chsdbacks Chapter 156 Turning Darkness into Light
Chapter 156 Turning Darkness into Light
Chapter 156 Turning Darkness into Light
Inside the palace, Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu were extremely surprised upon hearing the news. They hadn't expected Dai Hao's methods of appeasement to be so direct and effective.
This is tantamount to acknowledging Dai Youheng's status as a direct descendant and giving him a seemingly fair chance to compete.
It's clear to everyone that this was Dai Hao's compromise under immense pressure. The royal family was protecting Dai Youheng, preventing him from using force.
The infighting within the family would damage the very foundation of the family; moreover, since the trouble was indeed caused by Zhu Man, he could only use this method to quell Dai Youheng's anger and secure temporary stability in the rear.
Although Dai Yueheng is currently in the lead in terms of soul power level, Dai Youheng's astonishing cultivation speed makes this competition full of suspense.
Upon learning of this, Zhu Man, who was bedridden, suffered another stroke and fainted. Zhu Shu stayed by her side, tending to her wounds while silently gritting her teeth. The situation was beyond their control; they could only endure for now, appease Dai Youheng, and devise a plan later.
On the same day the statement was released, Dai Hao swiftly set off back to the Mingdou Mountains. Accompanying him were Dai Yueheng and Zhu Lu.
Taking Dai Yueheng away was both to protect him and prevent Dai Youheng from breaking his promise and harming him, and to keep him by his side to train him personally and ensure that he would not fall behind in the competition.
Taking Zhu Lu away was Zhu Shu's idea. The marriage tradition between the Dai and Zhu families could not be interrupted by Dai Huabin's death. Now that Dai Huabin was dead, Zhu Lu had to go and follow Dai Yueheng, whether she wanted to or not.
Zhu Lu silently accepted the arrangement. She buried all her sorrow and resentment deep in her heart, her eyes filled with only a cold determination. She would help Dai Yueheng become stronger, and she would use Dai Yueheng to avenge herself on the murderer she believed had killed Dai Huabin!
The turmoil in Xingluo City has temporarily subsided due to Dai Hao's departure and this statement.
But everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm. The rifts within the Dai family had deepened, and the future struggle for the dukedom was bound to be even more bloody. And Dai Youheng had already successfully secured crucial leverage and legitimacy for himself in this game.
In the days since Dai Hao left, Dai Youheng has kept his promise and has not provoked the Zhu family again. He spends his days either going to the Princess's residence to accompany Xu Jiujiu in handling government affairs and cultivating, or returning to the hotel to meditate. His life is so regular that it is almost rigid.
But he knew perfectly well that beneath the temporary calm, undercurrents were still surging. Although Zhu Man was seriously ill and unable to rise, her older sister, Zhu Shu, the head of the Zhu family, was by no means an easy opponent. How could she stand idly by and watch an outsider with no blood relation to the Zhu family, and even a mortal enemy, gradually seize the Duke's mansion and the Western Army Group that should have been controlled by the direct descendants of the Zhu family?
It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. The Zhu family will certainly not be short of difficulties and schemes, whether open or covert, in the future.
However, Dai Youheng had no time to engage in this endless infighting with them at this moment.
He had already obtained the initial recognition and status he desired; the next step was to accumulate absolute power. In his eyes, whether it was the deeply entrenched Zhu family, the seemingly enormous Dai family, or even the lofty Xingluo royal family, if they were to obstruct his path in the future, he could crush them all with his might and uproot them completely.
All of this is predicated on having sufficient strength.
That night, in the hotel room, the candlelight flickered.
"Lingya, Nana." Dai Youheng's calm voice rang out in the room.
As if responding to a summons, two figures silently emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee with utmost respect. "Young Master, what are your orders?"
Dai Youheng's gaze fell on the two of them, and he said, "Lingya, starting tomorrow, you will go from the shadows to the light and no longer need to hide your tracks, while Nana will continue to remain hidden in the shadows."
