Chapter 978: White Jade Capital in the Sky
Wang Zhice was a true celebrity of the continent.
Especially to the demon race, he was likely the most famous human.
Back when the Northern Expedition against the demon race took place, he was the deputy commander of the joint human-demon army and its de facto supreme commander.
The clan chiefs and demon generals present had no idea how many stories they had heard from their elders' memories when they were young.
Wang Zhice's deeds from those days had already become legends for their generation, inspiring boundless reverence in them.
However, just like the word "awe," reverence was accompanied by fear.
Only the dead could be legends; the living were pressure, because he was ultimately human.
The Grand Elder of the Deer Clan had just suggested that Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng, that master and disciple, might be putting on an act. It was hard to believe. Because if this was a trap, then it was far too complex, involving too many things. Even the upheaval at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum was only a part of it. Who could weave such a shocking scheme? Even someone as powerful as Shang Xingzhou couldn't do it.
But Wang Zhice was still alive.
What if this was a trap he had set for the human race?
The oppressive and tense atmosphere in the hall made the Bear Clan Chief's emotions grow irritable. He barked in a low voice, "If the human race is as powerful as you all say, and their schemes are so terrifying, then have you considered what kind of blow we would face if we broke the alliance?"
The Grand Elder of the Deer Clan sneered coldly, "As long as our alliance with Snow Old City becomes a fait accompli, what can the human race do, no matter how furious they are? At most, they'll send a few diplomatic letters cursing us. Do they have the guts to attack both us and Snow Old City at the same time?"
Madam Mu said expressionlessly, "War requires courage, but its beginnings have never been about courage. It's the force of circumstances. I do not like war. What we discuss today is precisely to avoid plunging the continent into the flames of war. This is the reason I have decided to ally with Snow Old City."
Hearing these words, the hall grew even quieter. Even those clan chiefs and demon generals who had originally opposed allying with the demon race couldn't help but waver.
The Gentry Clan Chief's eyes narrowed more and more, making it hard to tell if they were golden-thread willows or sharp blades.
He knew that at this point, the situation had become exceptionally difficult. But thinking back to his conversation with Little De last night, he could only continue to persevere.
"We have already seen Snow Old City's sincerity."
He looked up at Madam Mu and asked, "But how can the demon race believe in our sincerity? An alliance without trust, I don't think holds much meaning."
Madam Mu looked at him calmly and said, "I think you should be very clear about the meaning of the Heaven's Chosen Ceremony."
The Gentry Clan Chief's expression remained unchanged, and he said, "Are we really going to let Lady Luoluo marry this young Demon Lord? Are we going to welcome a demon emperor?"
This was his sharpest challenge, and that of the clan chiefs and demon generals.
If they let the Demon Lord marry Lady Luoluo, wouldn't that mean that after the White Emperor returned to the sea of stars, the Demon Lord would become the emperor of the demon race?
Madam Mu looked quietly at the Gentry Clan Chief and said, "Marriage alliance does not mean the succession of the imperial throne."
Marriage alliances between two imperial families had always been the simplest and most effective means of forming an alliance.
Over the past tens of thousands of years, this kind of thing had happened countless times. Many demon princesses had been married off to distant Snow Old City.
The clan chiefs, demon generals, and ministers in the hall had a relatively high degree of acceptance for the marriage alliance. However, Madam Mu's words still hadn't resolved the most critical issue.
It was known throughout the world that the White Emperor and Madam Mu had difficulty having children. For many years, they had only one daughter, Lady Luoluo.
If the Lady married far away to Snow Old City, and the Demon Lord who won the Heaven's Chosen Ceremony couldn't inherit the throne, then who would be the next White Emperor?
Madam Mu's hand gently fell on her lower abdomen, and she said, "Naturally, it will be this son of mine and His Majesty's."
When she said this, her expression didn't change at all. She was still as aloof and distant, yet there was a sense of solemn sanctity about her.
The Prime Clan Chief said solemnly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Highness."
The great figures of the demon race, who had been struck speechless by this sudden news, finally came to their senses and bowed one after another, offering their blessings and praise.
The Gentry Clan Chief once again recalled his conversation with Little De last night. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking that he had done his best, but could he still not change the outcome?
The Prime Clan Chief looked at the people in the hall and asked, "Does anyone else have anything to say?"
The Bear Clan Chief's hand holding the iron rod trembled slightly, then he slammed it against the ground.
With a dull thud, the ground shook uneasily, and dust began to rise.
His eyes turned somewhat bloodshot as he stared at Madam Mu on the high platform and said, "I have nothing to say, but I still oppose it."
The Gentry Clan Chief was silent for a moment, then said, "I also oppose it."
Immediately after, a demon general of the River Clan, known for his bravery, stepped forward, took off his helmet, and said expressionlessly, "I oppose it."
The demon prime minister, who had remained silent since the preparations for the Heaven's Chosen Ceremony began, also stepped forward and said in a weathered voice, "I will only agree after I have personally seen His Majesty."
"I also oppose it."
"Me too!"
Hearing the voices rising and falling, the Prime Clan Chief's expression didn't change at all.
Madam Mu raised her eyebrows slightly. Her eyes, bright as stars, showed no emotion.
She was a bit surprised that there were still so many dissenting voices at this point.
But it didn't matter.
This was the decree of His Majesty and herself.
And this decree had the support of the Council of Elders, led by the Prime Clan Chief.
Even if there were some dissenting voices, how could they affect the mighty river flowing westward?
...
...
The court meeting ended. Nearly forty percent of the clan chiefs, ministers, and demon generals had expressed opposition to allying with the demon race, but the decree had already been issued.
The grand scholar from the Abyss Pearl Pavilion, who had participated in the capital's imperial examination a hundred years ago, was nervously drafting the official state letter.
The great figures of the demon race, who had argued for a long time in a tense and oppressive atmosphere, walked out of the stone hall, wanting to rest for a while.
Then, they saw that young Demon Lord.
The sky was a clear, washed blue. The edge of the high platform was like a line. The pear tree cast a solitary shadow. He stood beneath it.
The tattered bamboo hat had been removed, falling at his feet, gradually being buried by the white pear blossoms.
His face was handsome, white as jade. His robes fluttered gently in the wind, as if he were about to fly away.
This scene, this person, was breathtakingly beautiful.
Some demon generals looked at him with murderous intent, as if they would charge at him the next moment.
Some clan chiefs stared at him warily, as if they would turn and leave the next moment.
Some ministers smiled obsequiously at him, as if they would prostrate themselves before him the next moment.
No matter what emotions they harbored, they had to admit that he was truly an extraordinary figure.
A Demon Lord stood alone in the demon race's imperial city, yet he could remain so calm and composed. It was admirable.
The sounds of ritual music came from the Whale Fall Platform below.
The atmosphere on the viewing platform immediately became solemn.
The state letter was complete.
The three matters—the Heaven's Chosen, the marriage alliance, and the alliance—were about to be officially announced.
Proclaimed to the world.
Just then, the ritual music suddenly became slightly disordered.
Perhaps it was because of those footsteps.
Dozens of palace maids and eunuchs arrived on the viewing platform.
Luoluo was at the front.
She looked towards the Demon Lord beneath the pear tree.
The Demon Lord also looked towards her.