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"With the tournament approaching, everyone has worked hard. Consider today's battle as a warm-up for the competition. Everyone is dismissed; rest well and prepare for the upcoming matches."
Dai Tianling waved his hand, dismissing the onlookers, including the other Heavenly Kings with their complex expressions.
As the crowd dispersed, only Dai Tianling, Elder En Ci, Dai Yueyan, and Bo Xi remained in the vast stadium.
"Grandmaster Bo Xi," Dai Tianling's smile remained unchanged, but his tone carried a hint of inquiry. "After this battle, Grandmaster's name will surely resound across the continent. However… there has been a question troubling me like a thorn in my throat."
Seeing no resistance from Bo Xi, Dai Tianling continued, "Grandmaster's talent and ingenuity are unparalleled in history, and your martial soul is extraordinarily divine, even surpassing top-tier martial souls like the Mountain Dragon King… I wonder where Grandmaster hails from? Who is the reclusive master you apprenticed under? And what is the origin of this martial soul?"
His sharp gaze locked tightly onto Bo Xi's eyes.
It was coming, Bo Xi thought with an inward chuckle, though his expression remained calm.
He had anticipated this question from Dai Tianling. A powerful individual who suddenly appeared, possessing a godly martial soul and extraordinary sub-professional talent—how could the Star Luo Empire fully trust and utilize him without investigating his origins?
He paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words, then slowly spoke, his voice carrying a trace of distant reminiscence: "My origins… Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the Sea God Tang San?"
Dai Tianling and En Ci both trembled at the mention of the Sea God Tang San, the legendary figure of Douluo Continent, the supreme deity from ten thousand years ago.
It was a rhetorical question; who didn't know the name of the Sea God?
"Of course!" Dai Tianling said gravely, his eyes flickering uncertainly. Could it be…
A complex light flashed in Bo Xi's eyes: "The Sea God Tang San, his mother was a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor that transformed into human form. As for me… I am similar to him."
He paused briefly, as if recalling something. "My mother was a plant growing in the endless deep sea, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and the remnants of the Sea God's power, eventually breaking through the hundred-thousand-year barrier—a Sea God Grass."
"Sea God Grass?!" Elder En Ci exclaimed in shock for the first time, his aged eyes shining with disbelief.
As a towering pillar of the Star Luo Empire, he had extensive knowledge of top-tier martial souls and spirit beast secrets. The Sea God Grass, a type of algae theoretically almost impossible to become a powerful spirit beast, had actually broken through the hundred-thousand-year mark?! The ocean truly was mysterious!
Bo Xi paid no heed to En Ci's astonishment and continued, "My mother chose to transform into human form and united with a human soul master possessing a top-tier dragon martial soul… and I am their child."
"My martial soul is the result of the perfect fusion of my mother's residual essence after transformation and my father's water-attribute martial soul. It is not merely an inheritance but rather… a transcendence."
As he spoke, a faint yet incredibly pure wisp of emerald grass shimmered briefly at his fingertips, exuding the vast aura of the ocean and a sacred life force.
It was unmistakably the presence of the Sea God Grass. Though faint, since it had fully transformed into his current semi-human body, the unique resonance of its life essence and affinity with the sea could not be faked.
This fleeting aura struck Dai Tianling and En Ci like a thunderbolt.
Earth-shattering!
Dai Tianling felt a surge of excitement rush to his head. The offspring of a transformed spirit beast and a human—the last such legendary existence was the Sea God Tang San.
And now, before them stood Grandmaster Bo Xi, whose mother was a hundred-thousand-year Sea God Grass. This explained his extraordinary martial soul talent and mastery over water elements.
This was no smuggler from the Federation! This was a treasure bestowed upon the Star Luo Empire by the heavens—a peerless genius flowing with godly spirit beast blood!
"So that's how it is! So that's how it is!" Dai Tianling's voice trembled with excitement as he gazed at Bo Xi with newfound fervor. His previous doubts and probes vanished, replaced by indescribable joy and reverence.
Bo Xi's "confession" not only cleared up suspicions about his unclear origins but also elevated him to a status akin to a divine child. Wasn't the trajectory of the Sea God Tang San the best proof?!
En Ci also recovered from his initial shock, his eyes gleaming brightly. He immediately whispered to Dai Tianling:
"Your Majesty, what he says is very likely true! The aura of the Sea God Grass cannot be faked, and… the offspring of a transformed spirit beast possess an incomparably pure bloodline! This means…"
En Ci's voice carried a hint of excitement, "It means his descendants have an extremely high probability of perfectly inheriting this godly martial soul—a stable source of divine bloodline transmission!"
Upon hearing this, Dai Tianling's heart raced even faster. A divine bloodline, stable transmission—its value far surpassed Long Yue's Mountain Dragon King martial soul, which, though powerful, was unpredictable and even potentially self-destructive.
He had previously worried about Bo Xi's rebellious nature being difficult to control, but now, a grander, more tempting plan instantly formed in his mind.
A marriage alliance!
There must be a marriage alliance!
The royal bloodline of the Dai family must be deeply intertwined with this divine bloodline!
Dai Tianling instinctively glanced in the direction Dai Yun'er had left, but quickly dismissed the thought.
He had indeed considered marrying his most beloved daughter to Long Yue to solidify the connection between the imperial family and Monster Academy's strongest member, even hinting at it before.
But now… Long Yue paled in comparison. With potential possibly capped at Super Douluo level and a martial soul with inherent risks, how could he compare to Bo Xi, who possessed a stable divine bloodline, limitless future achievements, and extraordinary sub-professional talent?
Dai Yun'er was undoubtedly precious to him, but he was first and foremost the emperor of the Star Luo Empire, and the empire's interests were paramount!
The Dai family had numerous branches, with countless eligible women of excellent appearance and talent. If it secured Bo Xi's divine bloodline, sacrificing the happiness of one branch member was nothing.
Even… a cold glint flashed in Dai Tianling's eyes. If necessary, making Dai Yun'er "change her mind" wasn't impossible… After all, Long Yue had just been publicly defeated by Bo Xi, losing face entirely.
"Grandmaster's origins… are truly legendary!" Dai Tianling forcibly suppressed his racing thoughts, his smile growing even brighter, even carrying a hint of barely noticeable respect.
"Grandmaster's candor brings great comfort to my heart. Rest assured, the empire will spare no effort in helping Grandmaster reach the pinnacle of soul masters. Whatever Grandmaster needs, just speak, and the empire will be your strongest support!"
Bo Xi looked at the almost overflowing fervor and calculation in Dai Tianling's eyes and understood. His "confession" had achieved remarkable results, not only gaining complete trust but also transforming himself into a prized asset the Star Luo Empire would cling to tightly.
As for any schemes, they were likely centered around a marriage alliance… Bo Xi felt no ripple in his heart. He was Gula, and the two were one and the same. Perhaps his avatar would marry before his true body did. If the Star Luo royal family offered themselves willingly… it wouldn't hurt to take advantage of the situation.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness." Bo Xi nodded slightly and said no more.
Satisfied, Dai Tianling personally escorted Bo Xi out of the stadium and once again extended his most sincere invitation, hoping Bo Xi would visit his private booth often.
Watching Bo Xi's retreating figure, Dai Tianling's smile gradually faded, replaced by the depth and calculation of an emperor.
"Someone come," Dai Tianling said gravely, "immediately and secretly compile a detailed list of all eligible, unmarried Dai family women with excellent talent and appearance. Remember, absolute secrecy."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The attendant understood implicitly and bowed in response.
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