Ling Ya was slightly taken aback, then looked up and asked, "From darkness to light? Does the young master mean that I should appear in the open to protect you personally?"
He then raised a concern: "If a subordinate suddenly appears, it will inevitably arouse suspicion, and a reasonable explanation is needed."
Dai Youheng had already thought it through. He lightly tapped the table with his fingertips. "The reason could be a soul tool. The level eight Tyrant Tiger Soul Refining Blade in my hand is already a rare treasure in the Star Luo Empire. After all, this is Star Luo, not Sun and Moon. This country currently does not have level nine soul tools. Level eight is the most advanced. As a soul tool master, it is reasonable for you to be obsessed with such a high-level soul tool and want to see its core array."
He explained in detail, "I will find an opportunity to go out with Princess Jiu Jiu. You will then happen to appear before us at that time. In any case, Jiu Jiu already recognizes you, and the royal family has been secretly searching for you for over a year. You can directly ask me to examine the Overlord Tiger Soul Refining Blade. At that time, I will offer some exchange conditions in exchange for lending the blade to you for research. With you, the Ice Sky Douluo, openly standing by my side, those people from the Zhu family will no longer dare to make any small moves."
He paused, a deeper calculation flashing in his eyes. "Furthermore, if I'm not mistaken, having seen you for so long and knowing your intention to improve your Soul Master level, I will certainly take the opportunity to invite you to join the Star Luo Empire's Soul Master Corps. Star Luo has invested heavily in Soul Tools in recent years and has high-level Soul Masters overseeing it. You agreed. Although you possess a lot of technical information, there are limits to working in isolation. With the support of imperial resources and the mutual verification of high-level Soul Masters, your progress will be much faster."
Ling Ya's eyes revealed admiration for his young master's thorough planning. He replied in a deep voice, "Yes! I understand, I will act accordingly!"
"You've had a tough time these past few days." Dai Youheng's tone softened slightly, and with a flick of his wrist, a jade box radiating an extremely cold aura and a pill appeared in his hand. "Tonight, you will take this Snow Soul Ice Condensation Pill, enter the ultimate ice state, and then absorb this 70,000-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone. This is your well-deserved reward."
He pushed the jade box towards Ling Ya, his tone solemn, "The quality of this soul bone is comparable to a 100,000-year soul bone. After absorbing it, your combat power will be greatly enhanced. Below the Super Douluo level, unless the opponent also possesses a 100,000-year soul ring or soul bone, very few people can withstand your Ice Explosion."
Upon hearing this, Ling Ya's body trembled slightly with excitement. The Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone—the ultimate ice! For him, an Ice-attribute Title Douluo, this was undoubtedly a coveted treasure!
He kowtowed deeply, his voice filled with barely suppressed gratitude and loyalty, "Lingya thanks you for your generous gift, Young Master! I will certainly live up to your expectations!"
Dai Youheng nodded slightly. He had Ling Ya brought into the open, but there was a deeper purpose behind it—to make things easier.
He sensed that he was not far from reaching the level 60 bottleneck and was confident that he could break through within six months. At that time, obtaining his sixth spirit ring would be imperative.
Out of concern, Xu Jiujiu would insist on sending someone to accompany and protect him, which he found difficult to refuse. However, Dai Youheng had long had special plans for his sixth spirit ring and was absolutely unwilling to have a member of the royal family by his side.
With Ling Ya, a titled Douluo, as his legitimate bodyguard, everything would fall into place. He could simply state that Ice Sky Douluo would be protecting him during the Soul Hunt, and Xu Jiujiu would be at ease, having no reason to send anyone else along. His true goals and methods could then be concealed behind this absolutely loyal subordinate.
With the plan set, a chill began to rise in the room. Ling Ya swallowed the pill and prepared to begin absorbing the top-grade soul bone that was enough to drive countless ice-attribute soul masters across the continent mad.