Chapter 961 – The Autumn Mountains, the Source of Trust (2/2)

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.