The plaza was silent, save for the festive music drifting through the air.
Qian Renxue and Hu Liena—two peerless beauties who had once represented Spirit Hall's supreme glory and hopes for the future—now walked down the red carpet beneath countless watchful eyes, step by step toward the new Pope's throne that symbolized the continent's highest authority.
Countless gazes converged upon them, filled with reverence, envy, fear, resentment... emotions as tangled and viscous as a mire.
They stopped just ten paces away from Duanmu Ci.
"The time has come." Duanmu Ci's voice was not loud, yet it branded itself clearly upon every ear. "Begin."
A red-robed bishop who had been hastily pushed forward held a marriage contract in his trembling hands.
The scroll was tanned from the finest spirit beast hide, its surface inlaid with dazzling soul crystals of every color, yet it felt as heavy as a mountain at that moment.
He struggled to steady his voice as he attempted to recite the ancient, sacred vows.
Yet every syllable trembled uncontrollably.
The man before him was a demon god who had climbed to the pinnacle atop the corpses of countless Titled Douluo!
"...In sickness and health, prosperity and adversity, wealth and poverty... until death do you part..."
"Qian Renxue."
"Hu Liena."
"Zhu Zhuqing."
"Do you accept?"
Zhu Zhuqing showed almost no hesitation. Her cool voice was the first to break the silence. "I do."
Qian Renxue followed close behind.
She raised her head and gazed deeply at Duanmu Ci upon the throne, indescribable emotions surging within her eyes.
Was this man before her... her destination? Or an abyss?
She had once spent time with him under the identity of Xue Qinghe, and back then, it had even... not been unpleasant.
Yet when he grievously wounded her beloved grandfather, Qian Daoliu,