Chapter 228: Chu Lingque
The morning light pierced through the clouds, dyeing the twelve gilded pillars of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Hall a flowing crimson gold.
The top of each pillar was carved with a Vermilion Bird auspicious cloud floating sculpture made of high-quality high-grade spiritual crystals.
The Vermilion Bird Emperor sat majestically on the jade-stepped throne, as the strongest emperor in the Mortal Realm.
The Vermilion Bird Emperor’s morning court was also full of ceremony, with civil and military officials occupying each side.
“Your Majesty, the preparations for the Lantern Festival have been completed.”
“All that’s left is to decorate Tang’an City with some Lantern Festival items.”
One of the civil officials cupped his fists and reported to the Vermilion Bird Emperor.
The Vermilion Bird Emperor nodded.
“How is the preparation of the spiritual ark needed by the Goddess?”
The official continued to answer, “Everything is ready for the spiritual ark. It was made according to your requirements, Your Majesty.”
“It includes various mechanisms and defensive arrays, which have all been set up. We are just waiting for the Goddess to board the ark.”
Vermilion Bird Emperor: “The Goddess is the most precious treasure bestowed upon my Vermilion Bird Divine Nation by heaven. On the day of the Lantern Festival, the Goddess will pray for the country.”
“This is the first time in the history of the Vermilion Bird Divine Nation. We must not be careless!”
The Vermilion Bird Emperor emphasized again and again, and the ministers in the hall agreed repeatedly.
He turned to look at the queue of elders of the Vermilion Bird Divine Sect. “I heard that the Sixth Elder successfully broke through to the Mahayana realm some time ago. Is this true?”
Hearing this, the Sixth Elder stepped out of the queue and bowed.
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s blessing, this old minister successfully passed the lightning tribulation some time ago and smoothly reached the Mahayana realm.”
The Vermilion Bird Emperor smiled, his expression more relaxed than ever.
His brow relaxed slightly, and his tone carried a hint of joy. “In this way, my Vermilion Bird Divine Nation already has seven Mahayana realm experts.”
“The number of Mahayana realm experts is almost more than the other four countries combined.”
“It seems that my Vermilion Bird Divine Nation is the only one in the Mortal Realm that can carry this banner!”
The Vermilion Bird Emperor was delighted, and the ministers below the stage also echoed.
“Yes, yes.”
“Your Majesty is wise and mighty. The rule of my Vermilion Bird Divine Nation will last for thousands of generations.”
The ministers below the stage happily flattered the Vermilion Bird Emperor.
The Vermilion Bird Emperor enjoyed it very much, but he changed the subject. “During this time, I seem to have felt the production of demonic energy in the city.”
“The Lantern Festival is coming soon. In order to ensure order in the city.”
At this point, the Vermilion Bird Emperor looked at the Fourth Elder of the Vermilion Bird.
“Fourth Elder, I’ll leave the safety of Tang’an City to you.”
The Fourth Elder of the Vermilion Bird bowed slightly. “This old minister will definitely not disappoint Your Majesty’s trust.”
“But Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry too much. My Tang’an City is an open and inclusive city.”
“There are many people with different cultivation in the city, and the number of cultivators is large. Occasionally, there are fluctuations of demonic energy. Perhaps it is just a spy from the Demon Realm who has mixed in.”
“Although the power of the Demon Realm was weakened by more than half twenty years ago, they still have this little means. Moreover, the two realms have set up intelligence networks for each other. It is also difficult to investigate.”
“But before the Lantern Festival, this old minister will definitely strengthen patrols. If there are evil spirits doing evil, I will definitely eradicate them,” the Fourth Elder said confidently.
The Fourth Elder of the Vermilion Bird was also a veteran expert of the Vermilion Bird Divine Nation. His words were somewhat persuasive.
The Vermilion Bird Emperor nodded, but added, “This Lantern Festival is of great significance. We must not be careless.”
