"You said you're a Martial Soul master, but isn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a support-type sect? Why are you studying theory too? Could it be that you didn't awaken the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?" The four little ones were sitting at one table, while the other three sat at another. Dai Mubai asked curiously.
"There are reasons for that, naturally. My Martial Soul is also the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda." Ning Yuhao did not intend to say much on the subject. After all, if word really got out, the other factions might not be willing to let such a wildcard emerge in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They did not yet have any particularly solid ties with the heirs of other factions.
"Can you two use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Ning Yuhao changed the subject.
At the mention of this, Dai Mubai could not muster much enthusiasm either and gave a gloomy grunt of assent.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, her mind had been wandering the entire time. She had yet to fully accept what she had experienced recently. She was only a seven-year-old child, yet one day, out of nowhere, she had been told that she would become the fiancée of someone she had never met, and that she would have to cross blades with her own older sister in the future. Even now, she did not know how to face that reality.
The sister who had always treated her so well, who had played with her and given her snacks, had become an enemy she would have to fight to the death overnight. That was very hard for her to accept.
"If I remember correctly, the current eldest prince and his wife can also use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill." Ning Yuhao brought up Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.
Ning Rongrong nodded beside him as well. She was also fairly familiar with the key members and current circumstances of the major factions.
Dai Mubai snorted, his tone somewhat disdainful. "Heh, what? Are you going to tell me to give up early too, so I'll only be confined instead of losing my life?"
Watching Dai Mubai put on a brave front to conceal his fear, Ning Yuhao could not hold back a chuckle. "I never said that. Actually, I think this rule of your Star Luo Imperial Family is pretty damn stupid too."
Disliking it was one thing, but Dai Mubai was still unhappy to hear Ning Yuhao talk about his family that way. "What do you know, you little brat? This is to select the strongest heir of this generation."
"Do you really think a Xuanwu Gate succession system is so great? First, how can you be sure it'll be an overwhelming victory rather than both sides suffering grievous injuries, or even lasting damage that can't be treated? Second, this method does select what looks like the strongest heir, but you could have had two very powerful fighters." At this point, Ning Yuhao gave Dai Mubai a contemptuous look, seemingly saying that this person whose head was full of women and fighting was beyond saving. "Besides, how can you be sure the strongest will win, rather than someone who swoops in to reap the spoils?"
Hearing such a long speech all at once, Dai Mubai could not quite wrap his head around it. His mind was still stuck on the first sentence. "What's a Xuanwu Gate succession system?"
Looking into Dai Mubai's rather guileless eyes, Ning Yuhao felt a sense of helplessness for the first time. "Don't worry about those details. It's just my term for the duels between heirs in your Star Luo Imperial Family."
"Oh, oh." Only then did Dai Mubai seem to fully digest what Ning Yuhao had said. He let out an "Eh?" and continued, "That actually makes a lot of sense. Do you think it would help if I told my imperial father all this?"
"Over these thousand years, how could no one have realized this and wanted to shatter these shackles?"
By now, Dai Mubai was clearly treating Ning Yuhao as a genuine master, and Ning Yuhao had slipped into the role as well. He picked up his teacup again, blew on it, and took a sip. "Huh, still cold."
Watching Ning Yuhao act like this, Ning Rongrong covered her eyes, too embarrassed to keep watching.
Only after Ning Yuhao set down the teacup did Dai Mubai lean over eagerly and ask, "Brother... no, Master Ning! What do you think I should do? I really don't want to duel my big brother."
"It's simple." Ning Yuhao held up one finger. "What's the prerequisite for a duel between heirs?"
"The prerequisite? Being able to perform Martial Soul Fusion?"
Ning Yuhao snapped his fingers. "Exactly. So all we need to do is make it impossible for the two of you to perform Martial Soul Fusion."
At that, Zhu Zhuqing, who had seemed rather listless, suddenly perked up, her eyes burning as she stared at Ning Yuhao.
Even the adults at the other table stopped eating and looked over.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skills are incredibly rare, yet the Dai Family and the Zhu Family have members capable of Martial Soul Fusion in almost every generation. Don't you find that strange?"
Dai Mubai frowned as he answered, "What's strange about that? Everyone knows the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat can perform Martial Soul Fusion."
Ning Yuhao held out a finger and wagged it. "No, no, no. What I mean is, why haven't other Martial Soul Fusion Skills led to ties between families like those between your two families?"
"You mean...?" This time, Dai Mubai grew serious, while Zhu Zhuqing's gaze became even more fervent.
"If the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat were guaranteed to be capable of Martial Soul Fusion, there should be many such pairs in your two families, shouldn't there?"
After saying this, Ning Yuhao calmly stroked his teacup, while Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing waited beside him for him to continue.
But a long time passed without Ning Yuhao saying anything. Dai Mubai was the first to lose patience. "Master, you're absolutely right. What comes next?"
With Dai Mubai's question, Zhu Zhuqing's heart rose into her throat as well.
Looking at Dai Mubai's expectant gaze, Ning Yuhao replied, "What comes next?"
"Wait, are you messing with me?!" Dai Mubai was furious, his face flushing bright red. "What do you mean, what comes next? How to break the Martial Soul resonance, obviously!"
The light in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes dimmed as well, and a trace of sorrow appeared on her pretty little face. She could have accepted this reality if she had never glimpsed hope.
Ning Yuhao shook his head and sighed. "Ah, young people these days. Why are they so impatient?"
Ning Rongrong was the first who could not bear to listen any longer. "All right, Little Hao, stop putting on an act. If you have something to say, hurry up and say it. Look, you've made little sister Zhuqing sad."
Only when Ning Rongrong spoke up did Ning Yuhao rub his brow and smile sheepishly, dropping his masterly demeanor.
Then Ning Yuhao said to Dai Mubai, "Let me ask you a question first. For this Soul Hunting trip, did your imperial father specify which Soul Beast you were to hunt?"
"How did you know?" The flush on Dai Mubai's face had yet to fade, and now he looked stunned. He was finding that Ning Yuhao seemed to know everything.
Ning Yuhao did not answer Dai Mubai's question. Instead, he looked toward Liu Hu and his two companions, who were also listening to the four little ones' conversation.
Seeing Ning Yuhao look his way, Liu Hu could not help marveling inwardly. To possess such a disposition at so young an age-the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's heir of this generation truly is extraordinary.