"Capture the Seven Kill Sect Master! Once I ascertain the whereabouts of the medicinal formula, I shall make a decision!"

As Dai Li's words fell, the entire hall erupted in an uproar once more.

The civil and military officials widened their eyes, staring at Dai Li in disbelief; even Tang Wei, the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect, looked at him with utter astonishment.

A single thought rose in everyone's minds simultaneously...

Had Dai Li lost his mind?

The so-called imperial secret medicines and lost prescriptions Dai Li spoke of—everyone present was no fool, so how could they not know these were entirely fabricated charges?

Of course.

Everyone understood the reason why.

An innocent man is guilty only because of his treasure.

The pill in Chen Fan's possession, capable of creating a Title Douluo, was what Dai Li truly coveted!

But the problem was this!

If you are going to use trumped-up charges and leverage, you need overwhelming force to make the arrest, don't you?

The Seven Kill Sect currently had not only Chen Xin but also Xu Wensu—two Title Douluos!

Even with the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect present, who would dare claim they could take them down?

Had Dai Li gone mad?

Trying to make an arrest with such a flimsy excuse?

"Your Majesty, this..."

An old official couldn't help but try to intervene, but before he could finish, Dai Li glared at him with a cold, icy gaze. "Did you not hear what I said?!"

Dai Li's gaze swept across the great hall, his voice sharp and cold. "Guards!"

"Seize the Sect Master of the Seven Kill Sect! I shall decide his fate once I have investigated the whereabouts of the prescription!"

However, after he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The imperial guards looked at one another, but not a single one dared to step forward.

Are you kidding?

With two Title Douluos holding the field, what difference was there between these guards—who were merely level-sixty Soul Emperors—stepping forward and simply throwing their lives away?

"Can your Star Luo Imperial Family actually produce such a thing?"

Chen Fan was well aware of this, but given the lack of overwhelming force, how did Dai Li dare to act like this?

Could it be that there was another expert hidden away?

"I am certainly sure of it!"

Dai Li let out a cold snort. "If my memory serves me correctly, the imperial retainer who defected and stole the prescription back then bore the surname Chen!"

"Now, you parade through my Star Luo Imperial Palace with this pill, and you dare to question me?"

"Is that so?"

Chen Fan remained silent, but Xu Wensu, standing to the side, turned around.

He brushed the dust off his robes and looked up. His cloudy eyes now shone with a piercing, hawk-like intensity. "I have lived in Star Luo City for over a hundred years, and I have never heard of the Dai Family possessing any secret medicine capable of helping one break through to Title Douluo."

"If such a thing truly existed, why has your Dai Family only produced two Title Douluos in the last four hundred years?"

Dai Li was left speechless, his face flushing a deep red.

"Insolence! You are a subject, yet you dare to question me?!"

"A subject?"

Xu Wensu sneered. "I am not even certain I am your subject anymore."

Before the words had even faded, Xu Wensu moved.

The speed of a level-ninety-three Title Douluo was so fast that it was nearly impossible for the naked eye to track!

Dai Li only felt a blur before him, and a withered, skeletal hand had already clamped around his throat!

"Urgh—!"

Dai Li was hoisted into mid-air, his feet dangling off the ground, his face instantly turning a deep, congested red.

He didn't even have time to release his Martial Soul, let alone execute a Martial Soul Fusion skill with Empress Zhu!

In this era of the Douluo Continent, before a level-ninety-three Title Douluo possessing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, a mere level-eighty-nine Soul Douluo was as weak as a toddler.

"Your Majesty!"

Empress Zhu cried out in alarm, her soul power surging as she moved to save him.

However.

Xu Wensu didn't even turn his head; he merely flicked his hand, and a beam of starlight sent her flying.

"Bang—!"

Empress Zhu, chair and all, was sent crashing away, slamming heavily into the wall. She spat out blood, her face turning deathly pale.

Her soul power level was only eighty-five; facing a level ninety-three Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, she couldn't even withstand a single move!

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Dai Li was gripped by the throat, his hands desperately prying at Xu Wensu's fingers, his eyes filled with terror.

He certainly knew about the crushing disparity in strength, but he had assumed that since this was Star Luo City, even two Title Douluos could be worn down to death by attrition!

But he never expected this!

These imperial guards had no intention of using their lives to drain the mana bars of two Title Douluos.

Furthermore!

This Xu Wensu was even more unscrupulous, opting to capture the ringleader first!

Ultimately, it was Xu Wensu's extensive experience in the imperial court that allowed him to see through Dai Li's plan, which was why he had acted so decisively.

Of course!

What shocked Dai Li even more was this.

Did this Xu Wensu... truly intend to kill him?

"Dai Li, I saw through your clumsy little tricks long ago."

Xu Wensu smiled faintly. "Allow this old man to send Your Majesty on your way!"

Hearing these words, Dai Li opened his mouth, emitting a "he-he" sound, his eyes filled with dread.

At this very moment!

He truly felt the suffocating grip of death!

However, just as Xu Wensu prepared to crush Dai Li's throat!

"Presumptuous!"

An aged voice suddenly echoed from the depths of the hall.

The voice was not loud, yet it contained an incredibly terrifying fluctuation of soul power that made the entire Taihe Hall tremble!

Several ministers standing nearby were knocked to the ground, while the wine cups, bowls, and dishes on the tables rattled violently, spilling tea everywhere!

Sensing this fluctuation, Xu Wensu's expression changed drastically. A black soul ring immediately flared among the nine behind him.

The next moment!

His Star Crown martial soul erupted with starlight, forming a golden astral barrier in front of him!

Almost the instant the astral barrier formed, a translucent White Tiger phantom slammed into it. The barrier held for only a split second before filling with cracks, shattering instantly, and slamming heavily into Xu Wensu.

"Pfft!"

Xu Wensu was sent reeling backward, his feet carving two deep furrows into the floor. He retreated over a dozen steps, only managing to steady himself by dropping to one knee in front of Chen Fan!

Immediately, a mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering onto the floor tiles in a shocking display!

"This..."

"A Title Douluo?"

Xu Wensu raised his head, his gaze filled with horror as he felt the lingering power of that strike.

This sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned, and they instinctively looked toward the source.

From the shadows of the side door of the hall, an elderly man with white hair and wearing hemp robes, accompanied by an old woman, slowly walked out.

The old man had a gaunt face and a hunched figure, leaning on a black cane. He looked like an ordinary old man who could be buried at any moment, yet his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.

With every step he took, a soul ring rose behind him. By the time he had taken nine steps, he was standing just two meters away from Xu Wensu.

A soul ring configuration of two yellow, two purple, and five black!

Clearly, this was a Title Douluo!

"Dai Renfeng, Zhu Buchun?"

"You two old things are actually still alive!?"