Inside the leading golden carriage, Emperor Xue Ye sat in full dragon robes, his face dark and stormy.
He had come today with only one purpose—
to demand justice.
Spirit Hall had gone too far.
Not only had they planted spies, they had even emptied half of his national treasury.
If he didn't settle this debt today, where would the Heaven Dou Empire's dignity go?
Where would the Emperor's prestige go?
"Your Majesty, we've arrived at the Supreme Pontiff Palace."
Hearing the guard's report, Xue Ye inhaled deeply, forced down the flames of rage, straightened his dragon robe, and raised his chin.
Good.
Bibi Dong, today I must hear what explanation you dare give me.
Prince Xue Xing, standing beside him, caught the cue immediately.
He signaled to a court attendant with a loud voice.
The attendant stepped forward, took a deep breath, infused his voice with spirit power, and shouted toward the tightly closed palace gates:
"Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire, accompanied by His Excellency Dugu, the Poison Douluo, has arrived to pay respects to the Supreme Pontiff—!!"
The shout echoed through Spirit City like a bronze bell.
Prince Xue Xing crossed his arms, satisfied.
Adding "Poison Douluo" was intentional.
A warning.
We didn't come to beg.
We brought our own Titled Douluo.
If you want to play tricks, Spirit Hall—
measure yourself first.
Meanwhile, in the procession, Dugu Bo stood in his long green robe, his expression completely dead.
He wanted to swear.
MMP!
Xue Xing, you old dog!
If you're going to yell, then yell—but don't drag me into it!
He had a long-standing feud with that sissy chrysanthemum freak.
Every year, he got pinned to the ground and beaten like a grass chicken.
Now Xue Ye wanted to come stir up trouble?
Wasn't this the same as sending him over to get slapped again?!
He could already imagine Ju Douluo's smug, powdery, feminine grin.
He was only here because of a forced favor owed to Prince Xue Xing.
He'd rather bathe in poison than be here.
But…
Seconds passed.
Half a minute.
A full minute.
Yet the loud proclamation reverberated unanswered.
Not a single response came from the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Not even an echo.
Only a crow cawed twice on a rooftop, mocking their embarrassment.
The atmosphere turned awkward enough to suffocate.
Inside the carriage, Emperor Xue Ye stared through the bead curtain at the silent palace doors.
His face darkened shade by shade—
like ink spreading through water.
I, the Emperor, personally came…
and you dare ignore me?!
"Shout again," he growled coldly.
The attendant drew in a breath—just as he was about to shout—
"Creak—"
A side door suddenly opened a crack.
A young knight in Spirit Hall guard armor stepped out, yawning widely.
He rubbed his eyes, glanced lazily at the grand imperial procession—
and looked annoyed rather than respectful.
"What's with all the yelling?"
He casually picked his ear before continuing in a tone as lazy as a salted fish:
"Stop shouting. The Supreme Pontiff and the Elders aren't here."
Emperor Xue Ye stiffened.
"…Then where are they?"
The knight looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Where else? Eating at Feng Ran Pavilion, of course."
Eating?
Everyone froze.
You mean…
While the Emperor of Heaven Dou Empire stands outside their palace—
Spirit Hall's leaders all collectively went out to… eat?!
What kind of twisted priority list was this?!
But it wasn't over.
The knight impatiently pointed down the street.
"From here, go straight, left at the big intersection, walk to the end, then turn right. You'll find it."
Then he muttered while turning back:
"So annoying. Why is everyone's intel so outdated?"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan came asking once, the Star Luo Empire came again, and now even Heaven Dou Empire is doing it."
"I can't even sleep peacefully anymore…"
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Leaving the entire Heaven Dou entourage frozen in humiliation.
Prince Xue Xing's originally smug expression collapsed.
Emperor Xue Ye's face was darker than the bottom of a burnt wok.
The royal knights…
They felt as if they had just been slapped one by one by an invisible hand.
The Emperor of Heaven Dou Empire.
A massive imperial procession.
Dismissed by a half-asleep guard?
Who even talked to them like they were clueless country bumpkins?
It was a humiliation worse than rejection.
"Imperial Father!"
The worst voice possible spoke at the worst time.
Xue Beng rushed up, face full of "I'm helping."
"Imperial Father, this must be a trap!"
"That Feng Ran Pavilion sounds suspicious! Spirit Hall probably lured us into—"
SMACK!
The carriage curtain flew open.
A furious Emperor Xue Ye slapped the carriage window so hard the frame trembled.
"You useless cowardly brat!"
"I raised you for what?!"
Treasury stolen, prestige trampled, and now his own heir was a disgraceful coward—
This was adding fire to the inferno!
"With His Excellency Dugu here, what trap do we need to fear?!"
He turned sharply to Dugu Bo.
"Isn't that right, His Excellency Dugu!"
Dugu Bo:
...
Don't drag me into your family mess!
But under all the gazes, he stiffly nodded.
"…Your Majesty speaks the truth."
"Hmph!"
Emperor Xue Ye snorted coldly at Xue Beng and waved his hand sharply.
"Move out!"
"To Feng Ran Pavilion!"
"I want to see what tricks Spirit Hall is playing!"
The procession began moving again, but the humiliation and anger followed like storm clouds.
They turned corner after corner until entering a seemingly ordinary street.
Just as they entered—
The lead knight suddenly halted.
The entire procession stopped behind him.
"What now?" Emperor Xue Ye barked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty… in the middle of the street ahead stands a… beggar."
A beggar?
Blocking the middle of Spirit City's street?
Xue Ye frowned but waved it off.
"Drive him away."
The knight captain's eyes gleamed.
A chance to perform in front of the Emperor!
He spurred his warhorse forward.
He rode right up behind the "beggar," raised his whip—
spirit power crackling with blue light—
and lashed down viciously.
"Out of the way! You filthy beggar!"
WHIP—!!!