“Who is your master?” Demon Thirteen asked with a frown.
“You’ll know once you arrive,” the man replied with a smile. “My master said that if the young lord refuses to come, he may not be able to leave Tower City.”
“That’s a bold statement,” Demon Thirteen snorted and looked at Xu Zimo in the carriage.
“Let’s go have a look. I think I already know who it is,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.
Several red-robed men led the way, and the Night Terror carriage followed closely behind.
They passed through several bustling streets filled with people and finally arrived at a large mansion.
“The Royal Mansion of Supreme Tower.”
This estate took up half the street. It wasn’t flashy with gold or jewels, but the green bricks and glazed tiles were all made from top-tier materials.
At the front were two massive red lion statues, faintly glowing with a threatening aura. From a distance, they looked almost alive.
“This must be the High King of Supreme Tower,” Demon Thirteen remarked with interest.
“You’ll know soon,” the red-robed guard replied.
They followed the guard through rock gardens and flowing water, past grand courtyards and elegant side rooms, until they reached a quiet and secluded courtyard.
In front of the courtyard were two massive cloud mist trees. These trees had undergone some sort of transformation, giant white trunks with golden leaves and branches. During the day they looked normal, but at night they glowed brightly.
“This is as far as I go. Please head in yourselves,” the red-robed guard said before turning and leaving.
“Guess it’s not the High King himself,” Demon Thirteen said. “Otherwise, it wouldn’t be this roundabout.”
Xu Zimo smiled and stepped into the courtyard. Near a side room was a small, elegant pavilion.
Inside sat a woman flanked by two maids. Though older, she was well-preserved and carried herself with grace.
She wore a light green silk robe. Her skin was pale and smooth, her long black hair neatly pinned into a bun with jade hairpins. She wore coral bracelets and red jade bangles, white as snow, red as fire, vivid and eye-catching.
…
Seeing Xu Zimo enter, one of the maids stepped forward and said with a smile, “Young lord, our lady invites you to sit in the pavilion.”
Xu Zimo smiled and walked over, casually taking a seat on a stone stool.
“You must be the one who sparred with my son Hong’er?” the woman asked with a smile.
Xu Zimo didn’t answer directly. “You’re the Queen of Supreme Tower?”
She smiled and nodded slightly. On the table was a pot of freshly brewed tea, its aroma filling the air, refreshing and subtly fragrant.
A maid poured the tea carefully and placed the cups in front of both of them.
“What should I call you?” the queen asked.
“My surname is Xu,” Xu Zimo replied. “I don’t have much time. Say what you want.”
“You’re a straightforward man. I like that,” the queen said. “I invited you here about the fight between you and my son. I need a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Xu Zimo asked.
“News of that duel is spreading all over Supreme Tower City. They say the Holy Son of Supreme Tower was defeated in just two moves and doesn’t deserve the title,” she said with a soft laugh. “Hong’er has never suffered such a blow, especially not since becoming the Holy Son. I fear it could affect his cultivation and confidence.”
“So I’d like you to make a public statement to clear things up,” she said.
“What kind of statement?” Xu Zimo asked, lifting his tea cup with interest.
“Just say it was a friendly duel, a draw, nothing as serious as a two-move defeat,” she replied.
“But a lot of people saw it with their own eyes,” Xu Zimo chuckled.
“Those elites know how things work. I’m just trying to silence the common folks,” she shook her head.
“Beating someone I don’t even take seriously doesn’t mean much to me. When I one day reach the level of Grand Emperor, who in the world won’t know my name?”
Xu Zimo smiled. “I’ll make a statement, but what’s in it for me?”
“You’ll earn the friendship of Supreme Tower. Isn’t that enough?” she asked with a gentle smile.
“No offense, but I don’t care much for alliances even with imperial lineages,” Xu Zimo replied. “Give me something real.”
“Must we be so blunt?” the queen’s eyes narrowed.
“To be honest, if you agree, you’ll walk out of this mansion safely. Otherwise… I don’t need to say more, do I?”
As her voice faded, three figures appeared around the courtyard.
An old man, a burly middle-aged man, and a short child.
As they approached, Demon Thirteen frowned slightly.
“I know you beat my Hong’er. Among the younger generation, few can match you,” the queen said with a smile. “But these three are my family’s enforcers. Each one has peak Empyrean Meridian strength. Even my son can’t beat them one-on-one, let alone the three of them together.”
“Big tits, tiny brain. That phrase suits you perfectly,” Xu Zimo laughed and shook his head.
He slowly lifted the tea pot and poured himself a cup. “Demon Thirteen, before I finish this tea, I don’t want to see them alive.”
Demon Thirteen’s cultivation was only at the first step of the Immortal Path, and he still carried internal injuries.
But these so-called peak Empyrean Meridian cultivators were no match for him.
The Queen of Supreme Tower had clearly underestimated Xu Zimo, still seeing him as just part of the younger generation.
Nanmen Tianhong might be famous in the Ninelands Region, but he was still only just starting to approach the Empyrean Meridian realm.
At higher levels, breaking through the Meridian Gates was incredibly difficult.
Before one's Heaven’s Will formed, reaching the God Meridian realm was already exceptional.
After all, almost everyone competing for Heaven’s Will was at the God Meridian realm.
Those with a lower realm couldn’t qualify.
Those who broke through to the Immortal path could no longer participate in the competition for the Heaven’s Will.
So the best stage for it was exactly the God Meridian realm.
…
As Xu Zimo spoke, Demon Thirteen’s eyes flickered with black flames.
A powerful aura burst forth.
A black magic staff appeared in his hand from thin air.