At that moment, looking at the white-robed figure, Nie Zhenbei frowned slightly and thought:
What a fine young gentleman, as flawless as jade!
Yet Luo Qingshan, seated in the seat of honor, wore a smile, her eyes brimming with tenderness.
Looking at the white-robed man who had arrived, Nie Zhenbei discovered that he was actually a human, with strength merely at the Innate Realm, and could not help thinking:
Who is this man? What an arrogant tone!
The next moment, a scene unfolded that shocked everyone from the Mysterious Heaven Sect. All the Demon Race disciples, along with the Demon Race experts in the void, respectfully addressed the white-robed man:
"Greetings, Imperial Consort!"
"Greetings, Imperial Consort!"
The white-robed man was actually the Demon Empress's husband, for only the Empress's husband was entitled to be called Imperial Consort by the Demon Race.
Hearing the Demon Race's words, Nie Zhenbei remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was utterly shocked. This fine young gentleman, as flawless as jade, was actually the Demon Empress's husband.
When the Demon Empress married, the Great Dao had personally arrived to offer congratulations. This had shocked countless factions, who had investigated in secret, only to find nothing in the end.
Rumors had even emerged from the Supreme Purity Palace claiming that the Empress's husband was a human. Having heard them, the other factions, knowing the Supreme Purity Palace's character, had all scoffed.
Yet they had never expected the Supreme Purity Palace's rumors to be true. The Demon Empress's husband really was a human.
As for his strength, however, Nie Zhenbei secretly rejoiced upon seeing it, while all the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples wore expressions of mockery and jealousy.
"So you are the Demon Race's Imperial Consort. My greetings!"
Looking at the young man before him, an almost imperceptible trace of mockery flickered deep in Nie Zhenbei's eyes.
An ant at the Innate Realm stumbled into dogshit luck and became the Demon Race's Imperial Consort, yet he doesn't know to keep his identity well hidden. Now he even boasts shamelessly and spouts wild claims. He really is too young.
Yet Ye Xingchen seemed not to have heard Nie Zhenbei at all. With a calm expression, he walked past him, ignoring him outright.
At that moment, every Mysterious Heaven Sect disciple looked angry, while a sharp glint of "just as expected" flashed through Nie Zhenbei's eyes. Inwardly, he paid it no mind.
Ye Xingchen came to Luo Qingshan's side and raised a hand to gesture to everyone from the Demon Race, having them all sit down.
Casting a charming sideways glance at her husband, Luo Qingshan's lips curved slightly as she addressed Nie Zhenbei:
"Elder Nie, just as my husband said, whatever additional stakes the Mysterious Heaven Sect wishes to offer, the Demon Race will accept!"
Looking at the Empress's calm expression and the unfathomable light flickering in her eyes, Nie Zhenbei actually felt a bad premonition. As an Immortal Sovereign expert, he would never experience such a feeling lightly.
Nie Zhenbei turned to look at the Demon Race disciples in the stands. That single look gave him an enormous shock, and disbelief spread across his face.
Those Demon Race disciples in the stands were all at the Thunder Tribulation Realm without exception. There were even several Mahayana Realm disciples among them.
Only upon seeing this did Nie Zhenbei turn back toward the Demon Empress. Now he understood the unfathomable light in her eyes.
Although Nie Zhenbei was shocked, an almost imperceptible trace of smugness flashed deep in his eyes, as though he had seen through everything. He thought:
Heh, so this is where that little girl Luo Qingshan gets her confidence! She thinks that because all her disciples have broken through to the Thunder Tribulation Realm, they're certain to defeat the Mysterious Heaven Sect's disciples?!
But something must have happened to the Demon Race. Otherwise, all their disciples couldn't possibly have broken through to the Thunder Tribulation Realm just after assuming human form. In the past, Demon Race disciples were at most at the Spirit Transformation Realm when they first assumed human form.
And the concentration of Immortal Spirit Qi in the Demon Race's territory now rivals the small worlds of any top-tier faction. I must report this to the sect master when I return!
Looking at Luo Qingshan's expression of assured victory, Nie Zhenbei thought:
Heh, in that case, I might as well turn your scheme against you and settle the problem in one stroke. I'll show you that the Human Race are the ancestors of scheming!
Although the fact that every Demon Race disciple had broken through to the Thunder Tribulation Realm shocked Nie Zhenbei, this time, there was an Immortal Realm disciple among the Mysterious Heaven Sect's young disciples.
