Chapter 961 – The Autumn Mountains, the Source of Trust
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Bie Yanghong noticed that Xuanyuan Po was not holding chopsticks, so he worriedly asked, "Are you not eating?"
He knew that Xuanyuan Po had taken part in the Heavenly Selection ceremony today, but he had not asked about it. He knew the result just from looking at Xuanyuan Po's expression.
He was more concerned about the fact that Xuanyuan Po would be going to the Celestial Trees tomorrow to receive the baptism of the Wildfire. How could he be allowed to not eat his fill tonight?
"I have something to eat."
Xuanyuan Po took out a paper bag from his bosom. Taking the leftover meat bun from within, he ate it with half a bowl of vegetable soup.
Wuqiong Bi froze at this sight, then ignored him, lowering her head to eat.
After a while, she raised her head to take a glance and realized that Bie Yanghong had been watching the bun in Xuanyuan Po's hands the entire time. She couldn't help but furrow her brow.
The bun was cold and hard, the juices congealed into white fat. It should have been very unpleasant to eat, so why was her husband so fixated on it?
……
……
The sky was dark, the Pine Paths shrouded in the deepest darkness, but Xuanyuan Po was already awake.
He walked out of the alley, indicated to the alarmed priests that everything was fine, then went to the nearby street to buy a bag of meat buns, half a pot of porridge, two bowls of corn paste, one bowl of dry noodles, two fried sticky rice cakes, one tray of steamed buns, and three kinds of pickled vegetables. This in tow, he returned to the small courtyard.
He was still eating meat buns, while the rest was meant for Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi to eat throughout the day.
Under Bie Yanghong's profound gaze and Wuqiong Bi's angry one, Xuanyuan Po silently ate six meat buns. After cleaning himself up, tidying his clothes, and solemnly bowing to Bie Yanghong, he took the Mountain Sea Sword from the wood pile and left the small courtyard once more.
Unlike yesterday, he attracted many more gazes today.
Several dozen priests from the Daoist Church of the Western Wastes and a hundred-some warriors of the Bear tribe escorted him to Jade Jing Ferry.
Xuanyuan Po noticed that the Tang clan steward and several southern cultivators were following from a close distance.
He had met these cultivators last night. According to the steward's introduction, one of them was from Gentle Stream Monastery, apparently Ye Xiaolian's martial uncle from when she was still in the outer sect.
The morning fog cloaked White Emperor City, just like it had on every other unremarkable day over the countless years. Jade Jing Ferry was also as lively as usual, though the best-positioned pier was no longer occupied by hardworking farmers, but by officials of the Demi-human Court and powerful personages like the Bear tribe leader.
The morning sun was completely shut out by the mountains on the opposite shore. This, coupled with the thick fog, made it seem like it was still night.
When they boarded the ferry, the Red River suddenly surged with waves. The ferry lightly swayed, and then a low and terrifying roar rose up.
Visitors who heard these roars and felt the furious waves of the Red River might tremble in fear, but everyone present had lived in White Emperor City for quite some time. They knew that these were all signs that the Jings had awoken and were currently eating. They were completely unconcerned, and after several boxes of the plumpest barracudas were dumped in the river, the roars quickly subsided.
The morning fog gradually dispersed and it was already possible to see the surrounding river, smooth and placid.
The mountains on the opposite shore were still shrouded in fog. Even though the sun was about to rise over the ridgeline, only the silhouettes of those nine massive Celestial Trees could be seen.
The bow of the ferry cleaved through the waters, accompanied by the splashing of the waves and the rising of the run. By the time the ferry reached the other shore, the morning sun was already sending out its warm rays of light, the mists completely expelled.
Before their eyes were the green mountains that extended unbroken for countless li, like countless layers of walls.
The nine Celestial Trees within the mountain walls appeared like giant torches in the morning light, exuding the invisible Wildfire that inspired both reverence and delight in the Demi-human race.
The Celestial Trees were so massive that only the mightiest of peaks could bear their weight. They were also very far, the closest one several dozen li away.
There were nine paths to the Celestial Trees, but they all began from one point: the high platform across the river from Jade Jing Ferry.
Madam Mu stood on this platform.
The morning light bestowed dazzling clarity on her body, making it seem particularly lofty and tall.
