"Eight Dou Emperors and a dozen or so Dou Wangs? Even you have become a Seven-Star Dou Huang, Old Xue? Good, very good. It seems none of you slacked off during the years I was away..."
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out inside the Main Hall. Though quiet, it reached the old man's ears with perfect clarity.
The old man's expression changed. He scanned his surroundings and shouted, "Who dares run wild in the Xiao Court!"
But when his gaze shifted to the steps, he froze completely.
A young man came into view, seated on that luxurious chair and smiling at him.
That handsome face was utterly familiar. The old man felt as though he were hallucinating, but he was a Seven-Star Dou Huang. Who in the Black-Corner Region could make him see illusions?
"C-Court Master?"
The old man called out in disbelief.
The young man smiled. "Old Xue, it's been a long time..."
Hearing that familiar voice, the old man nearly lost his composure. Still, he respectfully cupped his hands and bowed deeply toward the young man.
"Xue You respectfully welcomes the Court Master home!"
At the sight, the young man appeared before Xue You in the next instant and helped him straighten up. "I was right about you. Under your leadership, the Xiao Court has grown far stronger than before."
"This old servant is ashamed. After all these years, the strongest among us is still only a Nine-Star Dou Emperor. No one has broken through to Dou Zong..."
"Becoming a Dou Zong isn't that easy. Besides, only seven or eight years have passed."
The newcomer was none other than Xiao Yu, who was hurrying back to the Northwest. While passing through the Black-Corner Region, he remembered the Xiao Court he had founded there and decided to