Yun Ming left the arena, Tang San was heavily injured, and the remaining four members of Blue Tyrant Academy were also defeated in a crushing display of power by the combined efforts of Feng Xiaotian, Niu Bi, and Gong Ming.
As the three of them struck, the expression of Platinum Bishop Salas in the VIP box grew even more solemn, not just because of their cultivation, but because of the combat prowess they displayed at their respective levels.
Thanks to Yun Ming's mandatory requirement of ten hours of meditation every day for the members of the Empire Team, today, sixteen months later, the Soul Power Level of every member had increased significantly.
Take the current Soul Power cultivation of the three: Feng Xiaotian is at level 46, Niu Bi at level 41, and Gong Ming at the peak of level 36. Gong Ming had the lowest increase, gaining nearly four levels, while those with more, like Feng Xiaotian, had improved by nearly seven levels—though two of those came from absorbing an 8,000-year fourth Spirit Ring, a five-level increase was still substantial.
As for combat effectiveness, Dai Mubai and Huang Yuan joined forces against Feng Xiaotian but were completely suppressed; Tai Long and Jing Ling fought Niu Bi, and although they managed to reach a stalemate due to Niu Bi's Defense System, they were unable to intervene in the other battles.
Finally, with the assistance of Gong Ming, Feng Xiaotian quickly finished off his opponents. Seeing that the battle was lost, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly conceded on behalf of Blue Tyrant Academy to preserve their strength.
Xue Ye, watching from the VIP box, was extremely satisfied with the strength displayed by the Empire Team.
Listening to the audience cheering for the Empire Team, he recalled the intelligence Xue Qinghe had just shared with him: that Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were siblings who were involved in an incestuous affair, a scandal that could explode within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at any moment. He felt even more pleased with his previous choices.
This was something Qian Renxue had discovered by accident. At the time, she had arranged for people to infiltrate Blue Tyrant Academy just to scout information on Tang San. She hadn't found anything on Tang San while he was out, but she had unexpectedly stumbled upon the Yu siblings pouring their hearts out to each other, leading to the discovery of this scandalous incestuous love. Now that it served a purpose, the investigation hadn't been in vain.
When the members of the Empire Team returned to the rest area, they found only Yang Yi and Oscar there. Yun Ming was nowhere to be found, so they asked about his whereabouts.
Oscar replied.
"The boss was invited by His Majesty to attend today's royal banquet, so he told us to head back to the academy first."
Hearing this, the group wasn't surprised, given the strength Yun Ming had displayed on stage today. They followed the teachers from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, left the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, and returned to the academy. Today was just the beginning; the round-robin tournament would officially kick off tomorrow. With a full month of matches ahead and a packed schedule, they needed to go back and get some rest.
On the other side, Yun Ming sat in a magnificently luxurious carriage with an attendant, heading toward the banquet location within the imperial palace.
Sitting in the royal carriage, Yun Ming's mind wandered.
He was contemplating the path to godhood—or more accurately, how to perfect his own godhood. Yun Ming was already at level 57. With the return of his memories and cultivation experience, he had already planned out his subsequent cultivation and Spirit Ring issues. If everything went smoothly, he would return to the peak within ten years, so the matter of becoming a god needed to be put back on the agenda.
Although he knew that a ready-made Sea God inheritance existed on the continent and that he had the ability to intercept it, in Yun Ming's eyes, that option had never existed.
If he and the Sea God had been born in the same era, could the Sea God have been stronger than him? Yun Ming felt it was unlikely. In his past life, even the Child of Destiny Harrosa, who possessed the artifact-level Martial Soul Netherworld Lament, had to bow his head to him. Was Poseidon comparable to Harrosa? Since he now had the conditions to create his own godhood, how could he possibly inherit the godhood of someone who was likely inferior to him?
Becoming a god through Faith Power was indeed feasible, but Yun Ming remained on the fence about whether to use it to perfect his godhood, as he felt this approach carried hidden dangers. It felt like a forced breakthrough, akin to breaking through a realm by brute force, which was not ideal.
But if he didn't choose this method, how else could he break through? Feeling the presence of the God Realm above him—something he hadn't sensed in his past life—Yun Ming recalled his various insights from his previous life and began to constantly deduce and ponder.
Half an hour later, just as Yun Ming was deep in thought, the attendant outside the carriage spoke up.
"Young Master Yun, we have arrived at Fu Shou Hall."
Hearing the attendant's call, Yun Ming snapped back to reality, stepped out of the carriage, and was led by the attendant to the garden outside the hall to wait while admiring the flowers.
Walking through the middle of the garden path, Yun Ming looked at the clusters of flowers in the royal garden, slowly waiting for the main event to begin.
As he walked, Yun Ming saw a young girl at the end of the path, dressed in a gorgeous gown, with silver hair and a beautiful face.
