The next day.
After making a few preparations, Ye Yu set off with Dugu Bo and Xiao Wu, taking Zhao Wuji with him as they departed for the Star Dou Great Forest.
Because he was traveling alongside Dugu Bo and Zhao Wuji this time, Ye Yu didn't fly using aerial movement techniques, opting instead for a more grounded pace.
Meanwhile, in Star Luo Imperial City, at the First Prince's Residence—
A middle-aged man dressed in black kneeled respectfully before Dai Weisi, cupping his fists in guilt.
"Your Highness, I failed to complete the mission. I beg your forgiveness."
This man, a Spirit Sage from a distant branch of the Star Luo Imperial Family, had long been assigned to secretly protect Dai Weisi. Like all direct-line royals, his Martial Soul was the Evil Eye White Tiger.
Interestingly, because of the generations-long intermarriage between the Evil Eye White Tiger Family and the Hell Spirit Cat Family, this Spirit Sage had a wife who came from the Hell Spirit Cat family. She was a Spirit Emperor with the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul.
Together, they could unleash the powerful Spirit Fusion Ability: Hell White Tiger, with combined strength capable of rivaling a Spirit Douluo!
After the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament ended, Dai Weisi had ordered this man to look for an opportunity to snatch Zhu Zhuqing away from Ye Yu.
Yes, you heard right.
The task Dai Weisi assigned wasn't to harm Ye Yu—but to take Zhu Zhuqing from him.
Back when Dai Weisi had been throwing harsh words at Ye Yu, acting as the proud First Prince of the Star Luo Empire and showing contempt for Dugu Bo, it was more posturing than substance.
Indeed, the Star Luo Empire boasted one of the most powerful Spirit Master legacies on the continent, second only to Spirit Hall. With the Evil Eye White Tiger family's potential to cultivate Title Douluos, and its strong alliance with the Hell Spirit Cat Family, whose bloodline was capable of producing Spirit Douluos, their combined strength was formidable.
Not to mention the synergy of their Spirit Fusion Ability, Hell White Tiger.
So, while the Star Luo Emperor might not care about Dugu Bo, Dai Weisi—as a prince—could not act so recklessly.
In other words, all of Dai Weisi's arrogance had been for show. In truth, he knew better than to mess with Ye Yu directly. The political and personal consequences would be too great.
But Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul—the Hell Spirit Cat—had undergone an evolution. Her sister Zhu Zhuyun had been deeply shaken when she sensed it, knowing the significance this held for their family.
And Dai Weisi? He wasn't a fool either.
He immediately recognized that Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul evolution posed a potential threat to the Star Luo royal family.
Even though their families had intermarried for generations, and the Evil Eye White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat Family had always maintained a strong political alliance, Dai Weisi knew better than to trust blind loyalty.
After all, even blood brothers could turn on each other. Let alone two allied families.
So, Dai Weisi understood perfectly: Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul evolution could threaten the balance of power. If he could successfully capture her and bring her back to the imperial capital, handing her over to his father Emperor Dai Tianfeng, that would count as a major accomplishment.
Unfortunately, during their return journey, Ye Yu had always remained with Zhu Zhuqing—accompanied by Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo. There simply hadn't been a safe window of opportunity for an ambush.
After hearing this, Dai Weisi could only smile helplessly and wave it off.
"This was not a failure due to incompetence," he said. "It was a matter of circumstances."
He then dismissed the Spirit Sage who had guarded him during the tournament.
But after the man left, Dai Weisi turned and headed straight for the imperial palace—ready to report this matter to his father, Dai Tianfeng.
"Reporting to Father: your son has an urgent matter to report."
At the gates of the Mingxuan Hall within the Star Luo Palace, Dai Weisi bowed respectfully.
"Come in."
Emperor Dai Tianfeng, currently occupied with imperial duties, took the time to grant him an audience.
"What is it? Speak."
Dai Weisi then explained the situation clearly: Zhu Zhuqing had reneged on her engagement to Dai Mubai and had entered a relationship with another man—Ye Yu, the young genius who single-handedly defeated the Spirit Hall Academy Team in the tournament, and was now known as Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's grandson-in-law.
"Moreover," Dai Weisi added, "Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul has evolved."
Dai Tianfeng furrowed his brows, falling into deep thought.
This... was a tricky issue.
Although Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was not among the strongest Title Douluos, he still held considerable power and influence. His poison-type area-of-effect Spirit Abilities were extremely lethal.
As for Ye Yu, he was without a doubt a peerless genius.
Given his current talent and potential, it wouldn't be a stretch to say he might one day surpass the likes of Seven Kill Sword Douluo Chen Xin—and possibly even the previous Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen himself!
Yes. This was a very delicate matter.
As the Crown Prince, Dai Weisi only needed to think about how to bring Zhu Zhuqing back.
But as the Emperor, Dai Tianfeng had far more to consider.
At the same time, at what was once the Blue Tyrant Academy, now Shrek Academy:
Compared to the original timeline—where Tang San had discovered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, obtained the Immortal Herbs, and distributed them to the Shrek Seven Devils, allowing them all to break through to Spirit Ancestor—things were different now.
In this alternate path, with no Immortal Herb opportunity, only Dai Mubai had broken through to the Spirit Ancestor rank.
Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar were all still just Spirit Elders, unable to meet graduation standards.
Dai Mubai, ashamed after his devastating defeat in the second round of the tournament against the Star Luo Royal Team, didn't dare return to Star Luo City.
As a result, he and Tang San, along with Oscar and Ma Hongjun, all remained at Shrek Academy.
Also, because Tang San had used his second Martial Soul, Clear Sky Hammer, during the qualifiers to secure Shrek's advancement—his identity had been exposed.
Between the qualifiers and the finals, Tang Yuehua came to meet him and acknowledge his identity.
Though she hoped to meet her brother, Tang Hao, Tang San had no idea where their father had gone.
And so, once the tournament ended, Tang Yuehua decided to arrange a meeting between Tang San and Tang Xiao, to let the latter mentor him in place of Tang Hao.
Elsewhere, having left Heaven Dou City, Ye Yu, Xiao Wu, Dugu Bo, and Zhao Wuji finally arrived—after several days of travel—at the vast green expanse of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The group penetrated deep into the forest's inner region, close to the core zone.
According to Yu Xiaogang's data (plagiarized from Spirit Hall), a quasi–Spirit Douluo could absorb any thousand-year Spirit Ring as their eighth ring.
So for Zhao Wuji, the goal was to get the highest year limit possible.
To find a spirit beast with the right attribute compatibility, high bloodline level, and powerful cultivation, there was no better person to help than Xiao Wu.