The convoy slowly passed through the heavily guarded palace gates, entering the royal forbidden grounds that symbolized the highest power and dignity of the Star Luo Empire.
The banquet hall of the Star Luo Palace was resplendent with gold and jade. The enormous crystal chandeliers cast a soft and brilliant glow, while melodious court music flowed through the air.
The elegantly dressed guests conversed in hushed tones, and the air was filled with the subtle mingling of champagne, fine cuisine, and the weight of power.
However, for Tang Wulin, all of this felt distant and dull.
He sat in the Shrek Academy section, feigning attentiveness, but his mind had already wandered elsewhere.
The list of materials needed to break the fifth layer of the Golden Dragon King seal lingered in his thoughts. Those rare treasures, nearly extinct, weighed heavily on him.
After staying up late researching and tirelessly searching for days, drowsiness washed over him like a tide.
He struggled to maintain an upright posture, but his eyelids grew heavier, his consciousness gradually blurred, and his head drooped slightly. In the midst of this dazzling royal banquet filled with clinking glasses and fragrant perfumes, he unknowingly drifted off into a light doze.
Not far away, seated at the royal family's table, Dai Yun'er idly swirled the juice in her glass.
Her gaze swept across the room and quickly landed on the black-haired youth who dared to doze off during such an important occasion—the very same person who had embarrassed her guards on the street just two days ago!
A mischievous smile tugged at Dai Yun'er's lips, and a prankish idea sprang to mind.
She focused her mental energy, condensing her voice into a sharp line, like an invisible needle, and directed it toward Tang Wulin's ear:
"Murder!!"
This voice, wrapped in her soul power, was meant only for Tang Wulin to hear. It would surely terrify him and cause a public spectacle.
However, just as this condensed line of soul power was about to reach Tang Wulin's ear, Gu La, who had been quietly sitting nearby and also found the occasion unbearably dull, revealed a barely noticeable glint of mischief in his golden eyes.
His extraordinarily powerful mental energy, sharper than the most sensitive radar, instantly detected the thin line of soul power carrying Dai Yun'er's prank.
Without hesitation, Gu La subtly manipulated his will, sending a purer, more condensed strand of mental energy—laced with a hint of playful mischief—straight into the weakest point of Dai Yun'er's soul power thread, like the sharpest needle piercing its mark.
"Pfft—"
A faint sound of energy breaking echoed, audible only to Gu La himself.
Dai Yun'er's carefully wrapped soul power shell shattered instantly.
The clear, mischievous, and prank-filled scream—"Murder!!"—originally intended only for Tang Wulin, erupted like a thunderclap unleashed from its seal, resonating clearly throughout the opulent banquet hall, which had previously been filled only with murmurs and music.
"Whoosh—!"
Time seemed to freeze for a moment, followed by an explosion of chaos.
Tang Wulin, who had been dozing off, was jolted awake as if doused with a bucket of ice water.
Reacting instinctively, his soul power surged forth. His Blue Silver Emperor martial soul instantly activated, and his two-word battle armor components shimmered with golden light, covering his hands and legs. A powerful aura and defensive instincts flared out around him.
His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings tensely, searching for the source of the sound and any potential enemies.
But no one paid attention to him now because the entire hall had erupted into pandemonium.
That sudden, clear, and fear-inducing cry of "Murder!" was like a massive stone dropped into a tranquil lake.
Almost all the guests were startled, their hearts skipping a beat. The royal spirit masters and guards responsible for security were like frightened birds, instantly unleashing their full soul power!
In an instant, the hall was flooded with bursts of light as true forms of martial souls and various battle armors appeared. The sounds of unsheathed swords, surging soul power, and screams mixed together.
The atmosphere became unbearably tense. Everyone assumed it was an assassination attempt targeting the emperor or a core member of the delegation.
Star Luo Emperor Dai Tianling, holding a wine glass less than ten meters away from the key figures of the Federation delegation, Cai Yue'er and Zhuo Shi, was preparing for an important ceremonial exchange.
The sudden scream and ensuing chaos before his eyes turned the deeply calculating emperor's face ashen.
An indescribable fury surged to his head. This was a blatant slap in the face of the Star Luo royal family and a disruption of this solemn national event.
Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed his seething anger. The ashen hue swiftly faded, replaced by the dignity and composure befitting an emperor.
