The Spirit Hall was in an uproar, with everyone caught up in a fervent search for "Ye Ritian."
Three days passed, yet no trace of "Ye Ritian" could be found.
It was as though "Ye Ritian" had vanished into thin air. They searched high and low, but still had no idea where he had gone.
On the fifth day of Ye Hao's leave, in the city of Heaven Dou:
Dressed in black, Ye Hao removed his hood, revealing a young face that was now dirty and disheveled.
After causing a scene in Spirit Hall, Ye Hao had rushed back to Heaven Dou City. Fortunately, with the support of his Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone and Six-Winged Purple Light Wings, he managed to escape capture by the Spirit Hall.
Thinking back, that red-haired man was truly infuriating. All Ye Hao did was eat a bowl of noodles—how could that possibly offend him?
For now, Ye Hao was safe.
"Still two days left. Might as well explore Heaven Dou City a bit before heading back."
Having made up his mind, Ye Hao found a random inn, booked a room, and immediately took a bath. After three days and nights of constant running, he was utterly exhausted. Once washed and lying on the bed, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, in the Spirit Hall, within the Pope's Hall:
"It's been three days, and you still haven't found Ye Ritian?" Bibi Dong sat on her throne, her tone edged with anxiety.
Below her, the Titled Douluo elders exchanged uneasy glances. Not only had they failed to find him, but they hadn't even seen him. How could they know who or where Ye Ritian was?
"Teacher, we've already searched every corner of the Spirit Hall, but... there's still no sign of Ye Ritian," Hu Liena stepped forward and added hesitantly, "Maybe... Ye Ritian has already left the Spirit Hall?"
"Left?" Bibi Dong calmed down slightly, beginning to ponder. "How exactly have you been searching?"
One elder stepped forward to report: "Your Holiness, I had my subordinates shout out for him on the streets."
"Shout? And what exactly did you shout?" Hu Liena asked, frowning.
The elder cleared his throat and imitated, "Ye Ritian! You've been surrounded! Come out now!"
Bibi Dong: "..."
Hu Liena: "..."
"Who told you to do that?" Hu Liena asked in exasperation.
Scratching his head in confusion, the elder explained, "Your Holiness ordered us to apprehend Ye Ritian. But since none of us know what he looks like, it's not like we could ask every passerby, 'Are you Ye Ritian?' or 'Do you know who Ye Ritian is?' Even if we did that until tomorrow morning, it's unlikely anyone would confess to being him. So..."
"So you thought this was the solution?" Bibi Dong's gaze grew colder, filling the hall with oppressive tension. These fools were more of a liability than an asset.
"Everyone, leave."
With a wave of her hand, Bibi Dong dismissed the elders. Her frustration was palpable. What should have been a straightforward capture had turned into a complete failure. A young man with the Death Spider Emperor martial soul and an incredible soul ring configuration had escaped right under her nose—a painful missed opportunity.
Night fell, enveloping Heaven Dou City in darkness. The streets were lit with vibrant colors, and the city buzzed with life. The prosperity of the Heaven Dou Empire was evident, a stark contrast to the more modest Soto City, where Ye Hao had once stayed.
At the inn, Ye Hao groggily opened his eyes. His vision was hazy at first but soon returned to normal. Staring at the ornately decorated ceiling, he lay on the large bed, lost in thought.
"Almost forgot..."
Slapping his forehead, Ye Hao quickly moved to the window. Picking up a lone flowerpot, he removed the flower planted inside. From his soul guide ring, he took out a burlap sack.
It had been five days—had the Blue Silver Emperor wilted?
With trembling hands, Ye Hao carefully took out the Blue Silver Emperor. Its entire body shone with a blue-gold hue, golden veins coursing through its leaves, giving it a serene beauty in the dark. The faint golden glow it emitted added an air of mystery to the night.
Ye Hao gently planted the Blue Silver Emperor in the pot, meticulously tending to it. This was the one and only Blue Silver Emperor in the world—it couldn't afford to be neglected.
Even though it had spent five days in Ye Hao's burlap sack, the Blue Silver Emperor still brimmed with vitality. However, upon sensing its surroundings, its stalks and leaves drooped, radiating a sense of dejection.
"Seriously?"
Ye Hao rolled his eyes and put it back into his soul guide ring. Keeping the Blue Silver Emperor with him was a liability. Tang Hao wouldn't let this go, and before Tang Hao discovered its location, Ye Hao needed to send it somewhere secure and unexpected...
His gaze slowly shifted toward the Heaven Dou Palace.
Got it.
Having made his decision, Ye Hao prepared to leave. He donned a pre-prepared hat and a black cloak, covering himself completely.
The streets were bustling, with people coming and going. Both sides of the road were lined with lively shops, a testament to the city's vibrancy.
Ye Hao's escape from Spirit Hall had been chaotic, forcing him to run for three days straight before reaching Heaven Dou City. Initially, he had hoped to catch a glimpse of a certain someone in Spirit Hall. But the sudden shout of, "Ye Ritian, come out now! We've seen you!"
That line had completely thrown him off. Without hesitation, he fled before the city gates could close.
Now, standing before the towering gates of the Heaven Dou Palace, Ye Hao was ready.
The massive walls blocked his path, and soldiers guarding the gate surrounded him. Cloaked and hooded as he was, the first thing they assumed was... assassin?
Unfazed by the spears pointed at his throat, Ye Hao calmly produced a token prepared by Xue Qinghe.
A golden token emblazoned with the character "Snow." In the Heaven Dou Empire, seeing this token was equivalent to seeing the Crown Prince himself.
The soldiers immediately withdrew their weapons, their demeanor shifting drastically. "We didn't realize you were a guest of His Highness. Please forgive us for the earlier offense."
Ye Hao nodded nonchalantly and said coolly, "Send word to Brother Xue that Brother Hao is here with a gift for Brother Xue."
"Brother Xue?"
The soldiers shuddered at the casual address. Clearly, this man had a close relationship with the Crown Prince. Good thing they hadn't offended him further...