"Are you Dai Lingfeng?"
Caught stealing glances, Xu Jiujiu simply walked up to the Dai brothers without a hint of embarrassment, holding a wineglass and looking like a little grown-up.
Even so, she couldn't suppress the delight on her face.
Clearly,
she was very pleased with Dai Lingfeng.
Dai Lingfeng wasn't much more handsome than Dai Huabin. She hated Dai Huabin, yet thought Dai Lingfeng was very handsome.
With Dai Lingfeng's talent, his looks and bearing hardly mattered. Even if he had been an ugly fatty, Xu Jiujiu could have accepted him.
With that kind of talent as a foundation,
the same handsome looks were worth far more!
What a wonderful surprise!
"Princess Jiujiu."
Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin hurriedly stood and bowed, then withdrew elsewhere,
leaving Dai Lingfeng and Xu Jiujiu alone.
"That's me. You're Princess Jiujiu, right?"
Dai Lingfeng rose unhurriedly.
"Mm."
"Tomorrow, you'll be my fiancé. Please take good care of me from now on."
Xu Jiujiu had been trained in royal etiquette and was usually very dignified, but she was in such a good mood now that she was a little giddy.
Her status as a princess made her seem all the more playful and cute.
Although Dai Lingfeng had no interest in this little kid, he couldn't bring himself to dislike her, either.
"Please take good care of me too."
They weren't officially engaged yet, so it wouldn't be appropriate to get too close to Xu Jiujiu now. Dai Lingfeng deliberately kept a little distance.
"I just heard your brother talking about your Self-Created Soul Skills. You're amazing, creating your own Soul Skills at your age."
Xu Jiujiu tried to start a conversation with that. Her eavesdropping hadn't been for nothing.
Heaven knew how shocked she was.
As if his talent weren't enough, his comprehension was so high, and he was so handsome...
He was simply perfect, without a single flaw.
"Just a few paltry tricks."
Dai Lingfeng gave the same answer as before.
Was there any technical skill involved in the Hell Spirit Cat's first three Soul Skills?
"Our Star Crown Martial Soul can be used for both power attacks and support. I'll take the support path and become your most reliable helper."
Xu Jiujiu presented her pledge of loyalty.
The Star Crown Martial Soul had two paths: the Power Attack System and the Auxiliary System.
She had originally planned to take the Power Attack System path.
The princess had dreamed of being a Power Attack System soul master.
But the Star Crown Martial Soul's power attacks weren't worth mentioning before Dai Lingfeng.
Nor did Dai Lingfeng need that little bit of attack power from her.
It would be like adding flowers to brocade: better than nothing.
The Auxiliary System was different.
The Star Crown Martial Soul's support abilities were not even inferior to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's, because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was limited to seven rings, while they could cultivate to nine!
Once she became a Titled Douluo,
just how terrifying would Dai Lingfeng's combat power be with the support of an Auxiliary System Titled Douluo?
If she took the Auxiliary System path, Xu Jiujiu could be of greater use to Dai Lingfeng.
Adding flowers to brocade was no match for delivering charcoal in a snowstorm!
Those words would always ring true.
So she went all in on being a support.
"I thank Your Highness for your trust. Rest assured, Princess. With me here, anyone who wants to hurt you will have to step over my corpse first."
Xu Jiujiu taking the support path to assist him was, of course, something Dai Lingfeng was happy to see.
As for the promise,
he was just taking a leaf out of Tang San's book. It cost him nothing.
"Mm!"
Xu Jiujiu nodded firmly, her eyes glimmering.
She took Dai Lingfeng's promise to heart.
Anyone who wanted to hurt her would have to step over Dai Lingfeng's corpse first?
Xu Jiujiu was deeply moved.
Only a man like this was worth giving up her power attacks for and supporting with all her heart!
"Tsk."
Tang Hao, drinking nearby, clicked his tongue in displeasure.
Lingfeng was a boy of unmatched talent. How could he be handed over to a useless princess?
A heaven's chosen like him would be hard to find again in this world.
He could only belong to their Wutong!
The White Tiger Lineage and the Star Crown Xu Family might be getting along famously now, still in their honeymoon period,
but he had already told the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape to bring Tang Wutong over tomorrow.
Once Tang Wutong stayed by his side,
she and Dai Lingfeng would be childhood sweethearts, together day and night. Who would have the last laugh remained to be seen!
Without affection to sustain it, the engagement between the White Tiger Lineage and the Star Crown Xu Family was nothing but empty words on paper.
"All right, Lingfeng, the banquet is ending. See you tomorrow."
"I'm looking forward to seeing how you do tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is your day to shine. May your martial fortune flourish!"
As the banquet ended, Xu Jiujiu was reluctant to leave.
Time had passed too quickly.
She hadn't even had a proper chat with Dai Lingfeng yet.
But when she thought about how she would officially become Dai Lingfeng's fiancée tomorrow,
she grew excited and eager.
Sooner was better. If only time would pass a little faster.
"Your Highness, see you tomorrow."
Dai Lingfeng bid Xu Jiujiu farewell.
He didn't know why, but he couldn't shake a bad feeling.
It seemed...
Some terrible disaster would happen at tomorrow's engagement banquet.
The next day,
at four in the morning.
Dai Lingfeng got up early, washed and dressed, then followed Dai Hao and the others to the imperial palace.
As hosts, they had to arrive ahead of time.
They had to make sure nothing went wrong and that every arrangement was thorough and proper.
After all, quite a few important figures had been invited to this banquet. They couldn't afford the slightest neglect.
Xu Jiawei had also arrived early and was taking the matter very seriously.
There were also many retainers of the Star Luo Empire present, all of them Titled Douluo. They looked at Dai Lingfeng with great appreciation and satisfaction.
Everyone oversaw the venue.
The Star Luo Imperial Family had decorated the place with great ceremony. Ornamental golden pomegranate trees and golden persimmon trees stood throughout the courtyard.
"Lingfeng, it's still early. Go have some desserts with Jiujiu, then catch up on your sleep in the rear courtyard. Just rest and play."
"When it's time, a maid will come and fetch you."
Xu Jiawei smiled and rested a hand on Dai Lingfeng's shoulder, his tone indulgent.
There really was no need for Dai Lingfeng, a six-year-old child, to help with things here. They could handle it themselves.
"Your Majesty, you spoil him too much."
"What boy from the White Tiger family is that delicate?"
Dai Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Why did it feel like Xu Jiawei doted on his son even more than he did?
"Hmph. Am I the emperor, or are you?"
"Are you saying my word carries less weight than yours?"
Xu Jiawei snorted, immediately resorting to slapping a label on him.
"No, no, no."
"Lingfeng, you'd better go rest. If you don't, His Majesty will make life impossible for me."
Dai Hao admitted defeat on the spot.
He was already slapping labels on people. Who could beat him at that?
"All right!"
Dai Lingfeng decided it would be more respectful to obey than to decline.
He happily polished off a few portions of dessert, then found Xu Jiujiu, and the two went to play in the rear courtyard.
It was still early,
but guests had already begun arriving one after another.
Before long,
the entire Heavenly Star Garden was bustling.
Huo Yuhao also arrived with the group from Shrek Academy.
"So this is the imperial palace?"
Along the way, Huo Yuhao was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, his eyes opened wide. Everything he saw seemed strange and new.
It was his first time attending such a formal occasion,
such a grand event,
and Huo Yuhao was very excited.
But he hadn't forgotten why he had come.
To crash the party!
It would be best to smash Dai Lingfeng's party to pieces. The more thoroughly he wrecked it, the better!