Before Heavenly Gate, a sea of people had gathered.
Even the disciples and elders of Heavenly Gate had not anticipated that this challenge match among the younger generation would attract so many spectators.
Among them were no shortage of figures of authority—the masters or elders of various great sects, ancient kingdoms, dynasties, and other powers.
Even a considerable number of elders and renowned figures from immortal forces arrived in carriages, standing aloft in the void, unaffected by the inevitable crowding below, appearing much more comfortable.
All of this made the people of Heavenly Gate look grim. It was obvious that this was done intentionally, deliberately spread to let the whole world witness Heavenly Gate's embarrassment.
At dawn, the rising sun slowly climbed. When the first rays of morning light pierced through the sky and fell upon Heavenly Gate's Du Peak, the area before Heavenly Gate's entrance was already boiling with excitement, packed with dense figures—at least a million people—creating an unprecedented level of clamor.
And even at this moment, in the void, some powerful, well-known figures arrived one after another in their mounts. Among them were no shortage of Saints, and even true Saint Lords came, their auras powerful and oppressive, occupying a portion of the void, causing many cultivators to dare not approach too closely.
This battle—the challenge of the five immortal forces against Heavenly Gate's younger generation—could be called a grand spectacle, an unprecedented sensation.
Finally, the divine ships of the five immortal forces appeared, slowly descending beside the martial arena. From each divine ship emerged young prodigies of extraordinary bearing. Their numbers were not large, but each was powerful.
Especially among them, four individuals stood out even more, their auras exceptionally powerful, unprecedented, faintly possessing the peerless demeanor of a king who would stand eternal, like a sovereign standing firm, drawing gazes of reverence from the other younger generation disciples.
Clearly, these were the Young Kings among the immortal forces. As for Scarlet God Valley's Young King, he had long been slain by Ye Chen.
But Scarlet God Valley also had powerful young geniuses. Although not true kings, they were absolutely extraordinary.
Clearly, these were all true elite prodigies, even the most outstanding talents of this generation from the five immortal forces, quite remarkable.
From this, one could imagine that this time, to make Heavenly Gate lose all face, the five immortal forces had dispatched their true elite prodigies, even king-level figures.
Heavenly Gate's situation this time was severe.
Before Heavenly Gate's entrance, many Heavenly Gate disciples had also gathered. Each was a true young genius, their demeanor extraordinary, and in the outside world, they would absolutely be one-in-ten-thousand seedlings.
It was just a pity that most were still in their growth phase, not yet fully cultivated. Facing the young prodigies of the five immortal forces now, their expressions were not very good.
Naturally, the elders who emerged from Heavenly Gate were even more so. Seeing so many outsiders, they felt that this time they would likely be thoroughly humiliated, hence they looked at the people of the five immortal forces with great anger.
At this moment, from the divine ship of Scarlet God Valley, a young prodigy flew down, landing on the martial arena. He cupped his hands towards the master of Heavenly Gate and smiled slightly, saying, "Scarlet God Valley's Yang Qi is here to challenge the various prodigy fellow Daoists of Heavenly Gate. May I ask, who dares to come out and fight?"
By the end of his words, his tone had become many times more arrogant, clearly not placing Heavenly Gate's disciples in his eyes, causing an uproar.
The Heavenly Gate disciples were all extremely furious. The gazes of the various elders turned cold, sweeping icily over this Yang Qi from Scarlet God Valley, though some also wore heavy and still expressions.
Because they could all see that this Yang Qi was very powerful, at least a young prodigy who reigned supreme at the fifth level of Divine Transformation. They hadn't expected Scarlet God Valley to come out swinging for real right from the start, actually sending out such a powerful young super-expert, making people's expressions change.
"Yang Qi? Could he be that Yang Qi, the younger brother of Scarlet Scale King?"
When they saw this Yang Qi, many immediately recognized his identity—the younger brother of Scarlet God Valley's fallen king, Scarlet Scale King. Similarly gifted and powerful, although not called a king, it was rumored he was also a heaven-favored talent among the young Marquis Lords.
"I've heard that Yang Qi is said to be able to rank within the top hundred of the Myriad Domains Marquis Lord Ranking, quite powerful."
Many people were exclaiming in surprise.
The threshold for becoming a Marquis Lord, like becoming a king, was not determined by cultivation realm, but by true strength within the same realm.
Only by reaching the pinnacle level among peers could one be enfeoffed as a Marquis Lord.
Accompanying the intense opening of the Human Sovereign competition, some well-intentioned individuals, in cooperation with forces possessing terrifying heritage, created two great rankings across the myriad realms: the Marquis Lord Ranking and the King Ranking, aimed at ranking the strength of the various lords and kings across the myriad realms.
Moreover, this ranking was often very authoritative, a list recognized by the entire world.
The Marquis Lord Ranking had three thousand names. One must know how vast the myriad realms were; each great domain was often millions of miles expansive, with countless races and endless living beings. Naturally, the number of Marquis Lord experts born was also extremely numerous.
Being able to rank on the Marquis Lord Ranking itself spoke of one's strength. Being able to rank within the top hundred of the Marquis Lord Ranking, in such a forward position, further illustrated Yang Qi's true power.
Hearing this news, many disciples within Heavenly Gate wore heavy and still expressions. Although they felt Yang Qi's words were very arrogant, a young Marquis Lord within the top hundred of the Marquis Lord Ranking was enough to make many people's expressions change. He was a super-expert famous beneath the kings.
Within Heavenly Gate, how many could deal with such a terror?
Although the Heavenly Gate elders' expressions were somewhat ugly, they still gave orders, saying, "Xia Changqing, step forward to meet the challenge, face this Scarlet God Valley's Yang Qi."
"Yes!"
From among the Heavenly Gate disciples, a tall, slender youth stepped out. His figure was ethereal and light, floating like a startled swan from the Heavenly Gate mountain entrance onto the martial arena. He cupped his fists towards Yang Qi: "I am Xia Changqing. Please engage in a sparring match, Fellow Daoist. I hope you will show mercy."
Yang Qi nodded and said, "Of course."
In Xia Changqing's hand was a three-foot azure sword, its blade clear and bright, with wind patterns fluctuating upon it. He was a prodigy who mainly cultivated the Wind Dao. Pointing his sword at Yang Qi from a distance, he said, "Please draw your weapon."
But Yang Qi's mouth slowly curved into a disdainful smile as he said, "To deal with you, no need!"
Arrogant!
The many disciples of Heavenly Gate were enraged. What was this? Did he simply not place Heavenly Gate's disciples in his eyes at all?
Even some of the Heavenly Gate elders had gloomy expressions.
The surrounding powerful spectators were also in an uproar. Yang Qi's boldness was indeed arrogant. Although born from an immortal force, daring to provoke Heavenly Gate like this was truly somewhat presumptuous.