Xu Xinghe glanced around and lowered his voice. "His Majesty made far too light of it. He said a Soul Beast in the inner palace had been startled, but what Soul Beast in the palace could let out a tiger's roar of that caliber? I've never heard of one."
Sun Dajian nodded as well. "I've guarded the frontier for years, and I've never witnessed anything like that either. That tiger's roar carried tremendous force, even fuller and deeper than an Evil-Eyed White Tiger roaring with all its might."
Zhu Debiao fell silent for a moment. "If His Majesty wasn't telling the truth, there are only two possibilities—either a true genius has emerged in the royal family, or the royal family has secretly obtained some powerful cultivation art or secret treasure. Whichever it is, His Majesty doesn't want us to know."
Xu Xinghe mused, "What you mean, Spirit Cat Duke, is—"
"What I mean is that things we know nothing about may be happening in the Star Luo Empire. And those things may not be good news for us."
Hong Quanxiu, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. "My lords, Spirit Hall is willing to help investigate the truth behind last night's phenomenon. If you need anything, you may come to me at any time."
He inclined his head slightly and turned to leave in another direction, his long red robes snapping in the morning breeze.
Zhu Debiao watched him go without a word.
Xu Xinghe and Sun Dajian watched his retreating figure as well, deep in thought.
Silence lingered over the Plaza for a moment before Zhu Debiao withdrew his gaze. "Let's go. We'll discuss this when we get back."
The three men each boarded their own carriage.
The carriages left the imperial palace and headed in different