Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

……

A few days later, at the Star Luo Royal Academy.

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

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 highly regarded in the academy, but he also felt the constant scrutiny and subtle attempts to win him over.

“Levin.” A gentle voice sounded beside him.

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

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

"Your Highness." Levin stood up, bowed slightly, and greeted the prince with a respectful but not servile attitude.

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 personally come to find him after class.

“No need for formalities.” Davis waved his hand with a smile, glancing at the theoretical book on the precise control of soul power on Levin’s desk, and nodded approvingly.

"Such diligence, 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?"

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

Levin's mind raced, and 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, 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 have exceptional talent and a limitless future,” Davis said directly and sincerely.

"Our Star Luo Empire was founded on military strength and values ​​talent above all else. A gem like you will certainly be nurtured by the Empire with all its might."

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.

He stopped beating around the bush, took out an inconspicuous little wooden box from his pocket, and pushed it in front of Levin.

Levin's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the wooden box in front of him, and considering Davis's current actions and the background of the Star Luo Envoy's recent return, he vaguely guessed what might be inside.

The fact that a prince would take it out so solemnly, especially since it coincided with the time when the delegation brought back that miraculous elixir from Tian Dou...

But Levin showed no sign of it on his face, only revealing a perfectly timed hint of confusion. He looked at Davis and asked in a steady voice, "Your Highness, what is this?"

Davis, still wearing a gentle smile, gestured for Levin to proceed.

"This item might be helpful to your cultivation; you might as well open it and take a look."

"They're here," Levin thought to himself.

He was almost certain that the contents of the box were the elixirs concocted by Gedo. Davis's intentions were also quite clear: to win him over.

But who is Levin?

He was not a commoner genius born and raised in Douluo Continent, but a frog prince from a fairy tale world. Even though he has come to Douluo Continent now and needs to start from scratch, the pride and independence that belong to a prince have never been erased.

He may need resources and to become stronger, but he is absolutely unwilling to become someone's vassal and tie his future and freedom to a prince's chariot.

Even if this prince is the future emperor of the empire.

"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated, Levin said with a slight bow, his tone polite but carrying an undeniable distance.

"However, one should not accept a gift without merit. Such a precious item is too much for Levin to bear, and I cannot accept Your Highness's gift."

Despite Levin's direct and straightforward rejection, Davis's smile remained unchanged; he had anticipated Levin's refusal.

If such a genius could be easily bought off with a little benefit, then he wouldn't be worthy of his attention.

His previous attempts to persuade Levin had backfired, making him realize how difficult Levin was to deal with.

“It’s too early to refuse now. Why don’t you take a look at what’s in the box? Maybe it will change your mind.” He tried to sway Levin with the value of the pill itself.

"No, Your Highness. Whatever is in the box, Levin's decision will not change. I prefer to rely on my own efforts to advance step by step on the path of cultivation."

Levin refused without hesitation. His words revealed a strong sense of confidence and independence, a pride that came from the bottom of his heart, which Davis both admired and found somewhat troublesome.

Seeing Levin's resolute attitude, Davis no longer insisted that he open it himself.

His smile deepened, as if he had known all along that you would do this.

“In that case, I’ll do it for you,” Davis said, opening the wooden box.

There was indeed a pill inside the box.

Sure enough, it was Ge Duo's elixir.

Despite knowing the truth, Levin can only continue to play the role of a clueless genius.

He looked even more puzzled, with a hint of perfectly timed curiosity, and shifted his gaze from the pills to Davis, asking, "What is this...?"

Davis carefully observed Levin's expression and saw that he only had doubt and no shock or greed, which made him think even more highly of Levin.

This composure is far beyond that of his peers.

"This item is a pill refined by a titled Douluo who is extremely skilled in alchemy. Once successfully refined, it can greatly temper the physical body, widen the meridians, solidify the foundation, and help the Soul Master absorb Soul Rings of higher age."

Chapter 135 Weighing the Pros and Cons

Levin already knew the origin of this pill and was even aware of its ordinary status in Godo's eyes, but when faced with this pill that could enhance his strength, his heart still skipped a beat uncontrollably.

Power—it's an irresistible temptation for anyone.

Therefore, even with Levin's temperament, a very subtle flicker of emotion inevitably crossed his eyes—an instinctive craving for power.

This fleeting fluctuation was so quick that it was almost impossible to catch, but it was precisely captured by Davis, who had been keeping a close eye on his reaction.

Davis smiled inwardly, knowing that his words had worked.

The fish, in the end, was tempted by the bait. He wasn't afraid that Levin would be tempted, but rather that he wouldn't be tempted at all.

