Reborn as Dai Mubai, the prodigal never turned back

Star Luo Empire, imperial palace, training grounds.

The sun blazed overhead, and battle cries rang endlessly across the grounds.

The eldest prince, Dai Weisi, stood bare-chested, circulating all his Soul Power as he hammered punch after punch into the black iron post before him.

His expression was focused, his blows resounding with heavy thuds as his sweat scattered across the ground.

The rules of the Star Luo Imperial Family had always been cruel.

Competition between princes was never an ordinary struggle between brothers for favor, but a battle of real blades and spears to eliminate one another.

Whoever failed to win in the end would find a cup of poisoned wine awaiting him.

Dai Mubai stood at the edge of the training grounds.

Eight years old, he had already undergone his Martial Soul Awakening. His innate Soul Power was nearly equal to his elder brother's, and his talent was not the slightest bit inferior.

In such circumstances, he should have been working harder than anyone.

Yet there he was, legs crossed, reclining on a bamboo chair beneath the shade of a tree,

holding a bag of candied fruit and tossing the pieces into his mouth one by one, chewing with relish.

His private tutor stood beside him, frowning deeply at the sight.

"Your Highness, perseverance is the key to cultivation.

The more pressure you feel, the more you encounter bottlenecks, the harder you should look for ways to break through,

rather than basking in the sun here."

"Got it."

Dai Mubai answered carelessly, without even lifting his eyelids.

The tutor's breath caught in his chest, finally turning into a long sigh as he swept his sleeves and left.

No one knew that this eight-year-old prince had long since been reborn.

He already knew the path he would take in this life, and he remembered the man who had led them charging to the summit.

Tang San.

In his previous life, relying on his White Tiger Martial Soul, Dai Mubai had followed behind Tang San,

fighting his way from Shrek Academy to the rank of Titled Douluo, before finally ascending to the Divine Realm in imposing glory.

Becoming a god.

For the Star Luo Imperial Family, it was something eighteen generations of ancestors would never even have dared imagine.

So what was the rush?

As for cultivation, once he entered Shrek and reunited with Little San,

someone would naturally lead them down the road to godhood once more.

Given another life, who would he be doing justice to if he did not enjoy himself properly?

Another morning came.

Xu Fan woke from his dreams, feeling that he had slept especially comfortably.

He stretched deeply, raising both arms above his head and rotating them twice.

Then he propped himself up into a sitting position and habitually tried kicking his legs downward.

Both legs remained completely numb.

"Tsk."

He could not help muttering inwardly.

When other people transmigrate, they at least get a system. Even the less fortunate ones can awaken a special Martial Soul.

But when it comes to me...

Isn't this starting hand a little too shabby?

Of course, complaints were only complaints.

He knew full well that the problem with his legs had not begun just a day or two ago.

He would keep looking for a solution, little by little.

Just then, someone pushed the door open from outside.

Qian Renxue walked in.

Xu Fan could tell at a glance that she seemed rather out of sorts today, a faint trace of weariness lingering between her brows.

"Brother, did you sleep badly again last night?"

Qian Renxue's steps paused slightly.

It was not that she had slept badly. She had spent another sleepless night standing in the courtyard.

The things Xu Fan had said over the past few days kept circling through her mind.

They were not something she could digest in a short while.

"It's nothing. I just had some matters to handle."

Qian Renxue gave an offhand answer and sat down beside the bed.

Xu Fan did not press her.

As he saw it, his brother lived in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace and surely had plenty to keep him busy each day.

Occasionally getting too little rest was normal enough.

Qian Renxue glanced at him and asked with concern,

"By the way, how are your legs now? Can you feel anything?"

Xu Fan shook his head.

"Same as always. I can't feel a thing."

At that, he lowered his head and glanced at his legs.

He felt utterly helpless.

He wanted to go outside for a walk too, to see what this real Douluo Continent was actually like.

Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying,

"I know a Soul Master in the palace who has some medical knowledge.

I'll have him come over in a while and give you a thorough examination."

Xu Fan was startled at first, then his eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Brother, you can actually get a Soul Master to treat me?"

Xu Fan immediately perked up.

On second thought, it made sense.

