Douluo Continent: Getting Stronger After Heartbreak

Chapter 26 Walking the Red Carpet

Time flies, and half a year has passed in a flash.

When the day of the court ceremony performance arrived, the entire noble circle of the Heavenly Dou Imperial City became lively.

The etiquette training course, held every few years, is considered a major event in the Heavenly Dou Imperial City, especially for the noble circles, as it is a rare opportunity for them to gather together.

Almost every family has descendants participating, and if a younger member of any family wins first place in the performance, it will be an honor that everyone will remember.

The Tiandou Palace was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of vehicles and people.

Inside a vast palace within the royal palace, countless young men and women moved back and forth, guiding distinguished guests to their seats.

"That is..."

Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned to the palace gate, because Emperor Xueye had stood up from his seat and was heading towards the gate.

"Sect Leader Ning, Sword Douluo, welcome, welcome!"

With his cheerful and magnanimous voice, the nobles realized the identities of the two men and immediately stood up to greet Ning Fengzhi and his companions.

This is the treatment given to the three major sects on the mainland!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ning Fengzhi was extremely courteous when facing Emperor Xueye.

The group took their seats in the center of the hall, and by this time all the royal family members and nobles who were supposed to arrive had also arrived.

"Huh? Rongrong and Qin Jian haven't come in yet? Isn't today their graduation performance?" Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but ask.

It had been half a year since they last met, and he couldn't help but miss them terribly.

He wasn't a Sword Douluo who could fly around freely and occasionally even fly into the palace to visit. After all, he was the head of a sect, so naturally he couldn't freely enter and leave the palace.

"Sect Leader Ning, rest assured, I've heard that this performance is extremely grand, so your entrance will be quite special," Emperor Xueye said with a smile.

Ning Fengzhi placed his hands on his cane and nodded slightly: "Then I'll have to wait and see."

"Sect Leader Ning, I've heard something interesting about this graduation performance..."

Emperor Xueye suddenly said, "Qinghe and Xueke made a bet with Rongrong and Qin Jian to see who can get first place in the graduation performance."

"Oh?"

Ning Fengzhi asked with slight interest, "Winning first place isn't easy. What did they bet on?"

"Hahaha…"

Emperor Xueye couldn't help but laugh and said, "Xueke, Rongrong gave up the Qin Sword, but Rongrong coveted Xueke's Soul Hunting Ground qualification."

"Um?"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback, then asked with some doubt, "Isn't Rongrong qualified?"

Emperor Xueye shook his head: "I don't know what's going on."

"Children's bets shouldn't be taken too seriously," Ning Fengzhi said.

Emperor Xueye nodded and said no more.

"Uncle Jian, what do you think?"

Ning Fengzhi whispered to the Sword Douluo beside him, "Why would Rongrong make such a bet? I remember that getting first place in the performance is very difficult. She's never been very disciplined growing up. Can she really do it well...?"

Sword Douluo thought for a moment and said, "I guess Rongrong asked for the spot for Qin Jian. She probably doesn't want to be separated from Qin Jian..."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi immediately felt that it was highly likely.

"I only didn't try to get a spot for Qin Jian because you told me, Uncle Jian, that he didn't need to enter the Soul Hunting Grounds to obtain his second soul ring. I didn't expect that little Rongrong would do it herself..."

Ning Fengzhi said irritably, "Being so clingy to Qin Jian is really... What if we lose? How will we explain ourselves then? Ugh, what a headache..."

Sword Douluo couldn't help but smile and comforted him, "Sect Master, don't worry too much. With Jian'er here, he'll definitely find a way."

"That's true, Qin Jian is much more reliable."

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

During their conversation, some changes occurred at the entrance to the main hall.

Young men and women carried a long red carpet, slowly spreading it from inside the hall to outside, attracting everyone's attention.

"A red carpet? What's going on here? We've never done this before, have we?"

The nobles whispered among themselves and looked at each other in bewilderment.

At this moment, the band inside the hall began to play music, and the gentle, flowing melody gradually soothed everyone's emotions.

Just now.

Two figures, one tall and one short, dressed in magnificent palace attire, slowly walked into the palace gate. They walked with solemnity and grace with every step.

The elegant demeanor and magnificent attire instantly conveyed an extremely noble visual impression.

It wasn't until they stood on the central stage of the main hall that the many noble elders gradually came to their senses.

"They are the Crown Prince and Princess of the Empire!"

"Truly worthy of being a member of the royal family, even though he is young, his demeanor is truly remarkable."

"..."

The nobles were generous with their praise for Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke's appearance, which pleased Emperor Xue Ye greatly.

"Haha, I didn't expect them to put on such a red carpet entrance, how interesting!" he laughed loudly.

This immediately drew another wave of praise and agreement.

As pairs of elegantly dressed young men and women continued to enter, the discussions within the palace never ceased.

This was also the first time they had ever seen such an entrance ceremony.

"I wonder what it will be like when Rongrong and Qin Jian make their appearance."

Ning Fengzhi revealed an expectant look.

Sword Douluo also stared curiously at the palace gate.

But the figure they were hoping for never appeared, until…

A white light suddenly appeared at the palace gate…

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and then they saw two snow-white figures slowly stepping forward against the light.

"despair."

Even though the footsteps couldn't be heard, that pause felt like it had stepped on everyone's heart.

Almost all eyes were focused on them, and then two snow-white figures appeared in their sight.

They were all dressed in white; the boy wore a suit with a swallowtail hem, and the girl wore a beautiful long dress with a flowing hem.

Unlike the elaborate costumes of others, their combination of elaborate and simple attire created a more harmonious look.

Snow-white was a color rarely seen in court settings; nobles were more commonly dressed in gold or silver. So this sudden combination of snow colors immediately amazed them.

Moreover, the boy and girl did not walk in side by side like the others, and their demeanor exuded a refreshing charm.

The girl gently linked her right arm with the boy's left arm as they walked, nodding slightly to each other in a gesture that was neither overtly friendly nor distant.

If one had to describe their temperament, it would be elegant and harmonious, noble yet not arrogant.

Instantly, it overturned the impression left by each group before, even Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke were no exception.

"It's Rongrong and Qin Jian!"

Ning Fengzhi and the other man's eyes lit up.

At this moment, the young boy and girl had arrived at the center of the stage. Facing Emperor Xueye and Ning Fengzhi, they smiled softly, then touched their hearts and bowed slightly. After that, they turned around and slowly walked towards their positions.

Elegance, grace, nobility, and approachability—these qualities are magically combined together.

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

(End of this chapter)