*****
Hotel,
"A Titled Douluo this early in the morning. I guess you aren't here for no reason."
Lev sighed as he looked at the old man standing before him.
Judging from his identity and the circumstances, Lev could already guess who had sent him.
Ning Fengzhi.
And the old man standing before him was none other than Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo.
"Come with me to the palace. His Majesty wants to speak with you."
Gu Rong spoke directly.
Although he had been instructed to show Lev a certain degree of respect, he didn't feel there was any real need to do so.
After all, in his eyes, he was merely dealing with a brat.
A vein on Lev's forehead twitched.
He quickly suppressed his irritation and regained his composure.
This was one of the reasons he disliked cultivation-type novels and manhua.
The personalities and egos of cultivators often ran deep. Their strength and status frequently made them more arrogant than ordinary people, and this world seemed to be no different.
'If that's how it is, then I'll play along with your game.'
A faint smile appeared on Lev's face.
If power truly was everything in this world, then perhaps he had every right to establish his own place within that hierarchy.
There was no point complaining about the rules.
If everyone else intended to play by them, then he would simply become strong enough to stand above them.
"Let's go."
Lev calmly followed Gu Rong as they headed directly toward the imperial palace.
*****
Heaven Dou Palace,
Inside the spacious main hall, three influential figures had gathered together.
Each of them held considerable influence within the Heaven Dou Empire, and the subject of their discussion was no ordinary matter. They were here to discuss the future of the empire—and, more importantly, to meet the young man who had recently exposed the Spirit Hall's infiltration.
"Will he come?" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly asked as he looked toward the two people beside him.
They had gathered here for another reason as well: to meet and speak with Lev, the mysterious young man who had piqued their interest.
"He will come for sure, Your Majesty."
Ning Fengzhi answered confidently.
After everything that had happened, he had no doubt that Lev was both capable and intelligent enough to understand the importance of accepting the Emperor's invitation.
The third person remained silent in his seat, listening to their conversation while feeling curious about the person they were discussing.
Although he had also heard about Lev the previous day, he hadn't paid much attention to the matter.
He had more important things to worry about.
"Looks like they're here."
Ning Fengzhi suddenly smiled as he shifted his gaze toward the entrance.
Gu Rong entered the hall first, immediately showing respect upon arriving in the Emperor's presence.
Behind him came Lev.
Unlike Gu Rong, however, Lev merely looked around the hall nonchalantly.
The moment he entered, he immediately noticed the numerous gazes directed toward him.
Some were hidden, while others were much more obvious.
Lev remained calm.
He knew that although he possessed considerable strength, he was still nowhere near powerful enough to fight against the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
For now, he had no choice but to exercise some restraint.
He stepped forward and respectfully bowed toward the Emperor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
It was temporary respect, nothing more.
Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi smiled upon seeing Lev's arrival.
However, the third person in the room suddenly stood up.
His expression changed completely.
Shock.
Disbelief.
And then overwhelming excitement.
His entire body began to tremble.
"Y-Young Master..."
The man murmured under his breath.
After four long months of waiting and searching, he had finally found the person he had been looking for.
Dugu Bo was about to step forward and greet Lev when Emperor Xue Ye's voice suddenly brought him back to reality.
"Hmm? What is it, Dugu Bo?"
The Emperor looked at him curiously after noticing his unusual reaction.
"Y-Your Majesty..."
Dugu Bo quickly composed himself.
"I have actually met this boy a long time ago."
He deliberately stopped himself from revealing more.
No matter how badly he wanted to speak with Lev right now, they were still in the presence of the Emperor.
He could only suppress his emotions and act normally until this meeting was over.
Both Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi were greatly surprised.
Neither of them had expected such an answer.
And judging from Dugu Bo's reaction alone, they could tell that there was far more to Lev's identity than they had initially thought.
Emperor Xue Ye's interest in Lev deepened considerably.
"Boy, I am Xue Ye, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire."
The Emperor's expression returned to its usual calm and dignified state.
"I hope my sudden summons didn't disturb you."
He paused briefly.
"Enough with the pleasantries. First, I would like to thank you for exposing the Spirit Hall's sinister plan. If it weren't for you, the consequences for the empire could have been disastrous."
