Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace.
The palace was not particularly large, but it was luxurious.
The palace guards were all Soul Engineers, generally around Rank 5. They could only be considered stronger than those of the other two empires.
Lu Xueling had come alone. With the Deputy Hall Master identification token Jing Hongchen had given him, no one could stop him.
After passing through the palace gates and walking for nearly ten minutes, he arrived before an even taller palace hall, where his steps finally slowed.
After the four guards at the entrance confirmed his identity, they opened the doors for him and shouted, "Mingde Hall's Deputy Hall Master has arrived!"
When Lu Xueling entered the hall, the first thing he saw was the Sun Moon Empire's current emperor, an elderly man. To his left sat the wheelchair-bound Crown Prince Xu Tianran. Also present was the Sun Moon Empire's duke and Mingde Hall's Hall Master, Jing Hongchen.
As for the innermost seat on the lower right, there was only one person there. Lu Xueling could not make out his face with the naked eye. His entire body was shrouded in black robes, and the exposed tips of his ten fingers carried a faint crimson hue. However, he was tall and powerfully built, so he was presumably a man.
The rest were ministers of the Sun Moon Empire.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Lu Xueling gave the emperor on the throne a slight nod, his attitude fairly casual.
The Sun Moon Emperor nodded slightly, appearing quite magnanimous. "Someone, bring Hall Master Lu a seat."
A soldier carried over an iron chair and invited Lu Xueling to sit.
"Your Majesty, did you summon me to the palace this time to give me the answer Crown Prince Tianran brought back?"
The Sun Moon Emperor first