"Sincerity, what does Sect Leader Shui mean?"
"Besides the Empress, this sect is unaware of any other experts from the Dark Demon Ridge being involved. Are there more behind the scenes?"
The woman covered her mouth with one hand and chuckled, "Sect Leader Shui, you jest. Even if it's just me, I can match your Taichu Holy Land's tens of thousands of soldiers. Otherwise, why wouldn't the Sect Leader dare to come any closer to me?"
Shui Hanyi's expression turned grim. Just as he was about to retort, a person suddenly emerged from behind the trees.
This young man in black appeared to be only in his early twenties.
He seemed to materialize from thin air, arriving so silently. A disingenuous expression adorned his face, a mix of mockery, contempt, and perhaps a hint of seeing through everything. Even Shui Hanyi, the Sect Leader of the Taichu Holy Land, was not taken seriously.
After paying respects to him, the woman turned to Shui Hanyi and said, "This is the first time our two families are cooperating. This time, the Cult Master has not only sent me but also personally dispatched our Young Master Fantian. As long as Sect Leader Shui cooperates well, we will surely achieve great success."
So, it was the Young Master of the Dark Demon Ridge!
Just as Shui Hanyi was about to speak, he heard the enchanting woman softly laugh, "However, let me remind you, my Young Master has a rather bad temper. If you happen to offend anyone, then... hehe, you can only blame yourselves for your misfortune."
Shui Xuanmo beside him immediately became enraged, "What arrogance! So what if he's the Demon Lord's son..."
Suddenly, the man in black made his move.
He lunged at Shui Xuanmo, as swift as lightning, a faint, sarcastic smile playing on his lips.
His fingers, clearly defined and as if carved from exquisite jade, suddenly transformed into terrifying phantoms, like the colossal claws of a demonic beast. They were moments away from piercing his skull.
Shui Xuanmo immediately understood that his opponent was formidable, yet he showed no fear and drew his sword to meet the attack.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the tree, as thick as a bowl, was blasted into fragments that scattered in all directions. Everyone retreated.
Shui Xuanmo hovered in the air, letting out a cold laugh. Just as he was about to attack again, he felt something was wrong.
He saw that the sword in his hand was now covered in a faint, ethereal blue hue, which was rapidly spreading towards the hilt, about to reach his hand. Terrified, Shui Xuanmo hastily discarded the sword. Before he could recover, his opponent launched another fierce assault.
Caught off guard by the sheer ferocity, Shui Xuanmo had no choice but to go all out.
The two fought from the sky to the ground, their clashes creating continuous roars and flickering lights, leaving the surroundings in ruins, even causing the vegetation to wither. Shui Qingyue, too stunned to intervene, hid behind her father, filled with dread.
"Stop!"
It was Shui Hanyi who finally stepped in, managing to block both of them.
Shui Xuanmo, a mixture of fear and anger, shouted at his opponent, "Madman! I only said one sentence, and you tried to kill me!"
Fantian glanced at him, elegantly flicking his slender fingertips. A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "The Saint Son of the Taichu Holy Land is nothing special. He doesn't even dare to face this Young Master head-on. Heh... if you speak insolently again, this Young Master won't show mercy next time."
Shui Xuanmo's face flushed with anger. "You..."
Seeing his son about to retaliate, Shui Hanyi stopped him, his eyes deep. "Young Master Fantian possesses profound cultivation and formidable poison skills. This sect admires you. However, since we share a common goal, it is best to seek peace. Why not elaborate on your plans, Young Master Fantian?"
Fantian's lips curved into a smile, sinister and beautiful. "Sect Leader Shui knows how to speak. I'll spare him for your sake."
"As for the plan, let me explain."
The woman chuckled and laid out the details. Shui Hanyi listened, his brows furrowed in apparent displeasure, but he eventually nodded in agreement.
A quarter of an hour later, the two sides clarified the terms of their cooperation and agreed on a time to depart.