Nie Zhenbei was one hundred percent confident about this sparring match. After glancing at Ye Xingchen, he spoke with a face full of arrogance:
"Empress, in that case, I'll speak plainly. The Mysterious Heaven Sect is willing to add two fourth-grade pill formulas to the stakes, along with one hundred million supreme-grade spirit stones. I wonder whether the Demon Race... heh, dares to accept?!"
The instant Nie Zhenbei finished speaking, cries of astonishment erupted throughout the Cloud Summit Arena. Even the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples looked shocked.
Two fourth-grade pill formulas and one hundred million supreme-grade spirit stones-stakes like these could truly be called a colossal gamble.
The Holy Son had obtained these two fourth-grade pill formulas from the inheritance of an ancient titan, and their value was immeasurable. For this visit to the Demon Race, the Mysterious Heaven Sect's master had specifically instructed Nie Zhenbei to bring them.
Along with the one hundred million supreme-grade spirit stones, their purpose was to make the Demon Race likewise offer their three first-grade pill formulas as stakes. With an Immortal Realm disciple backing them, even if something unexpected arose on the Demon Race's side, that disciple could ensure nothing went wrong.
At that moment, hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, a sharp glint flashed through Luo Qingshan's eyes, while Ye Xingchen smiled and thought:
It seems the Mysterious Heaven Sect came prepared this time. To offer such astonishing stakes, they must have made thorough preparations.
Before Luo Qingshan could speak, Ye Xingchen smiled slightly and said:
"Since the Mysterious Heaven Sect is willing to give the Demon Race so much Spiritual Qi, along with two fourth-grade pills, how could the Demon Race refuse? We accept these stakes!"
Hearing Ye Xingchen's words, amusement appeared in Nie Zhenbei's eyes, and he turned toward Empress Luo Qingshan beside him.
Seeing Nie Zhenbei look her way, Luo Qingshan smiled slightly and said:
"The Imperial Consort can represent the entire Demon Race. Since he has spoken, the Demon Race accepts. We are likewise willing to offer one hundred million supreme-grade spirit stones and three first-grade pill formulas as the stakes for this sparring match. What do you think, Elder Nie?"
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words, Nie Zhenbei smiled slightly and said:
"Since the Empress has spoken, I naturally agree."
Having finished speaking, Nie Zhenbei turned to a young disciple behind him and said:
"Yebai, you shall take the stage for this sparring match and exchange pointers with your Demon Race senior brother!"
As soon as Nie Zhenbei finished speaking, a young man dressed in black, with a cold face, respectfully cupped his fists and nodded in assent.
Then he transformed into a streak of light and appeared instantly in the Cloud Summit Arena. He was so fast that not a single Demon Race disciple caught sight of his figure.
Such incredible speed! Such formidable strength!
All the Demon Race disciples exclaimed inwardly.
Seeing the Demon Race disciples' shocked expressions, Nie Zhenbei looked proud, while the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples behind him all wore arrogant expressions, acting as though no one else mattered.
Among their younger generation of disciples, Mu Yebai was the strongest prodigy apart from the Holy Son. He had been cultivating alongside the ancestor in their ancestral land all this time. For this visit to the Demon Race, the sect master had specifically ordered Mu Yebai to accompany them to prevent any mishaps.
Luo Qingshan merely glanced at him and discovered that he was actually at the Immortal Realm. Frowning slightly, she looked at Nie Zhenbei and said:
"The Mysterious Heaven Sect truly deserves its place as a top-tier faction. To think you have a disciple of such strength among your younger disciples. It seems Elder Nie came prepared this time!"
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words, Nie Zhenbei merely smiled slightly and said:
"You flatter us, Empress. Yebai merely encountered an opportunity and barely broke through to the Immortal Realm. But I imagine that, as another top-tier faction, the Demon Race must have quite a few Immortal Realm disciples as well!"
Nie Zhenbei had another purpose in coming to the Demon Race this time: to see whether there were any top prodigies among their younger generation of disciples, and thereby gauge that generation's strength.
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, Luo Qingshan frowned slightly and thought:
It seems this time I can only send out one of the Demon Race prodigies cultivating in our ancestral land. Otherwise, I fear not a single Demon Race disciple in the stands would be a match for him.
Just as Luo Qingshan was about to speak, a calm yet commanding voice rang out.
It brought excitement to the faces of everyone from the Demon Race, while those from the Mysterious Heaven Sect wore expressions of shock and delighted surprise!