Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 966 – The Gradually Emerging Truth

A demi-human elder gasped in shock, “What’s going on here?”

No one answered his question, nor did anyone have the ability to. An official of the Demi-human Court was currently hurrying over to the Celestial Tree, and the mountain also had a priest. It would probably not take long for them to get a definite answer.

Madam Mu had noticed the phenomena on the great mountain quite some time ago and had even guessed at what was going on.

The young man in the bamboo hat was far beneath that mountain.

Only now did she realize that she had still managed to underestimate Black Robe.

Although it was impossible to know what exactly had occurred, it was obvious that the young man, perhaps even the entire Demon race, had probably gained a great benefit from this baptism of Wildfire within the Celestial Tree.

Just when she was pondering over whether she should go and take a look, the distant phenomena gradually dispersed.

The mist released by the Celestial Tree swiftly faded while the thunderous booms from deep underground gradually diminished until they ceased to be heard.

The Red River gradually calmed, and neither the demi-human personages in White Emperor City nor the ones around the high platform noticed anything strange.

But those two experts from the He clan currently absorbing the Wildfire of the Celestial Tree underground were greatly affected.

The Wildfire suddenly became violent beyond compare, causing one of the He clan experts to shrink in fear. In rage, the ancestral spirit stunned him into a coma. Even if he was able to survive this experience, with his meridians severed and sea of consciousness damaged, he could no longer cultivate, leaving him with only the life of a cripple.

The other He clan expert, called Xialuo, put on a much better performance, living up to his reputation as a famous individual who had once gone to the capital to cultivate and had reached Star Condensation twenty years ago. Despite the abrupt changes to the Wildfire, the thunderous booms, and the quaking ground, he maintained a steady mind, silent and unperturbed as he waited until the end.

At this point, four out of five of the participants receiving the baptism of fire had emerged from the Celestial Trees.

The Xiang clan leader shot a sideways glance at Madam Mu. Unable to tell what she was thinking, he felt somewhat uneasy.

It didn’t take too long for the young man, escorted by the priest and official, to finally return to the high platform by the river.

Holes had been burned through his clothes and he faintly smelled of char. The bamboo hat that had eternally shrouded his face was also sporting several large holes where the fire had burned through, with bamboo stems stabbing out messily in every direction. His appearance was so wretched that he seemed like a beggar on the side of a road.

Countless gazes fell on the young man, furtive, curious, and wary.

Why had the Celestial Tree he had gone to made such massive movements? This was a question that everyone wanted to know the answer to. And they also wished to know just what this enigmatic young man looked like. The Wildfire had damaged the bamboo hat, giving everyone this extremely precious chance.

It was not possible to clearly make out his features, but they could see that his skin was very white, white like jade, and also like snow.

When they saw this dazzling white, many demi-human personages recalled a name that was gradually being forgotten by the continent: Tianhai Shengxue.

Tianhai Shengxue was also very famous amongst the Demi-human race. Other than his frequent military accomplishments in Blue Pass and Snowhold Pass, he was most famous for his skin whiter than snow.

Demi-humans had forthright personalities and did not care much for details, but they regarded delicate white as beautiful.

People who had seen Tianhai Shengxue before felt that his white was different from the white of this young man.

This young man’s skin was snow that was about to melt, almost transparent with a bizarre attractive force.

The Xiang clan leader was also looking at the young man, wariness gradually taking shape in his deep and serene eyes.

He knew this young man’s identity, which made him even more confused about today’s events.

Since he was a demon, then even if he was a member of the Imperial clan, how could he endure the pressure of the ancestral spirit and the might of the Wildfire? Could he really have been willing to open up his spiritual world to the ancestral spirit and transform his body and blood into that of the White Emperor clan?

No, the Xiang clan leader knew that this person would never make such a choice.

Both Xiaode and Xuanyuan Po had used some other method to pass the trial of the ancestral spirit, so this person probably had his own method as well.

The Shi clan leader was also looking at this young man. Whether or not he had seen something, his face gradually turned grave.

Despite the countless gazes, the young man remained calm.

The atmosphere around the platform was extremely oppressive and growing more fraught with tension by the minute.

But both Madam Mu and the Xiang clan leader in his capacity as Chief Elder said nothing, so no one dared to voice their doubts.

The Heavenly Selection ceremony continued, although it was now tinged with an unknown flavor.

The final item on the itinerary was very simple: the selection by mortals, not the heavens, that was mentioned yesterday in front of the Imperial City.

The four people that had passed the baptism of the Wildfire would be distributed into two matches, and then the winners of these matches would fight each other.

Xuanyuan Po’s opponent was the He clan expert called Xialuo.

Xiaode’s opponent was the enigmatic young man in the bamboo hat.

This result caused a burst of muffled gasps to resound around the platform.

The greatest focus was naturally placed on the second match.

Xiaode narrowed his eyes at the young man and his damaged bamboo hat, apparently wanting to say something.

The Shi clan leader’s expression changed again and he ordered his clansmen to step forward and take Xiaode away, giving him no chance to speak.

The He clan leader took Xialuo away.

The Bear tribe leader took Xuanyuan Po away.

These leaders had all moved extremely quickly, so quickly that the ministers of the court and the elders had no time to react.

These leaders had not even bowed to Madam Mu or the Xiang clan leader before leaving.

The oppressive mood did not vanish. On the contrary, it only worsened.

……

……

On the top floor of the ferry returning to White Emperor City, Xiaode and the Shi clan leader engaged in a rather awkward conversation.

Because the Shi clan leader had requested Xiaode to give up on the Heavenly Selection.

Even the most inexperienced resident of the lower city knew that Xiaode would never accept this.

The Shi clan leader stared into his eyes and said, “You were worried that the throne would fall into the Great Western Continent’s hands, but now there’s no need. Why do you still persist?”

Xiaode replied, “I know that the clan is not willing to see me inherit the White Emperor clan’s blood, but you should be able to tell that I have other methods.”

“And so what? If His Majesty or the Empress were truly willing to make you their successor, do you think they don’t have their own methods?”

The Shi clan leader ruefully added, “But none of this is important. If you really could inherit the throne, then I would still support you, even if you had to change your bloodline.”

Xiaode icily said, “Then why do you not want me to do this?”

“Because this feat is already impossible.”

The Shi clan leader fell quiet, then said, “We did not expect that His Majesty and the Empress had already chosen a successor some time ago.”

Xiaode also fell quiet, then asked, “You are referring to that fellow?”

The Shi clan leader replied, “I think that you have also guessed at something.”

Xiaode answered, “No matter who that young man is, he won’t affect me.”

The Shi clan leader sternly said, “This matter is too important to the Demi-human race. The Empress will not allow you to break it, nor will His Majesty.”

Xiaode asked, “Who can be sure of His Majesty’s will?”

The Shi clan leader explained, “Old Xiang went to the mountain two nights ago.”

Xiaode harshly rebuked, “Even if this is what His Majesty thinks, it’s still wrong!”