Chapter 969 - Uncontrollable Situation

Two Bramble Bird guards came forward to report at the same time.

Laura stood up from her seat.

——the official appointment ceremony was about to begin, billions of worlds were waiting to observe it.

This was the first time in its history that the Bramble Bird Kingdom officially appointed a non-Bramble Bird person as part of their nobility, because of this, it held great significance.

Everyone hurriedly stood up as well.

“Alright, let’s proceed as we planned” Gu Qing Shan clapped his hands and announced.

At this point, he was filled with eagerness.

Finally.

Finally, I’ve gotten so many comrades, I no longer have to struggle with everything by myself.

Ye Fei Li took out various cans of drinks and handed it out to everyone.

These were canned drinks specifically made for everyone to cater to their characteristics, used to replenish their stamina and energy.

Gu Qing Shan got a [Health Potion], a [Spirit Energy Potion], as well as a [Soul Points Potion].

Laura was currently informing Lin about the palace’s layout so that Lin could choose a suitable place to hide.

Zhang Ying Hao reached into the void of space to draw Cards one after another.

——-his Hitman deck was actually half-complete, although its direct battle strength wasn’t very high, as a hitman, he relied more on his skills, not to mention the support of Assault Handgun.

Shannu was currently acting as Laura, conversing with something in the void of space.

They could only hear very faint ‘wu wu’ sounds occasionally.

Gu Qing Shan stood by a window, releasing his inner sight to observe the venue of the ceremony below.

His inner sight scanned through each and every person there.

Several cultivators in the crowd noticed his inner sight, but when they saw that the inner sight emerged from inside the palace, they all kept their mouths shut.

——-during such a solemn ceremony, it was normal for the royal family to conduct safety checks, there was no need for them to react too strongly.

Once everyone had finished preparing, Gu Qing Shan turned to his group.

“Let’s begin”

With his confirmation, the Bramble Bird General, Ilya, pushed open the door of the balcony.

Laura was bringing Lin to her chosen hiding place.

Gu Qing Shan, Zhang Ying Hao, Ye Fei Li, and Shannu silently waited.

A few moments later.

The sound of thunderous cheers resounded from outside.

Followed by the divine and holy music.

Ilya’s voice resounded as she hosted the ceremony:

“Friends who have arrived from afar to participate in our ceremony, you are...”

“Today is the Bramble Bird Kingdom’s...”

“And so, we shall induct a new Duke...”

“Now, please welcome our esteemed royal majesty——”

The music started to pick up.

‘Laura’ looked at Gu Qing Shan.

Gu Qing Shan gave her an encouraging look.

‘Laura’ took a deep breath and took a step forward.

In an instant, her presence changed completely.

Graceful, solemn, and impersonal.

At this moment, she had truly turned into the Bramble Bird Empress!

She would now officially appoint a human male as the Duke of the Bramble Bird Kingdom!

‘Laura’ walked out of the room step by step.

A short moment later.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Thunderous, constant cheers.

‘Laura’ walked up to the high balcony.

Facing the countless guests below, she began her speech:

“I, the Bramble Bird Empress, Laura, shall today announce to billions of worlds, the welcoming of our kingdom’s first non-Bramble Bird Duke. We have made this decision due to the encroaching Apocalypse, where we wish nothing but to unite and stand as one with the brave men and women of all worlds. For the sake of our country, our loved ones, our children, we shall stand against the Apocalypse and do everything in our power to win against it, we...”

Standing in the room, Gu Qing Shan silently listened to Shannu’s declaration and praised: “Well done”

After a bit, the Empress’ speech was finished.

But the Bramble Birds were a race that placed a particular emphasis on customs and etiquette.

There were many steps in this entire ceremony, including over a dozen tedious and broken-up formalities that must all be done one after another after the Empress’ speech.

Fortunately, since Shannu was bright and she had received a careful briefing of what to do beforehand, everything was going well.

It was only the wait that was incessantly long.

Zhang Ying Hao lit a cigarette and silently smoked.

Ye Fei Li took out a gaming console, started it up, picked a stage, and started to play.

“You’re still going to play games at a time like this?” Zhang Ying Hao asked in surprise.

“Aren’t you also smoking?” Ye Fei Li asked in reply without looking up.

“I’m just calming myself down a bit before a big battle”

“So am I”

A few moments later.

All the formalities were about to be finished.

It would soon be Ye Fei Li’s turn to come out.

Gu Qing Shan and Zhang Ying Hao had already changed into the Bramble Tree Hidden Guardian armors and donned their visors to obscure their faces.

“It’s our turn, Ye Fei Li will move in front, Zhang Ying Hao and I will follow behind” Gu Qing Shan said.

“Good”

“Got it”

The music raised again.

Ye Fei Li pushed the door open and walked along the corridor until he reached the venue of the ceremony.

Step by step, he approached the balcony as Zhang Ying Hao and Gu Qing Shan followed him from behind in full suits of armor.

‘Laura’ seemed to be a bit bored, so she reached her hand into the void of space.

In front of everyone, she pulled something out.

——it was a jade pendant in the shape of a gourd.

Adorable naturally had [Spotless Jade] that allowed it not to be discovered by living beings, only when Shannu caught it did it purposely reveal itself. To other people, this looked like ‘Laura’ used her [Vagrant Treasure Collector] ability.

