Chapter 944: The Grand Western Continent Delegation
The powerful demonic beasts and the most elite Crimson River Demon Guards, acting on the Empress's orders, were scouring the area for any trace of the couple Bie Yanghong and his wife. Combined with the strange phenomena from the previous day, the atmosphere in White Emperor City was exceptionally tense. All city gates leading from the surrounding towns toward the direction of the mountain ranges and wilderness had been sealed shut.
The mist and clouds within the mountains were difficult to disperse. Only during the strongest sunlight or the fiercest mountain winds could one get a clear view of the nine colossal trees that pierced the clouds in the distance. Now, however, more attention was focused on the direction beyond the mountains.
Beyond those vast mountain ranges lay the Western Sea, and at the deepest reaches of that sea was the legendary Grand Western Continent.
The latest rumor was that the Second Prince of the Grand Western Continent was coming to White Emperor City to marry Princess Luoheng.
The rumor was confirmed today. The city gates of the small towns leading into the mountains were all thrown open. The official roads trembled, and demonic beasts fled out of the way.
The delegation from the Grand Western Continent was about to arrive in White Emperor City, with the Second Prince as its representative. The stated purpose of this delegation was to offer birthday congratulations to the White Emperor. Coupled with the relationship between the Grand Western Continent and the Empress, the demon race had no reason to refuse. When the delegation finally entered White Emperor City, the tension that had lasted for an entire day and night eased slightly. Many people from various demon tribes poured into the streets to watch the spectacle.
Yet, the same delegation was also being watched with extreme vigilance, naturally by the human race.
Within White Emperor City, there were three important human establishments.
They were the embassy of the Great Zhou court, the Western Wilderness Dao Hall of the State Religion, and the Tang Family Trading Company, representing the forces of the Southern Domain.
The first reaction of the court's chief envoy and the Tang Family steward upon learning of this was that if White Emperor City truly intended to form a marriage alliance with the Grand Western Continent, they must have already made thorough preparations. Aside from quickly sending word back to the court and to Wenshui, there was nothing else they could do.
The bishops of the Western Wilderness Dao Hall, representing the will of the State Religion, also understood that this matter would be difficult to sabotage. But now that the entire continent knew the Grand Western Continent's royal family had plotted against His Holiness the Pope, how could they tolerate them sending someone to marry His Holiness's student?
At the same time the Grand Western Continent delegation entered the palace, the Western Wilderness Dao Hall sent a protest letter into the palace, worded with extreme harshness, comparable to a declaration of war. Furthermore, the invitation to the evening banquet for the Grand Western Continent delegation was torn to shreds by the Archbishop of the Western Wilderness Dao Hall in front of thousands of demon believers and then trampled underfoot, showing no regard for the demon race's face whatsoever.
After confirming this news, the Great Zhou embassy and the Tang Family Trading Company also declined the banquet invitation, though their refusals were comparatively more moderate.
Regardless of the human race's attitude, the banquet proceeded as scheduled.
That night, White Emperor City was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. The palace at the highest point was especially ablaze with light, with oil lamps burning brightly, creating an exceptionally lively scene.
Even after the banquet ended, the excitement did not subside. While the main guests, the members of the Grand Western Continent delegation, had retired for the night, many of the other banquet attendees remained.
Seeing those figures still lingering in the palace, the hundreds of Crimson River Demon Guards responsible for the palace's security were extremely wary, even a bit nervous. Yet they dared not approach to drive them away, nor even to offer advice, because these guests were all major figures of the demon race, some even being their own fathers.
The demon major figures remaining in the palace included generals, ministers, and most prominently, members of the Council of Elders.
The demon race's Council of Elders was somewhat similar to the demon race's Senate of Elders, but held greater power and higher status. The demon race was composed of over three hundred tribes. The chieftains of the twenty-seven most powerful and historically longest-standing tribes were naturally members of the Council of Elders. Another dozen or so seats were elected by the remaining tribes. The ranking of seats in the Council of Elders was also very simple: whoever lived longer and was stronger ranked higher.
The current Grand Elder of the demon race was the chieftain of the Xiang Tribe.
It was said that this Grand Elder possessed divine strength. Though he had not entered the Sacred realm, he was already capable of fighting against Sacred Domain powerhouses.
The Grand Elder's mountain-like, towering figure was strikingly prominent at the front of the palace, yet he remained as silent as a true mountain.
His silence did not quell the discussions within the palace; on the contrary, it seemed to act as a form of tacit permission. The murmurs grew louder, and the atmosphere grew more tense.
These discussions, of course, revolved around the Grand Western Continent delegation, the strange celestial phenomena of the previous day, and the rumors of recent days.
Was Lady Luo really going to be married? Did it have to be so urgent? Could it be that His Majesty's injuries were not yet healed? The problem was, why couldn't it be Lady Luo? Although nothing like this had happened in the demon race's history, wasn't it said that His Holiness the Pope had already resolved her issue back then?
One rumor would spawn many other speculations. Whether members of the Council of Elders or demon generals, they were all guessing at the truth of the rumors and many other questions.
Of course, whether Lady Luo married or not, and who she married, had little to do with them personally, because the emperor of the demon race would always be of the White Emperor bloodline. The only qualified collateral branches of the White Emperor clan, fearing they might offend His Majesty and the Empress, were even more low-key and silent, not daring to express any opinion.
But did it have to be the Second Prince of the Grand Western Continent?
Madam Mu walked slowly into the palace, which seemed somewhat empty due to its height.
The demon elders, generals, and ministers inside the palace all bowed in unison.
The voice of the mountain-like Grand Elder was deep and resonant, like an echo in a deep valley.
But the words he spoke were extremely direct, perfectly in line with the demon race's temperament and customs of deliberation.
"Your Highness, do you truly intend to marry the Princess to your nephew from your maternal family?"
The Grand Elder looked at Madam Mu, his right hand gripping the handle of his axe, making no attempt to hide his action.
"If so, we will rebel."
Standing before him, Madam Mu appeared incredibly petite, like a small figure, yet her presence was even more commanding.
She looked at the Grand Elder and said calmly, "Then go ahead and rebel."
An utterly calm statement, yet it was the most domineering declaration.
She had been the Empress for several hundred years, deeply devoted to the White Emperor. She was no longer the young girl who had first entered the demon domain back then. Her prestige among the demon race was extremely high. Whether the tribal chieftains or the young hunters on the banks of the Crimson River, they all regarded her as a deity, and none dared to show the slightest disrespect.
Hearing these words, the palace fell into absolute silence. No one dared to speak. Only the night wind gently brushed against the unyielding stone walls.
Even the Grand Elder felt immense pressure. After a moment of silence, he said, "We need an explanation."
Madam Mu replied expressionlessly, "Rumors are just rumors. Furthermore, even if she were to marry, Elder, why would you rebel?"
The Grand Elder's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "Your Highness, you should know the reason."