Chapter 26
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This chapter is edited by Farouq Omileye. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 26: Ceremony
The ceremony arrived as scheduled.
Tianyi City, already bustling with life, now seemed to overflow with energy, boiling with anticipation. The long streets brimmed with pedestrians. Above, a sea of blue fog lingered in the sky, adding an ethereal touch to the atmosphere.
Beneath this fog, near the sacrificial platform in the southern part of the city, rows of black-armored soldiers stood tall, their long lances glinting ominously. From them, an air of death radiated, pressing heavily on the crowd. From afar, one might mistake them for a massive, slumbering dragon.
Cultivators from smaller sects froze as they passed the main gate of the sacrificial platform. Their hands and feet grew cold, their bodies trembled, and their lips quivered.
“How can ordinary people withstand such a fierce aura!”
Each black-armored soldier stood at a precise point, forming a mysterious and intricate battle array. The cultivators from smaller sects could only imagine the devastation these lances would bring upon their sects.
Despair hung thick in the air.
“This power… Is this the might of Heluo?”
It was terrifying. They understood clearly now—this was a warning.
The cultivators from Heluo Country had not forgotten their history. When Heluo was first established, its territory was far smaller than it is now. Many sects had resisted the imperial court. Yet, all of them eventually succumbed to the claws of Heluo. Those who surrendered were allowed to preserve their legacies. Those who resisted were annihilated—their estates burned, their people slaughtered.
But now, the balance of power had shifted. The presence of four great sects and several prominent evil sects had curbed Heluo’s ambition for expansion. Even so, the memory of Heluo’s might lingered like a shadow.
Suddenly, a cry of alarm broke the tension near the platform.
“He’s a disciple of Yaochi Holy Mountain!”
The crowd stirred as representatives of major sects began entering the sacrificial platform under the guidance of Heluo officials.
The oppressive aura from the soldiers that intimidated the smaller sects was ineffective against the cultivators of larger, more powerful sects.
As a disciple of Yaochi Holy Mountain passed the main gate, the soldiers closest to him frothed at the mouth and collapsed to the ground.
“Replacement,” a middle-aged man commanded. The order was swiftly executed.
Before the crowd could settle, another voice rang out:
“It’s Bai Lian of the Duxian Sect!”
Heads turned toward the end of the long street. Bai Lian approached, following the officials leading her. Her demeanor was calm, her expression unreadable—a necessary courtesy for such an event.
As she passed the gate, the black-armored soldiers erupted into a deafening roar, their combined voices shooting toward the heavens like a blood-soaked battle cry. The atmosphere thickened, and the stench of blood seemed tangible, as if a river of crimson had materialized in front of her.
For a brief moment, Bai Lian found herself transported to a smoke-filled battlefield, surrounded by charging knights.
“Phantom,” she muttered, her voice steady.
Under the light of the Eternal Moon Lamp, the illusion shattered, and the battlefield dissolved into nothingness. Bai Lian’s gaze settled on the middle-aged man she had noticed earlier.
“I am Marquis Wu’an of Heluo Country,” he introduced himself with a solemn air. Despite his scholarly attire, his demeanor carried the weight of a seasoned warrior.
Bai Lian regarded him indifferently. “Hello.”
Marquis Wu’an continued, “I heard you fought the eldest princess… for my daughter?”
“It was merely a small contest,” Bai Lian replied, her tone even.
Satisfied, the marquis nodded and stepped aside, allowing her to pass. As Bai Lian reached the sacrificial platform, she paused and turned back slightly.
“Your daughter is truly remarkable,” she said casually, her voice carrying an unexpected warmth.
Marquis Wu’an stiffened, his right hand momentarily frozen.
“Very cute. And sensible, too,” Bai Lian added before continuing on her way.
The crowd erupted into whispers.
“Although Fairy Bai Lian looks ordinary, there’s something about her…”
“That’s called being easy-going!”
“Easy-going? More like fierce!”
Marquis Wu’an walked away, his expression unreadable.
—
The platform was larger than Bai Lian had imagined. She seated herself at a wooden table, waiting quietly for the ceremony to begin. Her presence attracted many glances, including one from a female disciple of Yaochi Holy Mountain.
Rumors swirled in Bai Lian’s mind. Some claimed Yaochi Holy Mountain once attempted to trade their saints, both past and present, for her. The thought was unsettling.
The ceremony proceeded with representatives from various sects arriving in turn. When someone mentioned the arrival of demon sect representatives, Bai Lian’s ears perked up.
“The Lingxu Sect and Niguang Mountain are here.”
Lingxu Sect? Bai Lian immediately thought of Si Yunshang. A flicker of guilt crossed her mind. If Si Yunshang made another public confession… The fallout would be catastrophic!
But she was overthinking. The demon sect representatives delivered their greetings and left promptly.
Relieved, Bai Lian’s tension eased.
—
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the bell tolled, signaling the start of the ceremony.
Blue lights illuminated four towering bronze statues. Beams of light shot skyward, connecting with the Milky Way. Starlight cascaded down, creating a dreamlike scene.
The eldest princess emerged, adorned in resplendent robes, her presence commanding. She moved with the grace of a priestess, her dance evoking awe from the crowd. This was her moment—the ceremony designed to propel her toward a breakthrough.
The audience was enraptured. The spectacle was a feast for the senses, leaving a deep impression that would linger for years.
Yet, for Bai Lian, it was just another event. Her thoughts drifted to simpler joys: spending the Spring Festival on Qiongming Peak, holding silver hand-held fireworks with her master and Martial Sisters.
The brilliance of the Milky Way felt distant and unattainable. But the warmth of shared happiness? That was everlasting.
Happiness, Bai Lian mused, wasn’t something fleeting. It left its mark, deep within the soul.
—
Later, in a quiet palace, the eldest princess twirled gracefully before Bai Lian.
“What do you think?” she asked, her voice filled with expectation.
“Very nice,” Bai Lian replied with a faint smile.
The eldest princess sighed. She couldn’t read Bai Lian at all.
After a moment of silence, she said, “Follow me. I’ll take you to see Yu Ying.”
Bai Lian nodded.
—
In a secluded villa outside Tianyi City, Bai Lian reunited with Yu Ying.
“Miss Yu…”
“Fairy Bai Lian,” Yu Ying greeted with a graceful bow.
Bai Lian’s eyes widened in astonishment.
The Yu Ying before her was entirely different—a vision of elegance and beauty, with long blue hair styled intricately and eyes that sparkled like stars.
Yu Ying explained shyly, “To escape unnoticed, I transferred my soul into a puppet left by my mother.”
Bai Lian smiled warmly.
“Your daughter is truly wonderful,” she thought again, imagining the words she’d say to Marquis Wu’an.
But something about Yu Ying felt eerily familiar…
