Three mornings later, an icy mental command descended upon Amaterasu Palace on schedule, like an invisible bell tolling within Neji's senses. "Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, by the decree of His Highness Prince Longshi, report immediately to the Foreign Affairs Office of the Divine Tree Palace. Submit a detailed account of the previous Divine Tree planting mission. No delays."
The command was brief, forceful, and beyond question. Even across vast distances and layers of palace halls, the prince's authority remained stern and oppressive.
Neji had long since made his preparations.
He changed into the highest-grade formal attire from Isshiki's wardrobe—a dark-purple robe woven from Void Nether Silkworm Silk, embroidered with intricate dark-silver Ōtsutsuki Clan crests and spatial ripple patterns. A cloak of the same shade draped over it, its edges studded with tiny star gemstones.
His white hair was tied meticulously behind his head. His Dual Pupils were profound, while the Chaos mark between his brows was lightly concealed with Nascent Soul true essence, leaving only a slender pale-gold pattern in the ornamental style common among Ōtsutsuki nobles.
He studied himself for a moment in a full-length mirror polished from Illusory Light Crystal.
The man in the mirror was cold, noble, and carried a trace of depth forged through calamity. He was no different from the elite Earl of the Ōtsutsuki Main House described in the records.
His Nascent Soul aura was restrained at the level of an early-stage Earl, steady and condensed.
"Senjumaru," he called.
The old butler appeared outside the hall as silently as a ghost and bowed. "My lord, the carriage is ready. The Void Carriage, drawn by Star-Mark Steeds, is waiting outside the palace."
Neji gave a faint nod and strode out.
Outside Amaterasu Palace, a sleek, spindle-shaped carriage formed from dark metal and transparent Energy Crystals hovered in