In Star Luo City, within the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, lay a courtyard somewhat more secluded than the residences of Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin.
The original Dai Youheng, a hopeless simp, still looked rather pale. He leaned against the window, staring at the withered branches in the courtyard outside, his eyes hollow and desolate.
Although the palm print on his chest had faded under the effects of precious medicines applied externally and taken internally, the humiliation of losing in just three moves and Xu Jiujiu's cold, disdainful gaze kept echoing through his mind like a nightmare.
"Jiujiu... Princess Jiujiu... She's clearly about my age, so why is her soul power cultivation so much higher than mine..." he muttered, his voice full of resentment and self-doubt.
He was fourteen that year, and his soul power had only just passed rank thirty, yet fifteen-year-old Xu Jiujiu was already a Soul King! The gap between them was like a chasm cleaving the heavens.
Unless they were someone like Huo Yuhao, blessed with immense fortune and equipped with multiple top-tier martial souls and soul spirit cheat accessories, an ordinary Soul Elder really could not last even three moves against a Soul King.
Yet this crushing setback did not bring him to his senses or turn his attention back to his own cultivation. Instead, it only strengthened his resolve to cling to Huo Yuhao's coattails.
"It doesn't matter. I still have Yuhao!" The flame of hope rekindled in the simp Youheng's eyes-a twisted hope that placed his entire fate in someone else's hands. "Once we're back at Shrek and Yuhao returns from the Far North with his second martial soul, he'll soar into the heavens and shock the whole academy! He acknowledges me as his older brother! In a few more years, when Yuhao becomes a Titled Douluo, or even something stronger, I'll beg him to approach the Star Luo Imperial Family and propose on my behalf! When that happens, to win over a future supreme powerhouse like Yuhao, the imperial family will most likely agree to marry Princess Jiujiu to me, even if they don't want to!"
He immersed himself in the beautiful dream he had woven, as though he could already see the day he would marry Xu Jiujiu by borrowing Huo Yuhao's might.
But a moment later, a trace of distress crossed his face. "But that would still be a political marriage... I truly love Jiujiu, and I want her to truly love me too..."
Thus, as soon as his injuries had healed enough for him to get out of bed and walk, the simp Youheng resumed his daily routine of groveling. He carefully prepared some mild medicinal herbs and accessories said to benefit female Soul Masters' cultivation, then once again tried to seek an audience with Xu Jiujiu.
The outcome was never in doubt. His gifts were returned untouched, and he did not even glimpse the princess. All he received was a servant's icy reply: "Her Highness is occupied with cultivation and has no time to receive visitors. Please conduct yourself with dignity, Young Master Dai."
Clutching the returned gifts, the simp Youheng stood in the cold wind outside the Imperial Palace, yet his face bore a resolute expression that said, Princess Jiujiu really does work hard. All the more reason I can't give up.
He firmly believed that "sincerity can move mountains," and that one day, his devoted heart would melt the iceberg that was Princess Jiujiu.
Even his older brothers could no longer stomach this stubbornly deluded, utterly spineless behavior.
That day, the eldest son, Dai Yueheng, who had also returned home for the academy's holiday, encountered him in the garden.
Looking at this younger half-brother, born of a concubine, who seemed so forlorn yet still harbored unrealistic fantasies in his eyes, Dai Yueheng frowned.
Although he only valued Dai Huabin, who shared his mother, and paid Dai Youheng no mind at all, Dai Youheng still carried the Dai Family's blood and possessed a top-tier mutated martial soul. Such degradation was a disgrace to the family.
"Youheng." Dai Yueheng spoke with the authority of an eldest brother. "A man born into this world should build his foundation on his own strength. You possess a top-tier martial soul like the evil shadow demon tiger, and your innate soul power was rank nine. Why has your cultivation progressed so slowly? Huabin is younger than you, yet his soul power has already surpassed yours! You spend all your thoughts on useless fawning and flattery. You're putting the cart before the horse!"
Dai Huabin happened to pass by at that moment. Hearing this, he gave an undisguised sneer. "Big Brother, what's the point of telling this trash any of that? Rotten mud can't be plastered onto a wall! His groveling has all but dragged the pride of our Dai Family's white tiger martial soul through the dirt! I think when his martial soul mutated, his brain must have turned stupid along with it!"
As a concubine's son, he inevitably faced suppression from the legitimate sons. Dai Yueheng was tolerable; he merely looked down on him and still showed a little of an eldest brother's bearing. Dai Huabin, however, had bullied Dai Youheng plenty.
The simp Youheng flushed scarlet under their rebukes, but he dared not challenge his legitimate elder brother's authority, much less provoke Dai Huabin, whose talent was greater and whom their father valued more. He could only lower his head and answer meekly, "You're right to reprimand me, Big Brother. I understand."
Yet deep within his lowered eyes lurked a trace of resentment and secret superiority. What do you know? You have no idea who's standing behind me. He's a future god! Once Yuhao grows stronger, you so-called legitimate sons will have to watch my face before you act! You look down on me now, but one day you'll regret it!
It never occurred to him that status gained by relying on others was, in the end, a castle in the air. Nor did he consider whether Huo Yuhao would truly be willing to forcibly interfere in an imperial princess's marriage for his sake.
Meanwhile, in a private seating area beside a window at an upscale restaurant in Star Luo City's busiest district.
Another Dai Youheng sat leisurely by the window, having ordered a pot of clear tea and several delicate pastries. His gaze seemed to drift casually over the bustling crowd below, yet its focus remained faintly fixed on the imposing White Tiger Duke's Mansion in the distance.
He had been observing from here for several days. Thanks to his outrageously faint presence, he could even stroll brazenly up to the outskirts of the Duke's Mansion and listen to the servants chatting inside, gathering information about that other "self."
The Snow Empress in his mind seemed to be growing impatient. "Youheng, you've been watching him for several days now. When are you planning to act? It looks like he went out again today, heading toward the Imperial Palace. He's probably off to hit another brick wall. This is a perfect opportunity."
Dai Youheng lifted his teacup and blew gently across it, a playful smile touching his lips. "Sister Snow Empress, why do you seem more anxious than I am?"
"Hmph!" The Snow Empress snorted, her voice filled with undisguised disgust. "I simply can't stand watching it anymore! He has a face exactly like yours, yet his conduct is worlds apart-servile, cowardly, placing all his hopes in others. He's simply... simply an utter disgrace! Simps deserve a miserable death!"
Since the Snow Empress had already entrusted herself to Dai Youheng, she naturally regarded herself as being on his side.
She paused, her tone turning serious and practical. "Besides, you two are a same-origin different-form identical entity. If you kill him, you might be able to devour everything he has directly, including his soul power cultivation of over rank thirty and that portion of his presence! That way, you'll be able to live normally and instantly make up for all those wasted years. Your soul power level will soar, bringing you straight up to the pace of those so-called geniuses! You're fourteen now, yet your martial soul has only just awakened. You've already missed the ideal foundation-building period between six and twelve. You're starting far too late!"
Before you continue