In the square of Linluo City, it was already bustling with noise and excitement. As far as the eye could see, it was packed with people and carriages, with tens of thousands of people filling up the streets. It was extremely lively. The commoners in the city surged towards the central square like a tide, and the continuous stream of people extended all the way to the end of the horizon.
At the center of the plaza stood a tall platform. It was the battle arena. Seated around the platform were rows of seats. Surrounding the seats were circles of onlookers. Not far away, the rooftops were also filled with people. The representatives of the various large sects took their seats. Among them, the four great sects of the four counties were the most eye-catching. They were none other than the Blood Moon Sect of the Eastern Prefecture, the Seven Wounds Sect of the Southern Prefecture, the Myriad Puppets Sect of the Western Prefecture, and the Snow Lotus Palace of the Northern Prefecture!
"Everyone's here now, right?"
"The top sects of the four counties are all gathered here. Such a scene is very rare…"
Lin Xuan, Black Sparrow, and the others passed through the crowd and entered the venue. Under Ye Anran's lead, they arrived at the location of the Ye Family. As the various large sects arrived, all of the chosen prides of heaven from the four counties also appeared. Their appearance naturally caused a wave of discussion.
"That's Snow Lotus Palace's Xue Ling'er!"
"I've heard that Snow Lotus Palace produces many beauties. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation… Xue Ling'er's cultivation should have reached the late stages of the Qi Condensation Realm, right?"
"Tsk tsk… how eye-catching. However, don't be bewitched by this woman's beautiful appearance. Rumor has it that this woman is vicious and merciless. Moreover, she specializes in a blood refinement technique that absorbs the blood of others to nourish her appearance. If it falls into her hands, it will definitely not be a good thing."
Listening to the discussions around them, Lin Xuan couldn't help but glance at Xue Ling'er. At this moment, Xue Ling'er also happened to see Lin Xuan's charming smile. It was truly devastatingly beautiful, causing Lin Xuan to rub his nose awkwardly.
"Hey, look at that lady in red. She must be the famous Eldest Senior Sister of the Blood Moon Sect, Bai Hongling. She's at the perfected Ethereal Enlightenment Realm. I heard that she once killed a Stygian Realm Master with a Blood Moon Blood Condensing Spear and left unharmed."
"Then let's have the Myriad Puppets Sect's young sect master, Gui Yuan. It looks like there really is a netherworld… This person has a corpse puppet as his companion all year round…"
"The Seven Wounds—"
"Look, it's… the imperial family!"
Everyone's gaze turned towards the east side of the venue. A group of people was slowly walking over from that side. However, they saw that this group of people were all dressed in golden robes. They were indeed mighty and extraordinary!
When they saw the arrival of the imperial family, the four great sects hurriedly retreated with subservient and respectful expressions! The leading member of the imperial family was a golden-robed woman. She wore jet black hair and had a dignified appearance, and her golden robe accentuated her luxurious aura.
"That would be the princess!"
"Why would she come to our Eastern Prefecture?"
The arrival of the princess brought the entire scene to a small climax.
"It's really… Her Royal Highness!"
"But… why did Her Highness come to our Eastern Prefecture?" The appearance of Dongfang Yue caused the originally lively scene to reach a small climax.
"Greetings, Princess!"
"Greetings, Your Highness!" Everyone bowed.
At this moment, in the public square, countless families and sects no longer dared to sit down. They stood up and saluted Lin Xuan and the rest of the Ye Family members. All of them stood up and bowed respectfully towards the royal princess and her entourage. "Linluo City's City Lord… Ye Zhentian… and all of the Ye Family members… pay their respects to Your Highness!"
One must know that this so-called Eastern Prefecture was only a small county on the eastern border of the Saint Emperor Kingdom. To be able to meet the princess of the Empire, it could be said to be the fortune of three lifetimes!
"There's naturally no need for Uncle Ye to be so polite." Dongfang Yue nodded when she saw Ye Zhentian. She smiled and said, "I heard that you frequently accompanied Father to hunt when you were young."
Hearing Dongfang Yue's words, Ye Zhentian was also extremely touched! He hurriedly expressed his gratitude and said, "I didn't expect Your Majesty to still remember me. I am truly flattered!"
After the two of them exchanged a few pleasantries, Dongfang Yue arrived at the seat prepared for her under the protection of a group of imperial guards. There, the heads and elders of the four great sects respectfully welcomed her!
Lin Xuan, who was sitting in the back row, looked at Dongfang Yue and muttered to himself, "As expected of the royal family's bloodline, it is indeed extraordinary! Right now, the most powerful junior in the entire Heavenly Flame Empire, with the young master of the Green Leaf Sect as the best, is only at the mid-stage of the Stygian Realm. However, this princess is much younger than him. Her future is truly limitless and unfathomable!"
Thinking of this, Lin Xuan couldn't help but smile smugly. "With my current cultivation speed, I should be able to step into the Stygian Realm in less than a month's time. Breaking Dongfang Yue's record shouldn't be too difficult." Just as Lin Xuan was feeling pleased with himself, on the arena stage in the center of the square, those chosen by the four great sects had all appeared.
Since the Blood Moon Sect won the championship in the last Assembly, the Blood Moon Sect would be presiding this Assembly. After Bai Yanzhou, the Blood Moon Sect's sect master, made a long speech that made people sleepy, he finally announced, "Alright, let's not talk too much. Let's start as soon as possible!"
"The rules of this Assembly are still the same. The defending champion, Bai Hongling, will go on stage to defend the arena. The other clans will send out challengers to challenge her. If anyone succeeds in the challenge and defends the arena until the end of the competition, then he will be the winner of this year's martial arts competition. At the same time, the sect that he belongs to will also become the head of the sects of the four counties!" Bai Yanzhou was dressed in a white robe and was considered quite handsome. Although he looked fair and clean, it was difficult to conceal the malevolent aura that was produced from his years of cultivating heretical practices. He gave off an uncomfortable feeling.
At this moment, he stood on the platform, looking pleased with himself. His tone was also proud. After all, he was quite confident in his personal disciple Bai Hongling. He had no doubt that she would be able to successfully defend the arena. Furthermore, even the princess of the Heavenly Flame Empire had come to watch this match. He and his Blood Moon Sect had to do their best to make a good impression on the princess.
At this time, the one standing on the fighting arena and waiting for the challenger was their Blood Moon Sect's eldest senior sister and the absolute winner of the previous martial arts competition, Bai Hongling!
The match officially began. The challengers below the stage were allowed to go on stage to challenge. The people below the stage looked at each other. Bai Hongling on stage was the Blood Moon Sect Master's chief personal disciple. She was at the perfected Qi Condensation Realm. Other than the junior experts of the other three sects, no one dared to challenge her.