"As for this minister's view—this boy must not be underestimated."
Holy Dragon Douluo forced a laugh. Under Dai Tianling's displeased gaze he set down his teacup, opened a pair of sharp eyes, and said, "They come with ill intent."
"Of course I know they come with ill intent; the Tang Sect long ago declared this boy ruthless and a staunch Hawk Faction member."
Dai Tianling clicked his tongue.
"Right now he's inviting me to wipe out the Green Skeleton. I seem to have no reason to refuse—how should I answer him? After all, the Green Skeleton has truly provoked him and is a mortal thorn in this nation's side."
The so-called Federation was far beyond the horizon, whereas the Green Skeleton stood before his eyes. Even knowing the Sun Moon Federation was a latent foe, Dai Tianling had no qualms about borrowing Feng Zaixing's blade to exterminate these rebels.
Holy Dragon Douluo opened his mouth, then said helplessly, "The problem is—we don't know where the Green Skeleton's headquarters is either."
Dai Tianling lapsed into silence.
So the reason you kept quiet was this? That actually makes a hell of a lot of sense, teacher!
Seeing this, Holy Dragon Douluo hastily added, "But we can give him some intel. The boy has professional experience; he might just sniff out their headquarters."
"Yet I expect he won't work for free—he'll want something in return."
Dai Tianling shrugged.
"As long as the Green Skeleton is destroyed, any price is acceptable. I tried to hire the Tang Sect, and they still refused, claiming they're powerless for the moment."
Holy Dragon Douluo weighed his words, then probed, "Including Her Highness the princess?"
A vein throbbed on Dai Tianling's forehead. "Princess? Which princess?"
Holy Dragon Douluo wore an expression that said stop play-acting, pointing toward a graceful figure outside who had just used Feng Zaixing as a shield to escape the imperial marriage rules. "Naturally the one who just ran off—the one you dote on most."
Dai Tianling fell silent again; this time sweat broke out.
After weighing the pros and cons, he finally rubbed his temples and said, "If possible, I'd gladly have such a wildly capable and daring son-in-law, but would he agree? From the looks of it he brought quite a few female companions."
In the footage sent by the Star Luo guards, Feng Zaixing displayed tremendous might, while several young beauties fought no less fiercely, battering the Green Skeleton into despair.
In Dai Tianling's assessment, each of them met the Monster Academy's Heavenly King standard, even approaching Long Yue's level.
After all, once the Tang Sect headquarters decided to relocate, they had poured top-tier resources into the Eight Great Heavenly Kings; Long Yue's strength had soared this past year.
Holy Dragon Douluo stroked his beard. "We might as well try. I won't mince words—unless Long Yue absorbs that immortal grade item from the Tang Sect sacred ground, he's no match for this boy."
"Still, we have one advantage: this boy's lifespan won't be long. His temperament is exceedingly fierce, and after repeated assassination attempts he has burned a century of life; he's fated to die young."
Dai Tianling sighed. "Indeed, trading a century of life for overwhelming power is hard to judge as profit or loss. In any case, I don't wish Long Yue to follow his path."
"We need time—just a few decades to digest the Tang Sect's soul-engine technology, and I can stand straight and speak as an equal with the Sun Moon Federation."
Holy Dragon Douluo nodded and sighed. "Then, Your Majesty, the Tang Sect asks us to report this boy's movements. Should we agree?"
Dai Tianling's brows snapped together in irritation. "If they want to do something underhanded, what has that to do with us?"
One didn't need brains to guess that the Tang Sect wanting Feng Zaixing's movements boded ill—their grudge ran deep.
Dai Tianling didn't mind them beating each other senseless elsewhere, but he absolutely refused to let them tear up Star Luo Continent and leave his empire stinking of blood.
Holy Dragon Douluo said awkwardly, "But in the present situation our fates are truly tied; once the Shrek experts finish relocating, we may fall short at the top-tier force level—"
Dai Tianling bit his lip, drew a deep breath and said, "Fine! Give them the letter this boy sent me. For the sake of the nation we'll endure for now; once Long Yue's generation matures and we've mastered Tang Sect technology, we can decide our future course."
"Only when the Star Luo Empire has several Limit Douluo seated in power will our words carry real weight!"
"Your Majesty is wise."
"La-la-la, the rain has passed and the sky is clear—this princess is footloose and fancy-free!"
Dai Yuner minced along in a straight skirt, dragging a gloomy Tiger King Dai Yueyan, flitting like a butterfly through Star Luo City's streets and alleys.
The princess had successfully used a shield to block the outdated customs of a backward empire, and now bathed in boundless carefree joy—though it was Dai Yueyan's storage ring and soul-credit card that paid the price.
From West City to East City, Dai Yueyan felt half-mad. Seeing his sister about to enter East City's largest metal wholesale market, he thrust out a tiger paw.
"Little sister, you've bought enough—my soul-credit card can't take it anymore—"
Dai Yuner blinked in surprise. "Your allowance is that small? I haven't had enough fun yet."
Dai Yueyan wanted to weep. Easy for you to say—Father dotes on you like the pearl in his palm; money means nothing to you!
Just then his gaze caught several familiar figures also entering the metal market.
"Isn't that Feng Zaixing? They came to Star Luo City too?"
He recognized the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's group of monsters; he was sure he wasn't mistaken.
Dai Yuner's eyes brightened further, then she pouted in dismay. "They got here so fast—damn, seeing that guy reminds me of how he tied me up back then."
