At the banquet, cups were raised and exchanged, laughter filling the hall.
Everyone was immersed in celebration, completely unaware that a deadly conspiracy was already unfolding beneath the surface.
Seated upon the dragon throne, Xue Ye glanced toward Bai Mu and Xue Xing, then suddenly spoke:
"It is better to resolve enmity than to harbor it. Both of you are pillars of the state."
"For my sake, shake hands and make peace. Serve the empire together."
Clearly, he had heard of the conflicts between Bai Mu, Xue Xing, and Xue Beng, and wished to mediate.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right," Bai Mu replied with a respectful smile. "This subject will follow Your Majesty's wishes."
"Your Majesty is wise," Xue Xing added, smiling as well. "I am naturally willing to serve the empire alongside Elder Bai."
Yet just as he finished speaking, Xue Xing's expression subtly changed.
A violent struggle flickered through his eyes. His body trembled uncontrollably.
But only for an instant.
The struggle vanished, replaced by eerie calmness.
Xue Xing suddenly stood up and walked straight toward the Emperor.
"Xue Xing?" Xue Ye asked in surprise. "What is it?"
"This younger brother has an important matter to report," Xue Xing said, deliberately lowering his voice as he glanced around at the ministers.
Covering his mouth, he slowly approached the throne.
"Oh? What matter is so secret?" Xue Ye leaned forward slightly. "Speak."
At the moment they were closest—
Xue Xing abruptly drew a cold, gleaming dagger hidden within the table fixture.
"Die!"
With all his strength, he stabbed toward Xue Ye's chest.
"Ah!"
Though Emperor Xue Ye was not weak, he was completely caught off guard. He instinctively twisted aside, but the dagger still tore a deep gash across his chest, blood spurting out instantly.
"Assassins!"
"Prince Xue Xing is rebelling!"
"Protect His Majesty!"
The court exploded into chaos. Shouts and screams rang out endlessly.
"You foolish, incompetent ruler!"
"That dragon throne should have been mine!"
"It's you who stole everything that belonged to me!"
Xue Xing roared madly, sorrow and hatred mingling in his eyes as he lunged again.
But he was struck back by Xue Ye and fell before the throne.
Imperial Guards surged forward, pinning Xue Xing firmly to the ground.
"Seize him!" the commander shouted. "Throw this rebel into the dungeon immediately!"
"Xue Ye! Die—!"
Even as he was dragged away, Xue Xing continued to struggle and howl, until he was forcibly suppressed and locked into the celestial prison.
—
"Imperial physician! Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"
After the chaos subsided slightly, civil and military officials rushed forward in panic.
But the next moment, their expressions changed dramatically.
Xue Ye's body alternated between red and blue. One half burned with heat, the other was ice-cold. His face twisted in agony, his body convulsing violently.
"Pfft—!"
Xue Ye spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.
"This blade… is poisoned…" he gasped weakly. "Quick… the antidote…"
"Summon His Excellency Dugu Bo!"
"Call the imperial physicians!"
Panic spread as the crowd made way.
"Move aside."
Dugu Bo strode forward. The moment he examined the wound and smelled the toxin, his expression darkened.
"This poison is even more vicious than my Jade Phosphor Snake Poison," he said heavily. "I am powerless."
Despair instantly gripped the hall.
Dugu Bo was the Heaven Dou Empire's only Titled Douluo and the continent's most renowned poison expert. If even he could not cure it, there was no hope.
"Father! Father!"
At this moment, Xue Qinghe rushed forward—Qian Renxue in disguise.
Her face was filled with grief, her eyes red, tears spilling freely.
"Sir Dugu, please save my father!"
"I'm sorry," Dugu Bo sighed. "At best, I can suppress the poison for another twenty minutes."
"Quick! Find Spirit Masters with detoxification abilities!"
"Bring every antidote in the city!"
Xue Qinghe shouted, plunging the palace into utter chaos.
Imperial physicians and Spirit Masters arrived one after another, pouring antidotes into Xue Ye's mouth without restraint.
But the Ice-and-Fire Poison was far too tyrannical.
No matter what they tried, it was useless.
Everything was in vain.
"Qinghe…" Xue Ye whispered faintly, gripping her hand. "The empire… I leave it to you…"
"Father, don't worry," Xue Qinghe sobbed. "I will definitely take good care of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"That's… good…"
His eyes suddenly widened. His body jerked once—
And then went completely still.
"Father!!!"
Xue Qinghe cried out in grief.
Yet deep within her heart, she was laughing wildly.
"The Emperor has passed away!"
"The Emperor has passed away!"
The news spread like wildfire, shaking the entire palace—and then all of Heaven Dou City.
Prince Xue Xing, having assassinated the Emperor, was forever nailed to the pillar of shame, bearing the eternal infamy of regicide.
Bai Mu stood quietly at the edge of the crowd, a faint smile playing at his lips.
His gaze met Xue Qinghe's.
Unspoken understanding flashed between them.
Everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Nearby, Ning Fengzhi stood in a daze.
"Wasn't there supposed to be a rebellion?"
"How did it end up being Xue Xing who acted?"
"Wasn't he supporting the Fourth Prince?"
His mind was in complete turmoil.
He had prepared to evacuate his entire sect—but in the end, it was resolved so cleanly?
Looking at Xue Qinghe, Ning Fengzhi felt a chill in his heart.
The sky over the Heaven Dou Empire was about to change.
—
In the dungeon.
"How… how is this possible…"
"I… I committed regicide?"
Xue Xing stared blankly at his hands, utterly unable to comprehend what had happened.
Suddenly—
"Ugh! Ah—!"
His body convulsed violently as he spat out blood.
When the pain passed, he realized in horror that his limbs were weak and unresponsive.
He could not move.
He could not speak.
Aside from his eyeballs, his entire body was paralyzed.
—
Elsewhere, upon receiving the news, Xue Beng was completely stunned.
"What?! Uncle assassinated Father—and Father is dead?!"
"How is that possible… how could Uncle do something like this?"
"What in the world is going on?!"
No matter how he thought about it, none of it made sense.
Even if Xue Xing were muddleheaded, he should never have done something so utterly foolish.