Chapter 33

The carriage door opened, and a boy and girl stepped down from inside.

The boy was handsome and graceful, with a head of golden hair and an extraordinary bearing.

The girl, meanwhile, was filled with an aristocratic air, her beauty touched with a hint of softness, every gesture calm and unhurried.

The two of them were Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhu Yun, who had just returned from the Star Luo Royal Advanced Academy.

After getting off the carriage, they held hands and walked together into the palace.

Just as they entered the palace gates, they encountered another golden-haired boy whose appearance resembled theirs by seventy percent.

This boy was naturally not Dai Xiyu, but Dai Mubai, who had been staying in the palace all along.

At this time, Dai Mubai's attire was no longer as luxurious as before, but rather somewhat low-key, like Dai Xiyu.

This was not Dai Mubai's original intention.

All the wealth he had accumulated over the years had been seized by Dai Xiyu, leaving him to start over relying only on his status as a prince.

Though his wealth was gone, his spending habits remained, which caused him to have been living rather poorly lately.

Meanwhile, the elder brother Dai Weisi revealed a confident smile and said:

"Let me take a look—this isn't our Mubai, is it? How come you're dressed so plainly lately?"

Seeing Dai Weisi's slightly teasing expression, Dai Mubai's forehead veins jumped.

However, his clenched fist soon relaxed again.

"Dai Weisi, I'm waiting for you here—not to argue with you."

Dai Weisi's smile did not diminish; he glanced around and said:

"I've been at the academy lately, hearing that Xiyu has been making quite a splash. Xiyu—where is he?"

Dai Mubai made a grim face, gritted his teeth, and said:

"That Dai Xiyu— that good-for-nothing—has been holed up in the Yin-Yang Duke's mansion lately, rarely returning to the palace."

He had originally intended to call Dai Xiyu a waste behind his back, as before.

But then he thought: lately he himself has been repeatedly bested by Dai Xiyu; if Dai Xiyu is a waste, then Dai Mubai would be even less than a waste.

With that thought, Dai Mubai hit the brakes and changed his wording.

Dai Weisi didn't expose him, still wearing his confident smile, and said: "I didn't expect Xiyu to be so eager to improve, racing against time to deepen his feelings with Zhu Zhuqing."

Zhu Zhu Yun also smiled from the side and said:

"No wonder—tomorrow is the Grand Soul Duel. The Second Prince previously lacked the strength to participate, but this time he has no choice but to take the field."

In the Star Luo Empire's noble Grand Soul Duel, any noble child who is above rank ten and possesses a first soul skill must participate.

Even the Star Luo Emperor himself will take the field to exchange blows with the worshippers of the Hall of Worship.

One could say that this Grand Soul Duel is also an annual noble gala.

In this world without electronic products, soul duels can be said to be the favorite activity of soul masters.

Dai Weisi laughed heartily and said:

"After all, with us around, the pressure on Xiyu must be enormous, so his haste is understandable."

In fact, although Dai Weisi has been living at the academy outside the city, he can still learn of recent major and minor events in the royal household through his subordinates.

The commotion caused by Dai Xiyu and Dai Mubai is impossible to hide from Dai Weisi's eyes and ears.

Nevertheless, even so, Dai Weisi did not feel that Dai Xiyu posed any significant threat to him.

This is his confidence, the confidence of a genius.

These two younger brothers are nothing but playthings in the palm of this crown prince.

No matter how much they toss and turn, they cannot escape his grasp.

Otherwise, how could he allow Dai Mubai, who harbors a grudge and vies with him for the crown prince position, to live in peace for so long?

Dai Weisi then said:

"Xiyu is quite good at hiding his strength; I never expected he had secretly cultivated to rank nineteen, and recently even broken through to the level of rank twenty-three."

"Mubai, you keep shouting that you want to defeat me, but now it seems you can't even catch up to Xiyu, making that goal ever more distant."

Dai Mubai gritted his teeth, glared at Dai Weisi, but could not find any words to rebut.

Indeed, he has been completely surpassed by Dai Xiyu and cannot catch up.

After a moment, Dai Mubai exhaled and snorted coldly:

"Rank twenty-three? Dai Weisi, your information isn't very reliable."

Dai Weisi blinked, frowned, and asked: "What do you mean?"

Dai Mubai snorted coldly again and said:

"A few days ago, Dai Xiyu told me he had already broken through to rank twenty-five."

Having said that, Dai Mubai paused, then revealed a smile as if watching a show.

"Dai Weisi, don't forget that Dai Xiyu is only nine years old, six years younger than you. Yet his soul power cultivation has already nearly caught up to where you were half a year ago!"

Upon hearing Dai Mubai say that, Dai Weisi's gaze became a bit more serious.

According to his information, Dai Xiyu had just broken through to rank twenty a month ago.

After obtaining his second soul ring, one can immediately reach rank twenty-one; if Dai Xiyu's soul power is now rank twenty-three, that would mean a rise of two ranks in one month.

A speed of two ranks per month is nothing remarkable to Dai Weisi.

But if Dai Xiyu is currently rank twenty-five,

then it means he has risen four ranks in one month.

A gain of four ranks in a month is something Dai Weisi cannot ignore.

Even so, Dai Weisi remains full of confidence.

Even if Dai Xiyu's hidden talent were stronger, he would still be nothing more than an ant that Dai Weisi could crush at any time.

As long as we strangle Dai Xiyu in the cradle before he continues to grow, he will not threaten our position.

Dai Mubai saw Dai Weisi's expression change, so he lowered his voice slightly and spoke solemnly.

"Dai Weisi, let's join forces and deal with Dai Xiyu together. To us, he is now the greatest threat."

Hearing Dai Mubai say that, Dai Weisi found it somewhat amusing, shook his head, stepped forward, and patted Dai Mubai on the shoulder.

"Dai Mubai, remember this: I, Dai Weisi, do not need to ally with anyone."

"You two were my defeated subordinates before, and you will continue to be so."

Having said that, Dai Weisi turned and walked toward the Royal Study.

As he walked, he still said without looking back:

"Just wait and see how I easily defeat Dai Xiyu on the Soul Fighting Platform. What you cannot do will be a piece of cake for me!"

Behind them, Zhu Zhu Yun also smiled, nodded at Dai Mubai, and then hurried after Dai Weisi.

Watching Dai Weisi's back, Dai Mubai gritted his teeth.

Behind him, the attendant cautiously asked, "Your Highness, what should we do now?"

Dai Mubai remained silent for a moment, then spoke:

"Dai Weisi is too arrogant; unless he breaks through to level thirty, he is very likely to capsize in a gutter."

After thinking, Dai Mubai added:

"However, hearing that Dai Xiyu has reached level twenty-five and still acts so confident, breaking through to level thirty is not impossible."

"Just wait; once the Grand Soul Fight arrives, we'll know. If he suffers a loss at Dai Xiyu's hands, he will surely join forces with me."

Having said that, Dai Mubai turned and strode toward his own bedroom.

His expression was full of gloom and malice.

(End of chapter)