"No, no, it's bad, Your Majesty!
A large army has suddenly appeared outside Tiandou City!"
In the palace of Tiandou City, what was supposed to be a routine moment of bonding between Emperor Tiandou and his son, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, was suddenly interrupted by a panicked guard rushing in.
"Huh?"
Emperor Tiandou looked at the approaching guard. It was just an ordinary palace guard, but for him to run in like this, something truly urgent must've happened.
"What is it? Speak clearly!"
The Emperor's previously gentle expression instantly turned stern and commanding—this was the majesty of a ruler.
"?"
Xue Qinghe also turned to the guard with a puzzled expression, waiting to hear what had happened. Behind him stood Karna, ever expressionless and calm.
"Your Majesty, we were on a routine patrol when we suddenly spotted a massive armored force approaching the city walls!"
"But they didn't attack. They simply surrounded Tiandou City, so I rushed to report this!"
The guard's voice was loud and anxious.
"Hmm? Another army dares to surround Tiandou City? How many troops are there? Are they from Xingluo or the Spirit Hall?"
Tiandou's Emperor frowned. Logically, the only two forces capable of doing something like this were the other two major powers on the continent. But even if one of them wanted to conquer Tiandou, the third power would never allow it. That was the delicate balance between the three.
"Your Majesty, judging from their appearance alone, they're just a group of knights clad in full metal armor. There's no clear indication of their origin."
The guard dropped to one knee respectfully.
"What about their numbers?"
"Around tens of thousands. We tried to engage them, but our weapons couldn't even scratch their armor."
"Tens of thousands… and armor we can't penetrate? Could it be the Spirit Hall?"
Emperor Tiandou was deep in thought when Xue Qinghe suddenly shifted his expression and turned his gaze toward the door.
Clack… Clack… Clack…
The crisp sound of iron boots echoed through the grand hall.
"No need to guess," a calm, warm voice rang out. "We're not from the Spirit Hall or the Xingluo Empire."
"Who are you!?"
Emperor Tiandou stood up from his throne, instantly realizing that this man must be the leader of the knights who had surrounded the city.
But how did he manage to get past all the palace defenses and walk in so casually?
"Me? I'm just one of the Knights of the Round Table under my King."
From the shadows emerged a tall and striking man. With his handsome face and relaxed smile, he was like a beam of sunlight.
Every adjective for charm and elegance could be used on this man. No wonder he was loved by women across the lands.
After Gawain stepped forward, he noticed someone's gaze on him. He turned and met eyes with Karna standing behind Xue Qinghe.
Their eyes met only briefly before Gawain turned his attention back to the Emperor.
It was a silent clash between two radiant suns.
"I am Gawain, and I come on behalf of my king. I hope Your Majesty doesn't mind the sudden visit."
He spoke with a smile, ignoring the Emperor's darkening expression.
Clearly, this was a deliberate show of strength.
Yet in this moment, Emperor Tiandou had no choice but to endure it.
---
Meanwhile, in the Xingluo Empire...
A similar event was unfolding—but with a very different reaction.
"So, you're one of the Knights of the Round Table? And they sent a blind man?" the Xingluo Emperor sneered from his throne, staring down at Tristan.
"To clarify, I'm not blind. There's just nothing in this world worth seeing," Tristan replied calmly.
"Oh? You surrounded Xingluo City just to show off? And now you walk into my palace alone? Guards! Seize him!"
The Xingluo Empire prided itself on brute force over diplomacy, and the Emperor was no exception. With his command, countless warriors surrounded Tristan, prepared to strike.
"Ah… what a pity. Another unnecessary tragedy."
Tristan sighed.
With that, his slender, almost delicate fingers gently lifted his violin.
Twang!
Twang!
Twang!
A sorrowful, beautiful melody began to echo through the hall.
Under the stunned gaze of the Xingluo Emperor, those surrounding Tristan suddenly showed deep, bloody cuts across their bodies.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dozens of bodies collapsed to the floor.
"Now that you've seen our sincerity… shall we talk properly?"
Tristan's voice was emotionless, but his meaning was clear.
The Xingluo Emperor shivered. Sometimes, overwhelming strength is the best form of diplomacy.
And so, both the Tiandou and Xingluo Emperors—moved by the "sincerity" of the Knights—agreed to listen.
---
At the Spirit Hall
A similar encounter played out within the grand halls of Wuhun City.
"The Knights of the Round Table? Never heard of them. But for you to walk into Wuhun City alone, you must be very confident."
Bibi Dong, the current Pope of the Spirit Hall, sat high on her throne, looking down at Lancelot.
"I simply trust in my own strength," Lancelot answered calmly.
"Then show me," Bibi Dong gestured.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo—test whether this knight is qualified to speak with us."
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
In an instant, ghostly shadows and brilliant chrysanthemums surrounded Lancelot, trying to overwhelm him.
Still, he stood there, unmoving, calm.
Just as the ghostly and floral attacks closed in, Lancelot finally spoke:
"Binding chains—break completely.
Yangtze River Welding!"
A brilliant blue light exploded through the Pope's Palace.
So bright, it could blind the unprepared.
When the light faded, Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo lay unconscious at Lancelot's feet, severely injured.
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes and stared at the m
an standing calmly before her.
---
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(End of this chapter)
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