With a cat's superb vision and her Hell Civet Spirit, Dai Yuner's sight was peerless; she instantly locked onto Feng Zaixing, easy on the eyes yet guilty of detestable deeds.
Her gaze swept on—beside him, the laughing red-haired woman was an old acquaintance; she'd been the one who formed that hunting party and beat up any outsider who came to watch the fun.
Yu Xin's crimson hair was gathered behind her head, blooming like a crab-apple blossom, her rosy glow outshining fire; her red lips were habitually pressed in a faint, cool smile.
She wore a sharp, well-cut combat dress; her arms lifted a heavy bounty, the neat waist-cinching design carving out a breathtaking wasp waist, straight knife-pleated shorts hugging rounded hips and long, firm legs.
Hmph, decent looks—barely on par with me, but lacking my advantages.
Dai Yuner proudly eyed her own proud bust; the Hell Civet bloodline reigned supreme in that department.
Give me a few more years to grow and I'll outstrip her for sure!
Next she glanced at the silver-haired girl—ugh—looks-wise she seemed to be losing ground. Such a cute little sister must have been bewitched back then.
Their figures were about equal; Dai Yuner simply ignored the fact that Na'er was a bit younger.
Her gaze shifted again and landed on Yuanen Yehui, who was chatting beside Na'er, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
"Is this even human? Th-this… this isn't normal!"
The combined evolution of Titan Giant Ape and Fallen Angel had a huge impact, including—though not limited to—dramatic bodily changes.
Classmate Yuanen Yehui had grown much taller; her full breasts rose and fell with every movement, the largest top she owned visibly straining at the seams.
A loose purple skirt tried to hide her curves, yet the side view still showed a striking roundness—no comparison needed; Dai Yuner knew she'd lost completely.
How can a little kitten compete with a Titan Giant Ape?
Dai Yuner wilted, casting her gaze rearward for comfort.
The figures of Ye Xinglan, Xu Xiaoyan, and Wu Siduo came into view; the first two eased her heart, but the last plunged her back into confusion.
"Strange—why do I feel a kinship? Is she a Hell Civet too?"
Dai Yuner muttered to Dai Yueyan beside her: "Big brother, looks like we've got a distant cousin."
"I noticed without you telling me," Dai Yueyan said, stroking his chin. "That girl carries the aura of a White Tiger Spirit."
"But I sense Hell Civet," Dai Yuer declared with certainty.
A heartbeat later the siblings' eyes flew open in perfect unison.
"twin spirits!"
"Good heavens, are the Sun Moon Federation people all freaks? She doesn't even stand out in that crowd!" Dai Yuner swallowed; plans for revenge were officially abandoned.
I'm out—this bunch is too fierce. Feng Zaixing, just you wait—this princess will settle the score in the next life.
Five days later.
The ceremony for the Federation envoy's audience with the imperial house began.
Feng Zaixing stood among the envoy's senior ranks at the very front, half-listening to the pleasantries.
When both sides finished, he stepped forward under many startled stares, produced the document he had polished for days, and recited: "Vast Douluo, ages eternal—may Your Majesty keep the people in heart, cherish their strength; one day together we hunt in Dou Spirit, rescue Douluo Star's millions from fire and flood, and unite the realm in lasting tale."
"May I ask Your Majesty's pleasure?"
Feng Zaixing lifted his gaze to Dai Tianling; eyes perfect as a creator's masterpiece held sheathed edge and quiet grandeur.
Dai Tianling studied the youth straight as a divine spear and silently praised 'fine face, fine Mind.' Smiling, he answered: "When rebels attacked your envoy within my Star Luo Empire, the fault was mine. If your envoy would quell the Green Skeleton, I shall lend full strength."
"Thank you, Your Majesty; may our cooperation show the friendship of two nations."
Feng Zaixing saluted and withdrew; his effortless style left the visiting envoy party gaping.
Do you have to pick a fight everywhere you go?
After the audience the palace banquet began; first-timers to an imperial court had their eyes opened.
Feng Zaixing released mental force surpassing Long Yeyue's while he ate, quietly probing for information.
Faintly he sensed the aura of the traitor Hu Jie.
In a side hall, Holy Dragon Douluo En Ci slammed the table after hearing Hu Jie's demand, fury blazing in his eyes.
"Impossible! Do your own dirty work—why drag us in? Do you want to plunge Star Luo into war?"
"Fatty, are you day-dreaming?"
Hu Jie rose unhurried and smiled. "This is the unanimous will of Tang Sect; Holy Dragon Douluo, think carefully."
"Besides, he's always been a Hawk Faction hawk; today's talk with His Majesty laid bare his hunger for conquest. Even if you don't help kill him, he'll march on Star Luo sooner or later."
"By then you'll rue the day!"
En Ci grated: "But if you want him dead, isn't Tang Sect plus Shrek enough? Why force us—force this old man—to strike alongside you?"
Space twisted and Zang Xin appeared, smiling. "No choice—we've staked everything in Star Luo Empire; shouldn't Star Luo show good faith?"
"'Rest assured, Holy Dragon Douluo, the main force isn't only us; we can hide our identities and fish in troubled waters—"
En Ci's pupils quaked. "Zang Xin—your Tang Sect dares incur the wrath of the world!"
Zang Xin shook his head and sighed softly: "It's a last resort; Holy Dragon Douluo, ponder well."