Chapter 673: Empress Tina

In the imperial capital of the Eternal Night Empire, the banquet continued.

In the empires of the Gods Continent, during an emperor's banquet, the emperor would typically raise his cup and exchange a few words with the nation's great nobles, then take a symbolic sip.

However, in past Eternal Night Empire banquets, Empress Tina never did so.

She rarely even appeared.

But this time, Empress Tina uncommonly spoke a few words to all the dukes and some counts, leaving each duke and count utterly stunned!

Though Empress Tina rarely appeared, her control over the Eternal Night Empire was extremely strong.

As for the Church.

The deity of the Eternal Night Empire was her sister; the Church was entirely under her command, which was why the Church's presence was so weak.

Yet the Church's strength was not weak.

The secret Order of the Divine Knights was immensely powerful!

The foundation of a thousand-year empire was exceedingly deep; what was shown was likely only the tip of the iceberg.

This was one reason Empress Tina had the confidence to protect the Eternal Night Empire in her conversation with the Eternal Night Goddess.

Of course, the main reason was still that she herself was powerful enough!

After speaking briefly with the nobles, Empress Tina left their group and resumed conversing with Meng Ying.

During the conversation, Empress Tina clearly sensed that Meng Ying's age… was remarkably young!

But Empress Tina did not ask.

Asking a woman's age was impolite.

In the relaxed atmosphere of the banquet, Empress Tina and Meng Ying chatted quite happily.

Empress Tina told Meng Ying much about the Heavenly Realms.

In the course of their talk, Meng Ying recounted in detail the founding of the Flame Empire.

These events were not secrets; in the Flame Empire, there were dedicated poems describing them, along with countless deeds of the Flame Lord.

Empress Tina listened intently.

She occasionally asked questions about the Flame Lord.

As long as it did not involve secrets, Meng Ying answered each one.

The two women conversed for several hours.

Until night fell and the new performance began.

That was the show.

"Come, Lady Meng Ying, sit with me!"

Empress Tina invited Meng Ying to sit beside her.

To the people of the Eternal Night Empire, this invitation was a great honor.

To sit beside the Empress—what an extraordinary honor!

In a thousand years, no one had ever enjoyed such an honor!

So when Meng Ying sat beside Empress Tina, everyone present was again stunned.

The weight of the Flame Empire rose in the nobles' hearts by more than one level!

Immediately after, the performance began.

In the sky, vast magical lights illuminated the entire heavens.

Dozens of women in long gowns appeared and began a magnificent dance.

Midway through, the dancers all took to the air.

This was a Skyborne Dance, celebrating the deeds of the gods.

"Wow!"

The nobles present all exclaimed in awe.

Because these dancers were all Seventh Rank mage-tutors!

Dozens of Seventh Rank female mage-tutors danced to celebrate the Empress's thousand-year birthday!

This also demonstrated, from another angle, the strength of the Eternal Night Empire!

"The Eternal Night Empire is truly powerful!"

Someone from another empire attending whispered.

This Skyborne Dance lasted a full half-hour.

Then another dance began.

It was a war dance performed by dozens of knights, wielding greatswords and clad in heavy armor!

Again, halfway through, the knights rose into the sky, completing the dance among the heavens!

The crowd erupted in fresh exclamations!

"So many Sky Knights!"

Whispers came from the other empires!

Upon the throne, Empress Tina cast a faint glance at the people from those other empires, her face expressionless.

For this thousand-year birthday, besides the one friendly great empire and several small empires whose emperors came in person, other empires had all sent at least some representatives to observe.

Empress Tina was using this opportunity to display her military might.

"Lady Meng Ying, let us continue our talk. Once you reach the Sacred Realm, if you are confident enough in yourself, do not rush to become a god. Master one rule to 100%, then approach the second rule, master it to 100% as well. The more rules you master, the stronger you will be after becoming a god."

Empress Tina and Meng Ying watched the dance while conversing.

Meng Ying nodded: "My Lord's revelation to me was the same."

Empress Tina asked curiously: "Lady Meng Ying, perhaps this is impolite, but I am truly curious—what kind of god is the Flame Lord? From the deeds you've told me, I feel the Flame Lord must be a powerful, benevolent, yet decisive deity—merciless toward enemies, yet deeply protective of his subjects."