"The Everpath," Wu Baozhai gently muttered, her eyes glistening with starry light, her breath even, and her posture steady. Despite having fought tens of thousands of Chosen, there was a single hair out of place, and the countless eyes sweeping her way from the other Chosen filled with vigilance, fear, and awe was well- earned.
"What did you get?" Xue Yifei walked over and lightly asked. At her back, her entourage followed several steps behind, looking like pious worshippers following the shadow of their divine goddess without the slightest qualms.
Wu Baozhai looked over with irritation. Xue Yifei had played her, simultaneously stopping Na Xinyi and claiming an Astralis Sacred Fruit from Tian Yinwu. Moreover, those idiots that were tricked were fully aware that she had lied earlier, yet none of them dared to take her to task or mention it.
Xue Yifei smiled, entirely unaffected by Wu Baozhai's expression, and it caused the hearts of those focused on her to ferociously race or outright stop. Her innate charm seemed to have elevated after confronting Na Xinyi and Tian Yinwu, and opinions of her status began to subtly change as they remembered that Xue Yifei was here as a Chosen.
"What does it matter?" Wu Baozhai still replied begrudgingly.
"You're right. Why does it matter?" Xue Yifei's smile grew a little, and Wu Baozhai felt as if she was waiting for something. They were both aware that the treasures from the first stage were incomparable to Wei Wuyin's stipends. Moreover, both of them led forces and possessed planets, so Wei Wuyin gave out planetary- nurturing resources alongside subordinate-developing resources with their Valkyrie-earned resources.
The sheer quantity of high-level materials and resources they handled vastly exceeded the imagination. The paltry scant they got from their points was only a small drop in another sea of resources. But they wouldn't forfeit it, of course. Wei Wuyin was deliberate with his resources and products, almost exclusively giving them enough to achieve their goals of cultivation, nurturing their planet, and developing their forces.
If they wanted more, they needed to seek it out themselves. Xue Yifei had done so very early on, using her Dragon Army to seize planets and realms from Timelords, Starlords, and Exalted. She grew her forces with a domineering fist. Of course, this was pre-Neo-Dawn Starfield.
Now, as Wei Wuyin's officially- recognized concubine, all she had to do was collect taxes to earn more.
Wu Baozhai sent her forces out on frequent expeditions in the Void- Blank Space throughout the eighteen regions, acting as Void Hunters, and seizing ruined realms, planets, and taking down strange creatures that lived and thrived in the Dark Void. They both had their own paths.
Despite that, the fact that she had been delayed while Wu Baozhai knew what Xue Yifei wanted, but she refused to give it to her. "You-"
"Thank you," Xue Yifei abruptly interrupted with a soft tone, gratefulness in her eyes and thankfulness in her expression, startling Wu Baozhai for a moment. Even the entourage of loyalists was taken aback. Xue Yifei continued, "for not killing anyone."
"..." Wu Baozhai's eyes widened slightly for a few moments, and then her gaze softened as she turned away. She was facing tens of thousands of Chosen, all attacking her, yet she decided to not unleash a slaughter toward those idiotically brain-deficient Chosen followers of hers.
Still, she was aware that while she hadn't obtained the fruit, her prestige had grown just as equally if not more, achieving her end goal as she held her own against the Grand assault of numerous Chosen. Just the vigilance others had in their eyes was enough to know her reputation had grown tenfold in one sitting. Since only one of them could obtain the fruit and prestige, this would've caused the other to inevitably suffer a loss.
While Wu Baozhai didn't say anything, Xue Yifei read her expression and her smile grew larger, dazzling the eyes, uplifting the spirits, and ravaging the hearts of countless men and women in the surroundings. She was a focal point of the competition, especially as she stood out while leading thousands of Chosen, so her every expression was difficult to miss.
Xue Yifei turned around, about to walk away, when she received a concealed spiritual transmission, causing her steps to lag for a brief moment.
"Thank you."
Just two words-they allowed Xue Yifei to know that their relationship, while maintained as rivals, contained enough respect and consideration towards each other. If only she hadn't experienced her past with 'that' man, suffering that incomparably irreparable loss of purity.
"I'll make it through first," Wu Baozhai declared aloud.
"We'll see,"Xue Yifei kept going, not turning around, as she lightly said. The spark of rivalry between the Eternal Monarch Saintess and Dragonborn Saintess ignited interest in countless souls, especially amongst the male Chosen. A few decided to court Wu Baozhai after the competition. While that unfolded, Lin Ming was seething as he was on the verge of erupting in rage. Qiao Shulin and Bai Yuxi had to calm him down, while Yi Yun, Chen Yangzi, and the two beautiful young women watched from the side.
