Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him lightly and said coldly, "What's there to talk about between us?"
Her voice was like frost, piercing straight at Dai Mubai.
In Zhu Zhuqing's opinion, Dai Mubai was probably jealous of her improved soul power. Just like Tang San and the others, he wanted to know more about the immortal herbs.
"Ahem." Dai Mubai coughed awkwardly, his smile stiffening.
"Zhuqing, I was foolish enough to abandon you before, but now I've changed my mind. Can we have a proper talk?"
Originally, Dai Mubai had also given up on the struggle for the throne. Although his innate soul power was as high as level nine, the age gap between him and Davis was too great.
Dai Mubai knew clearly that if he forcibly fought for the throne, he would surely die without a burial place.
Therefore, he planned to take the path of military service from the beginning.
Zhu Zhuqing, his nominal fiancée, was dispensable to him. Moreover, her talent was mediocre, and she was too young; she was just a burden.
Now, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power had directly broken through to the Soul Master level, even surpassing his. Dai Mubai was astonished to discover that the two of them now possessed the ability to compete with Davis and Zhu Zhuyun.
That was the throne!
A flame rose in Dai Mubai's heart; he felt that his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing might still be salvageable.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's lips curled into a mocking smile, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.
"Change your mind? Dai Mubai, put away your hypocrisy."
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes full of disdain. "You abandoned me? Hmph, that was only because I was too young back then, and left too late."
"You don't think I came to Soto City to chase after you, do you?"
"Ridiculous!"
Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai's shoulders trembled slightly, and he clenched his fists secretly. From childhood to adulthood, he had never begged anyone so humbly. Especially not a woman.
He took a deep breath and said, "Zhu Qing, my leaving the Star Luo Empire wasn't an escape. I've never stopped cultivating my soul power these past years. I'm only two months shy of seventeen, but my soul power has already reached the Soul Master level. Doesn't that prove my hard work?"
"Actually, I'm just waiting for an opportunity. Now, with our combined strength, why can't we give it a shot?"
He took another deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"I know you like that Lu Feng, and I won't interfere. Once I inherit the throne, you'll be the nominal Empress. You can keep as many gigolos as you want then, and I won't interfere."
With that, Dai Mubai slowly loosened his fist. This was the biggest concession he had made, even personally accepting the cuckold's horns.
However, as long as he could ascend the throne, it would all be worth it.
A flash of malice crossed Dai Mubai's eyes. Once he secured his throne, he would have plenty of time to deal with this 'adulterous couple'!
Zhu Zhuqing sneered, mockingly saying, "Oh, really? You're quite the forbearer."
Hearing this, a glint of light appeared in Dai Mubai's eyes, and he nodded, "Indeed! Zhuqing, everything I've done is out of forbearance. Back then, before the founding emperor rose to power..."
"Don't dream!" Zhu Zhuqing interrupted Dai Mubai sharply.
"What do you take me for? A tool?"
"Didn't you always say: women aren't part of the population, they're resources? Why are you begging me so humbly now?"
Zhu Zhuqing sneered, her eyes flashing coldly, "Stop with your hypocritical act, it disgusts me."
With that, she turned and left, leaving Dai Mubai with only a cold, indifferent back.
"Bang!" Dai Mubai slammed his fist heavily against the wall, instantly denting it.
"You bitch!"
Dai Mubai cursed through gritted teeth in his heart.
His anger burned fiercely in his chest, and he secretly vowed: one day, he would make this pair of scoundrels pay the price!
"Mu Bai, you'll have to pay for the damage."
Just then, Flander pushed open the door and frowned upon seeing the messy corridor.
"Yes, Dean." Dai Mu Bai nodded and then turned to leave.
"Sigh, I'd better not get involved in these big family affairs. I don't want to be blocked at the door again." Flander shook his head helplessly as he watched Dai Mu Bai's retreating figure. At
the Heaven Dou Grand Arena, countless shouts and cheers resounded.
The opening ceremony of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Heaven Dou Empire Division, officially began today.
