Zhao Wudao's arrival immediately stirred the three thousand young prodigies present, each young powerhouse looking on with awe and trepidation.
"Brother Wudao has finally arrived, truly making us wait quite a while," the Saint Sons and Saint Daughters at the highest level greeted him with smiling faces, ushering him to the topmost seating, signifying his superior status.
Facing other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters of equal nobility and strength, Zhao Wudao was no longer expressionless, showing a hint of a smile as they conversed and toasted at the highest banquet table.
Zhao Tianyi gave Zhao Wudao a cold glance for a moment before ultimately withdrawing his gaze, for the perception of such a powerhouse was terrifying, capable of sensing others' stares.
Ye Chen glanced at Zhao Tianyi, lost in thought.
The gathering continued, though it was clear that the actual number of arrivals was not three thousand; a considerable portion of young powerhouses had not yet come.
Especially including the heirs of several Immortal Sacred Lands, otherwise there would definitely be more. It had long been rumored that over twenty top-tier Saint Son-level powerhouses had gathered to enter the Purple Mansion Sacred Land, yet now only about half were present.
Perhaps those Saint Sons simply disdained participating in this prodigy gathering.
After roughly half an hour, someone spoke, signaling the young powerhouses to quiet down.
"Fellow Daoists, the purpose of summoning you all today is to discuss matters regarding entering the Purple Mansion Sacred Land."
The speaker was a Saint Son from the highest banquet table. He stood with a smile, appearing very sunny, his entire being exuding a peculiar charm that made people feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, naturally fostering goodwill.
He was the Saint Son of the Daoyan Sacred Land, possessing formidable strength and high status, almost regarded as the next generation's Sacred Land Lord, drawing the attention and respect of all the young powerhouses present.
Now standing atop a high platform, he smiled towards the three thousand young prodigies: "I believe you all obtained the qualifications to enter the Purple Mansion Sacred Land through fierce competition, each a true hero in your own right, with limitless futures ahead."
It must be said, this Daoyan Saint Son was quite popular. His words of praise pleased many, especially coming from someone of his noble Saint Son status, making people smile and feel even more goodwill.
"But you all also understand that the Purple Mansion Sacred Land is very strange; even the various Saint Lords dare not claim absolute safety. Therefore, it is necessary for us to form an alliance to advance into the Purple Mansion Sacred Land, thus maximizing the safety of everyone's lives."
The numerous young prodigies present all nodded in agreement. They had all heard and seen various rumors about the Purple Mansion Sacred Land; how could they not be clear?
It was rumored that the masters of the various Immortal Sacred Lands had brought terrifying forbidden artifacts of the taboo level specifically to deal with the evil beings within the Sacred Land.
They, the younger generation, were much weaker, making it necessary to ally for self-preservation.
Otherwise, acting alone would likely lead to disaster.
Sure enough, over ninety percent of the young prodigies expressed agreement. The remaining less than ten percent remained silent, considered as tacit consent, such as Ye Chen, Zhao Tianyi, and others.
Only the expressions of the other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters were cold and ruthless, with hints of disdain flickering in their eyes.
"Several Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, you have been by the sides of your respective Saint Lords and should know some precise information about the Purple Mansion Sacred Land. Could you share some to let us understand?" a young prodigy asked with a cupped fist.
"Yes, esteemed Saint Sons and Saint Daughters, please enlighten us," many young prodigies present inquired.
However, the expressions of the Saint Sons and Saint Daughters turned slightly cold, including the recently arrived Zhao Wudao. This was truly classified information, known only to the higher echelons of the various Immortal Sacred Lands; how could it be casually revealed to the world?
To them, these prodigies were allies in the alliance, but in truth, they were merely pawns—pawns to attract other evil beings. The so-called alliance was nonsense; they could be abandoned at any critical moment.
"Indeed, I believe we should be frank," the Saint Son of the Daoyan Sacred Land spoke again, though the other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters' expressions changed slightly. "Daochu, you should understand the importance of these secrets. Even we cannot casually disclose them; we would face punishment from the Elders."
The young powerhouses present felt a slight chill. What kind of secrets were these that even those as noble as these Saint Sons and Saint Daughters could not casually reveal?
"Since we have formed an alliance, we should be honest with each other to avoid sudden accidents."
Daochu, the Saint Son of the Daoyan Sacred Land, spoke, and the other Saint Sons and Saint Daughters fell silent, no longer objecting.
"Please enlighten us, Saint Son!" numerous young powerhouses exclaimed.
"Very well, as it involves important secrets, I can only share some."
Daochu's originally sunny and brilliant handsome face lost its smile. His jade-like handsome features carried a trace of gravity as he revealed some related important secrets, making everyone prick up their ears to listen.
Just a few days ago, on the night of the full moon hanging in the sky, an unknown anomaly occurred in the Divine Fall Mountain Range, with unknown eerie phenomena appearing. What was clear was that living beings definitely existed inside, and they were extremely fearsome.
Because the group of powerhouses guarding outside the Divine Fall Mountain Range encountered an accident. While they were guarding, the originally star-filled night sky suddenly became overcast with heavy clouds, a sinister wind rose, accompanied by terrifying blood rain flying about, blood thunder crackling, and astonishing evil beings appearing.
Under the lightning flashes, they discovered a horrifying monster suddenly appear, covered in red fur, with a massive build, ferocious features, fanged mouth, and jade-green eyes—extremely terrifying.
