Faced with the sudden concern from his older brother, Xu Mingjie instinctively felt that something was wrong. Would that shameless older brother really be this kind?
"Nothing major has happened in the Star Luo Empire, and the White Tiger Duke treats me well. If I ask him anything, it usually gets resolved."
"Then I can be at ease. You should handle the official affairs of the Xingluo Empire in the future."
I knew it!!!
Xu Mingjie roared in his heart. Because of handling official matters, he hadn't returned home for a long time, and even his cultivation had been greatly delayed—his soul power hadn't advanced at all.
He had no idea how White Tiger Duke Dai Feng managed to cultivate his soul power to level 95 while handling state affairs. The Dai family must possess a great deal of treasure.
He didn't know that the Dai family really did. Being the royal family of the Star Luo Empire for ten thousand years wasn't easy.
They might not have fairy grass-level treasures, but they still had a stockpile of second-tier resources. It wasn't difficult to stack a few Title Douluos.
However, these were the Dai family's foundations. Dai Feng would never use them unless it was a critical moment for the family's survival. Xingluo might fall, but the Dai family must not be destroyed.
Xu Mingjie looked at his brother sadly, hoping to stir some conscience within him.
"Brother, I really can't do this anymore. I haven't been home for over a year since I got married."
"Then I'll ask the sect to send your wife to accompany you."
"That's not necessary. Compared to such a restricted life in the palace, Zhu Qing still prefers staying in the sect to cultivate.
Brother, just find a few more people to help me, so I have time to train and can become a Title Douluo sooner and take over your job."
"That's true."
Xu Mingxi stroked the chin of his mask, thinking about the list of powers in the Star Luo Empire and considering recruiting some talents to form a new political team for the empire.
After thinking it over, he decided it was best to let the major factions participate and compete with each other, so that the position of the Star Crown Sect's leader would be more stable.
"Mingjie, write a letter to the Glorious Seven Treasure Sect and the former Heaven Dou Empire troops, asking them to recommend some talents to enter the Star Luo palace."
"Will that really work? Those old nobles won't easily agree to share power."
"They will."
In the face of the absolute power of the Star Crown Sect, no one could say otherwise. After Dai Feng returned today, he would definitely inform his troops, and those people would know what to do.
As night fell, the giant war machine of the Star Luo Empire began to turn.
After seeing the power of the soul guidance forces, Dai Feng, having learned from the elders that Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi had died, immediately shifted into a strong war-faction stance.
The White Tiger was an expert in killing, and he was eager for battle. He didn't want to miss this opportunity to let the Xingluo Empire control the entire Douluo Continent, even if he himself wasn't the emperor.
He sat in the study at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, drafting military orders, which were then sent by his subordinates to the homes of the generals.
All of Dai Feng's previous concerns vanished with the death of Qian Daoliu. He didn't know how the Star Crown Sect managed it, actually causing two unmatched Douluos to die at the same time.
But he knew that if he didn't seize this opportunity, he would be a complete fool.
Just as Dai Feng was eagerly studying strategy, the former Queen of Xingluo—now the Duchess—entered, holding food in her hands, though her expression was hesitant.
"My lady, what's going on in the great house?"
"It's not the Duchess's Mansion, but Mubai—he's back."
The Duchess's expression was a bit strange. She still couldn't believe that her son, who was once unremarkable but acceptable, had become like this. He was far worse than Weiss.
Seeing her like this, Dai Feng knew something must have happened to his third son, Dai Mubai. He snorted coldly and put down the map of the Wuhun Empire in his hands.
He was already displeased with his son who had escaped the previous battle, and now he was even more dissatisfied. He escaped—so why return? Did he think the White Tiger Duke's Mansion no longer upheld the rules of combat between heirs?
"Don't worry about him. If he wants to leave, let him. Can a soul master starve to death?"
"My husband, you should go see him."
Unable to dissuade his wife, Dai Feng had to follow her. The further he walked, the more he felt something was off. This didn't look like the way to the guest rooms, but rather the way to the infirmary.
"My lady, Mubai is injured?"
"No, just come with me."
The Duchess looked a bit embarrassed, unconsciously quickening her pace, leading Dai Feng to a waiting room next to the infirmary.
Once inside, the two saw a gaunt and frail Dai Mubai lying weakly on a bed, with dry hair and dull eyes, looking like he was about to die.
"What on earth happened? Who dared injure my son so badly?"
Dai Feng was truly furious. No one dared hurt his offspring so openly. Even the Star Crown Sect had to show him face. Who would dare be so bold?
He was about to leave the room and order his men to capture the attacker when the Duchess reached out to stop him. After dismissing everyone nearby, she closed the door.
"My husband, don't get angry. Listen to me. Mubai wasn't beaten—he contracted a sexually transmitted disease."
"WHAT!!!"
This shocked Dai Feng more than anything earlier. Seeing Dai Mubai lying on the bed, his anger surged, and he wanted to deal with his son right then.
The Dai family did not have such shameful descendants. It would've been better if Dai Mubai had perished with the Heaven Dou Empire rather than return and disgrace them.
Dai Mubai, barely breathing on the bed, seemed to hear some voices. He sat up with difficulty and looked at his father with eyes full of regret.
"Father, I..."
"Stop! I am no longer the emperor of the Xingluo Empire, and I can't stand you calling me father."
The Duchess tugged at Dai Feng hard, but he didn't stop and left. She could only order the imperial doctors to use the best medicines before following after him.
Watching his parents leave, tears flowed helplessly from Dai Mubai's eyes. He was full of regret for his foolish lifestyle over the years.
After Shrek Academy was disbanded, he and Ma Hongjun were taken to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. The prosperity of Heaven Dou City quickly drained their gold soul coins.
Then the war broke out, and they no longer received subsidies given to soul masters by the Spirit Hall. Their gold soul coins dwindled rapidly.
Still, they were both used to venting their frustrations every few days. Without enough money to go to fancy places, they could only visit low-tier establishments.
After fleeing to the Star Luo Empire, Flender took their teacher to Wuhun Imperial City and completely disappeared. No one cared about the two of them, and they grew increasingly debauched. Eventually, an accident happened.
Dai Mubai saw his close brother's body rot and stink, and he fled back to the White Tiger Duke's Mansion in fear to seek help—only to find that his father was truly disappointed in him.
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