Please address me as Crown Prince, Your Majesty

The Imperial Palace.

On the white jade steps, every guard was dumbstruck at the sight of Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun bound with ropes and being dragged along behind someone.

The person holding those ropes was Dai Jinge.

After three years, many people had forgotten what Dai Jinge looked like, remembering only his name.

Clang!

Just as Dai Jinge was about to step onto the central staircase, dragging Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun behind him, the guards on either side barred his path with their halberds. "Please halt!"

Dai Jinge raised his eyes to look at them.

For a moment.

Sweat beaded on the guards' foreheads. They could neither retreat nor stand their ground.

But just then!

A shrill, piercing voice rang out from above the steps. "Summon the Fourth Prince, Dai Jinge, to the hall for an audience!"

Whoosh!

The guards on either side withdrew their halberds in unison.

Holding the ropes binding Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun in one hand and Zhu Zhuqing's hand in the other, Dai Jinge advanced step by step until he entered the council hall.

At that moment, civil and military officials filled the hall. Seated above them was a middle-aged man wearing white-and-gold robes and a crown-the reigning Star Luo Emperor, Dai Linfeng.

Dai Linfeng glanced at Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun, choosing to ignore them for now and instead asking after Dai Jinge. "Jinge, it has been three years since you left Star Luo City, hasn't it? Have you been well out there?"

Dai Jinge smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Father. Zhu Zhuqing and I have lived very well these past three years. I must also thank you. Had you not dissolved Dai Mubai's engagement to Zhu Zhuqing and made me her fiancé instead, I would never have attained my current strength."

Dai Linfeng's expression stiffened. Zhu Tianlie wore an odd look, and everyone else turned toward Dai Jinge in astonishment.

Who was he taking a veiled jab at?

"Your abilities are indeed a far cry from what they once were. In just three short years, even Weisi is no match for you."

"Zhu Zhuqing, you have also made great progress."

Dai Linfeng praised them in the calmest tone he could manage. In truth, "great" no longer came close to describing their progress.

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."

Unlike Dai Jinge, Zhu Zhuqing still felt immense pressure before Dai Linfeng, the Star Luo Emperor. When he praised her, she had to bow and offer her thanks.

Dai Linfeng nodded slightly, then looked at Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun behind Dai Jinge. "Jinge, release Weisi and Zhu Yun."

"Please address me as Crown Prince, Your Majesty!"

Dai Jinge's tone abruptly became uncompromising, and his expression was even more so.

Hum!

Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red-six Soul Rings manifested in the hall in an instant.

The final red Soul Ring filled the hall, its radiance staining everyone's faces crimson.

Everyone witnessed the sight. Their eyes instantly widened, their expressions going blank.

Even Dai Linfeng could no longer remain seated above them. He abruptly rose to his feet.

Dai Weisi was utterly stunned.

No wonder...

No wonder Dai Jinge had defeated him instantly in their earlier duel without even using his Martial Soul!

"Anyone who dares reveal even half a word of what happened today will be killed without mercy!"

Dai Jinge swept an icy gaze across everyone present.

He did intend to intimidate the Star Luo Empire's civil and military officials, but he did not want his strength exposed too soon. If anyone's tongue was too loose, they could not blame him for what followed!

"Did you all hear the Crown Prince's command?"

Dai Linfeng's voice rang out at that moment.

At those words.

Everyone instantly understood Dai Linfeng's meaning and knelt in salute. "We shall obey Your Highness's command!"

At that moment.

Even Zhu Tianlie, the Nether Duke and Dai Jinge's future father-in-law, had to kneel in salute.

Of course.

That included Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.

Dai Weisi was slow to react. Perhaps hearing Dai Linfeng actually appoint Dai Jinge as Crown Prince had left him dazed. All his past efforts had been destroyed in a single stroke, and he could not accept it.

In the end, Zhu Zhuyun had to remind him.

"Father, Zhu Zhuqing and I have finished what we came back to do."

"We shall leave now. Your son takes his leave."

Dai Jinge cupped his hands slightly, then paid no further attention to Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun. Taking Zhu Zhuqing's hand, he turned and left, disregarding Dai Linfeng and the entire hall of ministers.

After all that, he was leaving as soon as he had secured the title of Crown Prince? Everyone stared at Dai Jinge in bewilderment!

Dai Jinge did not walk back down. Instead, he activated the flight skill of the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone and flew out of the Imperial Palace grounds with Zhu Zhuqing.

Dai Linfeng and the civil and military officials walked out of the hall and looked up at the sky together, seeing only the pair's retreating figures.

Dai Weisi's heart was filled with regret.

Had he known this day would come, he should never have shown kindness back then.

Because Dai Mubai was his brother by the same mother, and because their mother had whispered in his ear, Dai Mubai's engagement to Zhu Zhuqing had ultimately been dissolved, and Dai Jinge, born of a concubine, had been betrothed to her instead.

Had he known Dai Jinge would bring about so many unforeseen changes, he would have kept Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing bound tightly together. Then... he would never have lost the position of Crown Prince...

Four months later.

Blue Tyrant Academy.

Dai Jinge accompanied Zhu Zhuqing in combat training, while Liu Erlong offered pointers from a short distance away.

But just then.

Yin Shu, a Soul King-level teacher who had joined Blue Tyrant Academy two years earlier and begun managing it on Liu Erlong's behalf, strode over.

A group of people followed behind him.

Seeing Liu Erlong ahead, with the academy's two strongest prodigies, Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing, also there, Yin Shu turned to address the people behind him.

"Everyone, our dean is just ahead."

At his words.

The eyes of the middle-aged man leading the group lit up, and he looked ahead.

The sight of Liu Erlong filled him with joy.

"Erlong!"

Dai Jinge also noticed their arrival. He put away his information panel and looked over along with Zhu Zhuqing and Liu Erlong.

"Boss Fu?"

Liu Erlong looked at the middle-aged man hurrying toward her, first surprised, then delighted.

"So they're here."

Dai Jinge recognized the group from Shrek Academy and was not surprised.

"Jinge, do you know them?"

Zhu Zhuqing blinked her beautiful eyes, her curious gaze settling on the faces of the group before them.

Dai Jinge smiled. "Zhu Zhuqing, look at that one person in the group. His features fit those of the Star Luo Imperial Family perfectly. Isn't that Dai Mubai?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked in surprise, "Could Dai Mubai have come here looking for you?"

Dai Jinge smiled. "No, it's just a coincidence."

Zhu Zhuqing carefully sensed the Soul Power fluctuations coming from Dai Mubai and muttered, "Dai Mubai's Soul Power fluctuations... are so weak. They're not even as strong as mine."

Suddenly.

She noticed that after Liu Erlong warmly conversed with those people, the atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Like a resentful wife, Liu Erlong clung to an ordinary-looking man whose face bore the marks of life's hardships.

"Oh my!"

"Jinge, look at that old man. Could he be Dean Liu's lover?"

Dai Jinge could not help laughing. "Definitely."

"Jinge, there's something really wrong with the way those people are looking at us!"

Zhu Zhuqing noticed seven people, including Dai Mubai, staring at them, their eyes filled with anger, resentment, and shock.

Dai Jinge was unconcerned. "A minor problem."