Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

"Strength, or rather, not enough strength..." Zhu Zhuqing sighed helplessly.

She must improve herself more quickly. Only by demonstrating sufficient value and potential can she secure a chance for herself in the future allocation of resources.

……

Meanwhile, at the Third Prince's residence.

Inside the tightly closed chamber, the atmosphere was completely different from the gloomy mood one might imagine. Dai Mubai almost couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He tried his best to disguise himself throughout the journey, barely managing to control his expression; otherwise, he really would have burst out laughing.

He felt an almost morbid sense of pleasure, especially when he saw Davis's forced composure.

The pills that you treasure, pursue relentlessly, and even require the empire's power to gather materials for, I, Dai Mubai, currently possess several of! Moreover, they are even more potent pills, specially prepared for him.

He carefully took out the cold jade bottle from his personal storage soul tool, uncorked it, and felt the violent and pure energy fluctuations within. A look of infatuation and greed appeared on his face.

This is power! This is his hope for a comeback!

As for the vague unease and sense of constraint deep in his soul brought about by the mysterious contract he signed with Ge Duo, Dai Mubai had already selectively forgotten it, or rather, it was overshadowed by his immense joy and ambition at this moment.

He subconsciously put the cost of the contract out of his mind, his mind filled with how to use these pills to quickly improve his strength and how to trample Davis underfoot!

"Mine, all of these are mine!" Dai Mubai chuckled softly, clutching the jade bottle tightly as if it were his own lifeline.

Will he give these pills to other people?

The thought didn't even linger in his mind for a moment.

How is that possible!

He doesn't even have enough for himself right now; every single pill is crucial to his cultivation progress and whether he can surpass Davis in a short period of time.

He finds it too slow to improve his own strength, so how could he possibly share such a precious resource with others?

As for his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing?

Dai Mubai curled his lips, revealing an undisguised contempt.

That's even more impossible!

They were only three years apart in age, and their soul power levels were several levels apart.

When he was about to soar to great heights with the help of the elixir, Zhu Zhuqing's pitiful cultivation level seemed insignificant and even somewhat of a burden in his eyes.

Dai Mubai seemed to already see himself taking the pill, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, and finally defeating Davis in front of everyone, ascending to the throne.

Chapter 133 Different Thoughts

At this moment, Dai Mubai felt that defeating Davis in the future was a sure thing.

But amidst his excitement, a thought instantly popped into his mind: his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing, was a bit too low-level.

With such a frail fiancée standing beside him as he was about to take off, wouldn't that make him seem like he had no taste?

Moreover, Zhu Zhuqing has a cold and stubborn personality and never takes the initiative to get close to him. It is still unknown whether she can become his help in the future.

"If only we could get a different one," Dai Mubai said, stroking his chin with a calculating glint in his eyes.

The Zhu family does not only have Zhu Zhuqing as a daughter who has awakened the Netherworld Cat Martial Soul; it's just that Zhu Zhuqing is the legitimate daughter and has been relatively more talented in recent years.

The best choice would be to find a woman from the Zhu family who is of a higher rank, knows how to please him better, and can provide him with timely assistance as his fiancée.

After all, in Dai Mubai's view, Zhu Zhuqing was now falling behind his pace.

His future queen should be a woman who is worthy of his bright future and can help him, not a burden that he has to waste resources waiting for and supporting.

However, Dai Mubai also knew that his idea was not easy to implement.

The marriage agreement was made between the royal family and the Zhu family, involving the interests of many parties, and it was not something he could change at will.

In particular, Zhu Zhuqing's status as the legitimate daughter inherently represents a certain degree of legitimacy.

"Forget it, we'll talk about it later." Dai Mubai suppressed this somewhat risky thought. The most urgent thing was to improve his strength. As long as he was strong enough to shut everyone up, then it wouldn't be impossible for him to change his fiancée in the future.

He carefully put the jade bottle away, his eyes burning with ambitious flames.

He seemed to see that in the near future, the entire Star Luo Empire would tremble at his feet!

