Sea Horse Douluo's head snapped up.
His already bloodshot eyes filled instantly with a chilling red fury.
An icy, murderous aura erupted from him—violent, suffocating, impossible to ignore.
"Not good!"
Dugu Bo felt every hair on his body stand on end.
A deafening alarm rang in his heart.
He released his emerald spirit power on reflex, mouth opening to shout—
But the word "Stop!" never made it out.
Because the "beggar" had already vanished.
A gust of wind exploded toward the carriage!
Dugu Bo's pupils shrank violently. He barely had time to raise his arm—
"Get lost!!"
A roar filled with humiliation and rage.
A large foot slammed into Dugu Bo's old waist.
"AH—!! My grass!!"
The old poison master let out a high-pitched wail.
He flew backward like a human sandbag, saliva spraying midair as he traced a tragic arc.
"BOOM!"
He crashed hard into a distant wall and slowly slid down, nearly disintegrating on the spot.
Within the heartbeat Dugu Bo was sent flying—
Sea Horse Douluo had already torn open the carriage curtain.
Under Emperor Xue Ye's horrified gaze—
A giant hand grabbed his golden, dragon-embroidered collar.
"Come out!!"
And just like that—
The emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, the supreme ruler of millions, was yanked from his luxurious golden carriage like a stray chicken.
His feet dangled helplessly in the air.
His imperial dignity evaporated.
Only terror remained.
Sea Horse Douluo pulled him close until they were practically nose-to-nose.
Spittle splashed across Emperor Xue Ye's face.
"Look carefully—
I am NOT a beggar!!!"
BOOM—!!
Two yellow.
Two purple.
Five black.
A full nine spirit rings burst from Sea Horse Douluo's body, accompanied by a crushing, world-ending pressure.
The warhorses beneath the Royal Knights screamed, lost control of their legs, and collapsed to their knees.
Sea Horse Douluo raised his massive palm—
spirit power surging like a tsunami—
ready to slap the emperor's face sideways.
"Y–Your Excellency, spare me!!"
Emperor Xue Ye was scared out of his soul.
He no longer clung to dignity. He didn't even wipe off the saliva.
"I was blind! I was wrong! I deserve death! I apologize—!!"
"BROTHER, STOP!!"
From afar, Dugu Bo wobbled up from the wall, clutching his waist and grimacing in pain.
"That's the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire!!"
Sea Horse Douluo's raised palm halted one centimeter from Emperor Xue Ye's face.
He frowned and looked carefully.
Pitifully weak.
Ridiculously dressed.
Yet clearly someone important.
It seemed Green Hair hadn't lied.
Considering his duty not to drag Sea God Island into unnecessary trouble, Sea Horse Douluo reluctantly suppressed his fury.
He snorted coldly and flung Emperor Xue Ye back into the carriage like tossing garbage.
"Bang!"
The emperor landed in a heap, dizzy.
Sea Horse Douluo didn't spare him a glance.
He simply turned toward the direction where that heavenly aroma beckoned him and strode forward, leaving only one frigid warning:
"Call me a beggar again, and I'll kill you."
Only after that arrogant silhouette disappeared down the street did Emperor Xue Ye feel his soul return to his body.
He leaned against the carriage wall, hand on chest, gasping.
"Mr. Dugu…"
His voice trembled.
"That man… which Titled Douluo is he? I've never heard of him. And why… why does someone that strong dress like… like that?"
Dugu Bo nearly spat blood.
Your Majesty…
Is that really what you want to focus on right now?!
He forced a smile despite the agony in his waist.
"Your Majesty, you misunderstand.
He wasn't 'dressing up' as a beggar…"
"He was just… dirty."
"As for who he is—I have never seen him before either. But his aura leans toward water. He's definitely not a Spirit Master from our continent."
Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng, pale and trembling, rushed over.
Both asked in unison, voices shaking:
"Imperial Brother (Father)… do we still need to go to Feng Ran Pavilion?"
Emperor Xue Ye's expression turned green, then white, then back to green.
He looked at the knight captain still stuck in the wall.
Then at the direction where the "beggar" disappeared.
Finally, imperial pride won.
He gritted his teeth and said each word with steel:
"Go. Of course we're going."
"I refuse to believe that Titled Douluo are growing from the streets of Spirit City."
Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng exchanged helpless looks but could only order the convoy forward.
This time, the road was clear.
Soon, they arrived at the end of the street and saw the restaurant:
Feng Ran Pavilion.
But before they could approach, a woman's furious roar exploded from inside:
"Sea Horse! What is wrong with you!!!"
"Who told you to come in looking like a beggar? How dare you enter Senior's shop like this?! Do you understand the rules?!"
"If you cost me my job, I swear I'll drown you myself!"
The Heaven Dou delegation froze.
Then—
A familiar, grievance-filled voice cried out desperately:
"Lord High Priest, please listen! I wasn't—"
"SLAP!"
A crisp, explosive slap echoed through the street.
And then—
Under the stunned eyes of Emperor Xue Ye, Dugu Bo, and every knight…
A tall, cold, elegant woman in a luxurious priestess robe marched out.
In one hand—
She dragged the same Titled Douluo "beggar" who had just terrorized the emperor.
Dragging him like a dead mutt.
Everyone: "…"
She walked straight toward the dumpster at the end of the street.
And without hesitation—
She lifted her arm—
Perfect parabola.
"THUD."
The nine-ring Titled Douluo who had terrified an entire imperial delegation was thrown headfirst into the reeking garbage pile.
The woman clapped her hands clean—
as if she had simply taken out the trash—
and walked back into the shop without even looking back.
The Heaven Dou delegation collectively turned to stone.
Emperor Xue Ye's mouth hung open.
His brain shut down.
At last—
He understood why that man looked like a beggar.
It wasn't a disguise.
He was literally beaten into a beggar…
and thrown out with the trash.