As night deepened, the entire royal city was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
High-level strategic maneuvering is destined to be irrelevant to most people; they only know that the Heavenly Supervision Department has clearly stipulated that no one can leave the royal city.
Considering the imminent Five Continents War, such trivial regulations are actually quite reasonable.
Now.
The night view of the royal city was shattered into flowing gold by thousands of Liuli lamps, inside the gilded private rooms on the ninth floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower Pavilion.
The long table was covered with unfinished wine, and several prodigies from the Central Continent were gathered here, including Cao Yang, the direct descendant of the Lord of the Northern Underworld Immortal Mountain.
He swirled the wine cup in his hand and asked lazily:
"It's three-quarters past Xu hour. Has Yang Shijian died beneath the Daoist stele?"
The noisy gathering fell silent instantly.
The young man with the feathered crown quickly tried to smooth things over. "Brother Cao, don't be angry. The barbarians of the Northern Continent have always..."
"Barbarians?"
Cao Yang suddenly chuckled, a wisp of surging true energy gathering at his fingertips. He sliced the spiritual fruit on the table into translucent thin slices and said calmly:
"Three years ago, during the Sword Tournament at Tianyong City, who was it that this barbarian beat to his knees and begged for mercy? Is it because I gave him face that you feel embarrassed?"
Thin as a cicada's wing, the fruit pulp drifted down in front of the speaker, reflecting his flushed face.
The assembled elites fell silent, as if trembling with fear.
Currently, those gathered here are all the geniuses of the Central Continent. Under the prestigious name of [Northern Underworld Immortal Mountain], a small group has already formed with Cao Yang as its core.
Naturally, no one dared to disobey this "leader" at this moment.
"... That's enough."
After a brief silence, Cao Yang sighed with a hint of helplessness, "These brutes from the Northern Continent are just like that. I was even planning to ask the Eastern Continent's Celestial Heavenly Supervision Department about the quality of this operation."
Upon hearing Cao Yang's words, someone immediately stood up and volunteered:
"Brother Cao, shall I go check out the Dao Stele?"
"No need," Cao Yang shook his head and said, "I've already sent someone to inquire, they'll be back soon."
Even if no one inquires, the talent and strength of someone capable of invoking celestial phenomena are probably no less than those of the former Ziwei Palace.
Even before the battle began, it had already sparked much discussion within the royal city.
This time, it will likely attract a lot of attention.
This is truly enviable... Cao Yang smiled, but his eyes were filled with coldness.
He had no idea that the Eastern Continent Heavenly Supervision Department had acquired such a gifted young cultivator.
This person came to Zhongzhou but didn't pay his respects to him, a senior. Instead, he gave him this show of force. He probably really thinks he's the number one genius in Shenzhou today!
Cao Yang thought to himself, "This is good. All my hard work and dedication in cultivating for this Five Continents War has not been in vain."
"Once I defeat him head-on in a battle in front of numerous Immortal Sect, I can use his current reputation to establish my own name!"
Cao Yang was filled with excitement, while the people around him were discussing the strength of that mysterious prodigy.
A young man with a feathered crown laughed, "I've never heard of such a talent in the Eastern Continent before. The only one worth mentioning before was that [Moonlight Record Keeper] Fu Yunshu. It seems the Eastern Continent's Heavenly Supervision Department hid him away, intending for him to make a name for himself in the [Five Continents War]."
"Judging from this, he probably possesses a cultivation level of at least the third level of the Heaven and Earth Scripture."
Another person shook their head in denial:
"You overestimate him. In my opinion, such an unknown person is unlikely to be close to the millennium mark; he could very well be at the initial stage of the Sun Moon Realm."
Cao Yang suddenly spoke up, "I think it's the initial stage of the Heaven and Earth Realm."
"However, perhaps like the former Ziwei Palace, he is too young and too impetuous."
Everyone echoed his opinion, and then, while drinking, they boosted their own morale, ultimately deciding that once the battle began, they would, as senior figures from Zhongzhou, teach him a lesson.
The Eastern Continent's Celestial Heavenly Supervision Department has very few people, so even if we compare pure statistics, the Central Continent has an absolute advantage.
"If you ask me, that brat from the Eastern Continent must have used some kind of Secret Medicine to pass off inferior goods as superior ones!"
"Not necessarily. The tests conducted by the Taiqing Dao Tablet cannot be faked."
"Regardless of their cultivation level, within Senior Brother Cao's Nine Netherworld Domain..."
Just then, someone pushed open the door and walked into the private room.
Cao Yang was initially delighted, thinking that the person he had sent out to investigate had made contact.
Unexpectedly, what they saw was a group of law enforcement officers dressed in the uniforms of the Heavenly Supervision Department.
The elderly man at the head, dressed in simple linen clothes, possessed an incredibly powerful aura, clearly a genuine Divine Connection Realm True Person!
"I am Qiu Tianzong, the Guardian Elder of the Royal City's Heavenly Supervision Department."
Qiu Tianzong raised his eyes, completely ignoring Cao Yang's unpleasant expression, and spoke in a detached voice:
"Someone secretly investigated the Heavenly Supervision Department during this special period, and your names are on the list that has been released."
"Come with me."
"..."
Cao Yang remained silent, his hand clenching tightly within his sleeve.
He truly hadn't expected that simply asking a question would lead to him being taken away for questioning...
Judging from this, that person's talent is probably no less than that of the current Ziwei Palace!
Okay, very good, excellent!
When I get there, I'll defeat your arrogant arrogance in a lawful and compliant manner, and then let's see what excuses your Heavenly Supervision Department will have left!
Cao Yang gritted his teeth, but before he could object, an elderly man with an equally profound aura gradually appeared behind him.
It just so happens to be his Guardian, Le Yan.
Le Yan looked at the people from the Heavenly Supervision Department with a gloomy expression and asked in a deep voice:
"How long will you be taking them?"
"They're going to participate in the battle, so they won't be released until it's over."
Qiu Tianzong smile, "Of course, the Guardian cannot accompany you."
"Furthermore, visits to the Heavenly Supervision Department are prohibited during this period."
Success is achieved through secrecy, while failure is caused by leaks.
These prodigies love to cause trouble; they must be strictly controlled during battles.