A Visit

Heavy snow began falling from the sky, turning the earth a field of silver-white.

Two hours later.

Prince Xue Xing knelt in the snow, shivering violently. His exposed upper body seemed to have lost all feeling, his face was blue-purple, and he swayed where he knelt, looking as if he was about to freeze to death.

Ning Fengzhi accompanied Emperor Xue Ye past Prince Xue Xing. Seeing his wretched state, he shook his head, but there was not the slightest pity in his heart.

Pitiful people always had something hateful about them. Relying on his status, Prince Xue Xing had never been particularly respectful toward him, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and their relationship was only mediocre.

"Your Majesty, His Excellency Death God is in a guest room on the third floor of the hotel. Since he did not kill Prince Xue Xing, there is still room to turn this around. We should be able to preserve the prince's life."

Seeing Emperor Xue Ye's heavy expression, Ning Fengzhi thought he was worried about Prince Xue Xing, so he offered a word of comfort.

Emperor Xue Ye forced a smile. "With Sect Master Ning mediating, and with Us sincerely apologizing as well, that Excellency is magnanimous. We also believe he should not go so far as to keep quarreling with Xue Xing."

"Imperial Brother, save... save me."

Sensing someone pass by him, and drowsily hearing a familiar voice, Prince Xue Xing barely opened his eyes to a slit. When he saw Emperor Xue Ye beside him, he hurriedly cried for help.

He felt that if he kept kneeling, then even if that Excellency did not kill him, he would probably freeze to death.

"You useless thing. Kneel properly! If that Excellency does not forgive you, then you can kneel here until you die!"

Emperor Xue Ye gave a furious snort, hating his failure to live up to expectations, then flung his sleeve and walked toward the hotel.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Sect Master Ning. Greetings, Your Excellencies."

The true owner behind the restaurant was Saqima, an earl of the empire. He had long since been waiting cautiously inside the establishment, and he hurried over to pay his respects to Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo.

Emperor Xue Ye nodded. "Is that Excellency still upstairs?"

Saqima said, "His Excellency has not come downstairs. He seems to be cultivating in his room."

Emperor Xue Ye sighed with emotion. "His Excellency's strength is extraordinary, yet he still cultivates so diligently. It truly makes one feel ashamed."

Then he said to Saqima, "Go up and announce us. Say that We, along with Sect Master Ning, and the two Excellencies Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, have come to visit, and respectfully request that His Excellency Death God Douluo spare a moment to meet us."

"Yes!"

Saqima hurried upstairs with soft, careful steps. Arriving outside Zhu Huang's room, he gently knocked on the door and said respectfully, "Your Excellency, His Majesty Xue Ye, Sect Master Ning, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo have come to visit. They respectfully request an audience with Your Excellency."

Zhu Huang stopped cultivating and said faintly, "Invite them up. I will wait for them in the reception hall."

The hotel Zhu Huang was staying in was still a high-end restaurant, so aside from guest rooms, it naturally had a sitting room and an outer reception hall. As long as one had money, one could enjoy noble treatment.

Ever since Saqima learned Zhu Huang's identity, he had immediately invited him into the most luxurious suite, earnestly requesting that he stay free of charge.

Zhu Huang had not stood on ceremony, and moved into the so-called prince suite that only princes, dukes, and nobles could stay in.

After Saqima left, Zhu Huang went to the reception hall. A moment later, a slightly aged voice, yet one that naturally carried authority, sounded from outside the door. "This one is Xue Ye. I have specially come to visit Your Excellency. Might I enter and meet you?"

Seeing Emperor Xue Ye put his attitude so low, a strange look flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. Through his observations and probing along the way, he had already vaguely understood Emperor Xue Ye's intentions.

He felt both pleased and worried about this. What pleased him was that if Death God Douluo formed an alliance with the empire and took up the post of the empire's Nation-Protecting Douluo, then he would indirectly count as an ally of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as well. Their side's strength would surge, and they would have far more confidence when facing Spirit Hall.

What worried him was that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's importance to the empire would decline. Emperor Xue Ye would certainly use Death God Douluo to keep the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in check.

But overall, the advantages still outweighed the disadvantages. Therefore, Ning Fengzhi also intended to pull this suddenly appearing Death God Excellency, who did not belong to any known faction, as close as possible and build good relations with him.

If he could bring about a close alliance between the three parties, then even Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect would not be enough to fear.

The corners of Zhu Huang's mouth curved slightly beneath his mask, and he said faintly, "Since His Majesty and Sect Master Ning have come to visit, then honored guests have arrived. Please come in."

Seeing that Zhu Huang did not even come out to greet them, Sword Douluo frowned, displeased. The other party was indeed strong, but their side was also made up of giants in their own right, and they might not necessarily fear him. How could he be so discourteous?

Seeing Sword Douluo's expression turn ugly, Ning Fengzhi gently shook his head. His own expression remained as calm as usual, with a warm, spring-breeze smile as he extended a hand. "Your Majesty, please!"

"Please!"

Emperor Xue Ye also extended a hand in courtesy, then took a slight half-step ahead and pushed open the door, walking into the sitting room.

The first thing he saw upon entering was Zhu Huang sitting on the sofa. With the mask on, his exact features could not be seen, but even seated, one could tell that his figure was tall and slender, his bearing noble, his posture unhurried, and his eyes indifferent. The impression he gave was like a boundless sea, yet also like a towering mountain, making reverence rise in one's heart unconsciously.

Sword Douluo narrowed his eyes. The stronger one was, the more one could sense the terrifying quality of the other party's aura. This was a peerless expert he had never seen before.

"Please sit."

Zhu Huang extended his hand. Hearing his youthful voice, several of them revealed a trace of surprise.

"Your Excellency."

Emperor Xue Ye cupped his hands and sat on the guest sofa. Ning Fengzhi sat on the other side, while Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo stood guard nearby.

Zhu Huang's gaze swept over them, pausing briefly on Sword Douluo before finally looking at Emperor Xue Ye. "Your Majesty has come to see me. May I ask what guidance you have?"

"I would not dare."

Emperor Xue Ye said humbly, "We have come to plead on behalf of that disappointing younger brother of Ours. When he was young, Our imperial father spoiled him rotten, and even after growing up, he could not change. We disciplined him many times, but it was useless. Now he has recklessly offended Your Excellency without knowing life from death. He certainly deserves to die, but We have only this one younger brother, and in earlier years We promised the empress dowager that We would take good care of him. We cannot bear to watch him die. Your Excellency is magnanimous. Could you spare his life? The empire is willing to compensate Your Excellency."

"Heh. Since Prince Xue Xing already knows his mistake, I am not set on killing him. Since Your Majesty has personally pleaded for him, how could I not give Your Majesty this face?"

Zhu Huang chuckled. To him, Prince Xue Xing was an ant-like existence. Whether he killed him or not made no difference. Since he had already punished him, letting him off once did not matter.

"Many thanks for Your Excellency's great magnanimity. I will have him come up at once and kneel to thank Your Excellency for the grace of not killing him."

Emperor Xue Ye was overjoyed. He had thought he would have to spend much effort arguing and pay a considerable price before there was any hope of saving Xue Xing. He had not expected this Excellency to forgive Xue Xing so easily. It seemed he also intended to be on good terms with the empire, which gave his plan to win him over a few more chances of success.

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Your Excellency's breadth of mind is admirable. As expected of a level ninety-eight peerless expert. However, Ning considers himself somewhat knowledgeable, yet I have never heard the name Sky Demon Island before. It truly is worthy of being a hidden faction."