Chapter Fifty-Five: The Grand Emperor Xingluo's Scheme! Killing with a Borrowed Knife! Lu Yu's Deadly Resolve!

After Lu Yu took his seat, the deep voice of Emperor Xingluo resounded once more. “Lu Yu, I am already aware of the incident that occurred at the Royal Xingluo Academy.”

“This was supposed to be a friendly sparring match among young men, but since a wager was involved, and Davis is a prince of the Xingluo Empire, I have summoned you to the inner hall.”

“Accept your defeat gracefully. Today, before all of you, I shall pay the wager on behalf of my unworthy son!”

“Attendant!”

As his words fell, an elderly eunuch with graying hair appeared, holding a tray before Lu Yu.

The tray was covered with a black cloth. The eunuch smiled faintly and, in a sharp, hoarse voice, said, “Lord Lu, please lift the black cloth.”

Lu Yu narrowed his eyes, silently cursing the old fox.

When it came to the royal family’s honor, Emperor Xingluo would never renege on a debt.

But for the old fox to hand over a soul bone openly before the representatives present—that was essentially a declaration to all that Lu Yu bore a precious treasure.

A common man is innocent, yet possessing a gem can bring trouble.

Even though Lu Yu was the most valued student at Tiandou Royal Academy and hailed as the greatest prodigy of the Tiandou Empire, there would always be those willing to risk everything for a soul bone.

Sitting first beneath Emperor Xingluo was Yue Guan, who now studied Lu Yu intently, eyes filled with a strange expression.

This youth must be the prodigy that Xie Yue spoke of, right?

Even His Holiness the Pope had given an unprecedentedly high appraisal. What kind of magic did this boy possess?

Talent?

At the Pope’s level, he would not so highly regard a genius who had yet to fully mature.

At that moment, Lu Yu lifted the black cloth, revealing a crystal-clear bone resting on the tray.

It was a right arm bone!

The black cloth seemed to possess an aura-concealing effect. As it was removed, a fierce and domineering energy swept across the hall.

Many present in the inner hall were unaware of the solo duel between Lu Yu and Davis, nor did they expect the item on the tray to be a soul bone.

Judging from the aura emanating from the bone, it was an exceptionally remarkable soul bone!

The eyes of those present burned with greed.

Emperor Xingluo then spoke, “This is one of the royal family’s inherited soul bones, obtained by our founding emperor on an overseas spirit island. He slew a soul beast that, through a rare combination of heaven’s gift and earthly treasure, transformed into a spirit beast with a cultivation age of eighty thousand years—the extraordinary soaring Chrysanthemum.”

“Lu Yu, today I shall, as a father conceding defeat, bestow this soul bone upon you!”

“Though it is merely a wager and could be handled lightly, the Xingluo Empire and I wish to use this opportunity to form a benevolent bond with you.”

Watching Emperor Xingluo’s grandiose demeanor and glancing at the red-robed man seated beneath him—the first in the hand placement—Lu Yu cursed inwardly.

This old gray-haired fox acted magnanimous, but Lu Yu knew this was a trap!

From the red-robed man’s appearance, and the soul bone Emperor Xingluo presented, Lu Yu had already guessed the identity of this man.

The Martial Soul Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan!

Yue Guan’s martial soul was the extraordinary soaring Chrysanthemum!

This soul bone, sharing the same origin and lineage, was worth even more to Yue Guan than a hundred-thousand-year soul bone!

A case of killing with a borrowed knife!

The Tiandou Empire delegation had clearly seen through this as well, their expressions darkening.

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes, a trace of amusement flashing within.

Lu Yu was his chosen one, and since he had already made his stance clear to that woman earlier, Yue Guan’s recklessness would likely not be tolerated.

Emperor Xingluo had miscalculated!

But Lu Yu was unaware of the matter between Xue Qinghe and Bibi Dong, much less that Bibi Dong had come to regard him as a confidant.

To Lu Yu, that mysterious woman on the open terrace was very likely Bibi Dong herself.

He had openly struck at her vulnerabilities, and now he had taken a treasure so precious that even Yue Guan, Bibi Dong’s right hand, was crazed over. Things were not looking good!

At the same time, he discerned Emperor Xingluo’s second intention.

He aimed to use Yue Guan’s hand to completely alienate the Martial Soul Hall, ensuring that they would hold a grudge against him.

In that case, joining the Martial Soul Hall would be impossible, and the threat posed to the Xingluo Empire would be greatly diminished.

What a cunning plan!

Lost in thought, yet outwardly playing the part of a naive youth with a smile, Lu Yu placed the soul bone into his soul guidance ring and bowed deeply to Emperor Xingluo.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Xingluo smiled warmly. “Lu Yu, I hope that when we meet again, you will be a formidable force capable of standing alone.”

Lu Yu nodded with a smile, then took his leave discreetly, though his murderous intent had already reached its peak.

The Xingluo royal family differed from the Tiandou royal family. The latter’s inherited martial soul was the swan, which held limited potential. Throughout generations of the Tiandou royal lineage, few ever surpassed level seventy in strength.

But the Xingluo royal family inherited the top-tier martial soul, the Evil-eyed White Tiger. Each prince endured a grueling selection process, akin to nurturing poison, to ultimately determine the crown prince.

Therefore, every Emperor Xingluo was a powerhouse!

This current Emperor Xingluo was a titled Douluo with a cultivation level of ninety-four!

At present, Lu Yu was completely powerless against the old fox and could only keep this score in mind, planning to settle it slowly with the Xingluo royal family in the future.

Considering this, he suddenly thought of Zhu Zhuyun.

Why not... first collect some interest from that old gray-haired man’s son?

Meanwhile, in a corner of the outer hall, an ordinary-looking woman displayed a cold smile before vanishing in an instant.

The banquet lasted for an hour. After the leaders in the inner hall concluded their discussions regarding the Soul Master Tournament, the feast finally ended.

Once outside the palace and back at the hotel, Lu Yu climbed out a window, quietly slipping away under cover of darkness using concealment and invisibility talismans, heading straight out of the city!

Upon leaving the city, Lu Yu sped toward Starcloud Mountain while channeling spiritual energy into his soul guidance ring to observe the right arm bone of the extraordinary soaring Chrysanthemum.

Judging from its aura, it was indeed a soul bone over eighty thousand years old.

He had no intention of absorbing it, for Lu Yu’s ambitions were vast, and he was confident that once he reached a certain level, he could hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast alone.

In simple terms, this mere eighty-thousand-year soul bone was beneath his notice!

Arriving at Starcloud Mountain, Lu Yu immediately spotted the slender figure waiting at the foot of the mountain in the night.

He hadn’t come to confront Zhu Zhuyun or to cuckold Davis and seek revenge against Emperor Xingluo.

He came for the Ten-Thousand-Year Drunken Immortal Mushroom she had mentioned!

This heavenly treasure contained immense energy; consuming it would multiply the rate at which Lu Yu transformed the innate vitality within his body for a long time to come.

He knew well that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and she would certainly demand conditions.

But since he had already crossed paths antagonistically with Emperor Xingluo, he no longer needed to concern himself with the Zhu family.

Conditions?

Whatever ridiculous terms she proposed!

When the time came, he would simply take the woman for himself. If he couldn’t deal with Emperor Xingluo, then surely he could at least spite the fiancé of his son.