidates I have high hopes for.

"Today, I'd like to confirm this with you once more. Are you certain you want to join my team and compete alongside me?"

Zhu Zhuyun glanced at Dugu Yan and Asuya before replying with a smile.

"You don't need to ask Zhu Zhuqing and me. We've already committed ourselves to you, Sixth Prince. That leaves these two younger sisters."

Dugu Yan said, "You don't need to ask me either. I lost to the Sixth Prince before.

"Joining the team was the stake of our wager. I'm not someone who goes back on her word."

Asuya picked up a roasted beast leg, took a bite, and said,

"Sixth Prince, you've been so good to me. You helped me when I came to register, and now you're treating me to all this delicious food.

"Of course I'll join your team!

"Oh, right. Another prince invited me to join his team a few days ago, but I turned him down."

"Oh?"

Dai Chengqian raised an eyebrow and asked,

"Do you know which prince it was?"

Asuya rubbed her head, then shook it.

"Uh... I forgot."

The corners of Dai Chengqian's mouth curled upward.

"It's fine. If you've forgotten, you've forgotten.

"It seems my brothers have all begun preparing for the Soul Master Tournament after learning that it could decide who becomes crown prince."

Zhu Zhuqing frowned and said to Dai Chengqian,

"I think we need to speed up our preparations too."

Dai Chengqian nodded and looked at everyone.

"Zhu Zhuqing is right. Every competing team needs at least seven members.

"We only have five right now. Not counting substitutes, we need at least two more members.

"One of them also needs to be a support soul master.

"Do any of you have suitable candidates in mind, or friends you could recommend?"

Asuya had only recently arrived and naturally had few friends. She shook her head and said she did not.

Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun suggested a few names, but Dai Chengqian knew little about any of them and decided to assess them later.

Dugu Yan thought for a moment, and a name surfaced in her mind.

She raised her head and said to Dai Chengqian,

"I do have a good friend. Her name is Ye Lingling, and we're very close.

"Her martial soul is the extremely rare support martial soul, Nine Heart Begonia. Its healing ability is incredibly powerful.

"She's currently the support soul master of the Imperial Fighting Team. If she could join us, she'd be an enormous help."

"Ye Lingling..."

The moment Dugu Yan mentioned that name, Dai Chengqian remembered her.

Nine Heart Begonia was passed down through a single line and had only one soul skill: area-wide healing for everyone within range.

All her soul rings enhanced only her healing ability. It was the pinnacle martial soul in the field of pure healing.

Dai Chengqian felt that such a powerhouse healer would suit his team quite well.

Extending his spiritual power into the Storage Space, Dai Chengqian took out a precious Thousand-Year Begonia Flower and handed it to Dugu Yan.

He had obtained it from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well earlier. Although it could not compare to the most precious immortal herbs, it was still exceedingly rare.

Looking at Dugu Yan, Dai Chengqian said earnestly,

"You said you're very close to Ye Lingling, so I'll leave the task of poaching her to you.

"Tell her this Thousand-Year Begonia Flower is my greeting gift, given in advance.

"If you need anything while trying to poach her, just ask me."

Dugu Yan carefully wrapped up the begonia flower and said with a smile,

"With this treasure, my chances of bringing her over have gone up another ten percent.

"Don't worry. I guarantee I'll get the job done."

Dai Chengqian nodded.

"As soon as possible. Once our seven-person team is assembled, I'll take you all for intensive training. Don't complain about the hardship when the time comes."

Just then, a servant hurried over and said to Dai Chengqian,

"Sixth Prince, His Majesty summons you to the palace."

Dai Chengqian looked at Zhu Zhuqing and the others.

"Father Emperor probably needs me for something. I'll go see him. Keep eating."

The imperial palace.

The Imperial Study.

After paying his respects to the Star Luo Emperor, Dai Chengqian asked,

"Father Emperor, may I ask what important matter you summoned me for?"

The Star Luo Emperor looked at the map on the wall and said,

"A few things have happened recently. I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"Oh? What happened?"

The Star Luo Emperor pointed to the regions occupied by the Vassal States along the Star Luo Empire's borders.

"There has been some unrest in these places recently. Local soul masters have repeatedly clashed with our stationed troops, and there have even been incidents of bloodshed.

"I don't think this is a coincidence. Someone must be behind it. What do you think?"

Dai Chengqian pondered for a moment before replying,

"I also believe someone is deliberately provoking these conflicts. Which faction do you think is stirring up trouble, Father Emperor?"

The Star Luo Emperor snorted coldly.

"Who else could it be but these Vassal States?

"Over the past two days, rumors have already begun spreading there.

"They claim the bloodshed happened because our stationed troops were oppressing the common people.

"And that the local soul masters only clashed with them because they were standing up for the people.

"All these maneuvers and rumors are nothing more than an attempt to turn the people against the Star Luo garrisons, giving them an excuse to demand that we withdraw our troops.

"Had I known, I should have sent troops back then and incorporated every last one of them into the Star Luo Empire's territory."

Dai Chengqian looked at the somewhat angered Star Luo Emperor and said,

"Father Emperor, do you really think these Vassal States are behind this?"

"I don't think they would have the nerve to do it on their own.

"I suspect they may have someone else supporting them from behind.

"Spirit Hall, for instance."

At Dai Chengqian's words, the Star Luo Emperor's eyes narrowed.

If Dai Chengqian's conjecture was correct, and Spirit Hall really was lurking behind this,

then his earlier suspicions about Spirit Hall's ambitions were very likely true.

With that thought, the Star Luo Emperor decided to send people to the Vassal States to investigate thoroughly.

If Spirit Hall really was behind it, they would need to prepare early.

Rather than continue the topic, the Star Luo Emperor looked at Dai Chengqian and said,

"My sixth son, I hear your trip to Heaven Dou was quite fruitful.

"Not only did you poach a member of the Imperial Fighting Team, you even brought that old monster, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, over to serve as your retainer?

"Quite capable, aren't you?

"Tell me, how did you manage it?"