Back in the Ancient Era, the proud sons of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao had already considered themselves a cut above the rest.
Now, in the Present-Ancient Era, with the Immortal Dao dominating heaven and earth, its proud sons had grown even more arrogant, looking down upon all other Great Daos. Moreover, the Monster Dao had always submitted to the tyrannical might of the Nine Heavens. In the eyes of those Immortal Dao prodigies, the so-called proud sons of the Monster Dao were no different from their servants, utterly beneath notice. Even though the Monster Dao no longer submitted to the Immortal Dao and had now returned to the Nine Netherworld, the Immortal Dao's proud sons still held the Monster Dao in contempt.
Thus.
With the appearance of the various proud sons of the Monster Dao, the lively scene—which had initially featured rivalries among the proud sons from different Immortal Dao Heavenly Domains—now transformed into a confrontation between the proud sons of the Immortal Dao and those of the Monster Dao.
The Nine Heavens Immortal Dao side had many experts. Although most of them were top-tier Immortal Dao prodigies from various Heavenly Domains, accustomed to being surrounded by followers and admired like the moon amidst stars in their own domains, here today, especially in the presence of the Great Desolate's Ten Elegant Immortals—with their elegant temperament and numerous admirers—and the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals renowned throughout the Great Desolate, their radiance seemed somewhat less dazzling.
For the fame of the Ten Elegant Immortals and the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals in the Great Desolate was simply too immense, immense as the sun hanging in the sky, illuminating heaven and earth—no other existence could contend with or outshine them.
This time.
Four of the Great Desolate's Ten Elegant Immortals had come.
Three of the Great Desolate's Ten Peerless Upper Immortals had come.
These seven stood at the very front.
And opposite them.
Stood a group of Monster Dao proud sons, led precisely by six Monster Dao Peerless Upper Demons.
Although the Immortal Dao proud sons had greater numbers and the cheers urging them on were ceaseless, the various Monster Dao proud sons showed no fear due to being outnumbered. This was especially true for the six Monster Dao Peerless Upper Demons standing at the forefront; whether in terms of imposing aura, temperament, courage, or spirit, they surpassed even the Immortal Dao's several Peerless Upper Immortals and Elegant Immortals.
"Brother Tu, it's been a while."
The speaker was a man.
A tall, exceptionally handsome man.
Everyone present knew this man. His Dao title was Shi Que, ranked among the Great Desolate's Ten Peerless Upper Immortals. He was a disciple of a Blessed Land, a student of Patriarch Zhenhuan. He not only possessed the Great Sun Radiance Creation bestowed by the Nine Heavens but also a unique Great Dao Mist-Concealment Immortal Physique.
It was said he had long since integrated the Nine Heavens-bestowed Great Sun Radiance Creation into himself and had nurtured forth a Violet-Gold Tyrant Sun.
Rumor had it the imposing might of this Violet-Gold Tyrant Sun was powerful enough to overawe an entire world.
And that was merely the aura of the Violet-Gold Tyrant Sun. No one knew what terrifying power the Violet-Gold Tyrant Sun he had nurtured truly contained.
Moreover, besides the Violet-Gold Tyrant Sun, he also possessed the Great Dao Mist-Concealment Immortal Physique. Legends said his Immortal Physique was like a mist; even if struck by the most powerful force, it could not be utterly annihilated.
As for how terrifying Shi Que's true strength was, no one knew. It was only known that, years ago, he had once made a move and obliterated a Ghost Dao Star Lord who had received the Mandate of Heaven.
He stood in the air, hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face as he looked at an Upper Demon opposite him and said lightly, "I didn't expect you to come join in on this excitement either."
"What?
Are you saying only you can come for this excitement, and I cannot?"
The one conversing with Shi Que was also a man, though this man was not an Upper Immortal but an Upper Demon. His Dao title was Tu He, ranked among the Great Desolate's Ten Peerless Upper Demons. He too was a disciple of a Blessed Land, possessing not only the Dark Moon Gloom Creation bestowed by the Nine Netherworld but also being a direct descendant of the Taowu Demon Ancestor.
Taowu was a progenitor of the Monster Dao, also a famously ferocious and savage Great Demon Ancestor.
