The Unparalleled Sword Emperor
Chapter 244 - 243: Brother Lin Bai, would you like to be the assistant for the paper kite?

Chapter 244: Chapter 243: Brother Lin Bai, would you like to be the assistant for the paper kite?

Solemn sacrificial music filled the air, and no warrior dared to create a commotion.

The falling snow could be heard.

Bai Huatian, the reigning ruler of Shenwu Kingdom, was at the front.

Behind Bai Huatian came a group of incomparably beautiful women: the Imperial Noble Consort, followed by four Concubines, and seventy-two Imperial Consorts.

After these Imperial Consorts, Lin Bai saw the First Princess Bai Xiaoxiao, the Fifth Princess, and the Ninth Princess Bai Zhiyuan, as well as a few young men who should all be royal princes.

The usually mischievous Bai Zhiyuan’s face showed uncharacteristic solemnity, with not a hint of impropriety.

After the royal princes and princesses, the leader of the Xu Family and the Qi Prince walked side by side ahead of all civil and military officials.

The leader of the Xu Family was the current Prime Minister, with an immense influence over the court and beyond.

The Qi Prince was a founding hero of the empire, with control over millions of soldiers.

Behind these two men, followed the civil and military officials.

Bai Huatian led the royal descendants and civil and military officials into the Heavenly Altar.

Once the officials stood still, sacrificial music began to play.

The leathery eunuch chief barked out orders, "The Heaven Worship Ceremony, begins."

Bai Huatian held three peculiar incense sticks, step by step, he ascended the white jade staircase and arrived at Shanhe Ding. As he lit the incense sticks, a wave of pale blue smoke floated upward into the sky.

This wisp of smoke dispersed slowly and unceasingly soared beyond the Nine Heavens Cloud.

It seemed as if this thin stream of smoke connected heaven and earth.

Seeing Bai Huatian in position, the chief eunuch yelled, "Begin the salutations."

Bai Huatian declared loudly, "Today, Bai Huatian, the ruler of Shenwu Kingdom, respectfully asks heaven, may heaven bless our Shenwu Kingdom, may all warriors be like dragons; may our territories remain forever solid; may the Royal Family... turn misfortunes into blessings."

After solemnly saying this, Bai Huatian respectfully inserted the three incense sticks into the Shanhe Ding.

"Wishing our Royal Family to turn misfortunes into blessings... it seems Emperor Bai Huatian is also unsettled," Lin Bai mused after hearing this sentence, recalling Bai Xiaoxiao’s warning about the royal crisis.

I assume Bai Huatian must be worried sick at this moment.

"Officials, proceed with the ceremony!"

"Kneel!"

Seeing that Bai Huatian had paid his respects, the chief eunuch ordered the civil and military officials to kneel.

At his voice, all the officials kneeled.

"Proceed with the ceremony!"

Seeing all the officials kneel, the chief eunuch announced once again.

All officials bowed their heads to the ground in unison, they remained that way for ten breaths before lifting their heads.

This cycle was repeated three times until it concluded.

Only after three times, the chief eunuch announced, "The ceremony is completed."

"Officials, rise."

The civil and military officials stood up following the chief eunuch’s final command.

Prince Qi stood up with a cold smile at the corners of his lips as he stared at Bai Huatian, thinking, "One day, I will stand above, and you will kneel below."

The Xu Family Leader noticed the cold smile on Qi Prince’s face and faintly responded with a mild smile, "Qi Prince, I know what you’re thinking."

Qi Prince chuckled, "I also know what you’re thinking."

"Hehe," the Xu Family Leader noncommittally smiled.

After the ceremony, Bai Huatian turned around and announced loudly to all the observing warriors, "Today marks the Year-end Festival of Shenwu Kingdom. I am grateful for the attendance of the Four Major Sects and all other attendees."

Murong Qi laughed, "Your Majesty is too kind."

Chen Gong also added with a laugh, "We are all citizens of Shenwu Kingdom. We are here to wish Shenwu Kingdom prosperity."

Bai Huatian replied with a laugh and a respectful salute, then continued, "Now that the Heaven Worship Ceremony is over, the Shanhe Ding will soon release the spirit pearl. As per tradition, the princes and princesses will select champions to help them vie for the pearl."

"Next, I will leave the stage to them."

Bai Huatian dismissed with a faint smile the civil and military officials and the Imperial Consorts.

Meanwhile, Bai Huatian took his seat on the Dragon Throne at the top of the Heavenly Altar. Seated at his side was the Empress Dowager, also known as the Imperial Noble Consort.

After the officials left, only twelve princes and princesses remained in the arena.

Among them were Bai Zhiyuan, Bai Xiaoxiao, and the Fifth Princess.

