Chapter 30 - True Colors

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Hotel,

"A Titled Douluo this early in the morning. I guess you're not here for no reason." Lev sighed as he looked at the old man in front of him. Seeing his status, he thought that Ning Fengzhi must be the one who ordered him since he was none other than, Gu Rong, or was known as the Bone Douluo.

"Come follow me to the palace. The Emperor wanted to talk to you." Gu Rong directly said. Even though he was told to show respect and such, he felt like there was no need for him to comply upon seeing that it was only a brat that he was talking to.

Lev's veins popped out before calming down. This is one reason why he didn't like the cultivation type of novel or manhua as their personality and ego really were deep to their core as they tend to be more arrogant than most people all the while because of their status.

'If that's how it is then I play along in your game.' Lev thought before a faint smile appeared on his face. If power really was everything in this world, then he felt like he also had the right to become one.

With that, Lev then calmly followed Gu Rong as they headed straight to the palace.

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Heaven Dou Palace,

Inside the large spacious hall, a group of three people could be found gathering inside. These people could be said to have had a great influence on the empire because the topic of their discussion was the matters of the continent.

"Will he come?" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly asked while looking at the two people beside him. They have actually gathered here for another reason also and that is to meet and talk to Lev, the person that piqued their interest.

"He will come for sure, Your Majesty." Ning Fengzhi answered with assurance as he knew Lev was a capable and intelligent person.

The other person, on the other hand, remained silent in his seat as he listened to their conversation while feeling curious at the same time about the person they were talking about. Though he had also heard this yesterday, he just felt like there was no need for him to care that much since he had more important things to think about.

"Looks like they are here." Ning Fengzhi smiled excitedly as he shifted his gaze towards Gu Rong who was showing respect upon his sudden arrival followed by Lev who looked at them nonchalantly.

Lev, upon arriving in the palace, wasn't that surprised as he was more concerned by the several eyes looking down at him. Even though he's strong, he still knows that his strength is not enough to face the whole empire for now so he bows down and greets the Emperor showing his temporary respect.

Seeing Lev, the Emperor, and Ning Fengzhi smile at the same but the other person with them stood up in surprise upon seeing him. A sense of shock could be found on his face as his body started shaking from excitement.

"Y-Young Lord." The man murmurs. After four months, his waiting and searching finally come to an end upon seeing Lev again. He then was about to greet him when suddenly Emperor Xue Ye's voice woke him up.

"Hmmm. What is it, Dugu Bo?" Emperor Xue Ye curiously asked as he noticed Dugu Bo's sudden feeling of excitement.

"Y-Your Majesty, I have actually met the You---this boy a long ago." Dugu Bo replied while looking at the Emperor. No matter how badly he wanted to talk to Lev right now, however, since he was still in the presence of the Emperor, then he could only wait and act normally before all of this ended.

This time, Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi were greatly surprised after hearing Dugu Bo's answer. They had never thought to hear such an unexpected thing and just by looking at his excitement, they could confirm that there really is something in Lev.

"Boy, I am Xue Ye, emperor of Heaven Dou Empire. I hope I didn't disturb you by summoning you here. Well, enough with the pleasantries. First of all, I would like to thank you for discovering the evil plan of the Spirit Hall. If it's not for you, then the empire will probably be done for." Emperor Xue Ye then regains his calm demeanor as he looks at Lev. Following Dugu Bo's reaction, he has now decided to grasp the secret of this boy in front of him either in peace or by force.

"It's my honor, Your Majesty." Lev replied. Though he felt calm on the outside, he was actually loathing inside upon hearing such words from the Emperor as no matter how good his words were, he could still sense a feeling of arrogance within his voice.

"Then, Lev, tell me, do you know more about this infiltration and the other plans of the Spirit Hall?" Emperor Xue Yu then didn't plan on going around as he directly asked his real purpose.

Hearing Emperor Xue Ye, Lev looked at him first before shifting his gaze towards Ning Fengzhi confirming that he might really be the person who came up with this idea seeing how he was smiling in his seat.

"Yes, your Majesty." Lev then truthfully answered.

Hearing such a response, Emperor Xue Ye and the others could not help but widen their eyes as they looked at Lev with complicated expressions.

"Can you share it with us, then? I promise to reward you handsomely." Emperor Xue Ye asked with expectation. He was thinking about how much Lev knew about the Spirit Hall's plan while wondering where and how he was so sure about it. It doesn't matter if it is true or not because either way, listening to him would only help them.

Without waiting any longer, Lev smiled as he started explaining all the details he knew about this infiltration plan. He also brought up the fact that the Emperor was currently being poisoned slowly by Qian Renxue who was known as Xue Qinghe before and how they were very clueless about it.

Hearing such a thing, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong were surprised and furious at the same time while Emperor Xue Ye's face, on the other hand, cannot be described anymore. He was furious after knowing that they had really been fooled for many years already and slowly killing him without his knowledge.

After explaining everything, Emperor Xue Ye forces himself to stay calm as he looks at Dugu Bo with anticipation. He asked, "Elder Dugu, can you examine my body if there were any poisons on it?

