The trip to Heaven Dou City took nineteen days. Xiao Zhan didn't use carriages. Carriages left trails. The Veil moved like water: in small groups, on foot, as merchants, as pilgrims, as nothing.
He traveled as "Teacher Zhan," a scholar from the south with two students, Su Yin and a new face, Liu Feng. Liu Feng was twenty, Rank 31, martial soul "Empty Quill." He wasn't Marked. He didn't need to be. He was loyal because Xiao Zhan had pulled him out of a Spirit Hall dungeon three years ago.
Heaven Dou was loud. Bigger than Southhaven by ten times. The streets smelled like roast meat, ink, perfume, and ambition. Spirit Hall's banners hung on every third building. Empire soldiers patrolled in units of five. And underneath it all, whispers.
Scholar Bai's Memory Palace had done its work. The Veil had three safehouses here already, all bought under different names over two years. Their current one was beneath a bookstore called "Idle Words." The owner was a Marked.
*Marked #4: Commander Yue* wasn't here. She held the mountain base. *Marked #5: Scholar Bai* was, sitting cross-legged in the basement, surrounded by paper.
"Crown Prince Dai Mubai," Bai said without looking up. "Age twenty-four. Rank 58. White Tiger martial soul, mutated. Twin bloodline, royal family. Arrogant, competent. Arrives in six days under the alias 'Merchant Mu'. Meeting with Spirit Hall Elder Salas. Purpose: unknown, but Star Luo and Spirit Hall haven't talked peacefully in ten years."
Xiao Zhan tapped the table. "Security?"
"Two Rank 65 Title Douluo as secret guards. One Spirit Hall, one Star Luo. Plus his personal squad, four Rank 50+."
Ghost Blade's voice came from the rafters. "I can take the squad. Not the Title Douluo."
"You won't need to," Xiao Zhan said.
That night, the system spoke. Not with a screen. With a voice, for the first time. Cold. Regal. Like his own, but older.
*[Host has reached Rank 61. Hidden Condition Detected: Host has influenced the fate of two Kingdoms]*
*[System Update Initiated]*
*[Rule Amendment 1: Orphan Restriction Removed. Host's will is the only law]*
*[Rule Amendment 2: Level Suppression Limit Set. Host may Mark targets up to 20 Levels above Host's current Rank]*
*[Current Limit: Rank 81 and below]*
*[Warning: Marking targets above Host's Rank incurs Soul Power backlash proportional to difference]*
Xiao Zhan opened his eyes. The room was dark. The Monarch's Crown appeared above his palm without being summoned, spinning slowly. The third ring pulsed.
So. The system could change. It grew with him. And now the leash was gone.
He didn't need to be an orphan. He just needed to be strong. And he could reach 20 levels up. A Rank 81 was a Titled Douluo. A human disaster.
He could Mark a Titled Douluo.
"Su Yin," he said.
She appeared. "Young King."
"New rules. The Crown Prince is on the table."
Her eyes widened, just a fraction. That was surprise from Su Yin. "He's Rank 58. Three below you. No backlash."
"I know." He stood. "But we don't move yet. First, we listen. I want to know what he's buying from Spirit Hall before I decide if he kneels or bleeds."