Bie Yanghong noticed that Xuanyuan Po was not holding a pair of chopsticks and asked in concern, "Aren't you going to eat?"
He knew that Xuanyuan Po was going to participate in the Heavenly Selection ceremony today, but he had not asked, because he could guess the result from Xuanyuan Po's expression.
He was more concerned that Xuanyuan Po was going to the Celestial Tree tomorrow to be refined by the Wildfire. How could he not eat his fill tonight?
"I have something to eat."
Xuanyuan Po took out a paper bag from his bosom, took out the leftover beef buns, and began to eat with the half bowl of vegetable soup in front of him.
Wuqiong Bi froze at this sight, but then she ignored it and lowered her head to eat.
After a while, she raised her head and realized that Bie Yanghong had been staring at the bun in Xuanyuan Po's hand the entire time. She couldn't help but frown.
The bun was so cold that it had hardened and the juices had congealed into white oil. How unpalatable was it? Why was her husband staring at it?
… …
… …
Before daybreak, the Pine Paths were shrouded in darkness, but Xuanyuan Po had already gotten up.
He walked out of the alley and indicated to the vigilant priests that there was nothing to do. He went to a neighboring street and bought a paper bag of beef buns, half a pot of white porridge, two bowls of corn paste, a bowl of dry-mixed noodles, two fried glutinous rice cakes, a tray of steamed buns, and three kinds of pickled vegetables.
He still ate the beef buns, but the rest were the food he had prepared for Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi for an entire day.
Under Bie Yanghong's meaningful and Wuqiong Bi's furious gazes, Xuanyuan Po silently ate six beef buns, washed up, tidied up his clothes, and solemnly bowed to Bie Yanghong. He took the Mountain Sea Sword from the pile of firewood and walked out of the courtyard.
Unlike yesterday, he attracted countless gazes as soon as he appeared today.
Several dozen priests of the Daoist Church of the Western Wastes and a hundred-some warriors of the Bear tribe surrounded him as he walked to Jade Capital Ferry.
Xuanyuan Po noticed that the Tang clan steward and several cultivators of the south were also following, neither too far nor too close.
Last night, he had seen those cultivators of the south. According to the Tang clan steward, one of them came from Gentle Stream Monastery and was supposedly Ye Xiaolian's martial uncle in the outer sect.
The morning mist shrouded White Emperor City, just like it had on every other ordinary winter day for the past tens of thousands of years. Jade Capital Ferry was as lively as ever, but those who occupied the best positions on the pier were no longer those laborious farmers, but officials of the Demi-human Imperial Court and important figures like the Bear tribe leader.
The morning sun was blocked by the mountains on the other side of the river. Coupled with the thick fog, the sky was very gloomy, as if it was still night.
After boarding the ferry, a wave suddenly rose up in the Red River, causing the boat to sway slightly. Then, a low and terrifying roar came from somewhere.
If an outsider had heard these roars and felt the furious waves of the Red River, they would have felt a great deal of fear. But everyone present had lived in White Emperor City for a long time and knew that this was the noise caused by the Jüjing waking up and eating, so they thought little of it. As several baskets of the fattest Scaleless Barracuda were thrown into the river, the roars quickly died down.
The morning mist gradually dispersed, and they could already see the river nearby. The surface of the water was very calm.
The mountains on the other side of the river were still shrouded in mist. Even though the morning sun was about to leap over a certain col, one could only faintly make out the silhouettes of those nine massive Celestial Trees.
The bow of the boat broke through the water, the waves crashing as the morning light gradually arrived. By the time it reached the other side of the river, the warm red rays of the morning sun had already driven away all the mist.
Green mountains that stretched for countless li appeared before everyone's eyes like countless overlapping barriers.
In the morning light, the nine Celestial Trees in the mountains seemed like massive torches, exuding an invisible Wildfire that both awed and delighted the Demi-human race.
The Celestial Trees were so massive that only the most majestic of mountains could bear their weight. They were also very far from each other, the closest several dozen li away.
There were nine paths leading to the Celestial Trees, all of them starting from the same place: the high platform on the other side of Jade Capital Ferry.
Madam Mu stood on the high platform.
The descent of the morning light clearly illuminated her figure, making her seem especially lofty.
In the gentle breeze, her gorgeous dress swayed in the wind, making her seem particularly dignified.
