93: Chapter 85 The Princess of Fengdu Arrives at Lutai

The sensation of weightlessness receded like a tide. The moment the white light dissipated, an aroma of wine so thick it was intoxicating, mixed with the cloying scent of cosmetics, violently drilled into her nostrils.

Her vision instantly widened. Beneath her feet was no longer the cramped concrete floor of the archives, but a smooth, white marble plaza.

Above, at a height of a hundred meters, the sea of clouds churned. The evening breeze whipped the windbreakers of the three of them, making them snap loudly.

Xu Mo habitually pushed up his glasses and quickly scanned their surroundings.

This was an extremely lavish open-air high platform.

Hundreds of bronze pillars were hung with rare birds and strange beasts, roasted until the fat was dripping and golden brown. Below, the pond shimmered, and it was entirely filled with spilled fine wine.

"A pool of wine and a forest of meat," Lin Sa murmured softly, the dagger in her hand silently sliding into her palm.

On the plaza, dozens of yin-shang dynasty nobles, dressed in silk and adorned with intricate bone ornaments, were sprawled on the ground, sitting or leaning haphazardly.

They were embracing scantily clad female slaves, drinking heartily, the ground littered with sights too vulgar to look at.

The dull sound of bronze bianzhong bells rang incessantly, perfectly masking the wails rising from beneath the clouds.

The modern attire of Pei Duo and the other two looked like three intruders in this savage party where people still ate raw meat and drank blood.

The sound of the bianzhong abruptly stopped.

A noble who had been burying his face in the wine pool to drink wildly looked up. Through his drunken, hazy eyes, he made out the trio's attire, and the bronze jue in his hand clanged as it fell to the ground.

The entire place fell silent.

Immediately following the silence came an explosion of angry curses.

"Who are these reckless fools! How dare they trespass on Deer Terrace!"

A thunderous roar erupted. A yin-shang general, two meters tall and wearing a terrifying bronze beast-face mask, drew his heavy sword, radiating murderous intent.

"Assassins! Protect the Royal—!!"

At his cry, the heavily armored warriors who had been standing like statues in the shadows of the jade pillars instantly came alive.

Dozens of elite yin-shang soldiers, holding long halberds and clad in black armor, surged forward like a black tide.

"Clang!"

The sound of weapons colliding was perfectly synchronized. The cold gleam of the war halberds reflected the sunlight, instantly surrounding Pei Duo and the other two, sealing off all escape routes.

The nobles who had just been enjoying themselves with female slaves were terrified, scrambling and crawling away, retreating behind the heavily armored soldiers.

"What strange clothes they wear? They must be assassins sent by Xiqi!"

"Chop them up! Throw them into the wine pool to feed the fish!"

With the soldiers acting as shields, the fear on the faces of these nobles immediately turned into vicious mockery.

The air was thick with a chilling, bloody scent.

"Prepare to break through," Xu Mo snorted coldly, pinching the faint green underworld emissary token between his fingers as yin energy swirled around him.

Lin Sa bent slightly at the waist, idly playing with her dagger, her gaze locked onto the masked general, just waiting for a signal to strike.

Facing this deadly situation fraught with peril, Pei Duo didn't even blink.

Instead, she reached out and gently restrained the dagger Lin Sa was about to raise.

Lin Sa paused, instinctively turning her head to the side.

She saw Pei Duo, clad in her combat boots, slowly and deliberately take half a step forward. She positioned herself directly in front of Xu Mo and Lin Sa, facing the menacing array of halberds alone.

There was no panic, much less any sign of retreat.

She stood there casually, back ramrod straight, her gaze sweeping over the murderous armored soldiers. That look was exactly like a top boss inspecting the security guards of her own property.

"What? Is the hospitality of the yin-shang dynasty to point this pile of scrap metal in the faces of your guests?"

Pei Duo's voice was not loud, and her tone was frighteningly steady.

The bronze-masked general was momentarily stunned by her 'who do you think you are' aura, then he erupted in fury: "You dare to be arrogant when death is imminent! Chop her up for me—"

"Zheng!"

The heavy sword was raised overhead, clearly about to cleave down.

At that critical moment.

"All of you—Stand down for this Princess!"

A sweet, sharp cry suddenly rang out. The voice was sickeningly sweet, yet carried a chill that could freeze a person's bones.

The general's heavy sword halted stiffly in mid-air.

