"Make other plans?"
Dai Tianfeng finally spoke, the words seemingly forced out of his throat.
He slowly swept his gaze over the people below him. The chill in his eyes made the slightly plump minister who had just spoken shiver.
"What? Do you think that if we turn around and seek refuge with Dai Weisi now, he'll take us in?"
Dai Tianfeng's voice abruptly rose, tinged with self-mocking madness.
"Stop dreaming! From the moment we took his younger brother's side, we became his mortal enemies!"
"Besides, he must think he's already secured victory. Would he have any need for dogs like us, wagging our tails and begging for mercy?"
"He'd only see our heads as offerings to consecrate the banner at his coronation!"
His words were like a bucket of ice water poured over their heads, bringing everyone present to their senses.
Indeed, they had no way back. Dai Weisi's domineering conduct at court today had already made his stance clear.
Those who submitted to him would prosper; those who opposed him would perish.
Dai Tianfeng slammed the table, making the teacups jump. "Now that things have come to this, we have only one road, and we must follow it into the darkness!"
"But, Your Highness..."
Another minister spoke up, his face heavy with worry. "The gap in Soul Power Level cannot be bridged with schemes. The eldest prince is already a Soul King, while the second prince..."
"Soul Power isn't everything!"
The slightly plump minister hurried to take up the subject, hoping to make amends for his mistake. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.
"The tide of battle can change in an instant. Martial Soul counters, combat experience, reactions in the heat of battle, even luck can decide victory or defeat! The second prince is a heaven-sent genius. He may not necessarily lose!"
He paused and looked carefully at Dai Tianfeng. "Besides, Your Highness, doesn't your residence still have a treasured... Soul Bone?"
As soon as he said it, the air in the entire study seemed to freeze.
All eyes focused on Dai Tianfeng.
That Soul Bone was a treasured possession of Prince Cheng's residence, Dai Tianfeng's most precious hidden treasure.
"That Soul Bone..."
A trace of struggle and pain at the thought of parting with it flashed through Dai Tianfeng's eyes.
"Your Highness!"
Another man spoke urgently.
"You can't catch a wolf without risking your child as bait! Our lives hang in the balance. If the second prince loses, all of us will be buried with him!"
"If you keep the Soul Bone, wouldn't it just go to Dai Weisi?"
"That may be true..."
An older official frowned and raised the most crucial question.
"But what about the Titled Douluo at Dai Weisi's side? And the so-called faction behind him... Those are the thorniest problems. If we win the duel and that Titled Douluo lashes out in fury and humiliation..."
"Hmph, he wouldn't dare!"
The slightly plump minister immediately objected.
"Forces from the Soul Master World must not interfere in the internal affairs of the two great empires. That is an iron law of the continent!"
"If there really is some great sect behind Dai Weisi, they have all the more reason to obey it. Otherwise, they'd be making an enemy of the entire Star Luo Empire!"
"At most, that Titled Douluo is a deterrent, making it difficult for us to use underhanded methods. But he would never dare act within Star Luo City!"
The more he spoke, the more sense he thought it made, and his voice grew louder.
"Your Highness, let's go all the way! Invite Spirit Hall!"
"We'll say that the princes' duel concerns the very foundation of the nation, and ask Spirit Hall to send someone to witness it and ensure fairness!"
"Spirit Hall has always been eager to plant its people in our two great empires. They'll certainly agree!"
"With Spirit Hall's people present, I'd like to see whether his Titled Douluo still dares to run wild!"
His words were like a bolt of lightning, splitting the fog in everyone's minds.
That was right! Invite Spirit Hall!
This move could both ensure the "fairness" of the duel and completely pin down the forces behind Dai Weisi, making them afraid to strike at the rat for fear of breaking the vase.
Dai Tianfeng's eyes brightened little by little. The dejection vanished from his face, replaced by a gambler's madness.
He shot to his feet, his teeth grinding audibly.
"Good! That's what we'll do!"
He made up his mind. Though parting with the Soul Bone made his heart bleed, it was nothing compared to his fortune and his life.
Just then, someone knocked on the study door. A guard hurried in and dropped to one knee.
"Your Highness, the second prince and the Zhu Family's second young lady have stopped at the courier station in Flying Eagle City, a hundred li away."
"Good!"
A fierce light flashed in Dai Tianfeng's eyes.
"They've come at just the right time! Saddle the horses. We're going to Flying Eagle City now!"
Flying Eagle City, courier station.
In a fine guest room, Dai Mubai lounged comfortably against a soft couch, gently swirling a cup of fine wine.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside him, wiping her fingernails, though her expression was somewhat grave.
"Mubai, don't you think... something's strange?"
Zhu Zhuqing stopped what she was doing and spoke.
"Strange? What's strange?"
Dai Mubai took a sip of wine and asked lazily.
"It's too quiet."
Zhu Zhuqing's delicate brows drew together slightly.
"We've come all the way back from Martial Soul Holy City without even one serious attempt to ambush and kill us."
"I thought Dai Weisi's people would turn the road into a storm of blood and slaughter."
"Hahaha!"
At that, Dai Mubai burst into delighted laughter, as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world.
He set down his cup, walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, and drew her into his arms, his sinister eyes full of smugness and disdain.
"Zhu Zhuqing, my dear Zhu Zhuqing, you're thinking too much. You have no idea what state my dear elder brother is in now."
