Yuanyue City's annual Four-Clan Mine Seizing Competition had finally arrived!
The venue for the competition was set in a vast square located just outside the city's northern gate.
On this day, from the crack of dawn, crowds of people flocked towards the square in the north of the city.
This large square, positioned outside the northern city gate, was backed by several graceful peaks.
Before long, the square was packed with a dense throng of martial artists.
The noise was deafening!
Moreover, more martial artists were arriving in a continuous stream.
Not only had virtually every martial artist from Yuanyue City poured out to witness this annual spectacle, but practitioners from several other major cities in the vicinity had also heard the news and come for the event.
In the center of the square, a large, tall platform for the competition had been erected much earlier.
Along the eastern side of the square, a row of over a dozen high observation platforms had been constructed.
On four of these platforms, large banners had been erected.
Each banner was embroidered with a single, grand, fluidly-written character.
Respectively, they read: Qin, Shi, Lü, Ye!
Clearly, these four platforms served as the temporary viewing stands for Yuanyue City's four great families.
The other platforms were also prepared for other distinguished figures of status and reputation.
The martial artists of lesser status, however, could only crowd around the main competition stage in the square, scrambling to find themselves a spot.
At this moment, the members of the four great families had already arrived.
Their respective high platforms were fully occupied.
"Look! That's Qin An! How imposing and heroic he is, truly worthy of being a Heavenly Spirit Body!"
The gaze of most martial artists in the square was fixed upon the temporary platform occupied by Qin An.
Qin An stood there, clad in a purple robe that billowed without any wind. He practically radiated light, exuding an air of extreme nobility as if a sovereign pacing before his subjects.
"This is a Heavenly Spirit Body! Within the entire Great Qin Empire, it's a peerless existence."
"It's said that all four of the Empire's great sects have already made promises, expressing their willingness to recruit Qin An without any conditions."
"Not only that, they will allow him to directly become a core disciple for focused cultivation!"
…
Throughout the square, waves of discussion arose without end.
"Haha, Brother Qin Xiong, you're positively glowing with energy! Today, you are destined for great gains."
"Young Master Qin An, you are undoubtedly the star of today's competition."
…
Shi Tianyuan and Lü Yunxiao, the heads of their respective families, spoke to Qin Xiong in turn.
When facing Qin Xiong, these two family heads displayed a certain degree of subservience.
"Ha ha…"
Qin Xiong made a slight, polite bow in acknowledgment. His pleased laughter echoed across the entire square, and he felt as if he had personally reached the pinnacle of his life.
"The City Lord has arrived!"
A loud announcement rang out.
Then,
"Ha ha, Brother Qin Xiong, I offer my advance congratulations to your Qin Family for your imminent victory today!"
"Do remember to invite me to your Qin Family's celebration feast!"
A majestic, dignified middle-aged man in a yellow robe entered the great square, leading a large troop of soldiers in polished armor.
The City Lord of Yuanyue City had arrived!
Moreover, the City Lord clearly stated his position: support for the Qin Family!
"You can rest assured, City Lord. Our Qin Family's victory feast will certainly include you!"
Qin Xiong replied grandly, his face beaming with triumph.
"Hmph, who will win or lose remains to be seen."
"Don't rejoice too soon!"
From atop the Ye Family's viewing platform, Ye Tianpeng retorted with a cold snort.
"Ye Tianpeng, the outcome of today's competition is already set in stone—our Qin Family will undoubtedly triumph!"
"Today, I will publicly humiliate and crush you!"
"I will ensure you, Ye Tianpeng, and your Ye Family, become laughingstocks henceforth!"
"Furthermore, as my son, Qin An, powerfully rises to prominence, he requires stepping stones for contrast."
"Today, every participating disciple of the Ye Family will be utterly annihilated—not a single one left!"
Qin Xiong stared challengingly at Ye Tianpeng, declaring these words in a voice that boomed across the entire square.
He showed not the slightest hesitation in openly uttering such a statement.
*Gasp!*
Upon hearing Qin Xiong's words, many martial artists in the square couldn't help but draw sharp breaths.
Qin Xiong was pushing the Ye Family down a path of total destruction!
"Hmph, Qin Xiong, anyone can spout empty boasts."
"Before the final moment, victory or defeat is not yet determined!"
Ye Tianpeng countered with a cold harrumph.
"Ha ha… Ye Tianpeng, your stubborn nature truly hasn't changed one bit."
"You refuse to yield until you see the coffin!"
Qin Xiong burst into hearty laughter.
"Father, there is no need for you to waste words on him."
