For tens of thousands of years, both the Green Skull Organization of the Tianmu Domain and the Sun-Moon Federation have been a constant headache for the Star Luo Empire.
The thought that the thousand-year-long issue plaguing the Star Luo Empire might be resolved during his reign filled Dai Tianling's heart with excitement.
If this were to happen, he would surely be one of the greatest emperors in the history of the Star Luo Empire.
"I admit that there is an element of gambling in my decision, but I believe with the blessings of the War God and the God of Emotions, I can win this bet," Dai Tianling thought to himself.
With this mindset, a grand public trial was held at the Star Luo Grand Square.
The square was filled with a sea of people, and nearly all the nobles of the Star Luo Empire were present.
At this point, the common people were unaware that the Sun-Moon Federation had already mobilized troops and was preparing for a large-scale invasion of the Star Luo Empire. They only knew that today was the public trial of Lan Hai Jun, who had allegedly stolen from the royal tombs.
Dai Tianling stood at the podium, gazing at the furious people of the Star Luo Empire below. His heart swelled with excitement.
"Once we eliminate the threats from the Sun-Moon Federation and the Celestial Fox Domain, I will definitely hold a grand Star Luo celebration for the entire nation," Dai Tianling thought, his mind already picturing that day. He stepped forward, picked up the microphone, and loudly declared, "My people, Lan Hai Jun from the Sun-Moon Federation's delegation has desecrated our ancestors' tombs and sold the remains of our forebears. Such acts are detestable to both humanity and the heavens. Yet the Sun-Moon Federation demands that we hand over Lan Hai Jun, attempting to protect the culprit. What do you think? Can we agree to that?"
"No!" A roaring chorus of voices rang out, shaking the entire Star Luo City.
"Good, since that's the case, today I will join you in judging this grave-digger and tomb robber," Dai Tianling waved his hand, shouting, "Bring forth Lan Hai Jun!"
The entire crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on the podium.
One second, two seconds, three seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, two minutes, three minutes...
The people, including Dai Tianling, were all confused. Why was it taking so long to bring Lan Hai Jun?
"Your Majesty, something's wrong. Lan Hai Jun has been rescued," Divine Domain Douluo En Ci suddenly appeared beside Dai Tianling and whispered.
"What...?" Dai Tianling exclaimed instinctively but quickly clamped his mouth shut. He couldn't afford to lose composure in front of so many people.
"How could that happen? Didn't we assign guards to watch her?" Dai Tianling gritted his teeth and whispered.
"The guards are all dead. Gold Peng Dou Luo is dead as well. He died from a single fatal blow. Time of death is no more than five minutes ago," En Ci continued.
"What? Gold Peng Douluo is dead?" Dai Tianling was stunned. In order to prevent the Sun-Moon Federation from rescuing her, the Star Luo Empire had assigned many powerful experts to guard Lan Hai Jun.
Gold Peng Douluo was the head of the guards, a 95th-level Super Douluo with a Three-word Battle Armor.
What made it worse was that Gold Peng Douluo was still young and had the potential to break through to the 97th or even 98th level. He was destined to become one of the Star Luo Empire's most formidable assets.
And now, this figure had just been killed.
"How did this happen? Teacher, weren't you nearby?" Dai Tianling asked.
To be cautious, Lan Hai Jun had been confined to a secret room next to the Star Luo Grand Square before the trial began. It was not far from here.
If someone had attacked Gold Peng Dou Luo there, why hadn't En Ci felt anything?
"The attacker must be at least a Quasi-God, or there were two or more Extreme Douluos involved. Neither I nor Kirin Douluo noticed anything," En Ci said.
"A Quasi-God! Two or more Extreme Douluos!" Dai Tianling was shocked and instinctively looked around. He was standing right in the middle of Star Luo Square. If a Quasi-God or two Extreme Douluos suddenly appeared, he could be in danger.
"My people, I've just received word that the culprit, Lan Hai Jun, has committed suicide in prison due to guilt. Therefore, the public trial is canceled and this gathering is dismissed," Dai Tianling declared, then hurriedly left Star Luo Square and returned to the palace.
He was still immersed in his dream of defeating the Sun-Moon Federation and removing the Tianmu Domain, but he was not willing to die just yet.
"Who sent a Quasi-God or two Extreme Douluos to kill my Guarding Douluo in Star Luo City? If I catch them, I'll tear them apart!" Dai Tianling became bolder once he returned to the palace. With the palace's defenses in place, even a Quasi-God would not dare to break in.
"Your Majesty, the Extreme Douluo of the Sun-Moon Federation would never appear in Star Luo City at this time. The only one capable of bringing an Extreme Douluo into Star Luo City undetected is Xia Yi," En Ci said.
"Hmph, let him be arrogant for a few more days," Dai Tianling angrily said.
"Report!" Before Dai Tianling's anger had subsided, an attendant hurriedly entered, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened, Lan Hai Jun has appeared."
"What? What did you say?" Dai Tianling staggered, almost falling. He had just publicly announced that Lan Hai Jun had committed suicide, and now she appeared so soon? Wasn't this a slap in the face?
"Your Majesty, the City Defense Army spotted Lan Hai Jun in the vegetable market," the attendant said, supporting Dai Tianling.
"In the vegetable market!" Dai Tianling almost spat blood, his voice cold as he asked, "Where is she now?"
"We lost track of her," the attendant knelt and said.
"Lost track? You let a normal person escape? Is the City Defense Army just eating dry rice?" Dai Tianling gritted his teeth in fury.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. There must be a powerful person helping Lan Hai Jun. If a powerful figure is involved, the regular City Defense Army would indeed be unable to track her," En Ci said from the side.
Dai Tianling's forehead bulged with veins, grinding his teeth as he asked, "When did the City Defense Army first spot Lan Hai Jun in the vegetable market?"
"Ten minutes ago, just when Your Majesty declared that Lan Hai Jun had committed suicide," the attendant said cautiously.
"It was deliberate! Teacher, they must have done this on purpose!" Dai Tianling trembled with rage.
"I know, Your Majesty!" En Ci nodded, then turned to the attendant and asked, "How many people saw Lan Hai Jun? Has the news spread?"
"No, Lan Hai Jun just bought a few things and left. The City Defense Army quickly sealed off the entire vegetable market, so the news has not spread," the attendant reported.
"What did she buy?" En Ci furrowed his brow and asked.
...
Star Luo Hotel!
Xia Yi looked at the dishes on the table, his eyelids twitching violently.
Steamed Eight-Treasure Rabbit, Pot-braised Rabbit, Blue Silver Stew Rabbit, Stir-fried Blue Silver Grass Shoots, Blue Silver Bud Soup, Deep-fried Blue Silver Seeds.
"Is this what you bought?" Xia Yi helplessly looked at the Demon Emperor.
Such a heavyweight figure had actually gone to the vegetable market to buy rabbit meat and blue silver grass.
"It was on the way. Just make do with it. Hmph! How many times have I tasted Lan'er's cooking? Yet I've been serving you for so long," the Demon Emperor glanced at the now-female Lan Fozi, then looked back at Xia Yi.
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Only Xia Yi and Gu Yue could make her precious daughter, who never cooked, cook every day.
Dai Tianling was overthinking it. In fact, the Demon Emperor going to the market wasn't done intentionally to embarrass him. The Demon Emperor simply happened to be passing by and was helping Lan Fozi buy some groceries.
If she had known that her daughter was cooking at Xia Yi's place every day, she would have come to mooch meals long ago.
Although she also knew that Lan Fozi's cooking skills weren't that great.
(End of this chapter)