Chapter 182: Gathering
After Wang Yufan left, although Ye Lingtian spoke to Ye Xiu in that manner, he was still worried. The feeling that had appeared just now was absolutely not mistaken; that power was very similar to the Heaven-Reaching Sword Shadow he had felt from the Jidao Imperial Court some time ago.
"Alright, Xiu’er, you continue practicing. Your father will leave now. The grand competition in two days will depend on your performance. This time, your name on the stage will be Li Xiu. Once you secure first place, your father will openly announce your existence. Do you understand your father’s meaning?" Ye Lingtian said to Ye Xiu.
"Yes, Ye, your son Xiu has remembered what you said." Hearing Ye Xiu’s reply, Ye Lingtian turned around with satisfaction and stepped out in the direction he came from, then disappeared.
But just after he left, the smile on Ye Xiu’s face turned into a fierce expression.
"Ye, my good Ye, everyone has their own ambitions. My ambition is not merely to win this so-called grand competition of the Five Great Imperial Courts. I want to surpass you and unify this Dao Realm. Wouldn’t that be even more wonderful? Hahahahaha." Ye Xiu’s unrestrained laughter continuously echoed in this space, lingering for a long time.
As the dawn of the second morning broke the night.
Changtian, Primal Origin Emperor, Martial Ascendancy Sovereign, and Heavenly Dragon Emperor had all arrived in the main hall of the Tiandao Imperial Court.
At this moment, Ye Lingtian, dressed in a dragon robe, was seated above the main hall.
"Hahaha, all you Emperors have arrived! You’re quite early. Someone, prepare seats for the four Emperors." Ye Lingtian said.
After the few of them sat down, Heavenly Dragon Emperor stood up and said to Ye Lingtian, "His Majesty, Emperor Ye, your cultivation is becoming more and more profound. You truly live up to being the most powerful among us Emperors. We wonder when we will be able to reach your level."
Sitting beside him, Changtian looked at Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s fawning attitude with disdain in his heart. How could he still be the Emperor of the Tianlong Imperial Court? The Emperor of each region was of equal rank and had their own backbone. Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s attitude truly disgraced the Tianlong Imperial Court.
Upon hearing Heavenly Dragon Emperor say such words, Ye Lingtian was very pleased and laughed heartily.
"Heavenly Dragon Emperor, you’re too polite. My cultivation is merely due to more diligent practice and a slightly better talent. I believe everyone will also be able to break through the God King Realm and reach the God Emperor Realm. The prerequisite is to cultivate diligently. Perhaps everyone has been too busy, which is why they’ve become a bit lax after reaching the God King Realm.
It’s a good thing for the Dao Realm to have a few more God Emperor Realm cultivators."
Hearing Ye Lingtian’s words, Heavenly Dragon Emperor cupped his fists and said.
"Lord God Emperor Ye is right. We four God Kings will certainly cultivate diligently and reach the God Emperor Realm as soon as possible.
However, among us four, only Extreme Dao Emperor Lord has recently ascended to God King. The rest of us are old God Kings. Although we are only at the early God King stage, we are about to break through to the mid-God King stage. I wonder what Extreme Dao Emperor Lord thinks?"
Hearing Heavenly Dragon Emperor mention himself, Changtian’s heart also turned cold, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Lord God Emperor Ye, and all Emperors, although I have only recently ascended, I believe I can reach the mid-stage within two or three years. I have confidence in myself. That’s all I have to say, I’m done." Changtian said.
Hearing Changtian’s words, Heavenly Dragon Emperor was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said:
"Hahahaha, that Extreme Dao Emperor Lord, don’t boast too much. Look, Lord God Emperor Ye, the strongest among us, took several years to break through a single realm. The three of us Emperors have been in the God King Realm for a hundred years and still show no signs of breaking through. You say you want to become a mid-stage God King Realm cultivator within two or three years.
It’s not that I’m trying to discourage you, but what you’re saying is a bit arrogant. It’s best to clearly assess your own talent and ability. Don’t you agree, Extreme Dao Emperor Lord?"
Hearing Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s words, Changtian no longer wished to continue speaking and simply remained silent.
Primal Origin Emperor saw this scene and smoothed things over, saying:
"There’s no need to argue about this. Since Extreme Dao Emperor Lord wants to reach the mid-God King Realm in two or three years, that’s his goal. We don’t need to argue over Extreme Dao Emperor Lord’s goal. If Extreme Dao Emperor Lord achieves it, wouldn’t that be even better?"
Hearing Primal Origin Emperor’s words, Heavenly Dragon Emperor was about to retort when Ye Lingtian spoke.
"Hmm, Primal Origin Emperor is right. Everyone has their own ambitions; there’s no need to mock others’ aspirations. Our gathering here today is not for this matter. We should talk about serious business now.
How about it, Heavenly Dragon Emperor? Have you finalized the number of participants for this year’s grand competition? How are the preparations going?"
Hearing Ye Lingtian’s words, Heavenly Dragon Emperor said:
"My Tianlong Imperial Court is well-prepared this time; we definitely won’t be last." After speaking, his eyes looked towards Extreme Dao Emperor Lord Changtian. Changtian understood what Heavenly Dragon Emperor wanted to express just by looking at his eyes.
"My Jidao Imperial Court is also ready this time." Changtian said.
"Hmph, just wait and see." Heavenly Dragon Emperor muttered under his breath.
Subsequently, Primal Origin Emperor and Martial Ascendancy Sovereign each briefly described their situations.
This time, each Imperial Court selected a total of twenty disciples to participate. From one hundred people, the final ten would be chosen, and these ten would receive certain rewards.
"Lord God Emperor Ye only asked us about our preparations, but I wonder how the Tiandao Imperial Court has prepared this time?" Changtian spoke up at this moment.
"Hahahaha, Extreme Dao Emperor Lord, why are you so eager to ask me? Could it be that your Jidao Imperial Court is full of confidence this time to win first place in this competition?" Ye Lingtian said with a smile.
"Lord God Emperor Ye misunderstands. I am merely curious. If I’m not mistaken, the Tiandao Imperial Court has been first for a hundred years. It’s clear that the Tiandao Imperial Court’s overall strength is stronger than ours, and the strength of the disciples in our Imperial Courts is also not satisfactory." Changtian said.
Just then, Heavenly Dragon Emperor spoke:
"Extreme Dao Emperor Lord, you are mistaken. We have all heard that there are people with so-called Emperor level talent in your Jidao Imperial Court. Did they not come this time?"
After Heavenly Dragon Emperor finished speaking, he looked at Changtian with a very playful expression.
For Heavenly Dragon Emperor, the reason he was so hostile towards the Jidao Imperial Court was because in the Imperial Court Grand Competition a few years ago, his disciple had an arm cut off by someone from the Jidao Imperial Court. Since then, his strength plummeted, and the successor he had chosen for the Tianlong Imperial Court was unexpectedly ruined like that.
The Five Great Imperial Courts Grand Competition has a rule: as long as the opponent is not killed during the competition, no revenge is allowed for any injuries sustained, otherwise, they will be suppressed by the other Imperial Courts.