"Father Emperor! This Demon Beast is just blatantly slandering Liam Li! Isn't it obvious?" Prince Asher Xiao declared impatiently. "Why bother with all this nonsense? Just execute it already! Demon Beasts are a nuisance—one less is one less headache for everyone!"
"Today is His Majesty the Celestial Emperor’s birthday. There’s no need to get bogged down in this sort of thing," the Celestial Empress added. "Leo Li, take him out."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Celestial Empress." Leo Li waved his hand, and the Palace Guards began dragging the prisoner out.
The Celestial Emperor glanced at the Empress and did not intervene.
Without any evidence, even if he tried to stop it, it would be pointless.
Suddenly, someone called out, "Wait!"
Everyone looked over and saw that it was Lucia Lu.
"Divine Lady Lucia, do you have something to say?" the Celestial Emperor asked.
Lucia Lu stood up and said, "I wish to ask His Majesty to spare his life."
If what he says is true, and he didn’t burn the city, then his crime isn’t deserving of death.
"Oh? Why is that?" the Celestial Emperor asked.
"I just think Demon Beasts are growing rarer in this world—it’s a shame to execute one so casually," Lucia replied.
The Celestial Emperor pretended to ponder. "Hmm..."
"Divine Lady Lucia!" Leo Li called out sternly. "Nine hundred years ago, a powerful Demon Beast broke into the Radiant Palace. Your father, your mother, and even you—while still in High Goddess Vivian Lu’s womb—almost died at its hands! And you still think it’s a shame to exterminate these monsters?"
Lucia remained calm and said, "Young Master Drake, Emperor Ray Quinn once said that while Demon Beasts have demonic qi, they still possess reason. They can be controlled, and should not be discriminated against or slaughtered indiscriminately!"
"Indiscriminate slaughter? He attacked His Majesty—by law, he must die. How is that indiscriminate?"
"He didn’t attack His Majesty on purpose! He was angry because he misunderstood why His Majesty was hunting him without cause!" Lucia said pointedly. "How did that misunderstanding happen... Young Master Drake, perhaps you know a thing or two?"
Leo Li had already heard from Henry Xiao that Lucia Lu had previously hinted he should keep a closer eye on his child.
In other words, she actually knows the truth.
The fact that she hasn’t exposed it is already giving him face.
His brow furrowed. Being held by the throat like this was deeply uncomfortable.
That Lucia Lu—she really can’t help meddling in other people’s business!
"Lucia Lu, why do you keep speaking up for this Demon Beast? Do you have some kind of relationship with him?" Liam Li suddenly interjected.
"What kind of relationship could I possibly have with him?" Lucia Lu looked at him coolly.
"Who knows?" Liam Li sneered. "If he’s your man, you could just say so. His Majesty might even hand him over to you, for the sake of Qilin Divine Lord Soren Lann and High God Quentin Lian!"
"Liam! Don’t talk nonsense!" Leo Li cut him off, then turned to the Celestial Emperor. "Your Majesty, since Divine Lady Lucia is so determined to protect him, perhaps Your Majesty could show mercy and spare his life."
At these words, the gods began murmuring among themselves.
Everyone was speculating about what kind of connection Lucia Lu might have with this Demon Beast.
She was even pleading for him after an attempted assassination of the Celestial Emperor.
The Celestial Emperor was just about to speak when a cold, deep voice rang out in the hall: "What do you mean, Divine Lady Lucia is the only one protecting him? She shouldn’t have to take the blame for this!"
Everyone turned to see that it was Sean Shaw speaking.
He stood up and walked toward the Celestial Emperor.
"Fifth Highness! It’s fine!" Lucia Lu hurriedly sent him a sound transmission.
But he didn’t stop.
Lucia Lu grew anxious. "Sean!"
He handed the Celestial Emperor a Clarity Charm. "This is the Clarity Charm I retrieved from the damaged formation."