As the grandest competition in the Soul Master world, from royalty and nobles to commoners, everyone treated this competition as the most important festival. The
arena held over 80,000 spectators, and dozens of VIPs, including Emperor Xue Ye, sat in their seats.
At the very front of the central arena was a dais. Lu Feng sat in the center of the dais, dressed in a striking gold suit.
On either side of him were a male and a female host dressed entirely in silver.
The man was named Owen, one of the Arena's star hosts. The female host was DouDou, the annual best newcomer, directly appointed by the Arena's management.
"Twenty-eight teams from the Heaven Dou City division are competing for five spots in the next round. Mr. Lu, which team do you favor?" Owen's slightly magnetic voice rang out.
Among the hundreds of hosts in the Grand Arena, Owen possessed the most extensive professional knowledge. He was also one of the best commentators to work with Lu Feng.
Lu Feng smiled, "Among the teams in this competition, I do favor one team. Moreover, they have a very good chance of winning the final championship of this tournament."
"Oh?" Owen asked in surprise, "I wonder which team has earned Mr. Lu's favor?"
Lu Feng smiled mysteriously and said, "As for which academy this team belongs to, I cannot reveal that for now."
At this moment, the audience had already begun to discuss heatedly, speculating about which team Lu Feng was referring to.
In the VIP section, Emperor Xue Ye turned slightly and said to Dugu Bo behind him, "I heard that His Majesty Dugu's granddaughter has already broken through to level fifty. A Soul King at less than twenty years old, truly a formidable young talent."
Dugu Bo waved his hand, pretending to be nonchalant, and said, "Ah, it's just luck."
His words were nonchalant, but a grin was already creeping onto his lips.
"Hmph!" At this moment, the old man sitting next to Xue Ye snorted coldly.
The old man wore a long, bright red robe and a five-pointed platinum crown. He was none other than Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall.
Salas glanced at Dugu Bo with disdain but remained silent. He had already received news that Dugu Yan had broken through to level 50. However, he didn't pay much attention. While
Dugu Yan's talent was indeed formidable, it didn't mean that the Heavenly Dou Royal Team would win the championship in this competition.
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Salas knew that three members of the Spirit Hall team were hailed as the 'Golden Generation,' and each of them was a Soul King.
"Victory will surely belong to the Spirit Hall!" Salas thought to himself.
Soon, the first team entered the arena. The young Soul Masters stood tall and proud, exuding an air of dominance.
In the Shrek Academy's rest room,
Yu Xiaogang, holding a notebook, emphasized the important points for the preliminaries with a serious expression.
"One last thing... cough cough!"
Yu Xiaogang coughed heavily, looking at the distracted crowd.
At this moment, Ma Hongjun shrugged and couldn't help but say, "Master, this is the third time you've said 'one last thing.' What's so important that you have to bring it up now?"
Yu Xiaogang said sternly, "I've been investigating other teams these past few days. As far as I know, Dugu Yan of the Royal Team is already a Soul King. Isn't that a huge deal?"
"What? A Soul King!" Upon hearing this, the Shrek Academy members were immediately shocked.
Aside from Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong,
Ma Hongjun slumped weakly on the sofa, his eyes vacant. His legs were stretched out, his hands hanging limply at his sides; he looked utterly paralyzed.
Ma Hongjun's current soul power was only level 35; facing a Soul King-level opponent, he doubted he could even last a minute.
The others shared similar concerns. After all, even the strongest member of the team, Zhu Zhuqing, only had level 45 soul power.
"Fatty, don't be discouraged. I'll assist you and make sure you leave with dignity," Ning Rongrong said playfully.
Her father had told her about Dugu Yan long ago, but Ning Rongrong didn't care. In her eyes, this so-called elite competition was nothing more than an entertaining game.
At this moment, Tang San tentatively asked, "Teacher, since you're analyzing tactics with us now, you must have a solution, right?"
Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San's shoulder. "That's right. Soul power level is important, but in my opinion, the most crucial thing in team battles is wisdom. As long as the tactics are used properly, even a Soul King isn't invincible."
Tang San nodded. "Teacher, what are your tactics?"
