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Within the imperial palace of the Star Luo Empire
Bang!
"Dai Chengfeng, how dare you!"
"Do you even realize what you've done?!"
The imposing figure seated high upon the throne slammed his hand down on the armrest of his dragon throne, leaving a deep imprint in the pure gold casting.
It was clear that he was absolutely livid.
Below the dais—
"So, it has finally come to this," thought a young boy, dressed in an opulent golden robe and around six years of age, as he sighed inwardly and shook his head helplessly.
He then feigned confusion, turning to the enraged emperor of Star Luo and asking, "Father, may I ask what crime your son has committed?"
"You don't know what you've done?!"
The Star Luo Emperor stared furiously at his fourth son, Dai Chengfeng, who was playing dumb. "What did you do yesterday? Are you telling me you don't remember?!"
"Your Majesty," the boy replied calmly, "yesterday, I merely accompanied my uncle to the Spirit Hunting Forest to obtain my first soul ring."
"Since my soul power has already reached level ten, what crime is there in obtaining a soul ring?"
Hearing that Dai Chengfeng still refused to admit his wrongdoing, Emperor Dai An's face turned an even deeper shade of purple with anger.
"There's nothing wrong with obtaining a soul ring!"
"But I specifically instructed you to hunt the Gold Scale Beast so that you could awaken the best first soul skill for our family's White Tiger martial soul: the White Tiger Guardian Barrier!"
"And what did you do instead?!"
"What beast did your uncle Zhu Fan hunt? And what is the first soul skill you awakened?!"
Dai Chengfeng stood straight and bowed slightly, replying earnestly, "Father, my uncle hunted a 450-year-old Geng Metal Beast, and I awakened the Geng Metal Qi as my first soul skill."
(T/N: Geng doesn't have a direct translation to English and is associated with Chinese calendar and astrology. It's often used to symbolize something hard, sharp, and enduring, like metals or minerals. For now, I'll be leaving it as is, if any of you can help me think of a better term or phrase, I'll change it.)
At this point, taking advantage of his tender age of six, Dai Chengfeng decided to try and win over his father with a bit of childish charm, hoping to muddle through.
"But Father, it's not my fault for going against your orders."
"I truly couldn't find the Gold Scale Beast, so I had no choice but to absorb the Geng Metal Beast's soul ring…"
"Silence!"
Before Dai Chengfeng could finish, Emperor Dai An could no longer contain his rage and roared, "Rebellious child! Do you think I'm senile yet?!"
"I personally arranged everything! How could you possibly have failed to find the Gold Scale Beast?"
"I see—you did it on purpose!"
"Do you even understand the weight of the responsibility you bear?!"
"You are the first genius in our Dai family since our ancestors to be born with full innate soul power!"
"You carry not only the honor of our royal bloodline but also the hope of whether the Star Luo Empire can one day unify the entire Douluo Continent!"
"And yet now, you squander your talent like this?!"
Dai Chengfeng looked at his father with a helpless expression. "Father, I am innocent! How could I possibly waste my own talent?"
"Still refusing to admit it?!"
Dai An's eyes blazed with fury, his breathing growing heavier as he glared at his son, disappointment etched across his face.
"Our ancestors decreed long ago!"
"The first three soul rings of every member of the Dai family must come from the Golden Scale Beast, the Gold Wave Beast, and the Vajra Tiger, awakening the White Tiger Guardian Barrier, the White Tiger Intense Light Wave, and the White Tiger Vajra Transformation respectively!"
"This is the only way to maximize the potential of the White Tiger martial soul and compensate for its early-stage weakness: slow movement speed and the inability to deal with distant enemies effectively."
"But look at your so-called 'Geng Metal Qi'!"
"While it can threaten distant foes, where is the defense?!"
Listening to his father's accusations, Dai Chengfeng wanted nothing more than to roll his eyes.
"Our family's martial soul is none other than one of the Four Sacred Beasts—the White Tiger!"
(T/N: Chinese mythological guardians: Azure Dragon, the Vermilion Bird, the White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise.)
"And yet, our ancestors forced their descendants to awaken skills like the White Tiger Guardian Barrier, the White Tiger Intense Light Wave, and the White Tiger Vajra Transformation?"
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
Though Dai Chengfeng knew that his ancestors' rules were made with good intentions, their limited perspective bound them.
But Dai Chengfeng, as someone reborn into this world, was different.
He knew exactly what the White Tiger truly was!
If he followed Dai An's instructions—absorbing soul rings from the Gold Scale Beast, the Gold Wave Beast, and the Vajra Tiger to awaken those specific skills—he would indeed boost the White Tiger martial soul's early combat prowess and address its shortcomings sooner.
But!
Such shortsightedness, focusing purely on immediate gains rather than addressing the core deficiencies of the White Tiger martial soul itself…
Dai Chengfeng estimated that his ultimate achievement would likely mirror that of Dai Mubai in the future: inheriting a second-tier godhood.
