Under the cover of the Circle of Clear Skies’ technique, the skies above the Qinghui Territory were clear and cloudless. A Floating Battleship, its light-sails marked with the emblem of the Ring of Clear Skies, slowly approached.
As it neared the city’s outskirts, two smaller Floating Battleships from the Qinghui Territory imdiately rose to et it. After a brief identification check, they guided the visiting vessel to land at the sky-port.
"We have arrived at the largest city on the border, the rebuilt capital of the Qinghui Territory—Su Yue!"
"This place really doesn’t look like it was just reclaid from the Chaos Domain."
A Witch holding a parasol was the first to disembark from the Floating Battleship. She wore a gorgeous and exquisite knee-length dress, its lace trim and flared cuffs accentuating her fresh and lovely charm. A side-ponytail swept over her shoulder, partially obscuring her fair, smooth skin and alluring collarbone.
Beneath the hem of her dress, her full thighs were wrapped in white stockings, and the bodice of her gown was stretched taut over her ample bust, leaving not a single wrinkle.
She gazed out at the sprawling city, which already boasted tall buildings and wide streets. All sorts of lush vegetation were interspersed among the aesthetically pleasing architectural layout.
The structure of towering, flourishing trees and cold, hard steel created a unique kind of harmony.
’This must be more than twice the size of the Qinghui Territory’s previous capital, right?’
"It’s thanks to technological support from the Celestial Vault Kingdom."
Hecate followed close behind, adding coolly,
"This is just as I told you, Ailu’er. Anyone who cos into contact with Duke Qinghui finds themselves involuntarily drawn to him, willing to invest in and help him. On our way here, we should have already seen the defensive lines constructed in the Qinghui Territory. They are a hundred tis stronger than those in the rear."
"Don’t tell the Ring of Clear Skies is the only group that hasn’t sided with the Qinghui Territory yet? Sister Hecate, you make him sound so amazing. Now I’m even more curious."
Ailu’er’s pretty face wore a bright, elegant smile as she then turned her gaze to the platinum-blonde girl walking toward them.
"Welco to the Qinghui Territory, everyone. I am Yolanda of the Qinghui Clan. I have co to receive you on behalf of my elder brother."
Yolanda bowed her head slightly in greeting as she spoke.
"Is Duke Qinghui busy at the mont?"
Hecate asked. She was familiar with Westheid’s style of hospitality. He was guaranteed to make his guests feel as pleasant as a spring breeze—the very model of a wise and virtuous lord.
Logically, he wouldn’t leave important guests waiting.
"Yes. My brother is currently overseeing the advancent of the Qinghui Guard, so he truly could not spare the ti. He entrusted to welco the mbers of the Ring of Clear Skies."
"It’s no matter. It’s only natural for Duke Qinghui to be managing countless affairs; otherwise, it would be impossible for the Purity Forest to have taken on such a brand-new look in such a short ti."
Ailu’er waved her hand and said with a smile,
"And to be welcod so formally... we Demon Practitioners are truly flattered. We’ve never been able to act so openly in a formal territory of the Imperial."
"Not the Imperial."
Yolanda corrected her seriously.
"This is the Qinghui Territory. The Qinghui Territory that belongs to my brother. On this land, the rules established by the Qinghui Patriarch are everything, and the will of Duke Qinghui is absolute. Therefore, you do not need to abide by the laws of the Imperial."
’Huh? Isn’t the Branch of Prosperity a part of the Imperial system? Whoa, what you just said sounds a little treasonous.’
Ailu’er’s eyes narrowed slightly as she keenly perceived the aning behind Yolanda’s words. It was clear she didn’t want to be associated with the Radiant Holy Tree Empire.
’Are they so kind of Divine Separators?’
’And their contact with the Celestial Vault Kingdom, their acceptance of factions like the Ring of Clear Skies... Adding all these actions together, it seems Duke Qinghui has grand ambitions. Is he trying to establish his own sovereign rule?’
’He has a Celestial God to rely on, but instead, he wants to forge his own path... I can’t tell if that’s arrogance or confidence.’
Ailu’er pressed her lips together, a aningful smile gracing her face.
Yolanda turned to the side.
"This way, everyone. By the ti we arrive, my brother should be free."
There were four or five Witches who had accompanied Hecate to the Qinghui Territory to "observe," which was nearly half the mbers of the Ring of Clear Skies.
They rode a maglev train that went directly to Su Yue, taking in the scenery along the way. Thanks to the perfectionism of the Celestial Vault Kingdom and the high-class aesthetic of a certain White-haired Ancestor, the main cities they constructed were quite impressive.
And as the capital adjacent to the Purity Forest, Su Yue had been ticulously designed, possessing both the grandeur of modern industry and a refined, natural elegance.
Although the Qinghui Territory had a small population, the two towns of Ying River and Su Yue still had several hundred thousand people each. The core districts, at least, appeared bustling. All kinds of comrcial centers and entertainnt facilities were readily available. The Purity People strolled through the streets, shopping in groups of three or five, their laughter echoing.
"To be able to live and work in peace so quickly."
The Witches were quite moved, and even a little envious.
Wasn’t reclaiming their holand from the Chaos Domain and then returning to a peaceful and tranquil life the very goal the Ring of Clear Skies was striving for?
Yet, the Purity People had already achieved it.
The Witches’ reverie lasted until they passed by a training base.
On a vast lawn, hundreds and thousands of new recruits were drenched in sweat under the scorching sun, undergoing rigorous drills.
An instructor held a Spiritual Injection Staff, lashing at the recruits doing squats as he roared,
"Show so spirit! Is this how you train, all half-assed?"
"With an attitude like that, how can you help build up the Qinghui Territory? How can you repay the Lord’s kindness?!"
"If it weren’t for Your Majesty, would you, and your families, still be able to stay in Su Yue?"
"If you’re not dead, then train to death!"
One instructor went so far as to drive a dump truck, chasing after running recruits and yelling at the ones gasping for breath,
"What’s with that look on your face? And what’s with those tears? Can you defeat the enemy with tears?"
"Rember! There are not two suns in the sky, and in our hearts, there is only one sun: Duke Qinghui!"
"Loyalty!"
"......"
’This is complete pandemonium. And are they really allowed to shout slogans like that? "There are not two suns in the sky"... I’m not so sure about that.’
Yolanda could read the complex emotions on the Witches’ faces and explained,
"It’s just simple physical training. For ordinary people without aptitude to set foot on an Extraordinary Path, this tempering is necessary. They can quit at any ti, but to beco Guardians of Qinghui, they are willing to endure such hardship."
"As for those slogans, they are rely a natural outpouring of the people’s love and admiration for my brother. You don’t need to take them seriously."
’Do you really think we’d believe that?’
Ailu’er glanced at Hecate. The red-haired Witch’s face was also expressionless. So Ailu’er could only wrap a lock of hair from her shoulder around her finger and ask,
"I heard that the Qinghui Territory has developed a new Extraordinary Path? The Qinghui Guard... It seems to be modeled after the Army of Light?"
"To be precise, it references the Army of Light, uses the Magic To foundation of the Yonglan Knights, and of course, incorporates the unique characteristics of the Qinghui Territory. Recently, my brother seems to have also learned the modification techniques of the Celestial Vault People..."
’What kind of chira is that? Can all those things really be fused together?’
But hearing Yolanda’s description, the Witches’ curiosity as Scholars beca impossible to hide, and they looked over with burning gazes.
Seeing this, Yolanda smiled slightly and said,
"It is indeed difficult to explain. So, everyone, why not go and see for yourselves?"
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