Yu Xiaogang put his hands behind his back and said loudly, "In the preliminary rounds of the Heaven Dou City division, you five little monsters can only field a maximum of three people at a time in each match."
"Moreover, Ning Rongrong definitely can't play. I will be giving her special training during this period."
"Ah? Only three can play?" Ma Hongjun couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "Master, even if we go all out, we might not be able to win. If we only field three people, we might as well just admit defeat."
Unexpectedly, Yu Xiaogang nodded and said, "When encountering special teams, it is indeed possible to admit defeat directly."
"Ah?" Even Tang San was stunned this time.
The master calmly said, "Your real opponents are in the qualifying rounds. If you reveal your strength too early, how difficult will the road ahead become?"
After Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, the Shrek Academy members fell silent.
Tang San and Dai Mubai pondered quietly, their expressions serious. Ma Hongjun slumped on the sofa, his eyes vacant. The former Blue Tyrant Academy members seemed quite relaxed; in their view, as long as they did their best, that was enough.
As for Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, one was completely unconcerned, and the other was equally unconcerned.
Tang San thought for a moment and said, "Teacher, I understand. You want us to conserve our strength and make a stunning debut at a crucial moment."
"That's right, especially since I have a secret weapon," Yu Xiaogang said proudly.
"A secret weapon?" Tang San asked doubtfully.
The master patted his prized disciple on the shoulder, "Little San, you're in charge of the tactics on the field, and you'll decide the participants. And your goal is singular: the championship!"
Tang San nodded emphatically, "Master, I understand!"
Just then, the host's voice came from outside: "The last team to perform is Shrek Academy! Their slogan is, 'The champion with no rivals!'"
"Let's go, everyone, it's our turn," Tang San said loudly.
As soon as everyone entered the venue, a burst of laughter erupted from the audience.
The color of Shrek Academy's uniforms was somewhere between yellow and green; to describe it, it was a turquoise green.
Most bizarrely, on each person's back were several large, bright red characters embroidered on them: "Seeking Sponsorship."
"What academy is that? Look at that fat guy, he looks like a ball."
"Shrek? I think it should be 'Shit Shrek.' Hahaha, did they just crawl out of a latrine?"
"Shh, keep your voice down, they are Soul Masters after all. But, they're probably just here to make an appearance."
Zhu Zhuqing ignored the mockery around her, while the others lowered their heads, wishing they could disappear into the ground.
Ning Rongrong hid behind Zhu Zhuqing and whispered, "Zhuqing, why aren't you scared at all?"
"Scared? Why should I be scared?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, puzzled.
She pointed to the crowd around her and said, "What do other people's opinions have to do with me! These people are so indignant now, but if they stood alone in front of me, they probably wouldn't dare to speak loudly."
As soon as she finished speaking, all the Shrek members turned their gazes to her.
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong immediately puffed out her chest, "That's right, wherever I go, I'm the center of attention."
Tang San and the others also agreed with Zhu Zhuqing's words, and they all strode forward with their heads held high.
However, they only lasted a few seconds before giving up. Tang San was the first to take out a mask and cover his face, and Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun quickly followed suit. Tailong and his group of four didn't have this equipment, so they could only cover their faces with their hands, looking as pathetic as could be.
The entrance ceremony was just a small interlude, and soon the audience's attention turned to the draw ceremony.
"First round of the preliminaries, the vice team of Tiandou Royal Academy versus Shrek Academy."
On the sidelines, Ma Hongjun pressed his fingers, making a series of cracking sounds, "Great, the first match is ours. This time, let them see what real strength is."
Tang San, however, had a wry smile on his face. Becoming the focus on the first day of the competition was somewhat contrary to Grandmaster's plan.
Soon, the two teams stepped onto the stage.
In order to conceal their strength, Zhu Zhuqing did not participate. In Tang San's plan, she and Ning Rongrong would be the team's last trump card.
At this moment, Ma Hongjun carefully counted the opposing team's members and asked in confusion, "Huh, why do they only have six people?"
(End of Chapter)