Chapter 54: The Gift of the Thousand-Faced World

“Haha!”
With a burst of hearty laughter, Bing Changtian appeared in the distance, hand in hand with Bai Linglong, swiftly approaching. In the blink of an eye, the two landed before the representatives of all the major powers.

“Thank you all for honoring us with your presence at this grand celebration!” Bing Changtian laughed boldly, brimming with confidence. “The weather today is splendid—truly a perfect day for a celebration!”

“Your Highness of the Southern Domain is too courteous. It is only right that we join this celebration!”
“Indeed. When the unexpected calamity struck the Tomb of the Demon Emperor and the ancient emperor rose again, it was thanks to the young princess who produced a Saint’s painting to subdue the eternal Demon Emperor. Otherwise, not only the Southern Domain but the entire Spring and Autumn Sacred Kingdom would have been plunged into disaster!”

The representatives of the various factions spoke in turn.

In the crowd, Bing Muer stood coldly, her gaze fixed on Bing Changtian and Bai Linglong, murderous intent in her eyes utterly unmasked.

“Princess, do not act rashly,” Elder Hua tugged gently at her sleeve, whispering a warning.

This celebration was part of Young Master Chen’s plan; he feared that if the princess acted on impulse, she would ruin everything.

“Phew…”
Bing Muer exhaled deeply, forcefully suppressing the hatred that surged within her. “Don’t worry, Elder Hua. I will not act without thought.”

At that moment, Bai Linglong was also glaring coldly at Bing Muer, her own killing intent equally impossible to conceal.

That wretched little servant! She had driven Miaoguo to her death! Even dismembering her would not quell the hatred in her heart!

“Linglong, do not act rashly, lest you ruin my grand design,” Bing Changtian transmitted his words to her silently.

He had already set a deadly trap for Bing Miaoguo. Even if the fabled Young Master Chen came, it was unlikely he could save Bing Muer. There was no need for Bai Linglong to act.

“I understand, Changtian.”
Bai Linglong’s expression eased slightly. “That wretched girl is doomed today. Why would I risk everything by moving against her myself?”

“Good. As long as you can restrain your emotions, just watch. She will be dead soon enough.”
Bing Changtian nodded, then laughed again. “You are all absolutely right. It was only thanks to our young princess, who produced a Saint’s painting to suppress the Demon Emperor, that peace was restored to our Southern Domain! Thus, the young princess is the greatest hero of this land, and today’s celebration is held in her honor.”

“Your Highness, in my humble opinion, the true hero who saved us all is the Young Master Chen who stands behind the princess!”
Nie Long declared loudly, “Yet today, to our regret, Young Master Chen is not present at this celebration.”

“Indeed, it was his painting that truly subdued the Demon Emperor!”

“To think that a single painting could suppress a being as ancient as the Demon Emperor—this Young Master Chen is a true sage!”

“To be honest, I came all this way mainly to witness Young Master Chen for myself, but alas, he is not here.”

A chorus of agreement and lament rose among the crowd, regret written clearly on every face.

After the incident at the Demon Emperor’s Tomb, the name “Young Master Chen” had already spread throughout the Southern Domain. Most of those present had come for him—but he was absent.

Bing Changtian raised his hands, palms down, signaling the crowd to quiet. The scene immediately fell silent.

He looked to Bing Muer with a faint smile. “Muer, as you can hear, all these heroes are eager to behold Young Master Chen. So why has he not come to the celebration? I specifically told you in White Emperor City to bring him along.”

If Young Master Chen were here today, he could have eliminated both him and Bing Muer together—how much easier that would have been. Instead, after this celebration, he would still have to make a special trip to Qingshui Town to kill Young Master Chen.

“Hmph!”
Bing Muer snorted coldly, shaking her head. “Young Master Chen would never deign to attend such an event.”

Bing Changtian’s breath caught, a flash of annoyance passing through his eyes.

Arrogant to the extreme! Truly a man who deserves to die!

The crowd was stunned.

“Haha!”
Ever the master of diplomacy, Bing Changtian burst out laughing again. “Indeed—a sage possesses a proud and unyielding spirit. For Young Master Chen to disdain such a gathering is only natural. In his eyes, we are but ordinary mortals.”

“Well said!”
Someone agreed at once. “A man of such lofty character would not stoop to mingle with the likes of us.”

“It matters little that Young Master Chen is not here,” Bing Changtian declared. “Today’s celebration will still be a grand success. Although the painting that sealed the Demon Emperor was his, it was through the young princess’s close connection to him that the painting was bestowed upon her. Thus, the peace of the Southern Domain is still due to her great merit. For this, I wish to reward her with a rare treasure—the World of a Thousand Faces.”

It was time.

In the crowd, Nie Long’s face showed a faint, expectant smile.

Of all people, none knew better than he what lay within the World of a Thousand Faces.

Bing Muer had driven his son to destruction—he wished nothing more than to tear her to pieces!

Far off in the clouds, watching from above, Nalan Ruoshui frowned in puzzlement. “Isn’t the World of a Thousand Faces the sacred relic of the Thousand Dragons Sect? Why is it here in the Southern Domain City, and why is it to be awarded to the young princess? What exactly is the Duke of the Southern Domain plotting?”

She had already sensed this was a deadly trap for the princess, but Bing Changtian’s move left her confounded.

“A rare treasure—the World of a Thousand Faces?”

The representatives from the various powers in the City Lord’s Mansion had never heard of such a thing, and all looked on with curiosity.

By now, Bing Changtian had already produced the World of a Thousand Faces, and a surge of golden light erupted from it.

The crowd saw that it was an extraordinarily thick book—a volume bound in gilded metal, shining with golden brilliance, emanating an aura of mystery, antiquity, and holiness.

Clearly, this was no ordinary object.

“So this is the World of a Thousand Faces…”
Bing Muer, Elder Hua, Mu Wanqing, and the others also looked on in wonder.

Bing Changtian began his introduction. “This World of a Thousand Faces contains a thousand pages. Within it lies not only an ancient bloodline inheritance, but each page holds a small world of its own.”

A collective gasp emanated from the crowd, their faces a mix of awe and greed.

It was truly a rare treasure!

Bing Changtian was generous beyond words, bestowing such a treasure upon Bing Muer.

“This World of a Thousand Faces is truly astonishing.”
Even Bing Muer was shaken, turning to Elder Hua. “Elder Hua, have you ever heard of such a treasure existing in the Southern Domain City Lord’s Mansion?”

“Never.”
Elder Hua shook his head, then warned, “Princess, be on your guard. There may be deception.”

He never forgot that this so-called celebration was, in fact, a death trap set by Bing Changtian for her.

“Yes.”
Bing Muer nodded.