Ye Yin waved his hand dismissively, his face pale and his breath coming in shallow gasps. "I'm just a bit tired," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Each time I increase my Spirit Ring's age limit, it takes a heavy toll on my body. It requires a long time for me to recover from the strain."
Zhu Zhuyun's heart swelled with a deep sense of gratitude toward the man before her. She didn't doubt his words for even a second. In her mind, it only made sense that such a miraculous power would come with a dangerous cost. She gently bit her lower lip, her eyes softening as she moved closer to him. "You have done so much to serve me," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Now, it is my turn to serve you."
Ye Yin looked at her, his expression one of confusion. Before he could ask what she meant, she leaned in and pulled him toward her. She opened her mouth, and suddenly, the room was filled with the sounds of their shared intimacy.
"Hiss!"
"Ha!"
"Ah!"
Outside the window, a soft knocking broke the rhythm of the night. It was a specific pattern—three long knocks followed by two short ones. This was the secret signal from the branch head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ye Yin frowned, his concentration broken. He called out toward the window, "What is it?"
The branch head's voice came back in a hushed, urgent tone. "Mr. Ye, an imperial decree has just arrived from the palace. His Majesty the Star Luo Emperor summons you to an audience tomorrow morning."
Ye Yin's eyes flickered with understanding. So, the supreme ruler of the Star Luo Empire finally wanted to see him. It made sense; with Dai Weisi's downfall and Dai Mubai's sudden rise to power, the Emperor was bound to notice the person pulling the strings from the shadows. Ye Yin wondered if this meeting would be a blessing or a curse, but he knew one thing for certain: it would not be a peaceful encounter.
Zhu Zhuyun's face grew tense as she heard the news. "The Emperor wants to see you? Will he try to hurt you?"
"It's fine," Ye Yin said, patting her hand to reassure her. His tone was calm and steady. "Actually, I have been wanting to meet the Star Luo Emperor myself." A confident light shone in his eyes. It was time for the player to step onto the chessboard and face the King directly.
The Star Luo Imperial Palace was a place of cold stone and sharp iron. Unlike the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, which felt more elegant, this place felt heavy with the weight of military power. Even as the morning sun tried to shine through the tall windows, it couldn't hide the feeling of pressure that hung in the air.
An attendant led Ye Yin through many gates and past lines of strict guards. They walked toward the Hall of Proclamations, the very heart of the Empire's power. Ye Yin wore a simple, plain robe. He had a gentle smile on his face and walked with slow, easy steps. He looked like he was going to a tea party rather than meeting a powerful Emperor.
As he walked, the guards and officials watched him with mixed feelings. Some were curious, some were judging him, and others looked truly afraid. Everyone knew that this young man had turned the capital upside down and changed the future of the royal family. His power and the mystery surrounding him made him someone they couldn't ignore.
Inside the hall, it was quiet. The usual officials were not there, which made the room feel even more serious. The Star Luo Emperor sat high up on his golden throne. Next to him stood an old man with a face as wrinkled as a dried fruit. The old man looked like he was sleeping, but Ye Yin could feel his immense power. This was a Titled Douluo, a master of Level 90 or higher, and likely the strongest defender of the royal family.
The Star Luo Emperor looked to be about fifty years old. He looked a lot like Dai Mubai, but he was much more stern and majestic. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's as he watched Ye Yin walk into the room. He didn't say a word, but he let out a heavy aura that would make a normal Spirit Master shake with fear.
Ye Yin didn't seem to notice the pressure at all. He stopped at the correct distance and gave a polite bow. "Ye Yin of the Heaven Dou Empire greets His Majesty the Star Luo Emperor," he said, his voice clear and steady.
The Emperor stayed silent for a long time, just looking at him. Finally, he spoke in a deep, powerful voice. "Ye Yin... I know your name. You were the champion of the tournament, the captain of Shrek Academy, and now a Count of Heaven Dou. You are truly a hero for someone so young."
Then, his voice turned sharp. "But I have a question. You are a noble of the Heaven Dou Empire. Why did you come all this way to mess with my family's business? Why did you cause such a huge mess in my kingdom?"
The Emperor's pressure got even stronger, and the old Titled Douluo next to him released a bit of his own power. It felt like a mountain was resting on Ye Yin's shoulders. Any other Spirit Master would be sweating or falling to their knees.
Ye Yin just stood up straight. His smile didn't fade at all. "Your Majesty is mistaken," he said calmly. "I did not come to mess with your affairs. I was simply helping my friend, Prince Dai Mubai, take back what was already his. As for the mess... if a leader loses the hearts of the people, it is easy for an outsider to shake things up. A fortress usually breaks from the inside first."
These were bold words. He was basically saying that Dai Weisi deserved to lose. The Emperor's eyes flashed with anger, and his hand gripped the armrest of his throne so hard the wood creaked. The room felt like it had turned to ice. The old man by the throne opened his eyes slightly, his gaze locking onto Ye Yin like a predator.
Ye Yin didn't back down. "Besides," he added, "Prince Mubai is your son too. He has more talent and a better heart than Dai Weisi. With him leading, the Empire will be even stronger. Don't you want to see your kingdom succeed?"
The Emperor stared at Ye Yin, trying to see if the young man was lying or scared. He saw nothing but calm confidence. After a long silence, the Emperor's anger seemed to fade, and he let out a short, strange laugh. "You have a very sharp tongue, young man. Mubai is lucky to have a friend like you."
He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "However, I heard you have a special skill. People say you can make a Spirit mutate. Is that true?"
Ye Yin knew this was the real reason he was here. Every ruler would want a power like that. He put on a look of surprise. "Your Majesty must be joking. A Spirit is decided by fate when a person is born. How could I have the power of a god to change such a thing?" He acted as if the idea was impossible, trying to hide his secret.
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