"I've decided." Wang Yan faced everyone. "At the start of the match, Caitou will prepare a set of cigars in advance for everyone. That way, after we go on stage and absorb them, our strength can increase by about ten percent."
Huo Yuhao frowned and asked, "Teacher Wang, isn't this cheating?"
In fact, in his previous life when reading the original work, he had disliked this part of the description. Using a Food-type soul master's soul skill to absorb in advance? That's blatant cheating.
Of course, if the Food-type soul master also went on stage, that would be another matter.
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Wang Yan, Zhang Lexuan, and even the members of the main team all chuckled lightly.
This left Huo Yuhao completely bewildered. Not only him, but the members of the reserve team were also somewhat confused.
"Is there a problem?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"Xiaotao, you explain it to Yuhao." Zhang Lexuan looked at Ma Xiaotao.
Ma Xiaotao nodded and smiled. "Yuhao, you might not know, but in the Dou Soul Grand Tournament, almost every academy has a Food-type soul master, even if they don't go on stage. The reason is that there's an unspoken rule you can't stop."
"Even if you don't bring food onto the stage, you can still absorb the soul skill provided by the Food-type soul master just before going on stage. That is, you can still significantly boost your strength, and since it's before the match starts, the tournament committee can't interfere."
"As for prohibiting pre-match consumption of Food-type soul skills, it has been tried before. But that meant Food-type soul masters would be useless in the tournament, which, considering your team's combat strength, would be like losing a member. Then banning pre-match provision of food drew the opposition of the continent's top Food-type soul masters. Over the years, it became an unspoken rule."
"Besides, not everyone has a Soul Skill as powerful as Oscar Ancestor's Mirror Intestine to boost their strength. Also, the boost from a Food-type soul master is generally weaker than an Auxiliary-type, so there's little worry about how much pre-match consumption could increase a contestant's strength. That's why we were so surprised when we saw Caitou's soul skill effect."
Huo Yuhao's face was full of shock, and the reserve team members were similarly stunned.
"Of course, with the development of soul devices, this unspoken rule will probably be officially banned. With soul devices, Food-type soul masters can also unleash astonishing combat power. Caitou is a prime example. I guarantee, with his soul device, Caitou could even go head-to-head with a normal Soul King."
"From what I see, the next tournament will be held in the Sun Moon Empire. They won't give up promoting the use of soul devices, so this unspoken rule will probably only exist in this tournament."
After Ma Xiaotao finished, Wang Yan added a few words.
This explanation broadened Huo Yuhao's perspective. These details were never mentioned in the original work.
"All right, that's enough for today. Three days from now, the Dou Soul Grand Tournament begins. Don't slack off, especially the main team. Even if our win rate is the highest, history has shown many failures caused by arrogance and complacency."
Zhang Lexuan spoke, his tone serious.
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison.
…
At the same time, in a luxurious carriage, a group of people looked out the window at everything inside Xingluo City.
They were none other than students and leaders of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. Since the middle area of the Mingdou Mountains was unpassable by flight, they had to take a detour to arrive.
Chattering voices rose continuously.
"I haven't seen city walls like this in years. Didn't expect Xingluo City's walls to be so high."
"Walls this high and thick—won't it block light?"
"Perhaps the people inside are used to it."
"All imperial capitals… compared to our empire's capital, Xingluo City really falls short."
Finally, the carriage stopped outside the Xinghuang Grand Hotel. Once the group disembarked, an elder with a commanding presence walked ahead. Beside him was another slightly younger elder, with a beard and tall frame, white short hair like steel needles.
These were the leaders of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy: Pan Tianxing and Ma Mingzhu.
Behind them were fourteen students.
Guided by the leaders, they entered the hotel and checked in. Upon learning they were from the Sun Moon Empire, the hotel staff's expressions subtly changed.
It was a look of displeasure; after all, the Sun Moon Empire had repeatedly caused trouble at the borders, and the Xingluo Empire had constantly publicized the Sun Moon Empire's misdeeds, naturally affecting the public.
The group ignored the staff's expressions. But as they were about to leave, a young man with a delicate face smiled and asked a female receptionist, "Excuse me, has Shrek Academy arrived?"
Though displeased, the receptionist politely replied, "They have checked in."
"Thank you." The young man nodded with a smile.
Upon hearing "Shrek Academy," the others' expressions subtly shifted. The tournament wasn't the focus—they most wanted to defeat Shrek Academy.
