"Let's go!"
"We'll go find the Star Luo Emperor now."
Yang Fan's brows slightly furrowed.
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
After all, the Star Luo Emperor was the ruler of a nation.
Bringing up a national leader's painful past for him to relive.
Yang Fan wasn't unwilling to help Yao Lao find the Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine needed to refine the Bone Growing Blood Melting Pill.
Mainly, they could think of a more tactful method.
"What's inappropriate about it."
"The Star Luo Empire's interior is already riddled with holes. Our master-disciple duo could just directly enter the Star Luo royal family and demand it from him."
Very reasonable!
After hearing Yao Lao's teaching, he suddenly had an epiphany.
The Star Luo Empire was now in imminent danger!
Perhaps today the Star Luo Empire would still surnamed Dai, tomorrow it could already become the neighbor's Wang.
In this situation, calling him "Your Majesty" was already giving him face.
"That..."
"How do we get to the Star Luo royal family?"
Although Yang Fan was born within the Star Luo Empire's territory, his household registration was actually in the Tian Dou Empire.
Plus he had always lived in a border town like Yunluo City. This was only the second time in his life he had come to Star Luo City.
"I'll take you there together."
"This... isn't good."
Zhu Zhuqing had already told them about this past matter of the Star Luo Emperor. If Zhu Zhuqing personally led the way now, wouldn't that be equivalent to selling him out?
"Nothing's wrong with it."
Although Yang Fan's main purpose in coming to the Star Luo Empire this time was to find the Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine, he had also clearly expressed that he could help the Star Luo Zhu Family.
Just based on this point…
She couldn't avoid this matter today.
"Let's go."
A rare trace of a smile appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cold face.
Only this smile looked very bitter!
Completely because she was stimulated by Yang Fan and Yao Lao's words just now.
Yes!
Now everyone already looked down on the Star Luo Empire. She herself also knew that before long, the Star Luo Empire might change dynasties.
...
Star Luo Imperial Palace.
The guards here were more stringent than Yang Fan imagined, even three times more than the Tian Dou Empire's security level.
This situation increased the difficulty for everyone to see the Star Luo Emperor.
Of course…
For a family like the Zhu Family, which had intermarried with the Star Luo royal family for generations, it was relatively simple to see the Star Luo Emperor.
"Internal trouble and external threat."
"The guards in Star Luo City have all been recalled by the Star Luo Emperor to the vicinity of the imperial palace."
If enemies reached the city walls in this situation, then this Star Luo City would be like letting enemies enter an unguarded realm.
But this was also something that couldn't be helped.
In the Star Luo Empire's current situation, if the Star Luo Emperor didn't recall all the royal guards to the imperial palace, then the Star Luo Emperor might not even live to see the day Spirit Hall's army reached the city.
Soon…
Under Zhu Zhuqing's guidance, Yang Fan met the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire.
He looked like a middle-aged or elderly person around fifty years old, but Zhu Zhuqing had told him on the way that the Star Luo Emperor was already seventy years old.
Even so…
The Star Luo Emperor's face also looked younger than the Tian Dou Emperor.
The current Star Luo Emperor sitting on the dragon throne looked radiant and full of majesty.
But his internally exhausted state—how could it fool Yang Fan and Yao Lao with their powerful soul strength?
"Two gentlemen."
"I wonder what brings you to my Star Luo Empire?"
The Star Luo Emperor was actually quite happy to see people from the Tian Dou Empire.
This showed that the Tian Dou Empire hadn't forgotten them yet.
The most desperate thing wasn't conflict, dispute, or transaction.
The most desperate thing was being forgotten!
"Your Majesty."
"We've come this time for a very confidential matter. I hope Your Majesty can dismiss those around you."
The Star Luo Emperor's nerves suddenly became taut.
Dismiss those around him?
At this time when the Star Luo Empire faced internal trouble and external threat, when soul masters from another country appeared, dismissing those around him...
This made him have to be on guard!
Although he was also a soul master, he was only a Level 89 Soul Douluo.
But…
Yang Fan—the Star Luo Emperor had also heard of this resounding name.
The Star Luo Emperor glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside him...
After seeing her affirmative nod, he still decided to gamble.
If these two intended to kill him, then no matter how many troops the Star Luo Empire had, it would probably be useless.
"Everyone withdraw."
The Star Luo Emperor displayed the magnanimity of a nation's ruler at this moment.
When everyone had withdrawn, the Star Luo Emperor slowly said: "Two gentlemen, now you should be able to speak, right?"
The Star Luo Emperor was completely gambling!
He was gambling on a turning point for the Star Luo Empire.
