The banquet commenced.
According to tradition, Emperor Yan’s four-hundredth birthday required a pilgrimage to the Sky Terrace to pay respects to the ancestors.
Meanwhile, everyone else was enjoying themselves, drinking and chatting merrily.
After the ancestral rites were concluded, the ceremony moved on to the gift-giving segment.
Following the exchange of gifts, it was time for the Great Yan Dynasty to showcase its national strength. The first phase of this display was to exhibit the talents of their younger generation.
This involved Emperor Yan’s princes stepping forward to accept challenges from the geniuses of various sects.
Of course, this was largely a formality. Many matches were fixed, as winning offered no benefit while losing incurred resentment.
The affiliated sects had also strictly warned their disciples: absolutely do not win. If they did, they would face dire consequences.
Sects with strength comparable to the Great Yan Dynasty did not have such concerns. They would still aim to win, but only to a reasonable extent.
However, as a prominent power in the East Mo Province, the Great Yan Dynasty’s homegrown talents were naturally not to be underestimated.
He Guangxin was a major wanted criminal, so he certainly couldn't easily show his face on the arena stage.
“Ninth Prince versus Liu Ba of the Hundred Blades Sect, Ninth Prince wins! Congratulations to the Ninth Prince on his third consecutive victory. Is anyone else challenging the Ninth Prince?”
Others smiled and pointed, murmuring amongst themselves.
“The Ninth Prince possesses such strength at such a young age; his future is boundless!”
“The Great Yan Dynasty truly has an abundance of talent; it’s truly enviable!”
“If the Ninth Prince is already this formidable, then how much more incredible must the Second Prince be, who is rumored to have already entered the Nascent Soul stage?”
“…”
Hearing these praises, Emperor Yan’s spirits soared, and he laughed heartily.
However, this scene was observed by He Guangxin and over a hundred others. They were also smiling, but their smiles were chilling.
Ninth Prince Yan Nan, standing on the arena, was full of arrogance, completely basking in the glory.
This kind of ostentatious display was perfectly suited for him.
Just then, an unexpected challenger suddenly appeared.
“From North Profound State, Falling Star Hall, Kong An, requests a spar!”
Everyone’s gazes sharpened.
Falling Star Hall was not among their invited guests, and they had very little exchange with sects from the North Profound State.
Emperor Yan’s expression also turned grim. Many geniuses from other states had come to East Mo Province to attend his birthday.
He had a premonition that something bad might happen. These individuals were all outstanding geniuses from their respective sects; even if they weren’t Holy Sons, they were renowned prodigies. If any trouble arose, he wasn’t entirely confident he could forcefully deal with them.
Kong An was, of course, from Blue Star. He was also one of those who had escaped from the Five Elements Immortal Sect. He harbored deep hatred for these three major forces.
This was because, after they had separated, some of his brothers had failed to escape and were cruelly murdered by people from these three powers.
Although it was not part of their plan, they could not shy away from the fight, as it would bring shame to the imperial family.
Yan Nan, unaware of his own limitations, believed his previous victories were solely due to his own prowess.
It wasn't until the referee announced, “Friendship first, stop before serious injury! The match begins!”
As soon as the words fell, Yan Nan’s pupils constricted violently. An immense killing intent enveloped him, so terrifying that his cultivation techniques faltered.
“You… what do you want to do?”
Kong An remained silent, a sinister smile spreading across his face. From his observation below, he had already determined that this Ninth Prince was a good-for-nothing, someone who had never experienced a life-or-death battle!
Dealing with such a person was incredibly simple.
“Boom!”
In the blink of an eye, the Ninth Prince was impaled to the ground by a long spear.
This strike, named Aurora Shimmering Shadow, was all about speed and surprise!
“Stop, stop! The Ninth Prince concedes! He concedes!”
The entire venue erupted in shock. Kong An looked at the Ninth Prince, who was pinned to the ground and crying in terror, then sneered and flicked him off the stage.
“Is this all the Great Yan Dynasty’s talent amounts to?”
