[Vol. 6] Chapter 191: The Eastern Origin Saint and the Spirit Veil Immortal Envoy
Opportunities like this were rare, so naturally, Violet and her companions joined the crowd early to soak in the excitement.
She had assumed that certain troublemakers, such as the remnants of the [Seven Heavenly Demon Lords] and the [Yokai Controlling Sect], would use this event as a chance to stir chaos and disrupt the ceremony.
However, nothing happened.
The recent large-scale cleanup by the “Four Nations Alliance”, while not entirely eradicating these rogue factions, had reportedly destroyed or dismantled many evil and demonic sects worldwide. Even powerful groups like the arrogant and domineering [Yokai Controlling Sect] had been dealt heavy blows, rendering them silent and inactive for some time.
On the surface, the Ancient Spirit Realm appeared peaceful and harmonious, with tranquility reigning across the land. But in reality, tensions between opposing forces had reached a breaking point. It was now a situation of mutual destruction. One side would have to be annihilated for the conflict to end.
For these factions to refrain from acting during such a prime opportunity meant one of two things: either they had truly been beaten into submission and lost the ability to create chaos, or they were secretly plotting something bigger, waiting for the right moment to strike decisively.
To be honest, Violet leaned toward the latter possibility.
And as she deepened her understanding of the Ancient Spirit Realm, she could roughly guess where these factions, whose raw power paled compared to the ruling class, hoped to turn the tide.
All she could do now was wait and see.
Following the parade from the outer circle, Violet and her group cheered alongside the lively crowd and eventually arrived at the main venue for the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], which had been completed long before.
The venue was a semi-open, sprawling structure covering nearly a million square meters. Its interior was said to be divided into over a hundred smaller sections and a massive central area. Each section was interconnected yet capable of functioning independently, resembling an ancient coliseum in design.
The upcoming stages of the competition would primarily take place here, but the organizers had not disclosed the specific procedures or selection criteria for the event.
To ensure absolute fairness, the format of each [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony] changes every time. The details are classified information, decided after discussions between the [Spirit Veil Immortal Island] envoys and the leaders of each nation. Until each stage officially begins, no outsiders have any idea of the specifics.
“Oh... so the first round is a hundred-person battle royale? That’s certainly an efficient way to filter out the weaker participants. But what if some strong contestants are grouped together and get eliminated just because they’re targeted? That’d be really unlucky, wouldn’t it?”
In the central spectator area of the main venue, as the ceremonial parade continued below, a black-haired girl was already quietly discussing the preliminary competition format with her companions.
The information wasn’t leaked. Violet hadn’t gone out of her way to investigate. For her, this level of “classified” information hardly counted as a secret.
Sure enough, after closing her eyes to think for a moment, the silver-haired girl responded calmly within the soundproof barrier surrounding them.
“There’s a chance to re-enter through a resurrection match, but you’ll need to pay another registration fee. About ten times the initial amount.”
“Ugh, this [Holy Sect] is really relentless when it comes to squeezing people dry. Are they that desperate for money?”
As Violet continued to critique the competition rules, a sudden cannon blast rang out from the main stage. Following the deafening sound came a clear and powerful announcement, amplified with magical assistance.
“All rise! His Holiness the Saint has arrived!”
The booming voice shook the air. In the packed audience stands, a ripple of commotion swept through the crowd as people scrambled to their feet. With no room to kneel in the narrow aisles, they bowed their heads as deeply as possible, paying respect to the supreme ruler arriving from afar.
“All hail His Holiness!!!”
The soldiers knelt in unison, and tens of thousands of people offered their salutations. Amid the thunderous cheers, the man referred to as the Eastern Origin Saint raised his hand slightly. Without any magical amplification, his warm and gentle voice reached every corner of the venue.
“Rise. For today’s ceremony, all formalities shall be kept simple.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!!!”
