"So, you're saying?" Dai Huabin's eyes lit up; this news was fantastic.
"In other words, you will be the only White Tiger Martial Soul Soul Master in a hundred years who can perform a fusion with Zhu Family's Netherworld Cat Martial Soul user." The Duchess said in a low voice, "The reason I haven't allowed you to report to Shrek Academy early is because I was waiting for this news."
"Now it seems I have gotten what I wanted, and you… in the next year, devote yourself to cultivating your relationship with this child, Zhu Lu, and strive to practice the Martial Soul Fusion Skill as soon as possible. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Dai Huabin nodded heavily, his smile impossible to hide.
Seeing this, the Duchess shook her head.
He was, after all, just a child of ten years old, unable to conceal any of his emotions.
Dai Huabin was naturally very happy. Regarding cultivation, it was difficult for him to catch up with his elder brother. This would cause many problems in the future when vying for the position of Duke. However, once he cultivated the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the situation would change instantly.
After all, ever since Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, their ancestors from ten thousand years ago, spread their fame across the Douro Continent, the Netherworld White Tiger, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, has represented the core issue between the White Tiger Family and the Netherworld Cat Family.
Whoever could cultivate the fusion skill would see their status rise dramatically.
His older brother, Dai Yueheng, couldn't fuse his Martial Soul with any of the new generation members of the Zhu Family. In other words, he was a unique existence.
"Are you still toying with that little bastard?" the Duchess's tone changed.
Dai Huabin's smile faded, and he nodded.
The Duchess said calmly, "Hold back for now. In the next year, I'll send someone to specifically guide you and Zhu Lu in your cultivation. With so many resources available, it should be enough for you to break through to Soul Master around the age of twelve. Then, you can enter Shrek Academy and win the freshman assessment championship, which will allow you to get into their high-level circles faster."
"Besides, that little bastard has that old man Chen Hongsheng secretly helping him. At most, you can bully him with odd jobs. If you really want to kill him, that old man will definitely interfere. I don't know what kind of love potion that bitch Huo Yun'er gave him back then."
"I understand," Dai Huabin didn't dare to disobey his mother's words and immediately agreed.
"Sigh." Suddenly, the Duchess sighed.
Dai Huabin didn't understand and immediately asked, "Mom, is something wrong?"
The Duchess didn't want to say much, but seeing the seriousness in Dai Huabin's eyes, she paused for a moment before saying, "Do you know why your father stays at the border all year round and doesn't return home?"
"Because of the threat from the Sun Moon Empire, Father has to be stationed on the frontier." Dai Huabin didn't even need to think before stating his opinion.
"You're only half right." The Duchess's gaze grew profound. This made Dai Huabin subconsciously close his mouth.
The Duchess said softly, "The Sun Moon Empire does indeed have ambitions to attack our original three countries of the Douluo Continent again, but as of now, their internal affairs haven't completely united. The war faction, the stability-seeking faction, and the neutral faction – the three forces are all very strong. Furthermore, their emperor is aging, and the princes are fighting amongst themselves and have no energy to manage these things. Therefore, in the short term, the Sun Moon Empire definitely won't pose a significant threat to us."
"In reality, the real threat currently actually comes from us."
"The threat comes from us?" Dai Huabin looked as if he'd heard something unbelievable, and his eyes widened.
The Duchess sneered, "Let me ask you, if you were the Emperor, and you had two great families of Soul Masters, each with a legacy stretching back ten thousand years, constantly intermarrying and uniting, and these two families not only intermarried but also held significant influence in various aspects of the Empire, especially the military, what would you think?"
"I would be wary and scheming. Even if these two families had no intention of rebellion, the fact that they had the ability to rebel would be enough," Dai Huabin, though only a little over ten years old, understood some things.
The most crucial thing was that he wasn't a fool. It was obvious that his mother was referring to his own White Tiger family and his mother's family, the Netherworld Cat family.
"You're right," the Duchess nodded approvingly. "Over the years, successive emperors of Star Luo have been trying to insert their confidants into the Northwest Army Group controlled by the White Tiger Duke's manor, attempting to seize its power."
"But the Northwest Army Group has been in the hands of the White Tiger family since four thousand years ago. Internal appointments don't fall under the Emperor's jurisdiction, so today, your father can't allow his power to be stripped away. Although your father has no intention of rebelling, he also doesn't want the power left by his ancestors to be taken away, so he always uses the threat of the Sun Moon Empire to guard the border."
"Otherwise, do you think things are really that busy over there? So busy that he can't even come home."
"Speaking of which, the Sun Moon Empire is also quite cooperative, occasionally launching small-scale conflicts. This gives your father enough reason, even allowing your father's reputation to constantly improve. Now, within the Empire, they even call your father the God of War. It's this reputation that makes the royal family hesitate to act, even if they want to."
Dai Huabin widened his eyes, never expecting that one of the reasons his father was unwilling to return home was actually like this.
The Duchess's tone softened. "This isn't surprising. If I were the Emperor, I would do the same. After all, the split of the Heaven Dou Empire was precisely because of the tangled roots of various forces within the country. Those kingdoms became too powerful to control, which led to the appearance of the Heaven Soul and Dou Spirit."
"Back then, the Star Crown Sect saved the empire, turning the tide of events. Afterward, they seized control of the throne. From that day on, no ennobled noble could acquire a fiefdom. At most, they were permitted to establish their own residences in a single location, preventing them from gaining influence and effectively becoming a state within a state."
"But even with the Star Crown Family doing that, the nobles within the empire are still incredibly powerful. How could they not be wary?"
"Of course, you and your elder brother don't need to concern yourselves with these matters for now. Your only task is to cultivate diligently, advance your cultivation as quickly as possible, and ideally, make connections with talented individuals from different powerful factions within Shrek Academy. That way, even if the royal family wants to act in the future, they will be forced to exercise caution. On the Douluo Continent, it is ultimately the powerful Soul Masters who hold sway."
As she spoke, the Duchess's gaze turned serious, and she looked at Dai Huabin with heartfelt concern.
His expression also became solemn. He understood and said, "I understand, Mother."
"It's good that you understand. Remember, don't reveal what I've told you today," the Duchess instructed.
Dai Huabin smiled slightly. "Don't worry, Mother, I know my limits."
"Also, remove the secret guards you placed in Shrek City to monitor your elder brother. Don't let this happen again. I gave you a portion of the secret guards to protect you in your daily life, not to spy on your own family," the Duchess said sternly.
Dai Huabin's heart trembled slightly, knowing his mother was still angry about this matter.
"Rest assured, I'll arrange it right away and remove the secret guards," Dai Huabin said respectfully.
The Duchess didn't reply, just looked at Dai Huabin several times with a stern gaze.
"Jingle!"
Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out from the side of the hall, breaking the nearly frozen atmosphere.
(End of Chapter)