The aged voice was anything but polite to Gesitu and Farah, yet the two Evernight councillors did not show the slightest sign of displeasure.
In the great hall, everyone fell silent instantly. Above the altar, the lively blood mist with its constantly shifting patterns began to stabilize, gradually outlining the shape of an ancient gate, no longer an illusion but slowly solidifying into reality.
In the silence, the heavy breathing of several councillors could be clearly heard. Even they could not maintain their composure in the face of the legendary treasure of Grand Duke Anduia.
After a brief wait, the blood gate that had materialized from the void finally took form. At the center of the gate lay a profound, endless darkness, as if through it one could travel to another, unknown world.
In the perception of these Evernight leaders, the space beyond the blood gate shifted in an instant, rotating like a wheel, seemingly an infinite number of different worlds. These worlds switched so rapidly that the moment their probing consciousness coalesced, a new world had already taken its place.
The transition between such differing spaces possessed a cutting power unmatched, and even the most physically robust of councillors would be easily bisected by it.
This was the terrifying might of the Blackwing Monarch, for a single blood gate had confounded nearly twenty councillors present. After their investigation, these great figures of the Evernight faction quietly abandoned any thoughts of forcibly breaking through.
Gesitu said slowly, “It seems that without a descendant who shares the same bloodline as Anduia, we can’t open the blood gate. This is just as well, Princess Ye Tóng, for now only the final, crucial step remains. Success or failure, it all depends on you.”
Just as Ye Tóng took a step forward, a tall, young woman with icy beauty and the transient grace of a snowflower suddenly stepped in front of her.
Lifting her head, she declared loudly to the gathered councillors, “Esteemed Councillors, I too bear the bloodline of Grand Duke Anduia. In many ways, my bloodline power is no less than Princess Ye Tóng’s. In this moment, I am willing to offer all my blood as the key to open the treasure gate!”
Gesitu, clearly displeased, replied coldly, “Nonsense! Mòsè, do you know what the Grand Duke’s treasure means? This is a matter of great importance; how can you act so rashly?”
Mòsè gritted her teeth and said, “I do know! What Grand Duke Anduia sealed here is his greatest power, a core array capable of growing to match the Ten Famous Firearms, with a soul of its own, able to choose its master!”
At her words, a suppressed gasp erupted from the younger members who were not yet privy to the secret.
Gesitu’s voice grew even colder, tinged with a hint of lethal intent, “This is the highest level of secrecy, known only to councillors. Where did you get your information?”
Mòsè, under Gesitu’s oppressive force, showed visible unease, but she had made up her mind. Instead of bowing, she raised her voice and said, “How I came to know is unimportant. What matters is that we, the chosen of darkness and heirs of the holy blood, can inherit the most valuable legacy of Grand Duke Anduia! Is that not so? A soul-bearing, infinitely growing core array. If we succeed, we will gain a famous firearm to stand against Mañjuśrī. Is it not worth the chance to try again?”
Enraged, Gesitu was about to speak when a Blood Race councillor interjected, “When the core array appears, it will judge the surrounding bloodlines and choose its host based on purity and strength. Let Mòsè have a try. It won’t change our original agreement. When the core array appears, Princess Ye Tóng can simply stand by the altar.”
Gesitu huffed and glared at Mòsè, saying, “So you’ve found a backer, no wonder you’re so bold!”
Turning to the towering figure among the councillors, Gesitu said angrily, “If she succeeds, wouldn’t the future famous firearm become hers? That’s not what was agreed upon!”
The towering figure was merely a shadow, a vast silhouette stretching from the ground to the dome of the hall. No one knew where its physical form was, or if it was even present.
Hearing Gesitu’s protest, the shadowy figure said mildly, “This is an internal matter of the Blackwing lineage. However, since Mòsè wants a chance, Xierfu, are you prepared to pay the price?”
The Blood Race councillor, visibly pleased, responded immediately, “Our family has prepared sufficient resources to provide satisfactory compensation to all parties!”
The massive shadow slowly lowered its head, revealing a pair of ethereal eyes, and asked Ye Tóng kindly, “Ye Tóng, do you agree to let Mòsè try first?”
