Terrifying aftershocks of Spiritual Energy still rippled through the hall, yet the Three Emperors could only gape at the small figure before them.
For the Sky Vulture Emperor and the Spiritual Pupils Emperor, this was the first time they had ever seen Mandala's true form.
Who could have imagined that once the light around the Domain Ruler dispersed, it would reveal such a pretty little girl?
Only the Sleeping Emperor showed little surprise, as though he had known all along.
Beside Xiao Ming, Qing Yanjing wore a peculiar expression. Her earlier musing had been nothing more than an idle fancy. She had never expected the illustrious ruler of the Great Havenlaw Domain, whose name resounded across the Northern Region, to actually turn out to be a girl, if a rather petite one.
A casual blow had knocked her true form into the open, and Mandala's expression turned grave. Light welled up in her purple eyes and swept over Xiao Ming's body, probing for the true measure of his strength.
No matter how she searched, she sensed only power as vast and boundless as the starry sky. She could not see its limits, let alone find a weakness.
She understood that she was no match for him. He had suppressed her with a casual gesture, so she made no further move.
As the saying went, those who understand the times are wise, and Mandala was no stubborn hothead. She straightened respectfully. "Senior, your strength is formidable. May I ask what brings you to my Great Havenlaw Domain? This junior will do everything in her power to cooperate..."
Even as she spoke, part of her regretted her rashness. She should have read the situation more carefully first.
But the title of Heavenly Emperor meant far too much to her.
Xiao Ming saw how tense she was and waved a hand with a smile. "Do not be nervous. You may be a Primordial Mandala Flower, but this Emperor has no intention of eating you. That said, there is one matter that requires your cooperation."
"This Emperor intends to found the Heavenly Court here and take the Great Havenlaw Domain under his command. In return, this Emperor will purge the curse afflicting you and help you recover your true body from the Ancient Haven Palace. What do you say?"
"What!"
Mandala's pupils shrank as the string of words poured from his mouth, and indescribable shock spread across her small face. Her true body and the Ancient Haven Palace were secrets buried deep in her heart, things she had never told a single soul. How could this man possibly know?
"This Emperor knows you have many questions, but do not ask. Even if you do, this Emperor will not answer. You need only know that this Emperor has the strength to keep these promises."
Xiao Ming glanced at her, and his aura erupted without warning. Apart from him and his two companions, everyone in the hall was forced to the floor beneath its overwhelming weight.
"This strength... a Heavenly Sovereign!"
Mandala had once lived at the ancient Heavenly Emperor's side, and she knew this pressure intimately. Only a Heavenly Sovereign could command such might, and the expert before her was exactly that!
"Heavenly Emperor, I am willing to serve under you!"
Mandala cried out the words without a moment's hesitation. It was not as if she were selling her body. She was only becoming someone's subordinate, and on extraordinarily generous terms. What was there to hesitate over? As for how this Heavenly Emperor knew her secrets, that did not really matter.
The instant she finished, the mountain-heavy pressure ebbed away like a receding tide.
The Three Emperors and Jiu You let out long, heavy breaths. A moment ago, they had truly believed they would be crushed to death.
Then it sank in that Xiao Ming was a Heavenly Sovereign and that they now served under him. Excitement surged through the Three Emperors.
A Heavenly Sovereign!
One who stood at the pinnacle of the Great Thousand World!
A single meeting with such a figure was enough for most people to boast about for the rest of their lives, and now they would be serving under him. How could they not be thrilled?
More importantly, any faction with a Heavenly Sovereign at its head was bound to be a superpower, and its resources far exceeded anything they currently had.
They had heard tales of the ancient Heavenly Emperor too. This new Heavenly Emperor surely had not come to Skylaw Continent just to build some minor faction. One day, he might even unify the whole continent.
As founding members of the Heavenly Court, they could expect positions of real standing in the future.
Had the timing allowed it, the Three Emperors would have thrown back their heads and let out a long cry to declare their loyalty, if only to release the excitement swelling in their chests.
Mandala was far more composed. Now that she had entered the new Heavenly Emperor's service, what concerned her most was when he could purge the curse from her body.
The curse dated back to ancient times. Someone had ambushed her and left it inside her.
It tormented her with constant agony, pain severe enough to torture a 9th Grade Sovereign until their soul scattered to nothing.
The curse also flared up at regular intervals and forced her to spend long stretches in seclusion holding it at bay. That was why she left most of the Great Havenlaw Domain's affairs to the Three Emperors.
Now that it could finally be dispelled, she naturally wanted it gone as soon as possible.
When she asked when he could lift the curse, Xiao Ming beckoned to her. "Right now, if you wish. Come here."
Mandala hesitated briefly, then stepped up to him. Xiao Ming remained seated on the throne and touched a fingertip to her forehead. A green flame, fluid as liquid, condensed there. The temperature around them climbed steadily, and wherever the flame burned, images of countless plants could be seen slowly unfurling.
With the touch of his finger, an immensely powerful and pure energy flooded into Mandala's body along with the flame. The curse that had clung to her for so long seemed to sense danger and began to thrash violently.
"Ah!"
Mandala cried out in pain. The curse woven through her flesh erupted, and black thorns burst out of her body. Like living things, they bit tight into her flesh and writhed like venomous snakes, greedily sucking at her blood essence.
As more and more thorns emerged, Mandala's fair, delicate skin slowly darkened to an eerie black.
Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow and poured in more power. Emerald flames swallowed the thorns. For all the uncanny aura they gave off, the thorns now let out heart-rending wails, like damned spirits enduring some terrible torment in hell.
The flames rolled onward. Wherever they passed, the thorns shriveled and lost their vitality inch by inch.
The thorns struggled desperately, but it did them no good at all.
Most of Mandala's pain fell away at once. An indescribable tingling spread through her whole body in its place, and she lost her footing and slumped against Xiao Ming's chest where he sat on the throne.
Xiao Ming wrapped an arm around her petite frame. Her body felt soft and silky smooth beneath his hand.
Once the worst of her pain had passed, Xiao Ming left a cluster of green flame inside her and spoke with a light smile. "The rest is up to you. If you can absorb half of the Life Spirit Flame's energy, not only will the curse be gone, but your strength will rise substantially."
Mandala did not answer. She stayed nestled against his chest without moving at all, her eyes squeezed shut.
Black wisps rose from her and dissolved into the air. Anyone could see that she was fighting hard to drive out the curse.
"Mmm~"
Before long, a soft moan escaped her, carrying a lightness she had never known before. Then she opened her eyes and came back to herself…