In this situation, Violet couldn’t afford to stand out. She casually dispelled the soundproof barrier and stood up along with her companions, mimicking the crowd by nodding her head in a show of respect. However, her attention was quietly fixed on observing the Eastern Origin Saint seated in the higher ranks.
Although the distance was considerable, she could still see it clearly.
He wore a regal robe of blue and gold, exuding a dignified presence. His appearance was that of a man in his thirties, with hair neatly tied back beneath a ceremonial crown. At the center of his robe was the emblem of a white, otherworldly beast, seemingly letting out a mighty roar. This was undoubtedly the [Holy Beast of the East], Bai Ze, the protector of the Eastern Kingdom.
Violet had come across some information about this Saint before. His name was Shangguan Qiuyue, a highly capable ruler and one of the longest-reigning monarchs among the four nations of the Ancient Spirit Realm, with over 180 years on the throne.
His existence can be said to be the absolute core of the Eastern Kingdom, uniting what would otherwise be a somewhat disorganized nation under its unique political system into an almost unbreakable unity.
This wasn’t achieved through gentle governance. In fact, at least half of the regional sects under Eastern Kingdom’s administration had undergone significant restructuring during his reign. On several occasions, these reforms sparked minor internal uprisings, but they were swiftly and decisively quelled by the [Eastern Origin Guard]. The rebellious administrators were replaced with more compliant ones.
Because of this, Shangguan Qiuyue was known as the "Iron-Blooded Saint", a stark contrast to the benevolent rulers of previous generations. Over nearly two centuries, his approach had reshaped the Eastern Kingdom’s identity, embedding his influence into the nation’s culture.
Thanks to its stable ruling class, the Eastern Kingdom was now the most powerful of the four nations in terms of overall national strength. It boasted a robust military and an ambitious outlook. Many speculated in secret that if not for the restraining presence of [Spirit Veil Immortal Island], the Ancient Spirit Realm would have already descended into internal war.
All of this was closely tied to the influence of Shangguan Qiuyue, the current Eastern Saint.
“Born in the wrong era, it seems…”
As Violet gazed at the figure standing tall on the high platform, she whispered a quiet comment to herself, unheard by anyone else.
She had encountered many people in positions of power before, and it didn’t take much for her to see that this man was exceptionally capable and ambitious. Even his personal strength was extraordinary. On a proper stage, he would almost certainly rise to become a dominant figure of his era, expanding his territory and influence.
But unfortunately, the Ancient Spirit Realm, while outwardly peaceful, was riddled with internal strife and external threats. Above it all loomed the transcendent authority of [Spirit Veil Immortal Island]. No matter how great Shangguan Qiuyue’s ambitions were, he had no choice but to suppress them and bide his time.
Following the appearance of the Eastern Origin Saint, other high-ranking officials of the nation, such as the leaders of the [Five Great Sects], began to take their places. Among them was none other than Mo Ziqing, the [Ink Sect] Leader, whom Violet had previously interacted with.
A group of more than ten individuals, led by the Saint, gradually took their seats. However, the ceremony didn’t proceed immediately, as if they were waiting for something.
Hmm… could it be...?
A thought crossed Violet’s mind, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed toward the clear blue sky above.
“Look! Up there!”
A shout suddenly echoed from somewhere in the crowd, and the orderly audience erupted into commotion like waves breaking against a shore.
In the open sky above the venue, a radiant glow, like drifting feathers, began to descend.
The light shimmered with a graceful beauty, as though it transcended the mortal realm. Within this ethereal radiance, a young woman dressed in exquisite robes appeared, walking lightly through the air as if she were weightless. Her movements were elegant, her presence otherworldly, like a celestial being.
Her face was partially concealed by a veil of pure white silk, but her skin glowed like pearls, and her figure was slender and delicate. Loose, flowing fabrics and her long black hair floated around her, untouched by the wind. Yet atop her head, a pair of triangular, pointed ears marked her as a member of an extraordinary lineage.
She was a Spirit Veil Immortal Envoy, a member of the revered Spirit Veil Tribe.