Chapter 57: The Saint Emerges, the Continent Trembles!
In the depths of the magnificent and majestic palace of the Central Empire, the peerlessly stunning Empress was lazily curled up on a chaise longue, idly browsing through amusing anecdotes submitted from various regions.
She was wrapped in a gorgeous purple robe that utterly failed to conceal her perfect figure.
Her feet were bare, revealing plump toes and rounded heels.
Her jade feet formed a flawlessly graceful arch, and the straight, voluptuous, goblet-like legs extending upward were concealed beneath the purple robe, adding an extra touch of allure.
Her waterfall of golden hair shimmered with a charming luster under the magical lamp.
Suddenly, her azure eyes, as deep as the ocean, flickered with a trace of astonishment. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze seeming to pierce through the inner courts of the deep palace to gaze up at the firmament.
Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out, and a flustered palace maid hastened to the outer doors of the Empress’s bedchamber, calling out softly:
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The Empress sighed, adjusted her attire, and walked out.
The maid bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, the ministers of the House of Lords and the Cabinet request an urgent audience!"
"I know. Have them wait for me in the Administrative Hall."
Inside the Administrative Hall, the Empress sat regally upon her throne, her slender fingers gently turning the pages of the report submitted by the Star-Gazing Tower, her eyes brimming with infinite majesty and wisdom.
A trace of imperceptible surprise lingered at the corner of the Empress’s lips as she said in a deep voice:
"All of you are senior ministers, and the elders of the House of Lords are my elders as well. Can any of you recall when a Saint last manifested in the Magical Tide Continent?"
"It must have been at least fifty years ago."
"Fifty-five years! The last time a Saint intervened was when the Emperor of the Western Empire attacked the Dwarf tribe."
The Empress raised her brow slightly, speaking in a tone of inexplicable ambiguity:
"The epicenter of this outbreak is located in the Northwest Continent, near the Western Empire."
A minister remarked:
"Could it be that the current Emperor of the Western Empire is eyeing the Dwarves once again?"
Another minister chimed in:
"That is entirely possible. Can't they ever just settle down? Do they really think those short folk are like that brainless horde of beastmen?
Behind those Dwarves stands a flesh-and-blood deity!"
Before long, detailed intelligence arrived from the Star-Gazing Tower.
After reviewing it, the Empress passed the report down. The astonishment in her eyes deepened further as she softly murmured:
"It’s actually the Efin again? Could this be related to Yadel?"
An elder of the House of Lords read through the report and spoke up:
"Efin? That name sounds somewhat familiar..."
Someone beside him cautiously tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to speak carelessly.
The elder suddenly remembered where he had heard that name.
He immediately glanced secretly at the Empress, and finding no particular emotion on her face, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Efin!
The "Strongest Silver" who had utterly defeated Her Majesty the Empress before her ascension to the throne hailed from Efin!
And now, she was even the Queen of Efin!
He really had touched upon a sore subject; fortunately, Her Majesty had not heard him.
Another minister chuckled softly:
"There certainly has been quite a lot of commotion in Efin lately. I heard that just a few days ago, a young man appeared who could 'summon gods' and attained the secret class of [Dragon Mark Weapon Master], and now a Saint has appeared as well. They are truly making quite a name for themselves!"
Reminded by these words, the crowd instantly recalled the incident, and once again, a wave of animated discussion broke out.
Soon, the doors of the Administrative Hall were pushed open, and an elderly man clad in pristine white robes walked in slowly.
The old man’s eyes were like a deep sea of stars, drawing anyone who looked into them into an inescapable abyss.
At the sight of the newcomer, the noise in the Administrative Hall subsided significantly, and the assembled ministers bowed one after another.
The Empress also stepped down from her throne and said respectfully:
"Lord Evans Starlight, is there a fresh update from the Star-Gazing Tower?"
The old man named Evans Starlight was the master of the Central Empire's Star-Gazing Tower, a powerful Saint-tier priest.
Evans frowned slightly. Hearing the Empress's inquiry, he gathered his thoughts and said:
"Ah, everyone is here.
There is indeed a new development. I have already ascertained the identity of the Saint who made a move."
Everyone cast their gazes toward Evans.
Evans Starlight paused for a moment and spoke slowly:
"The master of that sanctuary should be the Vice Minister of the 'Black Tomb' combat department, and concurrently the current Lich King of the Lich faction 'Wing of Eternal Gloom', Saint Nyx Bone-Shadow!"
A minister remarked:
"So after all that fuss, it's just those undead old fogies dancing on gravestones!
Who on earth are they trying to deal with with such a massive display?"
"What on earth is going on in Efin? First a god-summoning, and now a Saint showing up. Is the Northwest Continent truly about to descend into chaos?"
"Alas, moral standards are not what they used to be. It seems no one takes the Saint Restriction enacted by the Joint Conference seriously anymore!"
"Even the Emperor of the Western Empire took the lead in violating the restriction; it has long since become a piece of waste paper. In my view, we should reinstate the Five-Nation Joint Conference!"
...
The ministers debated heatedly, their words filled with apprehension over the arbitrary intervention of a Saint.
Evans Starlight looked toward the Empress and said:
"I heard that Your Majesty recently dispatched an envoy to Efin? I wonder if any news has been transmitted back?"
The Empress shook her head slightly:
"She won't arrive that quickly. Lord Starlight need not be anxious; I expect more detailed intelligence will be transmitted shortly."
They did not have to wait long before the Central Empire's intelligence network, spread across the entire continent, brought Her Majesty the Empress the latest updates.
Upon reading this intelligence, the crowd plunged even deeper into heated discussion.
This intervention by a Saint turned out to be a conspiracy orchestrated by the "Black Tomb" against the Daughter of Golden Wings!
Furthermore, the Queen of Efin was also involved.
The Cabinet ministers and the elders of the House of Lords spoke up one after another:
"It seems the Daughter of Golden Wings is in grave peril. With a Saint making a move, she surely cannot escape."
"Indeed. Who would have thought the 'Black Tomb' would make such thorough preparations, even deploying a Saint."
"Alas, if the 'Black Tomb' succeeds, the continent will likely plunge into massive turmoil shortly thereafter. Those cunning merchants are not the sort to swallow a loss!"
The Empress also fell into deep thought. Suddenly, the expression of Evans Starlight shifted drastically, a flicker of shock flashing through his eyes.
He abruptly stood up, his entire body bathed in dazzling holy light, and raised his head to gaze into the distance, his deep eyes reflecting the brilliant river of stars above the firmament.
Soon, the words uttered from Evans's mouth caused the entire Administrative Hall to fall into instant silence:
"Another... Saint has moved!"
...
In the mysterious and distant East, a colossal empire that had traversed the ages stood quietly beside the Dragon Valley.
In the Eastern Empire, its subjects all claimed to possess the bloodline of dragons.
Within the magnificent banquet hall, with its soaring dome and dazzling crystal chandeliers illuminating every corner, the festivities had yet to begin, yet figures from the continent's top nobility could already be seen everywhere.
The gentlemen wore tailored suits, adorned with precious wristwatches and bowties, while the ladies wore elegant evening gowns, glittering with dazzling jewelry.
Gathered in small groups of twos and threes, holding champagne flutes and conversing in low tones, their every gesture exuded noble bearing and profound erudition.
They had gathered here for one sole purpose: today was the thirtieth birthday banquet of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor of the Eastern Empire's own nephew, who was also the nation's youngest and most powerful prince, Xaloc Tang!