Chapter 186: Treasure
Chapter 186: Treasure
Upon arriving at the plaza outside the Black Moon Holy See, Xia Feng experienced a celebrity-like reception.
Mu Shen’s recent fame had become ridiculously exaggerated, causing his “genius fiancé’s” notoriety to soar as well. His impossibly handsome photos were plastered all over the internet.
Because of this, Xia Feng actually preferred to keep a low profile, but alas, his looks wouldn’t allow it.
“Quick, look! A handsome guy!”
“Where? Where?”
“Hey, is that Xia Feng?”
As soon as he stepped out of the car, the inquisitive gazes of talented young noble ladies from all over the world converged on him. Xia Feng felt those burning, beautiful eyes stripping him bare.
He had to admit, in this world where strength reigned supreme, boys had to learn to protect themselves when out and about.
Xia Feng ignored the weird stares and looked up. Guided by Miss Jian Zhu’s candlelight, he sensed that not only obsidian but also Holy Solution lay ahead. As he drew closer, the aura grew more pronounced.
After observing for a moment, he scanned his surroundings. He noticed that the plaza wasn’t just filled with participants; many unrelated individuals were exchanging business cards. They were likely here to establish connections with potential Saintesses in advance.
After all, once someone became a Saintess, not to mention becoming a Venerable, they were practically guaranteed to become a Fifth-stage Grand Spirit Master in the future. Therefore, befriending these talented individuals who might become Saintesses would undoubtedly be beneficial.
“Li Hongdou? Why is she here again?”
Someone noticed “Mushroom” alighting from the car right behind Xia Feng.
“Huh? Xia Feng is actually with someone like that? That’s so off-putting.”
“The friends of geniuses are often geniuses themselves. What if, just what if, Xia Feng thinks Li Hongdou has a high chance of becoming a Saintess, and therefore, he’s trying to befriend her in advance?”
“Haha, you’re telling a cold joke.”
“Miki, is *she* the waste princess you were talking about?” Not far away, by a group of guards, stood a tall figure in a long skirt. She appeared to be in her late twenties, and while her features suggested a female, her slightly thick, upturned eyebrows and broad cheekbones gave her a masculine appearance.
“Yes, Lady Ito Mi,” Miki replied respectfully from the side. Ito Mi was currently the most likely candidate to become a Saintess, so Miki had to show her deference.
However, she hadn’t expected Li Hongdou, after being humiliated by her yesterday, to still dare to show up, and what’s more, to come with Xia Feng. That surname, Xia, was truly blind to choose to associate with such a waste.
Miki’s father, an Earl, had almost had his title stripped by Earl Lister, so she was naturally pleased to see the now-downfallen Li Hongdou.
She just hadn’t expected this fallen princess to have such a good friend as Xia Feng beside her.
“Dong—”
As the midday bell from the bell tower reverberated across the plaza, the Holy See’s great doors slowly swung open, and everyone entered in an orderly fashion.
Since the inner hall was off-limits to non-participants, Xia Feng and Mushroom went to the restroom before the doors opened.
Mushroom placed her hand on Xia Feng’s head. With a thought, Xia Feng’s vision shifted, and everything around him seemed to grow enormous.
He transformed into a thumb-sized white mushroom, landing in Mushroom’s palm.
The appearance of the white mushroom didn’t resemble a real-world mushroom; it was more in an anime art style. The mushroom cap sported two large, anime-like eyes that swiveled curiously left and right, lifting slightly. Xia Feng saw two majestic peaks thrusting outwards, and faintly, through the dim light, the outline of a giant human face above.
“…”
This perspective… felt so strange. Before Xia Feng could react, he felt the giant hand holding his body begin to lift slowly. “Little Feng, are you… are you really going to do this?” the giant girl whispered, her ruby lips parted slightly, her gaze on the small white mushroom in her hand with a hint of nervousness.
The mushroom’s Spirit Artifact could transform people into mushrooms and swallow them into its body, allowing the person to merge without being noticed by others.
To sneak into the central hall and the Miracle Star River, this was currently the best method. Therefore, Xia Feng had already prepared himself mentally. He took a deep breath, lifted his tiny mushroom cap, and said, “Let’s do it! Swallow me, but definitely don’t digest me.”
After all, as long as he was inside Mushroom’s body, there was no need to be swallowed into her stomach. Besides digestion, there were only two places on that mushroom that could accommodate him… The mouth was obviously the best choice.
Seeing that Xia Feng didn’t mind the dirtiness, Mushroom no longer hesitated. She took a deep breath and cupped Xia Feng, stuffing him into her mouth. Xia Feng’s pupils rapidly dilated, the surrounding light quickly dimmed. The wet, tender oral cavity felt like a pitch-black abyss, with terrifying, cobra-like red snakes coiled on its walls, glaring at him. Whoosh—
The world went black.
But soon, Xia Feng’s vision reappeared. It was Mushroom’s viewpoint as she walked out of the restroom and towards the entrance. It felt like being possessed by someone; he couldn’t control the body but could see what the host saw. It was just… uncomfortably damp and warm all over.
Re-entering the main hall, Mushroom could feel the subtle, hidden gazes directed at her from around the crowd. Soft laughter continuously rippled through the throng.
“!”
Everyone hadn’t expected the waste princess to dare show up. However, the inspection three days ago was just that—an inspection. Even if the detected attribute values were very low, as long as they barely met the standard, she was still eligible to participate in today’s selection.
It was just that any normal person knew a miracle was impossible, and she wouldn’t come to embarrass herself. But this princess clearly had a thick skin. As the crowd whispered amongst themselves.
On two adjacent platforms inlaid into the ten-meter-high wall on the east side, a black-gold figure and a crimson figure gradually materialized. They were Chief Judge Zorav of the Black Moon Holy See and Archbishop Laura of the Element Holy See, respectively.
Archbishop Laura was an elderly woman, her face as aged and wrinkled as dried tree bark. She walked hunched over, leaning on a staff interwoven with seven colors, her lifeless, dark green eyes calmly gazing down at the crowd below. Chief Judge Zorav appeared to be a dashing middle-aged man, but wearing the black-gold divine robe added a touch of solemnity and majesty to him.
The activation of the Miracle Star River should have been presided over by the Archbishops of both sides, but since Archbishop Aus was dead, Zorav had to take over.
“This time, two reserve Saintesses will be selected, one from the Black Moon and one from the Element. The selection standard for the Black Moon is: to make the Black Moon Goddess open her eyes. The selection standard for the Element is: the person with the highest seven elemental attribute values.”
Zorav spoke in a deep voice:
“When the Obsidian Formation is activated later, 150 obsidians will automatically select the 150 individuals with the highest attribute values. By holding an obsidian, you can enter the Miracle Star River. Furthermore, the obsidians are your anchors connecting to the Star River. If they are stolen or lost, you will be forcibly returned to the Real World.”
The Miracle Star River refers to the countless star rivers situated between the Real World and the Astral Realm. It is not only a passage connecting to the Astral Realm but also contains an abundance of Spiritual Materials, making it a vast treasure trove. The astral coordinates of the Black Moon Goddess and the Element Star God are both located at the end of the Miracle Star River, designated as Number 7. Therefore, each time the Miracle Star River is activated, the Black Moon Holy See and the Element Holy See must join forces to open Star River 7.
For this reason, and for fairness, both sides would provide an equal amount of obsidians. These obsidians are extremely valuable assets of both Holy Sees, and their loss would have unthinkable consequences.
“Therefore, everyone, the theft of others’ obsidians is prohibited within the Miracle Star River. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences!” Zorav stated sternly and coldly.
