No one knew the reason for Xiaode's change, because no one dared to ask him, not even the leader of the Shi clan.
The entire Demi-human race knew that he was very callous and bad-tempered, even though he truly had changed a great deal.
But many important personages of the Demi-human race had guessed at something.
This was because Xiaode's change had begun several years ago. At the time, he had just returned from the distant capital of the Human race.
In the coup of the Mausoleum of Books, he had joined forces with Painted Armor Xiao Zhang and the Tang Second Master to charge into the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, bathing in blood and fighting. Both his mind and will had endured a massive test.
But that was not the turning point for Xiaode's change, because he had been the victor at the time.
What truly moved Xiaode and caused him to begin to change was an incident that occurred in the winter of that year.
In the snowstorm that enveloped the capital, Chen Changsheng wanted to kill Zhou Tong.
Xiaode had followed Madam Mu's orders and cooperated with the Great Zhou Imperial Court to prevent him from killing Zhou Tong and to seize the opportunity to kill him.
At the time, Xiaode was above Chen Changsheng in both cultivation and strength, and he also had many Star Condensation assassins as his helpers.
But the final result was Zhou Tong's death, his death by a thousand cuts.
Chen Changsheng had not died, nor had he been defeated.
Although many things had happened that day, not even a battle between Xiaode and Chen Changsheng, this matter still made Xiaode feel a massive setback.
He could not understand why.
Why was Chen Changsheng so much younger than him, why was it that his cultivation was also lower, yet he could do what he could not?
He seriously pondered this question for a very long time, but he still could not come to a conclusion.
Since he could not understand, then what would happen if he did what he did?
The so-called change had probably begun from that moment.
There was no more sufficient reason for change than this.
Whether it was his personality or that Yellow Tree Thorn, they were all the same.
… …
… …
To the north of Heavensguard Pavilion was the Imperial City.
The fighting platform there was closest to the Imperial City.
The Second Prince of the Great Western Continent stood on that platform.
Because he had walked out of the Imperial City, and he did not want to go too far.
He only wanted to do a few things that had to be done. The outcome was already decided, so there was no need to go too far and waste his strength.
Not long after Xiaode obtained his first victory, the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent also won. His victory was also a matter of course, an understatement.
From the beginning to the end, he had a casual smile on his face.
He didn't say a word, nor did he take out any precious pills to give to his defeated opponent, because his opponent didn't suffer any serious injuries, and could even walk down the stage by himself.
Since he was able to leave the arena, he could naturally fight again. With the Yao race's desire for battle and the importance they placed on their reputation, his opponent retreating just like that could only mean that he had no chance of winning the previous battle. The difference in strength between the two sides was so great that his confidence had been crushed into powder.
…
…
The morning mist gradually dispersed, and the morning sun hung in the depths of the distant mountains like a fake red ball.
The Imperial City's observation platform was to the east. Other than the three stone halls of the Imperial Palace, it was the highest place in all of White Emperor City, allowing one to overlook the entire city.
Today, White Emperor City was rather strange. The majority of the streets were extremely quiet, not a single person in sight, but there were several dozen places that were extremely lively, precisely where the fighting platforms were located. The stone walls were packed with figures, looking from a distance like ants.
Several hundred Red River Beast Guard warily watched the activity below, their hands tightly gripping leather ropes. The ends of the ropes were wrapped around the necks of black vultures. If anything strange happened below, they would ride the black vultures and suppress the situation as quickly as possible. This was much more convenient than the flying carriages they had used last night to search for the fugitives.
The important personages on the observation platform all had strange expressions on their faces, many of them looking at an elder.
The loser had come from this elder's tribe. He had been famous for a long time, and his methods were unyielding. He had originally been an opponent that some faction in the Council of Elders had deliberately arranged for the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent.
Yes, there were many important personages in the Demi-human race that were not willing to see the Empress's nephew become the next White Emperor.
Although the Wildfire of the Celestial Trees truly could transform the soul and the body, and although the fairness of the Heavenly Selection ceremony was unquestionable, they were still unwilling.
A few demi-human elders had originally believed that they could use these arrangements to easily stop the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, but they had not expected their first match to end in such a speechless defeat.
The Second Prince of the Great Western Continent had still not revealed his true strength. Would his subsequent arrangements be effective?
The gazes of many important personages once more fell upon that mountainous figure.
The Chief Elder was truly worthy of being the leader of the Xiang clan. Just like his long-lived clansmen, he treasured every moment of rest.
At this moment, his eyes were closed as if he were sleeping. Was he not worried about anything?
Suddenly, the Chief Elder opened his eyes and looked at the fighting platform on the meadow to the west of Heavensguard Pavilion.
His eyes were calm and without ripples, not like the oldest well, but the quietest of pools. Yet at this moment, a chill flitted through the pool.
Several powerful elders also sensed it. They followed the Chief Elder to the fighting platform on the meadow, their expressions slightly surprised.
The Chief Elder turned his head and glanced up. After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes, either resting or sleeping.
Even higher than the Imperial City's observation platform was the stone hall. Madam Mu sat on a stone chair in front of the hall, looking down at White Emperor City. Her face was expressionless, as if she had sensed nothing.
… …
… …
Heavensguard Pavilion was where the Demi-human race held their spring sacrifices. Like the Imperial Palace and the vast majority of the buildings in White Emperor City, it was built from stone. It was just that a green river had been added to the perimeter, and the ancient trees that had been planted there for more than one thousand years made it seem even more peaceful and secluded. The meadow to the west was especially beautiful in the morning light.
Because of the meadow and the green river, although there were many spectators on this platform, they were separated relatively far away, so they did not clearly see what had happened. In fact, they did not even see as clearly as those important figures on the distant observation platform of the Imperial City. They only knew that victory and defeat had been decided.
An elder of the Carp tribe responsible for determining victory and defeat gazed at the person still standing on the fighting platform. He wanted to say something, but he suddenly felt a little diffident and could only shake his head.
The loser of the match had already been carried away. He had no external injuries, but he was unconscious. It was hard to tell what method the loser had used, but it was a particularly strange sight.
The person on the stage was also very strange. He wore a bamboo hat that covered his entire face, but everyone who saw him could feel that he was very young. Moreover, his body naturally exuded a kind of cold and gloomy aura, which even the gradually brightening morning light and the morning breeze could not dampen in the slightest.
A member of the Council of Elders responsible for supervising the match narrowed his eyes at the young man in the bamboo hat and sternly asked, "Which tribe are you from?"
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