Hua Que looked especially pleased today. He slowly descended from the dais at the center of the hall and took his seat upon the throne. Watching the crowd below press hands to their chests in salute, the smile at his lips never faded.
"It had been a long time since things were this lively..." Though his voice was aged, it remained strong and resonant. "Many new faces had come for this Millennial Birthday Celebration too. Good, very good~~"
The new faces referred to those from the Subordinate Civilizations who had come to offer birthday wishes. Most of them had reached the Aerospace Era, but their technology had yet to enter the realm of genetics. Although their lifespans had increased, they still fell within the range of ordinary people.
A thousand years was a long time to them, but to advanced civilizations, it was merely the blink of an eye.
People who had grown old always liked looking back on their past glories, and Hua Que was no exception. He had suddenly come up with the idea of a Millennial Birthday Celebration ten thousand years ago. The long years had passed in a hurry, and the people of these Subordinate Civilizations had changed batch after batch. Though their faces were different, the carvings on their garments representing their civilizations remained the same.
Looking across all the great powers of the universe, who else could accomplish something like this? Other than me, Hua Que, I'm afraid there would never be a second person.
With that thought, Hua Que nodded toward a Male Angel below and said softly, "Fred, begin."
The man called Fred was the highest-ranking official of the Construction Department. From the layout of the palace venue to every detail of the banquet's procedures, he had personally overseen the Angel King Hua Que's Millennial Birthday Celebration. He was quite capable.
As usual, Fred took out a tablet-like device from his robes and began the opening speech for the celebration. He talked at great length, the main point being nothing more than praising Hua Que's achievements and Angel Civilization's "Eternal National Fortune."
Just when Hua Zhen thought the fellow would end that mind-numbingly boring speech with something like "Eat well and drink well, drink well and eat well," Fred unexpectedly opened another Light Energy Projection.
"Rulers of the Subordinate Civilizations, this is your first time attending the Angel King's birthday banquet. Please come forward and introduce yourselves according to the numbered tags previously issued by the Construction Department," Fred said evenly.
As soon as he finished speaking, a well-dressed, middle-aged fat man stepped out from the area occupied by the Subordinate Civilizations. He dropped to one knee and pressed a hand to his chest, first respectfully saluting Hua Que before introducing himself and reporting on his civilization's affairs over the past thousand years.
Wars with other powers, scientific research achievements, discovered mineral veins and resources—nothing was omitted. This was one of the main procedures of the Millennial Birthday Celebration.
At this time, the rulers of the Subordinate Civilizations would tell Hua Que what had happened within their civilizations, much like local officials reporting their work to the central government. Then they would present the birthday gifts they had brought to demonstrate loyalty. After hearing them out, Hua Que would judge them according to their "performance" over the past millennium, and the rewards he bestowed in return would not be lacking.
To Angel Civilization, the items they offered in tribute might be insignificant, but the gifts returned by their "overlord," Angel Civilization, were what the Subordinate Civilizations looked forward to most.
Their forebears had told them that the Angel King was always exceptionally generous at times like this. Whether cutting-edge technology or precious resources, there would always be something their civilization needed.
Two hours had already passed, yet this "work report" still had not ended. The rulers of the Subordinate Civilizations were all brimming with enthusiasm, while Angel King Hua Que listened with great interest as well.
Hua Zhen was the one suffering for it. Not only was he getting drowsy from listening, but he also had to force himself to stay alert. He wanted to move his legs a little, yet everyone else stood with their backs ramrod straight.
No, if this keeps up, it's going to do me in. I need to find something to distract myself! Shifting his gaze away from the ruler who was speaking so fervently that spit flew everywhere, Hua Zhen looked toward the others in the hall.
The positions of those in the hall were carefully arranged, with ranks descending from front to back. His current spot was on the right side from the perspective of someone entering through the hall doors—in other words, Hua Que's left. Ahead of him stood Second Prince Hua Tuo and Left Wing King Miller, while behind him were some of the Tiangong Bigshots from Second Prince Hua Tuo's faction.
First Prince Hua Ye stood opposite them, at Hua Que's right hand. The silver-haired middle-aged man beside him needed no guessing. Who else could he be but Right Wing King He Zheng, equal in status to Miller?
If Miller felt like an approachable subject teacher, then He Zheng gave Hua Zhen the impression of an annoying dean of discipline. He radiated authority without anger, and simply standing there seemed to lower the temperature around him.
He Zheng was a legendary figure within Angel Civilization. Thirty thousand years ago, when Hua Que used thunderous methods to seize power back from the Council of Elders, the He family's loyal service had been indispensable.
The young He Zheng upheld his family's convictions. From the moment he knelt before Hua Que and recited the Knight's Oath, he became the sharpest King's Sword in Hua Que's hand. Over more than twenty thousand years, no one knew how many disloyal voices he had eliminated for Hua Que, both within and beyond Angel Civilization. His loyalty had remained unwavering into old age. In this chaotic era, there were very few who could achieve such devotion.
The honor of his family and the Angel King's favor had always been He Zheng's greatest pride. As for Miller, who came from a "mud-footed" background, He Zheng held him in great contempt. Though they served in the same court, the two were natural sworn enemies.
As if sensing Hua Zhen's gaze, he turned and glanced at him before ignoring him again.
Damn, he really thinks he's hot stuff!
Hua Zhen found show-offs like He Zheng, who acted as though heaven came first and he came second, especially irritating. But after thinking it over, he let it go. He had already seen what kind of person Hua Ye was. How much better could his uncle He Zheng possibly be?
With an indifferent smile, Hua Zhen's gaze passed over Hua Ye and landed on someone else. He could not help freezing for a moment, because while he was looking at that man, the man was also observing him. He looked eighty percent like He Zheng, with a tall, straight figure and absurdly handsome features. His smooth, fair face carried a sharply defined, cool severity.
Seriously, were Angel genes all this powerful? Every single one was either a handsome guy or a beauty. Tiny squatters like Hua Xiong were genuinely rare~ Hua Zhen sighed inwardly, then secretly raised a hand and gave the other man the middle finger.
On the other side, He Xuan's sword-like brows furrowed slightly. He did not understand what Hua Zhen's gesture meant, but one thing was certain: it was definitely not a sign of goodwill.
He had been observing this Third Prince, Little Highness, for quite some time. How should he put it? Hua Zhen felt very unusual, though He Xuan could not describe why. He clearly had no faction within Tiangong, yet when facing either Hua Ye or Hua Tuo, he was nothing like Old Fourth, Hua Xiong.
Had he already joined Second Prince Hua Tuo's camp? He narrowed his eyes.
The "work reports" continued for nearly another hour. After Fred presented the Subordinate Civilizations' congratulatory gifts to Hua Que, he also announced the return gifts bestowed upon them. The rulers were all overjoyed and visibly excited. Clearly, they were extremely satisfied with the Angel King's rewards.
Once they returned to their places, everyone in the hall focused their attention on the two adult princes, because the most exciting moment of the entire banquet was about to arrive.
As the leading candidates to become the next Angel King, what kind of spectacular contest would unfold between First Prince Hua Ye and Second Prince Hua Tuo? Everyone eagerly anticipated it...
What the hell were they anticipating? Could they just stop dragging this out and get it over with already~ someone roared inwardly.
Before you continue