Faced with Shen Yan's interrogation and the Dry Emperor's overwhelming imperial authority, the Cang Lan Kingdom delegation had no choice but to pay their respects. A young man in a black brocade robe trimmed with gold stepped out of the foremost carriage. A jade crown sat atop his head, and a faint smile rested on his handsome face, giving off an air of disdain. A bronze sword hung at his waist, its scabbard set with five gemstones of different colors that faintly reflected the light.
"Cang Lan Kingdom Crown Prince Zhu Yishi pays respects to the Dry Emperor on behalf of my kingdom!"
The young man in brocade spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly. He bowed slightly and clasped his hands. Since he was not from the Gan Yue Kingdom, he naturally did not need to kneel before the Dry Emperor.
As soon as he finished speaking, the occupants of the three carriages behind him emerged as well: one general and two cultivators. Though they had restrained the aura of the Mortal Transformation Realm, it remained intimidating.
The general wore imposing black armor, his black hair casually draped over his shoulders. With thick brows, leopard-like eyes, and a towering build, his black cape swayed gently in the wind behind him. He was like a sword drawn from its sheath, his presence terrifying. He was the first to speak. "Cang Lan Kingdom Grand General of Cavalry Xiao Beilong pays respects to the Dry Emperor!"
"Cang Lan Kingdom Zhen Hun pays respects to the Dry Emperor!"
The speaker was the cultivator in a blue robe. He appeared middle-aged, with black-and-white hair, deep-set eyes, and a hooked nose, giving people a sinister impression.
"Cang Lan Kingdom Song Lang pays respects to the Dry Emperor!"
The remaining gray-robed cultivator followed with clasped hands. He looked ordinary, and standing beside Xiao Beilong and Zhen Hun, he was easily overlooked.
The moment the three spoke, the cultivators around Vermilion Bird Stage erupted into an uproar.
"I heard Xiao Beilong broke through to the Mortal Transformation Realm ten years ago!"
"Zhen Hun and Song Lang are also experts no weaker than Xiao Beilong. They're renowned throughout the Cang Lan Kingdom's cultivation world."
"Yeah, I heard both of them control major sects, no weaker than our kingdom's Three Great Sects!"
"Doesn't that mean they're all Mortal Transformation Realm experts?"
"Hiss... Our kingdom only has Great General Nan Meng at the Mortal Transformation Realm... We're finished!"
Qin Jun and the others hid amid the sea of people, silently watching Xiao Beilong's group.
Qin Yu, standing atop the pavilion, could not help gritting his teeth as he looked at the Cang Lan Kingdom's Crown Prince Zhu Yishi. In the eyes of outsiders, both were the future emperors of their respective kingdoms. Though Qin Yu was exceptionally outstanding among the princes, compared to Zhu Yishi, the gap was far from small.
However, Zhu Yishi was already nearly thirty, with experience many times that of sixteen-year-old Qin Yu. Even so, the people of the Gan Yue Kingdom still favored Qin Yu.
"Take your seats!"
The Dry Emperor spoke expressionlessly, though inwardly, he felt helpless. Looking at Xiao Beilong and the other two, he knew that the Gan Yue Kingdom would most likely lose this confrontation between the two kingdoms.
Still, one could lose the match but not their bearing. At the very least, he had to remain calm and unruffled on the surface!
Even with Mount Tai collapsing before him, his expression could not change!
Supported by the palace steward Shen Yan, the Dry Emperor walked toward the pavilion. Zhu Yishi led Xiao Beilong and the others after him.
"Clop!" "Clop!" "Clop!"
At that moment, loud hoofbeats rang out from the distant street. The sea of people automatically parted to form a path, and Great General of the Nation Nan Meng came riding over on a majestic black horse a zhang tall.
It was as though he rode a black dragon, valiant and extraordinary.
"Great General of the Nation!"
"The Great General is mighty!"
"Great General, go! You have to crush them!"