"It's my honor, Your Majesty."
Lev responded politely.
Although he maintained a calm expression on the outside, he was inwardly displeased.
The Emperor's words sounded courteous, but Lev could still detect the underlying arrogance in his tone.
It was subtle, but it was there.
Emperor Xue Ye continued to observe him.
After seeing Dugu Bo's reaction, he had become even more determined to uncover the secrets surrounding this mysterious young man.
Whether through cooperation or force, he intended to learn the truth.
"Then, Lev, tell me..."
Emperor Xue Ye's voice became more serious.
"Do you know anything else about the Spirit Hall's infiltration or their other plans?"
He didn't bother wasting any more time.
This was the real reason he had summoned Lev.
Lev looked at the Emperor for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Ning Fengzhi.
The faint smile on Ning Fengzhi's face was enough to confirm Lev's suspicion.
'So you're the one who pushed this idea.'
Lev inwardly chuckled.
He already had a feeling that Ning Fengzhi was behind this meeting.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lev answered truthfully.
Hearing Lev's answer, Emperor Xue Ye and the others couldn't help but widen their eyes, staring at him with complicated expressions.
"Can you share what you know with us, then? I promise that I will reward you handsomely."
Emperor Xue Ye asked expectantly.
He couldn't help but wonder just how much Lev knew about the Spirit Hall's plans and, more importantly, how he had obtained such information with such certainty.
Regardless of whether everything Lev knew was true, there was no harm in listening to him.
If even a portion of the information proved useful, it could help the empire prepare for what was to come.
Without wasting any more time, Lev smiled and began explaining everything he knew about the Spirit Hall's infiltration plan.
He revealed the details surrounding Qian Renxue's identity as Xue Qinghe and, more importantly, revealed something far more alarming.
The Emperor himself was being slowly poisoned.
For years, Qian Renxue had been secretly administering poison to him while maintaining her disguise as the Crown Prince.
And despite being the target of such a scheme, none of them had noticed.
The moment they heard this, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong were both shocked and furious.
Emperor Xue Ye, however, was beyond description.
His face became increasingly grim as rage surged through him.
They had been deceived for years.
Worse, the Spirit Hall had been slowly killing him right under their noses.
After explaining everything he knew, Emperor Xue Ye forced himself to calm down.
He then looked toward Dugu Bo with anticipation.
"Elder Dugu, can you examine my body and determine whether there is any poison inside me?"
Dugu Bo immediately glanced toward Lev.
The latter simply smiled and nodded.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo stepped forward and began examining the Emperor's body.
He didn't doubt Lev's words.
There was no reason for Lev to fabricate something like this, especially when Dugu Bo could easily verify it himself.
After a moment, Emperor Xue Ye couldn't hold back any longer.
"Elder Dugu, how is it?"
Dugu Bo's brows furrowed deeply.
His expression became increasingly solemn.
"Your Majesty..."
He hesitated before finally speaking.
"There really is poison in your body."
The expressions of Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and Gu Rong changed instantly.
Although they had already been prepared for the possibility, hearing Dugu Bo personally confirm it still shook them to their core.
At least now that they knew about the poison, there was still hope.
Perhaps it could be cured.
"Can you cure it?"
Emperor Xue Ye asked, his voice carrying a trace of urgency.
Dugu Bo was the most accomplished poison expert they knew. If anyone could cure him, it would most likely be Dugu Bo.
"I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
Dugu Bo lowered his head.
"After examining, I've discovered that the poison has already spread throughout your body."
His voice became heavy.
"I'm afraid I have no way of completely curing it."
Dugu Bo clenched his fists helplessly.
"However, I can try to slow down the poison from spreading."
His expression was grim.
He couldn't help but wonder when the Spirit Hall had begun this operation and how they had managed to conceal it for so long.
By the time they finally discovered the poison, it had already reached such a stage that even he couldn't cure it.
Emperor Xue Ye's body trembled upon hearing the answer.
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong also wore shocked and saddened expressions.
The atmosphere inside the hall became heavy.
Then—
"I have a way to cure it."
Everyone immediately turned toward Lev.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I just wonder how much His Majesty is willing to pay."
This was the opportunity Lev had been waiting for.
He had no intention of letting such an opportunity pass.