“In addition, regarding the search for high-grade beast cores across the continent…”
“Fifth Elder, how is your progress?”
The Fifth Elder of the Vermilion Bird stood up nervously to receive the order. “Reporting to Your Majesty, in the past three months, the disciples of my Vermilion Bird Divine Sect have obtained more than three hundred beast cores above the fifth tier, and five above the seventh tier.”
Hearing this, the Vermilion Bird Emperor frowned slightly. “Why so few? The people above are anxious. If the amount is not up to standard, you know the consequences.”
Hearing this, the Fifth Elder of the Vermilion Bird knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times in a row.
“Your Majesty, although spiritual beasts are renewable, the number of kills by my Vermilion Bird Divine Sect in recent years has somewhat exceeded the reproduction speed of spiritual beasts.”
“So much so that it is now difficult to find high-grade spiritual beasts.”
Hearing the Fifth Elder of the Vermilion Bird crying, the ministers fell silent again.
The Vermilion Bird Emperor rubbed his temples. Obviously, he also felt that this matter was not easy to handle.
“I know your difficulties, but you must take a long-term view. The number of spiritual beasts in the Mortal Realm has indeed decreased a lot.”
“But… the demonic beasts in the Demon Realm also have beast cores. You can try to reach into the Demon Realm.”
The Fifth Elder of the Vermilion Bird first thanked the Vermilion Bird Emperor for his understanding, and then stated the difficulties of hunting demonic beasts in the Demon Realm.
“Your Majesty, the demonic energy in the Demon Realm is rampant, which is not conducive to long-term combat for people from our Mortal Realm. Moreover, killing demonic beasts in the Demon Realm is not the first time.”
“The three realms of the Demon Realm have strengthened their manpower at the border, and the difficulty of obtaining them will only continue to increase.”
Hearing this, the Vermilion Bird Emperor slapped his chair. “What are you afraid of? The Demon Realm is just a bird with broken wings. I will increase your manpower now.”
“Where is the Third Elder of the Vermilion Bird?”
The Third Elder of the Vermilion Bird stood up. “This minister is here!”
Vermilion Bird Emperor: “The Third Elder is highly respected and has reached the late stage of the Mahayana realm. You go and assist the Fifth Elder in discussing the matter of hunting spiritual beasts in the Demon Realm.”
“Obtaining a certain number of beast cores is a matter that cannot be careless. You all know the importance of this.”
Hearing this, the several Vermilion Bird elders lowered their heads.
“Father Emperor?”
Just as the several Vermilion Bird elders and the Vermilion Bird Emperor fell into silence, a pleasant voice came from outside the hall.
The moment the Vermilion Bird Emperor saw the person coming, his smile blossomed instantly. “Aiyo, my precious daughter is here!”
Outside the door, a young girl in a crimson silk gauze skirt was standing outside the hall. Her long hair was like being dyed by lava, but the tips had a color like gold leaf.
When the breeze blew, it brought up fine sparks. Her amber eyes above the fire jade earrings seemed to hide the entire midsummer.
As for her appearance, she was praised as a heavenly goddess in the Mortal Realm.
If she claimed to be second, no one would dare to claim to be first.
Chu Lingque had been loved by thousands since she was born. As soon as she was born, she received all the power and bloodline of the Vermilion Bird Divine Spirit.
Born with five spirit gates, she was the only God’s Chosen of the Vermilion Bird Divine Spirit. She was also the biggest trump card of the Vermilion Bird Divine Nation.
From the Vermilion Bird Emperor to the common people, everyone cared for this Goddess very much.
“What are you still standing there for? Come in quickly.”
The Vermilion Bird Emperor stood up directly and walked towards Chu Lingque. Seeing Chu Lingque’s arrival, the officials all knelt down.
The etiquette of the officials kneeling to welcome her showed that in some aspects, Chu Lingque’s status was even higher than that of the Vermilion Bird Emperor.
