An Audience Before the Sovereign!

Heaven Dou City, Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

It was already late at night, yet the lights in the Imperial Study still burned brightly.

Xue Ye sat behind a broad rosewood desk, holding a memorial in his hand. His brows were faintly furrowed, clearly dealing with something far from pleasant.

He was in his fifties, with a dignified yet refined face. Gray had begun to show at his temples, but his eyes remained clear and sharp, carrying the steadiness and caution unique to an emperor.

He was not particularly imposing in build, yet he naturally exuded an aura of authority without anger. Those who had long stood at the pinnacle of power all possessed such a temperament.

Just as he set down the memorial and prepared to rise for some rest, a guard's report came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, General Ge Long requests an audience. He says there is urgent military intelligence."

Xue Ye's brows rose slightly.

Ge Long had served as a general under him for many years and had always been steady and prudent. For him to seek an audience in the dead of night, this was certainly no small matter.

He sat back down and ordered, "Let him in."

The door was pushed open, and Ge Long strode inside.

He still wore that dark golden suit of iron armor. The beast-faced patterns upon it gleamed coldly beneath the lamplight, but his steps were somewhat faster than usual, clearly indicating the seriousness of the matter.

Three steps before the desk, he dropped to one knee and cupped his hands in salute. "Your Majesty, the Treasury area on the eastern side of the palace was infiltrated tonight. During my watch, I exchanged blows with the intruder. I have come to report."

Xue Ye's expression tightened slightly.

The heavily guarded Treasury had been infiltrated?

In any era, such an incident constituted a severe security breach. At best, valuables would be lost; at worst, it could shake the foundation of the state.

"Tell me everything." Xue Ye's tone remained calm, but his gaze had already sharpened.

Ge Long nodded and recounted the events of the night from beginning to end.

From the moment a reconnaissance-type Soul Master discovered someone sneaking around the outer perimeter of the Treasury, to the alarm being raised, to his arrival and confrontation with the intruder, to their battle, and finally the enemy's escape under the cover of a thunderstorm—he explained every detail clearly. He neither embellished anything nor concealed his own mistakes.

Xue Ye listened intently, his fingers lightly tapping the desk. His expression was as still as water, revealing neither pleasure nor anger.

After Ge Long finished, he remained silent for several breaths before asking, "How strong was he? Could you determine his background?"

Ge Long answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, he wore a mask and was not large in stature. However, judging from his voice, he should have been a teenage boy, around twelve or thirteen years old. His Soul Power Level was that of a Soul King, roughly level fifty-seven. His Martial Soul was a lightning-attribute flying type, and his speed was exceptionally fast—the fastest agility-attack Soul Master I have ever seen. He carried a knuckle-duster-shaped weapon, seemingly a Soul Tool, which could amplify lightning-attribute attacks and possessed extremely strong piercing power."

At this point, he paused and lowered his gaze to his right arm.

There was an extremely shallow scratch on his iron armor, left behind by the Dragon Fang Knuckle Duster.

"My Yazi Protection was pierced by more than half an inch. Though it did not injure any vital areas, never before has a Soul King been capable of tearing through my defenses."

"Furthermore, his soul skill configuration was highly unusual. He had a domain-type soul skill that could summon Thunderclouds to cover an area within five hundred meters, enhancing all attributes. He had a Clone-type soul skill capable of creating ten clones identical to the original. He also possessed astonishing burst movement, able to appear behind me in an instant. Had my Yazi Dragon Tail not blocked his final strike in time, the consequences would have been difficult to predict."

After hearing this, Xue Ye's expression finally changed.

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes flickering slightly as his tapping fingers came to a stop.

"A boy barely in his teens, a level fifty-seven Soul King, lightning attribute, fast enough that even your Yazi nearly failed to stop him."

"Where did such a monster come from?"

He repeated those key details, every word carrying immense weight.

Ge Long said quietly, "Exactly so. But I do not know where he came from. Upon further consideration, this person possesses extraordinary talent and immense combat experience. He does not seem like someone cultivated by an ordinary independent practitioner. I suspect that some major sect or powerful faction may stand behind him."

Xue Ye rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced two steps before stopping by the window. His gaze turned toward the eastern side of the palace in the night.

After a brief silence, he spoke in a calm yet meaningful tone.

"A twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy, a level fifty-seven Soul King, wearing a mask as he infiltrates the palace, with the Treasury as his direct target. Ge Long, what do you think he wanted?"

