"It's actually the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace, what a grand display," Zhao Tianyi said with a look of astonishment, quietly explaining to Ye Chen.
The City-Toppling Hall had ten main halls and thirty-three separate courtyards, among which the Shy Moon and Bashful Flower Hall and the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace were the most famous.
However, whether it was the Shy Moon and Bashful Flower Hall or the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace, both were core areas of the City-Toppling Hall and were generally not open to the public. They were only opened on special occasions.
Moreover, the honored guests invited inside were no ordinary figures; at the very least, they required the presence of major figures from top-tier forces renowned throughout the world for the palaces to be opened.
Generally speaking, only those who had reached the level of the Saint Treasury Realm, the most distinguished figures, were qualified to be invited inside. That it was opened today somewhat surprised Zhao Tianyi.
Could the Crown Princes and Crown Princesses of the several Immortal Sacred Lands really possess such influence to make the master of the City-Toppling Hall open the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace?
Seeing their puzzled expressions, that charming woman giggled and looked at Zhao Tianyi, her bright eyes smiling lightly, instantly exuding a hundred charms. She said softly, "Esteemed guests, today several Crown Princes and Crown Princesses wish to hold a gathering of prodigies. Moved by this, the Hall Master has personally opened the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace to receive you. Please, young masters and ladies, enter."
Numerous young prodigies entered the luxurious, intricately carved palace one after another. Fragrant scents assailed their nostrils, and dazzling colors flowed, but it did not appear as extravagantly grand as the other pavilions. On the contrary, it had a design that soothed the heart and mind.
The palace was resplendent and magnificent, with countless flowers beyond number, each one blooming, diffusing a pleasant, orchid-like fragrance that refreshed the heart and lungs, making one feel relaxed and happy, as if all bodily fatigue could be alleviated.
Within the hall, there was even a divine spring bubbling and flowing, inside which swam schools of seven-colored immortal carp. There were also immortal geese soaring into the air, with clouds and mist swirling around, rising and falling from time to time.
The hall lived up to its name—Sinking Fish and Falling Goose!
The palace space was vast enough to accommodate over ten thousand people; three thousand prodigies were more than sufficient here.
Hundreds of banquet tables had already been arranged within the palace. Numerous young, graceful maidens served all kinds of delicacies and fine foods, along with mellow immortal wine. Everything was exquisite and elegant, noble and grand. Spirit fruits brimming with dense spiritual energy were placed on jade plates. Everything appeared so thoughtful.
Many young prodigies took their seats at the banquet tables, from the innermost to the outermost, densely packed. Almost everyone was toasting and drinking, creating a lively atmosphere. Quite a few were actively making connections.
Those who could come here were no longer enemies. Especially those who had stood out from among the numerous prodigies felt a sense of mutual admiration and sought to befriend each other.
The Purple Mansion Sacred Land was filled with dangers. At such times, having one more friend was often better than having one more enemy.
Among them, the group of proud sons and daughters at the very center was the most eye-catching. The Crown Princes were handsome and elegant, like sons of heaven, flowing with divine radiance. The Crown Princesses were beautiful and dignified, graceful and noble, stunningly gorgeous.
They were not many in number, less than ten people, but each possessed their own extraordinary Dao Rhyme flowing about them, and they imperceptibly appeared noble and grand, as if standing high above, receiving the gaze of the three thousand young prodigies.
They were the organizers of this grand gathering of the young, the Crown Princes and Crown Princesses of various Immortal Sacred Lands. Some were from the Heavenly Saint Domain, others from different great domains, and there were even those who were heaven's favored ones from the center of the Myriad Domains.
It could be said that they all possessed esteemed statuses, and their strength was also among the very best of the younger generation. They could contend with the older generation. Almost all were selected to be the next generation's masters of their Sacred Lands. They formed their own circle, conversing among themselves.
The other young prodigies vied to step forward and curry favor, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent, hoping to befriend these Crown Princes and Crown Princesses.
The various Crown Princes and Crown Princesses all set aside their airs, conversing with peaceful expressions, which made many of the young powerhouses feel immensely flattered.
Regarding all of this, Ye Chen remained calm and composed throughout. He sat directly at the outermost banquet table, savoring the mellow fine wine of the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace alone, which surprised Zhao Tianyi. "Brother Ye, don't you wish to befriend these Crown Princes and Crown Princesses? After all, these people are figures from major forces. If you befriend them well, it would be very beneficial for the future."
"Why must one force themselves to go up and curry favor? Those people are the next generation masters of Immortal forces. Whether in strength or background, they far surpass others. How would they regard us? Even if we went up, they wouldn't look favorably upon us; they would only be more disdainful. Everything before our eyes is merely a pretense," Ye Chen laughed, downing a cup of fine wine in one go, appearing very suave.
Zhao Tianyi was first taken aback, then couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "Brother Ye truly sees things clearly."
Indeed, as Crown Princes and Crown Princesses of various Immortal Sacred Lands, their statuses were extremely noble. Almost all were the next generation masters of their Sacred Lands, capable of controlling Sacred Land forces, presiding over the rise and fall of great domains, standing high above.
How could ordinary young geniuses be regarded highly by them? Their current act of setting aside their airs to converse was merely a diplomatic tactic of theirs.
However, the main reason was simply that Ye Chen had no need for such currying favor. He possessed sufficient confidence and strength to look down upon these so-called Crown Princes and Crown Princesses. Of course, this could not be spoken aloud.
