Eternal Thief

Chapter 1568: Start of Evernight Trial! (3)

When Dread Duchess released her spiritual pressure, her presence spread like tidal waves.

Not only that, but with four Evernight Dukes now standing before the Evernight Gate, their vessels formed a terrifying tableau beneath the bleeding sky, and above them all, the Evernight Gate pulsed once more.

A terrifying scene ensued, and even distant ships instinctively pulled back as the trial had not yet begun, but the war of wills already had.

Behind Dread Duchess, Ace was astounded when he saw Dread Duchess’s reaction to the Yin Duchess’s presence, not to mention both women didn’t hide their hostility and seemed to be on the verge of attacking each other.

”That’s Yin Duchess, the ruler of Nightfall Kingdom...” Eva suddenly revealed details about Yin Duchess’s identity, as she knew Ace was curious. As the Dread Duchess disciple, she was privy to some information, especially about the Yin Duchess.

”Apparently, the Nightfall Kingdom is the Obsidian Myriad Kingdom’s only neighbor, and both kingdoms are mortal enemies because of their rulers, obviously.

”As for why, even I don’t know, but from Dread Duchess’s close confidants, I’ve gathered the reason behind their enmity precisely the lands that are now split between both Duchesses...”

When Ace heard Eva’s explanation, he was surprised, as he hadn’t expected this kind of story behind the Dread Duchess and Yin Duchess, despite them being members of the King Circle.

On the other hand, the Yin Duchess’s calm exterior hid a storm as she was secretly alarmed because she wasn’t expecting Dread Duchess to dare start something like this right in front of Evernight Sanctuary Gate.

’Not here... not now...’

The moment Varathia’s pressure brushed against her, memories surged unbidden, the memories she had buried beneath layers of ice and silence.

The crushing dominance. The merciless suppression. The moment her inner world was almost cracked with her cultivation foundation on the verge of collapse, her screams echoed uselessly in space, answered only by Varathia’s laughter.

If not for the sudden intervention of the King Circle, she would have lost everything.

Just thinking about that time made her fists clenched beneath her flowing sleeves as she knew the truth better than anyone present.

If they truly clashed here, she would lose again, for Varathia’s fists were bigger, always had been!

Yet...hatred burned hotter than fear as the Yin Duchess forced herself to breathe, suppressing the violent churn of Abyssal Yin Qi threatening to spiral out of control.

Her gaze flicked briefly to the side, to the two other Evernight Dukes observing in silence, to the countless eyes watching from afar, to the juniors standing behind Varathia.

It was at that moment that her eyes landed on Ace and Eva before they lingered for just a fraction longer than necessary, and finally... the Evernight Gate.

A slow, icy smile bloomed beneath her mask.

’This stage isn’t meant for us,’ She realized suddenly, ’It’s meant for the young...’

A soft, restrained snicker escaped her lips. The Yin Duchess straightened, her killing intent withdrawing like a tide receding beneath frozen cliffs.

At that moment, her voice rang out, clear and composed, carrying faint mockery, ”Dread Duchess, surely someone of your exalted status wouldn’t stoop to brawling in public.”

She deliberately used her Qi to spread those words to use Dread Duchess’s sense of dignity against her and make her back down from destroying her precious vessel.

”To trade threats in front of juniors... to stain the dignity of the Evernight Dukes... would that not be humiliating for both our titles, and the Council itself?”

As Yin Duchess expected, Dread Duchess’s pressure halted as the Dread Duchess stared at her, unreadable behind the crimson devil mask.

When the Yin Duchess saw Dread Duchess stopping, she continued smoothly, gaining confidence with every word.

”Besides... this is hardly our stage, isn’t it?” She gestured subtly toward the Evernight Gate, ”The Evernight Trial has begun. This moment belongs to the younger generation.”

Her icy eyes gleamed as she said lightly, ”If there is resentment to be settled, why not let the young ones do it for us?”

Then, without waiting for the Dread Duchess to respond, she turned slightly and raised her hand and commanded, ”Come forward!”

The next moment, space rippled beside her glacial vessel, and two figures stepped out in unison.

They were young devils, twins to be exact, tall, sharp-featured, their movements eerily synchronized. Both wore dark blue combat robes laced with Abyssal Yin runes, their identical silver hair tied neatly behind their heads and black devil horns twisted under a silvery glow.

Their auras were deep and condensed, unmistakably at the middle stages of the Abyssal Guardian Realm, and on top of that, they carried an unsettling coldness far beyond their cultivation. Their eyes were emotionless as mirrors of one another.

”These are my recently taken disciples,” The Yin Duchess announced calmly. ”Yin Twin Heirs, Xue Yin and Xue Han!”

A faint, cruel smile curved her lips, ”They’ve been... eager to test themselves.”

The silence stretched, and then, before Dread Duchess could respond, Eva stepped forward and coldly declared, ”I accept on behalf of my Master!”

The Yin Duchess’s aura flickered when Eva stepped out and accepted on the Dread Duchess’s behalf, which was a clear show of disrespect, not to mention Eva was nowhere near on her level.

Yin Duchess might be able to endure Dread Duchess because she couldn’t win against her head-on. Still, she couldn’t accept getting humiliated by a junior, not to mention that junior happened to be Varathia’s first and only disciple!

”You little disrespectful swine...bang!”

Before Yin Duchess could even complete her sentence, Dread Duchess’s restricted spiritual pressure suddenly surged again and mercilessly smashed into Yin Duchess!

The Yin Duchess was entirely caught off guard as she thought Dread Duchess wouldn’t dare to do something like this after she gave that speech, but she was dead wrong and was sent flying.

Not only Yin Duchess, but even those two disciples of hers were caught in the shockwave and blasted back into the cold palace.

”Well, you got your answer, so I don’t want to hear your yapping anymore.” Dread Duchess finally responded with a calm tone as if she hadn’t just blasted away an Evernight Duke.

Furthermore, behind her mask, her lips were curled up, clearly pleased with her favorite disciple’s response, and she secretly decided to reward her later for her courage.

Thereafter, without even glancing back, she spoke with Eva, her killing intent restrained but far from gone, ”If the Yin Duchess wishes to educate her disciples through bloodshed, who am I to deny them experience, right disciple?”

Eva’s eyes flickered with a mischievous glimmer as she nodded without hesitation, ”Well said, master!”

On the side, Ace was speechless seeing this entire scene played out and couldn’t help but wonder if those two were prone to cause chaos!