Chapter 245 - The Sword Baptism Ceremony of the Sword Ruins!
The War Princess would rather die than let anyone, other than Yun Xiao, see her in her current state. She hung her head in shame, the dignity of the Mortal Dust Devil Princess swept away like dust in the wind.
Luckily, just then, light and shadows fluttered at the entrance to the Endless Netherworld. The War Princess hastily said, "Stop cultivating, someone's coming!"
No sooner had her words fallen than those Mortal Dust Devil Blood dragons sank into her body!
Finally, she straightened up, and took a deep breath, the flush of intoxication fading from her face. She stood tall and proud, her demeanor turning cold, aloof, and unapproachable.
BUZZ! Several tall figures appeared before the War Princess. All of them were devils!
"Yao Yao." In the middle of this group stood a young devil, towering at least two heads above Yun Xiao. Perfectly proportioned, he wore violet armor, his features chiseled and resolute, his dark red eyes exuding the cold, bloodthirsty aura of a devil.
What stood out most was his long, silver hair, tied back elegantly, with two violet horns on his forehead like a majestic stag, sharp and deadly. The others around him, too, had an impressive presence and demeanor. Their arrival brought a chill of death, as if plunging the surrounding ten miles into the depths of hell!
These young devils were clearly top talents of the Endless Netherworld.
The War Princess's eyes immediately landed on the silver-haired youth. "What did you just call me?" she asked, ice seeming to form on her face.
"I was wrong," the silver-haired youth said with a slight smile, his eyes filled with indulgence. "Your Highness, I apologize for making you wait."
The War Princess scanned them and frowned, "Why is it always you youngsters who show up?"
"The elders are still widening the passage. The truly powerful ones can't get through yet," the silver-haired youth replied, his eyebrows lifting as he gazed across the Demon Continent. "As for the Eternal Sword Prison, even if their old fogeys got through, I can handle them."
The other devils also wore cold smiles.
"Your Highness," the silver-haired youth knelt on one knee, placing one hand on his abdomen respectfully. "The lord has instructed me to escort you back to the palace. You've done a great service in the matters of the Heavenly Land and rewards await you."
"I'm not going back," the War Princess said firmly.
"Not going back?" The silver-haired youth bit his lip, looking up at her earnestly. "Your eighteenth birthday is approaching. Though it's not a happy occasion, your parents have accepted it... After the wedding, no matter the storm, I'll guard you with my life. Anyone who dares to slander you, I will annihilate their entire clan."
"Eighteen years old?" The War Princess suddenly unleashed her Bloodfang Devourer whip, binding the silver-haired youth by the neck, forcing him to look up. She pointed to her blood horns, whispering eerily, "Nine-Tiered Bloodline, all unlocked. Do you see them clearly now?"
At her words, the other young devils shuddered, their blood-red eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of her. Especially the silver-haired youth, who involuntarily knelt down.
"It's true..."
"The Devil Heart Realm!"
Their looks transformed from shock and confusion to ecstasy and reverence, mixed with a tumult of emotions. This was exactly what the War Princess had anticipated, exactly what she had yearned for.
She knew these talents from the Endless Netherworld respected her only superficially because of her status. Deep down, hadn't they always seen her as a pitiable figure?
She was fed up with their two-faced attitudes, one in front of her and another behind her back. Now, these trembling gazes signified a seismic shift in how these proud demons viewed her, from pity to reverence.
This feeling of exhilaration was what she had craved for seventeen years, something she dreamt of! It was a rush, like a heady intoxication! She had fallen in love with this feeling, as if addicted to it.
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Piercing through the clouds, soaring to the heavens, commanding the netherworld, unmatched in the Nine Hells!" The silver-haired youth, his eyes bloodshot, prostrated himself on the ground, his voice fierce with emotion.
THUD! The other blood devil talents quickly followed suit, kneeling down.
The unlocking of the Nine-Tiered Bloodline... What did that signify? They knew better than anyone! It could elevate a once-famous useless princess back to her peak, causing a sensation across the Nine Hells!
"Feng You, are you truly happy?" The War Princess gazed at the silver-haired youth with a deep, haunting look. "Now, you're no longer worthy of me."
The silver-haired youth's face was pressed to the ground, his expression hidden, but his fingers clenched tightly together. The others looked at his prostrated figure, their eyes filled with sympathy.
"Your Highness!" The silver-haired youth lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at the War Princess. "You fulfilling your wish could lead our clan to the pinnacle of the Nine Hells! This is the glory of our clan, our future! I am overjoyed for Your Highness, for our clan! Even if Your Highness offers me no affection, I will serve you all my life, until I return to dust!"
"Is that what you truly think? My unlocking, isn't it a disaster for you? I remember, you weren't so humble before me in the past. You say you'll guard me all your life, but your eyes tell me that in your view, I'm just a worthless tool for climbing to power," the War Princess said, her voice haunting as she gazed at him.
Feng You trembled all over. BANG BANG BANG! He knocked his forehead against the ground three times in rapid succession.
Human hearts, devil hearts... they were all sensitive, and some truths can't be hidden.
All he could do was prostrate himself, speaking with unwavering conviction, "I deeply apologize for my previous rashness and foolishness. I pledge my life to atone for my mistakes to Your Highness!"
"Forget it." The War Princess suddenly kicked him in the face.
BANG! Feng You rolled on the ground, blood seeping from his face, yet he remained silent, continuing to bow his head, his eyes bloodshot.