As for Zhu Zhuqing, if she knows what's good for her, perhaps she can stay by his side as an embellishment.

"If they don't know what's good for them... humph!" Dai Mubai murmured, his voice carrying a chilling edge.

In his grand future plans, if Zhu Zhuqing cannot become a useful pawn, then she will not even be qualified to be an embellishment, and will only be ruthlessly swept into the trash heap.

Dai Mubai knew that what he needed now was to be patient, to lie low, and to use the power of the elixir to soar to great heights.

"Davis, my good brother, just you wait! Your glory and that of your princeling faction will soon be trampled under my feet!"

……

Meanwhile, the First Prince's residence, which is also Davis's residence.

In stark contrast to Dai Mubai's madness, the atmosphere in Davis's study was calm and solemn.

He dismissed all his servants and sat alone behind his large desk, tapping his fingertips lightly on the surface, his gaze fixed intently on the jade vase in front of him.

These were the pills he obtained from Ge Duo. Although the quantity was less than the batch that Zhu Tianlin brought back to present to his father, it was more than enough for him personally.

After all, a Soul Master has a limited chance of obtaining Soul Rings in his lifetime. He has already obtained two rings, and these pills are enough to support him for several key breakthroughs in the future.

But Davis was thinking about far more than just his own benefit.

"A person who gets fat by eating alone will never achieve anything in the end," he muttered to himself, a calm smile playing on his lips.

While using all the pills on oneself could certainly enhance one's strength, he considered it a short-sighted and foolish act.

The cooperation channels with Gedo have been established. As long as the Star Luo Empire can continue to provide enough rare materials, the elixirs will surely be produced in a continuous stream in the future.

Using limited, immediate gains to secure greater, more stable profits in the future—that is the true strategy of an emperor.

Davis's mind raced through the various forces and promising young Soul Masters within Star Luo City.

The primary purpose of the elixirs Zhu Tianlin brought back was undoubtedly to present to his father, Emperor Dai Tianfeng.

In order to stabilize the empire and strengthen imperial power, the emperor will inevitably use these pills to summon core nobles and generals in the army, and will firmly control the channels for trading with Gedo within the royal family, or more precisely, within his own hands.

Those powerful and influential families with deep roots will eventually get a share of the spoils from the emperor. They may not care about the limited resources in my hands. Their loyalty is hard to win over completely.

So, where should he set his sights?

The answer quickly became clear in Davis's mind.

They are those geniuses who are exceptionally talented but come from humble backgrounds and have not yet been fully absorbed by the traditional aristocratic forces!

And right now, the most dazzling ones are Levin and Pinocchio!

These two names, like stars in the night, shine brightly in Davis's life.

With innate full soul power, such a talent is destined to make him a titled Douluo in the future.

Their humble origins made them like rootless duckweed in the deep waters of Xingluo.

The existing aristocratic system both wanted to win them over and was wary of them, fearing that their rise would disrupt the existing power structure.

Given the initial scarcity of elixirs, the nobles would never prioritize allocating their precious resources to these two outsiders, lest they raise a tiger that would later cause trouble.

“But this is my chance!” A glint flashed in Davis’s eyes.

He is the eldest prince, the most promising successor to the empire.

The support from those established nobles was more out of a traditional custom, an investment, rather than unreserved loyalty.

He needs to cultivate a core elite of the Crown Prince's party who belongs entirely to him and is completely bound to his interests.

Levin and Pinocchio are the perfect choices.

Offering help in times of need is far better than simply providing alms.

Before they have fully risen to power and have been lured in by other forces at a greater cost, using the elixir they desperately need as a stepping stone is enough to establish the initial and most solid favor and connection.

He only needed to keep enough of the pills for himself; the rest could be used to recruit these two future pillars of strength.

With this in mind, Davis suddenly understood, and a clear plan gradually took shape.

He needs to find a suitable time and a discreet way to convey this goodwill.

……

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Emperor Dai Tianfeng of the Star Luo Empire sat upright on the throne, his face cold and stern, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

He had just finished listening to Zhu Tianlin's full report on the Tian Dou trip.