"I received word long ago. After he suffered a crushing defeat in his last fight with us and Father summoned him back, he was scared out of his wits."
"Ever since he returned, he's shut himself in his chambers, wallowing in self-pity like a resentful woman. His fighting spirit has long since been worn away!"
"He's trash now, trash waiting for me to trample underfoot! How could he still have the nerve to send anyone to kill us?"
Dai Mubai laughed even more wildly. "Right now, he's probably cowering in some corner of the palace, praying that I'll come back a little later!"
Held in his arms and listening to his confident words, Zhu Zhuqing felt the trace of unease in her heart gradually fade.
Perhaps she really had been worrying too much.
"Once I return and defeat him, Father will officially name me crown prince!"
Dai Mubai gripped her chin, his eyes shining with desire and the lust for power. "And you, Zhu Zhuqing, will be the future crown princess, the future Star Luo Empress!"
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just as the two were wrapped up in their affection, a sudden burst of urgent knocking came from outside, followed by a guard's respectful yet nervous voice.
"Your Highness! His Highness Prince Cheng has arrived!"
"Uncle Tianfeng?"
Dai Mubai froze, then frowned.
What had he come for so late?
He released Zhu Zhuqing and straightened his clothes.
"Let him in."
The door opened, and Prince Cheng, Dai Tianfeng, entered with several trusted ministers, dusty and travel-worn. Every face bore an inescapably grave expression.
"Uncle Tianfeng, what's so urgent that you had to come all the way here yourself?"
Dai Mubai went up to greet him with a smile.
Dai Tianfeng had no time for pleasantries. He went straight to the point, his voice low and urgent. "Mubai, something terrible has happened!"
"At court today, in front of His Majesty and all the civil and military officials, Dai Weisi declared that he would have a final battle with you within seven days, a fight to the death!"
The smile froze on Dai Mubai's face. "What? Him?"
"Not only has his Soul Power broken through to the Soul King level, he also... has a Titled Douluo behind him!" Dai Tianfeng's next words struck Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing in the heart like a heavy hammer.
"A Soul King? A Titled Douluo?!"
Dai Mubai cried out involuntarily. The composure and smugness vanished from his face in an instant, replaced by disbelieving shock.
How was that possible? How long had he been gone?
How could Dai Weisi have shot up to Soul King like a rocket? And how had a Titled Douluo appeared behind him?
Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face also turned deathly pale. She understood better than Dai Mubai what this meant.
Seeing Dai Mubai's shocked expression, Dai Tianfeng cursed inwardly, though his face betrayed nothing.
He turned his hand and took a jade box out of his Soul Tool.
When the jade box opened, a fierce, swift presence instantly filled the entire room.
It was a left leg bone, blue-black throughout and covered in peculiar markings like a leopard's fur. The lines of the bone were smooth and full of explosive power, as though a shadow of the wind had been sealed inside it.
"This is... the Swift Shadow Swift Leopard Left Leg Bone!"
Dai Mubai recognized it at a glance.
After all, as the second prince, he naturally knew about Prince Cheng's Soul Bone.
Sun De hi, his breathing instantly quickened, and his eyes filled with greed.
This was a Soul Bone nearly thirty thousand years old, renowned for its speed and explosive power. It was exactly what a Power Attack System Soul Master like him desired most!
"Mubai,"
Dai Tianfeng's voice was full of enticement. "Dai Weisi's Soul Power is higher than yours. If you stay as you are, you may have a hard time dealing with him!"
"Besides, he declared that he would defeat you within seven days! You have far too little time!"
"This Soul Bone is my treasured possession. Now, I'm giving it to you!"
He closed the jade box and held it out to Dai Mubai.
"There's only one condition. Within seven days, you must win!"
"As long as you win, everyone in Prince Cheng's residence, along with all the ministers allied with me, will acknowledge you as our sole sovereign!"
"If you lose... all of us will die!"
Looking at the Soul Bone before him and hearing Dai Tianfeng's words, Dai Mubai felt the shock in his heart swiftly give way to wild joy and ambition.
A Soul King?
So what?
What of a Titled Douluo?
No one could interfere in the duel!
He was already a level forty-seven Soul King. Once he absorbed this superb Swift Shadow Swift Leopard Left Leg Bone, his strength was bound to rise again!
Perhaps he might even have a chance to break through to level fifty Soul Power!
Besides, he and Zhu Zhuqing had eaten hundred-thousand-year-old Immortal Herbs!
When the time came, who would win and who would lose remained to be seen!
"Good!"
Dai Mubai snatched the jade box, a sinister light blazing in his eyes.
"Rest assured, Uncle! Dai Weisi is nothing. Even if he's had a stroke of dog-shit luck, he's still someone I've defeated before!"
"Once I succeed, I will make you prince regent, Uncle, and we'll rule the Star Luo Empire together!"
"It's a deal!"
Those were exactly the words Dai Tianfeng had wanted to hear.
"In that case, I'll absorb the Soul Bone immediately!"
Dai Mubai could hardly wait.
"You can return first, Uncle."
"We'll rest here for a day and stabilize our realms. Early the morning after tomorrow, we'll return to the imperial city! I'll show everyone who the true future of the Star Luo Empire is!"
"Good. Then we won't disturb you."
Dai Tianfeng nodded and gave Dai Mubai a long look, then turned and left with his people.