The people shouted excitedly, as though a legendary superstar had arrived. It had to be said that in the Gan Yue Kingdom, Nan Meng's popularity was absolutely unmatched. Even the Dry Emperor could not compare, because Nan Meng was the Gan Yue Kingdom's strongest expert, and no one could rival his accomplishments.
If this had been ancient Earth, someone whose achievements overshadowed the ruler would surely have been finished. But in this world of gods and demons, cultivation was the true fist. The Dry Emperor did not dare harm Nan Meng, nor did he have the ability to do so.
"He really knows how to put on a show!"
Qin Jun could not help muttering softly. Nan Meng had actually made his entrance later than the emperor!
Guan Yu's phoenix eyes narrowed as he looked at Nan Meng, his gaze full of disdain.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Nan Meng was a god. But to him, Nan Meng was merely a weakling. He was confident he could sever Nan Meng's head with a single slash.
"You humans really love your pomp. If it were us demons, we'd have started fighting already."
The Howling Celestial Dog stood by Qin Jun's feet and spoke disdainfully. Qin Jun curled his lips. What would demons know about the joy of putting on a show?
Because there were too many people around and the noise was so great, as long as the Howling Celestial Dog kept his head lowered, there was no fear of being noticed.
After the envoys of both kingdoms had taken their seats, song and dance performances began on Vermilion Bird Stage to liven the mood. Qin Jun watched with great interest, but the other people and cultivators were already growing impatient.
"I wonder whether Young Master Jun and the others came."
Qin Yu, seated behind the Dry Emperor, continuously scanned the sea of people around Vermilion Bird Stage. Yet even though the pavilion stood four zhang high, he still could not find Qin Jun and the others. Everywhere he looked was a dense mass of heads.
Most importantly, there were at least five hundred, if not a thousand, cultivators in black robes within the crowd. Trying to spot Qin Jun and the others with his eyes was simply impossible.
"I wonder if our Gan Yue Kingdom can win this time," one Prince sighed.
Qin Yu curled his lips. What a useless drunkard, bearing the title of Prince yet accomplishing nothing and unable even to see the situation clearly.
"Of course we'll win! With my father here, we'll definitely win!" Nan Yu Xin, seated in the back row behind the princes, snorted proudly. Qin Yu could not help shaking his head upon hearing it. What use was Nan Meng being strong?
It was best two out of three!
The Dry Emperor, seated on the dragon throne at the very front, turned back and smiled. "Five years ago, Minister Nan had yet to become Great General of the Nation, so he did not participate in the last confrontation between the two kingdoms. I am greatly looking forward to his performance this time."
Receiving the emperor's praise, Nan Yu Xin smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
Zhu Yishi, on the other side, also heard their conversation. The corners of his lips rose, revealing a faintly contemptuous smile.
The song and dance performance continued for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Then the chief eunuch Shen Yan—cough, no, palace steward Shen Yan—took the stage to preside over the confrontation between the two kingdoms.
"Next, the Gan Yue Kingdom and the Cang Lan Kingdom will hold a friendly exchange between allies to strengthen the friendship between our nations. Each side shall send three participants. It will be best two out of three, and combat shall stop at the proper point."
Shen Yan announced loudly. His voice was shrill, yet exceptionally penetrating.
I wonder whether this old eunuch at the peak of the Golden Core Realm has managed to restore the missing part down there. Qin Jun stared at Shen Yan and thought wickedly.
Shen Yan had treated Qin Jun's former self quite well and had not favored either side.
It was said that Shen Yan had been a young eunuch who grew up alongside the Dry Emperor. The Dry Emperor had used resources to raise him to the peak of the Golden Core Realm, though no one knew whether that was true.
If it was true, then their relationship was worth examining. The moment Qin Jun imagined a certain evil scene, he could not help shuddering. Hopefully, his cheap imperial father did not have such twisted tastes.
"Please have each side send one person onto Vermilion Bird Stage."
As soon as Shen Yan finished speaking, a general beside Nan Meng flickered and appeared out of thin air on Vermilion Bird Stage, drawing wave after wave of cheers from the people and cultivators below.
"Just entered the Mortal Transformation Realm," Guan Yu murmured.