Chapter 698: Enfeoffment as Lord
Tulip petals danced in the air, drifting all the way, as if wanting to lay a beautiful layer of tulip scenery over the ground of the imperial city.
The crowd from Dragon Mountain Empire stopped outside the imperial palace, the symbol of supreme rule in the imperial city, standing in the vast square before the palace.
Not far ahead of them, the people within the palace wore solemn expressions, on high alert, as if they had encountered some great upheaval. But the Dragon Mountain Empire crowd stopped and moved no further; the petals continued to scatter through the void.
"Ruolan Shan, envoy of Dragon Mountain Empire, by order of the empire's monarch, comes to enfeoff a human lord. I invite the Snow Moon monarch to bear witness together." Ruolan Shan transmitted his voice toward the palace. Instantly, rolling sound waves spread terrifyingly, like a gust of wind sweeping through the palace. Even from dozens of miles away, his voice could be heard echoing and rolling.
The Dragon Mountain Empire people had come to enfeoff a human lord?
The people in the palace were all stunned upon hearing this voice. Enfeoff whom, as a human lord?
Of course, some had already received news that the Dragon Mountain Empire delegation had come to enfeoff the champion of the Snow Domain Grand Competition as the Snow Moon Human Lord.
At this moment, the palace was in complete uproar. Figures flashed out from within the palace one after another, arriving outside the imperial city, gazing at the vast figures in the void above.
At the same time, the crowd in the imperial city also surged forward, all converging toward this place. Many of them wondered in their hearts: when Crown Prince Duan Wudao was enfeoffed as human lord, would the Snow Moon monarch directly hand over the throne of Snow Moon completely to him? They wanted to see if today would be a historic moment. Moreover, with the crown prince's terrifying talent, he would surely make Snow Moon Kingdom even stronger, wouldn't he?
Before long, two figures came rolling in from afar. Behind these two followed a group of people, each holding a long spear, their gazes sharp, exuding powerful auras.
"Second Prince Duan Wuya." Someone recognized the face of the one behind, and the identity of the person in front of him was also obvious—the monarch of Snow Moon Kingdom.
"Hmm?" The crowd was stunned as they looked at the middle-aged man dressed in a simple gray robe. He lacked the monarch's domineering aura they had imagined; his skin was even as fair as a woman's, with a sickly pallor, as if he had not seen sunlight for years. This made it hard for the crowd to associate him with the word "monarch."
Rumor had it that the monarch had been in seclusion for many years, not involving himself in Snow Moon's affairs, leaving everything to Crown Prince Duan Wudao and Second Prince Duan Wuya. It seemed this might be true. Of course, in the hearts of the crowd, the true king of Snow Moon was not this monarch, but Duan Renhuang, who had shaken the world twenty years ago.
After a moment, the gray-robed middle-aged man and Duan Wuya and the others arrived before Ruolan Shan. The leading gray-robed man smiled gently at Ruolan Shan, his expression incomparably natural.
"The envoy of Dragon Mountain Empire has traveled ten thousand miles to come to our Snow Moon Kingdom. I failed to welcome you in person—how rude of me."
"How dare I presume? I am here this time by order of the empire's monarch to enfeoff the Snow Moon Human Lord. Otherwise, I, Lanshan, would not dare to disturb the monarch." Ruolan Shan replied politely. "This time, I invite the monarch to bear witness to this enfeoffment."
"Very well." The Snow Moon monarch nodded. "May I ask whom the empire's monarch intends to enfeoff?"
"Isn't that a deliberate question?" The crowd all looked at the Snow Moon monarch. How fake. The Snow Domain Grand Competition had ended. As the monarch of Snow Moon, how could he not know the results? Judging by his smile, it must be Duan Renhuang.
"First, I must congratulate Snow Moon. Two geniuses from Snow Moon Kingdom have taken the first and second places in the Snow Domain Grand Competition. Dragon Mountain Empire is also proud of Snow Moon." Ruolan Shan waved his hand, and many people came forward, holding various items, moving toward the Snow Moon monarch.
"These are the rewards bestowed upon Snow Moon by the empire. Monarch, please accept them."
Duan Wuya had someone accept these gifts. But Ruolan Shan's words once again shook the hearts of the crowd. Geniuses from Snow Moon Kingdom had taken first and second places in the Snow Domain Grand Competition? Besides Duan Wudao winning the championship, was there another genius from Snow Moon Kingdom who could take second place?
Could it be Second Young Master Yue Tianming? But Yue Tianming's strength didn't seem sufficient.
