Chapter 18

「When the car reaches the mountain, there will be a road; with our cultivation speed, it won't be long before we surpass them. 」

Hearing Dai Xiyu's comfort, Zhu Zhuqing's expression eased a bit.

After returning from the cafeteria, Dai Xiyu and Zhu Zhuqing went their separate ways.

Zhu Zhuqing went back to the preschool division, while Dai Xiyu returned to his class in the elementary division.

Upon entering the door, Dai Xiyu couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

It had only been an hour, but the way the classmates looked at him had all become somewhat strange.

Some people were still whispering, but their voices were very low, not daring to let Dai Xiyu hear.

Furrowing his brow, Dai Xiyu looked left and right, wanting to find a male student to ask about the situation.

Before he transmigrated, the original owner had no friends in the class and was completely isolated.

But after transmigrating, thanks to his eye-catching performance at the banquet, quite a few people came over to fawn on him.

This male student was one of them.

However, when Dai Xiyu turned around, that male student suddenly stood up and left.

He ran past the podium from the front and then went over to flatter Dai Mubai.

Dai Xiyu raised his eyebrows, feeling somewhat doubtful.

Looking at others, anyone who made eye contact with him immediately looked away.

Dai Xiyu finally realized, where did these strange feelings of familiarity come from?

Isolation — this was how the original owner was treated in the academy, according to his memory.

The students' attitudes, changed because of the banquet, returned to normal after just a lunchtime.

「Forget it, in the end it doesn't matter. 」

Dai Xiyu shook his head and simply stopped paying attention.

He never needed these people's connections anyway, and his ultimate ambition wasn't to be friendly with others or enjoy their flattery.

What do the classmates' attitudes have to do with me?

In this mindset, Dai Xiyu returned to his morning state.

Not far away, Dai Mubai was very pleased with Dai Xiyu's cold treatment.

When these students learned that Dai Xiyu's first soul ring was only a hundred years, they all realized that this second prince's future limit wouldn't be too high.

Once a soul ring is obtained, it cannot be changed; this hundred-year first soul ring will follow Dai Xiyu for life.

Even with innate full soul power, it would be difficult to later break through to Titled Douluo.

For those with deep aristocratic backgrounds, their first soul ring is usually obtained with family help by hunting soul beasts over three hundred years old.

The Star Luo royal family must obtain a four-hundred-year first soul ring.

Only then can one's potential be maximized.

And merely having a hundred-year first soul ring is destined to become a stumbling block on Dai Xiyu's cultivation path.

The aristocratic youths are all very pragmatic.

When your prospects are limitless, they'll cling to you like plaster.

But when you fall from grace, they'd rather push you away, fearing being mistakenly associated with the bright-future Dai Mubai.

One afternoon passed quickly; after the teacher announced dismissal, Dai Mubai stood up and went to the podium.

Dai Xiyu glanced at the podium, ignored it, and continued packing his belongings.

Dai Mubai looked down at Dai Xiyu from above and said arrogantly:

「Dai Xiyu, how does it feel to fall from a height? Not pleasant, huh? 」

Dai Xiyu calmly raised his head, looked at Dai Mubai, and gave a light smile.

Seeing Dai Xiyu still calm and carefree, Dai Mubai couldn't help but flare with anger.

And just then, a clear, cold voice sounded at the doorway.

「Xiyu, let's go home together. 」

Upon hearing that voice, everyone's gaze turned to the doorway.

Indeed, only Zhu Zhuqing could have a voice so clear and cold yet still pleasing to the ear.

Upon seeing Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai's eyes lit up, thinking it was a good opportunity.

So he raised his volume and sneered at Dai Xiyu:

「Blame only yourself—for breaking through rank ten without reporting to the father emperor and insisting on personally hunting a soul beast to obtain a soul ring. 」

「Your first soul ring is only a hundred years—it already decides your future limit! 」

As soon as he said that, everyone's eyes focused on Dai Xiyu's face.

These students wanted to see how Dai Xiyu would react.

After all, they had only heard rumors; Dai Xiyu himself had never confirmed it.

Dai Xiyu, however, showed a look of sudden realization.

At this moment, he finally understood why the students' attitudes had changed so drastically.

It turned out that Dai Mubai, thinking he had learned the truth, had been spreading it everywhere.

He also finally understood why Dai Mubai was so confident.

Indeed, if the first soul ring is only a hundred years, it greatly affects the upper limit of future achievements.

Even so, because of this hundred-year soul ring, it will be hard to later break through to Titled Douluo.

Unfortunately, Dai Xiyu not only has a five-hundred-year first soul ring, but his second soul ring is a thousand-year, exceeding the limit.

Moreover, he possesses twin martial souls, and perhaps he could even have three, four, etc., martial souls in the future.

Dai Mubai's lifetime limit of understanding cannot even measure Dai Xiyu's current achievements.

After exposing Dai Xiyu in front of Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai felt refreshed and invigorated.

Immediately afterwards, Dai Mubai said arrogantly:

"Dai Xiyu, thanks to you, after my injuries healed I made another breakthrough and have now reached rank sixteen."

"Even if you are now rank nineteen, my first soul ring's age is four times yours, and when using a soul skill the outcome is still uncertain."

Having said this, Dai Mubai raised his right hand, pointed at Dai Xiyu, and said:

"There's still half a month until the final soul combat exam. Dare you make a bet with me?"

Dai Xiyu smiled, leaned calmly against the chair back, and asked: "What are we betting?"

Dai Mubai immediately said: "If you lose, you will break off your engagement with Zhu Zhuqing and return my necklace!"

Dai Xiyu lightly said: "As I said before, since it's a bet, you should put up something of equal value as the stake."

Dai Mubai opened his mouth, but was momentarily speechless.

After hesitating a moment, he said: "If I lose, I will also break off my engagement with Zhu Zhu Yue! And half of the assets in my treasury will go to you!"

Dai Xiyu scoffed, shook his head, and said: "Whether you break off your engagement with Zhu Zhu Yue or not, what does it have to do with me? Do you really think I could be so shameless as to covet my sister-in-law?"

Upon hearing this, many students covered their mouths and chuckled.

With half a month left until the soul combat bet, Dai Mubai had already lost the first round on the stake.

Dai Xiyu's words were nothing but a mockery of Dai Mubai.

As the Third Prince, to covet his future sister-in-law is the utmost shamelessness.

Dai Mubai nearly blacked out, steadied himself, and with heavy breathing asked: "What do you want then!"

Dai Xiyu stood up, walking toward the door while speaking lightly and calmly:

"I have no interest in my sister-in-law, but I am very interested in money. If you lose, I will take all of your assets."

There is also a latent meaning left unsaid.

"If Dai Xiyu wins, what he takes will not only be all of Dai Mubai's assets, but also all of his dignity."

(End of chapter)