Having made up his mind, Dai Weisi hesitated no longer.
He carefully put away the two Immortal Herbs with overpowering attributes, leaving only the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum suspended above his palm.
Immortal light flowed around it, and its rich fragrance seemed to have a life of its own, drifting into his body in wisps and setting all his Soul Power dancing.
"Let me see just how miraculous your effects are."
Dai Weisi sat down cross-legged and, without the slightest hesitation, ate the sky-reaching stamens first, then swallowed the petals one by one.
The Immortal Herb melted in his mouth, turning into a gentle, warming current that instantly washed through his extraordinary meridians.
That power was pure and noble, without the slightest trace of violence. Instead, it carried the bearing of a king who ruled over all beneath heaven.
Dai Weisi immediately focused his mind and circulated his Soul Power with all his might, guiding the medicinal power as it flowed.
Then he felt his Sea of Consciousness grow perfectly clear. Behind him, the Holy White Tiger Martial Soul emerged beyond his control and let out a roar that shook his very soul!
The roar was filled with joy.
Nourished by the medicinal power of the Aromatic Silk Beauty, the Holy White Tiger's illusory form blazed with even brighter golden light. Every strand of its fur seemed cast from pure gold, gleaming with a dazzling divine radiance.
A kingly presence, far more majestic and sacred than before, burst forth with a boom!
A trace more intelligence and majesty appeared in those golden tiger eyes!
His Martial Soul was evolving!
Nourished by the medicinal power, Dai Weisi's body also grew ever stronger. His bones rang like jade, and his flesh and blood turned a dark gold.
After an unknown length of time, the last trace of medicinal power was fully absorbed, and only then did the strange fragrance and light in the bedchamber slowly fade.
Dai Weisi opened his eyes, and a flash of light, almost tangible, flickered through them and vanished.
He clenched his fist, feeling the Soul Power surging through his body, but his brows lifted slightly.
Level fifty-eight?
From level fifty-six to level fifty-eight, only two levels?
For any other Soul King, that would have been enough to send them wild with joy.
But for a hundred-thousand-year-old Immortal Herb, the increase seemed somewhat smaller than he had expected.
Even so, he soon came to terms with it.
In the original story, Dai Mubai had been only level thirty-nine when he took the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, right at the threshold of breaking through to Soul Ancestor at level forty. Even after obtaining his fourth Soul Ring, his Soul Power had barely reached level forty-three.
His own Soul Power had already been as high as level fifty-six, and his foundation was far stronger than Dai Mubai's had been back then. Naturally, the amount of power needed to advance was different.
Besides, the greatest effect of an immortal-grade herb had never been a simple increase in Soul Power!
Besides, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum's greatest effect was not merely to increase Soul Power, but to transform the Martial Soul and strengthen the foundation.
He could clearly feel that the compatibility between his Holy White Tiger Martial Soul and his body had reached a whole new height.
This fundamental transformation was far more precious than gaining a few levels of Soul Power.
"The steadier the foundation, the farther one can travel on the road ahead."
Dai Weisi rose and stretched his limbs, a series of crisp cracks coming from his body.
Then his gaze turned to the window, toward a certain direction in the city.
That was where the Marshal's Residence stood.
The seven-day appointment was a duel between him and Dai Mubai, but it was also a challenge for him and Zhu Zhuyun.
Without Zhu Zhuyun, his Hell White Tiger would be incomplete.
More importantly, he was going to bring his woman back.
She had to be present for this battle, and she had to stand shoulder to shoulder with him!
"Shi Mo."
Dai Weisi called through the door.
"Master."
Shi Mo's figure immediately appeared inside the room, without a sound.
"Come with me to the Marshal's Residence."
Star Luo City, White Tiger Marshal's Residence.
In an elegant boudoir, Zhu Zhuyun sat quietly by the window, resting her cheek on one hand as she stared blankly outside, her thoughts tangled into a knot.
The sunlight outside was bright, but an inescapable gloom filled her eyes.
She had been here for several days.
In name, she was "visiting her family," but in truth, it was no different from house arrest.
Even the servants in the residence looked at her with a measure of pity and detachment.
She knew that, in everyone's eyes, her once dazzling fiancé was utterly finished.
For a defeated prince, the best outcome he could hope for was lifelong confinement.
And she, the Zhu Family's eldest daughter, would also be swallowed whole as a loser in this cruel war of succession.
Her thoughts had been in turmoil these past few days. She had wondered how her family would deal with her and how Dai Mubai would humiliate them once he gained power, but most of all, she thought of that man.
