Chapter 26: Walking the Red Carpet

Time flew by, and half a year passed in a flash.

When the day of the court etiquette performance arrived, the entire noble circle of Tiandou Imperial City became bustling with activity.

This etiquette training class, held every few years, could be considered a major event within Tiandou Imperial City, especially for the noble circle; it was a rare opportunity for them to gather together.

Almost every family would have descendants participating, and if any junior could secure first place in the performance, it would be an honor remembered by everyone.

Tiandou Palace was crowded with heavy traffic and an endless stream of people.

Inside a massive palace within the Imperial Palace, countless young men and women shuttled back and forth, guiding distinguished guests to their seats.

"That is..."

Suddenly, everyone's gaze turned toward the palace entrance, because Xue Ye Dadi had already stood up from his seat and was heading to greet the arrivals.

"Ning Sect Master, Jian Douluo, welcome, welcome!"

Amidst his hearty and imposing voice, the numerous nobles also realized the identities of these two, and immediately, everyone rose to pay their respects to Ning Fengzhi and his companions.

This was the treatment afforded to the Upper Three Sects of the Dalu!

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

Facing Xue Ye Dadi, Ning Fengzhi performed his etiquette perfectly.

The few of them took their seats in the center of the grand hall, and by this time, the expected royalty and nobles had all arrived.

"Eh? Have Rongrong and Qin Jian not entered yet? Isn't today the graduation performance?" Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but ask.

Having not seen them for another half a year, he couldn't help but miss them dearly.

He was not Jian Douluo, who could fly about and occasionally fly into the Imperial Palace for a visit; as a Sect Master, he naturally could not enter or leave the Imperial Palace at will.

"Ning Sect Master, rest assured. I heard that this performance is extremely grand, so the entrance will also be very special," Xue Ye Dadi said with a smile.

Ning Fengzhi placed his hands on his cane and nodded slightly: "Then I shall wait and see."

"Ning Sect Master, regarding this graduation performance, I also heard an interesting thing..."

Xue Ye Dadi suddenly added: "Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke made a bet with your Rongrong and Qin Jian, competing to see who can get first place in this graduation performance."

"Oh?"

Ning Fengzhi felt a slight interest: "It is not easy to take first place. What did they bet?"

"Hahaha..."

Xue Ye Dadi couldn't help but laugh and said: "Xue Ke and your Rongrong are wagering Qin Jian, and as for Rongrong, she has her eyes on Xue Ke's qualification for the Soul Hunting Ground."

"Hmm?"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly stunned, and then he felt a bit puzzled: "Doesn't Rongrong already have the qualification?"

Xue Ye Dadi shook his head: "I don't know what that is about."

"Children making bets, there is no need to take it too seriously," Ning Fengzhi said.

Xue Ye Dadi nodded and said no more.

"Jian Shu, what do you think?"

Ning Fengzhi said in a low voice to Jian Douluo beside him: "Why would Rongrong make such a bet? I remember that getting first in the performance is very difficult, and she hasn't been under any restraint since she was young; can she do it well..."

Jian Douluo thought for a moment and said: "I suspect Rongrong is asking for the spot for Qin Jian; she probably doesn't want to be separated from Qin Jian..."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi immediately felt it was highly likely.

"I heard from you, Jian Shu, that Qin Jian does not need to enter the Soul Hunting Ground to obtain his Second Soul Ring, which is why I didn't try to help him get a spot. I didn't expect this little girl Rongrong to go get one herself..."

Ning Fengzhi said with annoyance: "Being so clingy to Qin Jian, really... If she loses, how will she smooth things over? Sigh, a headache..."

Jian Douluo couldn't help but smile and comforted him: "Sect Master, no need to worry too much. With Qin Jian there, he will surely find a way."

"That's true, this little fellow Qin Jian is much more reliable."

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

And during the time they were conversing, there were some changes at the entrance of the grand hall.

They saw young men and women holding a long red carpet, slowly laying it from inside the hall to the outside, which also attracted everyone's gaze.

"A red carpet? What is this for? It wasn't there before, was it?"

The nobles whispered to each other, looking at one another in dismay.

At this moment, the band inside the hall began to play, and the softly flowing melody gradually soothed everyone's mood.

Just at this time.

At the palace entrance, one tall and one short figure wearing magnificent court attire walked in slowly; every step they took was solemn and graceful.

The lofty and elegant posture, the beauty of their grand attire, immediately conveyed an extremely noble visual impression.

It was not until they walked to the stage in the center of the grand hall and stood still that the many noble elders gradually came to their senses.

"They are the Imperial Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess!"

"They are truly worthy of being members of the royal family; even though they are not old, this bearing is truly extraordinary."

"..."

The nobles did not spare their praise for the entrance of Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke, which also made Xue Ye Dadi listen with joy.

"Haha, I didn't expect them to come up with such a red carpet entrance; interesting, interesting," he laughed aloud.

This immediately drew another wave of appreciative agreement like a tide.

And as pairs of gorgeously dressed young men and women continued to walk in, the discussions within the palace never stopped for a moment.

It was also their first time seeing this kind of entrance ceremony.

"I wonder what Rongrong and Qin Jian's entrance will be like."

Ning Fengzhi revealed a look of anticipation.

Jian Douluo also stared curiously toward the palace entrance.

But the figures they were looking forward to did not appear, until...

A flash of white light suddenly appeared at the palace entrance...

Everyone felt their eyes blur, and then they saw two snow-white figures slowly step in against the light.

"Tap."

Although the sound of footsteps could not be heard, that pause seemed to tread upon the very hearts of everyone present.

Almost all gazes focused over, and subsequently, two snow-white figures appeared in their eyes.

They were dressed entirely in snow-white; the youth wore a suit with tails, and the girl wore a beautiful long dress with a voluminous hem.

Unlike the complex formal attire of others, their combination of one complex and one simple looked even more harmonious.

Moreover, snow-white was a color rarely seen in court settings; nobles more commonly wore gold or silver formal attire, so this suddenly seen snow-colored combination directly stunned them.

Furthermore, the youth and the girl did not walk in side-by-side like the others; their demeanor exuded a sense of freshness.

It could be seen that the girl's right hand was lightly linked with the boy's left arm, and as they walked along, they nodded lightly to both sides in acknowledgment, appearing neither overly intimate nor distant.

If one had to describe their temperament, it was elegant and harmonious, noble yet not arrogant.

Instantly, it overturned the impressions left by every previous pair, and even Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke were no exception.

"It's Rongrong and Qin Jian!"

The eyes of Ning Fengzhi and his companion lit up.

By this time, the youth and the girl had already arrived at the center of the stage; they smiled softly at Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi and the others in front, then touched their hands to their chests and bowed slightly, before turning and slowly walking toward their seats.

Elegant and poised, noble and approachable—these qualities were miraculously in Fusion.

For a moment, the entire venue was silent.

(End of this chapter)