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Watching the fourth prince, Dai Chengfeng, leave the palace doors with laughter and song in the rain.
Star Luo Emperor Dai An was filled with admiration, yet remained silent for a long time.
"What a bold declaration—to surpass our ancestors!"
"What an audacious vow—when I become the White Emperor, I shall make peach blossoms bloom together!"
At this moment, a red-robed woman slowly emerged from the side hall, gazing at Dai Chengfeng's retreating figure with a soft sigh.
"With such a son, Your Majesty should be proud!"
Dai An shook his head and sighed deeply. "How could I not know?"
"His ambition is like steel, swallowing thousands of miles as if it were nothing—like a tiger!"
"This is the kind of spirit that a ruler of the Star Luo Empire should possess!"
"But alas…"
"What I admire most about Chengfeng is that, despite his young age, he possesses such extraordinary ambition. Yet, ironically, this is also what troubles me the most." He sighed again, rubbing his temples.
"If only he had followed our ancestors' teachings step by step…"
"With his innate full soul power, there's no doubt he would one day become a Title Douluo—or perhaps even a Limit Douluo."
"But he…"
"How dare he claim that our ancestors were wrong? It's absurd!"
Helplessly, Dai An turned to the red-robed woman. "High Priest, what do you think I should do?"
The woman smiled. "Your Majesty, didn't you just announce that the fourth prince's titles and fiefs are revoked and that he is exiled to Wu'an City?"
"And that he must not return to the capital without your permission?"
Dai An's face flushed with embarrassment. "High Priest, I said those things merely to frighten him."
"As long as he apologizes to me and promises not to act recklessly anymore, the matter can be resolved."
"But who would have thought that stubborn brat wouldn't show even a hint of fear!"
The red-robed woman shook her head. "In fact, I believe Your Majesty should turn this bluff into reality."
"The fourth prince's resolve is as unyielding as steel, but too much rigidity invites breaking. A little tempering might not be a bad thing."
Dai An pondered her words. "High Priest, you mean…"
The woman nodded with a smile. "Exactly."
"A place like Wu'an City often runs red with blood. Even a six-year-old child, let alone ordinary Soul Masters or Soul Elders, would struggle to adapt."
"Therefore,"
"As long as we send someone skilled to ensure the prince's safety, letting him stay there for a few days might not be a bad idea."
"By then, the prince will surely come to understand the harshness of the world."
"He'll no longer naively believe that his youthful understanding of martial souls can surpass that of our ancestors."
Dai An's eyes lit up. "Brilliant!"
"Chengfeng's sharpness is indeed too cutting—it really needs to be honed."
With this in mind, Dai An looked back at the imperial guards standing before the hall. "Carry out my previous orders, and spread the word…"
"Dai Chengfeng, the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire, has gone against tradition by absorbing a first soul ring incompatible with his White Tiger martial soul, rendering him half-crippled. Thus, he has been banished to Wu'an City."
"Also, inform the head of the Zhu family to take back Zhu Zhuqing, and let it be known that they've ended the engagement due to Chengfeng's failure."
"As for my conversation with the High Priest, it must not be leaked to anyone—not even to Weisi, Mubai, or their dependents."
"The consequences of betrayal are clear."
Instantly, the guards kneeled once more, their voices resounding with respect. "Your Majesty, rest assured. We understand!"
Dai An nodded in satisfaction.
After all, every member of his personal guard shared some familial connection with him.
And the head of the Zhu family was no fool—he would surely grasp Dai An's intentions.
Thus, Dai An had no concerns about the plan leaking.
As the guards departed to carry out their orders…
"A disinherited prince whose engagement has been called off, hahaha…"
In the grand hall, Dai An grinned smugly at the High Priest. "This way, Chengfeng, now a disinherited prince, will no longer attract so much attention."
"And I imagine this will strike a heavy blow to Chengfeng's pride."
"What a strong dose of medicine!"
"High Priest, how long do you think it will take for Chengfeng to apologize and beg for my forgiveness?"
The red-robed woman thought for a moment. "Given the prince's sharpness, perhaps a week."
"But I feel that within three days, that brat will surely come crawling back, hahaha…"
The thought of his defiant son being terrified by the brutal environment of Wu'an City, crying and begging for forgiveness, secretly delighted Dai An.
"I refuse to believe I can't handle a little punk like you!"
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One day later
Under the command of Emperor Dai An of the Star Luo Empire—
In just a single night—
The news about Dai Chengfeng, the fourth prince who had once been the most likely successor to the throne, becoming a cripple due to his martial soul malfunctioning, and subsequently having his engagement with the Zhu family annulled, had completely spread.
The entire capital city of the Star Luo Empire knew about it.
Perhaps the most thrilled individuals were Dai Weisi, who had almost no chance at the throne, and Dai Mubai, whose fiancée had been taken by Dai Chengfeng.
At this moment—
The gates of the Star Luo Empire's capital were bustling as usual.
Suddenly—
A plain, worn-out carriage slowly rolled out, its wheels creaking heavily on the stone pavement.
The crowd's attention was immediately drawn, and whispers erupted among them.
"Look, that's the carriage of the disinherited fourth prince, Dai Chengfeng!"
"He was once the presumed next emperor of the Star Luo Empire."
"But overnight, he became a cripple, and the Zhu family called off the engagement… truly unpredictable, isn't it?"
The people chattered, their tones filled with schadenfreude over the fall of someone who had once stood so high.
On the city wall—
Looking down at the dilapidated carriage below, Dai Weisi's eyes gleamed with mockery.
"My dear little brother, you're truly pitiful now!"
"What a golden opportunity to inherit the throne, and you just threw it away!"
"When I ascend to the throne as the next emperor of the Star Luo Empire, I hope you won't regret your arrogance and stupidity today, hahaha!"
Not far away, Dai Mubai, still young and unwilling to give up on the competition for the throne, watched his greatest rival depart…
"So, that fool actually stole my fiancée from me?"
Dai Mubai sneered and shook his head. "Following our ancestors' prescribed method of absorbing soul rings is the only way to maximize the White Tiger martial soul's potential. How dare you defy that and claim our ancestors were wrong?"
"Our ancestors could never be wrong!"
Looking at the faint glow of his first soul skill, the White Tiger Guardian Barrier, Dai Mubai's eyes shone with confidence.
"Hmph, just wait."
"The next time we meet…"
"My dear little brother, I'll bring Zhu Zhuqing along and show you the gap between us!"
Meanwhile—
Zhu Fan drove the carriage, enduring the mocking whispers of the crowd.
Gritting his teeth, he turned to the carriage with frustration. "Master Chengfeng, this is truly… a dragon trapped in shallow waters, mocked by shrimp; a tiger fallen to the plains, bullied by dogs!"
"Actually, Chengfeng,"
"If you're willing to apologize to His Majesty, he will surely forgive you. They'll realize who the real troublemaker is…"
"Enough, Uncle!"
Interrupting Zhu Fan mid-sentence, Dai Chengfeng's calm voice emerged from within the carriage. "One day, the world will understand me."
"As for their words?"
Dai Chengfeng lifted the curtain, glancing indifferently at the gossiping, jeering crowd outside. "They're nothing more than a bit of frost and wind."
Letting the curtain fall, his voice remained tranquil. "Let's keep moving."
"Wu'an City, the battlefield—perhaps that's where my true rise begins!"
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