Chapter 1136: The Cloud Bridge |
If the fall of the Crystal Demon Emperor could still be seen as the inevitable course of life—after all, she had lived for over three thousand years—then what of everything that happened afterward? The instability of the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, the disruption in destiny's control, and even the eventual appearance of the Misfortune Pearl.
After that came the death of the Adamant Nymph Emperor. Death by the hands of others, no less. The awakening of the Ancestral Tree, the matchmaking tournament, the grand auction and the Battle for the Throne… Were these not all events unseen for millennia?
When, exactly, had the peace of the Ancestral Court, and indeed of the entire Daemon Continent, begun to break?
He did not know.
Even the Master of Destiny did not know.
Three Crown Princes had arisen, and not long after, they'd slain yet another Emperor. A master of flight had not managed to flee. It was inconceivable, and yet it happened. And with the protection of the other Emperors, the three Crown Princes faced no punishment.
On the surface, everything seemed reasonable.
But how many "reasonable" events can be reasonably expected to happen within such a short timespan? And if everything appears to be in order, does that not suggest things are anything but?
The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor closed his eyes.
And yet, that uneasy feeling lingered constantly in his heart.
Today, another event unseen for a thousand years would occur. A wedding held in the Ancestral Court—a privilege normally reserved only for Emperors. And none of the current Emperors had held a wedding here; the most recent Emperor to ascend was the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor, and he was not married at all.
A long sigh escaped his lips. A trace of confusion shone in his eyes as he slowly rose. This wedding… would go on, regardless of other factors. Since he had already decided on a course of action, nothing could sway him now.
When the moment comes to act, you must act decisively. You must follow your conviction.
***
Blue Gold Sacred Mountain.
Tang San was already dressed in full ceremonial attire. The pure white suit he wore had been arranged by his sister. It was said that only two craftsmen on the entire Daemon Continent could make such garments, so he preferred not asking her how much she'd spent on it.
The suit was sharply tailored, outlining Tang San's figure perfectly. The eight sharp spines on his back were folded in, invisible from the outside. The most challenging part of its craftsmanship lay in a special embroidery technique that involved silver plates and gold thread.
The inner lining and the white outer fabric held very thin silver plates between them. Once the silver plate was fitted with the fabric, gold thread was embroidered into intricate patterns, creating a magnificent, unique design—an array, in fact!
Moreover, the metals used were no ordinary silver and gold; they were deepsilver and fairgold, two extremely precious and rare metals. The suit was nearly of divine grade in itself, though its greater purpose was to showcase the wearer's presence. The inlaid silver plates lent the suit a crisp formality, giving the wearer an air of majestic authority.
In front of the Blue Gold Palace, on either side of the door, stood the elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan. Twenty elders had come, nearly all who could leave the main city. Jin Miaosen was naturally among them; nothing could be more important than her big brother's wedding.
Tang San wore a faint smile. Though the sky remained overcast, his heart was perfectly clear and bright.
He gazed into the distance, feeling the life energy swirl around him. All around, it was as if the scene were a dream.
THUMMM!
A resounding echo split the air, jolting Tang San and the surrounding Blue Gold Tree clansmen to attention. It was the sound of ceremonial drums.[1]
The drums meant the auspicious hour had arrived. The wedding was about to begin.
Jin Miaosen stepped forward to straighten Tang San's lapel, smiling. "Big Brother, congratulations."
Tang San smiled lightly, patting her shoulder. "Thank you."
Jin Miaosen blinked. "Eh? Why would you thank me for anything?"
Shaking his head, Tang San replied, "Don't worry about that. You'll understand later."
THUMMM… THUMMM… THUMMM…
The great drum sounded nine times in succession.
Jin Miaosen stepped aside, and Tang San walked to the edge of the Blue Gold Sacred Mountain's summit, at the top of the grand stairway. Looking toward the distance, he raised a hand.
Instantly, the Blue Gold Palace flared with brilliant blue-golden light that shot into the sky like a massive pillar, piercing the clouds.
Moments later, a colossal blue-golden halo bloomed high above the Ancestral Court like an immense firework. At once, the life energy throughout the city surged, filling everyone present with a wondrous sensation.
The people erupted into spontaneous cheers. Nothing could make them more excited than this moment.
The ceremony was beginning!
The white clouds above began to churn. As if stirred by the blue-gold pillar, the clouds parted, allowing a single beam of sunlight to strike directly upon the Blue Gold Sacred Mountain.
The mountain was bathed in radiant gold.
"Come to me, clouds!" Tang San called, beckoning.
White clouds descended from the sky, gathering around the Blue Gold Sacred Mountain and circling it in a slow, majestic dance.
The sunlight above, the clouds encircling the sacred mountain… Together, they made the mountain shine with an ethereal splendor, even outshining the nearby Council Mountain.
Tang San slowly extended his right hand forward. The clouds drifted away into the distance, then gathered and condensed in midair, forming a bridge that stretched slowly toward the horizon.
With the Blue Gold Tree elders guarding him, Tang San stepped onto the bridge. It bore his weight as easily as solid rock, carrying him forward while it extended ever further.
The sight drew thunderous cheers from the onlookers. This was the power of an Emperor! In their hearts, Jin Miaolin, the man who had just built his own palace, already stood equal to Emperors!
The cloud bridge lengthened as Tang San walked forth. His pace was unhurried, yet the bridge grew quickly, carrying him forward.
THUMMM… THUMMM… THUMMM…
The drum thundered again, echoing through the mountains around the Ancestral Court; deafening, yet joyous.
The cloud bridge curved around Council Mountain, then shot straight toward another direction. Tang San advanced along it, step by step, and the Blue Gold Tree elders followed close.
The bridge stretched far ahead. In the eyes of all who watched, it grew longer and longer, and the portion Tang San had already passed solidified in place, radiating dense life energy.
Before long, it reached all the way to the summit of the White Tiger Sacred Mountain. Two Sacred Mountains were now fully joined by the single, magnificent bridge.
The drums roared on.
As Tang San set foot on the White Tiger Sacred Mountain, the eighty-first drum echoed in the sky.
Eighty-one ceremonial strikes, the highest honor of the Ancestral Court. Even for Emperors, such a salute was reserved only for the most momentous occasions.
1. The raws actually mention cannon fire, but the implications of having firearms in this world are too overarching to allow this. ☜