Imperial Brother, You Absolutely Mustn't! A Spar Between Brothers Should Stop Before Either of Us Gets Hurt
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire arena fell deathly silent.
A pin could have been heard dropping.
Everyone stared blankly at the man standing on the raised platform with a calm expression, as though a spell had frozen them in place.
Without using a Soul Ring?
Take one attack from his opponent?
Did he know what he was saying?
Dai Mubai's expression briefly twisted from shock into wild delight.
He almost suspected there was something wrong with his ears, or that Dai Weisi had damaged his brain during his secluded cultivation.
Even if Dai Weisi didn't know he had broken through to Soul King and had a Soul Bone, a Soul King trying to withstand a Power Attack System Soul Ancestor's attack without using a Soul Skill probably wouldn't be able to take it!
What arrogance! What conceit!
This was a heaven-sent opportunity. Dai Weisi was offering his face for him to slap and handing him the throne on a silver platter!
He forcibly suppressed the joy that nearly burst from his heart, forced a troubled expression onto his face, and spoke in anguish:
"Imperial Brother, you absolutely mustn't! A spar between brothers should stop before either of us gets hurt."
"If you don't use your Soul Rings, fists and feet have no eyes. If I accidentally hurt you, making Imperial Father worry and giving the world cause to laugh at us, then... what would we do?"
His words were heartfelt and sincere, as though he truly had Dai Weisi's interests at heart.
At once, many people in the viewing stands showed their approval.
"His Highness the Second Prince is indeed kindhearted!"
"Yes, even now, he still cares about brotherly affection. The First Prince, on the other hand, is being far too overconfident!"
"He simply doesn't know whether to live or die!"
"Alas, I think the First Prince knows he's bound to lose and wants to make his defeat look more dignified this way. What a pity-it only makes him look more disgraceful."
Prince Cheng Dai Tianfeng stroked his beard, the smug sneer on his lips nearly stretching to his ears.
He looked at Dai Mubai with satisfaction.
Well acted, brilliantly acted!
That was how it should be done: first secure the moral high ground, then utterly crush him with thunderous means, leaving him unable to rise again for the rest of his life!
On the raised platform, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Weisi, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.
Clearly, she didn't understand why Dai Weisi was being so overconfident either.
Never mind taking a blow from Dai Mubai without using a Soul Ring-even if it were a blow from her, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand it, would he?
On the other side, however, Zhu Zhuyun simply took a step back, her beautiful eyes filled with complete trust in him.
On the imperial throne, the Star Luo Emperor's profound gaze lingered on Dai Weisi for a moment.
He, too, was surprised. He could no longer see through his eldest son.
Even so, he didn't speak up to stop him.
A man of the Dai Family had to bear the consequences of his own words.
Watching Dai Mubai's clumsy performance, Dai Weisi found it rather amusing. He couldn't even be bothered to say another word, merely asking in an indifferent tone:
"Begin?"
Those words were like an invisible slap across the face of Dai Mubai, who was still putting on his act.
All his hypocrisy and groundwork became a clown's one-man show in the face of Dai Weisi's indifference.
Dai Mubai's face flushed red, and a trace of venom flashed deep in his eyes.
Fine. Since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll grant your wish!
"Hahaha, interesting, truly interesting!"
The Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall clapped his hands and laughed as he stepped forward, his old eyes gleaming with the eagerness of someone who never minded a bigger spectacle.
"Since His Highness the First Prince has made this proposal, and His Highness the Second Prince has already 'tried to dissuade him,' why not proceed on those terms?"
He looked at the two of them. "Your Highnesses, do either of you object?"
Dai Mubai's heart was already blooming with joy, but he maintained a reluctant expression and sighed:
"Since Imperial Brother insists, then... Mubai has no choice but to oblige."
A flash of ruthlessness and greed passed deep within his eyes.
He had already decided to cripple Dai Weisi completely with this one attack, leaving him no chance of ever rising again!
"Very well!"
The Platinum Bishop declared in a loud voice, "I hereby announce that the princes' duel has officially begun!"
"In the first round, His Highness the Second Prince will attack first, and His Highness the First Prince will defend! By their agreement, the First Prince may not use the power of any Soul Ring during this round!"
His voice, amplified by Soul Power, spread throughout the Great Soul Arena, nailing the seemingly absurd wager firmly in place.
"Roar-"
The moment he finished speaking, Dai Mubai couldn't wait to throw back his head and let out a tiger's roar.