His steady voice boomed like a gong, instantly silencing the commotion: "Silence!!" The commanding tone, imbued with powerful soul power, made everyone's hearts tremble.
"Who caused this disturbance?! Guards, investigate the situation!" Dai Tianling's piercing gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Dai Yun'er, whose face had turned pale, her hands and feet fumbling as she tried to shrink back into the crowd.
He already understood seven or eight parts of what happened, a mix of frustration and greater anger swirling within him.
Dai Yun'er regretted her actions deeply. She had merely wanted to use telepathy to scare the dozing boy—how had the sound escaped and echoed throughout the entire hall?!
Looking at the still-shaken guests, especially the gazes from the Federation delegation filled with suspicion, scrutiny, and even a hint of barely concealed disdain, Dai Yun'er wished she could find a crack in the floor to disappear into.
Seizing the chaos, she crouched low and attempted to sneak away.
However, the Title Douluo assigned to protect the royal family members, an elderly man with white hair and beard, had already locked onto her.
He knew Princess Yun'er's nature well. Pranks were tolerable on ordinary days, but causing such a blunder today was unforgivable.
With a flash of movement, he subtly blocked Dai Yun'er's path while sending a precise telepathic message to Dai Tianling.
Dai Tianling cast a complex glance at his beloved youngest daughter, suppressing the urge to lash out immediately. What mattered most now was salvaging the situation; he couldn't let the Federation witness further embarrassment.
Facing the Federation delegation, he displayed a perfectly measured look of apology: "Please forgive this small incident. It was a false alarm. The palace is heavily guarded; there are no threats. Please relax and enjoy the banquet."
With a wave of his hand, the guards who had unleashed their martial souls and battle armors felt as if they'd been pardoned, swiftly retracting their powers and returning to their positions. However, the atmosphere remained unbearably awkward and strained.
Dai Yun'er's face flushed red, wanting to explain but not knowing what to say.
Dai Tianling's gaze fell upon her, his voice firm and authoritative: "Yun'er, no more mischief. Retreat!" His tone was scolding, but the punishment was lenient—a high raise, gentle drop.
Dai Yun'er felt immense relief, lowering her head and fleeing the hall under countless gazes. She knew her father was protecting her, but the humiliation and shame brought tears to her eyes.
However, the impact of this farce did not dissipate. From the emperor and ministers to the guards and attendants, everyone in the Star Luo Empire felt the sting of embarrassment.
The gazes from the Federation delegation, though outwardly calm, carried traces of scrutiny and even a faint sense of mockery, making the Star Luo people feel unprecedented humiliation.
It was as if they were silently saying: The Star Luo royal family lacks discipline?
The subsequent meetings and banquet proceeded according to protocol, but the atmosphere remained clouded by a lingering sense of unease and awkwardness. The Star Luo side forced smiles, while the Federation side maintained polite but distant courtesy.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Gu La sat quietly in his seat, as if the earth-shattering chaos had nothing to do with him.
He raised his wine glass, taking a delicate sip. Deep within his golden eyes, a flicker of barely noticeable satisfaction—like the joy of a successful prank—passed unnoticed, concealing his involvement.
The banquet finally ended in an almost torturous atmosphere. The Shrek group and other delegation members boarded the limousines to return to the hotel. Once outside the palace grounds, the oppressive atmosphere instantly eased.
"My goodness, I was so scared. I thought someone was really trying to assassinate the emperor!" Xie Xie patted his chest, his face still pale with fright.
"It was that princess, right? Dai Yun'er?" Xu Xiaoyan whispered, "She was too reckless."
"It was definitely her! The one who got scolded by the emperor and ran off," Le Zhengyu said with a hint of disdain. "To cause such trouble at this kind of event—today, we've truly seen the lack of upbringing in the Star Luo royal family."
"But," Ye Xinglan's cool voice chimed in, tinged with doubt, "as a princess, Dai Yun'er shouldn't have been so foolish unless she's clueless about what this banquet represents."
"Exactly," Yuanen Yehui added, frowning. "And looking at her panicked expression, it didn't seem intentional. It was more like someone framed her. But judging by the reactions of others in the Star Luo Empire, it was indeed the princess's voice."
"Could someone have secretly meddled?" Xu Lizhi asked innocently.
Wu Changkong sat in the front passenger seat, eyes closed as if resting, seemingly unaware of the students' discussion. However, his slightly furrowed brows indicated he was thinking deeply.
