Chapter 168: Are You Even Qualified?
Chapter 169: Are You Even Qualified?
The Rose Throne, the undisputed seat of power for the Scarlet, had been vacant for a very, very long time. Unlike other races, the Scarlet, prone to infighting, would rather have no unifying king than settle for one.
To become the King of Roses, one must first suppress all the restless Scarlet nobles. This was no easy feat. Without absolute submission, no Scarlet would willingly bow to another, let alone rule.
Thus, over the thousands of years since the Xuntian Dynasty, only three or four Kings of Roses had emerged among the Scarlet. They were all capable of overpowering the True King tier powerhouses of their time.
True King-level Artificers were not present in every era, race, or Kingdom. Most of the time, the Hero tier was the pinnacle of the mortal world. However, once one achieved the True King tier, as the name suggested, they were qualified to be counted among the kings, even during the Xuntian Dynasty.
Over time, the Scarlet tacitly accepted that True Kings would automatically ascend to the throne. But what if someone actively claimed the throne? Then they would declare their claim to the throne, eliminate all dissenting voices, and remove all obstacles. Only then could they ascend to the Rose Throne.
Therefore, when everyone heard that someone had claimed the throne, they were surprised and inquired, “Who is Jiali?”
This was no joke; they genuinely had no idea where Jiali came from. If it were the Qianhong Family, one of the prominent families in the Rose Garden, they would have known them.
However, due to the Qianhong Elders’ previous efforts to keep Jiali hidden, outsiders had little knowledge of her existence. At best, friendly allies like the Shuoyue Family might know a little.
Now, with the Qianhong Family under new leadership, Jiali had officially stepped forward, and the first thing she announced to the outside world was her claim to the Rose Throne.
The other families in the Rose Garden’s reaction was: “What stray dog is this, barking about the throne? Are you even qualified? Are you even remotely qualified?!”
“I’m really being underestimated,” Jiali murmured.
In the central courtyard of the Qianhong Family, Jiali lay on a soft, light pink sofa, her head resting on Yonglan’s lap as she watched the wall-mounted television. It was broadcasting the most famous entertainment program in the Rose Garden, where the host, with comical performances and sharp sarcasm, expressed disdain for the first person to actively claim the throne in over a century.
The silver-purple haired girl did not get angry at these programs. If one cared about every idle comment on the internet, their heart would be too narrow, and they would surely die of anger sooner or later.
Jiali raised her phone and said with a smile, “They all have their eyes on the Rose Throne, yet they send these clowns to attack me. Do the people hiding behind the scenes not dare to confront me directly? I’ve already made my account public.”
Yonglan almost burst out laughing at her words. “Seriously? You actually plan to engage in a flame war through a screen?”
The Scarlet girl was indeed capable of confronting others. Although Jiali would never allow herself to utter ungraceful words or actions, who said that curses required foul language?
Clearly, the Elders of the other families had not formed a private chat group. Even if they had one, they hadn’t invited Jiali, which left her feeling a little disappointed.
Miya pushed the door open and happened to overhear this. She couldn’t help but say, “The Elders of the Rose Garden do have a place to communicate, but it’s not on social media. You’ll see them at the next Rose Garden gathering.”
The black-haired Rose Guard paused, then advised, “Also, it’s best not to be too sharp at first. By openly making a claim like this, all eyes will be on you. In a way, being the first to step out isn’t a good thing.”
“Are you saying I should lay low and play it cool?”
Jiali got up from Yonglan’s lap, sat upright, and downed the wine on the low table, a smile playing on her lips. “Why be so timid? Do I need to hide my intentions? No! There’s absolutely no need! I will ascend to the Rose Throne. This is a predetermined fact, a destined fate. Therefore, I cannot and will not deign to hide my intentions. I want everyone to know who the new King of the Scarlet is!”
The silver-purple haired girl stretched her delicate body, revealing an incredibly beautiful slender waist, which was quite a sight to behold.
The silver-purple haired girl had full confidence, not only due to her personal abilities but also because of the immense surge of pride she felt after learning of Yonglan’s “Primal King” identity.
Although she already knew she was excellent, she hadn’t expected to be this excellent! To be chosen by the Primal King meant her life was truly made!
A mere King of Roses was nothing. If the Primal King’s companion couldn’t even secure this position, it would be truly laughable. If it were during the Xuntian Dynasty era, Jiali would feel that a position among the Kings was more fitting for her.
The only regret was that this Honor was not hers alone to enjoy; otherwise, she would be the sole, special, true chosen one.
“What about the Shuoyue Family? How have you considered it these past few days? Are you willing to become friends with the Qianhong Family?”
The black-haired, black-skirted Vampire girl smiled slightly and fiddled with the hem of her skirt. “As I said, I have no interest in the Rose Throne. However, for the future of the Scarlet, I only acknowledge the rule of Bloodline. For contenders who are not of Bloodline, I will help mediate to ensure that only members of Bloodline can enter the competition.”
As a member of the Rose Guard, Miya indeed held considerable authority and could guarantee the exclusion of a large portion of competitors.
However, it wouldn’t require too much effort, as the Bloodline already had a significant advantage. Non-Bloodline Scarlet Elders found it difficult to compete with those favored by Destiny, and they generally wouldn’t seek self-humiliation.
Jiali smiled. “Heh, that certainly narrows down the field. It’s much easier than I imagined.”
“Easy?”
Miya’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly at her words. However, she didn’t say anything further. She bowed slightly and said, “In that case, I will also prepare to leave the Qianhong Family. With you taking the lead, I believe that in the upcoming Rose Garden, there will be more who claim the throne.”
Jiali placed her hands on her hips and laughed. “Then I will be looking forward to it.”
Miya, who understood the bigger picture, greatly pleased her. She even felt that among her mediocre kin, she had finally found someone who could be called a friend. Before this, the only people she was familiar with were Enesyin and Yonglan.
However, she had a feeling that Miya’s closeness was largely due to Yonglan, harboring intentions of poaching.
After the allies from the Shuoyue Family departed, Jiali met with a group of nobles from within her family, her good mood vanishing completely.
They had come to persuade the Lord of the Qianhong Family to abandon his claim to the throne.
“Esteemed Elder, the Qianhong Family has not been involved in armed conflict with other families for a long time. Our guards are not prepared, and after the recent power transition, we are not yet stable. The matter of the Rose Throne requires long-term consideration. Of course! We are not questioning your intentions…”
