"Tell me, should I call you Zhou Lie... or Xiong Lie?"
At the name "Xiong Lie,"
Zhou Lie's pupils instantly contracted.
But only for an instant.
He soon returned to normal.
There was not a trace of panic in his composed eyes.
He bowed slightly.
His tone was respectful. "Your Highness, Xiong Lie was my former name. Later, I took my mother's surname and changed it to Zhou Lie."
"Your mother's surname?"
Li Xinge shook his head with a chuckle.
He clapped his hands lightly.
Outside the hall,
a slight figure shrouded entirely in a black robe, with only his eyes exposed, hurried inside.
As soon as he entered,
he dropped to one knee.
"My lord."
His voice was hoarse, but his tone was utterly respectful.
Li Xinge gave a slight nod.
"Rise."
The black-robed man rose as instructed.
Li Xinge looked at Zhou Lie.
"Tell him what your investigation uncovered," he said evenly.
"Yes, my lord."
The black-robed man glanced at Zhou Lie.
Then, lowering his head, he said slowly, "Ever since you came to my lord's attention, he has had me investigate your origins."
"After these past few months of investigation, we found that all the clues ultimately pointed to one place."
Zhou Lie's heart sank.
He stood where he was, his back still ramrod straight.
Only his hands, hanging at his sides, quietly clenched.
The black-robed man continued.
"Years ago, my lord destroyed the Eastern Ridge Kingdom. Its two Divine Mansion experts, the ruler of the Eastern Ridge Kingdom and its Great Priest, both died."
"But the ruler's lineage had left a contingency in place."
"That contingency was in Xu Province."
Though Zhou Lie forced himself to look calm,
his heart began pounding wildly.
"That contingency... was the Xiong Clan Hidden Lineage."
"Zhou Lie, oh... no, Xiong