"I vow to follow the princess unto death!"
"Then you might as well die right now!" The War Princess stomped him into the ground again! Watching these so-called geniuses grovel before her, completely changed from their usual selves, she vented all the sorrow and rage of the past seventeen years.
Her heart was sensitive. She was acutely aware of the many who looked down on her, mocking her behind her back. If she hadn't been fed up, why would she wish to die on her eighteenth birthday?
Her parents had compromised, agreeing to marry her off to Feng You, a man she disliked. The irony was, even he looked down on her! The backbiting and sneers of such people were the most hurtful!
With that stomp, she felt an exhilarating rush, as if soaring into the heavens! Who had brought all this upon her? At that moment, she suddenly felt that the frustrations she had faced in Yun Xiao's presence seemed less significant.
"Enough," the War Princess knew when to stop, her face cold as she glanced over the group, "Stand up."
"Yes!" The talented devils stood up, bowing their heads before her.
"Let bygones be bygones. Your future actions will determine my opinion," the War Princess declared.
"Yes!" Their voices were fervent.
"Feng You," the War Princess turned to the silver-haired youth, "Is it my father's wish for me to return and marry you?"
"Yes!" Feng You dared not speak out of turn.
"Go back and tell him I won't return. I intend to conquer the Heavenly Land right here!" the War Princess declared.
"Yes! If the Lord knew about Your Highness unlocking the Nine-Tiered Bloodline, he would be ecstatic." Feng You bowed his head, pausing before adding, "But there's been a new development regarding the Heavenly Land."
"A new development? What did he say?" the War Princess inquired.
"The Lord negotiated with the Sword Cultivators of the Eternal Sword Prison. They've decided to hold off on fighting and explore the Heavenly Land on their own. We're ordered to exercise restraint," Feng You explained.
"What's next?" the War Princess asked.
"They're expending energy to fully open the portal. Its capacity is limited for now! In the future, many young ones will be sent. After all, younger equals higher birth and bloodline, increasing the chances of claiming the Heavenly Land. The Eternal Sword Prison will likely do the same," Feng You continued.
"Understood." The War Princess nodded, her gaze turning icy, "Go back and tell my father that I will take full charge of the Heavenly Land's affair. All the talents from the Endless Netherworld who enter must follow my orders! This is my domain, and I call the shots!"
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Elsewhere, another Sword Cultivator from the Eternal Sword Prison entered. Clearly, the frequency of arrivals was about to increase. This time, it was a frosty beauty in a white dress. She flew on her Sovereign Sword, her dress and long hair fluttering, her demeanor cool and seemingly unconquerable.
"Mother." Bai Wuque hurriedly greeted her, his face full of reverence.
The frosty beauty's cold face only softened with a hint of indulgence upon seeing her son.
Yun Xiao was somewhat surprised. He had thought she was Bai Wuque's sister. Turns out she was his mother. She looked so young, more like an older sister.
"Qingxue." Old Bai, still studying the Demon Continent, looked up at the frosty beauty, "What's the word from the Sword Ruins?"
Bai Qingxue's voice was clear and cold, "We've agreed with the Endless Netherworld to avoid conflict for now and each explore based on our abilities."
"Oh? Both sides want to open the portal first, huh? Quite in sync." Old Bai nodded, not surprised by this development.
It was as if the Sword Cultivators and the devils had temporarily allied.
"After all, the Nine Hells Conquest Clash is imminent, and neither side wants to lose too much strength prematurely. Otherwise, they'll become the target of all," Bai Qingxue said softly.
"Alright, let's go with that for now," Old Bai nodded in agreement.
"More sword geniuses will be sent after the Sword Baptism Ceremony," Bai Qingxue added.
"Understood."
This was more or less what Old Bai had anticipated, but it was quite different from what Yun Xiao had in mind! If there were no conflicts, it made it difficult for him to take action. Just then, Bai Qingxue mentioned something significant: "The Sword Ruins have hinted that there's a human continent beneath the Heavenly Land. We should be careful not to let the devils descend and wreak havoc on the innocents."
"Hmm!" Old Bai also nodded in agreement.
Yun Xiao felt this was a basic standard of decency. If these people couldn't even care for their own kind, what kind of people were they?
"Given that, you should also report about Gu Baiyi's situation," Old Bai informed Bai Qingxue about Gu Baiyi's condition and pointed at Yun Xiao. "Before Gu Baiyi passed away, he had a wish for this young man to train in the Sword Ruins. Take Wuque with you to the Sword Baptism Ceremony and bring him along too."
Bai Qingxue glanced at Yun Xiao. His youthfulness and charm were appealing to all ages, causing even her steadfast heart to flutter.
"Could it be that someone's unbeatable solely by their looks?" The frost in her eyes seemed to melt a bit. By comparison, Ling Chen seemed utterly ordinary, just a bit more delicate, easily lost in the crowd.
"Let's go." With that, Bai Qingxue rose on her Sovereign Sword, her icy sword shadow slicing through the air towards the Eternal Sword Prison.
"This place is left to Moon Fairy and the blood slave. My true self is limited in power. Staying here is a waste of time. I'd better seek an opportunity for ascent in the Sword Ruins!" Thinking this, Yun Xiao followed swiftly.
"The Sword Baptism Ceremony!" Yun Xiao, Ling Chen, and Bai Wuque, they were all waiting for this day to make a stunning entrance.
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