Dai Weisi... how is he now?
Zhu Zhuyun rubbed her aching temples, her heart full of unease.
She had heard far too many rumors these past few days.
Some said Dai Weisi had committed an act of treason and had already been thrown into the imperial prison;
Others said he stubbornly refused to see reason and had already been stripped of his status as a prince;
Every rumor was like a needle stabbing viciously into her heart.
Creak-
The door was pushed open, and an elegant, richly dressed middle-aged woman who still retained her charm walked in. It was her mother, the marshal's wife.
"Yun'er, still sitting here in a daze?"
The marshal's wife sighed and sat down beside her, a trace of worry on her face.
"Mother."
Zhu Zhuyun gathered her thoughts, her voice somewhat hoarse.
The marshal's wife looked at her daughter's haggard face, and a trace of heartache flashed through her eyes, but it was soon replaced by resolve.
"Yun'er, I know how much you're suffering. But now that things have come to this, the Zhu Family and you must make plans for the future."
She paused, seeming to weigh her words:
"Dai Weisi... his time is over."
"I'm afraid it's not just the officials at court-even His Majesty has already set his heart on the second prince, Dai Mubai."
Zhu Zhuyun did not turn around. Her voice was cool as she said, "Mother, whatever you want to say, you might as well say it plainly."
Madam Zhu sighed, sat down beside her, and took her hand:
"Dai Weisi... his time is over."
"Now that Dai Mubai has returned victorious, the position of crown prince can belong to no one else. You're a clever girl; you should know what choice to make."
"Mother!"
Zhu Zhuyun shot to her feet, her face turning deathly pale in an instant as she stared at her mother in disbelief.
"You... you mean you want me to marry Dai Mubai instead?"
"There's no other way!"
The marshal's wife raised her voice as well.
"Do you think I want this? But Dai Weisi is already a cripple! If you stay with him, death is the only road left to you! Dai Mubai is the future emperor. Only if you become his consort will you have a chance to survive!"
At those words, Zhu Zhuyun snatched her hand back and turned her head away.
"Impossible. I can't do it!"
Zhu Zhuyun's body trembled slightly, her eyes full of resolve and anger.
"I can't betray Dai Weisi! Even if he's been deposed, that won't change!"
"How can you call that betrayal?"
Madam Zhu immediately continued.
"Since ancient times, the daughters of our Zhu Family have married Star Luo's crown prince, the future emperor! That is our family's mission! Since Dai Weisi has already lost his claim, naturally you must..."
"Enough!"
Zhu Zhuyun cut her off sharply.
"My man is Dai Weisi, and he will only ever be Dai Weisi!"
"If you insist on forcing me to marry Dai Mubai, I'd rather die!"
"You!"
Madam Zhu went pale with anger. She pointed at her daughter, unable to speak for a long while.
Just then, a mocking voice came from the doorway.
"Oh my, what kind of chaste and virtuous heroine are you pretending to be?"
"A wise bird chooses the tree on which it roosts. Don't you understand something so simple?"
A woman dressed in gaudy finery walked in. She was Zhu Zhuyun's second aunt.
Swaying her waist, she walked over to the marshal's wife and cast Zhu Zhuyun a sidelong glance, speaking with cold derision:
"Don't think so highly of yourself."
"I've made inquiries. What kind of life do you think His Highness Dai Mubai led during those years in the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"Passed through a field of flowers without a single leaf clinging to him? Don't make me laugh! Given his womanizing ways, do you really think he could have any deep feelings for you, his 'former imperial sister-in-law'?"
She leaned close to Zhu Zhuyun's ear and lowered her voice:
"My advice is to take the initiative and humble yourself. When he comes back, serve him well."
"Once you enter the palace, you might even be able to become a noble consort, for the sake of our Zhu Family and because you're Zhu Zhuqing's sister."
"But if you insist on being stubborn like this, later..."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuyun trembled all over with rage, her chest heaving violently and her beautiful eyes almost spitting fire.
Yet she could not find a single word to say in reply.
Yes, what other fate could await me?
I might as well...
Seeing her daughter looking so bereft, the marshal's wife felt both heartache and helplessness. She was just about to say something more.
Suddenly, a maid came running in from outside, panic written all over her face. She was so alarmed that she even forgot her manners.
"M-madam! E-eldest young lady!"
"What are you panicking for? You ill-mannered thing!"
The second aunt rebuked her sharply.
The maid shuddered in fright and stammered:
"His Highness the eldest prince... His Highness the eldest prince is here!"