Douluo Continent: The Eternal Dawn

Chapter 113 The Conflict Between the Star Luo Royal Family and the White Tiger Lineage

Shrek City was exceptionally lively on the night before the Foreign Languages ​​Department's holiday.

The students of Shrek Academy come from all over the Douluo Continent. Only a very small number of students whose homes are relatively close to Shrek City choose to set off on the same day. The vast majority of students usually stay at the academy for another night and depart the next morning.

However, before even entering Shrek City, Tang Ya had already eaten her fill at the snack street outside the east gate of Shrek Academy. Now she was strolling along the official road surrounding Shrek City with Ye Xixuan and Jiang Nannan.

The orderly rows of Soul Guide Streetlights on both sides of the road illuminated the ground, transforming it into a path of twinkling stars in the night, leading all the way to the North Gate of Shrek City.

From here, you can already see the brightly lit city lights in the distance. The North City has always been the most bustling and prosperous area in Shrek City.

Tang Ya walked ahead, seemingly possessing inexhaustible energy. Occasionally, she would suddenly dart forward a few steps, then occasionally step on one foot and stretch out her arms for balance. Behind her, her long, black ponytail swayed left and right, appearing as if shrouded in a dreamlike glow under the soft light of the soul-guiding lamp.

Ye Xixuan and Jiang Nannan were not far behind Tang Ya, standing side by side, their steps seemingly in sync.

Through their previous conversation outside the east gate of Shrek Academy, Ye Xixuan learned that Jiang Nannan's cultivation had reached the bottleneck of level forty, and casually inquired about it with clear eyes.

"Sister Nan Nan, is there a problem with your fourth spirit ring? Do you need Sister Xiao Ya and me to help you?" He didn't have much contact with Jiang Nan Nan at first, mainly through Tang Ya's connection.

But for them now, they are already friends.

If it's within his capabilities, Ye Xixuan naturally wouldn't mind helping Jiang Nannan, and also getting rid of Tang Wutong's entanglement.

Jiang Nannan was even taller than Tang Ya, almost the same height as Ye Xixuan beside her. She habitually stretched out her right, slender, snow-white index finger and twirled a strand of purple hair at her chest. Her expression slightly changed as she lowered her head and parted her red lips slightly.

"Xi Xuan, you and Xiao Ya have already helped me enough, so I really can't trouble you any more this time. Besides, I haven't used the reward I received during the freshman assessment yet. The academy teachers will help me obtain a maximum spirit ring that I can handle, so you don't need to worry."

"That's fine too." Ye Xixuan nodded with a smile.

"Sister Nan, when are you planning to go to the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"We'll set off after Xiaoya and I return to the academy, probably in about two weeks," Jiang Nannan said softly.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xixuan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"What do you mean, back to the academy? Where are you going with Sister Xiaoya?"

"Didn't Xiaoya tell you before?" Jiang Nannan also looked surprised. After exchanging a glance with Ye Xixuan, the two of them turned to look at Tang Ya in front of them at the same time.

Tang Ya hadn't gone far; she had overheard Ye Xixuan and Jiang Nannan's conversation. She was currently standing on her right toes when her previously steady body began to sway, and she stumbled, letting out a gasp.

Once she regained her balance, she turned around somewhat embarrassed, walked up to Ye Xixuan with a cute and innocent look, and blinked her eyes, but her tone lacked confidence.

"Xi Xuan, I didn't mean to hide it from you. Nan Nan's mother isn't feeling well, so I was thinking of going back to visit her during this holiday. I just didn't know how to tell you, which is why I kept putting it off until now."

"Sister Xiaoya, am I such an unreasonable person?" Ye Xixuan shook his head with a laugh, then suddenly changed the subject.

“You have your own friends and social life, I completely understand that. What’s wrong with that?”

Stuck here by Ye Xixuan's words, Tang Ya simply stopped thinking about it and, in front of Jiang Nannan, blushed slightly and said coquettishly, "It's just that, ever since you came back from the Star Dou Great Forest last time, I've felt that you've changed a lot. Every time we secretly get intimate in the academy, your reactions get more and more outrageous. If I spend the whole vacation with you, I'm afraid I really won't be able to control myself."

