A Nine-Year-Old Heavenly Pride? He Was the Future of the Imperial Sand Star Gate!

Star Dragon Sanctuary, Dragon Martial Clan Plaza.

After completing their training, the six clan disciples did not leave. Instead, they stayed to watch, curious what the heavenly prides from the outside world were truly like.

Luo Xiaoyi, the Star Fire Luo Gate disciple, stood at the very front. His fitted red outfit accentuated his upright figure.

His gentle eyes were filled with resolve.

Though his talent was exceptional, he held no disdain whatsoever for the heavenly prides ranked on Douluo Continent. He had long since memorized the information on every ranked prodigy.

Kaifeng of the Cold Mountain Star Gate stood at his side.

The young man wore white robes as pure as snow, with a faint smile always resting on his face.

Within the Dragon Martial Clan, and even throughout the Star Dragon Sanctuary, the two were the closest of friends, almost inseparable.

"Brother Kaifeng, do you think my name will appear on this Heavenly Pride Ranking too?"

A slightly frail-looking young boy stood before them.

He appeared to be only eight or nine years old, and his tender little face was filled with anticipation.

The boy's name was Ziyao.

He was the disciple of the Dragon Martial Clan's Imperial Sand Star Gate, as well as the youngest heavenly pride in the Dragon Martial Clan.

Kaifeng gently patted his shoulder and said with a light smile:

"Don't worry. Our Ziyao's talent is no worse than theirs. You'll definitely make the ranking."

At the edge of the plaza,

a blond man leaned lazily against a stone pillar carved with dragon patterns.

There was an air of superiority and scrutiny between his brows. The young man's gaze at the Sky Screen was full of impatience.

It was as though those heavenly prides from the outside world were not even worthy of his attention.

His words brimmed with arrogance:

"These heavenly prides of Douluo Continent are nothing special. They cannot even compare to Luo Xiaoyi. What a useless bunch."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of the others.

Upon hearing that,

Ziyao quickly walked up to him, his face filled with anger as he said:

"Dongfang Mo, you are not allowed to insult Brother Xiaoyi!"

"During the last clan tournament, Brother Xiaoyi deliberately held back, which was why you managed to win by half a move!"

"What right do you have to belittle Brother Xiaoyi?"

Kaifeng's eyes also gained a hint of displeasure as he looked at Dongfang Mo. His smile faded as he said calmly:

"They say that the disciples of the Lone Fight Star Gate are all arrogant and conceited. I only believed it today."

Dongfang Mo glanced at Kaifeng, his gaze still cold and proud.

"Soft-hearted foolishness."

In his eyes, one had to go all out in battle.

That so-called deliberate restraint was merely an excuse for weakness and cowardice.

Hearing Dongfang Mo's words,

even Kaifeng, who was usually good-tempered, could not help frowning.

He stepped forward and shielded Ziyao behind him, his voice carrying a trace of anger as he said:

"Dongfang Mo, Xiaoyi held back for the sake of your companionship, not to give you grounds to be arrogant!"

"Once this Heavenly Pride Ranking review is over, you'll understand just how vast the gap between you and Xiaoyi truly is!"

Dongfang Mo gave a disdainful smile and turned his head away. "Fine. I'll be waiting anytime."

Seeing this,

Luo Xiaoyi sighed helplessly before stepping forward and pulling Ziyao back.

He reached out and rubbed Ziyao's hair, while his other hand formed a fist and gave it a small shake. He said gently:

"Look, Ziyao. The hard side of a fist always faces outward. If we are going to fight, we fight enemies. But we are companions."

Ziyao raised his head and looked into Luo Xiaoyi's gentle eyes.

After hearing his words, the dissatisfaction in his heart gradually faded, and he obediently nodded.

Dongfang Mo remained leaning against the stone pillar, his gaze indifferent, as though everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

Yet his eyes lingered on Luo Xiaoyi for a moment.

