Chapter 486: Changliu Country Comes to Offer Congratulations

Chapter 486: Chapter 486: Changliu Country Comes to Offer Congratulations

All the machines blared with alarms. The sharp, beeping sounds made Shen Ningning think the place was about to explode.

Although she didn’t understand what was happening, she could guess a thing or two. ’Are some of the instruments in the Thunder Hall about to break?’

She had no idea how to operate any of it, and panic rose on her pretty face.

In that instant, only one thought filled her mind: ’If the Thunder Hall is destroyed along with the Immortal Realm, will I ever have the chance to see Mother again?’

Shen Ningning ran back and forth between the various instruments, trying to figure out a way to solve the problem.

The entire Thunder Hall began to vibrate, followed by a RUSTLING sound from an unknown source.

An instrument next to Shen Ningning flashed continuously with warnings and red light.

Suddenly!

A strange yet firm female voice, seeming to come from the heavens or the void itself, called out—

"Ningning?"

Shen Ningning froze. She snapped her head up and looked all around.

"Mother! Is that you, Mother?"

A crackling sound full of static filled the air. Shen Ningning rushed frantically from one instrument to another, calling out, "Mother, it’s Ningning! Mother, where are you?"

There was no response.

Not until the alarms on the instruments stopped, one after another.

The entire Thunder Hall returned to calm.

Tears of excitement welled up in Shen Ningning’s dark, lustrous eyes.

’That had to be Mother calling me just now!’

’So, Mother isn’t dead! We can see each other again, right?’

Shen Ningning couldn’t wait to leave the Immortal Realm. She wanted to find Master Gu and ask him why this had happened.

But just as she came around the screen, she ran into Ye Shangyi, who was looking for her.

"Ningning, a fight has broken out outside."

"What’s going on?" The young girl’s brow furrowed.

"It seems Changliu Country sent envoys to congratulate you on your hairpin ceremony."

It had been many years since Changliu Country’s defeat in the war.

For years, they had kept a low profile, trying to curry favor with Cangyun Country at every turn.

But Xie Suzhi had advised the Emperor to ignore them.

"A nation as vengeful as Changliu Country isn’t admitting its mistakes and apologizing because it has truly repented. It’s biding its time. Once they have an opportunity, they will surely strike back."

Therefore, the Emperor’s attitude toward Changliu Country had always been one of complete disregard.

They sent envoys with gifts almost every year, but the envoys never even got to see the Emperor.

Shen Ningning’s limpid eyes darkened. "Let’s go take a look."

Everyone hurried to follow behind her to the front hall.

The Xie family, led by Xie Suzhi, was already blocking the entrance.

The guests surrounded them, their gazes cold.

"Prime Minister Xie, our Great Sun King learned of Princess Funing’s hairpin ceremony and specially dispatched this humble servant to present a congratulatory gift."

The lead envoy from Changliu Country was named Xiuxiu. He had a round face, small eyes, a Fu Manchu mustache, and a hypocritical smile.

Xie Suzhi was nearly fifty, yet he remained tall and slender, his posture impeccably straight.

He glanced at the six large, open-topped chests behind Xiuxiu.

They were filled with deer antlers and other rare treasures.

Xie Suzhi’s tone was cold, carrying a sternness that commanded respect without anger.

"My daughter has nothing to do with you, and she certainly won’t accept your gifts. Please return to wherever you came from."

Though he had been publicly shamed, Xiuxiu didn’t get angry. Instead, he smiled and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Prime Minister, perhaps Her Highness the Princess will like the gifts we’ve brought. Why not allow us to meet her?"

Xie Mingxu took a step forward. His aura was cold and severe, his entire being exuding the killing intent of one steeped in the battlefield.

Seeing him, Xiuxiu retreated half a step, a lingering fear in his heart. His shifty eyes darted about as he schemed.

Xie Mingxu’s tone was unyielding. "You can either leave, or I’ll throw you out. Your choice."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Ming’an took a treasure sword from a nearby guard and handed it to his older brother.

Only then did Xiuxiu frown.

He secretly sized up the Xie family.