Jiang Nannan blushed instantly, her cheeks burning uncontrollably, and her eyes filled with shyness.

"Xiaoya, what are you saying?!"

"That's for sure. Nan Nan, if you've ever experienced that feeling, you definitely wouldn't be able to control yourself either." Having said all that, Tang Ya had completely let loose, and every word she uttered was enough to make anyone's vision go black.

In shame and anger, Jiang Nannan immediately covered Tang Ya's mouth with her hand, appearing completely at a loss.

"You're about to die, and you still dare to talk?!"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more, alright?"

Jiang Nannan let go of her hand, and then she and Tang Ya tidied themselves up.

Tang Ya was somewhat calmer, after all, her relationship with Ye Xixuan had already reached that point. Jiang Nannan, however, could no longer look Ye Xixuan in the eye; she realized that coming out with Tang Ya this time was a complete mistake.

"Sister Xiaoya, I respect your opinion." Ye Xixuan's lips twitched, and he took the initiative to ease the awkwardness between everyone.

Just as Tang Ya said, ever since Vina guided him to open the door to a new world, he subconsciously began to feel dissatisfied with the status quo. That's how people are; it's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Tang Ya excitedly jumped into Ye Xixuan's arms, tilted her head back with a smile, and rested her chin on Ye Xixuan's chest, comforting him like a caring older sister.

"Come on, we have a long time ahead of us, let's wait a few more years."

"Sister Xiaoya, if I listen to you, will there be a reward?" Ye Xixuan's eyes were eager, and he also tacitly learned the way he got along with Tang Ya when they were young.

Tang Ya smiled happily and tiptoed to pat Ye Xixuan's head. Ye Xixuan's behavior fully satisfied her vanity as an older sister, even though she was actually less mature than Ye Xixuan.

"As long as you behave and listen to Sister Xiaoya, I'll give you any reward you want."

Jiang Nannan, who was standing to the side, had become an outsider and had been forced to witness their public display of affection. She said in an unnatural tone, "Xiaoya, I think I'll go back to my dorm to cultivate tonight."

"Nannan, didn't we already agree that we'd rest at Xixuan and my home in Shrek City tonight?" Tang Ya immediately became anxious, turned around and grabbed Jiang Nannan's hand, while holding Ye Xixuan's hand with her other hand.

"Besides, since we're already here, let's go together."

"Alright." After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Nannan finally relented. Although she came from a common background, she was extremely trustworthy, which was perhaps one of her rare virtues. Now that she had accepted Tang Ya's invitation, turning back halfway would be rather unreasonable.

However, because of Tang Ya's previous farce, the atmosphere between her and Ye Xixuan was rather delicate.

Tang Ya, who was naturally slow to notice, seemed completely unaware of this. Standing in the middle, she held the hands of Jiang Nannan and Ye Xixuan respectively, and walked briskly along the official road towards Shrek City with a big smile on her face.

On one side is the person she likes, and on the other side is a best friend she can be with for life. She actually has such a dreamlike double happiness at the same time.

Tang Ya felt that she would probably never be as happy as she was at this moment.

But people’s joys and sorrows are not shared.

Meanwhile, in the wilderness of the northern border of the Star Luo Empire.

A lavishly decorated carriage was speeding towards the capital of the Star Luo Empire under the moonlight.

Dai Huabin sat inside the carriage, his face grim as he stared out the window, his eyes bloodshot and menacing, his right hand gripping the window sill tightly. He was oblivious to the carriage's jolting; his mind was consumed by a single, obsessive thought: to restore his dignity as a man.

In some ways, this is even more important than talent and ability.

Because a son of the White Tiger Duke who has lost his male fertility is destined to be unable to inherit the title of White Tiger Duke, which would fundamentally eliminate his possibility of competing with his brother Dai Yueheng.

Having experienced such a misfortune, Dai Huabin, whose personality was already extreme, became even more twisted.

Power, status, and strength should all be within his grasp, but now, because of Tang Wutong, everything has been destroyed.

“Dai Yueheng, you were only born a few years earlier than me, what right do you have to lecture me?! My mother has always said that the future of the Duke’s mansion will be on my shoulders!” Dai Huabin clenched his right fist and slammed it hard against the carriage window.

