In Douluo Continent, I am the mastermind behind the scenes.

Jiang Yuying: "..."

Fighting over something like this... isn't that a bit too frivolous?

Having lived this long, Jiang Yuying had seen two men fight over a woman, and she had also seen two women fight over a man, but she had never seen anything like what happened today.

No, to be honest, Xie Xie's actions weren't too outrageous. In a sense, Xie Xie wanted to win Ye Xinglan's heart, but attacking Xu Lizhi, a food-type soul master and rival in love, was indeed a bit too unethical. Beating up Ye Xinglan, on the contrary, showed some consideration for her feelings.

In the world of Douluo, strength reigns supreme; there is no distinction between men and women.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuying turned her head to look at Ye Xinglan behind her and said with a solemn expression, "Xinglan, there are some things that an enforcer should not say, but as an elder I have to say. First, you, Ye Xinglan, are outstanding in appearance and your talent is among the best in Shrek Academy. Even if you are already engaged or even married, your suitors will not be much less than they are now."

"Secondly, Xu Lizhi does not have a distinguished family background, nor does he have enough strength to fend off your suitors. To put it bluntly, if you, Ye Xinglan, are bullied outside, can Xu Lizhi pull out a knife and fight back? Can he? The two of you together are destined to face unprecedented resistance."

"What happened today is just the beginning. Once this starts, those suitors who are interested in you, Ye Xinglan, will keep coming to cause trouble for Xu Lizhi. If it's within the rules, we teachers can only turn a blind eye. Of course, Xie Xie's behavior has violated the rules of Shrek Academy. Xie Xie needs to pay Ye Xinglan five thousand contribution points as compensation for this incident. Do you two have any objections?"

Five thousand contribution points may seem like a lot, but when converted into gold soul coins, it's only fifty thousand. That's just for five finished products of the first grade of the thousand-forging level. As a qualified level five mecha repairman and someone close to the two genius blacksmiths, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin, Xie Xie naturally wouldn't lack business. Five thousand contribution points are nothing to him; at worst, he could just skip one visit to the brothel.

Just then, Ye Xinglan suddenly waved her hand and said in an icy tone, "No need, I don't need those five thousand contribution points, you don't need to compensate me."

After saying that, Ye Xinglan lowered her head and walked into her room without looking back.

Watching Ye Xinglan's receding figure, Xu Baozi subconsciously clenched his fists, but ultimately still couldn't muster the courage to knock on Ye Xinglan's door.

Xu Baozi wasn't stupid. He knew that after what had happened, if Ye Xinglan wanted to be together... it would only be if they left Shrek Academy, went into hiding, and stopped getting involved in anything in the Soul Master world.

But that's simply impossible!

Even if they escape to the ends of the earth, they cannot escape the clutches of Ye Xinglan's suitors.

Once Ye Xinglan loses the protection of Shrek Academy, it's uncertain whether she will become an item auctioned on the black market.

Jiang Yuying is right. Xu Lizhi is indeed not qualified to be with Ye Xinglan. He cannot protect Ye Xinglan from the wind and rain.

A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime!

His relationship with Ye Xinglan was like a child carrying gold through the market.

Thinking of this, Xu Baozi couldn't help but sigh, then took out his soul communication device from his pocket and dialed a number from his memory.

"Sister Yuqing, I agree to your request. After this trip to the Star Luo Continent, I will get engaged to you and become your son-in-law in the Ye family."

Xu Baozi dialed the number in front of a group of Shrek Academy and Tang Sect members, deliberately raising his voice to express his attitude.

From today onwards, Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan will have no further relationship except as teammates in the same group!

……

Silent all night.

The next morning, when the sun was high in the sky, the delegations from various powers, dressed in their finest attire, traveled to the foot of the imperial city in a convoy provided by the Star Luo Empire.

There's not much to say about the ceremony for establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. It's nothing more than the exchange of credentials, a formality, a few photos, and some publicity.

If a war really breaks out, who will care about establishing diplomatic relations? The alliances signed in the past are no more than a pile of waste paper.

The main event was the ball that followed.

A month ago, the Star Luo royal family sent out many invitations, not only to eligible noble sons within the Star Luo Empire, but also to noble ladies.

With a major battle imminent, Dai Tianling was using the opportunity of finding a husband for Dai Yun'er to also connect with the families below. The main royal family only has one princess, but that doesn't mean that the younger generation of the Dai family only has one girl, Dai Yun'er.

The scene shifts to the Imperial Palace, specifically the Purple Feather Palace.

Seven girls dressed in light blue short skirts stood on the stage and danced gracefully.

Thousands of young soul masters stood in their respective positions, chatting and laughing, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts. The entire hall was peaceful, without any of the tension that would ensue before a great battle.

The courtesan, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still sings "Nunchucks" across the river... oh no, "The Song of the Rear Courtyard."

This poem is not satirizing the singing girls, but rather certain...high-ranking officials and nobles.

No matter how dire the situation, the Star Luo royal family never shortchanges themselves; even a social dance is always conducted to the highest standards.

After about fifteen minutes, the crowd grew impatient, and a beautiful woman in palace attire dragged a young girl into the Purple Feather Palace.

That girl must be the star of this ball, Dai Yun'er, the cat-wearing girl.

Being in the royal family, especially during this turbulent period, even a princess of a nation cannot decide her own fate.

Seeing that the die was cast, Dai Yun'er could only put away her unwilling attitude. She knew that people's patience was limited. Once her father's patience ran out, all that awaited her was to be tied up and sent to a stranger's bed.

She... didn't want to give up her current life. Every day, besides cultivating, she played and did whatever she wanted without any worries. If she were a wife or a mother, she wouldn't be able to live such a carefree life.

Moreover, as a young girl, an innocent and naive girl, she couldn't view such a thing with a normal mindset.

Led by Empress Zhu, Dai Yun'er walked onto the high platform, while the seven dancers had already vanished the moment they saw the main character arrive.

"Today... is the day the royal family is choosing a husband for me. I don't have many requirements for my future husband. First, he must come from a respectable family; second, he must be handsome; and third, and most importantly, he can only have me, Dai Yun'er, as his woman for the rest of his life..." (End of Chapter)