Hearing Emperor Xue Ye, Dugu Bo looked at Lev first, but the latter just smiled at him before he went forward toward the Emperor and immediately checked his body. He didn't even doubt Lev's words since it would only harm him if he would bring up a lie.

"Elder Dugu, how was it?" Emperor Xue Ye asked seriously.

After examining, Dugu Bo frowned and looked at Emperor Xue Ye as he answered, "Your Majesty, there really is poison in your body."

Emperor Xue Ye and the others' eyes trembled after hearing Dugu Bo's confirmation, but they were still not hopeless since there might be some cure such thing since it had been already uncovered.

"Can you cure it?" Emperor Xue Ye asked hoping Dugu Bo could cure the poison. Since he was the most adept in this field, he might be the only one that could help him.

"I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty. After examining, I found the poison has already scattered all over your body. I'm very sorry to say this as I have no way of curing it, but I could try and slow its spreading." Dugu Bo answered in a low voice as he was feeling helpless while looking at the poison inside the Emperor's body. He was thinking just how and when the Spirit Hall started this operation which it already beyond hopeless.

Emperor Xue Ye's shook after hearing such an answer. Even Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong have shocked and sad expressions on their faces upon knowing such a fact however before they could lose hope, someone suddenly interrupted them.

"I have a way to cure it. I just wonder how much the Emperor would be willing to pay me." Lev, who had finally seen the opportunity, felt like it was now his turn. He was planning on extorting the Emperor since no one in the could probably help him now but it would be a different matter for him since he had the system backing him up.

"You have a way? Tell me, if you do so, I will give you anything you want." Immediately after hearing that, Emperor Xue then looked at Lev in a different way. He didn't even dwell deeply on how he would do it as he was more concerned about himself.

"100,000,000,000 gold coins. If you can give me that amount of money, I will completely cure the poisons in your body." Lev answered with a smile. He never once forgets that he could convert his wealth into True God Coins and so he wanted to take this opportunity to get rich thinking that the person he was dealing with this time was the most important person in the Empire.

Hearing Lev, Emperor Xue Ye immediately released his spirit pressure before retracting them back as he looked at Lev seriously. Though he was concerned about his health, this was the first time he had been treated like this and when he thought about it, he felt like Lev really didn't show any respect to him.

Seeing the Emperor's sudden burst of rage, Ning Fengzhi immediately intervened as he looked at Lev and hurriedly said, "I think you have gone overboard. There really is no way even for the empire to bring out that much money. How about asking for another thing?"

Lev, upon hearing Ning Fengzhi, was now grinning as he looked at the Emperor. He knew beforehand that this was impossible as he only offered such an amount so he could ask for another thing instead. He then requested, "Is that so? Then, giving me the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud would suffice. I have known that the Empire possessed this item for a long time now so how about giving it to me instead."

This time, everyone inside the palace hall immediately became dead silent. They all knew that the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was a treasure of the Empire. The problem is that, though it is a treasure, they still don't know its use and were just kept in the treasury. However, seeing that Lev even knew and wanted it, they felt conflicted about it since they immediately thought that there must really be a secret inside the item.

On the other hand, Emperor Xue Ye frowned as he remained silent. He keeps on staring at Lev before waving his hand from which a cloaked person appears beside him. He then said, "Go and get the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in the treasury."

Everyone was surprised by the sudden decision of the Emperor since a treasure is still a treasure but considering that what's at stake here is his life, then giving it up was nothing as his life comes first before anything else especially now that the continent would soon turn to chaos. Having him killed would be the worst situation the empire would get.

"I don't know how you know about it, but I can give it to you. " Emperor Xue Ye replied.

Hearing this, Lev smiled widely in his heart however he wouldn't let himself relax as he felt like this meeting wouldn't end normally just like that. He then said inwardly, 'System, show me the cheapest elixir to cure this poison.'

[Angel's Tears

Description: An elixir extracted from the tears of an angel. It is an elixir that is said to be capable of curing any poisons and diseases.

Price: 50,000,000 True God Coins]

Seeing the item, Lev then immediately bought three of them without batting an eye at the price. Following that, Lev then summoned one and put the other two on his inventory as he had something in mind to do with them.

"Your Majesty, the elixir inside this vial will be able to cure the poisons in your body. I will guarantee that nothing will happen." Lev said as he presented the vial to the Emperor.

Seeing the thing in Lev's hand, Emperor Xue Ye immediately ordered a guard to get the vial which Lev gave without worry. After holding it in his hand, though he felt doubtful, he could not find any reason for Lev would harm him in this place. He then just opened the vial and drank the elixir inside.

Savoring the strangeness of the medicine, Emperor Xue Ye couldn't help but feel surprised as he felt so relaxed and alive. Though it only lasted for a couple of seconds, he felt something had changed inside him. With that, he then looked at Dugu Bo, saying, "Elder Dugu, care to check my body again."