Bai Huatian raised his voice, "There isn’t much time. You’d better quickly select your assistants. In a quarter of an hour, the Spirit Pearl will be released."

Upon hearing Bai Huatian’s voice, all the princes and princesses responded simultaneously and then dispersed in different directions.

Some princes strode towards the princes and kings’ side.

Some princes made their way to Canghai Yuntai Palace’s side.

Some princes gravitated towards the merchants’ side.

"The Second Prince has chosen Yi Han!"

At that moment, an astonished voice caught everyone’s attention.

Even Lin Bai looked up and happened to see the Second Prince and Yi Han exchanging a knowing smile.

Bai Huatian, watching this, lifted his cup and laughed, saying, "Yi Han is one of the Seven Kings in the Canghai Yuntai Palace, possessing cultivation at the peak of Heaven Martial Realm Third Layer. He’s considered the top among those under the Bone Age of twenty. Wise choice, young man."

The Chief Eunuch standing by Bai Huatian’s side chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, the Second Prince isn’t bad either. Although he is already 22 years old, he also has the strength of Heaven Martial Realm First Layer."

"The Second Prince’s martial arts talent is inferior to Xiaoxiao’s," sighed Bai Huatian.

Immediately after, all of the princes and princesses started choosing their respective assistants.

"Third Prince has chosen Wan Xia."

"Fourth Prince has chosen Luo Qixing."

"Fifth Princess has surprisingly chosen Li Qianfan, one of the Three Great Wealth God Families."

Li Qianfan, another direct descendant of the Li Family in Guangling City, succeeded after Liyun Suan’s death at the hands of Lin Bai.

In his heart, Li Qianfan was immensely grateful to the one who killed Li Yun Suan. If Liyun Suan hadn’t been killed, Li Qianfan would probably have been suppressed by him for a lifetime.

Thus, after taking over, Li Qianfan strongly declared his determination to locate the murderer of Li Yun Suan by offering a reward. But, in reality, he didn’t attempt to investigate it at all, leaving the case to be buried with time after showing a token gesture to the Li Family’s higher-ups.

"Sixth Prince has chosen Shang Jiuxiao!"

Shang Jiuxiao, a disciple of the Canghai Yuntai Palace and also a direct descendant of one of The Three Great Wealth God Families—the Shang Clan—held a status that was significantly higher than that of Shang Jie, who died at the hands of Lin Bai.

"Seventh Prince has chosen Li Luobei from the Canghai Yuntai Palace."

Li Luobei, another warrior who accompanied the Canghai Yuntai Palace, possessed cultivation at the Heaven Martial Realm Third Layer, equating his strength and reputation to Yi Han’s in the palace.

"Eighth Prince has chosen..."

"Tenth Prince has chosen..."

"Eleventh Prince has chosen..."

"Twelfth Prince has chosen..."

Eventually, all the princes had chosen their assistants.

Only the First Princess Bai Xiaoxiao and Ninth Princess Bai Zhiyuan had yet to make their choices.

"Now, only First Princess and Ninth Princess are left. What are they waiting for? The most powerful warriors have all been chosen."

"Who’s left now?"

"The only one remaining is Qi Rui, the young prince from the Qi Wangfu. He would make a good assistant."

"The First Princess should choose Qi Rui, considering his deep affection for her."

Many warriors watched the hesitant look on Bai Xiaoxiao and Bai Zhiyuan’s faces.

As time ticked by, Bai Huatian grew slightly impatient and called out, "Xiaoxiao, Ninth, quickly choose your assistants."

"Oh."

Bai Zhiyuan’s beautiful eyes scanned the warriors, landing on the Spirit Sword Sect’s location. Right as she heard Bai Huatian’s voice, she giggled and responded before running towards the Spirit Sword Sect’s direction.

"Ninth princess is heading towards the Spirit Sword Sect!"

"Hmm, the genius from the Spirit Sword Sect known as Lu Yuan would indeed be a good choice."

"I know Lu Yuan, this man ranks fifth on the Spirit Sword Sect Inner Sect Top 100 Ranking List. He certainly shouldn’t be underestimated."

Many warriors thought Bai Zhiyuan was choosing Lu Yuan when they saw her heading towards the Spirit Sword Sect’s direction.

To everyone’s surprise, however, Bai Zhiyuan ran up to Lin Bai of the Spirit Sword Sect and asked with an innocent smile on her face, "Brother Lin Bai, will you be Zhiyuan’s assistant?"

"We can split the Spirit Pearls we get, okay?"

Bai Zhiyuan grinned innocently at Lin Bai.

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PS: Many people said that I didn’t update, but I did, I update every day.

I just changed the update time to before 1 a.m.

Now, on November 21, 2017, 00:05, today’s first update!