The brothers Xie Mingxu and Xie Ming’an both knew martial arts. Flanking Xie Suzhi, they were not to be trifled with.

Second Master Xie was no pushover either; his fists were already clenched. Behind him, his son, Xu Jingxi, seemed to be hatching a brilliant plan, whispering a few words in his father’s ear.

Second Master Xie then glanced at Xiuxiu’s legs, his eyes glinting with a faint killing intent.

Xiuxiu’s heart leaped in alarm.

’Are they planning to cripple me before throwing me out?’

The one whose gaze held the most boundless hatred was Fang Qingdai.

They had yet to settle the score with Changliu Country for conspiring with spies to assassinate General Liang!

If not for the fact that today was an important day for Shen Ningning, she would have been the first to make a move.

Xie Suzhi raised a hand, quelling the crowd’s hostility.

"Today is Ningning’s hairpin ceremony banquet. Everything should be auspicious; it’s not a day for bloodshed."

As soon as he said this, the tense, confrontational atmosphere in the room subsided.

"Father, you don’t need to worry about me. These petty villains from Changliu Country have wounded our famous generals and caused so many of our people to become homeless. They are utterly despicable. I especially do not want them appearing at my hairpin ceremony banquet. Men, throw them out!"

Shen Ningning appeared from around the corner of the corridor, leading Ye Shangyi and a group of other young ladies.

Everyone turned to look. The young woman in the lead wore a dress that made her look as graceful as a soaring swan. She had a delicate figure, dark eyes, and vermilion lips.

When not smiling, she appeared all the more bright and dignified.

The moment she gave the order, the Princess’s Hidden Guards, who had been concealed nearby, emerged in force.

Their swords were aimed at the Changliu envoys.

Xiuxiu’s expression changed. He narrowed his eyes, a cunning glint in his gaze.

"Your Highness, I am Xiuxiu. I have come on the express orders of the Great Sun King to congratulate you on your hairpin ceremony."

Shen Ningning ignored them. The Hidden Guards advanced step by step, forcing Xiuxiu and his men to retreat with difficulty.

Lu Shaoyuan yelled, "Get out! Cangyun Country does not welcome you."

Behind Xiuxiu, a tall guard’s eyes flashed with anger.

Just then, Xiuxiu raised his voice, staring at Shen Ningning as he said, "Your Highness may hold Changliu Country in contempt, but do you not care about the Crown Prince’s illness?"

Ripples stirred in Shen Ningning’s limpid eyes as she shot him a look as cold as frost.

The Hidden Guards halted.

Xiuxiu smiled to himself. "We know that your Crown Prince is being tormented by an illness that causes bouts of madness. Coincidentally, we in Changliu Country have a secret medicine that specifically treats this urgent condition."

Liang Yici furiously rebuked him, "Lies! You people from Changliu Country are a heartless and treacherous bunch, vengeful to the core! We defeated you. Why would you bring medicine to save our Crown Prince?"

She looked at Shen Ningning, her voice urgent. "Princess, don’t believe them!"

Xiuxiu had come prepared.

He waved his hand, and a guard behind him produced a small box from within his robes.

It was only the size of a palm.

When opened, it revealed a blood-red pearl the size of a pinky finger’s tip.

"General Xie Mingxu and General Xie Dizhi often deal with our country. They should recognize what treasure this is, shouldn’t they?" Xiuxiu said with a humorless smile.

After getting a clear look, both Xie Mingxu and Second Master Xie’s expressions changed.

"The Heaven Suppressing Pearl?"

Legend had it that Changliu Country was originally formed when a celestial being cast down a Treasure Bead, which became the land itself.

The spot where the Treasure Bead landed became a pool of blood-red water.

Over countless years, the mussels nurtured in the depths of this pool could produce pearls of this color.

A single mussel lived for two years at most, with the longest-lived lasting no more than five.

In Changliu Country, it was said that a pearl like this was produced only once every fifty years.

When ground into a powder and mixed into medicine, the Heaven Suppressing Pearl could extend a person’s life.

The Great Sun King’s father, the Old Heavenly King, was nearly ninety years old and still alive. Legend claimed he was relying on the Heaven Suppressing Pearl to prolong his life.