Seeing the girl, Yun Ming nodded in acknowledgment and prepared to leave to continue admiring the flowers. The girl was somewhat amazed by Yun Ming's appearance and status; although he didn't seem to recognize her, which was a bit rude, she didn't take it to heart, knowing there was a banquet today. She also nodded in acknowledgment and continued along the path. Their figures crossed, but neither spoke.
Before long, Yun Ming heard a chorus of greetings from the entrance of the main hall. Knowing the main guests had arrived, he slowly made his way into the hall to attend the banquet.
Stepping into the hall, Yun Ming took in the scene.
Inside the resplendent Fu Shou Hall, brilliant lights reflected off every detail, as if the entire space had been plated with a layer of golden radiance.
In the center of Fu Shou Hall, three massive long tables were arranged neatly, covered with pristine white tablecloths and adorned with exquisite silver tableware and crystal-clear glassware. On the tables, all kinds of delicacies were meticulously arranged, their enticing aromas wafting through the air, making one's mouth water.
Around the hall, gorgeous decorations and exquisite works of art complemented each other, highlighting the nobility and taste of the royal family. The walls were hung with beautiful murals depicting the glorious history and legendary stories of the empire. The chandelier on the ceiling twinkled like stars, emitting a charming glow.
The guests, dressed in magnificent formal wear, chatted and laughed, their faces filled with joy and happiness. While enjoying the delicious food, they also admired the beautiful scenery within the banquet hall, feeling the nobility and glory of the royal family.
Yun Ming's arrival caught the attention of Xue Ye, who immediately beckoned him forward. Seeing this, Yun Ming stepped forward and bowed.
"Yun Ming, pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Xue Qinghe was busy with something and was not present.
Xue Ye smiled and replied.
"No need for formalities."
Xue Ye praised Yun Ming aloud.
"I have always heard from the Crown Prince about what a heaven-defying talent Little Friend Yun is. Seeing you in action today, you are truly extraordinary."
Yun Ming replied respectfully.
"Your Majesty is too kind."
Xue Ye said earnestly.
"You deserve the praise."
"..."
Afterward, the two chatted about some casual topics, though they were interspersed with occasional compliments, forcing Yun Ming to offer his thanks from time to time.
The young girl beside Xue Ye heard her father praising Yun Ming so highly and couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity about the young man she had met in the garden earlier without exchanging a word.
Noticing his daughter's expression, Xue Ye's mind shifted. He pushed the young girl forward, acting as a matchmaker.
"Ke'er, this is the genius Soul Master of the Empire Team, Little Friend Yun Ming, and also a friend of your big brother."
"He even fought a brilliant opening battle for the empire today. Don't you usually love those storybooks about young heroes? Here is one in the flesh; why don't you get to know him?"
Hearing her father's words, Xue Ke bowed to Yun Ming.
"Xue Ke, greetings to Young Master Yun."
Yun Ming returned the gesture.
"Princess, please, no need for formalities. I am Yun Ming."
Seeing the two acquainted, Xue Ye nodded with satisfaction. What could his intentions be in introducing Xue Ke to Yun Ming? He simply wanted to sway Yun Ming to change his allegiances and throw his lot in with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!
At first, Xue Ye hadn't considered this. In fact, because of Yun Ming's close relationship with Ya Li, he had even contemplated whether he should eliminate this potential threat early on. If not for the fact that Yun Ming was backed by a soul master clan like the Breaking Clan and shared a deep friendship with Dugu Bo, he would have acted long ago. However, after witnessing Yun Ming's prowess, his perspective shifted. Since he couldn't kill him, and Yun Ming's personal value was exceptionally high, could he perhaps win him over to his side? This was the reason for Xue Ke's presence at the banquet.
Following this, Xue Ye naturally found an excuse to leave, giving Xue Ke the opportunity to properly entertain Yun Ming.
Born into royalty, Xue Ke naturally understood her father's intentions. However, seeing Yun Ming's superior appearance, his refined temperament, and the top-tier talent praised so highly by her father, she felt a spark of curiosity. She decided to engage him in conversation; what if he truly was her destined one?
Watching Xue Ye depart and standing beside the princess, Yun Ming naturally understood the emperor's intentions. He felt quite helpless about it; because of his talent and good looks, there were always people trying to set him up. It was a source of annoyance, as such situations never led to anything other than creating a few more girls in the world who would love him in vain, or even descend into obsession. Thus, he was contemplating how to behave so that Xue Ke wouldn't fall for him during their brief time together.
Xue Ke spoke to Yun Ming, who was currently preoccupied with some rather impolite thoughts.
"I heard that when Young Master Yun first entered Heaven Dou, you fought five opponents alone in your debut battle, earning the name of a genius."
"Sect Leader Ning and the two Title Douluo seniors have nothing but praise for you. Your talent is truly formidable!"
"My eldest brother even stated that he felt honored to have met you that day."
Yun Ming responded with ulterior motives, speaking with brutal honesty.
"Hmm, he is right."
If he were following standard social etiquette, he naturally wouldn't say such a thing. But now, in order to fundamentally prevent Xue Ke from developing feelings for him, he had to use a low-emotional-intelligence approach to shatter the favorable impression created by his looks and talent.
