“You’re too kind, Your Highness,” Leo replied modestly.
In theory, Prince Caspian, as the main supporter of the Everlasting Trade Association, should harbor hostility towards Leo since Starfall Shop had encroached on the Association’s interests. However, his praise upon meeting Leo demonstrated Prince Caspian’s deep scheming nature.
People who conceal their emotions are the hardest to deal with.
The Emperor of the Martial Dynasty glanced meaningfully at Prince Caspian and Leo before introducing, “This is my eldest son.”
“Greetings, Your Highness,” Leo bowed.
The Crown Prince Salvador looked at Leo with eyes as sharp as an eagle’s but smiled and said, “Lord Leo, your reputation precedes you.”
“You’re too kind, Your Highness,” Leo responded politely.
“And this is Master Shane, Vice President of the Alchemist Association,” the Emperor continued, pointing to an elderly man with well-maintained skin.
Shane squinted slightly at Leo, his eyes filled with suspicion.
Upon hearing the Emperor’s introduction, Shane merely nodded slightly at Leo.
Leo returned a smile as a form of greeting.
“Lord Leo, I have arranged a banquet in the main hall. Please follow me,” the Emperor gestured.
Leo followed the Emperor into the palace. Prince Caspian, the Crown Prince, Prince Caius, and others followed closely behind, with Mike trailing them.
Winston, who served the Emperor closely, harbored both hatred and fear towards Leo at this moment.
“Hmph, let’s see how you leave the palace if you can’t cure Princess Lyra or don’t have the skills of a Fourth-rank Alchemist,” Winston thought coldly to himself.
The banquet was held in Harmony Palace, a spacious and luxurious hall.
The Emperor sat at the head of the table, with Leo, Prince Caspian, the Crown Prince, and Prince Caius seated below him. Other officials were seated according to their ranks on either side.
Palace maids brought various delicacies and fine wines to the jade tables in front of everyone.
The hall was soon filled with the aroma of food and wine.
The dishes were plentiful, many of which included various Spirit Herbs and Spirit Fruits.
“Lord Leo, please,” the Emperor smiled at Leo.
Having traveled a long way, Leo was indeed hungry. He picked up his jade chopsticks and began to eat.
The banquet was a joyous occasion for both host and guests. Besides enjoying the Martial Dynasty’s palace cuisine, Leo also drank a lot of fine wine.
After the banquet ended, only the Emperor, Leo, Prince Caspian, the Crown Prince, Prince Caius, and Master Shane remained.
Of course, Winston was also present as the Emperor’s close eunuch.
“Lord Leo, besides inviting you to admire your presence, I have another matter to ask for your help with,” the Emperor said with a serious look at Leo.
Leo could guess what the Emperor wanted to say and directly asked, “Is it about Princess Lyra?”
“Yes,” the Emperor nodded solemnly.
“Prince Caius has already informed me about it,” Leo glanced at Prince Caius and continued, “Could you tell me exactly what happened to Princess Lyra?”
“It happened three years ago. I went hunting near Star Moon Lake with Princess Lyra and her mother accompanying me. During the hunt, we encountered a Flame Fire Devil Scorpion at the half-step Demon Saint Realm.”
“My four Spirit Saint realm guards and over a hundred Golden Lion Guards nearly all perished to kill the Flame Fire Devil Scorpion. During the battle, Princess Lyra took a poisonous sting from the scorpion to protect me…”
The Emperor fell into painful memories. His steady and dignified voice wavered when he spoke of Princess Lyra taking the sting for him.
After hearing the Emperor’s story, Leo frowned and asked in confusion, “As far as I know, Flame Fire Devil Scorpions usually inhabit deserts and dislike water. How did one appear near Star Moon Lake?”
“Indeed, how did a Flame Fire Devil Scorpion appear near Star Moon Lake?” The Emperor shared Leo’s confusion.
The Emperor’s gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep over Prince Caspian and the Crown Prince.
Their expressions remained unchanged.
Leo noticed these subtle actions from the Emperor.
It seemed that the Emperor harbored suspicions about Prince Caspian and the Crown Prince regarding what happened at Star Moon Lake.
However, this was a family matter of the Emperor’s that Leo didn’t want to meddle in. He continued asking, “What was Princess Lyra’s cultivation level at that time?”
Leo asked because even he would be severely injured or killed by a half-step Demon Saint Realm Flame Fire Devil Scorpion’s sting.
“Lyra had exceptional talent in spiritual cultivation. When she accompanied me on that trip at sixteen years old, she was at the peak of Upper Spirit King realm,” said the Emperor.
“Sixteen… peak Upper Spirit King realm?” Leo was slightly surprised. Such talent was indeed extraordinary.
But even at that level, being stung by a Flame Fire Devil Scorpion would be fatal.
The Emperor continued, “Lyra survived until now because I happened to have a Three Talents Ice Origin Pill refined by Master Tanner.”
“After returning to the capital, Master Tanner treated her. Lyra has lived until now, but due to the unique and potent fire poison of the Flame Fire Devil Scorpion, it couldn’t be completely eradicated.”
The Emperor’s tone was filled with worry and heaviness.
Princess Lyra was his most beloved daughter and had taken the poison for him. Every time her body was wracked with pain from the poison’s flare-ups, it felt like needles were piercing his heart.
Although he was the Emperor of Martial Dynasty, he was also a father.
“I implore you to save Lyra. If you can remove her poison, you may choose any three items from my treasury,” the Emperor said solemnly to Leo.
Anything in the Emperor’s treasury would undoubtedly be extraordinary.
Without much thought, Leo nodded and said, “I will do my best. Please lead the way.”
The group headed to the rear palace.
Princess Lyra’s residence was in the northern part of the rear palace.
The most peculiar feature of this area was a perpetually frozen ice lake. Although it wasn’t winter, cold air continuously emanated from the lake.
In the lake grew ice lotuses that only thrived in winter; above it was a wide stone bridge.
Being here felt like stepping into winter; the temperature was very low.
Crossing the stone bridge brought them to a small palace.
This palace wasn’t an ordinary one but was built from ice blocks.
The Emperor pointed and said, “Lyra resides in this ice palace.”
“Your Majesty, you are truly considerate,” Leo remarked.
“Lyra is my most beloved youngest daughter and suffers day and night because of me. An ice lake and an ice palace are nothing,” the Emperor shook his head.