"Why should you inherit everything in this family?! The position of Duke of White Tiger is not yours to hold!!!"

Dai Huabin still clings to a last hope. Compared to Tang Wutong, he even resents his own brother Dai Yueheng more. Of course, he also develops jealousy towards Ye Xixuan.

It was just a side effect. He resented Tang Wutong as much as he did, but even with his own standards, he had to admit her excellence. Why would such a beautiful and talented woman, a true prodigy, lower herself to pursue Ye Xixuan, yet treat him with disdain?

He felt like the whole world was against him!
Taking a deep breath, Dai Huabin calmed himself down before looking again at the majestic Xingluo Imperial City in the distance.

His last hope rested on the deputy head of the Star Luo Empire's Royal Hall of Worship, the Healing Immortal Douluo Wang Xian'er. This woman, known as the number one healing-type Soul Master of her time, possessed a super Soul, the Healing Angel, comparable to a holy angel.

It is much more difficult for healing and support-type Soul Masters to cultivate to the Title Douluo level than for Soul Masters who are good at combat.

Because battles often more easily unleash a Soul Master's potential, while healing and food-type Soul Masters can only slowly improve through their own hard work and accumulated experience. Reaching the Title Douluo level is already extremely rare, and the Super Douluo level is almost impossible.

This Healer Douluo is an extremely rare healing-type Super Douluo, and can be said to be one of the most important trump cards of the Star Luo Empire.

Dai Huabin had already written to his mother, the Duchess of Baihu, requesting that this senior Wang come out of retirement to treat his hidden ailment. However, he was still keeping something from his mother and had not told her everything.

Like most aristocratic families, the father often valued the eldest son more, while the mother preferred the youngest son.

Dai Huabin's arrogant and domineering personality can be attributed to the doting love of the Duchess of Baihu.

……

The following morning, Ye Xixuan escorted Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan to the east gate outside Shrek City.

Shrek City itself is located on the border of the three kingdoms that originally belonged to Douluo Continent, and the journey from here to the Douling Empire is not actually that far.

Jiang Nannan was born in a city in the southwest of the Douling Empire, which was even closer to Shrek City than Tianling City in the Tianhun Empire. If there were no major delays on the road, she could arrive in a single day.

With the existence of the storage soul tool, the two were able to go into battle lightly equipped.

Tang Ya gently hugged Ye Xixuan, giggled, and said.

"Xi Xuan, I'm leaving now. Be a good girl and wait for me to come back."

"Sister Xiaoya, Sister Nannan, have a safe trip." Ye Xixuan waved to the two of them in a refreshed manner.

Although Tang Ya was even more naive than Vina in matters of that kind, her greatest strength was her willingness to listen to advice. Last night, with his prompting, Tang Ya finally managed to give him the reward he was promised.

It's more of a psychological sense of accomplishment; the physical experience is not so important.

"Ah."

Jiang Nannan glanced at Ye Xixuan with a flushed face, nodded slightly, and then walked away first.

Last night, Tang Ya ostensibly asked Ye Xixuan to help her suppress her martial soul, but since the two of them had been in the same room for so long, she could guess what might have happened.

And most importantly, when Tang Ya returned to their room late at night, she clearly had a strange smell on her. Tang Ya herself, however, was completely unaware of this and immediately hugged her to cuddle.

It was only because Tang Ya and Ye Xixuan helped Jiang Nannan resolve her mother's health issues that her tolerance level became so high.

"Nannan, wait for me!" Tang Ya kissed Ye Xixuan on the cheek before following him with a charming smile. A clear, bell-like laugh echoed from afar.

"Do you think your aunt will like it if I suddenly come to visit?"

"By the way, what should I say if my aunt asks me if I have a boyfriend at school? If I tell the truth and say no, wouldn't that be denying your charm?"

Faced with the energetic and talkative Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, who was already feeling flustered, could only remain silent and then subconsciously quickened her pace.

Ye Xixuan withdrew his gaze with a smile and turned to walk into Shrek Academy. He was pleased to see Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan so happy together.

"It's just that I'm not used to Xiaoya not being here this holiday."

Ye Xixuan murmured to himself, but when he arrived at Shrek Square in the outer courtyard, he seemed to have seen a ghost and subconsciously wiped the smile off his face.