"He will soon recognize reality for what it is."
Suddenly, Qin An spoke with a faint, dismissive tone.
"I believe it will be your Qin Family that quickly recognizes reality."
Just then, another voice, equally calm, rang out.
A youth slowly walked into the square, heading towards the temporary platform where the Ye Family was located.
"Huh? Isn't that Ye Yunfei, that useless young master from the Ye Family?"
Someone immediately recognized and called out.
"Fei'er!"
As soon as Ye Tianpeng spotted Ye Yunfei, a great joy surged within him.
"You are that Ye Family waste, Ye Yunfei?"
"Very good. You good-for-nothing, I will make you kneel before me today and personally admit that you are worthless."
Qin An's indifferent gaze swept over Ye Yunfei, filled with undisguised contempt.
"Based on you?"
"What gives you the right to make me, Ye Yunfei, kneel?"
"Pure wishful thinking!"
Ye Yunfei responded with a light, scornful smile.
"Ye Yunfei, you good-for-nothing! Of course, Brother Qin An has the right to make you kneel!"
"Brother Qin An has awakened his Heavenly Spirit Body; he is a deserved and natural-born prodigy!"
"Brother Qin An's future is already destined—he will rise powerfully and shake the entire Great Qin Empire!"
"Ye Yunfei, you are not even worthy of carrying Brother Qin An's shoes!"
Suddenly, from the temporary platform belonging to the Shi Family, Shi Xiaodie stood up and stared venomously at Ye Yunfei, her voice loud and sharp.
"Oh, it's that wanton, disloyal tramp. Haven't you already been discarded by me?"
"What right do you have now to stand before me shrieking and yelling?"
"Scram! Get far away from me."
Ye Yunfei met her hostility head-on, not leaving a shred of face for Shi Xiaodie.
"You!... You… good-for-nothing! You're spouting nonsense!"
Ye Yunfei's words caused Shi Xiaodie to flush scarlet with shame and rage. She completely lost control on the spot, letting out a high-pitched screech.
Last time, within the Yuanyue Martial Institute, she had been publicly handed a divorce letter written with Ye Yunfei's own blood.
That incident had long since spread throughout Yuanyue City, turning her into an object of ridicule.
Now, with Ye Yunfei raising the matter publicly again, Shi Xiaodie trembled violently from head to toe, overcome with fury.
"Outrageous!"
"Ye Yunfei, you worthless waste! Not only do you insult Xiao Die, but you also dared to injure Shaojie! I will make you pay!"
Shi Tianyuan was similarly so enraged that his face contorted, and he let out a furious roar.
"Your son couldn't beat me. If I am a good-for-nothing, wouldn't that make your son less than a good-for-nothing?"
Ye Yunfei chuckled coldly in response.
"Haha! Well said! It seems then, Shi Tianyuan, your son is truly an utter waste!"
Ye Tianpeng roared with laughter.
The arrival of his son had lifted his spirits and made him feel invigorated.
"You…!"
Shi Tianyuan was so angry he couldn't find words.
It was at this moment,
"Elder Wu of the Ziyang Sect has arrived!"
Another loud announcement sounded.
Then, a middle-aged man shrouded in terrifying sword light walked into the square, accompanied by several younger disciples.
"Elder Du of the Tianyuan Sect has arrived!"
Another call rang out.
An old man with kindly eyes and three wisps of long beard hanging before his chest entered the square, leading several young disciples.
"Elder Zhuo of the Zhencang Sect has arrived!"
Immediately after, a third announcement.
A hunched old man with disheveled hair falling past his shoulders strode into the square, a number of young followers in tow.
"Elder Ding of the Xiaoyao Pavilion has arrived!"
A fourth call echoed.
In walked a middle-aged female daoist nun, accompanied by her sect's younger disciples.
The representatives from the Empire's Four Great Sects had all arrived simultaneously!
The entire square fell into utter silence.
Not a single person dared make a sound.
All the martial artists in the square fixed their gazes upon the sect representatives, eyes filled with shock and profound reverence.
The Four Great Sects were the four superpowers of the Great Qin Empire.
The status of these four sects stood on equal footing with the Imperial Royal Family itself!
Therefore, wherever their members went while journeying outside, they moved like royalty, their status supremely exalted.
On this occasion, each of the Four Great Sects had actually dispatched an Elder to personally attend the events in Yuanyue City.
This was undoubtedly a moment of unprecedented glory in the entire history of Yuanyue City.
The four Elders from the great sects led their respective disciples and ascended to four of the observation platforms on the eastern side of the square, where they took their seats.