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"Father, I'm here!"
In that moment, another ghostly white tiger burst from the shadows and, with a single massive paw, sent Chrysanthemum Douluo hurtling to the ground like a falling meteor. He struck so hard that he gouged a deep crater in the stone floor—it was Dai Pojun himself.
Now allied with Zhu Yaqin, he wielded the combined might of a level-ninety-three Titled Douluo.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's injuries worsened under the surprise attack. Gritting his teeth, he tried to rise, but Dai Tianxing would not allow it. The fused white tiger reared up and slammed its claw down, driving Chrysanthemum Douluo into the pit. Cracks spidered across the floor as he spat a mouthful of blood and blacked out.
Severely wounded though he was, a Titled Douluo's life force was not so easily snuffed out.
Seeing him unconscious, Dai Tianxing shifted from his tiger form, knelt beside Chrysanthemum Douluo, and infused him with soul power—sealing his martial soul. Much like Tang Hao had done for Tang San, he could still cultivate, but all soul skills would be unusable.
Now, despite retaining the raw power of a level-ninety-five Titled Douluo, sealed soul skills and grievous injuries left Chrysanthemum Douluo weaker than a Soul Sage—and far below Yang Wudi.
"Father… this is… Chrysanthemum Douluo?! How did he get here?" Dai Pojun's face went pale when he recognized the fallen Titled Douluo.
"I'm not certain," Dai Tianxing replied. "He and Ghost attacked our Alchemist Association—there's no doubt they came for President Yang."
He paused, then continued, "This isn't the place to decide his fate. Shackles first—bind him and return to the palace. Call Brother Vis, too; handling this… will be a delicate matter."
"Understood."
Dai Pojun personally fastened iron manacles to Chrysanthemum Douluo's wrists and ankles, then wrapped heavy chains around his body to prevent any chance of escape. Finally, he led both Chrysanthemum Douluo and Yang Wudi back to Star Luo Imperial City, leaving the others to their duties.
Following behind Dai Pojun, Yang Wudi could hardly contain his excitement. In less than a month since joining the Star Luo Empire, he had helped capture Chrysanthemum Douluo and driven off Ghost Douluo. Though it was the death warriors and armored soldiers who dealt the crippling blows, as a citizen of Star Luo he shared in their glory.
Such a swift victory convinced Yang Wudi that, with the Empire's military might behind him, he would one day avenge his slain child.
"Viscount Yang," the emperor's envoy greeted, "regrettably, the Alchemist Association lies in ruins—but fear not, I will see to its reconstruction."
Yang Wudi bowed deeply. "I thank Your Majesty. Had it not been for Your Majesty's personal guard, I would have fallen to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost."
He reflected on how a single Titled Douluo equated to tens of thousands of troops—and yet, a few hundred armored soldiers and death warriors had brought Chrysanthemum Douluo to his knees. Especially the death warriors' unflinching courage, willing to face a Titled Douluo blade to the throat, moved him deeply.
"If every Po Clan member embraced such fearless spirit, the clan would surely rise again," he marveled.
Dai Pojun nodded gravely. "They are true heroes of Star Luo. I shall see that they—and their families—are well provided for."
…
In the crown prince's courtyard, Zhu Zhuyun lounged in a black silk nightgown, her eyes flicking between Dai Vis and the firelight. Since becoming his consort, she had moved into the prince's mansion to indulge in nightly revelries.
At first it was novel—but after sampling the Heart-Breaking Elixir, she was hopelessly addicted, clinging to Dai Weisi each dawn as if she feared he might vanish.
Tonight, Dai Weisi held not one but two identical beauties in his arms—Zhu Zhuyun's own ghostly doppelgängers—smiling as he prepared to welcome his enchanted wife.
"Father, I'm here!"
At that moment, another spectral white tiger burst forth and, with a single mighty swipe, sent Chrysanthemum Douluo crashing to the ground like a meteor, carving a deep crater in the stone floor—Dai Pojun had arrived.
Now united with Zhu Yaqin, he wielded the power of a level-ninety-three Titled Douluo.
Ambushed, Chrysanthemum Douluo's injuries worsened. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to rise, but Dai Tianxing would not allow it. The fused white tiger raised its enormous paw and slammed it down, pinning Chrysanthemum Douluo into the pit. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor as he spat blood and blacked out.
Though gravely wounded, a Titled Douluo's vitality was formidable—death would not come so easily.
With Chrysanthemum Douluo unconscious, Dai Tianxing shifted back into human form, knelt beside him, and infused his body with soul power, sealing his martial soul. As Tang Hao had done for Tang San, he ensured Chrysanthemum Douluo could still cultivate his inner strength, but all soul skills were rendered unusable.
Now, despite retaining the raw power of a level-ninety-five Titled Douluo, the sealed soul skills and his severe injuries left Chrysanthemum Douluo weaker than a mere Soul Sage—far beneath Yang Wudi's level.
"Father… this is… Chrysanthemum Douluo?! How did he get here?" Dai Pojun's face drained of color when he recognized the captured Titled Douluo.
"I'm not entirely sure," Dai Tianxing replied. "He and Ghost Douluo attacked our Alchemist Association. Clearly, they were targeting President Yang."
He paused thoughtfully. "This isn't the place to decide his fate. Bind him in cuffs and return to the palace. Summon Brother Vis as well—handling this… will require careful deliberation."
"Understood."
Dai Pojun personally secured iron manacles on Chrysanthemum Douluo's wrists and ankles, then wrapped heavy chains around his body to prevent any escape. Finally, he led both Chrysanthemum Douluo and Yang Wudi back to Star Luo Imperial City, leaving the others to their duties.
Walking behind Dai Pojun, Yang Wudi could barely contain his excitement. In less than a month under the Star Luo Empire's banner, he had helped capture Chrysanthemum Douluo and drive off Ghost Douluo. Though it was the brave death warriors and armored soldiers who dealt the crippling blows, as a citizen of Star Luo he shared in their glory.
Such a swift triumph convinced him that, with the Empire's military might behind him, he would one day avenge his slain child.
"Viscount Yang," the emperor's envoy greeted upon their return, "regrettably, the Alchemist Association lies in ruins—but rest assured, we will rebuild it immediately."
Yang Wudi bowed deeply. "I thank Your Majesty. Were it not for Your Majesty's personal guard, I would have fallen to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo."
He reflected on how a single Titled Douluo equated to tens of thousands of troops—and yet, a few hundred armored soldiers and death warriors had brought Chrysanthemum Douluo to his knees. Especially the death warriors' fearless courage, daring to face a Titled Douluo blade to the throat, moved him deeply.
"If every Po Clan member embraced such fearless spirit, our clan would surely rise again," he marveled.
Dai Pojun nodded gravely. "They are true heroes of Star Luo. I shall see that they—and their families—are well provided for."
In the crown prince's courtyard, Zhu Zhuyun reclined in a black silk nightgown, her expression a mixture of amusement and annoyance as she watched Dai Weisi. Since becoming his consort, she had moved into the prince's mansion to indulge in nightly revelries.
At first it had been thrilling—but after sampling the Heart-Breaking Elixir, she became addicted, clinging to Dai Weisi until dawn as if she feared he might vanish.
Tonight, Dai Weisi held not one but two identical beauties in his arms—Zhu Zhuyun's own spectral doppelgängers—smiling mischievously as he prepared to welcome his enchanted wife.
(End of Chapter)