After comforting Ziyao,

Luo Xiaoyi finally turned his gaze toward the edge of the plaza.

There stood a slender, delicate figure with long golden hair casually draped down her back.

The girl had fair skin and wore a purple-and-yellow dress. Her lovely face was as exquisite as that of a porcelain doll.

Her name was Bainuo.

She was a disciple of the Moon Sky Star Flow Sect.

After every training session, she would curl up and hug her knees, staring blankly ahead.

Her cold violet eyes were filled with sorrow.

On the Dragon Martial Clan Plaza, Bainuo was like a faint glimmer in the wind, so pitiful that one could not help but feel sympathy for her.

Lan Tianhua, the disciple of the Morin Heaven Gate, was likewise squatting nearby.

Her slender jade-like hands were intently fiddling with a Cyan Dragon Pearl obtained from the clan treasury. Her eyes were filled with greed for the treasure, and she paid no attention at all to the so-called Heavenly Pride Ranking.

After a short while,

the golden scroll in the sky finally began to change.

Countless living beings stared fixedly at the Sky Screen.

All Living Beings wanted to know just what kind of existence the heavenly pride ranked ahead of Xiao Hongchen was.

Just then,

the golden Sky Screen in the heavens suddenly erupted with boundless golden light.

The flowing image abruptly froze.

An aura vastly more majestic and mysterious than that of all the previous ranked geniuses poured down from the Sky Screen.

[Ding!]

[Heavenly Pride Ranking, Eighth Place: Star Dragon Sanctuary—Ziyao!]

Immediately afterward,

Ziyao's figure appeared in the center of the golden scroll.

Star Dragon Sanctuary, Dragon Martial Clan Plaza.

Ziyao's eyes widened as he looked at his own name appearing on the scroll in disbelief. His little face was filled with delight.

"I... I made the ranking?!"

His voice trembled slightly, unable to conceal his excitement.

Even though Ziyao possessed extraordinary talent, he was still only a nine-year-old boy at an age when he could not hide his feelings.

Kaifeng was momentarily stunned before bursting into hearty laughter.

He gave Ziyao's shoulder a slightly forceful pat and said:

"What did I say? Our Ziyao's talent is no worse than anyone else's!"

Luo Xiaoyi also revealed a gratified smile and nodded.

"Ziyao, congratulations."

"Eighth place on the Heavenly Pride Ranking is an honor you deserve."

Ziyao's little face flushed red with excitement, while sparkling tears glimmered in his eyes.

After admiring the treasure, Lan Tianhua hurriedly put it away. She quickly walked over to the group and said with a beaming smile:

"Our Ziyao is the Dragon Martial Clan's finest little heavenly pride, the future of the Imperial Sand Heaven Gate!"

Dongfang Mo still leaned against the stone pillar with his arms folded across his chest, casting an indifferent glance at Ziyao.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, forming an almost imperceptible curve.

"Interesting."

When countless living beings saw that little boy, who was only eight or nine years old, their eyes widened in shock.

Then,

discussion once again swept across the continent!

"Oh my god, that kid doesn't even look like he has two rings! Why is he ranked eighth on the Heavenly Pride Ranking?"

"And that Star Dragon Sanctuary? What kind of force is that? Could it be another hidden sect like the Body Sect?"

"Just how many forces are still hidden on Douluo Continent? Has living in seclusion become some new trend among sects?"

"..."

One had to know,

Xiao Hongchen, who ranked ninth, was a fifteen-year-old Level Five Soul Engineer.

By himself, he could rival a small Soul Engineer corps!

Yet this boy named Ziyao looked to be only eight or nine years old, with a few traces of childish innocence still on his tender face.

What gave him the right to rank ahead of Xiao Hongchen?

The successive revelations of the Body Sect and the Holy Spirit Cult had already left All Living Beings trembling in fear. Now, the appearance of another unheard-of Star Dragon Sanctuary made countless living beings feel as though their worldview was beginning to collapse.