(Thank you very much to 'Zhu Shen Juanlian,' 'Qi Ye Hong,' 'Li Jing Rui,' 'Yue Chen You Ye,' 'Pokémon,' 'Mikoto-nee,' and 'Mu Leng Bu Leng' for the rewards!)
Crimson lotus flames still burned throughout the vast hall, sending waves of heat rippling endlessly through the space like invisible currents.
At this moment, Rubia Elstein seemed like the sovereign of flames, bathed in a sea of crimson fire as her gaze, sharp as a blade, fell upon Noah.
Facing Rubia's piercing stare and feeling the astonishing heat radiating from the surrounding inferno, Noah knew that the Calamity Spirit Princess had not made such a grand display merely for show. She was driving away the Sacred Ritual Institute's contracted spirits wandering nearby.
Otherwise, those Sacred Ritual Institute spirits would transmit the scene unfolding here back to the Great Shrine, allowing everyone to learn Crimson Lotus's true identity.
If the Calamity Spirit Princess had truly appeared out of nowhere, concealed her identity, and infiltrated the Spirit Sword Dance Festival, it would certainly cause an enormous uproar.
When that happened, the Sacred Ritual Institute and the Austia Empire might very well storm into the Spirit Sword Dance Festival to capture Rubia.
That was why Rubia had summoned this vast sea of flames the instant Noah revealed her true identity.
Her purpose was to drive away the Sacred Ritual Institute's contracted spirits nearby.
Therefore, no one besides Noah and Rubia would know what was happening here now.
Still, that suited Noah just fine.
After all, what Noah wanted to ask next was not something suitable for idle bystanders to hear.
"I have a question." Noah met Rubia's sharp gaze as he spoke.
"No, more accurately, I have two questions."
"Two?" Rubia's crimson eyes flickered slightly.
"I thought you would only ask why I was here."