At Cloud Pool, the birthday banquet had reached its climax.
Melodious singing, accompanied by lavishly dressed performers, brought to life the Sun Moon Empire's era of expansion and conquest.
Huo Yuhao watched the opera being performed onstage with great interest.
The original Three Empires of Douluo Continent had also been influenced by the Sun Moon Empire, which was why so many opera performances later emerged. Opera singers earned quite considerable incomes as well, drawing many people to pursue the profession.
As the nobles watched with appreciative eyes, a string in Huo Yuhao's heart was suddenly plucked. He narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured inwardly, Sister Lexuan's Magic Mark has been triggered. It seems things are already settled on their end.
"What is it?" Ju Zi, accustomed to observing Xu Tianran's changes in expression, instinctively noticed Huo Yuhao narrowing his eyes and could not help asking.
"It's done," Huo Yuhao replied through voice transmission, returning his attention to the opera.
At those words, Ju Zi's pupils contracted sharply. Though little changed in her expression, she finally let out a complete sigh of relief—and felt a surge of excitement.
Dead. Xu Tianran was truly dead.
Performance after performance continued—epic, painful, mournful, jubilant. The actors vividly depicted the Empire's journey from weakness to strength.
From time to time, the nobles nodded in praise. With fruit wine and the evening breeze flowing down their throats, the crowd gradually became intoxicated.
After the final play ended, "Xu Tianran" went onstage once more and spoke a few words. Then, at last, the banquet came to an end.
The opera troupe and nobles happily left under the escort of Imperial Palace guards, while the palace maids began cleaning Cloud Pool.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao and Ju Zi returned to the Imperial Study at an unhurried pace, protected by