His brother was doing well in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, so knowing a Soul Master or two with some medical knowledge hardly seemed strange.

Besides, his brother had actually been keeping his injured legs in mind all along.

That filled Xu Fan's heart with warmth.

Watching his happy expression, Qian Renxue nodded gently.

"There's no need to stand on ceremony with me."

She said nothing more and soon rose and left the room.

Watching her retreating figure, Xu Fan could not help feeling moved.

Sure enough, there's no one more dependable than my own brother!

Before long, the door opened again.

This time, a plainly dressed middle-aged man entered.

He wore no conspicuous adornments and looked like an ordinary Soul Master.

Snake Lance Douluo, She Long.

Qian Renxue followed him inside and introduced him.

"Little brother, his surname is She. Just call him Elder She."

Qian Renxue had brought She Long to examine Xu Fan's leg condition partly because she wanted to learn more about Xu Fan's circumstances,

including his physical condition.

It was also because this younger brother who had suddenly barged into her life had made her genuinely care a little.

Xu Fan hurriedly greeted him.

"Elder She, sorry for the trouble."

"No need for courtesy. Let me look at your legs first."

She Long wasted no words, walking straight to the bedside to begin examining Xu Fan's legs.

First, he observed them carefully.

After so long without being able to walk, the muscles in Xu Fan's legs had visibly atrophied.

Then She Long extended his fingers and gently pressed several key points on Xu Fan's legs, watching his reactions.

Xu Fan lay there cooperatively, but could not help feeling a little nervous.

What if they really could be cured?

Wouldn't that mean I could get out of bed and walk from now on?

Just thinking about it filled Xu Fan with anticipation.

After examining their outward condition, She Long closed his eyes slightly, drawing upon an extremely faint thread of Soul Power and slowly probing Xu Fan's legs with it.

The functioning of Soul Power, conduction through the meridians-no abnormality could escape a Titled Douluo's perception.

Yet as the examination progressed, She Long's brows slowly furrowed.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his expression somewhat graver.

"How is it?"

Qian Renxue spoke first.

She Long considered his words for a moment before slowly saying,

"I'm afraid the problem with these legs isn't simply poor circulation of blood and Qi.

During my examination just now, I found that conduction through the meridians was highly abnormal,

and certain areas responded very weakly to Soul Power."

At that, he glanced at Xu Fan's legs again.

"Moreover, the injury has persisted for too long, and the leg muscles have already visibly atrophied.

I'm afraid ordinary medicinal treatment alone won't be enough for recovery."

Xu Fan's heart sank as he listened.

Although Elder She had not outright said it was incurable, his words did not sound particularly optimistic.

Xu Fan immediately grew anxious.

"Elder She, please don't give up on treating me!"

Qian Renxue glanced at him, then turned to She Long.

"Elder She, please think of another way."

Her tone remained calm, but had grown more earnest.

She Long pondered briefly, then nodded.

"I'll go back and study this carefully. We can't determine the precise cause yet. Administering medicine rashly could worsen the injury instead.

I'll do my best to find a suitable treatment."

Hearing this, Xu Fan finally relaxed a little.

At least he had not been handed a death sentence outright.

"Then I'm counting on you!"

She Long packed up his things, rose, and left without delay.

The room fell quiet again.

Qian Renxue sat back down beside the bed, watched him for a while, then suddenly spoke.

"Little brother."

"Hm? What is it, Brother?"

"That Tang San you mentioned yesterday..."

Qian Renxue paused briefly, then asked,

"I'm curious. He must have gone through a great deal along the way, right?"

Tang San did indeed possess exceptional talent and an unusual background.

But the Douluo Continent had never lacked people with outstanding talent.

Why did it have to be him?

Merely knowing that Tang San would become a god in the future was useless.

What she wanted to know was which opportunities, which choices, and just what he had relied on to reach the very end.

After hearing her question, Xu Fan immediately understood what she meant.

Despite everything they had talked about yesterday, his brother clearly still had not heard enough.

That was normal too.

After all, Tang San was the novel's protagonist.

He cleared his throat, a somewhat subtle expression appearing on his face.

"Him? Actually, he nearly got screwed over badly."