Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

"Strength, still not enough..." Zhu Zhuqing sighed helplessly.

She must improve herself more quickly. Only by demonstrating sufficient value and potential can she possibly secure a chance for survival in future resource allocation.

……

Meanwhile, at the Third Prince's residence.

Inside the tightly sealed room, contrary to the dejected atmosphere imagined by the outside world, 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 would have really burst out laughing.

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

The pills that you treasure, pursue relentlessly, and even require the imperial power to gather materials to obtain, I, Dai Mubai, now 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, opened the stopper, and felt the violent and pure energy fluctuations inside. A look of infatuation and greed appeared on his face.

That's power! That's 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 current immense joy and ambition.

He subconsciously forgot about the cost of the contract, his mind filled with thoughts of how to use these pills to quickly increase his strength and how to trample Davis underfoot!

"Mine, all of these are mine!" Dai Mubai chuckled in a low voice, clutching the jade bottle tightly as if he had grasped his own destiny.

Will he give these pills to others?

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

How can it be!

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 precious resources 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 could almost see himself taking the elixir, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, and finally defeating Davis under the spotlight to ascend 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 of a slightly lower rank.

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, a calculating glint in his eyes.

The Zhu family does not only have Zhu Zhuqing as their daughter who 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 immediate 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 glorious 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 signifies a certain degree of legitimacy.

"Forget it, we'll talk about it later." Dai Mubai suppressed this somewhat risky idea. 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 an ambitious flame.

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, she might be able to stay by his side as an embellishment.

"If you don't know what's good for you... humph!" Dai Mubai whispered, 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 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 Prince Consort will soon be trampled under my feet!"

……

Meanwhile, at the Crown 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 acquiring Soul Rings in his lifetime. He has already obtained two Soul 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.

Using all the pills on oneself would certainly increase one's strength, but in his view, this was 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 pills will surely be available in abundance in the future.

Using limited, immediate gains to secure greater, more stable, and larger future benefits—that is the art of imperial strategy.

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

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 this batch of pills to win over the core nobles and generals in the army, and will firmly control the channels of trade 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 their hands. Their loyalty has long been fixed in the power structure over the years. They are mostly hedging their bets and are difficult to completely subdue.

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 shone like stars in the night, shining brightly in Davis's scheme.

With innate full soul power, such talent destined him to become a Title Douluo.

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 nurture a potential threat.

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

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

The support of those old noble families was more out of a traditional custom, an investment, than unreserved loyalty.

He needs to cultivate a core elite of the Crown Prince's faction who belongs entirely to him and whose interests are completely tied to his own.

Levin and Pinocchio are the perfect choices.

Offering help in times of need is far better than adding flowers to brocade.

Before they have fully risen to power and have been won over by other forces at a greater cost, using the elixirs they desperately need as a stepping stone is enough to establish the initial and most solid bond of gratitude and connection.

He only needed to keep enough of the pills for himself; the rest he could use 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 to convey this goodwill in a discreet way.

……

Xingluo Imperial Palace, 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 the fact that Dai Linyu and Zhu Zhuyun's Netherworld White Tiger technique was forcibly broken by an unknown youth 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 exceptionally high-quality pills and described in detail the mysterious power of Geduo, the wonder of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye, and the possibility of customizing 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, then continued, "This boy 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 communication established with His Majesty Godot. This batch of pills, and the possible customized pills in the future, will be the key to our country's ability to enhance its high-end 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 and knew they would greatly improve the quality of his Star Luo Empire's Soul Masters.

"You are in full charge of this matter. Subsequent transactions with Her Majesty Godot shall be classified as top imperial secrets. The necessary materials shall be allocated from my inner treasury and the royal archives, and Her 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 a national strategy.

"As for these pills..."

After a moment of contemplation, Dai Tianfeng continued, "I will reward meritorious officials and promising young men 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.