Xue Ke: "???"
Hearing Yun Ming's reply, Xue Ke thought to herself, Why does this person speak like that? He wasn't like this just a moment ago! Could it be that he's shy because he's talking to me?
Unaware of the reason, Xue Ke maintained a smile on her face and replied.
"Young Master Yun is certainly a straightforward person."
"My brother has found a very authentic friend indeed!"
Xue Ke continued to press on.
"I heard from my brother that the Empire Team was specially formed and trained by you, Young Master, to help the empire win this year's Soul Master Competition."
"Young Master Yun, your dedication to the country is truly noble!"
"As a princess, I would like to thank you on behalf of the Imperial Family."
Yun Ming continued to steadily dismantle the conversation.
"Your brother likely misunderstood."
"I only formed the team to participate for fun. The reason the team is named Empire is simply because it sounds good; there isn't that much meaning behind it."
Hearing Yun Ming continue to speak his mind so bluntly, Xue Ke cursed internally.
Does this man even know how to talk?! Doesn't he realize I'm complimenting him?!!
However, looking at Yun Ming's handsome face, the anger that had just flared up in Xue Ke subsided slightly. She kept trying to maintain her smile and issued a third attempt at a normal conversation.
"Regardless of your purpose, Young Master Yun, the fact that you are fighting for the empire remains unchanged."
"My gratitude is something you deserve to accept."
A few seconds passed, and Yun Ming did not reply. This time, Xue Ke didn't hear an immediate rebuttal, and she actually felt a flicker of joy, thinking that perhaps this man had finally realized her good intentions! As for the reality, Yun Ming saw that even after saying all that, Xue Ke still wouldn't give up and held fantasies about him, so he was debating whether he should be even more direct.
Xue Ke struck while the iron was hot.
"I heard from my brother that he considers you a confidant, even calling you his brother-in-arms and a dear friend."
"Since we are so close, may I call you Brother Yun in the future?"
Seeing this woman trying to climb the social ladder, Yun Ming decided to be as blunt as possible.
"You have likely been deceived by him."
"And please, Princess, do not address me in such a way. I am afraid of others misunderstanding."
Xue Ke: "━━(￣ー￣*|||━━"
What had she just heard? She, a princess of a nation, had taken the initiative to lower herself to get closer to a man, and this man told her he was afraid of others misunderstanding!
Crack!
Looking at the serious and solemn expression on Yun Ming's face, Xue Ke's composure shattered. At this moment, even Yun Ming's handsome face could no longer suppress her rage, and the more she looked at him, the angrier she became. Unable to endure it any longer, Xue Ke roared at Yun Ming.
"Yun Ming, I have tolerated you for a long time!"
"Tell me clearly, what exactly about me makes you dissatisfied that you have to be so dismissive of me!!"
The surrounding Nobles and Aristocrats were shocked to see Xue Ke suddenly lose her temper, wondering what could have happened to make the princess act so unbefittingly.
Watching Xue Ke lose her cool, Yun Ming felt a twinge of guilt. He didn't want to speak this way, but to prevent his charm from spreading, Yun Ming continued.
"Princess, you are overthinking it. I simply speak what is on my mind; I have no intention of being dismissive of you."
Xue Ke felt slightly better hearing this, but then Yun Ming added.
"However, if the Princess insists on thinking that way, there is nothing I can do. As long as the Princess is happy, that is all that matters."
Hearing Yun Ming's scumbag remarks, Xue Ke, a young girl of similar age to him, completely broke down; her eyes reddened, and she burst into tears.
"Waa~!"
Seeing Xue Ke burst into tears, Yun Ming felt a deeper sense of guilt, but at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. With this, he should have completely destroyed every positive impression she held of him. Thinking about how he had ruined his own reputation to help Xue Ke avoid a trial of love, Yun Ming couldn't help but sigh inwardly, I really am such a good person; no wonder I'm such a perfect match for my Ya Li.
A few noble Young Masters nearby wanted to stand up for Xue Ke to gain some attention, but they had barely opened their mouths.
"How dare you!"
Yun Ming swept a glance over them, locking onto them with his pressure and releasing it directly; those young nobles were instantly rendered speechless.
That was close!
Yun Ming had almost been forced to show off his power in public just now, which would have ruined all his previous efforts. After subduing those few, he saw Xue Ke crying like a rain-drenched pear blossom and decided it was time for him to make his exit. Otherwise, if Xue Ye or Xue Qinghe were to arrive later, it would be awkward for everyone involved.
He then said to Xue Ke.
"Princess, please take your time crying; I'll be taking my leave."
With that, he walked out of the palace gates, boarded his carriage, and headed home.
ps: Just writing a slice-of-life chapter; I feel like my thoughts are a bit scattered and need some organizing. Yun Ming from Douluo Dalu 3 is on a completely different level than the Soul Master Competition in Douluo Dalu 1! This is a bit tricky to handle.
Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader