Xu Mu crushed the jade slip and exited the Yaochi Wonderland.
He landed on a solitary cloud. A gentle breeze blew, and all eyes turned to him, filled with shock and confusion.
"You crushed the jade slip," said Daoist Tianshui from the judge's seat, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, his expression stern. "Do you understand what that means?"
Xu Mu nodded, smiled in the sunlight, and replied, "I understand perfectly."
"I have been eliminated."
Daoist Tianshui was silent for a moment, then fixed his gaze on Xu Mu and stated plainly, "Yes, you have been eliminated, just one step away from the supreme seat."
"And the true supreme, the first place of this Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races, is the Saintess of the Nangong Clan, Nangong Huaitian!"
At this point, Daoist Tianshui's eyes suddenly became sharp, piercing Xu Mu like knives, as if trying to bring him back to his senses.
But whether Xu Mu was awakened or not, the outcome was irreversible, for he had crushed the jade slip and conceded.
Therefore, the first place of this Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races was Nangong Huaitian, without any dispute.
"My heavens, the Saintess actually won! She accomplished what the previous Saint Son of Nangong could not, and she won't have to be forced into a political marriage!"
"Indeed, I never thought the supreme position of the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races could be obtained by a woman one day."
After a brief silence, the sky above the Holy City erupted with thunderous discussions, like a powder keg exploding. All the cultivators were talking about Nangong's victory and Xu Mu's concession.
"What was Mu Xu thinking, to give up the supreme chief position for a woman? Is he out of his mind!" A young esper of similar age to Xu Mu slammed down his cup, speaking in anger. His family had some grievances with the Nangong Clan. He had thought they could settle the score after the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races, but who knew Xu Mu would concede, allowing Nangong Huaitian to take the championship.
Even if the entire Nangong Clan were in dire straits, they would not be able to do anything then. Because for the next three years, the Nangong family would undoubtedly be supported by all the powers on the continent. Unless some super forces united against them, attempting to move against the Nangong Clan at this time would be nothing short of fantasy!
"There's nothing to be done. This Mu Xu's mind is clouded by beauty. He probably forgot what benefits he could have gained from the supreme seat. Once he reached that position, what kind of woman wouldn't he have? Even Nangong Huaitian would have to obey him obediently. After all, she was originally going to be forced into a political marriage!" another middle-aged man said, staring at Xu Mu with a dark expression.
Everyone knew the Nangong family's current situation was like a piece of fat meat that every power wanted to take a bite out of. Nangong Huaitian herself was the most succulent part of that fat meat. But due to Xu Mu's concession, this piece of fat meat had flown away, so their resentment was immense.
"The final winner of this Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races is Nangong Huaitian."
Daoist Tianshui sighed and stood up, solemnly announcing, "Next, Nangong Huaitian will undergo the supreme coronation in the Yaochi Wonderland. All cultivators in the world are invited to witness and supervise."
As Daoist Tianshui spoke, the discussions in the venue gradually died down. Everyone raised their heads, staring intently at Nangong Huaitian in the Yaochi Wonderland, their expressions filled with envy.
The so-called supreme coronation was a ceremony performed after the esper won first place in the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races.
During this ceremony, the winner would be crowned with a crown personally forged by a powerful being at the Human King realm. They would also receive divine power from the divine land of Shenzhou. Energy far exceeding Saint Radiance would enter their body, not only healing their injuries but also aiding in their advancement and breakthrough, comprehending the intricacies of cultivation techniques, and purifying their soul and mind. It was essentially a comprehensive breakthrough.
At the end of the coronation ceremony, the crowned individual would receive gifts prepared by various great families and powers from all over the world, expressing their utmost respect for this supreme being and also conveying certain attitudes to the outside world, deterring those with ulterior motives.
Thus, the coronation ceremony would be completed.
It could be said that any single aspect of this, even a small gift from a certain family in the final stage, would be enough to stir up a bloody storm in the martial world. The overall enhancement gained from the entire process was unimaginable for ordinary cultivators, so no one envied Nangong Huaitian!
...
In the Yaochi Wonderland, auspicious clouds gathered, and Saint Radiance emerged within a halo, supporting a exquisitely crafted and resplendent, yet simply decorated, glazed crown made of flowers. It slowly descended and settled upon Nangong Huaitian's head.