The morning wind blew, causing her gorgeous long gown to rustle, imbuing it with great majesty.
The Tianhai Divine Empress and Pope Yin had already returned to the sea of stars, the Holy Maiden of the south had gone with Su Li to the Sacred Light Continent, and the White Emperor was cultivating and recovering from his wounds.
Of the Five Saints, the only one that would still appear before the world was her.
Below her, the demi-human elders stood in one row while the ministers and generals of the court stood in another.
Only truly influential figures and their attendants had the right to be present today. The atmosphere was dignified, so quiet that no sound could be heard.
With a burst of ritual music, everyone bowed.
An official stepped forward and began to read a ceremonial address.
Once this oration was finished, the ceremonial offerings were sent up in a steady flow, everything proceeding smoothly.
Xuanyuan Po and the five others1 walked up the stone steps to the high platform.
Countless gazes fell on their backs, upon which countless thoughts emerged.
Who could pass the baptism of the Wildfire, pass the trial of the ancestral spirits?
And who would become the final victor tomorrow and marry Princess Luoluo?
Xiaode had the strongest cultivation and the purest blood, so there was logically no one that could defeat him. But it was evident that the Empress favored the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, and there was a chance that the White Emperor did as well. What other reason could there be for the Chief Elder's silence after that night?
And there was also the abrupt appearance of Xuanyuan Po. He was clearly a descendant of the Bear tribe, but he chose to fight for the Orthodox Academy. This was an incredibly deep backing, but seeing as how the Human race had no time to respond, he had probably come on his own. What results could he achieve with just himself?
The other two demi-human experts were equally famous, so it would probably not be difficult for them to pass the trial of the ancestral spirits. If Xiaode was a little careless, there was a chance that he might lose to them, but why did that young man in the bamboo hat not even glance at them, appearing so arrogant and aloof?
In terms of surprises in the Heavenly Selection ceremony, other than Xuanyuan Po's sudden emergence, there was also the young man in the bamboo hat.
Xiaode, the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, and the two demi-human experts all had very clear backgrounds, and even Xuanyuan Po had nothing left to hide. But even now, no one knew who the young man in the bamboo hat was, where he came from, or what he wanted to do.
This should have been absolutely impossible.
The spies of the court and the various tribes had secretly investigated, but some sort of power within White Emperor City was cutting off the young man from all sights, stealthily yet unflinchingly severing all prying gazes.
To be able to prevent the powerful personages in the court and the tribes from finding out this person's background while also not showing itself, this strength was truly too terrifying.
Many tribes quickly halted their investigations out of fear, and even the spies of the court withdrew upon learning of the young man's residence.
The young man lived in a courtyard extremely close to the Xiang clan's estate.
This easily led to a certain conclusion.
It was not completely unexpected. The young man might not be a demi-human, might even be the foe of the Demi-human race. But even if this was true, it did not matter.
This was because the young man in the bamboo hat would enter the Celestial Tree today, receiving the baptism of the Wildfire, the trial of the ancestral spirit.
If this person truly meant ill towards the Demi-human race, was a spy from the Human or even Demon race, he would be burned to nothing in both body and soul by the Wildfire.
This was the heart of the Heavenly Selection ceremony.
Only those creatures that swore loyalty to the White Emperor clan could endure the baptism of the Wildfire and the trial of the ancestral spirits.
The expert that made it through this pass would voluntarily leave their original tribe to become a member of the White Emperor clan.
That the demi-human elders, ministers and generals would ultimately agree to Madam Mu's plan was based on this point.
Countless gazes fell on the Great Western Continent's Second Prince, solemn, or cold, or suspicious, or malicious.
The events at South Stream Temple had been spread across White Emperor City last night.
The Great Western Continent's Imperial clan really did have such great schemes.
Was the Second Prince really willing to remold his body and soul to become one of the Demi-human race?
If he really did do this, he had a chance of becoming the next White Emperor.
Under the attentive gaze of the crowd, the Great Western Continent's Second Prince turned around to face the elders, ministers and generals.
The morning light shone on his handsome face, but it could not illuminate his true feelings.
It seemed like regret, but also relief. Ultimately, it all became tranquility.
He declared, "I withdraw."
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1. Yes, for some reason, seven has become six. One was apparently lost overnight.