Even if he groveled before Tang San…
Not only was such humiliation unthinkable for Dai Chengfeng, but even if he did, the pinnacle of his achievements would barely reach a first-tier godhood, which would already be the limit of his martial soul's potential.
For others, ascending to godhood might seem like the greatest fortune imaginable, but Dai Chengfeng wasn't satisfied with such mediocrity.
Is the White Tiger martial soul inferior to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?
Is the White Tiger's limit really just the War God, a second-tier deity?
Absolutely not!
As someone who had crossed over into this world, Dai Chengfeng was determined to show everyone that the White Tiger was the sacred spirit of heaven, the harbinger of doom, the master of all killing intent under heaven, and the sovereign of primal Geng Metal!
He would become the White Emperor!
He would surpass even the God King!
Taking a deep breath, Dai Chengfeng reminded himself that these were his plans for the future. For now, he still needed to persuade his father.
Perhaps because of his precocious wisdom or his knack for endearing himself to others, Dai Chengfeng had always been treated differently by his father compared to his brothers.
From birth until now, while Emperor Dai An had been strict with Dai Wei and Dai Mubai, he had showered Dai Chengfeng with indulgence.
And so, despite his defiance, Dai Chengfeng didn't want to disappoint him.
"Father!"
"Have you ever heard this saying: The best defense is always offense!"
"My first soul skill, the Geng Metal Qi, is sharp enough to pierce through nearly any barrier in existence. Its potential far surpasses that of the White Tiger Guardian Barrier!"
"How dare you!"
Star Luo Emperor Dai An shot up from his throne, grabbed the teacup beside him, and hurled it violently toward Dai Chengfeng's feet, roaring in anger.
"You dare say that your Geng Metal Qi surpasses the White Tiger Guardian Barrier?!"
"I see what you're implying… You think you're better than our ancestors?!"
"Dai Chengfeng!"
"Have I spoiled and indulged you too much, allowing you to grow so arrogant and presumptuous?!"
"When I saw you awaken with full innate soul power, I had already decided to groom you as the next crown prince of the Star Luo Empire."
"This time, I merely wanted to make you recognize your mistake and ensure you don't act recklessly when absorbing your second and third soul rings."
"But now, I see that I must punish you!"
With that, Dai An shouted loudly toward the palace doors, "Guards!"
In an instant, several silver-armored imperial guards entered the hall, kneeling on one knee. "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
"I hereby declare!"
"Effective immediately, Dai Chengfeng, the Fourth Prince, is stripped of all titles and fiefs, demoted to commoner status, and exiled to Wu'an City!"
"Without my explicit decree, he is forbidden from returning to the capital!"
The guards exchanged astonished glances.
After all, everyone knew that the most favored prince of the Star Luo Empire was none other than the Fourth Prince, Dai Chengfeng.
Although the imperial family had its unique succession rules, just days ago, Dai Chengfeng had awakened with full innate soul power—a feat so extraordinary that it left no doubt in anyone's mind about who the next emperor would be.
Crown Prince Dai Wei and Third Prince Dai Mubai were now mere shadows beside the Fourth Prince.
Even the Zhu family had shamelessly offered their third daughter, Zhu Zhuqing, who should have been betrothed to Dai Mubai, to the Fourth Prince's residence instead.
They claimed it was to "cultivate affection early" and hasten the awakening of spirit fusion techniques.
But now…
"What grave error could this Prince Chengfeng have committed to provoke such fury from His Majesty?"
"Not only has he been stripped of his titles and reduced to a commoner, but he's also being exiled to Wu'an City?"
Wu'an City—despite the character for "peace" in its name—was anything but safe.
In fact, it was a border city between the Star Luo Empire and the Tian Dou Empire.
Although large-scale conflicts between the two empires had ceased due to the influence of the Spirit Hall, smaller skirmishes continued unabated.
Wu'an City was one of the primary battlegrounds, often bathed in blood during certain days of the month.
"Dai Chengfeng!"
"I'll ask you one last time—are you aware of your mistakes?!"
"If you admit your wrongdoing and abandon your reckless attempt to defy our ancestors' teachings, following tradition in absorbing soul rings, I may yet show leniency given your youth!"
Looking at his father, who seemed ready to revoke the punishment if only he would bow and apologize, Dai Chengfeng remained resolute, shaking his head firmly.
"Father!"
"Must our ancestors always be right?"
"Time will prove their errors, and I… shall surpass them!"
With that, Dai Chengfeng turned without hesitation and strode out of the hall, his back unwavering.
Some things could not be compromised.
"Cold winds sweep through the courtyard, snow chills the air, but ambition remains unbroken."
"One day, when I become the White Emperor, I shall make peach blossoms bloom together!"
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