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After Bishop Worick left, Dai Pojun's lips curled into a slight smile, clearly satisfied with Dai Weisi's performance. His words had completely silenced Worick.
If Worick dared to refute, Dai Weisi would immediately accuse him of "assassinating the emperor and murdering ministers."
Even if Elder Ju and Elder Gui were truly just drunk and causing trouble, once branded with that crime, death was inevitable.
In any case, Worick must accept every demand Dai Weisi made—even if it was a lion's ransom—otherwise, he would be at fault.
"Four thousand-year spirit bones and forty million gold spirit coins..." Dai Pojun murmured under his breath. Though he was the sovereign of a nation, the imperial treasury held no more than ten thousand-year spirit bones, and only three of those exceeded fifty thousand years in age—ancestral relics.
Acquiring four more spirit bones, whether to add to the treasury or distribute to his subordinates, would greatly enhance the power of the Star Luo Empire.
As for the forty million gold spirit coins, they could serve as military funds. Although Dai Weisi claimed the money was for repairing the Alchemist Association and buying rare medicinal ingredients, how much does it really cost to build a building?
Those rare medicinal materials had all been stored in Yang Wudi's spirit guidance device. As long as Yang Wudi was safe, the ingredients were safe.
Therefore, the forty million gold spirit coins could be entirely used as military expenses to expand the arsenal! Dai Pojun could even seize this opportunity to recruit massively and strengthen the army.
"Alright, ministers, is there anything else? If not, the court is dismissed!" Dai Pojun said lazily. He still needed to return to the prison to continue absorbing Yue Guan's spirit power.
"My humble self takes leave!"
The officials, having no other matters, all bowed and left.
After the court cleared, Dai Pojun quickly pulled Dai Weisi aside and went to see his father, Dai Tianxing, explaining how Yue Guan's spirit power could boost their cultivation.
Learning that Yue Guan could accelerate the Dai family's soul masters' progress, Dai Tianxing was visibly shocked! After examining Dai Pojun's body and confirming his cultivation had indeed reached the peak of level eighty-nine, Dai Tianxing's heart filled with joy.
"Good, good! We must make good use of Yue Guan's body during this month! Pojun, don't attend court if you don't have to; just say you're in seclusion. If anything happens, let Dai Weisi handle it. Your priority now is to quickly improve your cultivation."
"Yes, father, your son understands."
Dai Tianxing sighed, "I too will take advantage of this time to make good use of Yue Guan's body. Maybe I can break through to level ninety-two. If that happens, combined with my wife's soul fusion technique, perhaps I can challenge a peerless Douluo!"
Then Dai Tianxing suddenly changed the topic, "But we can't just go back to the prison without preparation. Dai Weisi, go find Clan Leader Yang Wudi and ask him for some sedative herbs."
"Huh? Grandfather, why do you need sedatives?" Dai Weisi asked, confused.
"Obviously, it's for Yue Guan. The less others know about us absorbing someone else's spirit power to improve cultivation, the better. Otherwise, the Spirit Hall might use that as a pretext to start a war."
"I see..."
Dai Weisi was unfazed. He had thought of this too but didn't worry much. Even if Yue Guan found out, what then? The Three Great Clans and the Tian Dou Empire were watching closely—would the Spirit Hall really dare to start a war with them?
Besides, even if sedatives were used, when Yue Guan was returned to the prison, he would notice changes in his body and figure out what happened.
"Hmm, also, there are many fallen soul masters in the prison, some even at the soul douluo level. Dai Weisi, you'll have to work hard and pick out some soul masters with ghost attribute and agility attack specialties."
"Is that for Mom and Grandma?"
"Exactly!" Dai Tianxing nodded. "Since Nana, that young girl, can extract Yue Guan's spirit power, she can do the same with others' spirit power. Using their power, you can help your mother and grandmother improve their cultivation."
"Yes, Grandfather, I understand!"
With that, Dai Weisi headed toward the Broken One clan's territory. The Alchemist Association having been reduced to ashes, Yang Wudi had no choice but to stay at home these days.
Hearing that Dai Weisi needed the sedative herbs, Yang Wudi didn't hesitate and handed over a large bundle of "Sedative Incense." Just lighting it would release a fragrance strong enough to plunge anyone into a twenty-four-hour deep sleep.
He then brought his parents and grandparents to the prison and ignited the incense. Instantly, a refreshing scent filled the entire prison.
The inmates there had their Martial Souls and spirit powers sealed, so they couldn't resist the sedative effects of the incense and soon fell unconscious.
After the incense burned out, Dai Weisi and the others entered the prison, selected three Soul Douluos with ghost attribute and agility-attack specialization, and ordered Anna to use the parasitic seeds.
Immediately, countless dark jade divine herbs sprouted wildly from their bodies, and in an instant, the prison floor was covered with the lush plants.
Anna controlled the dark jade herbs to connect to Dai Weisi and the others, allowing Dai Tianxing and his grandchildren to absorb Yue Guan's spirit power, while Zhu Lingyun and her mother absorbed the spirit power from the three agility-type Soul Masters.
"It's a pity that Ghost escaped. Otherwise, with a few months of this, Mom could break through to level ninety and become a Titled Douluo," Dai Weisi thought regretfully.
Ghost was also an agility-type Soul Master, and his Martial Soul was a ghost, belonging to the ghostly attribute—perfectly suited to the ghost attribute spirit cat Martial Soul. Such a waste.
With that thought, Dai Weisi closed his eyes and focused on refining Yue Guan's spirit power while meditating on cultivation.
Ever since his Martial Soul evolved into the Holy White Tiger, Dai Weisi's cultivation speed had more than doubled, equivalent to two innate full-spirit-power Soul Masters training together.
Time flew in the prison. A week later, Dai Weisi slowly opened his eyes as a crisp popping sound echoed from within his body.
Clenching his fists, he felt the rapidly circulating spirit power and smiled faintly, "Finally broke through to level fifty-seven!"
"Congratulations, my good son!"
After Dai Weisi's breakthrough, Zhu Yaqin hugged him tightly, her face glowing with joy.
Her beloved son was only twenty years old this year, and at this rate, within half a year, he would break through level sixty and become a Soul Emperor.
A twenty-year-old Soul Emperor—virtually unheard of! And it was all thanks to Yue Guan.
Being hugged so tightly, Dai Weisi felt helpless. With such a clingy mom, he truly worried that if he married one of the sisters later, there would be typical mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts.
But soon he laughed and quickly asked, "Mom, have you broken through too?"
"Yes, your mother is now an eighty-six-level agility-type battle Soul Douluo."
"Congratulations, Mom!"
Just as the two were about to absorb more spirit power, a terrifying spirit pressure suddenly swept over them, making it hard for them to breathe.
Dai Weisi immediately activated Martial Soul Manifestation and stood in front of Zhu Yaqin to shield her. The terrifying spirit pressure lasted only a moment before Dai Tianxing intervened and blocked the pressure for them.
"Pojun, control your power and return to your soul!"
After his guidance, Dai Pojun's spirit power stabilized. This marked his official breakthrough to level ninety and his rise as the Star Luo Empire's third Titled Douluo.
(End of Chapter)