Chapter 334: The Restlessness of the Divine Celestial Master

A nagging doubt arose in Xu Yang's mind. Prince Ying had previously promised to provide an answer regarding the search within three days. Given his power, finding a person in the city within three full days should not have been difficult. But now, there was still no sign of progress.

Along the way, everyone rode together in a single ornate carriage. As the procession reached the main intersection, joyful cheers erupted all around.

Everyone drew back the curtains and looked out the window, only to witness a remarkably strange sight.

On both sides, there were three separate teams of carriages, each dressed differently. Each team was very somber, dressed in funeral attire, yet the common folk lining the streets continuously cheered at the carriages, as if they were watching a wedding procession.

Inside the carriage, the accompanying guard captain commented on how strange the processions were, wondering what was going on. He chuckled lightly and explained that the so-called "Drowning Fish Sacrifice" was a significant event held every three years by the Divine Dynasty to interact with the Merfolk tribe residing beneath the boundless sea.

In fact, the source of the Snow Divine Dynasty's ice power lay within the boundless sea beneath the island. Beneath this island lived a colossal sea beast, over a million years old. Its ice-attributed power had established the Snow Divine Dynasty's ten-thousand-year-old, imperishable ice legacy. The Merfolk tribe, a lineage of beings serving the ice beast beneath the island, held a high status in the eyes of the Divine Dynasty's populace.

Every three years, the Divine Dynasty selected six exquisitely beautiful women with the best aptitudes from the city's billions of inhabitants. These women were sacrificed to the leader of the Merfolk tribe, an event known as the "Drowning Fish Sacrifice." This ritual aimed to solidify the generational alliance between the Divine Dynasty's royal family and the Merfolk tribe. The six white-clad carriage processions they had just seen contained the six "lucky" chosen ones for the Drowning Fish Sacrifice. Originally, they came from the most ordinary backgrounds in the city, but by qualifying for the Drowning Fish Sacrifice, their families would forever enjoy hereditary noble titles.

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone in Xu Yang's group gasped sharply.

The little group spontaneously expressed their dismay, feeling that trading one's family for eternal wealth and glory was not an honor worth having.

The guard captain, however, waved it off, saying that children's words were innocent and as foreign guests, they didn't need to fully assimilate into their traditions.

Everyone fell silent, perhaps because the somber Drowning Fish Sacrifice had dampened their spirits.

When the carriage arrived at the palace gates, as Xu Yang and the others disembarked, they coincidentally saw Prince Ying's capable aide, who was also his most trusted white-clad personal guard commander, Bai. Bai proactively approached them and sent a soul message into Xu Yang's spiritual sea.

Almost simultaneously, Xu Yang shared the content of the soul message he received with Wu Shuang, who was beside him.

Although the resonance between Xu Yang and Wu Shuang had not yet reached the perfect synchronization they shared with the Empress, Wu Shuang's spiritual power was even slightly higher than Xu Yang's. Her exceptionally powerful spiritual sea also allowed her to achieve a short-term resonance effect with Xu Yang.

The message revealed that the investigation results were in: the person Xu Yang wanted to see had not been found, despite the search covering the entire Snow Divine Dynasty. There were currently two possibilities: first, the person was not within the Divine City but rather with the Merfolk tribe beneath the island; second, the girl was one of the six chosen for today's Drowning Fish Sacrifice.

Xu Yang and Wu Shuang exchanged a glance, then nodded gravely at Bai. Xu Yang acknowledged Commander Bai with a quiet "Thank you."

Bai then urged them to enter the palace.

Under Bai's escort, the group proceeded towards the Grand Ice Hall. This palace, the most solemn and sacred in the Snow Divine Dynasty, was filled with an intensely pure icy aura, imparting an unparalleled sense of grandeur.

Due to the Drowning Fish Sacrifice, the entire royal palace hall was unusually lively. This day was also typically when nobles from all corners of the Divine City gathered. They stood in small groups, holding wine glasses, chatting idly as they awaited the arrival of the King and his retinue.

Inside the hall, the most conspicuous figures were the representatives of the six families dressed in white mourning attire. They had undoubtedly become targets for various factions vying for their favor.

Long Kun and the others gathered around Xu Yang, asking what they should do now.

Xu Yang instructed them to act immediately: before the royal family appeared, they must ascertain if Bai Lianxue was among the young ladies from the six families of the Drowning Fish Sacrifice.

With a collective understanding, the team immediately dispersed, choosing one of the families as their initial target and approaching them.

The Five Golden Flowers, being clever, chose one of the white-clad representatives who was a young nobleman and approached him. With their outstanding beauty, the five girls naturally and easily attracted his attention.

One of the Five Golden Flowers asked the young man about his relation to the chosen beauty, to which he replied that she was his sister. Oh, I see, one of the Five Golden Flowers subtly drew the young man aside. The other four sisters began to greet the surrounding nobles. When the young man was not paying attention, the elder sister's eyes flashed with a faint light, implanting Bai Lianxue's outline into his mind.

When the soul message received no response, and there was no ripple whatsoever in his spiritual sea, it was clear that this family's Drowning Fish was not Bai Lianxue. After completing their discreet inquiry, the Five Golden Flowers excused themselves from the nobleman and subtly shook their heads at Xu Yang from a distance.

Long Kun, meanwhile, chose a beautiful white-clad woman and approached her. After interacting with her, he discovered she wasn't the one either.

Ling Yao and Ling Qingshu's attempts also resulted in resigned headshakes. Five families in total had yielded negative answers. Only the last family remained; their white-clad representative was a middle-aged man. Among the many high-ranking officials and dignitaries surrounding him, the most conspicuous was a young nobleman dressed in white feathered attire.

This person was none other than Prince Yu, Prince Ying's brother and the Second Prince of the Snow Divine Dynasty.

Wu Shuang's voice echoed in Xu Yang's mind, asking if she should approach them, but this time, Xu Yang shook his head. He decided he would go himself, feeling that this family's identity was unusual.

With just a light step forward, before Xu Yang even reached his side, the middle-aged white-clad man slowly turned his head.

To Xu Yang's surprise, a hint of sorrow flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes. He seemed to be the only one among the chosen families who did not display joy after the selection. Xu Yang soon learned from those around him that this man was the royal divine master of the Snow Divine Dynasty, a celestial diviner specifically responsible for reading omens for the royal family. He apparently had long foreseen that his daughter would face such a calamity, which was why the elder looked so troubled.

However, the moment he turned around and his gaze met Xu Yang's, everything seemed to change instantly. In the elder's perception, Xu Yang might just be the variable who could save his daughter's fate.