At that very moment, the divine land of Shenzhou turned crimson. Mysterious energy surged between heaven and earth, condensing into blood-red threads that flowed like red agate into the Yaochi Wonderland, enveloping Nangong Huaitian's body.
As the vigorous and noble energy surged into her body, Nangong Huaitian instantly felt a warm sensation. Then, unknowingly, she suddenly found herself breaking through.
Her realm advanced from the peak of the second stage to the third stage of Splendor, and then, from the lower realm into the upper realm. Her Daoist abilities evolved, and her tier broke through. All her injuries were completely healed by this divine power, and even the air seemed to respond with joy.
Outside, countless people watched this scene, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy. Amidst this, many also cast mocking, schadenfreude glances at Xu Mu.
"He must be regretting it immensely right now," they thought.
But contrary to their thoughts, Xu Mu merely stood quietly in a corner, ignoring everyone's mockery and Old Ancestor Jiang's almost崩溃咆哮质问 (almost collapsing roaring questioning). He just stood there, holding the little Qiongqi in his arms, with Yan Yu and Jiuxian standing beside him, facing Nangong Maoguan.
"Senior, do you think I'll regret it?" Xu Mu, sensing the gratitude in Nangong Maoguan's eyes, suddenly turned and asked Daoist Jiuxian.
"Probably not," Daoist Jiuxian mused, then smiled and shook his head. In this world, what could be greater than the Saint Relics and the inheritance of Fuxi? Xu Mu had already obtained them.
The rewards for first place in the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races were indeed precious, but they were not particularly useful to Xu Mu. The only useful thing, human connections, would turn into swords to kill him once news of his possession of Saint Relics spread.
Therefore, it was better to do a favor and give first place to Nangong Huaitian.
And most importantly, Xu Mu wanted to do it, so he should do it. This was what Daoism emphasized: following one's heart.
"I understand," Xu Mu nodded, looking at Nangong Huaitian, a faint smile on his face.
Actually, he didn't like or admire Nangong Huaitian. It was just that during their brief contact, he subconsciously wanted to protect her. He didn't know where this inexplicable feeling came from.
Perhaps it was because back then, after he accepted the identity token Nangong Huaitian had dropped, and caught a glimpse of her, his heart had become much closer to her.
However, the reason no longer mattered. Xu Mu just wanted to do this, so he did it, and he would not regret it.
...
Time passed bit by bit, and Nangong Huaitian's coronation ceremony entered its final stages. She, wearing the crown and stepping on the flying glazed flowers, selectively accepted the treasures floating in the void.
With each treasure accepted, the name of the power that owned the treasure appeared in the space, signifying that Nangong Huaitian had chosen them and established a friendly cooperative relationship. Treasures from powers not chosen were returned.
After completing this, Nangong Huaitian walked out of the Yaochi Wonderland along a dozens of meters wide red carpet in the space. Then, like a noble queen, with the sun at her back, she slowly descended into the real world.
"Welcome, Saintess Nangong!"
Above the clouds, many young cultivators were captivated by Nangong Huaitian's beauty, grace, and power. They cupped their hands, knelt on one knee, and shouted her name.
The leaders of the great families and powers who witnessed this also smiled. Before this, they had worried that Xu Mu's concession might cause Nangong Huaitian's supreme position to be questioned and not accepted, making their efforts in vain. But they did not expect the reaction of everyone to be like this.
Nangong Huaitian, with her own strength, had almost conquered all the young cultivators in the land of the Hundred Races. In this regard, she was almost comparable to Ji Chang of the past, even stronger. Because Ji Chang had to forcefully subdue them, and although those defeated acknowledged him, they became his enemies. These people were clearly not like that; they were Nangong Huaitian's followers!
Nangong Maoguan watched Nangong Huaitian descend from the sky. Recalling the pressure his clan had endured recently, he knew the future situation would now turn around. Tears streamed down his ancient eyes.
"Your Highness Saintess, you have saved the Nangong Clan. Please accept this old man's bow!"
As Nangong Maoguan spoke, he was about to kneel to Nangong Huaitian. Seeing this, she immediately leaped down from high in the sky and held him up.
