"Boom!"
Dai Jinge punched his way out of the cave.
Rubble buried the cave, and he took the Blue Silver Emperor plant with him as well.
Dai Jinge found a secluded spot and absorbed the Blue Silver Emperor right leg soul bone.
As azure radiance surged into his body, even his meridians glowed. The life force within the Blue Silver Emperor soul bone flowed through them, spreading throughout his body.
Vast vitality washed through every limb and bone. For the first time since his Ice and Fire Body Tempering three years ago, Dai Jinge's flesh underwent another tempering. His bones grew tougher, and his vitality climbed steadily.
Dai Jinge sensed his meridians slowly expanding, their once somewhat narrow channels becoming broad and unobstructed.
As the soul power in his meridians circulated, it was continually purified, every trace of impurity washed away. With this-
The potency of his soul power would far surpass that of ordinary Soul Masters at his level, and it would recover faster as well.
"Whew!"
Dai Jinge spent the entire night absorbing the soul bone and only opened his eyes the next day.
His azure eyes seemed to hold an ocean of stars.
An unprecedented sense of bliss swept through his body, every inch of flesh cheering in delight.
Dai Jinge closed his eyes and sank into concentration, his face filled with rapture.
"My soul power increased by two levels..."
Dai Jinge was already thoroughly satisfied with this result.
Those two levels of soul power no longer mattered much to him. Most importantly... the very level of his life had undergone an enormous elevation!
"Hum!"
Dai Jinge raised the [White Tiger Power Lock], summoned the [Tiger Roaring Flash Chariot], and left the secluded spot.
Next, he had to find a way to snatch another of Tang San's great opportunities-the Eight Spider Lances!
Whether he could succeed or not, he had to try.
Dai Jinge had timed things well and already planned his route.
There were few human towns near the Star Dou Great Forest. Dai Jinge chose the one closest to Suotuo City and waited for the "protagonist" to make his entrance.
Meanwhile, on the training grounds at Shrek Academy.
Flender was giving a lesson to the new and returning students. Once everyone else had left, he kept Dai Mubai behind.
"Mubai, do you have a younger brother?"
Dai Mubai froze for a moment, unsure why Flender had suddenly asked about his private affairs. Still, he nodded and said:
"I do have a younger brother."
After a brief hesitation, Dai Mubai asked, "Dean, why... are you asking?"
With his hands clasped behind his back, Flender frowned. "Yesterday, someone claiming to be the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire came to see me. He mentioned you, too."
Dai Mubai's pupils contracted slightly. His earlier indifference vanished, replaced by sudden tension. "Dean, what did he say?"
Flender pondered for a moment. "He said... you no longer needed to take part in that battle to the death, as of three years ago."
Dai Mubai knitted his brows and murmured, "What... does that mean?"
Flender patted Dai Mubai's shoulder. "Would you like to go home for a visit? Something might have happened in your family during the three years you've been here!"
Dai Mubai considered it for a moment. "If it's good news, there's no harm in staying here. If it's bad news, then I have even more reason not to go back."
Flender nodded slightly, then suddenly remembered something Dai Jinge had said and added:
"He also made a point of saying he was Zhu Zhuqing's fiancé. I don't understand what that signifies, but I thought it might be important to you."
"Zhu Zhuqing? That name sounds familiar!"
Dai Mubai frowned in thought. A moment later, realization dawned on him, only for him to freeze again immediately.
Flender frowned and waved a hand before Dai Mubai's face. "Mubai, what's wrong?"
Dai Mubai's unfocused eyes gradually regained their focus, and he murmured to himself, "So that's how it is..."
"How what is?" Flender asked, thoroughly puzzled.
Dai Mubai took a deep breath and shook his head. "Nothing. I understand why he came looking for me now. This really is good news for me."
Flender raised his brows. "How so?"
Dai Mubai explained, "Zhu Zhuqing was originally my fiancée. Once I turned twenty-five, I would have had to join forces with her to fight our older brother and sister. Our families arranged that engagement, and I had no way of escaping that ordeal. But now..."
"The families have broken off my engagement with Zhu Zhuqing and made her my fourth brother's fiancée instead. Now he'll take my place and fight our eldest brother and Zhu Zhuqing's older sister alongside her."
Flender's head spun as he listened. "Although I don't understand what you're talking about... if you say it's good news, then that's good."
An excited smile spread across Dai Mubai's face. The pressure that had long accumulated in his heart finally vanished like smoke on the wind.
He could carry on living freely, without having to face Dai Weisi, who was six years his senior.
"Hahahaha!"
Dai Mubai laughed in excitement. Deciding to treat himself properly, he left at once for Suotuo City.
All he had lost was a fiancée from the Zhu Family. As the distinguished third prince of the Star Luo Empire, could he possibly lack beautiful women by his side as long as he lived?
Flender shook his head speechlessly. Was there any need to be so happy?
A pair of black wings unfurled from his back, and he rose into the air, flying out of the academy.
At dusk two days later, two groups arrived in succession at the town where Dai Jinge was staying, and each entered his restaurant.
The first was the Shrek group led by Zhao Wuji; the second was the group from Canghui Academy led by Ye Zhiqiu.
"Creak!"
Hearing a commotion downstairs, Dai Jinge pushed open the window and looked outside.
A group of young people was surrounding and attacking a middle-aged man. Unfortunately... the middle-aged man was a Soul King, while even the strongest among the youths was only a Soul Elder.
It was Dai Mubai leading Tang San and the others in an attack on Ye Zhiqiu of Canghui Academy.
After they attacked him together for a while, Ye Zhiqiu unleashed his full strength, and Dai Mubai's group instantly fell into a disadvantage.
But just then.
A short, stocky middle-aged man walked out of the restaurant and sent Ye Zhiqiu flying with a single punch, without even using his martial soul. Ye Zhiqiu vanished into the forest.
The newcomer was none other than Zhao Wuji.
Watching the people below, Dai Jinge silently marveled at his good luck. The Shrek group was actually staying at the very same restaurant as him.
Just then, Tang San keenly sensed someone watching him and instinctively looked up. When he spotted Dai Jinge at the second-floor window, surprise flickered in his eyes.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Xiao Wu noticed Tang San's unusual reaction and followed his gaze. Upon seeing Dai Jinge, she couldn't help exclaiming in surprise, "It's him?"
The others were baffled by her words, but when they followed Tang San and Xiao Wu's gazes, they too saw Dai Jinge.
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