By the time Lu Yuan returned to Heaven Dou City, darkness had fallen completely.
News of the attack on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had clearly reached the city ahead of him. There were far more people coming and going outside the Crown Prince's Residence than usual, with officials from the military, the Royal Knights, and several offices responsible for scheduling city defenses all waiting. Lu Yuan did not enter through the main gate. He skirted the front hall and went straight to the study where Qian Renxue usually handled confidential affairs.
Qian Renxue looked up the moment he pushed the door open. The battle report from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was already on her desk, but all she had from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was the initial plea for reinforcements. Everything after that remained a blank.
"What about Yu Yuanzhen?"
"Alive." Lu Yuan placed the secret orders he had brought back from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in front of her. "Of the three Titled Douluo sent to kill him, one died and the other two escaped. The clan suffered losses on its outskirts, but the main peak and a large number of its young disciples were saved."
Qian Renxue's hand paused as she unfolded the secret orders. The contents were brief, but her gaze lingered on the inconspicuous operational seal at the bottom. Only after a moment did she flatten the paper. "This seal has been used in Spirit Hall's internal operations."
Lu Yuan sat down across from her. "Can we present it at court?"
"No." Qian Renxue shook her head. "Too few people recognize it, and most of those who could actually prove where it came from are in Spirit Hall. If we bring it out, it'll only become a piece