It instantly and easily tore three Divine Transformation peak powerhouses to shreds, annihilating their Primordial Spirits, slaughtering many powerhouses, staining the Divine Fall Mountain Range with blood. It even seized a powerful Demi-Saint powerhouse; despite him exerting all his divine abilities, he was unable to resist and was directly dragged into the Sacred Land, disappearing, leaving only the Demi-Saint's screams echoing briefly.
This matter naturally drew the attention of the various Sacred Lands, with even Saint Lord-level figures personally investigating. But they could not determine the cause or what exactly it was. However, it was suppressed by the major powers and not spread.
Hearing Daochu's account sent chills down the spines of many present, a bone-piercing cold spreading through their hearts.
They never imagined such terrifying beings existed within the Purple Mansion Sacred Land. They had always thought it was just an uninhabited ghostly realm; now it seemed far more sinister than imagined.
After the alliance was formed, the young powerhouses were informed of several important pieces of information regarding the Purple Mansion Sacred Land, making many prodigies feel heavy-hearted.
Although the Purple Mansion Sacred Land contained the peerless divine treasure of a supreme Sacred Land, it was also accompanied by endless dangers.
If not for the masters of the various Immortal Sacred Lands deciding to take the vanguard this time and bringing taboo-level magical instruments, even with a hundred times their courage, they would not dare venture in recklessly—that would simply be suicide.
Even a Demi-Saint was easily captured, let alone them, many young juniors who weren't even at the Divine Transformation Realm.
The banquet finally dispersed, with all the young powerhouses preparing to enter the Purple Mansion Sacred Land.
Zhao Wudao also left with his brother, striding with the majesty of a dragon and tiger, so imposing that all young prodigies had to step aside, not daring to obstruct in the slightest.
However, when passing by Ye Chen and the others, Zhao Jun suddenly glanced over, looking at Zhao Tianyi. He couldn't help but pause, raising his eyebrows with a disdainful smile: "Zhao Tianyi, so this trash is actually here too. Truly unexpected."
Zhao Jun's words drew the attention of everyone present, all focusing over, making it the center of attention for a moment.
Zhao Tianyi met his gaze without backing down: "If you have the qualification to be here, why can't I?"
"How can you compare to me? I am a royal descendant, while you are just a commoner deposed by my Zhao Kingdom. Ridiculous," Zhao Jun sneered.
A deposed prince of the Zhao Kingdom?
Many were inwardly shaken, looking at Zhao Tianyi, eager to understand what exactly had happened.
"Zhao Jun, if not for that shameless empress of yours framing us, how could my mother and I have been deposed?" Mentioning this, Zhao Tianyi grew furious, like a lion with bristling mane.
Back then, if not for the current empress constantly slandering them in the Zhao Kingdom Monarch's ear, coupled with Zhao Wudao being favored since childhood and even many senior royal elders placing high hopes on him, grasping the momentum, how could he and his mother have been deposed and expelled from the royal family?
Zhao Jun sneered: "Trash is trash. So what if we framed you? Who told your mother to look like a vixen, only knowing how to seduce. Expelling you was only right, lest you bring any scandalous affairs to our Zhao Kingdom."
"Zhao Jun, I'll kill you!"
Zhao Tianyi flew into a rage. Insulting him was one thing, but absolutely not his only remaining relative, his mother. He charged forward, disregarding the rule against fighting within the Qingcheng Palace, instantly condensing a divine seal and slamming it over.
"Cease this insolence!"
A furious roar exploded within the Sinking Fish and Falling Goose Palace, like a divine bell tolling, deafeningly loud. The entire palace shook, many young powerhouses' eardrums ringing, their faces paling from the shock, looking in horror at Zhao Wudao who had roared.
Too powerful! Just a single angry roar actually possessed such immense might, making many young powerhouses deafened, nearly vomiting blood.
Zhao Tianyi, bearing the brunt, was especially targeted. Waves of invisible sound waves blasted over, directly shattering the divine seal he had just formed in his hand, sending him staggering back, his bones and tendons crackling, coughing up large mouthfuls of blood.
This made people pale. With just the force of a roar, a young prodigy who had stepped into the Divine Transformation Realm was severely injured. Was this the true strength of the Zhao Kingdom Crown Prince?
Ye Chen stepped forward, slapping a palm on Zhao Tianyi's back. A mysterious force entered his body, quietly dissolving Zhao Wudao's power. He then stepped sideways to block, standing precisely on a peculiar point, causing the terrifying aura emanating from Zhao Wudao to completely disperse, unable to press down on Zhao Tianyi like a massive mountain.
"Brother Ye, thank you!"
Looking at Ye Chen, Zhao Tianyi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, expressing deep gratitude.
At this moment, Zhao Wudao looked at Ye Chen, his stern face showing a hint of surprise, though more of it remained icy cold: "Interesting. You can actually dissolve my power and also disperse my aura. You're not bad. But that's all. Birds of a feather flock together. Zhao Tianyi, I originally thought you might achieve something after being deposed and leaving the royal family, but in the end, it's just this. Get lost. I don't want to bother with trash like you."
"You!" Zhao Tianyi's expression changed.
But Ye Chen stepped forward, meeting Zhao Wudao's gaze, smiling faintly: "So you're Zhao Wudao. A good name, but unfortunately, the person is a bit too arrogant and overly self-righteous, thinking himself invincible under heaven."
"In the past, I've also met arrogant people like you. They're all dead now!"