Tang Wulin also recalled the scene, sensing an eerie undertone.
The group buzzed with speculation about possible scenarios—was it a strong individual in the Federation delegation who disliked the Star Luo Empire? Someone within the Star Luo Empire dissatisfied with the princess? Or perhaps a hidden third party deliberately stirring trouble? Yet, no matter the theory, they lacked concrete evidence or motive, leaving the matter unresolved.
Meanwhile, deep within the Star Luo Palace.
Dai Tianling strode forward, his face stern, followed by a dejected Dai Yun'er, her eyes red.
Back in the imperial study, after dismissing the attendants, Dai Tianling turned to his beloved daughter, his tone severe:
"Yun'er! You've greatly disappointed me. Your usual mischief I can overlook, considering your young age. But what kind of occasion was this?! A state banquet! A matter of imperial dignity! How dare you act so recklessly!"
"Father!" Dai Yun'er cried, tears streaming down her face. "I'm innocent, Father! I only meant to use telepathy to scare that sleepy guy from Shrek. I don't know… I don't know why my telepathy suddenly failed, and the sound became so loud! I truly don't understand what happened!"
She desperately explained herself, her voice trembling with sobs.
Dai Tianling observed his daughter's distressed and fearful expression, seeing no signs of pretense. His anger subsided slightly, replaced by deep suspicion.
He understood Dai Yun'er. Though mischievous, she knew her limits. The likelihood of her pulling a prank at such an event was low, and she wasn't foolish enough to use a phrase like "murder" that could incite chaos.
Moreover, he was aware of her talent in controlling spiritual and soul power.
"You're saying… your telepathic transmission was sabotaged?" Dai Tianling asked sharply, his gaze becoming razor-sharp.
"It must have been!" Dai Yun'er nodded vigorously. "My telepathy was perfectly condensed, but just as it was about to reach his ear, I felt the soul power enveloping the sound get... pierced, like by a needle. Then it lost control, and the sound escaped on its own."
"Sabotaged…" Dai Tianling began pacing, his brows furrowed. "Telepathic communication involves wrapping sound in soul power or mental energy, transmitting it directionally—it's extremely secretive."
"Unless someone with far superior mental energy precisely intercepted and disrupted the trajectory of your telepathic soul power… And to do so silently, amplifying the sound to that extent…"
The more Dai Tianling thought about it, the more alarmed he became. "What terrifying control over mental and soul power does this require? Even a Super Douluo, without knowing when or whom you were communicating with, would find it nearly impossible."
Father and daughter exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity and confusion in each other's eyes. Who was it? Which hidden strong individual in the Federation delegation?
Or was there a terrifying presence lurking within the empire they weren't aware of? And what was the purpose? Merely to humiliate Dai Yun'er and, by extension, disgrace the Star Luo royal family?
They racked their brains, investigating possible suspects, but could never imagine that this earth-shattering incident, which nearly sparked diplomatic tensions, was caused by someone simply bored and indulging in a whimsical prank.
Gu La's name never even appeared on their list of suspects.
This mystery loomed over Dai Tianling's mind like a dark cloud, leaving Dai Yun'er feeling an unprecedented sense of unease.
Without answers, she vaguely felt that everything seemed connected to that dozing black-haired boy. But these were mere hunches, impossible to verify.
And if it weren't for him, she wouldn't have attempted telepathy in the first place, nor would the mistake have occurred.
Dai Yun'er, who had never been publicly reprimanded by her father, possessed an incredibly fragile pride. Unable to find the real culprit, she fixated on Tang Wulin, much like in the original storyline.
The night in the palace felt unusually deep.
The grand court banquet officially commenced. Graceful dance music played, and under the glittering lights, the guests entered the ballroom.
The earlier commotion caused by the "prank" seemed deliberately forgotten in a corner. At least on the surface, the atmosphere regained its elegance and ease.
The Star Luo Empire side struggled to maintain polite smiles, while the Federation delegation tacitly cooperated in this facade of "harmony."
Dai Yun'er changed into a more exquisite pale yellow court gown, her face adorned with an impeccable sweet smile, as if the girl who had been scolded by her father and fled in embarrassment had nothing to do with her.
Her gaze roamed, quickly locking onto her target—the black-haired youth in the corner attempting to lower his presence, his face still bearing traces of lingering drowsiness and helplessness. Tang Wulin.
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