“Levin, I know you have high aspirations and are unwilling to accept favors easily, much less be bound by them. To be honest, I admire that about you. A true genius should have this kind of pride.” Davis’s tone was even more sincere, with a touch of just the right amount of emotion.

He gently pushed the wooden box forward another half inch, allowing the aroma of the pill to emanate more clearly.

“I brought this item today not in my capacity as the Crown Prince of Xingluo, nor to ask you to immediately pledge allegiance to me and become an vassal of my Crown Prince Party.” Davis shook his head, a helpless smile on his face that said, “You’ve misunderstood me.”

"I simply cannot bear to see such a gem like you wasted years and delayed in shining due to the scarcity of resources. The future of the empire needs pillars like you. As for me, Davis, as a member of the empire and as someone who also yearns for its prosperity, I only hope to do my part to clear some obstacles in your path."

Davis's words were exquisitely crafted, positioning himself as someone who cherishes talent for the country and makes selfless contributions, deliberately downplaying his status as a prince and the purpose of his recruitment, and packaging a naked political investment as care and support for a talented young man.

Levin remained silent, but he felt immense pressure.

Davis's rhetoric was very skillful, and his posture was humble enough to almost completely block any reasons he could use to refuse, such as his unwillingness to be dependent.

If he were to refuse again, he would appear ungrateful and might even offend the powerful Crown Prince.

In the Star Luo Empire, repeatedly and ruthlessly rejecting the goodwill of a prince, especially one who is most likely to inherit the throne, has unpredictable consequences.

No matter how talented he is, before he truly matures, the majesty and power of the royal family are enough to easily crush him.

Reason was reminding Levin of the risks involved.

However, the pride that came from the depths of his soul, the pride that belonged to the fairy tale prince, prevented him from bowing his head and from agreeing to this kindness for the sake of immediate benefits.

When did Levin ever need to rely on the charity of others to pave his own way?

His future must be earned by his own hard work and dedication.

Looking at Levin's tightly pursed lips and the complex yet unwavering light in his eyes, Davis knew that he was still a little short of time.

He couldn't push him too hard; for a genius like Levin, whose pride was at its peak, a forceful approach would only backfire.

His smile remained unchanged, but his tone became even more nonchalant, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

“Levin, you’re really overthinking it.” Davis stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Levin, and looked out at the lush greenery of the academy. His voice was calm and distant.

"This pill is nothing more than an external possession to me. I give it to you with the sole hope that you will make good use of it and grow into a pillar of my Star Luo Empire as soon as possible, contributing to the prosperity of the empire in the future. This has nothing to do with my status as a prince, nor with any loyalty or promises."

He slowly turned around, looking at Levin with clear eyes, his gaze so sincere that no one could find fault with him.

“If I had to say I had any ulterior motives…” Davis paused, a slightly self-deprecating smile appearing on his face.

"That is me, Davis, who simply wants to be your friend. A friend who sets aside the distinction between prince and commoner, based purely on respect for the strong and expectations for the future."

After saying that, Davis gave Levin no further chance to refuse.

He glanced at Levin, then said nothing more, turned around, and left the quiet room.

"Click".

The soft sound of the door closing echoed clearly in the quiet room.

In the quiet room, only Levin remained, along with the wooden box on the table.

He sat there and sighed; he was still too weak.

Levin knew that accepting this meant he tacitly approved of the friendship, which inadvertently created a deeper connection with Davis, making it even more difficult to completely sever ties in the future.

Refuse? The other party has already made their point, using the guise of a friend's gift. If he were to firmly refuse, it wouldn't just be ungrateful; it would be a complete breakdown in relations, tantamount to slapping Davis in the face. The consequences would be unimaginable.

Levin frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on the pills in the wooden box.

For the first time, he felt that the goodwill from the top of the world's power structure was so heavy and so suffocating.

But Levin is not without the ability to fight back. He has been accumulating reputation points, which are now enough for him to exchange for a powerful one-time item.

However, it would be a huge waste to squander one's reputation points due to political infighting.

Meanwhile, outside the quiet room.

Davis stepped out the door, his gentle smile vanishing instantly, replaced by his usual composure and depth.

The bodyguard who had been waiting outside immediately followed silently.

"Your Highness, he..." the guard asked in a low voice, glancing towards the door of the quiet room.

Davis waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to ask any more questions. He continued walking out of the academy without stopping, but calmly analyzing the situation in his mind.

Levin's reaction was within his expectations. A genius of this caliber who could be so easily bribed would be suspicious.

His objective has been achieved through today's contact.

First, he successfully delivered the pill to Levin in a way that made it difficult for the latter to refuse immediately. It was as if he had planted a seed in Levin's heart.