Ge Long considered it before answering, "I cannot be certain. He entered through the outer perimeter of the Treasury and was stopped before reaching the vault doors, so his exact target remains unknown. However, the Treasury contains rare treasures collected by the Imperial Family throughout the generations. If he came for wealth, the risk would have been excessive. In my view, he may have been after a particular item."

Xue Ye nodded faintly.

That judgment aligned perfectly with his own thoughts.

A force capable of nurturing such a genius would not lack money.

The intruder had entered late at night, avoided alerting the outer patrols, and gone straight to the vicinity of the Treasury. That showed he had come prepared, with a clear objective.

This behavior seemed more like an attempt to obtain a particular treasure than simple theft.

"Which faction do you think he belongs to?" Xue Ye turned his head and asked.

Ge Long pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "A lightning-attribute Martial Soul, speed-based agility attacks, and exceptional talent. Among the Three Upper Sects, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan specializes in lightning, and its disciples are spread throughout the land. Furthermore, the Thunderclap Mountain Range lies within the empire. I would not dare draw conclusions lightly, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is indeed highly possible. Even if he is not one of theirs, he may belong to an affiliated force. Of course, this is only speculation."

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan..." Xue Ye softly repeated the name.

After a moment, he asked again, "If he is from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, what would they want from the Treasury?"

Ge Long did not answer. It was not a question he could answer.

Xue Ye did not press him. He returned to the desk and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the piled memorials as his fingers tapped the armrest twice.

"Convey my decree."

Ge Long immediately straightened.

"First, raise the security level around the Treasury by one rank. Double the number of reconnaissance-type Soul Masters, and change the night patrol rotation from two shifts to three. Ensure there are no blind spots."

"Second, transfer two of my personal retainers from the palace to guard the Treasury area: one Soul Douluo and one Soul Saint. They will take turns standing watch."

"Third, mobilize the Imperial Intelligence Bureau to secretly investigate all lightning-attribute Soul Masters who have recently appeared in Heaven Dou City and the surrounding regions. Focus on those between ten and fifteen years old whose movements are uncertain. Report immediately upon finding leads, but do not alert the target."

"Fourth..." Xue Ye paused, his gaze deepening. "What happened tonight is to be kept strictly confidential. No information may be leaked. Any violators will be charged with treason."

Ge Long accepted the order. "This general obeys Your Majesty's decree."

He rose to take his leave, but before moving, he hesitated and could not resist asking, "Your Majesty, if it is confirmed that the other party is indeed connected to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, how should we handle it?"

Xue Ye glanced at him. His eyes were calm and steady, without the slightest panic or impulsive rage.

He spoke slowly.

"If he is from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I will personally ask their clan leader when the Heaven Dou Imperial Family offended them enough for them to send someone to scout the Treasury at night. If he is not from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... then it is even more necessary to uncover the truth. A Soul King barely in his teens who dares to enter the imperial palace alone—if no faction supports him, then he is an uncontrollable monster. Neither outcome can be taken lightly."

"It would be best if we can recruit him. Power, status, money, beautiful women, titles—anything can be given to him."

"But if he refuses to join us and can be captured, then kill him!"

His tone remained calm throughout, but Ge Long could hear the weight behind his words.

Though Xue Ye appeared outwardly composed, the infiltration of the Treasury had truly caught his attention.

"Yes! This general takes his leave!"

Ge Long bowed and withdrew, striding out of the Imperial Study.

Xue Ye sat alone in the empty Imperial Study as the candle flame flickered slightly in the night wind.

He reached out, picked up a jade paperweight from the desk, and turned it between his fingers, his gaze calm and distant.

A teenage Soul King... infiltrating the Treasury late at night... fast enough that even Ge Long's Yazi could not stop him...

He suddenly thought of something.

Deep within the Treasury was a supreme treasure passed down from his ancestors. It was entirely azure and translucent, as though a vast sea flowed within it.

He did not know its precise purpose. It had merely been treasured in the vault by every emperor throughout the generations as a national heirloom, its symbolic significance far surpassing any practical use.

If that boy had come for that object...

Xue Ye placed the jade paperweight back on the desk and leaned lightly against the chair back.

Whether that was the case or not, he had to make every possible preparation.

As the ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire, not underestimating enemies, not acting rashly, and taking precautions before danger arose were the most basic qualities he had developed during more than twenty years on the throne.