At that moment, Ye Tóng’s eyes seemed to be a vast, bloody ocean, with a faint golden shimmer on the ripples. She gazed intently at the blood gate, the ripples in her eyes gradually aligning with the fluctuations of the blood mist within the gate.
Mòsè turned to Ye Tóng, chin lifted high, and said coldly, “She wouldn’t dare! I too carry the blood of Grand Duke Anduia, and we are the direct descendants of the Grand Duke. She is just a fortunate awakened branch member, not even a warrior. Isn’t that right, Ye Tóng, sister?”
The word “sister” was spat out with great emphasis.
Facing such provocation, Ye Tóng stared at the blood gate, then chuckled coldly after a moment, “Mixed blood is mixed blood, always some overconfident fools around.”
Turning to the towering figure, Ye Tóng said calmly, “Let her try if she wants. Just hope she understands the consequences of offering so much compensation. And I want double.”
Fury burning in her eyes, Mòsè said, “I’ll give you five times!”
With no objection from the towering figure, and Ye Tóng’s agreement, the other councillors remained silent.
The Blood Race councillor had openly supported Mòsè, so now each of them stood behind one of the councillors.
Although Ye Tóng’s pure bloodline power had been recognized by the entire council, Mòsè was younger and had achieved fame earlier, always the inheritor of the direct bloodline of an ancient family. Her current strength surpassed Ye Tóng’s, but her blood purity, post-awakening, was inferior to Ye Tóng’s, suggesting a lesser potential.
Blood purity, however, had no standard, and was often disputed, especially in matters as significant as the inheritance of the Blackwing Monarch. Mòsè also carried Anduia’s bloodline. If not for Ye Tóng, the position before the altar would have been hers.
Mòsè was willing to offend Ye Tóng and her supporting councillor to seize this opportunity, for whoever opened the blood gate had a high chance of becoming the master of the core array. Controlling a famous firearm meant a solid, unshakeable position in the Evernight faction.
Achieving her goal, Mòsè took a deep breath, her face a mask of undisguised elation. She strode to the altar and stood there firmly.
Gesitu tossed a dagger at her feet with a thud.
The blade was inscribed with countless runes, and instead of a gem, a living eyeball was embedded in the hilt. The eye rolled and fixed on Mòsè, exuding a palpable, bloodthirsty hunger.
Mòsè picked up the dagger, extended her left hand, and resolutely cut her palm.
She let out a scream as rows of sharp teeth appeared on the blade, leaving a wound that nearly severed her hand. The dagger seemed to cut not just flesh and blood but her very soul, causing her to cry out in pain despite her resolve.
The blood flowed from the wound, drawn by an unseen force, forming a ribbon that flew toward the blood gate.
The gate immediately responded, its origin arrays lighting up, the deep darkness within stirring to form a tunnel leading to some unknown space. The edges of the tunnel, however, were blurred, shaking violently like in a fierce storm.
Mòsè’s face turned deathly pale, and a lifeless gray spread over her features, but the origin arrays on the blood gate were not yet fully illuminated. Blood flowed from her body like a river, and it was clear that in a minute, she would be drained into a mummy by the blood gate.
Yet, at the current rate, it would take at least ten minutes to fully open the blood gate.
Mòsè clenched her teeth, her left hand trembling, but she refused to retract it.
“Enough,” the Blood Race councillor sighed, appearing before the altar and severing the blood ribbon connecting Mòsè and the gate with a wave.
“No! I can still hold on! I…” Mòsè tried to struggle but was pulled back forcefully.
Only then did Ye Tóng react, saying, “Is it my turn now?”
She walked slowly to the altar. Passing by Mòsè and the councillor, he said, “Princess Ye Tóng, I hope you won’t disappoint us!”
Ye Tóng paused, turned to gaze at the councillor, and said, “Duke Yodun, you should know that your position is not my end. For your sake and your descendants, it’s best not to offend me further. I remember today’s events. And remember, I want five times the amount, not a coin less!”
Duke Yodun’s face darkened, and he huffed, “We’ll see after you open the blood gate!”
Ye Tóng walked to the altar, picked up the dagger, and looked up at the blood gate towering dozens of meters high, slowly cutting her palm.
As the dagger tasted Ye Tóng’s blood, it let out an ecstatic scream!
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