The Tianhai Divine Empress and Pope Yin had already returned to the sea of stars, the Holy Maiden of the south and Su Li had gone to the distant Sacred Light Continent, and the White Emperor was quietly recovering from his injuries.
Of the Five Saints of the past, only she would appear before the people of the world.
The demi-human elders and the ministers and generals of the Demi-human Court stood in two rows below.
Only the truly powerful figures and their attendants had the right to attend today. The mood was very solemn, so quiet that not a single sound could be heard.
Ceremonial music began to play as everyone prostrated.
An official of the Court stepped forward and began to recite the funeral rites.
After the funeral rites were recited, the offerings were delivered like flowing water. The entire process proceeded smoothly.
Xuanyuan Po and the other five ascended the stone steps to the high platform.
Countless gazes fell on their backs, and then countless thoughts began to emerge in their minds.
Who would be able to pass today's baptism by the Wildfire of the Celestial Trees, pass the trial of the ancestral spirits?
And who would be able to obtain the final victory in tomorrow's grand ceremony and marry Princess Luoluo?
Xiaode had the strongest cultivation and a pure bloodline. Logically speaking, no one could defeat him. But it was obvious that the Empress favored the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, and perhaps even the White Emperor. Otherwise, why would the Chief Elder have become so silent after that night?
And there was also that Xuanyuan Po who had suddenly appeared. He was clearly a descendant of the Bear tribe, but he was representing the Orthodox Academy in this battle. In terms of background alone, he was rather powerful, but the Human race probably had not yet had the time to respond. He was probably acting on his own, so what could he do?
The other two demi-human experts were also famous, so it should not be difficult for them to pass the trial of the ancestral spirits. If Xiaode was the slightest bit careless, he really might lose to them tomorrow, but why did the young man in the bamboo hat not even glance at them? Why did he seem so aloof and proud?
If one had to point out the most surprising aspect of this Heavenly Selection ceremony, besides Xuanyuan Po's sudden appearance, it was this young man in the bamboo hat.
The identities and backgrounds of Xiaode, the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, and the two demi-human experts were all clear. Even Xuanyuan Po had nothing 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.
Logically speaking, this was something that should have never happened.
The spies of the Imperial Court and the various tribes had long ago begun their secret investigations, but the problem was that White Emperor City was faintly concealing the young man in the bamboo hat. It was an extremely secretive and yet unyielding power that had cut off all attempts to spy on the young man.
To be able to prevent the important figures of the Imperial Court and the various tribes from finding out his identity and background, and to do so in such a manner, this power was far too terrifying.
Many tribes quickly stopped their investigations out of fear. Even the spies of the Imperial Court ultimately only learned the residence of the young man and then stopped.
The young man in the bamboo hat lived in a courtyard very close to the Xiang clan's estate.
It was easy to make a connection.
It was not that no one had thought that the young man in the bamboo hat might not be a demi-human, might even be an enemy of the Demi-human race. But even if this was the case, it did not matter.
Because today, the young man in the bamboo hat would enter the Celestial Tree to be baptized by the Wildfire, to accept the trial of the ancestral spirits.
If this person truly did harbor enmity towards the Demi-human race, if he was a spy sent by the Human race or even the Demon race, then he would assuredly be incinerated by the Wildfire.
This had always been the core of the Heavenly Selection ceremony.
Only a life that swore loyalty to the White Emperor clan could endure the baptism of the Wildfire of the Celestial Tree and the trial of the ancestral spirits.
An expert that could pass this trial would automatically leave their tribe and become a member of the White Emperor clan.
It was precisely because of this that the demi-human elders, ministers, and generals had ultimately agreed to Madam Mu's arrangements.
Countless gazes fell upon the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, some solemn, some cold, some questioning, some malicious.
Last night, news of what had happened at the closing of South Stream Temple had already reached White Emperor City.
The Imperial clan of the Great Western Continent truly had a grand scheme.
Could the Second Prince really be willing to transform his body and soul and become a member of the Demi-human race?
Even if by doing so, he might become the next White Emperor.
Under countless gazes, the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent turned to the demi-human elders, ministers, and generals.
The morning light fell on his handsome face, but it was impossible to clearly see what he was truly feeling.
There seemed to be some regret, some relief, but ultimately, it transformed into calm.
He said, "I withdraw."
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