Hua Qianyan rose to his feet and shook his head slightly.
"I haven't waited long. In fact, I only just arrived myself."
As he spoke, Hua Qianyan pointed to the seat of honor in the center and smiled.
"Take the seat of honor. You're the main character today. Before those fellows arrive, there are a few things I need to tell you."
Hearing this, Ji Zining cupped her hands slightly.
"Please go ahead, Holy Lord."
Hua Qianyan's expression turned serious, and he spoke in a deep voice.
"I know this is your first time facing a situation like this, but I hope you'll keep a calm mind."
"Make sure you display the majesty of our Ziwei Holy Land later. As its divine son, you must not permit anyone to offend you!"
"If anyone speaks disrespectfully to you or spouts arrogant words, don't hold back. Strike and suppress them."
"If you can't suppress them, I will. If I can't, then the patriarch will. Do you understand?"
On the surface, those factions had come to visit Ziwei Holy Land's newly appointed divine son,
but Hua Qianyan believed Ji Zining could guess their true purpose.
Before they arrived, he had to make the stakes clear to Ji Zining.
As the divine son, she represented the entire Ziwei Holy Land. There was no room for the slightest carelessness in such matters.
Suppress them outright?
If she couldn't suppress them, Hua Qianyan would?
If Hua Qianyan couldn't, the patriarch would step in?
Ji Zining couldn't help a cold smile.
"With those words, Holy Lord, I can rest easy. I was worried I might strike too hard later and bring trouble upon the Holy Land."
"Now I understand."
"Trouble?"
Hua Qianyan smiled proudly.
"Our Ziwei Holy Land is one of the four great factions of the True Martial Dao Domain. What trouble do we have to fear?"
"Even if we offend the other three factions, so what?"
"As long as we're in the right, they'll have nothing to say!"
Ji Zining sat in the seat of honor and smiled.
"Then let's wait here for the envoys and heavenly geniuses of those factions to arrive."
"Let me see just how heavenly their geniuses really are!"
Although she hadn't broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, her current cultivation at the Peak Nascent Soul Realm was already enough for her to contend with ordinary Saint Manifestation Realm cultivators.
Of course, if she took the Immortal-Slaying Sword out of the System Space, the Saint Manifestation Realm wouldn't be worth mentioning.
Hua Qianyan smiled with satisfaction.
Ji Zining's unruly pride was exactly what the divine son of Ziwei Holy Land ought to possess.
A young cultivator should have pride and confidence of their own.
If they shrank back at a time like this and didn't dare show what they could do, how could they call themselves a young cultivator?
Besides, Ji Zining's aptitude was exceptional. Being too timid would only waste her talent.
Those with great talent had to strive. Only through striving could they truly unleash their potential!
He was confident that Ji Zining could easily suppress the so-called heavenly geniuses those factions had sent this time!
The wait didn't last long. In less than a quarter of an hour, a full, resonant voice rang out over Ziwei Holy Land.
"The Flower God Sect of the Eastern Domain has come to congratulate Ziwei Holy Land on its newly appointed divine son!"
"The Heavenly God Ancient Sect of the Northern Domain has come to congratulate Ziwei Holy Land on gaining a monstrous genius as its divine son!"
"The Great Emperor Wang Lineage of the Southern Domain has come to celebrate the appointment of Ziwei Holy Land's new divine son!"
"The Heavenly Sound Buddhist Temple of the Western Domain congratulates Ziwei Holy Land on its newly appointed divine son!"
"The Wuji Divine Sect of the Northern Domain..."
"..."
After the full, resonant voice, one clear voice after another rang out without cease.
Each voice announced the name of a faction renowned throughout the True Martial Dao Domain.
From their words, there was no need to guess why they had come to Ziwei Holy Land.
Within Ziwei Holy Land, the expressions of all the disciples turned solemn at the sound.
They were here!
The major factions of the True Martial Dao Domain had arrived at their Ziwei Holy Land!
Before long, they should be able to see those factions' heavenly geniuses fight His Highness the Divine Son!
They could hardly wait to see the divine son, Ji Zining, crush those so-called heavenly geniuses!
As though sensing something, all the disciples of Ziwei Holy Land looked up at the sky together.
Vast carriages and enormous mounts flew across the heavens.
Atop those carriages and mounts were many powerfully imposing cultivators, dressed in a variety of robes.
And they were all heading in the same direction: the assembly hall of their Ziwei Holy Land!
Inside the assembly hall.
Ji Zining and Hua Qianyan exchanged a glance and smiled.
"They're here!"
As though in answer, figures appeared outside the hall's wide-open doors.
At the front was a middle-aged man in a long golden robe. Behind him was a tall young man wearing an identical golden robe.
From their clothing, it was clear they came from the same sect.
As soon as the two entered the hall, the middle-aged man in the golden robe cupped his hands slightly toward Hua Qianyan and Ji Zining.
"Lord Holy Lord, it's been a long time! And Your Highness at Divine Son Hall, a pleasure to meet you!"
Behind him, the tall young man in the golden robe also cupped his hands slightly.
But as he did so, he stole a glance at Ji Zining, who sat in the seat of honor.
That single glance left the tall young man in the golden robe dumbstruck.
Could there really be such a peerless beauty in this world?!
Hua Qianyan sat upright and composed in his chair, showing no intention of rising.
He ignored the middle-aged man's words and instead turned his gaze to the tall young man in the golden robe standing behind him.
His lips parted, and he spoke mildly, his face expressionless.
"What are you looking at? Is it that good a sight?"
The tall young man abruptly came to his senses and hurriedly bowed his head.
"Senior, I wasn't looking at anything!"
The middle-aged man frowned slightly and glanced at Ji Zining, a flicker of amazement appearing in his eyes.
He hadn't noticed just now, but he finally realized that the divine son of Ziwei Holy Land was truly a beauty!
And her foundation and underpinnings...
But his amazement lasted only an instant. Coming to his senses, the middle-aged man shot a fierce glare at the tall young man standing behind him with his head lowered.
"Do you take us for blind? Get over there and apologize to His Highness at Divine Son Hall!"
He knew his junior's character all too well.
One glance at Ji Zining was enough for him to understand why Hua Qianyan had asked that question.
But didn't this fool stop to consider who he was looking at?
That was the divine son of Ziwei Holy Land, whose status was higher than either of theirs!
Yet even after the middle-aged man spoke, the tall young man kept his head lowered and said nothing.
It was as though he hadn't heard the middle-aged man at all.
Seeing this, the envoys and heavenly geniuses of the various factions behind them halted outside the hall rather than enter, their faces full of anticipation for a good show.
They hadn't expected something so interesting to happen as soon as they arrived at Ziwei Holy Land.
Some of the heavenly geniuses cast disgusted glances at the tall young man inside the hall.
Was this fellow having another one of his episodes?