With the system backing him, he possessed methods that no one in this world could even imagine.
And since the person in front of him was the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, there was no better opportunity to make a fortune.
"You have a way?"
Emperor Xue Ye immediately looked at Lev differently.
His previous irritation was temporarily forgotten.
"Tell me what you want. If you can truly cure me, I will give you anything you want."
He didn't even bother asking how Lev intended to accomplish it.
His health was far more important at this moment.
"One hundred billion gold coins."
Lev calmly named his price.
"If you can give me that amount, I'll completely remove the poison from your body."
The hall fell silent.
Lev smiled faintly.
This was the perfect opportunity to increase his fortune.
After all, he wasn't dealing with an ordinary person.
He was dealing with the most important figure in the Heaven Dou Empire.
The moment Lev finished speaking, Emperor Xue Ye's expression darkened.
A terrifying spirit pressure suddenly erupted from his body before he forcibly retracted it.
His eyes became sharp as he stared directly at Lev.
Although he was deeply concerned about his health, this was the first time someone had treated him in such a manner.
One hundred billion gold coins.
Even for the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, that was an astronomical amount.
More importantly, Lev had shown absolutely no respect toward him.
For the first time, Emperor Xue Ye felt that perhaps this young man wasn't simply confident.
He was truly fearless.
Seeing the Emperor's sudden burst of rage, Ning Fengzhi immediately intervened.
"I think you've gone a little too far."
He looked toward Lev before continuing.
"Even the empire would have difficulty coming up with that much money. Why don't you ask for something else instead?"
Upon hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Lev couldn't help but grin.
He had known from the beginning that the Heaven Dou Empire wouldn't be able to casually produce one hundred billion gold coins.
That was precisely why he had deliberately named such an outrageous price.
Now that they had rejected it, he could ask for something he actually wanted.
"Is that so?"
Lev looked toward Emperor Xue Ye with a faint smile.
"In that case, giving me the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud would be enough."
His smile widened.
"I've known that the empire possessed this item for quite some time now, so how about giving it to me instead?"
The moment those words left Lev's mouth, the entire hall fell silent.
Everyone present knew about the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
It was considered one of the treasures of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The only problem was that, despite being treated as a precious treasure, no one truly knew what it could do. It had simply been kept inside the imperial treasury for years.
But now, Lev not only knew about its existence—he specifically wanted it.
This immediately made everyone wonder if there was actually some hidden secret behind the mysterious treasure.
Emperor Xue Ye frowned.
He remained silent for several seconds, staring intently at Lev.
Then, he simply waved his hand.
A cloaked figure immediately appeared beside him.
"Go to the treasury and retrieve the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
The order stunned everyone present.
Even Ning Fengzhi was surprised by how readily the Emperor agreed.
The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was still an imperial treasure.
However, the situation was different now.
What was the value of a single treasure compared to the Emperor's life?
Especially with the continent potentially descending into chaos, allowing the Emperor to die from the poison would be the worst possible outcome for the Heaven Dou Empire.
"I don't know how you learned about it, but I can give it to you."
Emperor Xue Ye calmly said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lev smiled.
Although he was delighted inwardly, he didn't allow his expression to reveal too much.
Something about this meeting still felt strange.
He couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't end as peacefully as it appeared.
'System, show me the cheapest elixir capable of curing this poison.'
A system notification immediately appeared in his mind.
[Angel's Tears]
[Description: An elixir extracted from the tears of an angel. It is said to possess the ability to cure any poison and disease.]
[Price: 50,000,000 True God Coins.]
Lev's eyes immediately lit up.
Without hesitation, he purchased three bottles.
The price was nothing compared to what he stood to gain.
He summoned one of the bottles into his hand while storing the other two inside his inventory.
He already had plans for them.
"Your Majesty, the elixir inside this vial will completely cure the poison in your body."
Lev presented the vial.
"I guarantee that nothing will happen to you."
Emperor Xue Ye immediately ordered one of the guards to retrieve the vial.
The guard carefully took it from Lev and handed it to the Emperor.
Emperor Xue Ye examined it for a moment.
He was naturally suspicious.
However, he couldn't think of any reason for Lev to harm him in the middle of the imperial palace, especially when doing so would only put himself in danger.
