Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

Logically, the original timeline should have featured a fierce battle between the Netherworld White Tiger and the Star Luo Cat Tiger, but now, the Star Luo Cat Tiger doesn't even bother to look at the other side, let alone use their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

Preparations began just before the start of the competition, with the top ten contestants already on the field for their final preparations and warm-ups.

The conflict during the qualifiers has continued to this day, with the seven remaining silent.

With Ning Huahua present, Dai Mubai remained silent with a gloomy face. Ma Hongjun seemed to be following his boss, leaving Oscar caught in the middle, unsure of what to do.

"What good is silence? You won't even discuss how to fight, and you still want to lose?"

"Sister Hua'er, I don't want to lose!" Zhu Zhuqing stood up and stood firmly in front of Ning Huahua.

Someone really likes this kind of thoughtful and determined approach: "Excellent! Very spirited!"

He turned to Dai Mubai and asked, "And you?"

Dai Mubai scoffed and said something that left those who didn't understand baffled: "What does this have to do with me? With you and Qian Shuishui both on the field, what suspense is there left in the competition?"

"What exactly happened? Do you have enemies at the Star Luo Royal Academy? It's just a match, isn't it?" Dai Mubai always kept this a secret and never talked about it. They were one of the top teams, so why was the atmosphere so heavy? Oscar naturally had his own questions.

Faced with this question, both of them fell silent, but one of them couldn't hold back any longer: "What can't be said? This is a bad custom between their two families."

But after starting to speak, Ning Huahua stopped and gave Ning Rongrong a wink, signaling her to continue.

Ning Rongrong, who knew what Ning Huahua meant, didn't have any rebellious feelings. In this respect, she was always a step behind Ning Huahua. Since Ning Huahua was willing to solve the problem that she couldn't solve, she naturally went along with it. "Zhu Qing and Dai Mubai are both from the Star Luo Empire, as everyone knows. They belong to two major families, one is the Star Luo royal family with the surname Dai, and Dai Mubai is the third prince, while Zhu Qing is from the Zhu family of Star Luo."

The two families have a tradition of intermarriage, but in order to ensure that future family heirs are more outstanding, once the contenders are selected, they are groomed to be enemies with each other.

Only the victors among them can inherit the family fortune; to prevent internal strife, the losers will be either executed or wiped out. Therefore, they are not only competing for power, but also for our lives.

Neither Zhu Qing nor Mu Bai are direct descendants of their families. Their elder brother and sister were betrothed since childhood and are also the captains of the Star Luo Royal Academy seed team in this competition. Zhu Qing and Dai Mu Bai are the same.

The reason the two families formed a marriage alliance, besides kinship, was primarily due to their Martial Soul Fusion Skill—the Netherworld White Tiger!

"Is the Royal Family really that cruel?" Oscar asked, head bowed. He had never imagined that at their carefree age, someone was carrying such a heavy burden.

"Hmph!" Dai Mubai sneered. Now that things were out in the open, there was no point in hiding anything. "Oscar, you're not royalty, so you don't understand the complexities involved. Do you know the balance of power between the two great empires on the continent?"

Oscar shook his head blankly; he had never cared about politics.

"Sister Hua'er, I'm going to say something you might not like to hear, but if it weren't for the Spirit Hall interfering, this Douluo Continent might have been ours long ago. In terms of national strength and military power, our Star Luo Empire is far superior to the Heaven Dou Empire!"

At this point, Dai Mubai no longer seemed like a spoiled brat, but rather more like a government official.

"Although there are several kingdoms in our country, they are not like the Heavenly Dou Empire where imperial power is decentralized. This is due to the unique competitive system of our royal family."

Although this method is cruel, every emperor who rises through it is exceptional, a quality unmatched by the Heavenly Dou Empire. The Heavenly Dou Empire's only advantage lies in the presence of the three upper sects within its borders.

