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The grand palace of Star Luo City stood towering and majestic.
"Urgent report!"
"Wu'an City, express courier over a thousand miles!"
A silver-armored imperial guard sprinted toward the emperor's study, shouting continuously as he passed through checkpoints.
Inside the study
Dai An, the Emperor of Star Luo, sat on his expansive dragon throne, fully absorbed in reviewing official documents.
"Continuous rain for two days and one night near the Gold City (Jincheng) mountain range may cause floods… Wu'an City?"
(T/N: Personally, I feel 'Gold City' is clunky and does flow with the story as much as 'Jincheng', I might use them interchangeably just to get a feel.)
At this moment, a beautiful woman dressed in black court attire entered the study with a golden-haired youth, gently pushing open the door.
Seeing Dai An, the woman teased softly, "Our Emperor of Star Luo is so busy that he can't even spare a moment to chat with me, a mere housewife~"
Upon hearing this, Dai An let out a wry smile. "My Lady, what are you saying? How could I not want to spend time with you?"
"It's just that state affairs are overwhelming, and I truly cannot afford to step away."
"And when you asked about when that rascal Chengfeng would return…"
"I genuinely have no idea when that boy will come back. What can I say?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Hongxiu walked up to Dai An. "I don't care."
"I miss my Feng'er, and you need to find a way to bring him back soon."
"Feng'er has always lived a life of luxury. How could he endure hardship?"
"And yet you, his father, had the heart to send him to such a remote place like Wu'an City!"
Dai An sighed helplessly, spreading his hands. "My Lady, it's not my fault. I didn't want to do it either!"
"But who could have imagined that brat's stubborn temper?"
Dai Mubai, who had been quietly standing beside them since entering, watched as his parents repeatedly talked about Dai Chengfeng in front of him…
His hands clenched unconsciously at his sides, his eyes filled with jealousy.
He gritted his teeth…
"That bastard Dai Chengfeng is nothing but a spoiled brat who relies on his parents' favor, acts impulsively, and violates our ancestors' laws by absorbing soul rings recklessly!"
"In what way am I inferior to him? I refuse to accept it!"
Thinking of this, Dai Mubai instinctively recalled the Zhu family and Zhu Zhuqing.
"By rights, Zhu Zhuqing, my betrothed, ended up staying at Dai Chengfeng's residence for two years!"
"Though I sent people to inquire, the guards said that Chengfeng didn't seem particularly interested in her, and they rarely met during those two years—but who knows what happened behind closed doors…"
"And even now!"
"Even though Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Chengfeng have no relationship anymore, every time I visit the Zhu residence hoping to see her, I'm turned away by that old bastard Zhu patriarch!"
For a moment, Dai Mubai felt as if something was stuck in his throat, suffocating him with frustration.
Previously, because Dai Chengfeng had full innate soul power, Dai Mubai dared not say anything, but now…
"Dai Chengfeng, you've handed me the chance to surpass you!"
Dai Mubai completely refused to believe that Chengfeng's "reckless" absorption of soul rings could be better than the carefully researched strategies developed by their ancestors.
"If I'm inferior to you in innate soul power, then I'll crush you with my acquired soul skills!"
For a moment, a glimmer of smugness flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes. "Dai Chengfeng! One day, I'll prove that you're wrong!"
"And also…"
"I am the most outstanding prince of the Star Luo Empire. I am no less than you, Dai Chengfeng!"
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west… we'll see!"
Just then, outside the study.
The exhausted guard finally arrived.
With a thud, he knelt on the ground, gasping for breath. "Your Majesty, an urgent report from Wu'an City… over a thousand miles!"
"You say, an urgent report from Wu'an City?!"
When Dai An heard it was news from Wu'an City, his heart sank. "Why another war-related express courier…?"
"But at this time, Chengfeng should have just finished repairing the road to Wu Ping City, and the siege weapons likely haven't been completed yet."
"Could it be…"
A bad premonition flashed through Dai An's mind. "Could Chengfeng have attacked the city without siege weapons? Otherwise, how could there be a battle report?"
But soon, Dai An shook his head. "So be it!"
"If he failed, then it's a lesson for him. Life isn't always smooth sailing, and our Star Luo Empire can afford to lose."
"As long as he's safe, everything else is fine!"
Thinking this, Dai An took a deep breath. "Someone, bring me the urgent report from Wu'an City."
A personal guard respectfully presented the urgent report to Dai An outside the study.
Dai An took the report and quickly opened it.
Initially frowning, Dai An's eyes soon widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Hmm?"
"So easy to capture the city?!"
In the history of Douluo Continent, there had been many sieges, but almost everyone relied on overwhelming soul power and troop numbers to forcefully breach walls.
After all, brute force could break through any method.
Thus, few had ever studied tactics deeply.
Dai An had never heard of using the pretense of road construction to deceive the enemy, then bypassing siege weapons entirely to enter through the city gates.
"Hahaha, brilliant! Repairing roads openly while secretly attacking Wu Ping!"
Dai An's eyes sparkled with excitement and admiration, his earlier gloom completely dispelled. "Good! Very good!"
"This command… it's flawless…"
"It deserves to be recorded in our Star Luo Military Academy for generals to study repeatedly!"
At this moment, Zhu Hongxiu, seeing Dai An's excitement, became curious.
She hurriedly leaned forward, eagerly asking, "Is this the urgent report from Wu'an City? What does it say? Why are you so happy?"
"Could it be that Feng'er has already set off to return?"
Dai An didn't respond but handed the letter to the woman, his face brimming with pride.
"Take a look—this is our good son, haha…"
"The pride of our Star Luo Empire!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Hongxiu curiously took the envelope.
After reading just a few lines, her eyes instantly filled with joy and excitement, exclaiming, "Heavens! Is this really the Feng'er I know?"
"After nearly six months of planning, he personally led ten thousand soldiers into Wu Ping City, not only capturing the heavily fortified city but also annihilating over twenty thousand enemies with a loss of fewer than a thousand men!"
She looked at Dai An with shining eyes, her voice trembling with emotion. "Is this all true?"
Dai An, hearing this, proudly straightened his posture, hands clasped behind his back. "Of course! Could a thousand-mile express courier lie?"
"The Grand Priest was right—Chengfeng is truly the best of the best, the pinnacle of humanity!"
Zhu Hongxiu nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of pride. "I knew our Feng'er wouldn't disappoint us."
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai, hearing all this, couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.
"Father, Mother!"
At this moment, Dai Mubai stepped forward, bowing slightly. "I believe… Fourth Brother is wrong!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Dai An turned to look at his third son. "Mubai, you think Chengfeng is wrong?"
"Then tell me, where exactly did he go wrong?"
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