In the end, he opened the vial and drank the elixir.
The moment it entered his body, Emperor Xue Ye felt something strange.
The taste was unlike any medicine he had ever consumed.
But what surprised him even more was the sensation that followed.
A warm and soothing feeling spread throughout his body.
For several seconds, he felt as though his entire body had been rejuvenated.
The fatigue and discomfort he had grown accustomed to seemed to disappear completely.
Although the sensation only lasted for a few seconds, he could clearly feel that something inside his body had changed.
Emperor Xue Ye immediately looked toward Dugu Bo.
"Elder Dugu, would you check my body again?"
Dugu Bo didn't hesitate.
He immediately stepped forward and began examining the Emperor once more.
As he carefully inspected every part of Emperor Xue Ye's body, his expression gradually changed.
Then—
His eyes widened.
"T-The poison..."
Dugu Bo's voice trembled.
"It's gone, Your Majesty."
Silence filled the hall.
"The poison has completely disappeared."
"Hahahaha!"
Emperor Xue Ye suddenly burst into laughter.
"Good! Good!"
His laughter echoed throughout the hall.
But then—
BOOM!
A powerful spirit pressure suddenly erupted from his body.
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
With a casual wave of his hand, several cloaked figures appeared around Lev in an instant.
They surrounded him from every direction.
Lev's eyes narrowed slightly.
The atmosphere had changed completely.
Whatever Emperor Xue Ye intended to do next...
It certainly wasn't going to be as simple as thanking him.
"What do you mean by this, Your Majesty?"
Lev's expression turned serious as he looked at the Emperor.
Although he had already anticipated that something like this might happen, he hadn't expected Emperor Xue Ye to be shameless enough to make his intentions so obvious.
Emperor Xue Ye merely smiled.
"To think that you could cure something even Elder Dugu was helpless against."
His eyes gleamed with interest as he looked at Lev.
"Boy, you've made me even more curious about you. Just how much information are you hiding?"
Now that the poison had been removed from his body, Emperor Xue Ye no longer felt the need to fear Lev.
"So, you're showing your true colors now, Emperor Xue Ye."
Lev's gaze swept across the figures surrounding him.
Each one was releasing the powerful pressure of a Titled Douluo.
"To think I actually trusted you."
There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
At the same time, Lev couldn't help but feel somewhat impressed.
'So this is the hidden force the Heaven Dou Empire has been keeping concealed.'
He had already suspected that the empire possessed powerful experts beyond what was publicly known.
But to think they would actually deploy them against him...
He almost felt honored.
"Boy, your strength and knowledge are extremely valuable to the empire."
Emperor Xue Ye's smile returned.
"Join me, and I will grant you an appropriate position and reward you handsomely for your merits."
From the very beginning, Emperor Xue Ye had never intended to simply let Lev leave the palace.
After hearing everything from Ning Fengzhi and witnessing Lev's strength for himself, he had already determined that Lev could become one of the Heaven Dou Empire's greatest trump cards in the upcoming conflict.
He would do whatever was necessary to obtain him.
Even if it meant using force.
"And what if I decline?"
Lev asked calmly.
Emperor Xue Ye's smile disappeared.
He stared at Lev for several seconds before slowly raising his hand.
Then—
He waved it.
The cloaked figures surrounding Lev immediately moved.
Since they had failed to obtain him peacefully, they would have to use force.
'Tch.'
Lev clicked his tongue.
The next instant—
He vanished.
"?!"
The Titled Douluo surrounding him were stunned.
Before any of them could react, Lev had already disappeared from the palace.
He had immediately activated several spirit abilities, pushing his speed to an astonishing level and escaping the encirclement of several Titled Douluo in an instant.
However, Lev didn't stop.
His expression became solemn as he continuously used the skills.
His destination wasn't merely the hotel.
He needed to get Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing out of Heaven Dou City.
No.
He needed to get them out of the Heaven Dou Empire entirely.
If the Emperor was willing to openly turn against him after what had happened, then staying within the empire was no longer safe.
Meanwhile, Emperor Xue Ye clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling with anger.
"What are you all doing?!"
His furious roar echoed throughout the palace.
"Follow him!"
"Bring him back alive!"