"Your Majesty."
"I heard that in your early years, you experienced comminuted fractures, but were able to walk normally like an ordinary person within a month."
The Star Luo Emperor's expression suddenly changed.
This was the absolute last thing he wanted to mention. He had originally thought that everyone who knew about this matter was already dead.
Unexpectedly…
Unexpectedly, now when the Star Luo Empire was in its most difficult time, it was brought up again by someone.
"Haha—"
"A fictitious matter—I wonder who the two of you heard this from?"
Even if Yang Fan and Yao Lao didn't say it, he had already guessed.
Zhu Family!
It must have been the Zhu Family who revealed it.
But this matter was something the Star Luo Emperor would absolutely not admit no matter what.
If at that time he had been beaten into comminuted fractures by slaying a dragon, he would have said it with extreme pride and honor.
But it wasn't!
At that time, he had been battered by a five-thousand-year wild boar.
This was the deepest pain of the Star Luo Emperor as the Star Luo Emperor!
"Your Majesty!"
"We'll be direct this time."
"I now need the medicinal herbs you used at that time to treat comminuted fractures. If you still have them, perhaps we can reach a transaction that makes both sides happy."
Transaction!
When these two words echoed in the palace, the Star Luo Emperor's heart even trembled.
He hadn't experienced Yang Fan and Yao Lao's strength, but it could be well proven from the news he had heard before.
A transaction with two super powerhouses…
"What do you want?"
The Star Luo Empire was now at the end of its rope. Even a seemingly insignificant straw, he didn't want to let go now.
"We already said just now."
"We need the medicinal herbs you used at that time to treat comminuted fractures all over your body."
From the Star Luo Emperor's expression now, Yang Fan knew that what Zhu Zhuqing said at that time was true.
"And the Star Luo Empire?"
"What can our Star Luo Empire get?"
This was the first time the Star Luo Emperor had been so direct in making a transaction with someone.
No way!
The nation's internal trouble and external threat no longer allowed him to continue being tactful.
"A pill."
At this moment, Yao Lao took out a yellow medicinal pill from his ring.
From the pill's quality, it was not hard to see it was upper fifth-grade!
This quality of pill on the Douluo Continent already far exceeded the effect of a fifty-thousand-year soul bone.
"Pill?"
The Star Luo Emperor looked over with puzzled eyes.
"I heard Your Majesty is now a Level 89 Soul Douluo. I think you're now only one step away from Titled Douluo, right."
"The effect of this pill is very simple!"
"It can allow Your Majesty to successfully advance to Titled Douluo."
Actually, no one had told Yao Lao the Star Luo Emperor's level. Even Zhu Zhuqing herself couldn't know this kind of secret.
This was strength!
Yao Lao used his powerful soul (spiritual power) probing to detect the Star Luo Emperor's current strength.
"T... Titled... Titled Douluo?"
The Star Luo Emperor's voice even showed obvious trembling.
Titled Douluo!
This was the height that people on the Douluo Continent dreamed of.
Including him!
He had already cultivated to Level 89 ten years ago, but since then, his strength had never advanced.
These ten years, he had managed countless affairs daily and handled state matters, but his desire to advance to Titled Douluo had never stopped.
The Star Luo Emperor was very excited seeing this pill.
He knew the Breaking Clan's alchemy techniques were now very powerful. In this situation, these two probably wouldn't lie to him.
However…
The Star Luo Emperor still shook his head helplessly after his excitement.
"Two gentlemen."
"The medicinal herbs you want—our Star Luo Empire indeed still has them, but I don't want your pill."
"If the two of you can promise to help the Star Luo royal family resist external threats in the future, I'm willing to give you all the medicinal herbs you need with both hands, and try my best to satisfy all your requirements."
The Star Luo Emperor wasn't a fool.
Becoming a Titled Douluo was indeed tempting, but in this environment of internal trouble and external threat, his individual Titled Douluo strength could no longer turn the tide.
But this time it was Yang Fan's turn to smile.
"Your Majesty."
"Our Breaking Clan doesn't participate in politics."
"That is so in the Tian Dou Empire, and also so in the Star Luo Empire."
Although the Breaking Clan had been close to the Tian Dou Empire recently, that was because of Spirit Hall.
His grandfather had also clearly expressed before Emperor Xue Ye that except for matters concerning Spirit Hall, the Breaking Clan would absolutely not participate.
The Star Luo Emperor's calculations were too loud!
Now the Star Luo Empire's enemies weren't only Spirit Hall. Actually, what threatened them most were the surrounding nobles and some border small nations that had been oppressed before.
If they promised this matter, the enemies they would need to deal with would be fucking too many.
