Dai Weisi never imagined that while his father was laughing, the fire would suddenly be redirected onto him.
The disappointment and gloom that had lingered on his face since Dai Tianfeng's breakthrough hadn't even had time to fade before it was noticed.
Dai Tianfeng's thunderous laughter abruptly stopped.
His smile vanished.
He slowly turned his head, narrowed his eyes, and scrutinized his son with a dangerous calm.
"Weisi," he said coldly, "I've broken through to the ninety-first rank and am about to become a Titled Douluo."
"…Are you not happy for me?"
Dai Weisi's heart skipped a beat.
This is bad.
He instantly composed himself, forcing a radiant—yet painfully stiff—smile onto his face.
"Father must be joking!"
"Your son is overjoyed by your breakthrough! I couldn't possibly be happier!"
But at that exact moment—
Xue Beng, the infamous truth-teller, who had just been slapped flying by Emperor Xue Ye, spoke up again.
Rubbing his swollen cheek, he glanced at Dai Weisi's expression, curled his lips, and muttered bluntly.
"Tch. What's he happy about?"
"Isn't he thinking the same thing I am?"
"If you hadn't broken through, he could still hope to become emperor sooner."
"But now that you're a Titled Douluo and will outlive him…"
"He'll probably be Crown Prince until the day he dies."
The instant those words left his mouth—
Dai Tianfeng's face turned black as the bottom of a pot.
Dai Weisi's smile froze solid.
The entire restaurant plunged into deathly silence once more.
Only Xue Beng remained oblivious, blinking innocently at the crowd as if to ask, Was I wrong?
Meanwhile, Emperor Xue Ye—who had been on the verge of collapsing from rage—suddenly felt his anger… ease.
Balance returned to his heart.
So it's not just my son like this…
Your son wishes you dead too, Dai Tianfeng.
Noticing the faint relaxation on Xue Ye's face, Dai Tianfeng's fury instantly reignited.
He shot to his feet and pointed straight at Emperor Xue Ye's nose.
"Old man Xue Ye, what are you so pleased about?!"
He panted heavily, eyes bulging like bronze bells.
"Yes! Even if—even if—this rebellious brat of mine harbors even the slightest unfilial thoughts!"
He jabbed a finger at Dai Weisi, who still stood straight-backed, maintaining a Crown Prince's composure despite his darkened expression.
"He's still a hundred times stronger than the future heir of your Heaven Dou Empire!"
At those words, everyone subconsciously glanced at the pig-headed Xue Beng groaning on the floor.
Indeed.
Setting aside treasonous thoughts…
Whether in strength, intellect, bearing, or appearance, Dai Weisi completely crushed Heaven Dou's sole imperial son.
Seeing the looks around him, Dai Tianfeng knew he'd won this round.
The gloom in his heart vanished, and he straightened his back, wearing once more the smug grin of a petty victor.
"A useless wastrel who eats, drinks, indulges himself, flirts with women, and prays for his father's death!"
"Governing a country? What does he know?!"
"And when you die—"
"When this lone piece of trash ascends your fragile throne—"
Dai Tianfeng's voice surged, filled with naked ambition.
"My Star Luo Empire will directly annex your Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Your Xue Clan's empire—your Heaven Dou people—will all belong to my Dai Clan!"
The words struck Emperor Xue Ye like a heavy hammer.
Each one pierced straight through his heart.
Dai Tianfeng was certain this would utterly crush Xue Ye's remaining dignity.
But—
After a brief silence, Emperor Xue Ye slowly… slowly raised his head.
On his aged face, twisted with fury, appeared a strange, chilling sneer.
He stiffened his neck and replied, word by word.
"And who told you…"
"…that this useless thing is the heir of my Empire?"
Dai Tianfeng froze.
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Not the heir?
You have only one son—if he's not the heir, then who is?!
As Dai Tianfeng scrambled to refute what he thought was desperate sophistry—
Emperor Xue Ye didn't even spare Xue Beng a glance.
Nor did he look again at Dai Tianfeng.
His bloodshot, clouded eyes locked onto a single direction.
Then, step by heavy step, he walked toward it.
He stopped before Qian Renxue—still disguised as Xue Qinghe, the very "son" who had just beaten Xue Beng senseless.
Bang!
Emperor Xue Ye slammed his palm onto the table.
The sudden noise startled Qian Renxue, making her chopsticks tremble.
She looked up and met a pair of bloodshot eyes blazing with madness and anticipation.
"I ask you!"
His voice was hoarse, yet carried unquestionable imperial authority.
"You, Qian Renxue—disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe—spent over ten years infiltrating my Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Your goal couldn't possibly have been as trivial as stealing half my treasury and fleeing!"
He leaned forward, staring at her intently.
"Your target was my throne."
"My Empire."
"Am I right—or am I wrong?!"
Qian Renxue felt her scalp tingle.
Has this old man gone mad?
She subconsciously leaned back.
"W-what are you trying to say?"
"You don't need to know what I want!"
Emperor Xue Ye roared, completely ignoring her question.
"Just answer me!"
"Was your goal aimed at my throne—at my Heaven Dou Empire—or not?!"
Being shouted at by a foot-in-the-grave old man finally ignited her temper.
Qian Renxue slammed the table, stood up, and released her aura!
"So what if it was?!"
She thought he wanted to settle old grudges.
But the moment her answer fell—
All the madness on Emperor Xue Ye's face vanished.
In its place burst uncontrollable joy.
"Hahaha—HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"I knew it! I knew it!"
He laughed so hard tears nearly spilled out, pointing at Qian Renxue as if she were a priceless treasure recovered after years of loss.
"My throne! My Empire!"
"In the eyes of Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden—they're still worth coveting!"
His laughter abruptly stopped.
He turned around.
Staring straight at the dumbfounded Dai Tianfeng, his gaze filled with triumph and pity.
Then he raised his arm, pointed behind him at the equally confused Qian Renxue, and roared a declaration destined to go down in history!
"Look carefully!"
"This!"
"This is the only heir of the Heaven Dou Empire that I, Xue Ye, have painstakingly cultivated and truly acknowledged for twenty years!"
Qian Renxue: ???
Dai Tianfeng: ???
Xue Beng on the ground: ???
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