On the way back, Shui Xuanmo grumbled, "Father, why did you stop me from teaching him a lesson? Don't think he can be so arrogant just because he's the Demon Lord's son. With you here, I don't believe they could have defeated us."
Shui Hanyi was not angry. He said meaningfully, "Xuanmo, why bother with him? Didn't you see that this son of the Demon Lord is extreme and volatile, prone to exploding at the slightest provocation? If your father kills him, who will handle the remaining matters and who will contend with Qingxu Tian?"
Shui Qingyue seemed to understand his intention. "Father means to use them?"
"We and the Dark Demon Ridge are inherently using each other. But who will have the last laugh depends on who plays the better game."
Shui Xuanmo stroked his long beard, appearing shrewd and calculating. "Your father expected the Demon Lord to send a few of his great generals, but I didn't expect it to be such a raw youth. Since he wants us to follow his lead, let him be arrogant. It's a good opportunity for us to observe his demonic arts."
Only then did Shui Xuanmo calm his anger, suppressing his indignation. "Son understands. It's just that I can't stomach this insult."
Shui Qingyue said coldly, "Brother, the bigger picture is important. Once we capture Li Tianjue this time, you must let me handle him. Especially that wretched girl, who caused the deaths of so many people in our Holy Land. This time, I will cut her into a thousand pieces!"
...
Ten days later, the preliminaries finally concluded.
A total of seventy-six factions and three hundred young geniuses successfully advanced to the top three hundred, securing qualification for the finals.
Subsequently, a period of rest and preparation commenced.
Until June 18th, at the Sun-Moon Plaza, the eagerly anticipated day finally arrived.
The Emperors of the four strongest kingdoms on the continent – Emperor Beiming, Emperor Hongyue, Emperor Tianyan, and Emperor Haiyao – who were also exceptionally skilled cultivators and top-tier powerhouses, appeared before the world as the hosts and judges of this Heavenly Pride Competition, accompanied by a large contingent of elite guards.
The four Emperors, with their noble status and immense power, were on par with the Sect Leaders of the six major factions in terms of prestige and strength.
In terms of individual prowess, the six major factions naturally possessed stronger experts. However, in terms of overall influence, the four great empires, with their vast territories and countless populations, were more formidable.
The Sun-Moon Plaza had been redecorated, appearing even more luxurious and grand.
Facing the rostrum were four magnificent thrones, carved from white jade, exquisitely crafted, and inlaid with brilliant gemstones of white, red, cyan, and blue, symbolizing the supreme dignity of the four Emperors.
The remaining three directions featured three entrances, with thousands of seats arranged in a circular pattern.
Clang, clang, clang...
As the resonant bell chimed, the geniuses from the top three hundred who had already entered the plaza, along with their respective sect and family members, became agitated.
Despite their excitement, they maintained their composure, for it was now the turn of the top one hundred prodigies on the Heavenly Pride List to enter – young, vibrant, and incredibly powerful individuals, each a target they aspired to surpass and an idol they revered.
There were also over a hundred fortunate individuals who had received exemptions.
For example, Su Luo...
"They're finally here! Look, it's Ji Moran, the Young Master of the Free and Unfettered Sect, one of the eight major factions of the Tianyan Empire. I heard he's only 22 years old and already a cultivator at the seventh stage of the Heavenly Venerate realm, possessing the rare lightning element talent..."
Before the words could finish, other geniuses entered through another entrance, eliciting another wave of exclamations.
"The geniuses from the Divine Fire Sect have arrived: Li Jianfei, Zhang Zongming, and that young lady Huang Wanqiu! She's one of the Four Great Beauties of the Tianyan Empire, ranked 89th. Not only is she beautiful, but her cultivation is also exceptional!"
"That's Murong Changqing from the Blood Sword Hall, known as the Thirteen Wind Chasing Swords, ranked 72nd on the Heavenly Pride List. Not only are his techniques powerful, but he's also handsome! Ah— I really like him! I want to marry him!"