Hearing the Emperor, Dugu Bo didn't wait and immediately checked his body once again as he had another thought about this matter. Carefully examining, he then replied, "T-The poison was gone, Your Majesty."

"Hahahaha. Good. Good." Emperor Xue Ye laughed after hearing Dugu Bo's confirmation before his spirit pressure burst out and followed by the swing of his hand, several cloaked people appeared surrounding Lev an instant.

"What do you mean by doing this, Your Majesty?" Lev asked seriously while looking at the Emperor. Though he has already anticipated this, he didn't expect that he would be shameless enough to do this openly.

"To think that you could cure something that even Elder Dugu was helpless with. Boy, I'm getting more interested in you. I was wondering how much information you have inside you." Emperor Xue Ye looked at Lev with a smile. As he has now been cured, he doesn't need to fear anyone not against the brat in front of him.

"So, you're showing your true colors now, Emperor Xue Ye. To think that I trusted you." Lev followed as he looked at the people surrounding him who were all emitting a Titled Douluo spirit pressure. He thought that this might be the hidden force of the empire that he was hiding but to think he would them against him, he kind of felt honored.

"Boy, your strength and information were of great need for the empire. Come under me, I will give you appropriate rewards and position for your merits." Emperor Xue Ye said. Since the beginning, he wasn't really planning to let Lev off the palace. Knowing about him from Ning Fengzhi, he might really be his wild card for this upcoming war and so he would do anything to achieve it no matter what kind of method he would use.

"And if I decline?" Lev then asked as he looked back at Emperor Xue Ye.

Emperor Xue Ye stopped smiling as he looked at Lev. He stares at him for a while before waving his hand from which the cloaked people surrounding Lev start to move. Since they couldn't get him in peace, it left him with no other choice but to use force.

'Tch.' Lev clicked his tongue before he was nowhere to be seen in the palace. In that moment of time, he activated 'Sonic Minimum' which allows him to escape the grasp of several Titled Douluo however, he still feels a sense of urgency as he continuously uses the skill to get Sia and Zhu Zhuqing away from the city, no, from the empire itself.

Meanwhile, Emperor Xue Ye clenched his fist as he was shaking in anger before shouting, "What are all doing?! Follow him and bring him back alive!"

With that, the people wearing a cloak woke up and they immediately left the place. They were actually in a trance earlier from seeing a mere spirit emperor get away from their eyes. Using their spirit abilities, each one of them left wanting to correct the mistake they had committed.

"T-This." Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi was so shocked by the sudden turn of events as it really happened way too fast for him to respond. He looked at Emperor Xue Ye wanting an explanation but seeing the serious and angry expression on his, he stopped himself from doing so before shifting his gaze to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo, upon seeing Lev getting chased, badly wanted to move and help him but he still remained calm from the fact that he knew that Lev wouldn't be caught that easily. He, however, thought carefully about what to do now as Lev would probably become wanted in the empire but not long after that, he adjusted himself and decided. He thought, 'I need that elixir for my Yan Yan.'

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Hotel,

At this time of the day, people have started bustling with noise outside the hotel. Sia and Zhu Zhuqing were also outside waiting worriedly after Lev had told the former to get out of the hotel as they would leave immediately. Zhu Zhuqing didn't doubt as she felt the urgency of Sia and so they waited outside.

In a gust of the wind, Lev suddenly appeared in front of them but before they could greet and ask what was happening, Lev hurriedly grabbed their waist before disappearing in a second.

Not long after that, a group of cloaked people then appeared outside the hotel. They looked at the place before they entered inside since they knew that Lev had two companions staying in the area and so they wanted to abduct and use them as a bargaining chip.

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---One hour later---

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well,

After an hour of escaping while erasing their tracks at the same time, Lev finally stopped as he put down Sia and Zhu Zhuqing on the ground. The place he decided to escape from was the place was none other than the medicinal garden of Dugu Bo. He then just looked around before sighing in relief seeing them finally escape safe and sound.

"I know what you two were thinking. The Emperor wanted me to join under him but I declined so he ordered his loyal guard to catch me since I have information that they don't have." Lev said before putting up a serious expression. He wasn't really afraid of fighting them but he was more concerned about the safety of Sia and Zhu Zhuqing than himself so he decided to escape instead of retaliating.

Hearing Lev, Sia and Zhu Zhuqing were both shocked since they just happened to stay for one night and yet trouble had already resurfaced. Understanding the situation, they immediately thought that their situation was very serious this time and the thought that they were holding Lev back made them guilty.

"Don't worry. They won't come in this place." Lev then reassured before looking at his side from which he saw Dugu kneeling while looking down the ground. This was the reason why he was confident since this place was Dugu Bo's territory added by the fact that the surrounding area was filled with poison, even Titled Douluo would hardly come to this place.

"Dugu Bo greets the Young Lord." Dugu Bo greeted. He stayed at the palace for a while before taking his leave. He was planning on pursuing Lev but he suddenly felt like he could safely escape which made him think about where he would have gone and so he picked his place as a guess which he didn't expect that he would be right.