When he heard about the crushing defeat in the exchange match, especially when Dai Linyu and Zhu Zhuyun's Netherworld White Tiger was forcibly broken by an unknown young man on the opposing side, Dai Tianfeng's knuckles turned slightly white, and the low pressure emanating from his body made the eunuchs standing at a distance almost unable to breathe.

However, as Zhu Tianlin presented the batch of high-quality pills and described in detail the mysterious power of Geduo, the wonder of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eyes, and the possibility of custom-made pills, the frost on Dai Tianfeng's face melted slightly, replaced by a deep contemplation.

Chapter 134 A Gift from Davis

"Zhu Qing, although there were reasons for this defeat, Lin Wan is indeed a major enemy of Xingluo in the future." Dai Tianfeng's voice was deep and full of power.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "This child must not be allowed to live, but now is not the time to make a move."

"Your Majesty is wise," Zhu Tianlin said, bowing.

"The most urgent task is to make full use of the connections established with His Majesty Godot. This batch of pills, and the possible customized pills in the future, will be key to our country's ability to enhance its high-level combat capabilities and cope with changes in the short term."

Dai Tianfeng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the jade bottle, a hint of fervor flashing in his eyes.

He knew the value of these pills; they would undoubtedly greatly improve the quality of Soul Masters in his Star Luo Empire.

"You are in full charge of this matter. Subsequent transactions with His Majesty Godot are classified as top imperial secrets. The necessary materials should be drawn from my private treasury and the royal archives, and His Majesty's requirements must be met!"

"Your Majesty, I obey!" Zhu Tianlin understood; he knew that His Majesty had elevated this matter to the level of national strategy.

"As for these pills..."

After a moment of contemplation, Dai Tianfeng continued, "I will reward meritorious officials and promising young talents as appropriate. Zhu Qing, you have made great contributions and deserve a share."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Zhu Tianlin bowed again, but in his heart he was quickly calculating how much of this grace would ultimately fall into his hands.

……

A few days later, at Xingluo Royal Academy.

As the bell rang to signal the end of the course, students poured out of the classrooms like a tide.

Levin tidied up the books on the table, his movements as steady as ever, his short golden hair shining brightly in the sunlight.

As a genius with innate full soul power, he was the center of attention in the academy, but he also felt the omnipresent scrutiny and subtle attempts to win him over.

"Raven." A gentle voice sounded beside him.

Levin looked up and saw that the eldest prince, Davis, was standing next to his table at some point, with a warm and welcoming smile on his face.

Davis was not wearing his elaborate princely robes today, but rather a simple and elegant everyday outfit.

"Your Highness." Levin stood up, bowed slightly, and greeted him with a respectful but not servile demeanor.

He was somewhat surprised. Although he was a genius and occasionally received attention from members of the royal family, this was the first time a prince had come to find him personally after class.

“No need for formalities.” Davis smiled and waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the book on the theory of precise control of soul power on Levin’s desk, and he nodded approvingly.

"With such diligence, it's no wonder you've made such rapid progress. I happen to have some questions about soul power cultivation that I'd like to discuss with you. Would you do me the honor of joining me in the quiet room next door for a chat?"

The prince invited him under the guise of exploration, and it was impossible to refuse, both morally and logically.

Levin's mind raced for a moment, then he nodded: "Your Highness is too kind. It is my honor to be able to communicate with Your Highness."

The two arrived at a quiet room within the academy, which was reserved for teachers and senior students.

Davis dismissed his attendants and personally poured Levin a cup of tea, adopting an extremely humble posture.

“Levin, I know you are exceptionally talented and have a limitless future.” Davis got straight to the point, his tone sharp.

"Our Star Luo Empire was founded on military strength and values ​​talent above all else. A gem like you is one that the Empire will certainly do its utmost to nurture."

Levin listened quietly without responding; he knew the important part was yet to come.

Davis observed Levin's expression and, seeing how composed he was, his opinion of him improved even more.