Taking the elevator to the sixth-floor lodging area, Pan Tianxing casually said, "It's been a long journey. Rest early. If anyone needs to go out, apply to me."
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison.
"There's a tea room here. Let's use it as a meeting room. Come in and talk?"
Pan Tianxing looked at Ma Mingzhu, then his gaze shifted to Ma Rulong, Ma Mingzhu's grandson, the delicate young man, and the girl beside him.
They did not refuse, and all entered the tea room.
"Clack."
Suddenly, the delicate young man glanced around warily, took a metallic card from his storage ring, attached it to the wall, and a gray light spread rapidly.
This was a sound-blocking soul device. The light membrane could seal sounds within the range, preventing eavesdropping.
The others' eyes showed a hint of intrigue.
Pan Tianxing remarked, "The Xingluo Empire is lucky. They found a severely wounded sea soul beast by the coast. This time, besides defeating Shrek Academy, we're taking this soul beast back."
"Elder Pan, is it worth exchanging so much soul device technology for a hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast?" Ma Rulong asked, confused.
"Of course it is." Before Pan Tianxing could answer, the delicate, tall young man interjected. His eyes were blue, his skin smooth and fair, better than many girls'.
"Xiaohong, I was asking Elder Pan. Why are you interrupting?" Ma Rulong shot a glance at him.
Xiaohong smiled. "My grandfather is the leader of the Mingde Hall. What I know isn't less than you. The soul device technology we're giving is outdated; it's nothing significant."
Ma Rulong snorted. "Outdated or not, it still saves the Xingluo Empire years of development. Isn't that aiding the enemy? If not for…"
"Rulong." The bearded elder's expression changed, forcibly interrupting.
Ma Rulong shot Xiaohong a displeased glance and fell silent.
A teasing smile lingered in Xiaohong's eyes.
Pan Tianxing acted as if nothing had happened. He said, "Don't worry. Even if we gave the latest soul device technology, they couldn't make a splash. The former three kingdoms of Douluo Continent were nothing."
With Pan Tianxing mediating, Ma Rulong and Xiaohong relaxed.
"Mingzhu, stay in the hotel. I'll go register and gather information on Shrek Academy." Pan Tianxing looked at Ma Mingzhu.
"All right." Ma Mingzhu nodded.
He took Ma Rulong and left the tea room with Pan Tianxing, leaving Xiaohong and the girl.
"Sis, Grandpa invested a lot. Don't let him down." The girl's blue eyes watched Xiaohong closely. Her appearance was nearly as beautiful as Jiang Nannan's. Her long wine-red hair shimmered gently.
She was Xiaohong's sister, Meng Hongchen.
With his sister speaking, Xiaohong's teasing vanished, replaced by indulgence. "Don't worry. Grandpa reserved a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone for me. I won't let him down."
Meng Hongchen smiled sweetly, then frowned slightly. "I wonder how strong this year's Shrek Academy is."
"Who cares? We'll find out on the field." Xiaohong said calmly. "As long as there's no Soul Saint, our pressure drops a lot. Defeating Shrek Academy not only boosts our reputation, but also Grandpa's prestige. Our Hongchen family will rise higher."
Meng Hongchen's eyes gleamed with anticipation and battle intent. Their team was one of the strongest ever, with a good chance of victory.
Outside the tea room, Ma Rulong's face was grim. He and Ma Mingzhu went to an empty balcony. Ma Rulong asked, "Grandpa, isn't the hall master worried…" He made a hand gesture.
Ma Mingzhu shook his head, transmitting his voice with soul power. "With the emperor ill, the Crown Prince and the Prince factions fighting to the death, the hall master only seeks to recruit. He won't act against him. Besides, the outdated soul device tech was developed by the hall master himself, avoiding complaints."
"Don't bring this up again. Focus on the tournament and strive for progress. I've already asked the Starry Sky Douluo to take you as a disciple if you win the championship."
Ma Rulong's eyes lit up with excitement. Starry Sky Douluo—a royal-sanctioned Level 9 soul master, famous for the Sun Moon Divine Needle. Even the current Hongchen Hall Master couldn't compare.
If his teacher is Starry Sky Douluo, how could mere Xiaohong rely on background to suppress him?
"Clap." Ma Mingzhu patted Ma Rulong on the shoulder, encouraging him.
…
Whether it was Shrek Academy's warm conversations or the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's subtle hostility, it was nothing compared to the eerie atmosphere in the White Tiger Duke Mansion.
