Li Dongming was a Saint Venerable late-stage expert who had accompanied Feng Daidian to watch the battle.
He had personally witnessed Xia Feng's strength. Although he was an onlooker at the time, he had observed Xia Feng's Saint Emperor demeanor throughout the entire process.
Looking at Xia Feng at this moment, Li Dongming felt a surge of anxiety.
His mind raced. What was Xia Feng here for?
Was it to hold him accountable for his previous act of observing the battle?
Upon this thought, Li Dongming nearly soiled himself.
This was a genuine peak Saint Emperor, the strongest man in the Saint Realm. To others, Li Dongming might seem formidable, but in front of Xia Feng, he was nothing, or rather, less than nothing.
His strength was as insignificant as an ant compared to an elephant in Xia Feng's eyes.
Li Yurou looked at her grandfather, who had suddenly zoned out, and called out again, "Grandpa, what's wrong?"
It was the first time Li Yurou had seen her grandfather so lost in thought, appearing rather absent-minded, agitated, and even fearful.
Li Yurou shared a close relationship with her grandfather, and Li Dongming doted on his precious granddaughter. Therefore, Li Yurou understood her grandfather's disposition very well.
Seeing Li Dongming react this way was precisely what piqued Li Yurou's curiosity.
Her grandfather was a late-stage Saint Venerable expert, a figure at the pinnacle of the Saint Realm. How could he suddenly display such an expression?
It defied all logic.
Li Yurou's call finally pulled Li Dongming back to reality. He had been stunned by fear and hadn't quite processed everything. Her cry jolted him out of his daze.
Without addressing Li Yurou, Li Dongming rushed to Xia Feng and knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead striking the floor with resounding thuds.
"Li Dongming pays his respects to the Saint Emperor. Your presence graces my Li family, bringing unparalleled honor. I, Li, have failed to welcome you properly. I beg the Saint Emperor's forgiveness."
Li Dongming, uncertain of Xia Feng's intentions, decided to kneel and pay his respects first.
After all, it's hard to strike a smiling face. Li Dongming had seen Xia Feng not hold Feng Daidian accountable, so he likely wouldn't seek trouble with him, right?
(⊙o⊙)...
Li Dongming's actions stunned everyone present.
Especially Li Yurou and Zhou Kai, whose eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
Saint Emperor?
Such a young Saint Emperor?
Even if their minds screamed disbelief, witnessing Li Dongming kneeling and trembling, coupled with the loud thuds of his kowtows, forced them to believe, even if they didn't want to.
It wasn't entirely disbelief, but rather something difficult to accept.
There were indeed two elder Saint Emperor experts in the Saint Realm, but when did such a young Saint Emperor emerge?
Li Yurou was petrified. She finally understood why Feng Yuer had been so respectful to Xia Feng, why she called him Young Master, and why she had told her that Xia Feng was extraordinary.
Now that Xia Feng's true identity was revealed, Li Yurou understood everything.
However, Li Yurou felt a pang of regret. If she had agreed to Feng Yuer's request earlier and allowed Xia Feng into her boudoir, wouldn't that have created an unspoken connection with him?
Alas, there was no turning back once the arrow was loosed, and no medicine for regret in this world. Even if Li Yurou felt a sharp pang of regret, it was useless.
As Li Yurou regretted her actions, Zhou Kai was utterly terrified.
He had just provoked a Saint Emperor expert?
It turned out Xia Feng wasn't afraid of him; he simply didn't consider him human, or more accurately, he didn't consider him at all.
All his grandstanding had made him nothing but a clown.
Zhou Kai's legs went numb, and he silently sank to his knees. He had endured it all for Xia Feng.
Xia Feng looked at Li Dongming, who was kneeling on the ground, and gestured with his hand, "Get up. There's no need to bow to me."
Hearing Xia Feng's kind tone, Li Dongming felt an instant wave of relief. He knew then that Xia Feng had no intention of holding him accountable this time.
Besides, he didn't seem to have done anything wrong. He was just an observer, adding to the crowd, and hadn't even spoken a word throughout the ordeal.
"Thank you, Saint Emperor," Li Dongming quickly expressed his gratitude and then cautiously stood up.
"Does the Saint Emperor have any instructions? Is there anything you require of me?" Li Dongming asked after standing up, looking at Xia Feng.
Since he had come all this way, there must be a reason. Why else would Xia Feng have come here?
Li Dongming, a formidable late-stage Saint Venerable expert, was not foolish. He could naturally deduce this.
It was true that a visitor without a purpose was rare.
Seeing Li Dongming inquire, Xia Feng did not conceal his intentions and stated directly, "I need to enter your granddaughter's boudoir. The aura emanating from her is what I am looking for. I need to go in and confirm it."
Upon hearing this, Li Dongming asked without much thought, "Did you find it?"
"Your granddaughter refused my request," Xia Feng replied calmly.
Li Dongming: ...
Li Dongming was so infuriated that he almost choked. If Xia Feng hadn't been present, Li Dongming would have called his granddaughter a foolish idiot for the first time in his life.
Seeing Li Yurou's innocent expression, Li Dongming said softly:
"Saint Emperor, I will have Yurou take you to her boudoir immediately."