36: Chapter 36 The Corona Royal Court and the Council of Four Kings

Following the golden elf guards, Zhang Hao and Lin Wan stepped into Corona City. This city seemed to have grown out of a golden sea of flowers. The buildings were formed by thick golden vines intertwined and coiled together, with glowing leaves embedded in the walls, emitting a warm and soft light. Giant, carefully pruned and guided sunflowers formed natural colonnades and domes, while some smaller flower elf children flapped their delicate golden wings, chasing and playing among the vines, letting out bursts of crisp laughter. The air was filled with the fragrance of plants baked by the sun, and the entire city was filled with a bright, warm, and vibrant atmosphere.

They finally arrived at the most magnificent hall in the center of the city—the Hall of the Rising Sun. The hall was spacious, its dome composed of countless sunflower heads pieced together, shedding golden radiance like a true sky. At the end of the hall, upon a high platform, grew a naturally formed throne—it was naturally wound and knotted from thick, shimmering golden tree roots, as if it were connected to the entire hall and even the ground beneath their feet. Zhang Hao could vaguely sense a subtle energy connection between this throne and the distant World Tree.

Upon the throne sat a young girl.

She wore a magnificent golden gown, its hem like blooming sunflower petals, and a delicate crown woven from pure solar energy atop her head. She had long hair that flowed with the luster of molten gold, and her fair skin seemed to have its own halo under the radiance of the hall. However, what surprised both Zhang Hao and Lin Wan was that Queen Chaoyang looked extremely young, with a delicate face that seemed to be only sixteen or seventeen years old in human terms, creating a peculiar contrast with her majestic status as a queen. She tried hard to keep a straight face, attempting to maintain solemnity, but in those sunflower-like golden eyes, a trace of hard-to-detect curiosity and liveliness flashed from time to time.

"Your Majesty, the two travelers found on the Sunbeam Plains have been brought here," the guard leader reported with a bow.

Queen Chaoyang's gaze fell upon Zhang Hao and Lin Wan, observing them carefully. Her gaze lingered on Lin Wan for a moment, as if she sensed that special aura of closeness to nature. She tilted her head slightly with a hint of girlish curiosity, but when she spoke, she still tried hard to maintain her majesty: "Travelers from afar, the guards say you sensed the calling and abnormality of the Sacred Tree?"

Lin Wan took a step forward and bowed gracefully. She did not mention her name, but simply responded to the Queen's words: "Respected Your Majesty, we did indeed sense it. And we believe that the Sacred Tree's abnormality is not an isolated incident."

Just then, the golden root throne beneath Queen Chaoyang suddenly lit up with a more intense glow. She closed her eyes slightly and pressed her hand onto the throne's armrest. A moment later, she opened her eyes, a flash of understanding and a unique sisterly rapport appearing in them: "As expected... my sisters have also encountered unexpected visitors."

She pressed both hands onto the armrests again, her expression turning serious: "With Solar Essence as the guide, connect the four directions!"

Hum—!

The throne erupted with intense golden light. These rays intertwined in the air, quickly forming three large oval screens of light. Along with the scene of Queen Chaoyang herself, it was as if the four royal courts were gathered here. Each screen clearly presented a different royal court scene and the corresponding figure of a queen on her throne:

· Left screen: The background was a quiet Moonlight Garden, and the throne was made of dark tree roots shimmering with silver light. Seated upon it was a young girl dressed in an ink-blue and silver-white gown—Queen Nightbloom. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, her skin was as white as snow, and her temperament was as cold and elegant as the moon, like a secluded orchid blooming alone in the dark night. She just sat there quietly, yet her surroundings seemed to be enveloped in a tranquil field that could swallow light.

· Right screen: The background was a Sky Town suspended in the wind, and the throne was made of light green tree roots that were light and airy, as if condensed from wind catkins. The young girl upon it—Queen Zhufeng—wore a brisk emerald-green short outfit, her orange short hair radiating vitality. She seemed unable to sit still, her body swaying slightly with invisible air currents, her eyes cleverly scanning the others in the screens.

· Rear screen: The background was a shimmering Lotus Palace, and the throne was made of azure tree roots that were warm as jade and flowed with the light of water. Queen Clear Lotus, seated upon it, wore a flowing water-blue gown. Her temperament was gentle and serene, and her light blue hair fell like a waterfall. She sat with her hands folded on her lap in an elegant posture, her entire being emitting a soothing and soft vibration.

In each queen's screen, another small team of travelers who had just arrived was also reflected before them.

"Chaoyang, two have arrived on your side as well," Queen Clear Lotus's voice said softly, like a trickling stream, her gentle gaze sweeping over Zhang Hao and Lin Wan.

"It seems this isn't a situation unique to our side," Queen Zhufeng chimed in, her tone carrying a hint of excitement at encountering something new.

Queen Nightbloom merely nodded slightly. Her cool gaze swept across them without saying much, but there was no malice in her scrutiny.

Queen Chaoyang nodded, her small face working hard to maintain a serious expression: "Sisters, the abnormal throbbing of the Sacred Tree (World Tree) is becoming increasingly apparent, and the Ritual of Flowers must not fail. Now that foreign travelers have arrived in all four directions, perhaps it is the guidance of fate. I propose that we each lead the travelers beside us and set out immediately for the Sacred Tree. Before the ritual, let us work together to find the source of the abnormality!"

"Agreed," Queen Nightbloom said succinctly.

"Agreed! We should have left long ago!" Queen Zhufeng responded immediately.

"May the flowing water guide us to the truth," Queen Clear Lotus added softly.

The four queens quickly reached an agreement.

"Then, prepare immediately. We shall meet beneath the Sacred Tree!" Queen Chaoyang said finally, and the three light screens in the air slowly dissipated.

She turned her gaze back to Zhang Hao and Lin Wan, her sunflower-like eyes showing less initial scrutiny and more expectation: "Travelers, prepare to set out with me. The path to the top of the Sacred Tree requires your strength."

Zhang Hao and Lin Wan nodded solemnly. Four teams, four queens—a journey concerning the survival of the World Tree began.