Chapter 83: Visitors from the Holy Domain

As soon as Chen Changsheng sat down on that stairway of mysterious ice, he immediately sensed a tense atmosphere in the air—a scent of gunpowder seemed to fill the entire venue. Numerous provocative gazes swept over in this direction, yet their target was not him.

Their focus was entirely on Donggong Qianxue.

From her age, beauty, and bearing, it was instantly apparent that Donggong Qianxue was a princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom.

Donggong Qianxue, however, remained composed and serene, sitting quietly on the icy stone steps, completely unmoved by the many challenging glances thrown her way.

Suddenly, from the distant sky, the melodious sound of a pipa drifted down like celestial music.

Within that music, there was an undercurrent of supreme Daoist rhythm, and as the crowd listened, they were immediately transported into a wondrous state, feeling as if they were floating, on the verge of transcending the mortal realm.

In the minds of all present, ethereal visions of immortal realms began to arise unconsciously, and their spirits were so deeply immersed in these scenes that they could not extricate themselves.

No one knew how long it lasted before the celestial pipa came to a halt.

Immediately afterward, a gentle voice wafted down from above: “Welcome, representatives of the Thirty-Six Sacred Kingdoms, who have gathered here in the Qianjue Sacred Kingdom to participate in this grand martial feast.”

The crowd on the ground seemed to awaken from a deep dream, their faces aglow with joy.

That brief moment of celestial music had benefited everyone immensely. Some had been stuck at difficult points in their cultivation, but now all their obstacles had suddenly become clear—they had understood everything.

Looking up, the crowd saw a colossal, snow-white beast floating high above.

Upon the beast’s back sat a breathtakingly beautiful young woman, appearing to be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in flowing white robes and holding a jade-green pipa.

It was clear now that the celestial music they had just heard had come from her instrument.

On either side of the woman in white stood two girls, also suspended in the air. Each looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, both of them lovely and radiant.

“I am Dantai Wushuang from the Sacred Realm, and I am the host of this Eastern Domain’s Feast of Splendor,” the white-robed woman announced, her voice as enchanting as the music she had played.

The crowd was struck with awe; expressions of reverence and admiration appeared on every face.

“Thank you, Fairy Dantai, for bestowing this celestial blessing upon us!” many called out, bowing deeply.

So she was from the Sacred Realm—it was no wonder her presence was so elevated. From the very beginning, she had granted everyone here a taste of immortal fortune.

“There’s no need for such formality,” Dantai Wushuang replied with a soft wave of her hand.

Chen Changsheng and his daughter looked up, their eyes burning as they gazed upon Dantai Wushuang from the Sacred Realm.

The Sacred Realm—this was the place Chen Changsheng and his daughter had always longed to reach.

To think that the host of the Feast of Splendor would come directly from the Sacred Realm.

Dantai Wushuang’s melodious voice floated down from above: “Very well, I shall now announce the rules for this Feast of Splendor.

“The entire event is divided into three stages. The first challenge will be set by Nongyu, who stands on my left. The second challenge will be given by Qianlan, who stands on my right.

“After the two stages, those who remain on the field will select the strongest among them, who will earn the right to enter the Sacred Realm.

“Let us begin.”

As her words faded away, figures from each of the sacred kingdoms immediately leapt down from the icy stairway, landing swiftly on the central platform of mysterious ice. Both men and women took their places.

Regardless of gender, every participant possessed remarkable looks and noble bearing.

“Prince Chen, I’ll be going now,” Donggong Qianxue said, turning to look at Chen Changsheng. With him present, she felt full of confidence in this Feast of Splendor—for she was a piece in Prince Chen’s game.

And Chen Changsheng was the sage who saw through all things.

“Go on,” Chen Changsheng told her with a gentle smile.

“Xue’er, we believe in you. You can do it!” Donggong Fu and the Sacred Empress echoed their support, filled with confidence as well.

She had once received a tremendous opportunity from Prince Chen himself—even the divine phoenix bloodline within her had been awakened.

Donggong Qianxue nodded, wasting no more time. In a flash, she shot from the icy stairway and landed in the very center of the platform.

Princes and princesses from the Thirty-Six Sacred Kingdoms stood together at the heart of the icy arena, waiting for Nongyu, the attendant of Dantai Wushuang, to present the challenge.

Though the thirty-six princes and princesses were all strikingly attractive and radiated noble grace, it was Donggong Qianxue who truly drew every eye.

As the first beauty of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom, she was dazzling beyond compare, like the most brilliant pearl, making the other royal heirs seem dull by comparison.

What’s more, a subtle sacred radiance always glowed about her, lending her the air of an exile from the heavens—noble, ethereal, and breathtakingly mysterious.

The princes and princesses from the other kingdoms looked at her with eyes that burned with heat—admiration, envy, jealousy, and longing all mingled together.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Hua Wuhen, prince of the Baidan Sacred Kingdom,” said a young man whose face was as refined as jade and whose eyes were as alluring as peach blossoms. He offered Donggong Qianxue a slight smile.

“Get lost.”

Donggong Qianxue’s expression turned cold, and she spat out the word.

Hua Wuhen’s breath caught, and his lips twitched. In his peach blossom eyes, a flash of murderous intent passed.

As the prince of Baidan, he had always been treated with the utmost respect, always surrounded by admirers. Yet Donggong Qianxue had given him no face at all.

A ripple of muffled laughter ran through the other princes and princesses.

“The princess of the Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom—impressive. I like someone with spirit,” Hua Wuhen said, the faint smile returning to his face as he shrugged indifferently.

At that moment, Nongyu, standing by Dantai Wushuang’s side, produced a jade flute. Her gentle gaze swept over the crowd as she announced, “My challenge is called the Demonic Melody. Once I begin to play, you will all enter the illusion realm conjured by the melody. Anyone who fails to escape within five minutes will be eliminated.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she began to play.

The sound of the jade flute was like a demonic chant, piercing straight to the soul and causing immense discomfort.

But if one listened closely, it was clear that the melody was exquisitely strange, irresistibly captivating.

Almost instantly, all thirty-six princes and princesses—including Donggong Qianxue—were drawn into the melody’s illusion.

Their spirits quickly plunged into the realm constructed by the Demonic Melody.

Before Donggong Qianxue now stood a demonic palace, ancient and wreathed in sinister energy.

“A demonic palace…” Donggong Qianxue froze, horror flickering across her face.

Then she shook her head hard. “No, I’m on the icy arena of the Qianjue Sacred Kingdom. This palace is but an illusion created by the Demonic Melody—it isn’t real.”

An illusion realm—in essence, a hallucination.

And it was a hallucination conjured by each listener’s own mind, triggered by the melody.

There was no resisting it.

This was precisely what made the pipa’s melody so terrifying—it was called the Demonic Melody for good reason.

In other words, Donggong Qianxue was now deeply enmeshed in her own illusion.