'Why was Emperor Xue Ye here in Northern Domain City instead of staying safely in the Heaven Dou capital?'
Just as Li Chang'an puzzled over it, another carriage appeared—this one even more dignified. From it stepped another elder with sharp brows and clear eyes, his features faintly resembling Dai Mubai. There was no mistaking him—the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire himself.
Now things were getting interesting.
Two emperors meeting secretly at the border? There had to be something big brewing behind the scenes.
And it wasn't just the two rulers—two powerful auras followed them out. One of them belonged unmistakably to Dugu Bo.
Two Titled Douluo as escorts, meeting here of all places, in a heavily fortified border city… yes, this was something worth investigating.
Li Chang'an pointed to a nearby teahouse. "Go wait for me there," he told Shui Bing'er. "I'll be back soon."
"Maybe you shouldn't—" she began, worry creasing her brow. But then she remembered the man who had once stood unyielding against the world for Xiao Wu. She nodded, patting his shoulder softly. "Be careful. I'll wait."
"Of course," he said, giving her chin a playful lift before vanishing on the spot.
"Humph!" Shui Bing'er huffed, turning her head sharply before heading for the teahouse with small, careful steps.
Li Chang'an wasn't a master of stealth, but his fifth soul ring, derived from the Thousand Transformations Beast, was a thirty-thousand-year treasure he had further enhanced to the three-hundred-thousand-year level with a soul Fruit. With it, concealing himself wasn't hard—so long as he kept his killing intent in check.
A single flicker of hostility, however, and those two Titled Douluo would sense him immediately. So, he moved with meticulous caution, step by silent step.
The Northern King's Mansion was massive, but Li Chang'an quickly found the largest and most luxurious hall. Curiously, he noticed quite a few pregnant women wandering the courtyard—each more beautiful than the last.
'The Northern King sure is… productive,' Li Chang'an thought dryly. 'Truly a man of… industry.'
He didn't enter the hall, instead crouching quietly on the roof and listening.
Inside, Emperor Xue Ye's voice carried through clearly.
"Old Dai, this meeting is rare and dangerous. You must already know why I asked for it."
The Star Luo Emperor replied gravely, "Of course I know. Though my word is law in Star Luo, Spirit Hall's influence has grown too deep. Even in rural regions, their commands carry more weight than mine."
"Then let's discuss what comes next," Xue Ye said. "If our two empires join forces—do we stand a chance?"
"There's a chance," the Star Luo Emperor admitted, "but less than thirty percent. I've already rallied every sect under my rule, and even two of the Lower Four Sects have agreed to lend support. I've also sent envoys to contact the Clear Sky Sect."
"The Clear Sky Sect?" Xue Ye said, eyes lighting up. "If they return, that adds another ten percent to our odds. Our strength lies in soldiers and strategy—Spirit Hall's is in spirit masters."
"True," the Star Luo Emperor nodded. "But don't forget our soul tools. We can now mass-produce third-tier soul devices. Against spirit masters below the Spirit King level, they're more than enough."
"What we need," Xue Ye said slowly, "is a catalyst—a time when Spirit Hall's spirit master forces are weakened. When that happens, our armies will strike together. That will be our only chance at victory."
"Agreed. We have only one shot at this. Let's begin training immediately."
"Then we should give our operation a name."
"I suggest," the Star Luo Emperor said proudly, "we call it—'The Two Empires Unite to Overthrow the Evil Spirit Hall!'"
"Excellent!" Xue Ye declared.
Li Chang'an rolled his eyes silently.
'Seriously? Could that sound any more childish?'
The rest of the conversation turned to military logistics and troop coordination—details that bored him. Quietly, he slipped away from the roof and left the compound as soundlessly as he'd entered.
"The Two Empires Unite to Overthrow the Evil Spirit Hall," he muttered under his breath. "What a ridiculous name. But their alliance… that was inevitable."
He sighed. There was no way Spirit Hall would back down now; the only option was to press forward, break the waves, and face the coming storm head-on.
At the teahouse, Shui Bing'er had already finished four cups of tea out of boredom by the time he returned. Without a word, he motioned for her to follow—and together, they went to find lodging.
Naturally, Li Chang'an wouldn't stay anywhere cheap. After a few inquiries, they headed straight to the city's most luxurious inn.
"Two rooms," he said smoothly, handing the clerk their documents. Unseen by Shui Bing'er, he also slipped a gold soul coin beneath the papers.
Written all over his face was: Please tell me you only have one room left.
The clerk, seasoned and discreet, caught on immediately. "My apologies, honored guests," he said with a polite smile. "We only have one room available."
Li Chang'an turned to Shui Bing'er, feigning embarrassment. "Shall we find another place?" His acting was flawless.
"No need," she said quickly, clutching his arm and pressing her face lightly against his chest. "One room is fine."
Her sudden closeness startled him. This wasn't like her usual calm demeanor at all.
"This isn't… too forward?" he asked with mock hesitation.
"The steward from the Northern King's Mansion is staying here," she whispered through a discreet voice transmission. "If we walk away now, it'll draw suspicion."
Sure enough, the pudgy steward near the lobby was eyeing her curiously, as if trying to place her face. But when he overheard them booking a single room together, he dismissed his doubts immediately. After all, Shui Bing'er was known to be frosty and aloof; if she was sharing a room with a man, it couldn't possibly be her.
Li Chang'an shot the steward a covert thumbs-up. Now that's a perfect assist.
He hadn't expected Shui Bing'er to agree so readily—he'd been fully prepared to switch hotels. But thanks to the steward's accidental help, things had gone much smoother than planned.
As they walked upstairs, Li Chang'an noted the softness of her waist beneath his arm and the faint fragrance that lingered around her. He silently approved.
Then he saw their room number—520—and nearly groaned aloud.
Really? Out of all the rooms…?
Shui Bing'er blushed fiercely. "Th-this is a couple's suite, isn't it?" she whispered, mortified.
"Looks like it," he replied, struggling to keep a straight face. "Want to switch?"
"N-no," she murmured, shaking her head, her face burning. "Let's… just stay here."
"Then let's go in." He unlocked the door, holding it open with a gentleman's smile.
They stepped inside together—
and the door closed softly behind them.