After Dai Mubai successfully absorbed his third spirit ring and advanced to the rank of Spirit Elder, the three set out for Star Luo City.
Although they were already within the borders of the Star Luo Empire, even at their fastest pace, the journey would take at least half a month.
But just as they were about to depart, something unusual happened.
Not far from the Diamond White Tiger clan they had just left, only a short distance into the forest after leaving the cave, they suddenly encountered a group of spirit masters head-on.
If it had only been an ordinary team of spirit masters hunting for rings, they could have exchanged brief greetings and gone their separate ways.
However, when Dai Mubai saw the attire of this group, his entire body tensed as though facing a deadly foe. When his eyes locked on a tall, golden-haired figure among them, his whole aura shifted, becoming sharp and tense.
Oscar, upon seeing this group clearly, also guessed what was going on.
There were about twenty in the party, led by a middle-aged man. At his side stood a strikingly handsome young man, his features resembling Dai Mubai's by five or six parts. He was nearly two meters tall, golden hair flowing down his back, his stride steady with the bearing of a tiger or dragon—majestic and supremely confident.
When this group noticed Oscar, Zhao Wuji, and Dai Mubai, they paused in slight surprise before smiling faintly, their emotions unreadable.
The leader and the golden-haired youth spoke briefly to their followers, leaving them behind while the two of them walked directly toward Dai Mubai's trio.
As they approached, the golden-haired youth's deep, resonant voice carried forward:
"Mumbai, I didn't expect to meet you here. I thought that after you ran away from home, you would never come back. Who would have thought—"
Before he could finish, Dai Mubai cut him off with a cold snort:
"Dai Weisi, spare me the act. There's nothing to say between us."
The young man—Dai Weisi, Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire—smiled undisturbed:
"Not going to introduce your two companions?"
Dai Mubai ignored him and instead turned to Zhao Wuji and Oscar. "Teacher Zhao, Brother Ao, let's go. I'll explain later."
By then, Dai Weisi and the middle-aged man had already come closer. Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Dai Weisi's smile carried a trace of mockery:
"What's this? We've only just met, and you're already running away? You know, during the year you've been gone, Father has often spoken of missing you."
Then, leaning close to his younger brother's ear, he whispered with deliberate cruelty:
"Oh, and your little fiancée… she misses you too."
Dai Mubai's mismatched eyes flared with fury as he seized Dai Weisi by the collar.
"What did you say?! What have you done to her?!"
The Dai Mubai of today was no longer the frivolous playboy of the original story. His heart held no other distractions—apart from cultivation, the only one he cared for was his lonely fiancée back in Star Luo City, Zhu Zhuqing.
Dai Weisi's words had struck his reverse scale.
But Dai Weisi merely brushed away his grip with a casual motion, prying his brother's hand off with strength, and replied coldly:
"My dear little brother, what's this? When you abandoned everything and left alone, where was this sudden devotion to Zhuqing? Now you want to play the part of the doting fiancé?"
His words turned Dai Mubai's earlier accusation of hypocrisy back against him, and worse, they pierced straight into his sore spot—for the truth was that Dai Mubai had been reckless and thoughtless when he left.
"Dai Weisi, I'm warning you! If you dare to harm Zhuqing, I swear I'll—" Dai Mubai's eyes burned as he spat out the words.
But Dai Weisi interrupted with a sneer: "Or else what? You'll strike your own elder brother?"
Dai Mubai snorted coldly. "You? Fit to be my brother? All these years you've done nothing but suppress me!"
At this moment, Oscar, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke up.
"Mumbai, aren't you going to introduce us properly?"
As the saying goes, the onlooker sees more clearly. From Oscar's perspective, it was obvious that Dai Weisi had the advantage—calm, composed, and always one step ahead in words and emotions. Dai Mubai, by contrast, was being led around like a puppet.
If this short exchange alone left Dai Mubai so helpless, it was easy to imagine how overwhelming Dai Weisi must have been in the past.
Though Dai Mubai had grown in the past year, against his elder brother—seven years his senior—he was still far too green.
But youth did not mean forever inferior. And since Oscar was here, there was no way he would allow Dai Mubai to be crushed. After all, Dai Mubai had already called him Brother Ao.
Once you're called "big brother," the responsibility must be carried.
Hearing Oscar's voice steadied Dai Mubai's anger. Glancing at Oscar's warm smile, he nodded.
"Brother Ao, this is the one I told you about—Dai Weisi."
Oscar grinned and inclined his head politely toward Dai Weisi. "Hello, I'm Oscar—Mubai's big brother now."
Dai Weisi's brows furrowed, and his disdain for Dai Mubai deepened.
He ignored Oscar and sneered at his brother instead: "So, Mubai, you've renounced your real brother and picked up a stray one outside? Doesn't it worry you what Father will say when he finds out?"
But Dai Mubai only looked back at him with unexpected calm. Though not as trusting of Oscar as Ma Hongjun was, he had truly accepted him in his heart.
So instead of being angered by Dai Weisi's jab, he almost laughed at him. Just moments ago, Oscar had stood up for him—that alone proved he was worthy of being called "Brother."
Outsiders might think this was mere family business, yet Oscar had still stepped in. By doing so, he had implicitly chosen to back Dai Mubai in the imperial struggle, even at risk of entanglement.
Dai Mubai was deeply moved.
And Oscar did not stop there. Smiling easily, he said:
"That's right. Seems the little brother prefers me over you. If you can't even measure up to me, then I'd say you've failed as an elder brother."