In the vast White Tiger Hall, the family sat silently for twenty minutes. Strange.
Dai Yaoheng, not yet returned to the team, sat separately, occasionally glancing at Zhu Yuhan, who smiled faintly, neither distant nor intimate.
"Third brother, what should we do?" The Duchess finally spoke, pressing her forehead as if in pain.
Zhu Changming glanced at Dai Yaoheng, twitching. How did you find members capable of soul skill fusion for Huabin? Dai Yaoheng could also fuse?
But one thing excited him: if Dai Huabin and Dai Yaoheng could both fuse with their girl, the Zhu family's future was secure.
The only problem: currently only one girl, so you two can't split her.
"In my view, since it's decided that Yuhan is betrothed to Huabin, there's no turning back. As for Yaoheng, I'll find another suitable girl within the family."
Zhu Changming looked around and stated his idea.
The Duchess and other White Tiger family elders mostly agreed. It was the best solution.
"Mother, third uncle, elders, I have something to say."
Suddenly, Dai Yaoheng stood, serious. "Though it goes against brotherly norms, I must say I fell for Yuhan at first sight. I don't want to give her up. I ask third uncle to allow it. Yuhan hasn't formally betrothed to Huabin, so she's free."
"Dai Yaoheng, what are you trying to do?"
Just as everyone was shocked, a furious roar came from outside the hall.
All eyes turned to see a boy, slightly younger than Dai Yaoheng, storming in like an angry tiger.
Damn, recently he had been humiliated. Now, his elder brother wants to humiliate him again—this time, by his own brother.
If not for sharing the same mother, he would have cursed.
"Hua Bin, calm down." The Duchess frowned. "Elders are present. Who's face are you throwing away?"
Perhaps intimidated, Dai Huabin snorted at Dai Yaoheng but glanced at Zhu Yuhan, subconsciously comparing her to Zhu Lu.
Though also a top beauty, Zhu Lu slightly surpassed her. Dai Huabin's eyes flashed disappointment.
Zhu Yuhan frowned. Having grown up managing family affairs, she had seen people's expressions. She noticed Dai Huabin's slight disappointment.
Was he despising her?
Zhu Yuhan was astonished. She didn't dare claim to be a super beauty, but she was rare. Moreover, she had long resolved to support her future husband.
But Dai Huabin's disappointment made her angry. She thought: if you despise me, I won't marry.
The White Tiger House symbolized inter-family cooperation now, far from its former importance.
Zhu Changming outwardly frowned but inwardly rejoiced. As an elder, he said: "Isn't this a farce for you two? As I said, since Yuhan's fate is decided, no changes are needed. I'll find a suitable match for Yaoheng later."
Dai Huabin relaxed; Zhu Yuhan was not happy.
She stood, bowed to the elders, and said, "I also have something to say."
Everyone looked at her.
"I like third brother Yaoheng. I want to marry him."
Dai Huabin: "???"
Dai Yaoheng's eyes widened.
He had said "love at first sight" to provoke Dai Huabin, thinking he was eavesdropping. He hadn't expected Zhu Yuhan to actually…
"Bang."
At this moment, a terrifying soul power spread. Uncle Dai Hao, Dai Dianchen, smashed a table with his palm, eyes cold: "This is the White Tiger Duke Mansion, the White Tiger Hall—not your playground for love affairs."
Next only to Dai Qingnan in authority, he spoke, and everyone shut up.
Especially the Duchess—mother to the two boys—felt most embarrassed.
"If you don't feel ashamed, I do. If this isn't resolved, the inter-family marriage is canceled this time. Next generation will resume."
Zhu Changming's expression changed. He wanted to speak, but Dai Dianchen's sharp gaze stopped him.
Zhu Changming held his breath and stayed silent.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Suddenly, drums resounded in the hall.
Zhu Yuhan didn't understand yet, but everyone else did.
These were the White Tiger drums, only struck when returning to the mansion.
Dai Hao had returned.
Dai Dianchen stood, flicking his sleeve. "Dai Hao is back. Leave the troublesome matters to him."
He turned and left.
Other White Tiger second-generation members followed.
The Duchess looked at her sons coldly. "Go with me to welcome your father at the mansion gates."
"Yes." The brothers dared not delay.
"Third brother, take Yuhan with you." The Duchess looked at Zhu Changming.
"All right. Let Father Dai Hao decide." Zhu Changming nodded and beckoned to Zhu Yuhan.
..................
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