Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1375: The Prince's Grand Wedding
Previously on Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies...
During the subsequent days, Zhang Yi resided within Hua's cave, maintaining a watchful, behind-the-scenes observation of Nasha's activities.
He conducted discreet explorations of the expansive area, solidifying his foundational understanding of the locale.
With the exception of the formidable Holy Spirit Hall situated atop the cavern's ceiling, he had thoroughly surveyed every other notable section.
Nasha's populace was not exceptionally vast, numbering merely a few hundred thousand individuals. Their immense stature presented a significant challenge in procuring adequate meat.
Consequently, their diet primarily consisted of specific subterranean creatures, with humans forming an indispensable component.
Regular Tri-Eyed Clan members, in their daily sustenance, subsisted solely on the fruits derived from certain indigenous tree species, entirely devoid of meat.
For several consecutive days, Zhang Yi remained without a clear course of action.
This domain presented itself as a stable polity, boasting a formidable military and powerful superhumans.
Opportunities to approach the revered Holy Spirit Hall proved exceedingly scarce.
Meanwhile, subsequent to the arrival of the Lord of the Charnel Ground and his retinue, repeated skirmishes erupted with the indigenous soldiery. Nasha's entire military apparatus was marshaled, and daily patrols of imposing, battle-hardened Tri-Eyed Clan behemoth soldiers traversing the avenues and byways became a constant sight for Zhang Yi."Are they not creating an excessive disturbance?"
Zhang Yi's brow furrowed, a measure of bewilderment coloring his thoughts.
By conventional reasoning, the collateral incidents stirred by human combatants should not have plunged all of Nasha into such a frenzied state of high alert.
After all, the majority of soldiers were regarded as mere insignificant vermin in their eyes.
A solitary, rigorously trained Tri-Eyed Clan warrior possessed the capability to effortlessly vanquish over a hundred standard human combatants, including nascent superhumans.
It was at this precise juncture that Hua imparted crucial intelligence to Zhang Yi.
"It appears the prince of Nasha is slated to solemnize his grand wedding imminently. This is the reason for their heightened vigilance concerning the divine emissaries of the Divine Human Cult – they harbor concerns that you might interfere with the ceremony."
Zhang Yi offered a wry smile. "Oh? What a curious coincidence."
Hua elaborated, "Individuals of the Tri-Eyed Clan possess lifespans extending to three hundred years, yet each typically experiences but a single wedding ceremony. Furthermore, it is said that upon his marriage, the prince shall assume the mantle of the old king's succession, thereby imbuing the entire nation with profound significance for this momentous occasion."
"And the intended bride is no mere commoner! She is the sole descendant of Grand Duke Garu, the esteemed Miss Jienasuo."
It was only then that Zhang Yi recalled – upon his initial arrival in Nasha, he had indeed observed Tri-Eyed Clan denizens adorning the thoroughfares with vibrant red silks.
His gaze slowly narrowed.
"The prince's grand wedding?"
He acutely perceived this as a prime opportunity.
What were his intentions, one might ponder?
No, his current state was one of absolute security, and he was disinclined to court undue risks.
However, given the existence of such a felicitous circumstance, the Lord of the Charnel Ground and his cohort would assuredly not let it pass unnoticed.
When the moment arrived, a spectacular spectacle might unfold.
He directed his gaze upwards towards the Holy Spirit Hall suspended from the cavern's apex, a silent anticipation beginning to bloom within his heart.
...
A few days hence, the prince's grand wedding, as foretold by Hua, finally materialized.
On this auspicious day, the entirety of Nasha was embellished with radiant lanterns and festal banners.
A distinct preference for vibrant red hues was evident, likely stemming from the scarcity of vividly colored materials within this somber subterranean realm, a common practice for celebrating joyous events.
Yet, interspersed with the prevalent red, stark contrasts of black and white were also employed, resulting in a striking chromatic interplay across the entire dominion.
Zhang Yi emerged alongside Hua to partake in the viewing.
He, too, was eager to witness the unique matrimonial customs of the underworld.
