At the Chu Clan's residence, the Demoness naturally had no idea that Hu Liena felt inferior in her presence. At that moment, she kept looking Hu Liena up and down, tilting her head slightly with an odd expression on her face.
"You're strange. Judging by your appearance, you should be human, so why do you carry the aura of the fox clan? And it seems to run as deep as your soul. Could one of your ancestors have been from our fox clan?"
If Hu Liena's ancestor had truly been a member of the Heavenly Fox Clan, she ought to take better care of her.
The Heavenly Fox Clan was indeed powerful, but powerful races shared one common trait: their populations were sparse...
Before Hu Liena could speak, Tian Yao frowned and shielded her behind herself.
"Demoness, what exactly are you trying to do? Hu Liena is just an ordinary person. She hasn't provoked you, has she?"
The Demoness ignored Tian Yao and continued staring at Hu Liena. Her seductive eyes carried an unmistakable clarity.
After hesitating for a moment, Hu Liena shook her head.
"Probably not. I should be a pure-blooded human."
She did not know what the Demoness was thinking. If she went along with it and admitted that she had some so-called fox clan bloodline, she might even receive the Demoness's care. Yet in the end, she chose to tell the truth.
Lies would be exposed one day, after all!
Hearing this, the Demoness nodded without saying anything. She gave Hu Liena one deep look before turning and leaving.
Seeing this, Tian Yao let out a long sigh of relief. She kept patting her ample chest as she sighed to Hu Liena.
"She truly is the famous Demoness. Just standing there gives off an indescribable pressure that makes people feel inferior."
Hu Liena nodded subconsciously, agreeing with Tian Yao's assessment.
Who knew her heart had nearly leaped out of her chest just now!
"Oh, right, Hu Liena. I heard that the neighboring Lei Province will be holding a Warrior Selection Tournament in two days. The Chu Clan will arrange for anyone who wants to go and watch. Do you want to come with me? I heard many important figures will be there."
Important figures?
When Tian Yao said that, Hu Liena immediately recalled some of the dark deeds committed by high-ranking figures she had seen back on Douluo Continent, such as secret slave trading...
Could this so-called beauty contest be the Chu Clan selecting those with exceptional looks, carefully cultivating them, and then using these carefully trained beauty contestants as gifts to befriend the rulers of other factions...
The more Hu Liena thought about it, the more certain she became that her guess was correct, and the uglier her expression grew...
That was what she thought. In a world like the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, where strength reigned supreme, how could there possibly be a selection based purely on beauty...
Seeing that Hu Liena looked unwell, Tian Yao asked curiously.
"Hu Liena, what's wrong? Why do you look so pale? Could the spiritual fruit from earlier have been too potent for your body to handle?"
Hu Liena shook her head.
"No, it's just that I was thinking..."
Hu Liena told Tian Yao what she had been thinking. Tian Yao's expression immediately grew stranger and stranger, not because she was frightened, but because she was holding back laughter.
"Tian Yao, do you think my guess is right?"
"Hahahaha! Hahahahahaha! Hu Liena, little girl, what exactly is inside that head of yours? Do you really think the Chu Clan needs to curry favor with other factions?"
Tian Yao pointed in the direction the Demoness had left and said with a smile.
"To say nothing else, the Heavenly Fox Clan and Jietian Sect behind the Demoness are both top-tier forces ranked among the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. The Demoness herself holds the position of Saintess in both the Heavenly Fox Clan and the Heaven Mending Sect. Why do you think a proud daughter of heaven like her chose to participate in the Chu Clan's beauty contest?"
Without giving Hu Liena a chance to answer, Tian Yao continued.
"To put it bluntly, neither the Demoness nor I believes that we will be chosen by an Ancient Ancestor of the Chu Clan. Anyone capable of becoming an Ancient Ancestor of the Chu Clan must possess extremely profound cultivation. They are likely comparable to those Supreme-level Ancient Ancestors of the Eternal Life Clans above the Nine Heavens, or perhaps even the legendary Eternal Life Beings—True Immortals!"
"Do you think a Supreme or even a True Immortal would take an interest in women like us, who are nothing more than ants in their eyes?"
"Leaving everything else aside, even if you wanted to join with one, do you think you could withstand the essence of a Supreme or a True Immortal?"
"Even if you wanted that, it would be impossible."
Hu Liena fell silent. Though she did not want to admit it, she felt Tian Yao made sense. She was no longer the clueless rookie who had just arrived in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. Now, she was an experienced hand with a basic understanding of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands!
If Tian Yao's guess was correct, then Hu Liena's own speculation could not possibly stand up from any angle.
How could a faction with a Supreme Realm expert overseeing it possibly need to curry favor with other factions?
"Then if all of you think you cannot possibly be chosen, why do you still enter the beauty contest?"
Tian Yao smiled faintly.
"The Mo Wen Clan I belong to is merely one of the most ordinary races in the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. Women from ordinary races like ours generally have two purposes for entering the beauty contest. First, to receive cultivation from the Chu Clan. The Chu Clan is powerful, and even the resources that slip through their fingers are enough for us to cultivate with."
"Second, there are rumors that the Chu Clan came from the Immortal Domain. If one performs well enough, one might have a chance to enter the Immortal Domain and receive its cultivation."
"That is the Immortal Domain. Compared to the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, whether in resources or powerful experts, it is on an entirely different level."
"If we can truly enter the Immortal Domain, our futures will be limitless!"
"I reckon the Demoness chose to participate in the Chu Clan's beauty contest because of that rumor."
As Tian Yao explained, everyone present, including Hu Liena, revealed expressions of sudden realization.
On Douluo Continent, inside Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong finally let out a long sigh of relief.
In truth, she had thought the same as Hu Liena. She believed the Chu Clan's beauty contest existed for some unspeakable transactions. Only after hearing Tian Yao's explanation did she finally put her mind at ease.
Hu Liena was the successor to the position of Pope she had already chosen. She was an exceptionally outstanding child and absolutely could not be treated as a plaything!
A faint smile appeared on Qian Daoliu's face.
"From Tian Yao's words, she still does not know that the Chu Clan comes from the Immortal Domain. Who would have thought that we would learn before the experts of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands that the Chu Clan is a force from the Immortal Domain? Hahahaha, this is quite interesting."
Qian Daoliu had always been shocked by the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. Now, he had finally found a small advantage.
By piecing together information from all sides, they could learn things that even the experts of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands might not know!
At the Speed Clan's residence, Clan Chief Bai He subconsciously looked toward his daughter. After pondering for a moment, he spoke.
"Chenxiang, if you are chosen as a Chosen One again and travel to the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, then no matter what, you must participate in the Chu Clan's beauty contest. Only then will you have a better chance of surviving!"
Bai Chenxiang fell silent for a moment before nodding.
"I understand."
On Sea God Island, Bo Saixi was one of the only three Peerless Douluo alive and possessed her own pride. Yet after hearing Tian Yao's words, she had to admit that she was tempted.
This was practically getting something for nothing!
But Tang Chen...
Before you continue