Suddenly, another excited voice rang out.
"Look over there, the Heavenly Maidens of the Six Desires Sect have arrived..."
"It's the Six Desires Sect, one of the Six Great Powers! These are true top beauties, so lovely that they evoke pity. Compared to them, that Huang Wanqiu seems like she's from the boonies, tsk tsk!"
"If I could have a taste of these Heavenly Maidens, I'd willingly give up ten years of my life."
At this moment, celestial music filled the air, and petals rained down like snowflakes.
Numerous scantily clad women with curvaceous figures took flight, their robes and skirts billowing. This grand entrance immediately stunned everyone present.
But all eyes were fixed on one woman in the center.
Her skin was like ice and jade, her presence ethereal. Starlight paled in comparison to the brightness of her eyes, and the finest mutton-fat jade seemed dull against the soft warmth of her skin. Dressed in resplendent silk, adorned with shimmering jade, her lips were naturally rosy, her brows naturally painted.
She possessed a charm that surpassed a cold, icy fairy, yet a purity that outshone a seductive, enchanting demoness. Her beauty was a perfect fusion of the divine and the worldly, causing nearly every man present to gasp for breath.
Finally, they understood what "peerless beauty" meant—the First Heavenly Maiden, Wen Daier!
Su Luo, who had just entered from another entrance, stared intently at Wen Daier dancing in mid-air, her eyes practically sparkling. "Wow! Second Senior Brother, no wonder you lost to Wen Daier last time. I get it now! She's truly a great beauty, and I like her too!"
It wasn't just the men; even she was captivated by Wen Daier, wishing she could kiss her.
Few women dared to dress as provocatively as the Heavenly Maidens of the Six Desires Sect, at most revealing their arms or shoulders.
Yet, Wen Daier was flawlessly beautiful, a masterpiece of creation, showcasing her allure without reservation. Her full bosom, long legs, and slender waist, which could be clasped by a single hand, ignited endless fantasies.
As one of the Four Great Beauties of the Profound Yellow Continent, her admirers could circle the entire continent.
When Su Luo and her group emerged...
The crowd erupted in screams from a multitude of women.
"Ah—the people from the Pure Void Heaven are here! Young Master Li, he's here! He's finally here!"
"So handsome, so stylish, so cool!"
"He's my man, my husband, don't fight me for him, he's looking at me!"
"Young Master Li is accomplished in both literary and martial arts, the best in the world. I can't even dream of you, Young Master Li! Please glance at me... I'm right here!"
Listening to the excited screams of the crowd, Su Luo couldn't help but tease, "Senior Brother, you're quite popular too."
Li Tianjue walked forward expressionlessly, his face as cold as ever.
This was the moment he disliked the most.
If it weren't for the grand prize for first place and the reputation of the Pure Void Heaven, he wouldn't have come at all.
The contingent from the Pure Void Heaven did not appear last, causing the entrants from the Longevity Hall's Shang Xie Shaoqing, the Penglai Island's Duan Shu, and the Primordial Sacred Land to be completely overshadowed by Li Tianjue. Although there were cheers and adoration, they were completely drowned out by the shouts for Li Tianjue.
As for the geniuses from other factions, they were utterly eclipsed.
On the Sun Moon Plaza, the spotlight was solely on two individuals: Li Tianjue and Wen Daier!
The four Emperors seated on the judging platform exchanged glances and nodded, appearing quite satisfied.
"Since all the talented contestants have arrived, the Heavenly Pride Competition officially begins."
As the grand gates boomed shut, all three entrance passages were sealed.
The Red Moon Emperor, seated on the throne furthest to the right, spoke first, his majestic voice resonating throughout the venue. "For the preliminary and quarter-final rounds of this competition, everyone has performed admirably, fully showcasing the martial spirit of our Profound Yellow Continent. We hope that in the upcoming finals, all you geniuses will continue to strive and achieve your best."
A wave of applause erupted.
Next, the Flame Emperor spoke, his gaze sweeping over the assembled elites. "You must all be eagerly anticipating the content of the finals. The Ancient Mining Area produces various precious ores, which are crucial resources for cultivation. However, in the past two years, the冥火 (Ming Fire) within the mining area has been increasing, posing a severe threat."
"Therefore, after careful consideration, the assessment for the finals is as follows: we hope you can eliminate as much冥火 (Ming Fire) as possible! Within three days, whoever eliminates the most冥火 (Ming Fire) will be declared the champion of this Heavenly Pride Competition."
Although some already knew the content of the finals, the announcement still caused an uproar among many.
Indeed, the finals were never simple!
Was the Ancient Mining Area a place one could easily visit? If there were no dangers, the ores produced there would have long been depleted.
The hearts of most geniuses tightened, and then the Northern Darkness Emperor continued, "I must remind everyone that the Ancient Mining Area has always been dangerous, so be extremely careful. Each genius who enters will receive a teleportation bead. As long as this bead is on your person, it will not only record the amount of冥火 (Ming Fire) you have eliminated but also transport you back in times of danger, ensuring your safety as much as possible."
Hearing this, those about to enter the Ancient Mining Area breathed a sigh of relief.
Now their safety was guaranteed.
If they encountered overwhelming danger, they could simply abandon their rankings and rewards and be teleported back.
The last to speak was the Sea Radiance Emperor. He gestured, and a group of palace attendants immediately began distributing the hundreds of prepared teleportation beads. He then added, "The usage of this bead is simple. Just input a bit of spiritual energy into it, and it will activate the inscription array within, immediately transporting you out. If there are no further questions, the finals officially commence!"
After everyone had received their teleportation beads, the four Emperors simultaneously pressed their controllers.
The entire plaza instantly lit up.
Spiritual lights danced, erupting in brilliant radiance, and a powerful wave swept through the venue.
Although the spectators were prepared, they were still awestruck. The geniuses closed their eyes, but they could not block the light before them. The energy eventually converged at the center, and a white portal appeared before them.
"A teleportation channel!" someone exclaimed, opening their eyes and witnessing the astonishing sight.
Without personally participating in the Heavenly Pride Competition, they would never witness such a spectacle.
Passing through this white portal would lead them into the Ancient Mining Area.
Normally, when people traveled, they used flying spirit artifacts, such as flying swords, flying feathers, or flying carpets. More luxurious options included spirit ships, treasure carriages, or airborne dwellings, but their speeds were limited.
Only teleportation channels were the fastest!
However, there were very few inscription masters capable of setting up teleportation channels. It was only on special occasions like the Heavenly Pride Competition, where the combined might of four nations and top inscription masters were gathered, coupled with the immense energy consumption, that such a portal, capable of lasting for more than three days, could be established.
Drum beats and music sounded from the venue. Court guards rhythmically beat large deerskin drums with their arms. Beautiful maidens played their instruments and sang, their melodies rising and falling, encouraging the participating geniuses to give their all.
Su Luo, however, found it all rather peculiar.
"It feels like the Olympics from my previous life, and I'm about to go on stage as a competitor." She found it a bit strange.
"Let's go, what are you waiting for?" Li Tianjue reminded her.
"Junior Sister, don't be scared, we'll protect you," Chu Tianshu and Lu Jixing said with smiles. Even the usually silent Zhan Li nodded slightly.
Su Luo wasn't scared at all; in fact, she was looking forward to it.
She raised a smile and said to the outer disciples behind her, "Let's go, everyone must do their best!"