Both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire had grown somewhat quieter after Qian Daoliu's appearance.
At that moment, within the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xue Ye, ruler of the empire, had lost the majesty he displayed by day as the sovereign who held the realm in his grasp.
Now, he reclined against a cushioned seat, looking old and frail, with none of an emperor's imposing dignity visible about him.
Only his half-closed eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light that struck fear into the heart.
There were no maids or eunuchs attending him in the vast hall. Only two people stood before Emperor Xue Ye.
One was Emperor Xue Ye's younger brother, the true power behind the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and one of the few princes still remaining in the empire: Prince Xue Xing.
The other, clad in green robes with green hair, kept his formidable aura restrained. He was one of the continent's greatest experts, a Titled Douluo whose title was Poison: the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.
At that moment, only the three of them occupied the vast hall.
Reclining on his cushioned seat, Emperor Xue Ye looked at the two of them. "There's no one else in the hall now, just the three of us. Take your seats. Let's have a little chat."
Emperor Xue Ye's voice was even, without any marked inflection, but his many years at the helm of the empire lent him an unmistakable air of authority.
He had called it a little chat, but both men knew that summoning them late at night could not possibly be as simple as exchanging a few words.
When Emperor Xue Ye invited them to sit, Prince Xue Xing immediately bowed and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, we cannot dispense with propriety.