Looking at her face, he couldn't help but be shocked.
"So young and already so strong? Just who the heck is she?" he muttered. Leading the House Rivera was a young woman in her mid-twenties.
She had elegant silver hair flowing, with pale white skin. A pair of deep blue eyes that shone, reflecting their brilliance from within.
There was a mysterious energy around her that made her feel like she wasn't from this era.
Silveria's eyes swept across the hall, eyeing every single cultivator. But seeing the absence of one figure she desperately needed to see, she sighed.
"Master, where are you?"
She muttered under her breath; even Vivianne wasn't here. She closed her eyes for a moment, the energy around her shifting slightly.
Her eyes shone as she looked in a particular direction, but…the more she looked, the more she felt…jealous.
"Master…even I want to go on a date with you."
But before she could ponder any further, a voice echoed from behind her.
"Lady Silveria…when is Lord going to arrive?"
Looking behind, she saw a breathtaking, mature woman speak. Her eyes were ethereal; she was simply a celestial beauty.
Silveria shook her head when she heard those words. It was the current representative of House Apsara from the previous Solterra.
But right now, her expression was a bit difficult.
"Even I don't know what the master will do. He may come today, tomorrow, or a hundred years later. It all depends on his mood."
She spoke with a shake of her head. Hearing this, the Apsara beauty sighed and thanked her before returning towards her people.
The conversations and chatter increased, although some of them didn't dare complain. They—as the world leaders—couldn't help but feel frustrated.
"Malrik! Aren't you familiar with the Lord!? Couldn't you even ask when he is going to come?"
A tall, demonic-looking middle-aged man with thick horns sprouting from his head spoke. He was the Asura House Leader.
His words echoed throughout their little group, earning several nods from others. Hearing his words, Malrik's smile curled up in disdain.
"You'd better shut your mouth before he gets the wind of it. You couldn't even comprehend one percent of his strength. If he has made us wait like this…there would surely be a valid reason for it. Just have a bit of patience."
Malrik dismissed that guy. He, calling that man? No, thank you...he wanted to stay at least a hundred miles away from that terrifying being.
In the opposite direction, a tall youth stood apart from the others. He had crimson hair and matching crimson eyes.
"My god, just who was that guy?"
The youth muttered. He was Eryx. Eryx Rudra.
Rahu's so-called 'friend' in the trials—he was…of course alive. Thanks to Rahu's help, he would have otherwise died in the Radiant Monarch's trial.
And it was through him alone that he had managed to obtain several precious treasures. Cultivating them, he shot through the sky, becoming the youngest Elder in House Rudra.
But…as always, tragedy struck. Tearing the skies, a massive army emerged, consisting of terrifying faceless beings.
With them came…war, a massive war on a scale unseen in previous millennials. Their sheer numbers had wiped millions of cultivators from their side.
But fortunately, through sheer will and luck, Eryx had managed to survive the purge, becoming the House Leader of the prestigious House Rudra.
This was, of course, not because of his strength. It was because of his connections, the moment he mentioned he was friends with a being on the level of Rahu, they had wasted no time in making him the Supreme Leader of House Rudra. Recalling all of this, he could not help but sigh.
"Where are you, my friend?"
This continued for more than an hour before the entire castle shook violently. The cultivators inside felt their hearts shudder at the sudden tremor.
Their eyes snapped toward the door, eager for his arrival. They didn't dare use Divine Sense to probe, as that wouldn't just be rude.
"The Immortal Jade Emperor has arrived!!"
A guard's voice thundered from behind the massive doors of the castle. Everyone's breath quickened.
CREAK!!
The door finally opened, revealing a tall, handsome man on the other side. An intense pair of purple orbs swept throughout the room.
Rahu's eyes shone amusingly as he looked at everyone present. The moment they felt them…all of the present cultivators' knees hit the ground!
Not a single soul was exempt from this, from the women of his harem to the millennia-old ancestors. Everyone kneeled!
Silence…Absolute silence filled the entire hall.
It wasn't the silence of respect…it was the silence of suppression. Existential suppression.
Every cultivator felt it deep inside them. An overwhelming, invisible force pressed down on their very souls. Their bodies trembled unconsciously.
The Asura House Leader, who had spoken so boldly a few moments ago…now found his huge forehead glued to the ground. His horns cracked slightly when those pairs of eyes swept his being.
The Apsara beauty bit her lip; her earlier frustration was gone, replaced by something far more primal…servitude.
An innate sense of submissiveness spread through her being, urging her to serve this man throughout her life. She wasn't the only woman who felt this. Every heavenly jade beauty present, kneeling on the floor, felt it.
Malrik's expression turned solemn as he kneeled on the ground.
"Here he comes."
"Mhm, good."
Rahu nodded in satisfaction. From behind him, a shadow flashed, a figure stepped beside him. He smiled when he saw this.
"What do you think, my love? Our first conquest wasn't too bad, I hope?"
Yveline smirked when she heard that. "Not too bad, my man."
Rahu laughed out loud when he heard this, and with Yveline by his side, the pair walked towards the throne.
Two figures ascended...not as rulers, but as…absolute sovereigns.
And in that moment, everyone understood the ultimate truth. No, not the truth, it was just a single realization that dawned upon everyone present.
This was no longer a gathering of powers.
It was a…coronation.
