More than 20,000 people waited in the drill ground for nearly half an hour, but still hadn't seen His Emperor Yassin arrive.
However, the two contenders for the throne, the eldest prince Arshavin and the second prince Dominguez, appeared on the eighth level of the platform. They were clad in imposing golden armor, their black cloaks fluttering in the cold wind, looking down on everyone below the platform like gods. The white bull had already been led to the ninth level of the platform...
Everyone waited quietly.
Sun Fei sat listlessly on the back of the Big Black, his gaze sweeping over the ranks of soldiers from various vassal states on the drill ground.
The Zenit Empire now has only 244 vassal states left. These vassal states are divided into six levels, from first to sixth, like a pyramid of power. At the top of the pyramid are only ten first-class vassal states, twenty second-class vassal states, thirty third-class vassal states, forty fourth-class vassal states, sixty fifth-class vassal states, and eighty-four sixth-class vassal states.
It is evident that most of these countries are relatively weak, hence the different attitudes and responses from each nation on the training ground.
Sun Fei observed that some soldier formations numbered over two hundred, strong and well-equipped, while others barely reached a hundred, wearing only a few layers of leather armor. Still others, including grooms and cooks, could barely muster fifty men. These men lacked not only leather armor but also basic weaponry, carrying only simple bows and arrows and wooden javelins. They looked incredibly shabby, even more so than those from Chambord City. The King of these small countries couldn't even afford a single piece of armor, their bodies patched together from various animal hides, resembling Barbarian. However, their imposing presence and fierce demeanor, with their well-developed muscles and menacing expressions, made them formidable opponents.
In comparison, King of Chambord of fifty-odd men were clad in bright armor and gleaming with weapons, riding level-four magical beasts, the Crimson Flame Beast. Their equipment was extremely elite, and they were in no way inferior to the ten first-class vassal states.
While Sun Fei was sizing up others, countless eyes were also scrutinizing Sun Fei and the Chambord team.
These gazes contained envy and jealousy, flattery and hostility, goodwill and malice, intimacy and fear... a variety of expressions.
Just as Sun Fei was growing impatient, suddenly five or six surging streaks of light streaked across the distant sky, carrying a terrifying aura like that of gods, and flew towards the general's platform.
Everyone's spirits lifted, and upon closer inspection, they saw six royal archmages dressed in magic robes, their magic burning as they soared through the air. The four of them resembled four blazing, dazzling Sun, following a ball of intense red light as they flew towards the location of the platform.
Upon closer inspection, Sun Fei discovered that the ball of crimson flames was actually a dragon beast the size of a small mountain. It stretched out its arms and flew like a giant bird, occasionally opening its mouth to roar. The huge sound waves formed several visible vortexes of air in the air like a gale, shredding the white Yuan Duo.
Drake!
It's Drake!
A descendant of the Dragon Clan blood in the legends of the continent, the absolute king of the sky, and an invincible aerial mount.
The shock and awe in Sun Fei's heart were beyond words.
This is a visually striking image.
In his past life, Sun Fei had seen and heard legends of dragons and seen images of dragons more than once in various fantasy movies, in the royal collection of Chambord City, and in the stories of bards. But when a dragon beast the size of a small mountain actually appeared before his eyes, the shock was simply indescribable.
This has nothing to do with strength; the sheer size comparison is enough to shatter anyone's visual senses, like the stunned silence an ant would have upon suddenly seeing an elephant.
Loud and piercing roars ripped through the sky as the dragon beast, carrying a mysterious and enormous golden magic throne on its back, flew steadily from the distant horizon, surrounded by four royal archmages, and finally passed over the ninth level of the platform.
When the dragon beast flew in, a sense of fear filled the entire training ground. Some warhorses were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and foamed at the mouth.
As the dragon beast swept over the platform, it suddenly did a soft flip and spin.
The throne on its back, like a light feather, gently descended and landed on the ninth level of the platform with a 'boom'. At the same time, the figures of the four royal grand mages landed on the seventh level of the platform amidst the terrifying magical elemental fluctuations that surged like a vast ocean, second only to the two princes Arshavin and Dominguez.
The four people stood at four different positions, their expressions extremely vigilant. Their eyes swept across the crowd like lightning. They gripped the white staffs that were more than two meters tall in their hands, and frantically poured their magic power into the magic array patterns engraved on the century-old beech wood of the platform. With a slight rumble, a layer of transparent, invisible light shield flashed by, firmly protecting the entire platform.
