Chapter 9: Sweating like rain, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned red

Dai Xiyu collected his thoughts, his gaze becoming extremely focused, dodging the pendulums' attacks on the training platform.

His originally disordered steps gradually became smooth and fluid, until finally he could handle them with ease.

"Add six more!"

In less than a minute, Dai Xiyu's voice rang out again.

This time, everyone present showed deep shock.

Especially Zhu Zhuqing, he stood a few meters below the platform, able to clearly see Dai Xiyu's focused expression.

Thinking back to what Dai Xiyu had said earlier, she felt a faint surge of emotion.

Dai Xiyu is working so hard, it's all for her.

But even so, it's a bit too reckless.

You know, even Zhu Zhuqing herself can only activate twenty-four pendulums at most.

Although Dai Xiyu's soul power is relatively strong, activating twenty-four on the first try is still a bit rash.

"Twenty-four is too many; if one accidentally disrupts the rhythm, these pendulums could directly injure him severely!"

Zhu Zhu Yue furrowed her brows slightly and exclaimed.

Even the Duchess did not issue an order immediately this time.

If the Second Prince were seriously injured in the Duke's mansion, His Majesty and the Duke would certainly have trouble explaining it.

After all, the Second Prince is no longer what he used to be.

Formerly, the Second Prince was a good-for-nothing, his chances of winning the crown prince position were virtually zero.

But now, the Second Prince, at just nine years old, has already reached the nineteenth level of cultivation, making him a rare genius worldwide, with a strong chance of being selected as crown prince.

He can no longer be treated as before.

Dai Xiyu on the training platform waited a moment, but seeing no increase in pendulums, he couldn't help but say again, "Add six more; I can handle it."

Hearing Dai Xiyu speak again, the Duchess finally made up her mind, saying, "Then add six more!"

The maid, hearing this, hesitated to move her hand placed on the mechanism.

A few seconds later, the maid took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and forcefully pushed the controller forward.

In the next moment, six of the pendulums in the field broke free from their stillness and began to swing.

Dai Xiyu on the field instantly felt a great increase in pressure.

This pressure was not physical, but mental.

The pendulums' swing amplitude was not regular, but varied between fast and slow.

Therefore, one must distribute attention across all twenty-four pendulums at once.

At the same time, reaction ability is also a key factor.

Several times, he saw it with his eyes but his mind couldn't react in time, narrowly avoiding being struck by a pendulum.

Dai Xiyu knew that these twenty-four were probably his current limit.

Afterward, he did not add more pendulums, but persisted until the incense stick burned out and the hourglass stopped.

Those irregularly moving pendulums also gradually reduced their swing amplitude until they came to a complete stop.

Dai Xiyu stepped down from the training platform, took the towel Zhu Zhuqing handed him, and wiped the sweat from his face.

At that very moment, a notification refreshed in the upper left corner of Dai Xiyu's vision.

【Harvest: Fortune from Zhu Zhuqing +500,000】

"What's going on? How did it increase by five hundred thousand all at once?" Dai Xiyu wondered, somewhat surprised.

This increase of five hundred thousand represents Zhu Zhuqing's affection for him, which has grown by a large amount all at once.

But the reason for this increase is unclear.

However, as long as he can gain fortune, the reason doesn't matter.

At this moment, the Duchess also brought Zhu Zhu Yue to Dai Xiyu's side.

Looking at Dai Xiyu drenched in sweat, the Duchess's eyes were full of admiration.

As a Battle Soul Master, being able to achieve this level on the first attempt is already extremely terrifying.

Probably, among Battle Soul Masters below the twentieth level, no one else could achieve this on the first try.

As for Zhu Zhu Yue, her eyes were full of complex feelings.

Not long ago, she still thought Dai Xiyu was weak and incapable, with a bleak future.

But now, she finally knows.

Compared to Dai Xiyu, Dai Mubai is far, far behind.

Moreover, although Dai Mubai is her fiancé, his thoughts are nowhere near her.

In contrast, the once-unfavored Dai Xiyu not only displayed outstanding talent, but is also utterly devoted to Zhu Zhuqing.

If only, when His Majesty asked at that time, I had actively chosen Dai Xiyu...

Too bad, there are no 'ifs'.

Thinking and thinking, tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably, and Zhu Zhu Yue quickly turned her head away.

The few onlookers were amazed in their hearts, but Dai Xiyu himself did not feel satisfied.

In his view, even Zhu Zhuqing, whose soul power is only level seven, could endure the twenty-four pendulums for an incense stick's duration.

While his own soul power is a full twenty-two levels, fifteen levels higher than Zhu Zhuqing's, far exceeding expectations.

Thinking this, Dai Xiyu then spoke solemnly:

"Aunt, my reaction speed is still far too lacking, so I wish to stay here for three days of vacation to train; please grant permission."

Although Dai Xiyu is a prince by status, his authority is not so great that he can do as he pleases.

Moreover, this is the home of his parents-in-law; for Zhu Zhuqing's fortune, it's better to behave modestly.

Dai Xiyu's performance made the Duchess like him more and more, so she said:

"Your Highness the Second Prince has such drive, no wonder you've reached your current strength. Since you wish to stay, we naturally welcome you."

After saying that, the Duchess left the courtyard directly and had the maid inform the kitchen to prepare a proper lunch to entertain Dai Xiyu.

Zhu Zhu Yue also didn't say much, following the Duchess as she left.

In the courtyard, only two maids remained, along with Dai Xiyu and Zhu Zhuqing.

Dai Xiyu's gaze was firm; he felt the soul power within him recovering, then turned to the maid operating the mechanism and said:

"In a moment I'll go up; please directly activate twenty-four pendulums for me."

Having said that, he turned around and was about to jump onto the training platform.

Zhu Zhuqing quickly grabbed Dai Xiyu's wrist and whispered, "Xiyu, you've just come down; rest a bit longer."

Dai Xiyu shook his head, but in his mind he recalled Dai Weisi's battle record.

Thirty-eight—Dai Weisi could dodge thirty-eight pendulums at once, and that was only his strength half a year ago.

In a month, Dai Weisi will return to the imperial capital; who knows what might happen then.

Before that, I at least need to reach the same level as Dai Weisi.

Dai Xiyu certainly didn't want to capsize in a gutter due to low reaction speed.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing's increasingly lively eyes, Dai Xiyu said, "Time is short; I must seize every moment and cannot slack off."

Having said that, he resolutely jumped onto the training platform.

At the very moment his feet landed, a prompt refreshed again in the upper left of his vision.

【Gain from Zhu Zhuqing's fortune +200000】

He turned around and saw Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks slightly flushed.

She seemed to have misunderstood something, causing her favorability to rise again.

Dai Xiyu didn't bother to explain; anyway, it was beneficial to him and also earned him fortune.

Looking at the maid controlling the mechanism, Dai Xiyu said in a low voice, "Begin!"

(End of chapter)