Dai Weisi's eyes hardened. "Brat, this is between brothers. Since when do outsiders get to interrupt?"
But Oscar's grin didn't waver. "What's wrong? Did I strike a nerve? Or are you just hoping to press me with your so-called title of Crown Prince?"
Then, his smile widened mischievously.
"Oh, by the way—we have a prince too. But unlike you, Mubai calls me big brother. Since you're also a prince, why don't you call me big brother as well? I promise I'll treat you both equally."
Even Dai Weisi's temper cracked at that, anger flashing across his face. But before he could lash out, the middle-aged man beside him raised a hand to stop him.
"Your Highness, focus on the mission," the man murmured.
Then he turned his gaze on Oscar. Spirit power erupted from him—terrifying pressure at the level of a Spirit Sage surged forth, crashing down on Oscar like a mountain.
"Arrogant brat! How dare you speak so rudely to the Crown Prince?"
But before Oscar could react, Zhao Wuji stepped forward with a snort.
"A Spirit Sage, bullying children? Pathetic."
With his words, an even stronger aura burst forth, sweeping the Spirit Sage's pressure aside and pressing back with greater force.
Dai Weisi's presence here was no coincidence. The Star Luo Emperor had tasked him with capturing three Diamond White Tigers of at least 4,000 years' cultivation to replenish the royal hunting forest.
At just twenty years of age, Dai Weisi had recently broken through to the fortieth rank, becoming a Spirit Ancestor. The mission was difficult, but its very challenge was what earned him his father's favor.
As for Dai Mubai, his conflict with his brother was not yet meant to be decided. He was still too young, and the Emperor would never allow a true clash at this stage.
Meanwhile, Oscar thought simply: If you try to bully my people, don't expect me to let it slide.
The Spirit Sage's aura and Zhao Wuji's clashed violently, but soon the man faltered. His spirit power was around level 75—respectable, but Zhao Wuji had already reached level 78.
And Zhao Wuji was no ordinary Spirit Sage. With only six spirit rings, he had once fought free from the combined assault of sixteen Spirit Emperors. His title of Unmovable King Zhao was no mere exaggeration.
With a cold snort, Zhao Wuji's aura flared, forcing the man back several steps, his face paling as he steadied himself.
Zhao Wuji's expression was icy. "So what if you're of the royal family? Mubai is also a prince. If you want to bully the younger generation, you'll have to get past me first."
Hearing this, warmth filled Dai Mubai's chest. In little more than a year at Shrek Academy, he had experienced a kind of loyalty and warmth that had never existed in his cold imperial home.
Even Dai Weisi hesitated now. If his protector—the so-called Tiger Uncle—at level 75 was forced back, then clearly this Zhao Wuji was even stronger.
He weighed the odds grimly. Beyond Tiger Uncle, the rest of his men were only Spirit Kings at best. Against Zhao Wuji, they might truly lose.
Oscar gave Zhao Wuji a big thumbs-up. "Boss Zhao, domineering as always!"
Then he turned back to Dai Weisi. "Mumbai isn't alone anymore. Whatever happened in the past, from now on, if you want to trouble him, you'll have to go through Shrek Academy first."
Dai Weisi's face darkened. With a final cold snort, he barked: "Hmph! Tiger Uncle, we're leaving!"
He wasn't a fool. The situation was against him, and besides, his father had already forbidden him from harming Dai Mubai before the age of twenty. For now, he could only withdraw.
If not for that restriction, he would have dragged Dai Mubai back by force.
Oscar did not stop them. After Dai Weisi and his party departed, Oscar, Zhao Wuji, and Dai Mubai also turned to leave.
Dai Mubai spoke quietly: "Brother Ao, Teacher Zhao… thank you."
Both men only smiled. "You're part of Shrek now. How could we let you be bullied?"
Oscar asked, "By the way, what are Dai Weisi and his men doing in Star Dou Forest? Could it be that he's broken through and is here for a spirit ring?"
Dai Mubai considered. "That's likely. When I left, his spirit power was already close to the Spirit Ancestor level. Breaking through by now wouldn't be strange."
Zhao Wuji frowned. "That would mean his spirit power is at least ten levels higher than yours. In terms of cultivation, you're still at a great disadvantage."
Dai Mubai gave a bitter smile. "He's seven years older. But I believe I can catch up. Back then, the gap between us was far wider than it is now."
Oscar nodded. "Good. If you have that confidence, then we'll support you with everything we've got."
Then he chuckled. "And hey, if you actually win one day, become Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire, and maybe even Emperor, won't that mean Shrek Academy will bask in your glory?"
Dai Mubai laughed bitterly. "Brother Ao, don't tease me. For now, it's enough just not to be crushed by Dai Weisi. I have faith I'll surpass him in the future, but inheriting the throne… that's still far off."
"But if that day ever comes, Brother Ao, Brother Hongjun, all our teachers at Shrek—I swear, I'll never forget your support."
Zhao Wuji and Oscar laughed heartily. Whatever the future held, with those words, Dai Mubai had already shown his promise.
Even if he faltered, they would push him forward—for who wouldn't want to nurture a brother or student who might one day become an emperor?
Of course, they were partly mistaken. Dai Weisi hadn't come here solely for a spirit ring, but for his father's mission. Still, he had indeed advanced to Spirit Ancestor, his spirit power more than ten levels higher than Dai Mubai's.
But as Dai Mubai himself had said, being behind now didn't mean he would always remain behind.