"Are you certain they're Dai Jinge, the fourth prince of Star Luo, and the Nether Duke's second daughter?"
The Alchemy Room was thick with the scent of medicinal ingredients. Dressed in black robes, Yang Wudi stood before an alchemy furnace, frowning slightly as he listened to the young man's report.
The young man looked embarrassed. "I'm not certain. I even suspect they're impostors, but I have no proof. I just thought it was better to believe they might be genuine than dismiss the possibility. They could be who they say they are."
Yang Wudi pondered for a moment. "If their identities are genuine, their martial souls must be the White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat."
"Very well. I'll see what they want."
Yang Wudi turned and left the Alchemy Room, then returned to his own room. Only after changing into a fresh set of clothes did he head to the reception hall.
Tap, tap, tap-!
Hearing footsteps, Dai Jinge looked up. When he saw a stern-faced, unsmiling middle-aged man approach, he rose with Zhu Zhuqing to greet him.
Dai Jinge smiled and cupped his hands. "You must be Yang Wudi... Senior Yang, correct?"
Zhu Zhuqing dipped into a slight bow.
Yang Wudi glanced over Dai Jinge and Zhu Zhuqing. "It isn't that I'm overly suspicious, but there are a few things I must confirm. You claim to be Star Luo's fourth prince and the Nether Duke's daughter. Do you have any proof?"
"I understand. I don't think anything could prove our identities better than our martial souls."
Dai Jinge looked at Zhu Zhuqing and nodded. A faint, pale glow then rose around him, and sharp cracks sounded throughout his body as his physique suddenly grew powerfully muscular.
His golden hair turned a mixture of white and black, predominantly white. A black 王-shaped marking appeared on his forehead, while his hands swelled and became covered in white fur. Razor-sharp tiger claws sprang out, his double-pupiled eyes turned an eerie blue, and a chilling pressure spread from him.
Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing simultaneously activated her Hell Spirit Cat possession. Dusky purple soul power flowed around her, her figure grew slender and supple, a pair of black cat ears emerged atop her head, and a long spirit-cat tail extended behind her.
Her left eye turned dark green and her right clear blue. Sharp, dark-purple claws sprang from her fingertips, and a cold, sinister aura wreathed her body.
"Clan Head Yang, you recognize the White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat martial souls, I assume?"
Yang Wudi nodded. "Please, sit."
Once all three had taken their seats, Yang Wudi cut straight to the point. "What brings you all the way from Star Luo City to seek me out?"
Dai Jinge was equally direct. "My name is Dai Jinge, and I've come to propose a deal, Clan Head Yang."
Yang Wudi narrowed his eyes slightly. "My Yang family has no intention of joining your princes' struggle for the throne. If Your Fourth Highness has come to ask me to help you seize it, I'm afraid I can only disappoint you."
Dai Jinge smiled faintly. "That's not the case. The deal I wish to discuss with you today concerns the legendary immortal herbs."
"Immortal... herbs?" Yang Wudi froze at once.
"That's right." Dai Jinge sighed. "I know a place where immortal herbs grow. Unfortunately... a Titled Douluo has made it his secluded residence. With my strength, getting inside would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."
The corner of Yang Wudi's eye twitched. "Why doesn't Your Fourth Highness ask your imperial father for help?"
Dai Jinge shook his head with a rueful chuckle.
"Clan Head Yang, your understanding of the Star Luo Imperial Family is still far too shallow."
"The current Star Luo Emperor may be my father, but that doesn't mean he'll spare no effort to help me."
"No house is more heartless than an emperor's. Those words fit our Star Luo Imperial Family best of all."
At that, Yang Wudi fell silent in thought. Only after a while did he speak. "What makes Your Fourth Highness believe I can help you? And why should I?"
Dai Jinge had already prepared his answer. "The Yang family makes its living through alchemy. Not only are you skilled at making medicines that cure illnesses and save lives, you're even more skilled at making poisons."
"And in this world, there is an immortal herb called aromatic silk beauty. It cannot neutralize poison itself, but its pollen and the fragrance it gives off can protect against poison."
"I imagine you-and indeed the entire Yang family-are eager to obtain this immortal herb, aren't you?"
Yang Wudi's expression had gone blank the moment Dai Jinge uttered the words "aromatic silk beauty."
Seeing this, Dai Jinge did not disturb Yang Wudi. Instead, he calmly took a sip of tea.
After a long while, Yang Wudi came back to his senses, his voice trembling slightly. "Could it be... that the place Your Fourth Highness mentioned has aromatic silk beauty?"
Dai Jinge nodded and said:
"Yes. I have no reason to deceive you, Clan Head Yang."
"If you're willing to cooperate, we can go there together. If there is no aromatic silk beauty there, I'll place myself entirely at your mercy."
Yang Wudi frowned in thought.
Dai Jinge said with a sigh:
"The Yang family has practiced alchemy for generations and has a profound understanding of medicinal properties. Under all heaven, there are probably few who can surpass you in this field, Clan Head Yang."
"Your reactions just now were proof enough that you know a great deal about immortal herbs. That's precisely why I've come to ask for your help."
"I'll take you to that Titled Douluo's secluded residence to search for immortal herbs and help you obtain aromatic silk beauty. In return, you must tell me everything you know about immortal herbs."
Yang Wudi said gravely, "You're very confident, and there are still many things you haven't told me."
Dai Jinge cupped his hands. "Please forgive me, Clan Head Yang. After all, you haven't agreed yet, so naturally there are some things I can't tell you."
Yang Wudi mused, "This matter... is of great consequence. I need to consider it."
"I understand."
Dai Jinge was not surprised by this answer.
After all, the danger involved was no less than climbing a mountain of blades or descending into a sea of fire.
Yang Wudi was also the pillar supporting the entire Breaking Clan. If anything happened to him, the whole clan would suffer a devastating blow and might never recover.
"In three days, whatever my decision, I will give Your Fourth Highness an answer."
Yang Wudi rose and cupped his hands.
"Very well. I'll take my leave, then."
Dai Jinge returned the gesture, then took Zhu Zhuqing's small, fair hand and said softly, "Let's go."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and followed Dai Jinge out of the Yang residence with long, unhurried strides.
"Jinge, will he agree?"
"There's a seventy percent chance he will. Aromatic silk beauty is far too important to the Breaking Clan."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, only half understanding, then asked, "Jinge, where exactly are we going?"
Dai Jinge explained, "It's the place I told you about before, where we can cultivate faster. It's in the Heaven Dou Empire's Sunset Forest."
The words "Heaven Dou Empire" immediately made Zhu Zhuqing freeze. She couldn't help thinking of Dai Mubai, who had fled Star Luo City for the Heaven Dou Empire a few days earlier.
Before you continue