Compared to the bustling Hedan City, the Royal Palace seemed exceptionally quiet. Any typical foolish king might indulge in extravagant pleasures, but this particular King was as strict as a monk. There were no activities within the palace except on specific festivals.
Fortunately, Estella had the Hex Bird Report. At this moment, the Princess was especially excited, her emotions stirred. The story of "Revenge at Utopia Mountain" was entirely different from anything she had heard or seen before, like a perspective from another world. She had never imagined a novel could be described from such an angle.
This was exactly her type, filled with anticipation. It was a pity that the Red-robed Archbishop was dead. Could Dantes escape that prison, and might he find the treasure of the unknown gods?
Just the thought of the ancient gods' treasure was thrilling. She tried to casually mention visiting the monastery again, but her mother immediately objected. She didn't dare insist; if it drew her mother's attention, her future outings would be blocked.
Estella was brimming with energy and couldn't sleep, while Keli was snoring away, enveloped by the fur she loved.
How about a night exploration of the largest treasury of the Dao Yuan Continent?
Before long, Estella was familiar as ever, appearing at the treasury's entrance. Layers of guards and checkpoints could not stop "Your Majesty." Though she could go herself, it was the middle of the night, and the guards would surely report to her father, inevitably leading to a long lecture—something she couldn't stand. So she used the monastery's mask to disguise herself as her father. Imitating her father's serious expression was the easiest thing in the world.
The guards certainly didn't dare to stop her, allowing Estella to walk unimpeded into the treasury. Despite the dazzling array of treasures, she had no interest. In the innermost part, instead of treasures, the inner vault held some old armor. Her father had told her they were war mementos left by ancestors, not to be desecrated, and forbade her from entering again. Estella indeed had no interest in those old armors and weapons.
But this time, she thought that if the treasury had any special mechanisms or secret passages, they would most likely be in this inner vault.
The inner vault was very messy, as if it hadn't been approached in a long time, covered in dust and cobwebs. If it were as her father said, should she show some respect and clean it a bit?
Not afraid of dirt and disorder, Estella began searching for a secret passage, rummaging back and forth, but there really was just a pile of old armor. Estella was speechless. Were the stories all fake, or did her kingdom lack the depth to have a treasury within a treasury?
Estella leaned against the statue of the Earth Mother Goddess, probably the only clean place in the vault. As one who was blessed by the goddess, leaning on the statue wasn't disrespectful, was it? She was a bit tired from the search.
Suddenly, Estella felt odd. Why would there be a statue of the Earth Mother Goddess here? Why was it surrounded by a pile of old armors? Her father said it was to keep these meaningful items bathed in the goddess's aura.
Something's not right, very unusual. Her father usually lacked patience with her, except for this matter, which he explained very clearly. This was also why Estella had lost interest here.
There might be a great secret inside.
Estella hurriedly stood up and respectfully saluted the statue of the Earth Mother Goddess. Being a blessed one of the goddess, she felt a sense of closeness upon seeing the statue. She then began to observe her surroundings. There would typically be some mechanism, but the area was barren without any sign of a mechanism. Estella looked around, feeling there wasn't an apparent secret door, yet vaguely felt something particularly familiar was calling her.
A hallucination?
Estella walked around a bit longer but found nothing. She wasn't adept at unlocking hidden mechanisms anyway.
Just as Estella was about to leave, she suddenly had a whim. Her Divine Relic, the Ring of Abundance, activated, filling the entire treasury with its power.
Suddenly, the statue of the Earth Mother Goddess opened its eyes, golden light shooting towards Estella, and in the next moment, Estella vanished on the spot.
An indescribable comfort engulfed Estella, warm and full of a strong sense of safety and attraction, reminiscent of being cradled in her mother's arms as a child. Before long, Estella woke from the hazy state, opened her eyes, and unfamiliar crisp sounds, seemingly of birds and insects, reached her ears.
Estella was astonished by everything before her.
She seemed to be in a massive cavern world, teeming with life. All the plants glowed gold, and before her stood a hundred-meter-tall Golden Tree, branches lush and expansive, as if to block out the sky, exuding golden light and vibrant life force. The strong warmth and familiarity emanated from the Golden Tree.
The Golden Tree is Moncalleta's national symbol. The legend of the Golden Tree had circulated across the Dao Yuan Continent, sought after by many secret powers, yet its existence was always unknown. The Golden Tree was the lifeblood of the Moncalleta Kingdom and the Earth Mother Goddess's greatest blessing to this land.
The legend realized—the mother tree of everything in the Moncalleta fairy tale.
In her excitement, Estella quickly calmed down because she saw two familiar figures beneath the tree: her father and brother. If her father discovered her, she would be in big trouble.
Estella quickly found a hiding spot by a stone wall. She had long heard the tale—Moncalleta Kingdom possesses a Tree of Life which ensures the kingdom's fruitful prosperity. Undoubtedly, it's the Golden Tree before her, explaining why only the Moncalleta royal family possesses the Wood of Life, likely parts of the Tree of Life that had withered.
Even the withered parts are incredibly valuable materials for hidden powers.
During her exploration, she indeed uncovered a great secret. Instinctively, Estella rubbed her face. Was this a dream? But with a swipe, a human face mask fell off. At some point, the secret mask had lost its efficacy and couldn't be used no matter how she tried.
Estella carefully removed it and tucked it safely in her bosom, making sure it wasn't damaged.
Ola the Eighteenth and the Crown Prince Hokele stood diminutively under the Golden Tree, attentively inspecting the state of the Tree of Life. "Father, everything is well. The nation's prosperity is strong, and although there are some minor issues, they've been resolved, and the future will get better. By harnessing the Wish Power from the coming Glory Battle, we can ensure the mother tree absorbs enough power."
The organization of the Glory Battle was primarily managed by him, and Hokele strove to make it a grand festival, selecting a new generation of pillars for the nation, providing them a stage to enhance their power, and replenishing the Golden Tree's strength, achieving multiple goals.
Ola the Eighteenth gently stroked the Golden Tree, nodding, "We cannot be complacent. Many secret organizations have already entered Hedan. They intend to share the spoils."
"Several neutral associations have been notified, and they are not inclined towards the Knightly Path; they likely just want to benefit. The usual rule applies," Hokele said. The kingdom generally maintains good relations and balance with those ancient and powerful secret organizations. Of course, those organizations must also abide by the rules, and as for the petty ones, they will naturally be dealt with as necessary. "I believe in my second brother. Though he seems careless at times, he has his style of doing things and shows affinity. He demonstrated considerable wisdom during the duel between Didia and Simmons."
Ola the Eighteenth nodded, "Finally, a reliable matter. Didia could be reused, while Simmons should be further observed."
Hokele agreed, "Making such a decision could not have been easy for Didia—brave, wise, and discerning. Loyal to the kingdom, he'll be a helper to me."
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.