He looked as if he had heard a death sentence decree. His face instantly turned pale, and cold sweat poured down.

He quickly sheathed his sword and dropped to one knee with a thud.

"My... My Princess..."

The surrounding nobles who had been shouting demands to kill also fell silent collectively, like screeching chickens whose necks had been wrung.

At the highest point of Deer Terrace, the pearl curtain was slowly lifted. A slender, white hand wearing gold foil finger guards emerged.

A woman of indescribable allure, draped in a large red feather cloak, walked down the white jade steps barefoot.

The golden bells on her ankles jingled, each sound striking the heartstrings of every man present.

The Nine-Tailed Fox, Daji.

The last consort of the Shang Dynasty, and also the final BOSS of this A-rank instance.

The demonic aura emanating from this woman was unfathomably deep; even a mere wisp made people gasp for breath.

However, this great demon who could casually crush a patch of players didn't even spare a glance for the heavily armored soldiers beside her.

She walked straight up to Pei Duo.

Her captivating fox eyes blinked. Not only did they show no murderous intent, but they were instead filled with fervent reverence.

Under the bewildered gazes of hundreds of NPCs who felt like they were seeing a ghost in broad daylight, this top-tier, nation-ruining demon consort actually lifted the hem of her skirt and performed a perfect, standard courtier's bow toward Pei Duo.

"I did not realize the Eldest Princess of Fengdu was gracing us with her presence. This consort failed to welcome Your Highness properly; please forgive my oversight."

Daji raised her head, her face, capable of toppling cities and nations, was covered in an extremely practiced, fawning smile:

"These fools below lack foresight and have disturbed Your Highness's arrival. If Your Highness gives the word, this consort will immediately flay them and lay down a carpet of their skins to appease Your anger."

"Hiss—"

A collective sharp intake of breath swept across the plaza.

The noble who had been shouting the loudest didn't dare cry out in pain even when he smashed his wine cup onto his own foot.

The yin-shang soldiers trembled like sieves.

The Eldest Princess? Fengdu?!

That was the Eastern Underworld, which governed life and death reincarnation, a power even the gods and buddhas in the heavens dared not provoke!

In contrast, behind Pei Duo, Xu Mo and Lin Sa looked completely calm.

Having witnessed the Death Gods of the maya divine kingdom line up to kneel and slide, the two were long accustomed to this kind of treatment where a 'max-level powerhouse shields them'.

Xu Mo even leisurely put away his underworld emissary token, his heart utterly placid.

Lin Sa directly tucked her dagger back into her waist, crossed her arms, and settled into a posture of watching a show.

Pei Duo looked down at the peerless demoness kneeling at her feet, her tone as calm as if she were making small talk.

"Flaying them is unnecessary; it's too messy and unappetizing to look at."

Upon hearing this, Daji was not angry at all; instead, she laughed so hard her sleeves fluttered.

She nimbly stood up, swiftly adopting the role of the number one lackey, and gestured to the side with an inviting hand:

"Your Highness is merciful! Since Your Highness has arrived, please proceed to the main seat first and sample the humble wine of Deer Terrace. This consort will immediately command preparations for the 'Star-Plucking Night Banquet' in the rear hall tonight, ensuring Your Highness is fully satisfied."

Pei Duo accepted without ceremony, leading Xu Mo and Lin Sa, and swaggered onto the high platform.

She sat directly on the wide main seat that originally belonged to Daji.

Looking down from above, she surveyed the entire assembly.

"Stop kneeling. Eat what you want and drink what you want," Pei Duo said casually, supporting her chin with one hand.

"Thank you, Eldest Princess!"

The nobles and soldiers below felt as if they had received a general amnesty. They scrambled back to their original positions, but they were all as obedient as quails, even suppressing their breathing sounds. The tense atmosphere of the banquet finally began to ease slightly.

Daji gracefully approached, personally picked up the wine pot, and attentively poured a cup of wine for Pei Duo.

While pouring the wine, she used the cover of her wide sleeves to subtly sweep her fox eyes over Pei Duo's body.

This Eldest Princess truly possessed not even the slightest fluctuation of divine power on her person.

After pouring the wine, Daji gracefully retreated and sat in the side seat next to her.

"A little interesting," Daji raised her own jue cup, her wide, flowing sleeves obscuring half of her bewitching face. A hint of playfulness flashed in her fox eyes, her gaze so deep that it was impossible to fathom what she was plotting.