Yi Yun saw Qiao Shulin comfort Lin Ming, and his expression was unreadable, but imperceptibly, in the depths of his pupils, there was a light of discomfort festering. In his mind, since Lin Ming suffered a loss, he should be able to accept it.
By now, most knew that Tian Yinwu had seized all three fruits as this information widely spread during the last hour. However, in the end, Na Xinyi and Xue Yifei reclaimed theirs, while Lin Ming suffered numerous injuries and intense exhaustion after being besieged by greedy Chosen. While he had fiercely counterattacked, killing a few, this only caused the other Chosen to try harder!
Besides Yi Yun, the others could fully understand Lin Ming's emotions! How could they not? Tian Yinwu had taken his fruit and left him utterly embarrassed.Well, at least it wasn't them.
"Lin Ming!" A young woman walked over, her lovely figure and countenance attracting countless gazes. Many of the male and female Chosen couldn't help but wonder how there were so many outstandingly breathtaking women here! Just the group of Lin Ming that was one of the focal points of the stage after the fiasco in Everworld had four gorgeous top-tier beauties, while a fifth had just joined, and many had recognized her!
Lin Ming found that voice incredibly familiar. "Xingyun?"
He was thunderstruck as he hadn't expected her to approach. She walked over quite fast, her expression uneasy and anxious. While she kept her distance deliberately before, as they agreed upon, she was a little terrified now.
She didn't dare let Lin Ming rush over to confront Tian Yinwu, so she hastily made her appearance. Her presence was enough for Lin Ming to realize many things, and his gaze softened dramatically.
The rage dissipated as her worries poured cold water over him, and reminded him that while he had suffered a slight loss here, Tian Yinwu suffered the greatest loss of his life.
Didn't he win in the end? Hehe.
A content grin formed on her handsome face. Tang Xingyun instantly knew what that grin meant, and she blushed slightly as she greeted the others respectfully and cheerfully. They were shocked that Tang Xingyun was here, given that her mother was ousted as the Tang Clan's Matriarch by her sister, and went into hiding. It was last said she was in the Imperial Clan, housed there awaiting her marriage ceremony with the Seventh Prince!
Countless envious gazes from female Chosen crashed against Tang Xingyun with many thinking that her current lack of status should disqualify her from being given such a precious position. They should have it instead!
While she was beautiful, so what? Were they not beautiful too?!
Tian Jianghan saw this, and his lazy expression darkened as killing intent flashed across his gaze. This adulterous couple dares to openly flaunt their relationship here? Before everyone present?!
He couldn't help but grind his teeth as the Imperial Clan's pride was stabbed several times just from the sight of this. Moreover, Tian Yinwu was being utterly disrespected. Her fiance was right here, yet she went to greet and comfort another man?! His thoughts weren't his alone, quite a few notable Chosen noticed this as curious, speculating gazes swept their way.
Tian Jianghan cursed heavily in his heart as he sent spiritually to Tian Yinwu, "Why does 'he' want to protect them?" The fact that they still breathed his air felt too humiliating.
"I don't know..." Tian Yinwu answered honestly. The shadow cultivator had merely said to wait for the end of the second stage before acting, and then there'll be no further interruptions. He hadn't wanted to offend 'him' for Lin Ming and Tang Xingyun earlier, but as he watched on, it was hard for any man to hold themselves back.
In a nondescript corner of the flat stage, a hooded figure in loose grey robes, no inner clothing baring their well-toned chest, and bare-footed sat down with one leg lifted, one leg laid down while wrapped around the other, their right arm placed above their kneecap, their face leaning into its forearm, and their left arm holding their upward sitting posture.
Beneath the hooded figure, eyes of raw scarlet pierced through the crowd as if no one else existed but a single individual!
BOOM!
A thunderous sound instantly caused almost everyone's attention to shift as the stage began to tremble intensely. From above, in nine different directions, thick curtains of golden light began to descend!
The group of Chosen was soon surrounded by walls of light bent at certain points! A nonagon! And they were inside!
"It's finally beginning." Ma Luling said as she watched the walls of light form! The Everpath Voyage, the stage that has never been passed since the creation of the Chosen King Competition, was finally here!
Will the current Chosen be able to surpass their ancestors? Or will they fail once again?!