Among the three sects, although the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect never participate in political struggles, your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has always supported the Heaven Dou Empire.

The Spirit Hall stood as a hindrance between the two empires; otherwise, war might have already broken out. Only in recent years, thanks to the diligent governance of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, has the Heaven Dou Empire experienced some rapid development.

However, some problems have arisen within our Star Luo Empire, and the balance of power between the two great empires is beginning to shift towards equilibrium again.

Qian Shui could not deny Dai Mubai's evaluation; he was only making his assessment from his own perspective, which was nothing unusual for a true strategist.

In Qian Shui's view, it was nothing more than the absolute suppression of feudal states by militaristic centralized power in terms of resource integration, under the same level of productivity.

"Brother Dai, although I don't understand what you're saying right now, your soul power is already level 44, and your talent far surpasses that of your older brothers and sisters. What's there to worry about? We'll all help you. Just take the throne when the time comes!"

Oscar's explanation did not comfort Dai Mubai. Neither Ning Huahua nor Ning Rongrong would support him politically. "Compete? How can I compete? My older brother is six years older than me. He is almost certainly the heir apparent of the family. Choosing me as a backup is just to give him more pressure and motivation."

We're strong now, but we can't even use the Netherworld White Tiger. This match will most likely be another one where Shui Shui dominates, and we'll just be picking up the scraps. If this counts as competition, then there's no point in having such rules.

After Dai Mubai finished speaking, Ning Rongrong became agitated, "So Davis is six years older than you, and Zhu Zhuyun is seven years older than Zhu Qing. Look at Zhu Qing now, she has ambition, and look at you!"

Dai Mubai, do you know why I despise you? Look at the state of the Heaven Dou Empire! What makes you think she'd accept you and your Netherworld White Tiger?! Do you think you're worthy of her long journey?!

Chapter 257 Consoling Zhu Zhuqing, the First Appearance of the Art of War [6000 words]

Just like in the preliminaries, Ning Rongrong was furious, only this time she spoke even more bluntly.

Dai Mubai glared angrily, but dared not argue. He glanced at Ning Huahua present, knowing he couldn't lash out. Ning Rongrong wasn't very strong; if he dared to say something like "first sex then sex," Ning Huahua probably wouldn't let him leave the arena alive. Setting up a match was far too easy for Ning Huahua.

"Stop talking nonsense, are you going up or not? See that guy?" With a raised hand, Ning Huahua pointed to the squinty-eyed man in the stands, who always had a smiling face. Everyone looked closely and realized that he was the team leader from Tianshui Academy.

The composed blue-haired man in the stands seemed to sense something, looked over, and waved in greeting.

"Him? The team leader from Tianshui Academy?"

"If you can't assemble the Netherworld White Tiger, then you won't fight?" For Qian Shui, this is like telling him to restart a game or not play at all if he doesn't have a special move. He can win even if he just uses basic attacks, so why surrender?

"This guy defeated the Netherworld White Tiger's Martial Soul Fusion Skill in a one-on-one fight back then. You guys don't think that was an accident, do you?" Qian Shui said with extreme disdain, always feeling that Ling Yunzhi had stolen the limelight from him, the protagonist.

She pursed her lips, then smiled and looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, let me ask you, in your heart, is the family's rules of Chen Ke more important, or do you want to be the empress, or is there something else more important? For a man?"

Shaking her head, Zhu Zhuqing said firmly, "I want to live, and I want to live a wonderful life!"

"Very good!" Ning Huahua smiled, her eyes shining brightly. "But that's not enough! I'll give you another goal! Climb to the top, reach the pinnacle of the Soul Master realm, and break through to the hundredth level of the Heavenly Battle Realm! Compared to this goal, what do fiancés or family feuds matter? When you stand in the world with absolute strength, what can bind you!"

Where the boundaries of imagination lie, so does one's ambition. In a world where strength reigns supreme, power is nothing more than a tool for obedience.