Brilliant golden light erupted from his body. His figure grew in stages within the light, his muscles bulged, golden fur covered his entire body, and a clear "Wang" mark appeared on his forehead.
Evil Eye White Tiger, Martial Soul Possession!
Immediately afterward, five Soul Rings rose one after another from beneath his feet.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple!
Five Soul Rings, representing Soul King cultivation!
"He really is a Soul King! Heavens, His Highness the Second Prince has actually broken through to level fifty!"
"Such talent has been seen only a handful of times in the empire's thousand-year history!"
Cries of astonishment rose all over the viewing stands. The officials who had still held a sliver of hope for Dai Weisi now turned deathly pale.
The potential represented by a level fifty-one Soul King who was not yet eighteen was even more astonishing!
The dignitaries in the viewing stands were collectively struck speechless, their eyes wide as though they had seen a ghost.
Prince Cheng Dai Tianfeng was so excited that his face turned red, and he nearly jumped out of his seat.
He had naturally considered that his Soul Bone could help Dai Mubai take that step!
But seeing it in person was even more exhilarating!
However, before the cries of astonishment had died down,
Dai Mubai's third Soul Ring abruptly lit up!
"White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
His already burly body immediately swelled another size, his muscles bulging as though cast from steel. Golden flames of Soul Power blazed across his skin!
Strength, defense, attack-all amplified!
But it wasn't over yet!
A hazy cyan halo suddenly burst from his left leg and spread across his entire body in an instant, its light intermingling with the golden glow of the White Tiger Vajra Transformation.
His speed and strength received another explosive boost at that moment!
"A Soul Bone! It's a Soul Bone!"
"His Highness the Second Prince actually has a Soul Bone too!"
The cries from below the platform had turned into horrified screams.
Even experts at the Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo level didn't necessarily possess a Soul Bone!
Dai Mubai's presence had now climbed to a terrifying peak.
He savored the crowd's stunned gazes and felt the power surging within him, his evil eyes locked firmly on the figure opposite him, who still stood with his hands behind his back.
"Imperial Brother, take this!"
He let out a roar, and his fifth and final purple Soul Ring blazed with light!
"Fifth Soul Skill-White Tiger God-Slaying Claw!"
Roar-!
With a deafening tiger's roar, Dai Mubai raised his right arm high. All his Soul Power, together with the boost from the Soul Bone, converged wildly on his right claw.
Then an enormous golden tiger claw projection, several meters long and formed from pure Soul Power, took shape in an instant!
The tiger claw shone with brilliant golden light, its sharp edges fully bared, radiating a keen force that made hearts tremble!
This was his strongest single-target offensive Soul Skill since obtaining his fifth Soul Ring!
Discussion erupted once more in the viewing stands.
"Wait, look! Why is His Highness the Second Prince's fifth Soul Ring purple?"
"Shouldn't the optimal fifth ring for a Soul King be a black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"
Someone immediately offered a "reasonable" explanation:
"What's so strange about that?"
"His Highness the Second Prince must have only just broken through. With so little time, how could he have gone hunting a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"
"Indeed. Absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring first to stabilize his cultivation was the safest course!"
"That's right! Besides, the difference between a Thousand-Year Soul Ring and a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring isn't that great. Just look at the power of this attack!"
A marquis of military background wore a solemn expression.
"Although it's only a thousand-year Soul Skill, with the threefold amplification of Soul King cultivation, the White Tiger Vajra Transformation, and a Soul Bone, its power is probably no less than a full-force strike from an ordinary Soul Emperor!"
As soon as he said this, the others voiced their agreement.
"That's right! It's terrifying! Even a Defense System Soul King of the same level would have to face that claw with every precaution!"
"Then the First Prince... is he really going to block it with his body without even activating a Soul Ring?"
"Taking it head-on without a Soul Ring? Even a Defense System Soul Saint probably wouldn't find that easy, would he?"
"Hahaha, what a joke! A Power Attack System Martial Soul relies on pressing the attack in one burst; whoever strikes first has the advantage! He's washed his neck clean and delivered it right to the door!"
"Arrogance comes at a price."
When everyone looked at Dai Weisi, their gazes involuntarily took on a trace of pity and ridicule.
"Die!"
"Let the sight of your crushing defeat pave my way to the supreme glory of the imperial throne!"
Dai Mubai roared in his heart and swung his arm down!
The enormous golden tiger claw, bearing the force to tear everything apart, struck fiercely down toward Dai Weisi's head like a bolt of golden lightning!