It wasn't until one day that Zhu Zhuyun told Davis her spirit power had already surpassed his.
Only then did Davis realize the harsh truth—strength ruled supreme. How could he allow a woman to overtake him?
What's more, Zhu Zhuyun was a year younger than him.
Davis felt utterly humiliated. He wasn't just the Crown Prince, but also the most talented spirit master of the Dai Clan.
From that day forward, he began cultivating with all his might.
Yet despair soon followed.
Every time he broke through a rank, Zhu Zhuyun had already stepped past him.
Until yesterday, when news spread that Zhu Zhuyun had not yet advanced. Davis had finally reached Spirit Ancestor, Rank 44.
Today, he could not wait any longer so he rushed to the Zhu estate.
"Brother Dai," Zhu Zhuyun's eyes flickered slightly.
"My elder sister broke through long ago. She's already Rank 45. She just didn't want to hurt your pride, so she never announced it."
The one who spoke coldly was none other than Zhu Zhuqing, who until now had been silently eating.
Davis's mind went blank, struck as if by thunder.
Impossible! Aside from eating and sleeping, all his time had been spent cultivating.
As the Crown Prince, he inevitably had to attend banquets and learn statecraft.
But he had requested leave from his father, devoting himself solely to cultivation.
The Star Luo Emperor—his father—knew the reason. He was more than pleased to see his son and future daughter-in-law competing.
For at the core, this was a world of strength. Without power, even the Dai Clan's throne could not be secured.
And so the emperor supported Davis wholeheartedly.
Yet even with such effort, he was still behind by a whole level.
Davis looked to Zhu Zhuyun, seeking confirmation.
She cast her sister a reproachful glance and sighed softly.
"Brother Dai, Zhuqing is still upset over Mubai abandoning his responsibility. Don't take her words to heart. I only broke through recently myself. Cultivation must be steady if we are to reach Title Douluo. Only then can we stand against Spirit Hall.
Brother Dai, you are the hope of the Star Luo Empire. You must place cultivation above all else. Our royal family must produce another Title Douluo."
Davis's eyes shone purple.
At last, his heart settled—Zhu Zhuyun was not neglecting him. She cared for him.
"Very well, Zhuyun. I understand your intentions.
Father once told me too, to grasp the prime years of cultivation. Don't worry. Until our wedding, I will not disturb you again. I'll devote myself fully to cultivation!"
He smiled, handsome and confident, and strode out of the chamber.
Zhu Zhuqing bit down on a chunk of meat, unhappy.
"Sister, you broke through long ago!"
Zhu Zhuyun only smiled. "He's the Crown Prince. One must leave him some face. If we don't give him hope after two years of chasing without catching up, he'll truly collapse."
"You're too cunning. You've got him wrapped around your finger," Zhu Zhuqing snorted.
Scheming was something she disdained.
"Mind your words, little sister. The Crown Prince is already outstanding.
His talent is top tier, and he works hard. Only, compared to us, he falls short. If we don't spur him on, how will he grow?"
Zhu Zhuyun's smile deepened, but in her eyes flickered ambition.
Since that breakthrough in Soto City, it was as though the sisters' martial spirits had reawakened.
Their cultivation time each day had grown longer and longer.
With it came a need for immense energy replenishment.
But the rapid rise of their soul power left them elated, convinced they were blessed with exceptional talent.
"Zhuqing, Mubai has already gone to Soto City. When you turn twelve, the clan will stage a little play. Then you will go as well. When that time comes, it will depend on you." Zhu Zhuyun said suddenly.
"I understand. I won't waste Father's efforts," Zhu Zhuqing's tone softened.
This was the path their clan had prepared for her.
And with her strength soaring, confidence burned in her heart.
I will become a Title Douluo. The Dai Clan cannot bind me. And Dugu Feng… I will defeat him!
Her eyes turned cold.
Beyond Sunset Forest.
A carriage rumbled along.
Inside sat Dugu Feng, two pearls in his hand—one golden-red, one jade-green.
Though they looked as if pressed together, each released its own light—red and green—locked in opposition.
Yet if one looked closely, faint strands of red were being absorbed into the green.
"The Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent's inner core… its energy is too vast. Half a month on the road, and I've only absorbed the surface."
After obtaining the Slaughter God Domain, Dugu Feng had returned once more to the Slaughter City, met with the Slaughter King, then hired a carriage and set out for Heaven Dou.
On the road, he had gauged the Zhu sisters' cultivation through the Dan Pearls' feedback. They had not been slacking.
This pleased him greatly. With the Dragon Serpents, the Zhu sisters, and the pearls' progress, their growth would only accelerate.
And this inner core which was of the same essence as the Pearls, was being gradually refined, its energy feeding into the pearls.
All of it filled Dugu Feng with motivation.
Soon, the carriage reached the edge of Sunset Forest.
Dugu Feng leapt down, his heart at ease now that the tense days of the Slaughter City were behind him.
Choosing a path, he dashed swiftly into the forest.
Aside from the central mountain surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the forest was mostly flat woods and low hills.
He knew the terrain well. Before long, he reached a stone forest not far from where he had absorbed his first spirit ring.
As he waited, a massive boulder shifted aside, revealing a hidden cave.
Dugu Feng didn't hesitate and he leapt in.
The tunnel sloped downward, five or six meters high, until it opened into a broad cavern.
There, a man with blood-red hair stood excitedly.
"Young master! It really is you. You've returned at last. The patriarch has been worried sick. Come, quickly, let's go to him!"
This was Old Nine, possessor of the Nine-Heaven Centipede spirit—one of the clan's hidden strengths.
Usually, he resided in these underground caverns.
This cave connected directly to the Dugu Clan's estate—an escape passage known only to a few.
"Thank you, Old Nine. Lead the way."
Dugu Feng followed as they advanced deeper.
Along the way, Old Nine's son—Little Nine—joined them. Despite the name, he was already past thirty, a Spirit King.
Old Nine himself was a Spirit Sage.
The clan boasted three Spirit Sages in total—besides his father Dugu Shuo, there were Old Snake and Old Nine.
Old Scorpion remained a Spirit Emperor, though he had already reached Rank 68 during their time in the Extreme North, confident of soon breaking through to Spirit Sage.
The Dugu Clan's strength was not to be underestimated.
As long as their poison problem was solved, their power would surge again.
Dugu Feng had already planned out how to strengthen the clan.
What he told the Slaughter King—that the Dugu Clan would rise to become the continent's greatest family—had never been an empty boast!