Chapter 241: Leaving the Star Luo Empire

Inside the Crown Prince's residence in the Star Luo Imperial Palace,

Davis was a gracious host, arranging a grand banquet with an array of exquisite dishes—lavish seafood, fine meats, and delicacies made from rare ingredients, all accompanied by excellent wine.

Dancers performed while musicians played, creating a lively and intoxicating atmosphere filled with joy and ease.

The palace maids were astonished, their hearts brimming with curiosity. Who were these guests that warranted such an extraordinary reception from the Crown Prince and Crown Princess? Typically, such grand hospitality was only seen once every few years.

"Come, Brother Chen, drink! Xiao Qiu'er, eat as much as you like! Don't hold back—if it's not enough, I'll have the kitchen prepare more!" Davis raised his cup with boundless enthusiasm, gesturing toward Chen Xuan before downing his drink in one go.

The palace maids reacted swiftly, refilling the cup and handing it to Chen Xuan.

"Brother Dai, I truly appreciate all you've done for Qiu'er over the past year. I can't thank you enough!" Though he wasn't fond of drinking, Chen Xuan still finished the wine in his cup.

He assured Davis that if he ever faced trouble in the future, as long as it was within his power, he would spare no effort in helping him.

Chen Qiu'er, eyes gleaming with curiosity, stared at the cup of wine. When no one was paying attention, she stuck out her tongue and licked a bit of the liquid. Instantly, she was hit with the intense burn, coughing uncontrollably while sticking her tongue out in distress.

"Ugh, this tastes awful! Not good at all!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she pushed the cup far away, determined never to touch it again.

Chen Xuan was speechless at the mischievous girl but ignored her antics, turning instead to Davis and Zhu Zhuyun. "Brother Dai, if you ever encounter difficulties, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll do my best to assist you."

This was his promise—a token of gratitude for Davis protecting Chen Qiu'er.

Zhu Zhuyun's beautiful eyes flashed with keen insight, sensing something unusual. She spoke up, "Chen Xuan, what level is your soul power now?"

She had assumed that after the Soul Master Tournament, he had stagnated in his cultivation for over five years. At most, she expected him to have reached the Soul Emperor level. However, from his tone, it seemed that wasn't the case.

"I'm close to becoming a Soul Douluo—currently, I'm at Rank 78," Chen Xuan replied truthfully.

Had it been just a day ago, he had only been at Rank 73. But by sheer coincidence, he had encountered three Soul Douluo assassins, which ended up benefiting him.

Now, not only had his soul power surged, but even his soul ring ages had increased significantly. His first soul ring alone had reached over twenty thousand years, and his second had surpassed that mark as well. In fact, none of his seven soul rings were below ten thousand years.

Davis and Zhu Zhuyun were oblivious to these details, but when they heard the number seventy-eight, they were completely stunned, their minds overwhelmed by shock.

A crash echoed through the room—the sound of a shattered wine cup spilling aged liquor across the floor.

"W-what…?!"

"Brother Chen, you're not joking, are you?!" Davis' eyes widened in sheer disbelief. He couldn't trust his own ears.

Zhu Zhuyun, too, was staring at Chen Xuan in shock, her gaze filled with incredulity. She wondered if he had misspoken—surely, he meant fifty-eight, not seventy-eight.

After all, this was simply too absurd. Every level gained after becoming a Soul Emperor required twice the effort compared to before. Yet someone who had stagnated for over five years had reached the Soul Saint stage within just two years? It was beyond comprehension.

Even the white-haired elder was dumbfounded. He had personally witnessed Chen Xuan single-handedly slaughter ten Soul Saints and three Soul Douluo. At the time, he had assumed the young man was at least a Title Douluo. But now he was being told that Chen Xuan wasn't even a Soul Douluo yet?

How could he not be shaken? How could he possibly believe it?

"It's only Rank 78, nothing extraordinary. My goal is to reach Title Douluo within the next two years," Chen Xuan said, still feeling dissatisfied with his soul power growth.

