My Celestial Ascension Chapter 905: Princess Nerith

After a while, the group made their way back to the palace once their city tour concluded. Regrettably, none of the stores held anything truly noteworthy or precious.

As they stepped inside the palace, Empress Varia was spotted conversing with a woman dressed in complete armor, her physique robust and commanding—much like that of Valeria and Vrasha.

Her silver locks cascaded down to her waist, and her face bore a chilly, detached look. What stood out most were her eyes—one pure white, the other deep black.

From her form, Yuan and his companions detected an intense aura, far surpassing even the Emperor's in power.

"Oh? Back so soon from your outing? What did you think? Did the city catch your fancy?" Empress Varia inquired with a gentle smile the moment she spotted their arrival.

"We had a great time. The cuisine was superb, and the citizens appeared content with their existence," Yuan answered, smiling in return.

"I see..." Empress Varia nodded approvingly and went on, "Incidentally, allow me to introduce Princess Nerith from the Demonic Empire. She's Rhex's sibling and has come back from the frontier bearing updates on the Undead.

Directing her words to Princess Nerith, Empress Varia continued, "These are the individuals we discussed before. I trust you won't act impulsively toward our honored visitors, yes?"

"Oh, come on! Varia, do you really believe I'd cause a scene here? Do I strike you as some wild animal?" Nerith rolled her eyes in irritation before turning her attention to Yuan and the group.

She rose from the couch and approached Yuan with a frosty demeanor, locking eyes with him intensely, which instantly filled Empress Varia with alarm.

'Not now, Nerith! Please don't pull any stunts at this moment!' Empress Varia cried out in her mind, her pulse racing wildly.

'What exactly is this lady up to? Attempting to scare me? Or perhaps gauging my reaction?' Yuan met Nerith's stare with a bewildered face, unsure of her motives.

"Hmmm... So you're Yuan, aren't you?" she questioned after scrutinizing his features for several moments, her tone icy and infused with dominance and arrogance.

"Correct. Do you need something from me?" Yuan responded, eyeing her with interest.

'Why does this moment feel so familiar?' Valeria pondered, gazing at the woman in front of her with a puzzled expression.

"I can't explain it, but upon laying eyes on you, a fierce desire to battle you surges within me... There's an odd vibe about you," Nerith stated with a subtle smirk, fixing her stare on him.

'This lady... she has the fabled Yin-Yang Pupils. How can this be?! In a realm such as this, how could a myth like that manifest?!' Long Yuyan exclaimed silently, gawking at Nerith in astonishment.

Nerith caught Long Yuyan's peculiar look and furrowed her brow lightly. "Hmm? What's wrong? Do I have something on my face?"

"N-No... It's merely your eyes. They caught me off guard since I know what they are," Long Yuyan answered steadily.

Nerith arched her eyebrows and whispered, "How peculiar... These eyes have been with me since birth, and we've never crossed paths. So how do you know of them?"

"Sadly, I can't reveal that to you," Long Yuyan said with a gentle exhale.

'Such an enigmatic woman...' Nerith mused before redirecting her focus to Yuan.

"What about it? Care to exchange blows in a friendly bout?" she proposed, a slight smile forming on her lips.

"Absolutely. I've been eager for some action lately," Yuan shot back with a grin, then inquired,

"Where shall we conduct this spar?"

"Ummm, Nerith, sparring might not be wise right now since you've just come back from the border. That extended trip must have worn you out," Empress Varia expressed with worry etched on her features.

"No worries, Varia. I understand my condition best. Focus on tending to your spouse rather than fretting over me," Nerith responded smilingly before guiding Yuan to the palace's rear training area.

"How are things holding up at the border currently?" Yuan questioned as he trailed behind her.

"It's far from ideal. I believe conflict is inevitable now," Nerith answered. "Lately, greater numbers of Undead have been showing up at the frontier. We've eliminated those attempting to breach our lands."

"Are they planning a full assault on the Empire?" Yuan probed, curiosity lighting his face.

"It looks that way. I haven't a clue what the Undead King schemes, but it's undoubtedly sinister," she responded.

A short time later, they reached the training grounds—a vast space where numerous individuals continued honing their physiques.

Archers practiced their precision on wooden targets, as others jogged circuits around the field to enhance endurance prior to weapon drills.

"Princess Nerith, you're back at last from the border. What's the state of affairs there?" A brawny young fellow neared them, inquiring cheerfully.

"It's bad. Plenty of issues are brewing over there," Nerith answered offhandedly, barely glancing his way.

Her curtness evidently irked the man, yet he held his tongue. His eyes then drifted to Yuan and the rest accompanying her.

"Who might these folks be?" the man wondered.

"They're visitors here. I'm set to spar with him," Nerith explained, gesturing toward Yuan with a grin.

"Oh, and Dorian, what's the progress on readying the fresh recruits? Any progress since my last visit?" she followed up.

Dorian beamed with pride and said, "Their advancement has been impressive. This latest group brims with promising talents."

"I see... Excellent news. Drill them thoroughly—we could rely on them in the clash with the Undead," Nerith acknowledged, looking pleased.

Next, she focused on Yuan, who'd been attentively observing, and remarked, "Here's the training area. Every section is occupied at the moment, so we'll need to pause until they wrap up."

"No problem. A brief wait works for me," Yuan stated serenely.

"Wonderful. Incidentally, what weapon do you favor?" she queried, studying him with intrigue, utterly disregarding Dorian.

"I primarily wield a sword. Daggers are an option too, though I seldom use them. The sword feels more natural for me," Yuan shared, smiling.

"Hmm. Quite the twist—I'm a sword user myself. This spar will let us pit our blade techniques against each other."

"Without a doubt. But don't count on me easing up because of your royal status. That's not happening."

"That's perfectly alright. Truth be told, I'm thrilled you'll fight at full strength," Nerith grinned, her eyes sparkling with eager anticipation for their blade encounter.