Of course…
If the enemy was Spirit Hall, they might help, but perhaps they wouldn't be able to attend to it then.
So this absolutely couldn't be a promise for the transaction.
"This..."
The Star Luo Emperor's expression was very troubled.
Advancing to Titled Douluo was something he had always wanted, but becoming a Titled Douluo now completely couldn't change the Star Luo Empire's current fate.
"Your Majesty."
"This pill is our greatest sincerity."
Both Yang Fan and Yao Lao's attitudes were very clear.
The pill was fine!
But having them stay and be dogs was absolutely impossible.
Facing the current situation, the Star Luo Emperor, after hesitating for less than three minutes, decisively agreed.
No way!
Although advancing to Titled Douluo couldn't solve the Star Luo Empire's external threats, if he really became a Titled Douluo, it would be enough to quell the internal trouble.
"Your Majesty."
"Please accept with a smile."
Although Yao Lao came with fierce momentum before, in the imperial palace, he gave the Star Luo Emperor enough respect.
After all, he was an emperor!
Everyone made a peaceful transaction then went their separate ways.
"Two gentlemen."
"Come to the imperial palace at this time tomorrow. By then, I will have prepared all the medicinal herbs to give you."
It could be seen that the Star Luo Emperor still didn't fully trust their pill.
Understandable!
All soul masters on the Douluo Continent—if told there was a pill that could instantly increase strength, especially from Soul Douluo to Titled Douluo.
Definitely no one would believe it.
"Your Majesty."
"I need five plants of that medicinal herb."
The Star Luo Emperor was slightly stunned, then immediately agreed.
"Farewell!"
Yang Fan and Yao Lao weren't worried that the Star Luo Emperor would play tricks.
If it really came to that…
The pill given out today would make the Star Luo Emperor spit it back out however it was given.
...
Outside Star Luo Imperial Palace.
"That pill..."
Just as Yang Fan thought just now.
On the Douluo Continent, no one would believe a pill could have such great power.
The answer was already on Zhu Zhuqing's puzzled face just a few minutes later.
"Yes!"
"That pill can indeed allow a Level 89 Soul Douluo to step into Titled Douluo overnight."
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly fell silent!
She was envious!
Envious that Yang Fan had such a good master.
If she could have met a teacher like Yao Lao when her martial soul awakened, not to mention having Yao Lao's achievements, perhaps she would now be a Soul Saint or Soul Douluo.
...
Star Luo City, Zhu Family.
Yang Fan specially sent Zhu Zhuqing back to thank her for her help.
Although Zhu Zhuqing now had considerable status in the Zhu Family, the more so, the more dangerous it was.
However…
Yang Fan didn't expect that he, who wasn't planning to enter the Zhu Family again, would encounter the Zhu Family head with a smiling face at the door.
"Brother Yang."
"I didn't expect we would meet again now."
The Zhu Family head walked forward in three steps and two, greeting him as if seeing an old friend of many years.
Yang Fan had only met the Zhu Family head three times in total.
The first time, he and his grandfather Yang Wudi had proactively visited. That time, their grandfather-grandson duo had been fawning over them.
The second meeting was after the Continental Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament ended. At that time, because of Dai Weisi's death, the Zhu Family head's expression had been very ugly.
This time's attitude had completely reversed because of strength!
"I've long heard that you and Zhuqing are close friends who talk about everything."
"Since you're friends, then our Zhu Family naturally must entertain you as an honored guest."
Yang Fan looked at Zhu Zhuqing beside him with puzzled eyes.
Talk about everything?
Had their relationship reached this point?
However…
Zhu Zhuqing repeatedly shrugged to indicate her innocence.
She had never mentioned Yang Fan in the Star Luo Zhu Family, and didn't even know how these people knew they knew each other.
"Please, please, please—"
It's hard to decline such warm hospitality.
Under the Zhu Family head's entertainment, Yang Fan was smoothly invited into the reception hall.
Good heavens!
The Zhu Family was generous enough to bring out the imperial tribute tea.
"Since the Zhu Family head is entertaining our master-disciple duo so warmly, why don't we stay here for one night? This way we can save the money for staying at an inn."
"Master, are we really lacking this bit of money?"
"This Zhu Family has no malice. If we stay here, tomorrow we can have the Zhu Family girl take us to the imperial palace together—wouldn't that be more convenient?"
"..."
The master-disciple duo continuously communicated internally.
They didn't listen to half a sentence of what the Zhu Family head said!
No need to listen to know!
The Zhu Family head's enthusiastic hospitality at this time, besides hugging thighs, would have no other purpose.
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