Second Prince Yan Xingyou also narrowed his eyes. This individual was clearly here to cause trouble.
Si Tu Kong and Han Qiu, two geniuses renowned for their abilities, were present.
Si Tu Kong chuckled, “Second Prince, your little brother has been humiliated.”
Han Qiu added sinisterly, “It seems they’ve come to stir up trouble. If this isn’t stopped, the birthday banquet might end in a great embarrassment!”
Yan Xingyou said disdainfully, “A mere Golden Core cultivator dares to act so arrogantly. Do they truly believe that because we are in different regions, we dare not punish them?”
At this moment, he felt Emperor Yan’s gaze upon him.
The sharp look conveyed his father’s instruction to clean up the mess.
Yan Xingyou knew that not only the Ninth Prince but all his brothers were of the same ilk. They would invariably bring shame upon themselves when facing such formidable opponents.
Thus, Kong An witnessed the Second Prince Yan Xingyou, one of He Guangxin’s primary targets, descend from the viewing platform.
The hundred and eight people surrounding the arena at this moment all smiled.
Yan Xingyou, with a face full of disdain, said to Kong An, “If the geniuses of Falling Star Hall possess only this much strength, I advise you to quickly return to North Profound State!”
The pressure of the Nascent Soul stage emanated from Yan Xingyou, and everyone felt that a good show was about to unfold.
Kong An shrugged indifferently, “Second Prince, your power is indeed formidable. I concede.”
His objective was merely to provoke the Second Prince into taking action.
However, to everyone’s astonishment, he stepped off the stage, leaving them all bewildered.
Yan Xingyou felt he had been toyed with and shouted, “Are the disciples of Falling Star Hall so cowardly?”
But in the next moment, a swordsman wearing a bamboo hat stepped onto the stage, his voice cold as he announced, “Rogue cultivator, He Guangxin, specifically challenges Your Highness, the Second Prince. Life and death are irrelevant, how about it?”
“What? It’s that He Guangxin? He still dares to show himself here!”
“Which He Guangxin?”
“A remnant of the Five Elements Immortal Sect, known for killing geniuses from the three major powers. He’s long been on the Great Yan Dynasty’s kill list!”
“Hiss! I remember now! They say he was also an incredibly arrogant genius, and many Nascent Soul cultivators have died at his hands!”
“But the Second Prince isn’t an ordinary cultivator. Isn’t he being too overconfident this time?”
“This isn’t about overconfidence; this is walking into a tiger’s den!”
“…”
Emperor Yan, the Sect Master of Corpse Crazed Sect, and the Leader of Void Heaven Sect, the three supreme leaders, all turned ashen. This young man, not yet in the Nascent Soul stage, had made them a laughingstock throughout East Mo Province for the past decade!
“Audacious remnant! How dare you appear in this place!”
He Guangxin drew his sword, gazing askance at Emperor Yan, and mockingly asked, “What? Does Emperor Yan believe the Second Prince is such a weakling that he can be killed by a mere Golden Core cultivator?”
But Emperor Yan wouldn’t fall for it. He bellowed, “Seize him!”
He Guangxin let out a hearty laugh, “Haha! Brothers! Make your move!”
Instantly, the Blue Star cultivators scattered around the periphery formed hand seals!
“Five Elements Sword Array!”
Boom!
Each of them lit up, and regardless of whether they were sword cultivators, they unleashed formidable sword intent.
Sword Qi of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth surged skyward. This terrifying sword intent directly imbued He Guangxin’s sword, unleashing power sufficient to crush Void Returning stage cultivators!
This was the Five Elements Immortal Sect’s ultimate inheritance, formed when one hundred and eight individuals arrayed themselves and formed seals, generating the fearsome Five Elements Sword Intent.
It wasn’t necessary for everyone to be a sword cultivator. As long as they had cultivated the techniques from the eighteen main peaks, they could provide the Five Elements Sword Intent to the formation's core.
The Second Prince’s face contorted in shock. This was beyond his ability to resist.
Emperor Yan also erupted in fury, “Insolent cur! How dare you!”