"First, congratulations to Snow Moon Crown Prince Duan Wudao for taking second place in the Snow Domain Grand Competition, shaking the Snow Domain with his fame, known to all." Ruolan Shan spoke again, but this time it made the crowd's eyes stiffen. They had been wrong. They had all guessed wrong. So the champion of the Snow Domain Grand Competition was not Duan Wudao, but someone else.
Duan Wudao was only second. Then, in Snow Moon Kingdom, who could surpass Duan Wudao and take first place? How was this possible? They still found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Second, congratulations to Snow Moon Kingdom for producing an unprecedented genius. Under the age of twenty, on the battle platform of the Snow Domain Grand Competition, he defeated all the geniuses of the Snow Domain and ultimately reached the summit, standing at the peak of the Snow Domain Grand Competition, overlooking all geniuses. He is the most outstanding genius of the Snow Domain. He has brought supreme glory to Dragon Mountain Empire. His glory also belongs to Snow Moon. Now, the monarch of Dragon Mountain Empire has decreed that he be granted the seat of human lord. His name is—Lin Feng!"
As Ruolan Shan's final words fell, the crowd felt as if their minds had exploded, like a thunderclap. The unrestrained, wildly extraordinary, handsome figure appeared once more in their minds. Lin Feng, it was Lin Feng.
Of course, they knew Lin Feng. In Snow Moon, who did not know the name Lin Feng? He had proven himself many times in Snow Moon. But the crowd had never dreamed that the young man had left Snow Moon and, on the stage of the Snow Domain Grand Competition, had shone with his most dazzling light, winning first place in the Snow Domain Grand Competition, shaking the entire Snow Domain.
Duan Wudao was second. So Lin Feng had defeated Crown Prince Duan Wudao and won the Snow Domain championship. Terrifying. Lin Feng's talent was truly terrifying.
"Monarch, do you know where Lin Feng is now? Let us go together and personally issue the enfeoffment." Ruolan Shan said with a smile, snapping the crowd out of their shock.
"Very well. Lin Feng should be at Longing Forest. I will accompany the envoy there." The monarch spoke, preparing to go to Longing Forest together.
"No need." Just then, a voice rang out. Following the direction of the voice, the crowd saw a young figure rise into the air. He was still as handsome and refined as ever, but the angles of his face were more defined, his eyes deeper, and he carried a unique aura.
Lin Feng, it really was Lin Feng. He had changed.
Lin Feng had come out of Longing Forest, originally planning to go to the imperial city to pick up Xinye. He hadn't expected to encounter Ruolan Shan coming to enfeoff him.
"Lin Feng, since you're here, perfect." Ruolan Shan smiled upon seeing Lin Feng appear. "Lin Feng, the empire's monarch has issued the decree. Now, before the Snow Moon monarch and the people of the world, I grant you the position of Snow Moon Human Lord. From now on, in Snow Moon, you need not bow to the monarch. Your status is equal to his."
With that, Ruolan Shan waved his hand, and a Human Lord Token flew slowly toward Lin Feng. The decree was issued; this jade token served only as a symbol.
Lin Feng caught the Human Lord Token. Countless people looked up at the young figure in the void. Lin Feng, from now on, was equal to the monarch, needing not even to bow before him.
"Congratulations, Lin Feng." The Snow Moon monarch nodded at Lin Feng with a smile, as if completely unconcerned that someone in Snow Moon Kingdom now stood on equal footing with him. His expression was utterly natural.
Lin Feng nodded in return, looking at the Snow Moon monarch without any trace of reverence. Now, he was no longer the youth who had first entered the imperial city. He had seen Heavenly Martial Realm experts from powerful forces like the Divine Palace, East Sea Dragon Palace, Nine Heavens Sword Sect, and Jade Heaven Royal Clan. How could he still hold reverence for the Snow Moon monarch? Besides, now he and the Snow Moon monarch were equals.
He, Lin Feng, was a lord—the Snow Moon Human Lord.
"Thank you. Since the monarch is here, Lin Feng has a matter to discuss. I, Lin Feng, and the monarch's beloved daughter Xinye are deeply in love. I wish to take Princess Xinye as my wife. I hope the monarch will grant this."
Lin Feng, at the moment he was granted the title of human lord, proposed to Princess Duan Xinye—before the monarch, before the people of the world.
The monarch's gaze met Lin Feng's. In the space between them, a sharp aura seemed to clash and collide. One was the Snow Moon monarch, the other the Snow Moon Human Lord!