The two drank wine, not going up, appearing somewhat unconventional, but no one paid them any mind.
"Brother Zhao, is every Crown Prince and Crown Princess of an Immortal Sacred Land a Young King?" Ye Chen suddenly asked. He was curious. Just like the several Crown Princes and Crown Princesses above, their strength was very powerful, but they each had their own secret treasures concealing their auras. Without actually fighting, even someone like him found it difficult to probe their true strength.
However, if every Crown Prince and Crown Princess of an Immortal Sacred Land was a Young King, then that would be far too astonishing.
Zhao Tianyi shook his head. "That's impossible. There cannot be too many true Young Kings; this holds true even when searching across the myriad realms."
According to his explanation, true Kings actually could not be too numerous. Even if they were Crown Princes and Crown Princesses of Immortal forces, inheritors of a major force, so what? Their strength was indeed very powerful compared to other peers of the younger generation; they could be called Kings. But to reach the level of true Kings, they still fell somewhat short.
Among them, quite a few were only False Kings or Pseudo-Kings. Calling them Kings to the outside world was merely a manner of speaking. In truth, more people were only at the Half-Step King stage.
Although they were only Half-Step Kings, their strength was quite formidable, not much weaker than true Kings.
Like those Crown Princes and Crown Princesses on the platform, perhaps one or two among them were true King-level figures, while the others were merely Half-Step Kings.
Naturally, the various Crown Princes and Crown Princesses all mastered powerful divine abilities and secret arts from their Immortal forces. To a certain extent, even if they encountered a King, they would have the power to fight.
However, he pointed out another viewpoint: actually, so-called Kings were merely slightly stronger False Kings, also at the Half-Step King stage. True Kings could not be born in great numbers in any era; they were few and far between.
This type of true King was distinguished by the title Immortal True King. They were the true Kings of their generation, having taken that crucial half-step, able to touch the Tenth Heaven of the Mythical Era, achieving Extreme Sublimation in all aspects.
Nowadays, the so-called King title was merely a title given to other sufficiently powerful prodigies of the same generation.
"So that's how it is," Ye Chen finally understood. Only Immortal True Kings were true Kings. Other so-called Kings were merely a group of False Kings, though those possessing the King title were among the stronger ranks of False Kings.
And the Xia Shuangwang and Scarlet Scale King that Ye Chen had slain in the past, as well as the four Kings he had swept through on the Domain War battlefield, were all powerful False Kings.
True Kings were only those Immortal True Kings who had taken another half-step beyond the ninth heaven realm.
Ye Chen sighed inwardly. Although they weren't true Kings, the kingly blood of these False Kings was quite powerful, qualified to revive his Innate Sacred Body bloodline.
Suddenly, a commotion spread through the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace. Almost everyone turned their gaze toward the palace entrance.
Because at this moment, two figures walked out from the main entrance. Especially the man at the forefront appeared particularly outstanding and eye-catching.
He walked with the stride of a dragon and the pace of a tiger, his physique tall and robust. Thick black hair cascaded over his shoulders. When his eyes opened and closed, beams of light shot forth like two divine lamps.
This person was extraordinary. A ring of divine light haloed the back of his head, divine radiance veiled his body, and he appeared prominent and distinguished. He wore a dazzling crown that shone brilliantly. Moreover, he was clad in a five-dragon brocade robe, his majestic bearing overshadowing the world, like a supreme King reigning over the mortal realm.
His appearance drew the gaze of almost all the young powerhouses in the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace. He was heroic and eye-catching. The women's eyes sparkled with admiration, while the men felt reverence in their hearts, not daring to meet his gaze, sensing an immense oppressive pressure.
At the same time, the initially arrogant, golden-armored Zhao Jun was now meekly following by this person's side, without a trace of his former temper. Moreover, the two were similar in age and even resembled each other in appearance, making it easy to guess the newcomer's identity—
Crown Prince Zhao Wudao of the Zhao Kingdom!
When he saw the newcomer, Ye Chen clearly sensed two cold, resentful gazes shoot forth from Zhao Tianyi's eyes, landing on Zhao Wudao.
"Zhao Wudao..."
Ye Chen murmured softly to himself, also casting his gaze upon this Crown Prince of the contemporary Immortal Empire, the Zhao Kingdom.
Zhao Wudao, a Crown Prince of an Immortal Empire whose status rivaled that of the Crown Princes and Crown Princesses of Immortal Sacred Lands. His status was noble, and moreover, his cultivation was extraordinary, suspected to also be a King-level figure. He was very powerful, one of the top three supreme geniuses of the younger generation in the Heavenly Saint Domain.
He had displayed exceptional talent since childhood. He began cultivating at six, reached Xiantian at nine, and even stepped into the ranks of Demigods at fourteen. Moreover, on his cultivation path, he had always advanced by leaps and bounds, revealing unprecedented, terrifying potential that surpassed all previous generations of rulers, drawing the attention of the entire Heavenly Saint Domain.
Although he was still among the Demigods, it was said that Zhao Wudao had already achieved the status of a King, standing at the very pinnacle of his generation in this Heavenly Saint Domain. He could have long since become a powerhouse of the Divine Transformation Realm. Now, he was merely biding his time, continuously accumulating power, so that when he broke through in the future, he could leap across several heavens in one go and overpower his peers.
It could be said that this was an extremely terrifying super powerhouse. Even among those present, he was absolutely among the very top tier.