The prince's nuptials stood as the most resplendent ceremony within all of Nasha, drawing the populace en masse to witness the proceedings.
They occupied elevated structures and lined the streets, brandishing improvised weapons like clubs, knives, and forks, their demeanor radiating unbridled excitement and jubilation.
Zhang Yi guided Hua to a commanding vantage point within the city, patiently awaiting the commencement of the ceremony.
The approximate hour was around six in the evening.
Due to the absence of a discernible diurnal cycle, Zhang Yi relied solely on the Smart System for temporal estimation, while the heavens remained perpetually veiled in a dusky purple haze, casting an ethereal luminescence over all of Nasha.
Amidst the cacophonous fervor of the Nasha Tri-Eyed Clan, a distant yet profoundly resonant horn call unexpectedly pierced Zhang Yi's ears.
Following the auditory cue, he observed, across a lengthy, narrow stone bridge spanning Nasha's upper stratum, the slow emergence of an enormous procession.
The stone bridge, spanning over a dozen kilometers, maintained a width of mere dozens of meters, its foundation supported by myriad colossal stone pillars, disappearing into a swirling black mist that obscured its anchor point.
The horn's summons was harmonically layered with an array of heretofore unfamiliar musical instruments, their melodies reverberating through the celestial expanse.
Veiled by a hazy mist, a grand bridal procession gradually made its way towards the Holy Spirit Hall.
Zhang Yi observed colossal red canopy umbrellas, stretching dozens of meters high and obscuring the sky. Ahead, hundreds of Tri-Eyed Clan members, adorned in peculiar attire, meticulously cleared the path.
Following them was an enormous palanquin, swaying ponderously as it advanced.
Beneath this palanquin, dozens of strange creatures, standing two to three meters tall with unique appearances, moved forward. Their bodies were devoid of hair, their ears were long, and while their faces and limbs bore human resemblances, they were notably short and stout compared to the Tri-Eyed Clan.
These peculiar creatures bore the weight of the palanquin.
Seated within was one of today's central figures – Jienasuo, the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Garu.
Zhang Yi found himself compelled to use the word "massive" when describing the woman.
Clad in a wedding gown of black and red, her face was painted with a pigment that rendered it deathly pale white, starkly contrasted by lips as red as blood.
Even while seated, the bride reached a height exceeding a dozen meters, her sheer size dwarfing an average Tri-Eyed Clan member.
Consequently, the dozens of peculiar, short creatures supporting the palanquin appeared to strain under the immense load.
The bridal procession advanced with accompanying music, the eerie, drawn-out notes of strange horns sending shivers down one's spine. Despite the seemingly festive atmosphere, Zhang Yi felt an unsettling disquiet deep within.
"Wooo—"
At that precise moment, another procession emerged from the opposite end of the stone bridge, arriving to escort the bride.
The scale of both processions was remarkably similar. Zhang Yi's attention shifted towards this approaching group, eager to catch a glimpse of the Prince of Nasha.
However, after a prolonged search, he could not identify anyone who resembled the groom.
He queried Hua, but she seemed equally unaware.
Zhang Yi mused: Perhaps the Prince was meant to await the bride's arrival at the Holy Spirit Hall.
The two magnificent processions finally converged upon the stone bridge, and at this juncture, the cheers of Nasha's inhabitants reached an unprecedented crescendo.
Suddenly, the musical cadence of both processions underwent a dramatic shift.
From its initial deep and resonant tone, it abruptly transitioned to an urgent and electrifying rhythm.
"Wahoo!!"
Exultant shouts erupted, echoing throughout all of Nasha, seeming to shake the very heavens.
And at that very instant, all the color seemed to vanish from Hua's small face.
Her hand darted out, grabbing Zhang Yi's arm in sheer panic, her eyes locking onto his with profound despair. "Quick... run!!"
Zhang Yi was utterly bewildered.
"Why? Hua, what is happening?"
Hua's voice trembled as she managed to force a few words out.
"A city-wide blood sacrifice!"