"Level 100 in the Heavenly Battle Realm?!"

"If the goal of cultivators is merely to reach a higher level and obtain luxurious carriages and horses, don't you think that's superficial? The only thing that truly holds allure is immortality!"

Ning Huahua's expectations for their achievements and titles were already quite high, but they never expected her to make such a bold statement that seemed almost unattainable to them.

"If you have this idea, I advise you to give up. There is no way our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul can break through level 79. Stop dreaming."

How do you know it won't work?

After saying that, Ning Huahua took the lead and walked out of the rest area, not forgetting to show off as she went: "Ascend the Heavenly Road, walk with songs, and cover the sky with a flick of your finger! Don't you like 'The Singer'? Then go and surpass him!"

"Hey, you're going to play? What about the tactics?" Ning Rongrong didn't care what Ning Huahua was talking about; she didn't believe her anyway. All she did was brag.

"Tsk, Xiao Wu isn't here again. What can I do if I don't go? And what tactics do I need? Am I not happy with my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda at the seventh ring?"

"Oh yeah..."

Ning Huahua's habitual laziness left such a deep impression that Ning Rongrong subconsciously overlooked the fact that Xiao Wu hadn't come.

"Hehehe~ Sister Hua'er, I want to have some fun too~" Hearing that Ning Huahua wanted to do it, the little fat boy immediately stuck to her. He had never experienced being amplified by the fully-formed Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda before.

"Okay, you'll be the first one up later."

"Yeah!"

Just before going on stage, Ning Huahua was stopped by Ning Rongrong.

"how?"

"Dai Mubai said the Star Luo Empire will unify the continent..."

"He's overthinking it."

Qian Shui understood Ning Rongrong's concerns. Some things on the Douluo Continent were like military secrets, such as his cultivation method.

However, wars are never determined by one or two technologies, but by the contest of comprehensive national strength, and even more so by people's subjective will.

When Ning Huahua stepped onto the field, the Soul Master teams of the Heaven Dou Academy couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

It seems that Huangdou Team 2 went all out against the seeded team? After all, Ning Huahua and Qian Shuishui haven't faced each other on stage except for the first match of the qualifiers.

With the amplification of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda at the Soul Saint level, it is unknown what kind of strength Qian Shuishui can unleash. Perhaps even the Netherworld White Tiger cannot withstand it?

On the other side of the Soul Battle Arena, another group of seven people slowly walked onto the stage. The one in the lead had long golden hair cascading down his back, a lazy expression on his face, and purple light shining in his eyes, but unlike Dai Mubai, he did not have double pupils.

"Is that your brother Davis?" Ning Huahua pointed at the man and asked Dai Mubai.

"Yes."

"They look quite alike. If you think you can't beat them, go clear out the back row." It was clear that Dai Mubai was very nervous. In Qian Shui's perception, the eldest prince of the Star Luo Empire was also level 49. The gap was not hopeless.

If we were to switch roles and play this game, Qian Shui would probably still practice relentlessly until he was exhausted. The six-year gap is significant, but the outcome is uncertain until the very end. At least he never surrenders when playing games.

“Double pupils are truly an invincible path~” Seeing that Dai Mubai did not reply, Ning Huahua said something inexplicable again.

Although Davis on the other side looked very casual, his smile still revealed a bit of the aura of a superior, making him feel more like the king of the forest than Dai Mubai.

Half a step behind Davis was a tall young woman, almost as tall as him, with an extremely voluptuous figure and alabaster skin. She was also smiling and was still holding Davis's arm in the middle of the competition.

It's obvious without even thinking, this is Zhu Zhuyun. She looks very much like Zhu Zhuqing, it's like a grown-up Zhu Zhuqing standing opposite her.

Davis, the leader, glanced at Dai Mubai's face and said calmly, "Mubai, I didn't expect you to actually make it to the finals. Being able to challenge me face-to-face is already a success. But you should understand that doing this forces me to take action against you. However, I heard that you and Zhu Qing still can't use the Netherworld White Tiger? How are you going to compete with me like this?"

