Chapter 949 – The Young Man Wearing a Bamboo Hat (2/2)
From start to finish, he had a casual smile on his lips.
He did not say a single word, nor did he give a precious pill to his opponent. His opponent was barely injured, able to walk off the platform under their own power.
Since they could walk off the platform, they naturally still had the energy to fight. Given how the demi-humans loved to fight and valued reputation, his opponent could only retreat because they had not seen a single chance of victory in their battle. The discrepancy in strength had pulverized their confidence.
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The morning fog gradually dispersed. The morning sun hung over the mountains like a red ball playing pretend.
The Imperial Palace's observation platform was on the east side, and was the highest place in White Emperor City besides the three stone halls in the Imperial Palace. By standing on the platform, one could look down upon every place in the city.
White Emperor City today was rather strange, the majority of districts quiet and deserted while several dozen areas were extremely lively. These were where the fighting platforms were located, and the stone walls around them were so packed that the figures looked like ants from a distance.
Several hundred Red River Beast Guard kept watch on the events below, their hands tightly gripping leather ropes. The other ends of these ropes were tied to the necks of black vultures. If anything strange happened below, they would descend on the black vultures and suppress it with the fastest speed. They were even more convenient than the flying carriage used last night to search for fugitives.
The important figures observing the ceremony on the observation platform appeared slightly surprised, many of them looking at a certain elder.
The one who had lost just now came from this elder's tribe. They had been famous and powerful and had been the opponent that several factions in the Council of Elders had intentionally arranged for the Great Western Continent's Second Prince.
Yes, many important personages in the Demi-human race were not willing to see the Empress's nephew become the next White Emperor.
Although the Wildfire of the Celestial Trees could remold one's body and soul, although the impartiality of the Heavenly Selection ceremony was unquestionable, if they were unwilling, they were unwilling.
Several demi-human elders had made several plans which they had believed could easily stop the Great Western Continent's Second Prince. They had not expected the first match to be lost in such a way, and had nothing to say.
The Second Prince had still not revealed his true strength, so would their following plans be of any use?
The gazes of many other important figures fell on that mountainous figure.
The Chief Elder was truly deserving of his position as leader of the Xiang clan. Just like his long-lived brethren, he valued every moment of rest.
At this moment, his eyes were closed as if he was sleeping. Was he truly not worried?
All of a sudden, the Chief Elder opened his eyes and looked towards the fighting platform on the meadow on the western side of the Heavensguard Pavilion.
His eyes were serene and without ripples. He was not like the oldest wells, but the most serene of pools. Yet right now, a flash of cold appeared in this pool.
Several elders of powerful cultivation also sensed something, looking to the platform on the meadow with surprise.
The Chief Elder turned to glance at an even higher place. He silently thought for a while, then closed his eyes, continuing to rest or sleep.
The only place higher than the Imperial City's observation platform was the stone hall. Madam Mu sat in a stone chair in front of the hall, looking down upon White Emperor City with an impassive visage as if she had sensed nothing.
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Heavensguard Pavilion was where the demi-humans held their spring ceremonies. Like the Imperial Palace and the vast majority of buildings in White Emperor City, it was built from stone, though it did have a green river running around its perimeter. This, coupled with those trees that were over a thousand years old, made the place seem quiet and serene. The meadow to the west appeared especially beautiful in the morning light.
The meadow and the river cordoned off the many spectators far from the action. As a result, they could not clearly make out what had happened on the platform, as their view was even inferior to that of the important personages on the Imperial City's observation platform. They only knew who had won and lost.
The one in charge of determining victory and defeat was an old man of the Carp tribe. As he looked at the person still standing on the platform, he wanted to say something, but his resolve suddenly failed and he only shook his head.
The loser of the match had already been taken away. Although they had suffered no external injuries, they had fallen unconscious through some mysterious method, giving the match a bizarre atmosphere.
The person on the platform himself was very bizarre. The bamboo hat he wore completely obscured his face, but everyone could feel that he was very young. Moreover, this person naturally exuded a cold and sinister Qi that not even the gradually strengthening light of the sun or the morning winds could dilute.
A member of the Council of Elders responsible for supervising the matches squinted at the young man as he sternly asked, ”Which tribe are you from?”