In a secluded private room on the top floor of the Star Emperor Hotel.
Dai Hao sat in a rosewood chair, staring at the tea before him, which had long since gone cold.
The heavy wooden door was pushed open from outside.
Xu Jiawei stepped inside, his face carrying a weariness he could not quite conceal.
Dai Hao immediately rose and cupped his hands in salute.
"Your Majesty."
Xu Jiawei waved away the formalities, then walked to the seat of honor and sat down, lifting a cup of tea to moisten his throat.
"The talks fell through."
He set the cup on the table with a crisp clink. "That brat didn't even glance at our offers. He rejected our invitation outright."
Dai Hao's brows lifted slightly, surprise flashing in his eyes.
He knew very well how generous the imperial family's terms had been to win over that lost member of their bloodline. Any ordinary Soul Master would never have had the confidence to refuse.
The boy was even more unyielding than he had expected.
After that brief moment of surprise, Dai Hao's expression grew solemn, his battle-hardened face returning to its usual composure.
"Since the peaceful approach won't work, we'll have to proceed with the original plan."
Xu Jiawei stood and smoothed his slightly creased sleeves.
"Let's go. To the Heavenly Dragon Sect."
Dragon City, at the Heavenly Dragon Sect's headquarters.
The magnificent palace, like a great dragon coiled atop the mountain, now hosted the highest-level secret gathering it had seen in centuries.
More than a dozen figures with deep, formidable auras sat in the spacious council hall.
Even the weakest person qualified to sit here had crossed the threshold of level 90.
Long Yuhan, sect master of the Heavenly Dragon Sect; Jian Wushuang, valley master of Sword Valley;