The cloaked figures finally snapped out of their daze.
They had been left stunned by what had just happened.
A mere Spirit Emperor had escaped from their encirclement right under their noses.
It was something they had never imagined possible.
But they couldn't afford to remain stunned.
They immediately activated their respective spirit abilities and rushed after Lev.
They had to correct the mistake they had just made.
"This..."
Ning Fengzhi stood completely dumbfounded.
Everything had happened far too quickly for him to react.
He looked toward Emperor Xue Ye, seemingly wanting an explanation.
However, upon seeing the Emperor's furious and solemn expression, Ning Fengzhi stopped himself.
There was no point asking questions at this moment.
His gaze then shifted toward Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo had been watching the entire situation silently.
The moment Lev was chased away, he had desperately wanted to move and help him.
However, he remained calm.
He knew Lev wouldn't be caught that easily.
After all, he had already witnessed Lev's strength firsthand.
Still, Dugu Bo couldn't help but think carefully about what this meant.
From this moment onward, Lev would most likely become a wanted person throughout the Heaven Dou Empire.
That could create countless problems.
But then, another thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed.
'I need that elixir for Yan Yan.'
His expression became resolute.
Whatever happened next, he had already made his decision.
*****
Hotel,
By this time, the streets outside the hotel had already become bustling with activity.
Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing stood outside, waiting anxiously.
Lev had suddenly instructed Tsunade to leave the hotel with Zhu Zhuqing and wait outside because they would be leaving immediately.
Neither of them questioned his decision.
The urgency in Tsunade's expression was enough for Zhu Zhuqing to realize that something serious had happened.
They could only wait.
Then—
A gust of wind suddenly swept past them.
Lev appeared directly in front of them.
Before either woman could greet him or ask what had happened, Lev immediately wrapped an arm around each of their waists.
"We're leaving."
WHOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, the three disappeared.
Not long afterward, several cloaked figures arrived outside the hotel.
They looked around before entering the building.
They already knew that Lev had two companions staying here, and they intended to capture them and use them as bargaining chips to force Lev into submission.
Unfortunately for them...
They were already too late.
**********
—One hour later—
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well,
After an hour of continuous escape while simultaneously erasing their tracks, Lev finally stopped.
He carefully placed Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing back on the ground.
The place he had chosen as their refuge was none other than Dugu Bo's medicinal garden—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Lev looked around before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
They had escaped safely.
"I know what the two of you are thinking."
Lev turned toward Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing.
"The Emperor wanted me to join his side, but I declined. So, he ordered his loyal guards to capture me because I possess information they don't."
His expression became serious.
"I wasn't afraid of fighting them."
He paused.
"But I was more concerned about your safety than my own. That's why I chose to escape instead of fighting them head-on."
Tsunade and Zhu Zhuqing were both stunned upon hearing this.
They had only stayed in Heaven Dou City for one night, yet trouble had already found them again.
And this time, the situation was far more serious.
Both women couldn't help but feel guilty.
They knew they might have become Lev's weakness.
"Don't worry."
Lev reassured them.
"They won't be able to enter this place."
He then glanced to the side.
His eyes widened slightly.
There, a familiar figure was kneeling on the ground with his head lowered.
Dugu Bo.
This was precisely why Lev had chosen this place.
Not only was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Dugu Bo's territory, but the entire surrounding area was filled with deadly poisonous energy.
Even Titled Douluo would have difficulty entering this place without proper preparation.
Lev had no doubt that the Heaven Dou Empire's forces wouldn't dare recklessly pursue them here.
"Dugu Bo greets the Young Master."
Dugu Bo respectfully bowed while remaining on one knee.
Lev raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected to see him here.
Dugu Bo had remained in the palace for a while after Lev's escape before eventually taking his leave.
At first, he had intended to pursue Lev.
But after thinking about the situation, Dugu Bo suddenly had a feeling that Lev would be able to escape safely.
He then began wondering where Lev would go.
There was only one place that immediately came to mind.
His own territory.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo had never expected his guess to actually be correct.
And now, the young man he had been searching for was standing right in front of him.
Lev stared at Dugu Bo for a moment.
A faint smile gradually appeared on his face.
'Looks like things are getting interesting again.'