But he soon figured it out. This increase in Soul Power probably had nothing to do with the Soul Ring's age, but instead came from the Immortal Herb singular velvet sky chrysanthemum, the Soul Bone he had previously fused with, and the various supreme treasures he had consumed.
Unlike a Soul Master absorbing a Soul Beast's Soul Ring, a Soul Ring condensed using a Soul Beast's origin provided only the Soul Ring itself and the physical transformation it brought.
It did not provide the excess Soul Power that spilled over from an over-age soul ring.
By Dai Mubai's estimate, he would still have plenty of Soul Power left after condensing his second soul ring.
He just did not know whether he could directly condense his third Soul Ring then.
He did not rush to continue condensing his second soul ring. Instead, he planned to consolidate his foundation and begin studying Indestructible Vajra along the way.
Over the following days, Dai Mubai cultivated quietly.
Then, less than half a month later, news arrived.
The second prince was dead.
Supposedly, there had been an accident.
Moreover, that dear elder brother of his had sent people to invite him over.
Rather than an invitation, it was more a matter of bringing people to force their way in.
"It's about time I left!"
Dai Mubai had intended to slip away after condensing his first soul ring all along.
He had merely been studying Indestructible Vajra during this time.
Now, he happened to have a suitable excuse.
"Bye-bye to you!"
After packing his belongings, Dai Mubai activated his concealment Soul Tool and quietly slipped out of the palace.
He had simply run away.
"Your Majesty, the th-third prince is missing?"
Not long after Dai Mubai left, his absence was discovered, and they immediately reported it to the Star Luo Emperor.
"Missing?"
"When did he go missing?"
Upon learning this, the Star Luo Emperor's first thought was that Dai Weisi had harmed him.
After all, Dai Mubai's act of playing the fool had deceived even him, to the point that he had grown disappointed in the boy.
"W-we don't know..."
The subordinate hurriedly reported.
"What did you say?"
"You don't know?"
"You mean to tell me that a simpleton without even a Soul Ring somehow disappeared under your watch?"
The Star Luo Emperor flew into a rage upon hearing this.
Although the Star Luo Empire's inherited rules permitted competition between blood brothers, that did not mean their subordinates could participate.
Once they became involved, it was an entirely different matter.
Clearly, the Star Luo Emperor now believed that someone had helped Dai Weisi take action and carried Dai Mubai away-or secretly eliminated him.
"Investigate!"
The Star Luo Emperor was truly furious. If things really were as he suspected, then they had truly crossed the imperial family's bottom line.
At that point, it would no longer be something that could end with simply killing a few people.
Soon, the Soul Masters responsible for investigating and tracking began taking action.
"Your Majesty, the third prince, he... he left the imperial city and headed straight for the Star Luo Empire."
"Moreover, according to the intelligence we obtained, the third prince is not a simpleton. He is exceptionally clever."
Someone soon arrived to report.
Although Dai Mubai had concealed his aura with a Soul Tool, it had only bought him some time.
The imperial family had Soul Masters who specialized in tracking. A Soul Tool could conceal his aura, but it could not conceal his scent.
Thus, the situation had come to this.
"He ran away!"
Hearing that Dai Mubai had not been killed by Dai Weisi but had instead run away, the Star Luo Emperor froze briefly before a smile appeared on his face.
It was a very happy smile.
"Good, good, good. Very good."
"As expected of my son. He hid and disguised himself for so many years that he even fooled me."
Upon learning this, the Star Luo Emperor was not angry at all. On the contrary, he was delighted.
In his eyes, Dai Mubai had made a good move-a very good move.
Remaining within the Star Luo Imperial Family, with such a vast gap in age and cultivation, meant trapping himself in a predicament.
Only by leaving could he find a way to survive, earn the right to contend, and have a chance of winning.
This was very good indeed.
If there was one shortcoming, it was that he had left alone. He should have taken his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing, with him. That would have been the best choice.
"Enshrined Douluo Black Panther, follow Mubai. From today onward, you will be fully responsible for his safety. Unless he encounters a life-or-death crisis, you need not intervene."
After a little thought, the Star Luo Emperor issued his order.
This Enshrined Douluo Black Panther was the youngest Soul Douluo in their Star Luo Empire. His Martial Soul was the nether shadow leopard, and his Soul Power was at rank 81.
He was someone in the Star Luo Empire who had a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo.
Sending him to protect Dai Mubai was enough to show how much importance this Star Luo Emperor placed on Dai Mubai.
"As you command!"
As a young man's voice rang out, a dark silhouette appeared in the great hall. After bowing respectfully, he left without lingering.
At the Spirit Cat Duke's Mansion, Zhu Zhuqing gazed at the Storage Soul Tool and ring in her hands, somewhat dazed.
Only six years old, she had not initially understood what becoming Dai Mubai's fiancée would entail. But ever since she awakened her Martial Soul, her elder sister, who had always treated her well, had begun treating her coldly.
Servants would also whisper about her behind her back.
These experiences had made her understand what awaited her in the future.
All along, she had thought this was how the rest of her life would be.
She had never expected to learn, not long ago, that her fiancé was not a fool.
Before leaving, he had even left her gifts and said that she alone should look at them and must never tell anyone else.
I don't know why you ran away, but you must have your own difficulties.
Don't worry. Once I become stronger, I'll come find you.
Clutching the letter and Storage Soul Tool in her hands, Zhu Zhuqing silently swore an oath.
As for Dai Mubai, he was already on his way to the Heaven Dou Empire.
He had detected that Soul Douluo the moment the man approached.
Although the man had concealed himself very well, Dai Mubai had still seen through his concealment thanks to his powerful soul foundation and Purple Demon Eye at the peak of the Subtlety Realm.
Of course, it was also possible that the man had grown a little careless because he thought Dai Mubai was merely a Soul Master without even a Soul Ring.
That was what had allowed him to discover the man so easily.
Knowing that the Star Luo Emperor had sent him for protection, Dai Mubai said nothing further.
He rented a carriage and headed straight for the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial city.
As for Shrek Academy, he would wait a while before going there.
The last time he went to the Heaven Dou Empire, he had intended to make some arrangements, but unfortunately, he had run into Qian Daoliu.
So he had made arrangements elsewhere instead.
This time, he was heading to the Heaven Dou Empire for the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well that had not yet been taken.
The other Immortal Herbs could be harvested and taken away in advance, but the octagonal mysterious ice grass and infernal delicate apricot could not.
Once harvested, they could not be preserved at all, and their medicinal potency would fade with time.
Most importantly, consuming these two Immortal Herbs outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was courting death.
It was also for this reason that he had not condensed his second soul ring.
Before you continue