"Ye Xixuan!" A Tang princess stood on the lakeside path next to Shrek Square, hands on her hips, glaring angrily at him.

In a quiet courtyard of the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace.

The courtyard covers an area of ​​at least 500 square meters and looks like a small garden. Various rare and beautiful flowers adorn the space, and there are even two towering ancient trees that reach for the sky, casting large shadows on the ground.

A middle-aged man dressed in a bright yellow robe and wearing an eight-treasure purple-gold crown stood with his hands behind his back. He was not particularly handsome, but he had an inexplicable air of nobility about him, as if it came from within.

All the servants waited quietly outside the courtyard.

Just then, a young girl dressed in palace attire, who looked no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, suddenly burst into the courtyard. Strangely, the servants seemed to ignore her, letting her lift the hem of her long golden dress as she walked through the gate to the middle-aged man's side.

The girl's long golden hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her bright blue eyes shone with a faint golden light, deep and vast like an endless starry sky.

"Brother Emperor!"

Upon hearing the blonde girl's address, their identities became self-evident: they were none other than Emperor Xu Jiawei and Princess Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire from the original story.

The brother and sister were so in sync that when Xu Jiawei saw Xu Jiujiu's hesitant look, he gave the order in a deep voice.

"Let's all go back."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The servants kept their heads bowed and respectfully responded before silently turning and leaving.

"Something's happened, brother." Xu Jiujiu could no longer suppress his thoughts and whispered.

"Last night, the White Tiger Duke's Mansion invited Senior Wang from the Hall of Offerings to treat the injuries of his second son, Dai Huabin. However, Senior Wang unexpectedly discovered that he had permanently lost his ability to be a man. I deliberately gathered some information from Shrek Academy. It seems that Dai Huabin was seriously injured in a conflict with the direct heir of the Haotian Sect while studying at Shrek Academy."

"In that case, it seems that the only heir to the title of Duke of Dai Hao can be Yao Heng." Xu Jiawei frowned slightly. In fact, even if this incident had not occurred, under normal circumstances, it would most likely be Dai Yao Heng who would inherit the title of Duke of Baihu.

Although Dai Huabin's talent was no less than Dai Yueheng's, he was far inferior in many aspects. This outcome was hardly a good thing for the Star Luo Empire's royal family.

"Jiujiu, besides that, there must have been other things that happened, right?"

"After leaving the Hall of Offerings, Dai Huabin had contact with outlaws in the underworld of Xingluo City. Although there has been no movement from him for the time being, I suspect he may be harboring revenge, but is currently still hesitant." Xu Jiujiu smiled slightly, then his expression turned serious again.

"Brother, don't you think this is a perfect opportunity to suppress the White Tiger Duke's lineage? As the commander-in-chief of the three armies of our Star Luo Empire, the White Tiger Duke Dai Hao's prestige in the army is even greater than that of our Xu family. Moreover, not only is he himself expected to break through to the Title Douluo realm, but his two eldest sons are even more outstanding in talent. Are we just going to stand by and watch the White Tiger lineage produce three Douluo, thereby threatening the Xu family's dominant position?"

The brother and sister are much more direct in private.

Xu Jiujiu's words were a wake-up call for Xu Jiawei; the struggle for power was far more complex than that.

Seeing Xu Jiawei's solemn expression, a sly glint appeared in Xu Jiujiu's eyes.

"Brother, why don't we let Tian Sha Douluo take action? Senior Tian Sha's martial soul ability is special. As long as he can subtly and completely incite Dai Huabin's hatred through the astrological system, making him recklessly seek revenge, we can then secretly facilitate this. In this way, Shrek Academy and Haotian Sect will naturally become our henchmen in suppressing the White Tiger Duke's lineage, and no one will associate these things with our Xu family."

"Jiujiu, have Senior Huang come to see me." Xu Jiawei pondered for a moment before making a decisive decision. How could this Star Luo Emperor not have felt the threat from Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger over the years? Regardless of whether Dai Hao harbored any ill intentions, he had to be wary; this was the cruel reality that an emperor had to face.

"This matter must not be known to a fourth person other than you, me, and Senior Huang."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Jiujiu replied solemnly, unable to hide his excitement.

(End of this chapter)