The Martial Examination Begins, a Shocking Age!

The raised platform north of the parade ground had long been packed.

At its center stood the dragon throne, concealed behind beaded curtains and a special veil of mystical gauze shimmering with starlight.

Ji Mingyue looked toward her father on the dragon throne, his features blurred, her brow heavy with worry.

She knew why her father would not show his face: he could no longer maintain a healthy complexion.

If he revealed his true appearance, the court and the country would be thrown into turmoil.

Why had it come to this? Grief filled her eyes.

Just then,

"Little Seventeen, come here!" A voice that still carried authority sounded beside her ear.

The princes and senior ministers on the platform turned toward the figure on the dragon throne and the striking Ji Mingyue.

Beneath the starlit mystical gauze, even those whose Martial Dao prowess reached the heavens could make out only a blurred face.

The special gauze looked as thin as a cicada's wing, yet it weighed millions of pounds. Its peculiar field kept all forces, tangible and intangible, at bay.

It seems Little Seventeen is still His Majesty's favorite daughter. The thought arose among them as they watched Ji Mingyue walk toward the figure on the dragon throne.

They could no longer remember how many days it had been since they had seen His Majesty's face. Yet today, before everyone's eyes, he had summoned the Seventeenth Princess forward.

That plainly sent them many signals.

Ji Mingyue stepped forward.

Layer after layer of starlit mystical gauze was swept aside.

As the gauze ahead parted, the layers behind her fell back into place.

When all six layers had been drawn aside, Ji Mingyue looked at the stern-faced middle-aged man seated on the dragon throne. Her lips trembled faintly.

"Father...!"

Seeing her expression,