Chapter 297: The True Form of the Wild God
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
The star array was a representation of the bestowed divine power.
Zong Bai was the God of Judiciary, overseeing divine justice, making him a high-ranking deity. The divine power he granted was already among the strongest.
Yet now, the inexplicable star array beneath the Sixth Prince’s feet extended outward, encompassing everyone nearby.
As the array instantly illuminated, shock rendered everyone speechless.
“How… how is this possible?!” Ming Lang was nearly hysterical. How could there be divine power appearing in Northern Zhao?!
This had never happened before!
“What kind of powerful deity could this be?” Official Ming felt his own divine power—bestowed by the God of Life, Xian Ting—showing faint signs of submission.
To think that the God of Life was already considered a high-ranking god!
The Sixth Prince was utterly bewildered.
Nan Mu Bai was even more horrified, his eyes wide in disbelief. The Sixth Prince had activated the star array right before his eyes! No invocation ceremony, no divine chant!
Above the vast night sky, a reverberating roar echoed from beyond the heavens.
“Roar…”
Immediately after, a crisp and melodious cry rang out. The Azure Luan, soaring midair, suddenly descended and prostrated itself upon the ground.
“The Azure Luan… has submitted!” Nan Mu Bai murmured in a daze.
The Azure Luan—it had submitted!!
For centuries, they had summoned the Azure Luan, yet it had always remained proud, indifferent, and unreachable. Never before had it descended and yielded.
“It’s a dragon!!”
“Look! A true dragon!!”
“And a phoenix! He actually summoned both dragon and phoenix!!”
“Help! Someone help me! Ancestors, bear witness, I have truly seen a real dragon and phoenix!” The citizens of Northern Zhao erupted into fervent cries, kneeling in devotion.
Even the Emperor was shaken.
He rushed toward Star-Plucking Tower with the Empress Dowager, his eyes brimming with tears as he beheld the divine creatures soaring across the heavens.
“This is Heaven’s affirmation of me! The dragon and phoenix appearing together is a blessing upon Northern Zhao!” The Emperor and his court all knelt at Star-Observing Platform in reverence.
Wang Yuan Lu stood at the back. Upon hearing the news, his eyes widened in shock.
He hastened forward and whispered urgently into the Emperor’s ear.
“Your Majesty! This is an auspicious omen summoned from within Northern Zhao itself! It was the Sixth Prince who called upon them!” The eunuch’s face flushed with excitement.
“What? He can summon deities?!”
The ministers gathered in the Imperial Study were equally dumbfounded.
“Isn’t summoning deities an ability exclusive to the Southern Kingdom?” That was why the Southern Kingdom had always been dominant over others.
“Summon the Sixth Prince at once!” The Emperor waved his hand, his expression overjoyed.
The dragon and phoenix continued their dance in the sky, and even after they departed, the people remained awestruck.
Suddenly, excited cheers erupted once more.
The star array beneath the Sixth Prince’s feet vanished.
Lu Chao Chao casually placed her small hands behind her back.
“Why does the Southern Kingdom only summon the Azure Luan and not the dragon or phoenix?”
“Do they dislike dragons and phoenixes?” Lu Chao Chao asked curiously, staring at Nan Mu Bai.
Shame and rage flickered in Nan Mu Bai’s eyes. [Do you think we don’t want to?!]
[We simply can’t!]
Dragons and phoenixes ranked first and second among divine beasts in the Divine Register—the Southern Kingdom had never successfully summoned them!
“How do you summon deities?!” Nan Mu Bai stared intently at the Sixth Prince.
“I don’t know how to summon at all. I just muttered something, and the star array lit up. Does it require special techniques?” The Sixth Prince’s face remained guileless, his expression as innocent as a simpleton’s.
His sincerity only made the Southern Kingdom’s people feel worse.
[Do you have any idea how strict the divine summoning rituals are?!]
Among hundreds of members of the Southern Kingdom’s royal family, only a handful could summon deities.
Failure wasn’t the most terrifying part—what truly stung was how effortlessly the Sixth Prince had succeeded.
A thought struck Nan Mu Bai. He retrieved a round, polished stone from his robes.
“Sixth Prince, would you be willing to place your hand upon the Spirit-Testing Stone?” Nan Mu Bai’s heart pounded, his entire body tense.
Even Official Ming had regained his composure, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Sixth Prince, the Spirit-Testing Stone can determine which deity’s power you wield. This isn’t a bad thing.” Official Ming’s tone was sincere, making it difficult for the Sixth Prince to refuse.
Lu Chao Chao eagerly watched the scene unfold.
The Sixth Prince placed his hand on the Spirit-Testing Stone.
At once, a cascade of colors erupted from the stone, shimmering like scattered stardust.
“What… What deity is this? I’ve never seen divine power this chaotic before.” Nan Mu Bai frowned in displeasure. Among the myriad colors, he even spotted traces of Zong Bai’s golden hue.
Golden light was the noblest of divine auras, yet it was merely one component among many.
“Of course, it’s our own Goddess! This is Northern Zhao’s very own divine spirit!” The Sixth Prince wore an expression of immense pride.
“A fluke, nothing more. If this deity was truly powerful, why would they be unheard of? Why would they be missing from the Divine Register?” Nan Mu Bai sneered with barely concealed hostility.
Just then, palace guards arrived.
“Sixth Prince, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace.”
The Sixth Prince still wanted to bicker further, but he dared not keep his father waiting. With a huff, he departed.
Nan Mu Bai’s face darkened. Losing to Northern Zhao in the one thing the Southern Kingdom prided itself on—summoning deities—left him fuming.
“What kind of stray ghost dares masquerade as a deity after gaining a little incense offering?!” Nan Mu Bai growled angrily.
“Oh? Then summon a phoenix,” Lu Chao Chao said blandly.
“What does it matter if you’re powerful? A Wild God can never stand on equal footing with true deities!” Nan Mu Bai’s face turned red with frustration.
“Then summon a phoenix.”
No matter what Nan Mu Bai said, Lu Chao Chao repeated the same phrase—summon a phoenix.
Nan Mu Bai was so enraged his eyes welled with tears.
“Hey, hey! Why are you crying?” Lu Chao Chao watched him run off, unable to stop him.
“You called me a Wild God, and I didn’t cry. So why are you crying?” she muttered under her breath.
“You’re the Wild God! Your whole family’s Wild Gods!”
“How was I supposed to know I wasn’t in the Divine Register? Maybe because I died too early?” After all, her disciples only ascended to divinity after her death.
“What is the Divine Register?” Lu Chao Chao asked.
Li Si Qi whispered, “It’s said to be the record of all the recognized deities in the heavens. There’s a copy in the Library Pavilion—shall we go take a look?”
Lu Chao Chao pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Brother Si Qi, are your eyes feeling better?” Lu Chao Chao asked, concerned, as she held his arm.
“No worries. Just help me along,” he replied softly. His world contained only Chao Chao.
Lu Chao Chao helped Li Si Qi onto the carriage, heading toward the palace.