At this point, Ye Fei Li walked up to ‘Laura’ and knelt down on one knee.

“Ye Fei Li, I hereby represent the Bramble Bird royal family to appoint you as the Duke of our Kingdom, do you have any objections?”

“I do not, it is my honor”

“Very well”

Saying so, ‘Laura’ waved her hand.

An emerald green leaf manifested from the void and fluttered in front of Ye Fei Li.

The green leaf opened up, bestowing the Duke’s scepter, medallion, headwear, seal, and uniform onto Ye Fei Li.

This was another of the Empress’ famous abilities: [Blessing of the Empress]

This time, it wasn’t faked, but the real [Blessing of the Empress], but the one who performed it was the jade gourd pendant, Adorable.

It had used its ability——– [Hundred Lanterns].

However, no one had ever seen such an ability or even heard of the fact that an ability that could be stolen like this.

To everyone at the venue, it seemed as if the one who performed this technique was none other than the Empress herself.

‘Laura’ then took a ceremonial sword in her hand, tapped them onto Ye Fei Li’s shoulders one by one, and softly spoke the words of appointment.

The ceremony was about to be completed, Ye Fei Li would also become an official Duke of the Bramble Bird Kingdom.

The crowd clapped and cheered.

Fireworks were shot off.

The music reached its climax.

Everything was as it was supposed to be.

But then, the situation abruptly changed.

The sun turned clouded.

The sky became dim.

Over a dozen figures clad in brilliant light descended from above.

“Who is it that dares to invade my Bramble Bird Kingdom!” Shannu sternly shouted.

「 Bramble Bird Empress, you misunderstand 」

A Divinity responded.

He was completely clad in luminous brilliance, hidden within countless layers of light that gave him the appearance of being a true God descending from above.

One, two, three, four... a total of 16 Divinities.

They all gave off boundless power and presence, their Paragon realm level of power caused everyone to be shocked.

This was a terrifying and insurmountable strength!

Seeing this, Gu Qing Shan felt a bit embarrassed.

Over several ten thousand years ago, these were all Soul Artifacts that he created.

However, since the battle was so tough at the time, he couldn’t wrap everything up perfectly, ending with everything he obtained from the Age of Old to be taken by the Earth Creator to be gotten rid of.

Unfortunately, the Earth Creator died.

As these Soul Artifacts went past their expiration date, they gained sentience and acted as they pleased.

In the sky, their solemn presence radiated all over this world.

A Divinity clad in holy light spoke: 「 Empress Laura, the True God is waiting for your presence in the Divine Sanctuary of the Strife Zones 」

“The True God is waiting for me?”

Shannu froze.

Since she has been traveling with Gu Qing Shan, she knew exactly who that ‘True God’ was.

Despite the mental preparations that she had made, she didn’t expect their mysterious enemy to be the Abyssal Demon Dragon.

Gu Qing Shan’s trio was also using inner sight to silently communicate.

——–since Gu Qing Shan had taught them how to cultivate, and even found suitable cultivation scriptures for them, they were able to utilize inner sight without issues.

“All of them are so strong, do you think they’re going to directly attack us?” Zhang Ying Hao asked worriedly.

“They won’t. With the Bramble Great Tree here, they aren’t a match for it” Gu Qing Shan affirmed this.

“Not only are they strong, but they also outnumber us, what do we do now?” Ye Fei Li asked.

Zhang Ying Hao replied: “At least, we definitely can’t follow them——– Gu Qing Shan, quickly come up with something”

He and Ye Fei Li waited, but didn’t hear Gu Qing Shan’s answer.

“Gu Qing Shan?”

Ye Fei Li doubtfully asked.

In Lin’s secret hiding spot, Laura was also stunned.

“Big sis, the enemy is the True God, what do I do not?” Laura asked in her distress.

She had a feeling that she knew what the other party wanted to do.

Lin didn’t say anything but her expression slowly turned solemn.

Although I’ve returned to my peak state, the Abyssal Demon Dragon is the greatest Soul Artifact ever created by the Bygone Era humans, now that it has been converted to an Abyssal lifeform, I’m not at all confident about being able to win.

Luckily, since the Bramble Great Tree is here, I’d be able to at least fight it to a draw with the Great Tree’s help.

Lin silently sighed.

Gu Qing Shan’s arrangements have certainly managed to draw out the enemy, but who could’ve thought that their enemy would be a group of 16 Paragon realm Divinities as well as the Abyssal Demon Dragon?

How regretful.

My current body is a human body.

If I still had my ring of vows...

Lin’s gaze became deep as she looked towards the armored guard standing next to Ye Fei Li.

—–for now, I’ll have to see how Gu Qing Shan deals with this.

Wait a minute!

Lin abruptly sat straight up and scowled: “What’s wrong with Gu Qing Shan?”

Laura followed her gaze.

Only to see that Gu Qing Shan had lowered his head, his body trembling.

That’s right.

It was time.

Gu Qing Shan had felt the so-called opportunity.

At first, he only heard a faint humming of an unknown song.

The sound of the accompanying flute soon died down and faded away.

And then suddenly.

The beat of the drums sounded.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Chaka chak chak! Chaka chak chak!

A resounding trumpet note—–

Oooo—– oong——

Sensing the pain on his body, Gu Qing Shan immediately understood.

The situation had gotten completely out of his control!

The second stage of the Living Being Sacrificial Dance was about to begin!