In truth, ever since his return, he had barely cultivated at all. His power increase had come almost entirely from consuming rare elixirs, treasures, and today's use of his Samsara Eye technique. If he relied purely on his own training, he would have only advanced by two or three ranks.

Even so, his soul power felt solid and abundant, his foundation unwavering, with no signs of instability.

"Brother Chen, you truly are a monster. No wonder you have a daughter as talented as Qiu'er."

Davis felt crushed. He didn't even know what to say anymore. He poured himself another drink and sighed, "Compared to me and Zhuyun, who only recently reached Rank 70, you and your daughter have talent leagues beyond ours."

Before leaving the Star Luo Empire, he had considered himself a genius. But after encountering the likes of Chen Xuan, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Chen Qiu'er—he had been thoroughly humbled.

Worst of all, he had even been surpassed by his younger brother, Dai Mubai, the very person he once looked down upon as a useless playboy.

Zhu Zhuyun took a sip of wine, sighing softly. If her foolish younger sister had chosen to fight for the throne instead of siding with Dai Mubai, she and Davis might not have been the ones sitting here today.

Chen Xuan could see the frustration in their eyes—the resentment toward unfair talent, the regret of not being strong enough. It was a sentiment shared by countless others across the continent.

"You two are doing well," he reassured them. "You are the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, admired by the people. In the future, you will inherit an entire empire. You are the real winners in life."

Davis downed a jug of strong liquor, already somewhat intoxicated. Slamming the jug onto the table, he said, "Brother Chen, I understand all that. But I still can't accept it! That useless brother of mine spends all his time indulging in pleasure, wasting his life away, yet his soul power surpasses mine. Why?!"

He was frustrated. He had put in so much effort into cultivation—not aiming to match monsters like Tang San, but at the very least, he should have been able to surpass Dai Mubai. And yet, reality had proven otherwise.

Chen Xuan knew the truth—Dai Mubai had consumed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, a supreme immortal herb that purified his martial soul, significantly boosting his talent beyond Davis and Zhu Zhuyun.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about this anymore. Drink and eat—tonight, we enjoy ourselves," Davis declared, raising his cup.

"If I get the chance, I'll find them an immortal herb," Chen Xuan decided silently. It would be his way of repaying their kindness for protecting Chen Qiu'er.

But there was no need to mention it now—giving them false hope without a guaranteed solution was pointless.

Afterward, the conversation shifted to casual topics. They ate heartily, drank freely, and eventually ended the banquet with a final toast.

For the next few days, Chen Xuan and his daughter stayed at the imperial palace. But soon, it was time to leave.

Despite the Star Luo Empire's superior military strength compared to Heaven Dou, they lacked Title Douluo, a critical weakness.

Thus, Chen Xuan chose to leave, taking his daughter with him. He couldn't leave her in the Star Luo Empire—it was too dangerous. His future enemies would only grow stronger, and keeping Qiu'er at the academy would no longer be safe.

Davis wasn't reluctant to see them go. He understood that Qiu'er was not their child, nor was she a citizen of the empire. He had no reason to object to their departure.

Zhu Zhuyun, however, felt a tinge of regret. Losing such an extraordinary prodigy was an immense loss to the empire, but there was nothing she could do.

"Brother Chen, I hope the next time we meet, it won't be on the battlefield," Davis said, patting Chen Xuan on the shoulder with a heavy smile.

A monster like Chen Xuan could be a great ally—but if he became an enemy, he would be a terrifying opponent.

Chen Xuan understood his concerns. "Even if we meet on the battlefield, I won't be your enemy. No matter what happens to Star Luo, I will ensure your safety."

Davis was wary of Chen Xuan's future, but he never imagined that their empire would lose. After all, Star Luo's military was the strongest on the continent.

"Be careful. They won't give up on Qiu'er easily—they may come after her again," he warned.

Chen Xuan assured him he wasn't worried. Unless a Peerless Douluo appeared, he feared nothing.

"Good. Stay safe!" Davis said.

"I don't like goodbyes. We'll meet again someday," Chen Xuan replied, departing with Chen Qiu'er.

"Bye-bye, Brother Dai! See you next time!" Qiu'er waved.

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