"Davis, you don't need to put on such a hypocritical act. You're facing more than just me today!"

"Relying on this woman? Third brother, you and Zhu Qing joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so can I conclude that you have betrayed the country?!" Davis looked at Dai Mubai with some surprise, but then smiled.

"Hey, isn't the competition starting yet?" Ning Huahua interrupted before Dai Mubai could speak or the referee could even arrive.

This is a simple language trap, but with the competition imminent, Qian Shui is not a little girl like Ning Rongrong. Any grudges can be dealt with after the match.

Davis's words were a trap; if he were accused of treason, Dai Mubai would deny it no matter what, so he only had one answer.

But denying treason would mean an awkward situation regarding his identity. What would his teammates think of him? What would the people of the Heaven Dou Empire think of him? Suppression would be the least of their worries.

Ning Huahua brushed it off with just a casual remark. Was it unintentional or did she overhear something?

Davis's gaze fell on Ning Huahua, and his eyes became more serious.

The Crown Princess of the Heaven Dou Empire is renowned. She is not only a disciple of Qian Shui, but also the eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Needless to say, her status speaks for itself. More importantly, she possesses considerable strength.

The 24-year-old Soul Saint is terrifying. This team is equivalent to Ning Fengzhi, the number one support-type Soul Master in the world, personally taking to the field. What's even more shocking is that this Crown Princess is also a Battle Soul Master. It is said that even Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is no match for her.

"Zhuqing, if I remember correctly, you should be under fifteen years old. To participate in this competition at such a young age and make it into the top ten, I don't know whether to say you're lucky or that you're very strong. However, this is where you end up. Actually, your father and mother miss you very much, but we can't go against the ancestral rules. After the competition, you should come back with me."

Davis was momentarily at a loss for how to respond, but Zhu Zhuyun, who was beside him, spoke up to Zhu Zhuqing.

After glancing at Ning Huahua and receiving her affirmative look, Zhu Zhuqing suppressed her turbulent emotions. "You don't even remember my age, Zhu Zhuyun, so there's no need to talk about family ties."

Yes, Zhu Zhuqing is the youngest. She was only eleven years old when we first met, and she is not yet fourteen.

Neither side on stage made a conscious effort to suppress their voices, and the Soul Masters below had far superior hearing than ordinary people. When they heard Zhu Zhuyun say that Zhu Zhuqing was not yet fifteen years old, even the most self-assured Soul Masters couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

Feng Xiaotian stared blankly. He had originally thought Qian Shuishui and Ning Huahua were exceptionally abnormal and therefore not worth considering. But when he learned that Zhu Zhuqing, this seemingly mature and composed girl, was actually so young, he felt that his twenty-four years of life had been wasted.

There was no time for trash talk now. The referee stepped to the center of the two teams and announced, "Ready for the match. You may release your Martial Souls. The rules remain the same: the loser will be eliminated, and the winner will advance to the top six. Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy vs. Star Luo Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy. Ready!"

Davis and Zhu Zhuyun exchanged a glance. His gaze suddenly turned domineering, and his whole body seemed to relax. His broad shoulders and equally sinister face appeared exceptionally handsome at this moment. "Brothers, release your martial spirits!"

The Star Luo Royal Academy is a team composed entirely of Soul Masters. Zhu Zhuyun has a Soul Power of Level 48, and Davis has even reached Level 49, just one step away from becoming a Soul King.

However, when Ning Huahua's seven spirit rings arrived, this configuration instantly paled in comparison, and most of the Star Luo Empire's side looked towards Ning Fengzhi, who remained calm and composed.

Zhu Zhuyun looked at Zhu Zhuqing with some discomposure, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! When you left home, you were only in your twenties. It's only been two years. How could you have already broken through to the Soul Master level?"