Atop the high tower of the Holy Tree Palace, in the Regent King's chambers.
The boundless, brilliant morning light streamed through magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows, casting sunlight blessed by the Divine Ancestor into the bedroom. It shimmered upon the expensive, scarlet carpet.
And bathing in most of this sunlight was a beautiful woman, standing by the window, completely unclothed.
Outside the window, the bright, clear, azure sky was mostly covered by the Holy Tree Illusion.
Looking into the distance, one could see the festive cityscape of the Imperial Capital's Holy Root System, adorned with lanterns and decorations.
From the densely packed skyscrapers to the Wall of Paleness surrounding the Imperial Capital, and between them, countless magnificent Holy Halls, academies, guilds, and more.
The naked beauty quietly spread her arms, like a statue, allowing the handmaidens behind her to fit her with garments that expressed the Royal Family's authority without sacrificing Charm.
Today was the Empire's grandest celebration, the Holy Tree Festival in praise of the Divine Ancestor. The Regent King had to appear before the Imperial subjects with the utmost dignity and grace.
After trying on more than ten different outfits, she finally decided on a refined and gorgeous hunting-style battle dress for the Holy Tree Festival.
The handmaidens bowed respectfully and left the room, leaving the Imperial Regent King, Sylvia, the golden Child of the Radiant Holy Tree, alone to gaze absently at the buildings that represented prosperity and power.
All of it belonged to the Divine Ancestor's mortal representative, the Emperor of the Radiant Holy Tree Empire—the land, the properties, the armies, the merchant guilds...
...and the people: poor and rich, strong and weak, noble and humble.
Hundreds of millions of Imperial subjects all prostrated themselves, accepting the judgment of the Divine Ancestor's emissary, the Emperor of the Empire.
Whenever she thought about how her every action could decide the fates of thousands, Sylvia felt a deep, genuine sense of joy and magnanimity. 'To wield the authority of a ruler, to judge and balance all the different factions... what a fascinating thing it is.'
Sylvia reluctantly tore her gaze away and left her chambers.
As was customary, the Regent King first went to the Great Holy Hall to receive the divine oracle from the priests.
"Your Highness, the Divine Ancestor's decree has been issued. The Secret Realm Trial will begin tonight. All the central cities of the Empire will participate and broadcast it simultaneously. The Tier restriction for this Trial is below the Hero Tier."
"Tier Five? That's quite unusual. It seems this Secret Realm Trial is going to be a grand affair."
Sylvia was slightly surprised. The Secret Realm Trial for each Holy Tree Festival was different, and depending on the situation, the Divine Ancestor would set a limit, only allowing people below a certain Tier to participate.
Otherwise, if they let one Legendary Powerhouse after another run into the Divine Ancestor's Trial, it would just be a pure slaughter. The Divine Ancestor couldn't just raise the Trial's difficulty, as that would greatly ruin the experience for lower-Tier Transcendents.
Besides, what the Divine Ancestor wanted to see was by no means a martial arts tournament for a few Powerhouses. Even Legendary Powerhouses were probably just like fighting crickets in the eyes of a Celestial God. What the Celestial God cherished were always the moving and tragic stories of Heroes.
After all, the supreme Celestial God had also once ascended to the Supreme Heaven step by step from a mere mortal. The purpose of the Trial, in the end, was to please the Divine Ancestor.
"Since that's the case, release the information to the public. The major cities within the Empire can begin their preparations. Register the participants. Tonight, the Holy Tree Palace will also be open to the entire Imperial Capital. All Imperial subjects should enjoy themselves to the fullest during the Holy Tree Festival."
"The Royal Guard will be working overtime. All Guards must ensure the security of the Imperial Capital during the Holy Tree Festival. In the Upper City District..."
"Also, any friendly nations or outsiders who have arrived in the Imperial Capital as guests during this time must be properly received. I will personally meet with any important figures."
His Royal Highness Regent King methodically issued directives to her accompanying attendants, arranging the work for the Holy Tree Festival.
"His Royal Highness Regent King, Prince Yaligong has returned."
Speaking of important figures, the attendant had no choice but to remind Sylvia:
"He arrived last night through the Star Gate, but His Highness Yaligong did not come to the Holy Tree Palace. Instead, he has remained on his Floating Battleship."
"My little brother... he certainly isn't one to play by the rules. Never mind him. I will go see him later."
The Regent King pursed her lips and said.
"In addition, of the Branch of Prosperity you invited to the celebration, only Yuanxi Palace and the Shadow Flame Duke have arrived in the Imperial Capital."
'The Branch of Prosperity... are they finally drifting further and further from the Empire?'
Sylvia didn't sound particularly disappointed to hear this. Although she was the Imperial Regent King and could, in theory, act on the Emperor's behalf and issue commands to any of the Imperial Nobility, the Branch of Prosperity was not among them. This title had been a rather distorted system from its very inception.
Rather than being a part of the Empire, these Autocratic Dukes were more like petty kings of independent kingdoms. The only thing they were responsible for to the Empire was their duty on the frontiers. Beyond that, they didn't have to follow Imperial policy at all. Not even the Emperor had the right to interfere in the territories of the Branch of Prosperity.
"Forget it. If the other members of the Branch of Prosperity didn't come, then they didn't come. Besides, given the current situation, it doesn't matter whether they're here or not."
After busily arranging all matters, Sylvia finally had a moment to board the Floating Battleship and see her younger brother, Prince Yaligong.
His Imperial Highness Prince had inherited a head of vibrant, fiery-red, choppy hair from his mother. He wore a scarlet cloak over magnificent battle armor, sitting on a long sofa and downing cup after cup of wine.
His resolute and stern profile seemed forged from steel, with sharp, defined features. His aggressive, amber eyes stared blankly in the direction of the Holy Tree Palace.
The Regent King spoke first. "Yaligong, long time no see. I heard you've won a few more victories on the border?"
"Just a ridiculous bunch of raiding barbarians from the Barbarian Race. They're nothing compared to the Chaos Tide."
"That's still a remarkable victory," the Regent King said. "I thought you would stay on the frontier. I didn't expect you to find the time to come back."
"It's the Holy Tree Festival, after all. Unless I absolutely can't get away, I'd rather come home."
Yaligong put down the wine cup in his hand and looked toward the Holy Tree Palace outside the battleship's floor-to-ceiling window, his expression filled with loathing.
"But the moment I think about that bastard still being at home, I don't want to go anywhere near the Holy Tree Palace. She has defiled the entire Holy Tree Palace, the entire Royal Family... The bastard who got my mother killed is still alive, living openly in the Holy Tree Palace. It makes me sick."
"..."
Sylvia was speechless. If you had to name the person in the Royal Family who hated Reiya the most, it would undoubtedly be Prince Yaligong, standing right before her. Ever since his mother died after being caught up in the turmoil from sixteen years ago, Yaligong had hated his younger half-sister.
The lion-like Prince stood up and sneered.
"Hmph. But perhaps the Divine Ancestor wants to torture that bastard properly. Heh. Letting her suffer in despair would be a fitting punishment."
'That's probably not going to go the way you want.'
Sylvia recalled that Westheid had been getting very close with Reiya recently, and she raised an eyebrow.
But since Yaligong hadn't heard about it, the Regent King wasn't about to bring it up and risk provoking him for no reason. No, it might even escalate directly into a rather unpleasant conflict.
To prevent such a terrible situation from occurring, Sylvia summoned the Royal Guard Captain and instructed him to keep a close watch on Reiya, ensuring she did not appear before Yaligong.