Chapter 58: Meeting Some Friends...?

Dan Heng followed Charles' aura to a pavilion.

As soon as he appeared, a group of palace guards blocked his path. They were all court soul masters.

In an instant, they released their soul power—all of them at least Soul Kings with five soul rings, and the strongest among them even an eight-ring Soul Douluo.

"Stop right there!!!"

The Soul Douluo shouted sternly.

Everyone tensed up as they watched Dan Heng.

Charles was so terrified that he trembled all over, unable to even crawl up from the ground.

"Teacher!" Zhu Zhuqing called out in surprise and joy.

Empress Zhu stared intently at Dan Heng. She couldn't sense anything from him at all.

Neither his strength nor his emotions revealed anything—Dan Heng was like an abyss.

If such a person harbored ill intentions toward the Star Luo royal family, Empress Zhu inexplicably found it hard to believe.

But at the same time, he had intruded into the royal palace so brazenly.

This act alone was already a grave offense against the Star Luo royal family.

"So, you are Zhuqing's teacher? To trespass into the palace so recklessly—do you not know that this is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan?" Empress Zhu's voice was calm, maintaining the dignity of a nation's mother.

Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun both stepped in front of her, blocking Dan Heng's path.

From his appearance, Dan Heng looked like a somewhat delicate young man, with nothing particularly dangerous about him.

Dan Heng glanced at her before continuing toward Charles.

At the same time, his gaze swept over the guards blocking his way.

His eyes held no malice—he simply did not want them to stand in his way.

And yet, just that one glance—

The guards' martial souls instantly dissipated, and their radiant soul rings disappeared along with them.

"!!!"

Everyone's expressions turned to sheer horror as they stared at Dan Heng.

Even with the simplest reasoning, they could now tell—Dan Heng was an absolute powerhouse.

After all, there was a Soul Douluo among them, yet he too had lost his martial soul without any resistance.

Empress Zhu's face changed drastically, her earlier elegance and nobility vanishing completely.

"You… just what kind of person are you?!"

Dan Heng raised a finger and pointed it at Charles.

Charles immediately knelt on the ground, as if he could already sense death approaching. He begged frantically:

"Your Eminence, please spare me! I… I know I was wrong! I'm willing to do anything to make amends, as long as you let me live! I beg—"

His voice was suddenly cut off.

A streak of blue light pierced through his forehead.

Charles collapsed sideways, his entire body instantly covered in web-like cracks.

The next second—

With a "boom," he shattered into glowing fragments.

A soul master of considerable strength had died in such an absurdly swift manner.

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded.

The way Charles had died cast a shadow over their hearts.

It wasn't just Dan Heng's terrifying strength—it was also his attitude toward the Star Luo royal family.

Complete disregard.

Empress? Princes? Princess consorts?

Their titles and status offered them no sense of security.

Empress Zhu clenched her fists, staring at Dan Heng, suddenly realizing just how close death felt.

If Dan Heng wished to kill her now, he could do so effortlessly.

"You—"

"Audacious madman! You dare to commit murder in the Star Luo Palace?! Do you even know what you're doing?!"

Empress Zhu gritted her teeth. Even if she were to die, she refused to let the royal family's dignity be trampled upon, and she shouted sternly.

Dan Heng lifted his gaze, looking toward Empress Zhu… or rather, at Zhu Zhuqing beside her.

Empress Zhu shuddered and took half a step back.

Perhaps ashamed of her own reaction, her face flushed red.

At that moment—

A voice suddenly rang out.

"What's going on?! Why are you all so tense?! What are you people making a fuss about? I was the one who brought him in! He's not an enemy!"

Dai Patriarch hurried over.

Hearing this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Brought by the Dai Patriarch?

If he was a guest of the Dai Patriarch, then there was no reason to fear.

Empress Zhu turned to look at the Dai Patriarch, only to notice a bruise at the corner of his eye, as if he had been beaten up.

"You… what happened to you?"

The Dai Patriarch stopped beside Dan Heng, touched the corner of his eye, and took a deep breath.

Earlier, he had wanted to test Dan Heng's strength and temperament, so he had recklessly challenged him—only to be knocked out cold with a single punch.

After waking up, he had rushed over immediately, afraid that the Star Luo royal family might end up clashing with such a terrifying figure.

Fortunately, he had arrived in time…

"I tripped!"

Then, he looked around and asked, "Where's Charles? That bastard dared to insult a Title Douluo and even relied on his Star Luo noble status to act so outrageously! He deserved severe punishment!"

Empress Zhu pointed at Dan Heng and forced a smile.

"He… already killed him."

Empress Zhu gave the Dai Patriarch a strange look. She couldn't shake the feeling that his relationship with Dan Heng was not so simple.

The Dai Patriarch nodded.

"Good! That kind of scum should never have been allowed to live! Otherwise, who knows what trouble he would have caused for our Star Luo royal family? Dan Heng, you don't like trouble, do you?"

Dan Heng nodded. He had come to the palace because Charles had angered him.

Of course, he had also considered whether he could take Zhu Zhuqing home without provoking the Star Luo royal family.

Luckily, upon arriving at the Star Luo Palace, he had encountered the Dai Patriarch.

This meant he could likely achieve his goal.

"Alright! Now that the man is dead, what else do you want to do? No need to hold back—I have the final say here. In the Star Luo Palace, my word still carries weight, doesn't it?" The Dai Patriarch laughed heartily and looked at Empress Zhu.

Empress Zhu appeared confused but nodded slightly.

Though the Dai Patriarch seemed to be in control, there was a strange sense of forced confidence about him.

"Zhu Zhuqing, let's go. You haven't graduated yet."

Dan Heng said.

"!!!"

Zhu Zhuqing was instantly stunned, staring at Dan Heng in disbelief.

She had never imagined that he would come to the palace to take her away.

Just moments ago, when Empress Zhu and the others had dismissed her, he had descended like a deity—and now, he was directly asking to take her away?

Empress Zhu frowned. "But Zhuqing is a princess consort—"

"Shut up! Since they are master and disciple, she should follow him to continue learning! What business is it of yours, woman?!" The Dai Patriarch immediately interrupted, coldly glaring at Empress Zhu.

Empress Zhu's face turned red with anger, but she couldn't say a word.

Even as the Empress, her authority was nothing compared to the Dai Patriarch's.

The Dai Patriarch then looked at Dan Heng, nodded, and, in an almost comical shift in tone, smiled.

"So? Anything else you need to do?"

Dan Heng shook his head and offered a simple explanation.

"I never intended to cause trouble, nor do I wish to be entangled in unnecessary conflicts. If I have offended you today, I apologize." He cupped his hands in a polite gesture.

The Dai Patriarch chuckled.

"No, no, what offense? We're friends! Alright, Zhuqing, follow your teacher back. If you have time, come visit me."

"Thank you."

Dan Heng nodded slightly and then turned to leave.

"Zhuqing…"

Empress Zhu looked at Zhu Zhuqing, hoping she would refuse.

But Zhu Zhuqing didn't spare her a single glance.

She ran after Dan Heng.

(End of Chapter)