At the sound, Yi Tian jolted, his entire body freezing in place.
Someone was here!?
This time, Yi Tian really had been caught stealing, and guilt immediately crept over him.
He had never imagined anyone would notice him in this deserted, utterly dilapidated place!
Outside the palace doors, the aged voice received no answer and called out again, unable to contain its excitement:
"Your Majesty, the God King! Is that you, Your Majesty?"
Yi Tian's eyes narrowed, and he instantly regained his composure.
He was inside the God King's bedchamber. Anyone in the Heavenly God Realm qualified to approach its entrance had to possess extraordinary strength and status.
Yet the visitor still seemed unaware of Yi Tian's identity... either they could not sense his aura, or his God King's Divine Godhead Fragment had fooled them!
At that thought, Yi Tian steadied himself. Still, he decided to proceed cautiously. Rather than show himself, he merely declared in a low voice:
"Keep your voice down."
At those words, Yi Tian actually heard the visitor outside sobbing with excitement. Their voice trembled uncontrollably as they choked out a message into the palace:
"Y-Your Majesty, is it really you?"
"Have you truly returned? This old servant... this old servant and the Heavenly God Realm have waited far, far too long for you!"
He did everything he could to suppress his voice, as though afraid of disturbing the master inside. Yet the wrenching tangle of emotions in his tone could not be concealed:
"The Heavenly God Realm truly cannot be without you, Your Majesty!"
"This old servant understands. Whatever Your Majesty does must be right. The Heavenly God Realm will forever follow your will!"
The visitor's tone grew increasingly fervent, like a zealot swearing an oath.
But after that last sentence, the voice outside fell