Sun Fei's eyes were sharp as lightning; from afar, he could clearly see that the four mages' black robes were embroidered with six strange golden pentagrams on the chest.
This is the symbol of Six-Star Class archmage.
These four royal magicians were all Six-Star Class grand magicians.
Sun Fei clicked his tongue in amazement.
A great empire is indeed a great empire. I never expected that the Royal Mage Corps could bring out four Six-Star Class magicians in one go. Such resources are truly astonishing.
However, upon further reflection, given that they were able to set up more than a dozen Six-Star Class or higher magic arrays in the Moro Mountains in a short period of time to protect that [ Giant Pit Battlefield ], it's not surprising that four Six-Star Class mages appeared today.
Sun Fei even speculated that the Zenit Imperial Family's true strength might not be limited to what was outwardly apparent; perhaps there were even more terrifying, hidden top-tier experts within that heavily guarded palace!
Sun Fei's gaze quickly focused on the golden throne on the ninth level of the platform.
This is a throne carved from an unknown precious material, featuring a yellow Drake- like creature. The dragon motif is incredibly lifelike, resembling a giant dragon taking flight, strikingly similar to the colossal dragon beast still circling and soaring in the air. The dragon's head is majestic and noble, its long, graceful neck stretching forward. Beneath its sharp horns, its wide-open mouth reveals rows of sharp Teeth, spewing forth a string of flames. Layers of fine scales cover the dragon beast's broad back, supporting a two-meter-high imperial throne.
Everyone knows that only one person in the entire empire is qualified to sit on this dragon throne—
Emperor Yassin.
After reading through the martial arts manuals and notes written by Emperor Yassin when he was still Prince, which were given to him by a mysterious powerful figure, Sun Fei became very curious about this once exceptionally talented emperor and also wanted to see this emperor, whose life was full of legendary stories, up close.
However, at this moment, wisps of red mist emanated from the Dragon Beast Throne, like a constantly burning flame, isolating everything and completely obscuring the majestic figure sitting on the throne. Even with Sun Fei's strength, which was close to the Seven-Star Class Intermediate Stage, he still couldn't see anything despite using all his eyesight.
Why do this?
Sun Fei frowned slightly, unable to hide his doubts.
According to the documents stored in Chambord City, in all the previous Martial Combat Competition before the Zenit Empire, Emperor Yassin always arrived on time and never concealed his face. This heroic and imposing emperor would always stand on the command platform, looking down on the 10,000 soldiers of the 250 vassal states under the empire's rule.
Moreover, according to the description of the Chambord City royal family, Emperor Yassin had a divine appearance and unparalleled charm. Anyone who could catch a glimpse of this emperor from afar would feel a sense of submission and be captivated by his charisma.
But why is it that this time, Emperor Yassin is able to conceal his true identity?
Is it really as the rumors suggest, that the current genius emperor is on the verge of death and doesn't want his conquered people to see him as an old man on his deathbed?
Although he was far from the platform, Sun Fei could still sense the strength of each person's aura on it.
Below the seventh floor, the twenty-odd guards were generally between Three-Star Class and Five-Star Class stars in strength. Above the seventh floor, the four royal court archmages possessed a powerful aura, as astonishing as flames burning fiercely in the night. Above the eighth floor, the First Prince Arshavin, with his Six-Star Class strength, was equally dazzling, exuding a ruthless and murderous aura, even more formidable than the four royal court archmages. However, the Second Prince Dominguez beside him, clad in magical armor that amplified his strength, was actually... His strength was barely at the Four-Star Class level, a far cry from that of the First Prince. However, the heavens bestowed upon Dominguez unparalleled good looks. Simply by standing on the platform, he was like a bright star in the darkest night, stealing the spotlight from everyone else. His tall and muscular figure, magnificent and noble armor, and handsome face that even the gods envied—even though his strength was inferior to the First Prince's, his slightly shorter stature still easily attracted the attention of thousands of soldiers.
"Moo..." The white bull, which had been carefully raised for three years, let out a long, triumphant moo.
From birth, it was meticulously raised by the imperial family, attended to and bathed by countless servants, fed the finest food, slept on the softest blankets, and drank the purest spring water, all in preparation for this day when its heart would be cut open to divine the empire's fortunes for the next three years. Unfortunately, this bull was perhaps completely immersed in its former blissful life, unaware of the impending doom. It lay leisurely on the ninth level of the platform, considering itself a supreme ruler, looking down upon the more than 20,000 soldiers below, showing no fear whatsoever.
First update.