As a descendant of Taowu, this Tu He seemed to have inherited his ancestor's temperament. Even in human form, his face bore a savage, cruel expression.
Tu He's fame in the Great Desolate was immense, because several millennia ago, he alone had once annihilated all living beings in an entire world.
It could be said he was extremely bloodthirsty and cruel. Many in the Great Desolate would take a detour upon hearing the name Tu He.
"Tu He, I'm afraid this excitement is beyond your means to join."
The speaker this time was not Shi Que, but another ranked among the Ten Great Upper Immortals: Upper Immortal Fang Ying.
As everyone knew, the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals renowned throughout the Great Desolate were all disciples of Cave Heavens or Blessed Lands, and each possessed a unique Great Dao Immortal Physique. Fang Ying was no exception. Others might fear Tu He, but as one of the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals, Fang Ying absolutely did not.
Tu He arrogantly roared, "There is no excitement in all the heavens and myriad worlds that I, Tu He, cannot join!"
"Oh? Is that so."
Fang Ying sneered and was about to step forward to measure himself against Tu He when someone beside him stepped out and said with a laugh, "Since we've all gathered here with such difficulty, why must we be confrontational?"
This was an elegant man.
Those present also knew him. His Dao title was Qing Gu.
Though not ranked among the Great Desolate's Ten Peerless Upper Immortals, he was one of the Ten Elegant Immortals renowned throughout the Great Desolate.
The so-called Elegant Immortals.
Lay in the word 'Elegant.'
Both their temperament and demeanor deserved that word 'Elegant.'
Across the heavens and myriad worlds, the various Heavenly Domains had countless Elegant Immortals. That Qing Gu could rank among the Ten Elegant Immortals meant he was certainly no ordinary figure.
In the Great Desolate of the Present-Ancient Era, the fame of the Ten Elegant Immortals was in no way inferior to that of the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals. In a sense, their fame even surpassed that of the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals.
The reason was simple.
The Ten Elegant Immortals were not weaker than the Ten Peerless Upper Immortals in terms of either background or cultivation attainments.
Most importantly, the Ten Elegant Immortals were masters of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, each a leading figure among the younger generation in their respective artistic domains.
Like Qing Gu—he was a leading figure among the younger generation in the field of music in the Present-Ancient Era. The musical pieces he composed were famous throughout the heavens and myriad worlds, driving many young women wild for him.
To put it plainly.
The Ten Peerless Upper Immortals had made their names in the Great Desolate through their peerless, matchless strength and attainments.
The Ten Talented Elegant Immortals, however, had made their names in the Great Desolate through their uniquely leading talent and artistic accomplishments.
The strength of the Ten Elegant Immortals might not match that of the Ten Upper Immortals, but their talent and accomplishments left the Ten Upper Immortals far behind.
There was another important reason: Elegant Immortals seldom made enemies and never involved themselves in conflicts. Whether disputes among Immortal Realm families or clashes between proud sons of different Daos, they never participated.
Elegant Immortals, after all.
Lived for that word 'Elegant.'
Things like fighting and brawling were something Elegant Immortals would not do, nor did they deign to.
Precisely because of this, besides having countless admirers, the Ten Elegant Immortals also enjoyed exceedingly good rapport. They had many friends not only in the Immortal Dao but also in the Monster Dao.
Tu He opposite him might not be his friend, but he was definitely not an enemy.
He looked at Tu He and said with a smile, "Many years have passed, Brother Tu He, yet you truly haven't changed a bit. Your temperament is still so hot-tempered."
"Brother Qing Gu, who has always avoided worldly affairs, how is it you've come to join this excitement this time?"
When speaking with Qing Gu, the ferocious-tempered Tu He's tone was noticeably much milder.
"After all, it's the return of the You Di's resurgence. This matter cannot be described by mere words like 'excitement.' Such an earth-shattering event that has stirred the heavens and myriad worlds—I, Qing Gu, naturally did not want to miss it either. I imagine Brother Tu's reason for being here today is the same."
"Hahaha! Of course!"
Tu He laughed heartily and roared, "With such a monumental event as the You Di's return, who would want to miss it!"