"Zhuqing, how did you find out?" Lu Feng rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Immediately, his internal soul power surged, and golden light flickered.
The muscles on his face slowly wriggled as if alive, and in just a few breaths, he returned to his original appearance.
"Hmph." Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly and said unhurriedly, "Leaving aside where Dai Mubai would get an Immortal Herb, just based on his usual temper, if he broke through to Soul King, he would have been jumping for joy long ago."
"Oh, really? It seems my imitation isn't quite there yet. Hahaha."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. In reality, she didn't voice the true reason why she saw through Lu Feng's disguise.
The moment Lu Feng stepped into the room, Zhu Zhuqing keenly sensed his Martial Soul.
Martial Soul Fusion Skills had an extremely unique characteristic: as long as two people succeeded once, a wondrous connection would form between them.
Moreover, from then on, neither side could perform that fusion skill with anyone else.
Among the generations of the Dai and Zhu families, there weren't many pairs who could successfully perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
"Where is Dai Mubai? Did you kill him?" Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, asking with doubt in her eyes.
"Eh?" Lu Feng raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise on his face. "Zhuqing, you actually guessed it?"
"Hmph, don't I know you? You look cheerful all day, but in reality, you're more black-bellied than anyone." Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him, her tone casual but certain.
"Hehehe, that kid was a bad seed. Besides, he likes to step with his left foot first when walking. He was already courting death," Lu Feng grinned.
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes helplessly, then her expression turned serious. "Then what is your plan next? What do you intend to do after defeating Davis?"
Zhu Zhuqing understood clearly in her heart that Lu Feng disguising himself as Dai Mubai was ultimately for her sake.
As long as the two of them joined forces to defeat the Star Luo Imperial Academy, the Imperial Family would most likely not trouble them in the future.
As for whether Dai Mubai lived or died, she couldn't care less.
Lu Feng chuckled lightly. "Of course, it's to return to the Star Luo Empire, become the Crown Prince, inherit the throne, marry a beautiful, rich woman, and reach the pinnacle of life."
Lu Feng's original plan was to use his White Tiger Martial Soul and perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Zhu Zhuqing, disguising himself as a "Fourth Prince of Star Luo."
Then he would infiltrate the Star Luo Imperial Family, advancing step by step, gradually accumulating strength.
However, after picking up the Black Skill [Disguise], the progress of this plan accelerated significantly.
Now, he could directly use the identity of "Dai San" to compete head-on with Davis.
In the original work, after Dai Mubai won the match, he had already gained the initiative. It was just that later, following Tang San's path to godhood, he eventually returned the throne to his brother.
However, Zhu Zhuqing shook her head gently.
She said in a deep voice, "The inheritance of the Dai family's throne is not that simple."
"In the competition between princes, strength is certainly important, but it is only one aspect. Behind each of them is a massive interest group supporting them."
"Davis has been painstakingly operating in the Star Luo Empire for many years; his wings are already full."
"And Dai Mubai..."
Zhu Zhuqing paused, then continued, "After he fled the Star Luo Empire, it was tantamount to tacitly giving up the competition."
Lu Feng frowned and asked uncertainly, "Is that so? Are there any other ways? Like making outstanding contributions to the Imperial Family or something?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked up, staring straight at him, light flashing in her eyes.
"If you marry Dugu Yan and then take the opportunity to pull Dugu Bo over to the Star Luo Imperial Family, I estimate you should be directly appointed Crown Prince."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke calmly, but looking closely, her slightly pouted lips and the expression on her face clearly showed the look of a resentful wife in her boudoir. She was obviously a little jealous.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Lu Feng's face.
"About that... let's not drag Yan Yan into this."
"If Senior Dugu goes to Star Luo City and gets unhappy, throwing out his ninth soul skill, then the Star Luo Empire would be finished instantly."
"Hmph, the Imperial Family isn't as fragile as you think."
Zhu Zhuqing said seriously, "The Star Luo Empire is actually controlled jointly by several great aristocratic families. Among them, the Dai family has the greatest power, and the White Tiger Sect is actually the core force of the Imperial Family."
"However, even if the Dai and Zhu families unite, it is not enough to contend against all the other families combined."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, her expression serious. "Among the other families, the strongest is the Xu family of the Star Crown Sect. However, they are a hidden sect and rarely get involved in external affairs."
"Aside from them, the Fire Leopard Sect and the Wind Sword Sect also possess considerable power in the Star Luo court."
Hearing this, Lu Feng couldn't help but frown. "According to what you say, Star Luo's situation is similar to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, both surrounded by wolves."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and explained, "That is why the Dai family adopts such a cruel method to select successors. Only by surviving in such a fierce competitive environment can they have enough ability to control the overall situation."
Lu Feng nodded slightly. The system of the Star Luo Empire sounded similar to a federal system.
Ten thousand years later on the Douluo Continent, the Dai family's throne would be replaced by the Star Crown Sect.
However, the Dai family was not destroyed and retained most of its strength, becoming the White Tiger Dukes. Such a situation was almost unimaginable in other dynasties.
Zhu Zhuqing continued, "So, this throne is like a vortex. It looks glamorous on the surface, but in reality, it is mentally exhausting and delays cultivation."
Speaking of this, she looked up at Lu Feng, a trace of expectation in her eyes.
"Why don't we travel the continent in the future and concentrate on cultivation? When we've had enough fun, we can find a place to live in seclusion, or return to the Imperial Family to be idle elders. Such a life wouldn't be bad."
Lu Feng pondered slightly, falling into thought.
If he didn't have a cheat, the life Zhu Zhuqing described would indeed be very attractive.
But he knew clearly that his cheat relied on picking up fragments to obtain various opportunities. And the Imperial Family and major sects were rich in resources, making them excellent places to obtain fragments.
What's more, the Divine War would be in ten years. The situation was extremely dangerous, allowing no slack.
Even though Tang San had lost many of his cheats now, and the Douluo Continent might not become the "Tang Family Continent," Bibi Dong acted crazily. No one could predict what she would do in the future.
Only by holding one's destiny in one's own hands could one have enough security.
Lu Feng took a deep breath, his gaze firm. "Zhuqing, I have a reason why I must do this."
Hearing this, a smile curled the corner of Zhu Zhuqing's mouth.
In fact, she had long guessed that Lu Feng would make this decision.
She took a step forward, gently held Lu Feng's hand, and said firmly, "No matter what decision you make, I will stand by your side."