"Great Elder, what are you doing? As the Saintess of the Nangong Clan, everything I do is my duty!" Nangong Huaitian helped Nangong Maoguan up, her eyes slightly red, her expression earnest.
Nangong Maoguan looked at Nangong Huaitian, his moist eyes filled with relief. He wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.
"Although it's not appropriate to say at this moment, Miss, that Mu Xu... we must thank him properly." After a long period of heartfelt emotion, Nangong Maoguan glanced at Xu Mu, who was sitting cross-legged in the corner, and sighed, saying to Nangong Huaitian.
Nangong Huaitian glanced at Xu Mu and nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Elder. I will repay him well. I will definitely return this favor. But the primary task now is our own family. They might still be suffering and need to know of our victory."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Maoguan immediately reacted and slapped his thigh. "Right! How could I forget this!"
"You must quickly inform the clan that you have won the first place in the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races, lest they do something foolish at this time and suffer irreparable losses!"
After speaking, Nangong Maoguan took Nangong Huaitian and was about to leave. They stepped onto a cloud and, ignoring what other espers in the venue thought, or whether important figures wanted to speak with Nangong Huaitian, they ascended into the sky.
"To all heroes and valiant figures of the world, I offer my apologies. The situation of my Nangong Clan is urgent, and we must return immediately to handle it. For future alliance and cooperation matters, please come to our Nangong Clan's Vermilion Bird Mountain for detailed discussions."
Nangong Maoguan said this, cupped his hands to the leaders of the various great families and powers, and to the five judges, and said, "Farewell, everyone!"
"Wait!"
Just as Nangong Maoguan and Nangong Huaitian were about to leave, and no great family cultivators raised any objections, a dry, old voice suddenly echoed from one corner of the Holy City sky.
Everyone was stunned, thinking, "Who would dare to stop Nangong Maoguan and Nangong Huaitian at this moment? Even the one from the Great Zhou Dynasty and the espers from the White Cloud Daoist Temple have not spoken. Who is this who says 'wait'?"
Several figures appeared out of nowhere in the higher clouds. They stood with their backs to the sun, slowly revealing their true appearances. As they arrived, a desolate and wild aura spread through the space, causing everyone to tense up.
Xu Mu looked at the group in mid-air, observing the animal skins they wore and the animal teeth hanging around their necks. His brow furrowed slightly.
He couldn't imagine what other tribes, besides the nomadic peoples on the grasslands, still maintained such simple and wild customs.
Although the land of the Hundred Races was vast, the northernmost grasslands had never produced powerful families. They were not among the Hundred Races, and even Domain Lords rarely appeared. Clearly, they could not compare to the people in mid-air.
"These people are so strong."
Daoist Jiuxian took down the wine gourd at his waist and took a step forward with a solemn expression, shielding Xu Mu and Yan Yu behind him.
On the other side, Daoist Tianshui also reacted quickly, hastily summoning his Dharma Form and asking in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoists, from which force do you hail? Do you not know that outsiders are forbidden from entering the Divine State Holy City of our Hundred Races Land!"
Daoist Tianshui's voice was majestic, like rumbling thunder, dispelling the illusions covering the faces of the group. The revealed faces were dark yellow, marked with oil-like ink.
"People from the Golden Tent Royal Court!"
Seeing their familiar attire, the cultivators from the Hundred Races Land immediately realized that the individuals who had suddenly appeared in mid-air and stopped Nangong Huaitian and Nangong Maoguan were from the Golden Tent Royal Court.
But this was the sky above the Divine State Holy City, the venue of the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Races. What were the people of the Golden Tent Royal Court doing here!
Daoist Tianshui stared at the group, his tone unfriendly, and asked, "Your arrival here violates the treaty signed between the Alliance of Ten Thousand Races and the Golden Tent Royal Court in the past."
"Please retreat quickly. If not, do not blame this old man for using forceful means!"
"What can your force do!" In mid-air, a middle-aged strongman from the Golden Tent Royal Court unleashed his abilities. The aura of a Half-Human King swept across the entire venue, clashing with Daoist Tianshui, neither gaining the upper hand.
Daoist Tianshui's expression turned grim. He directly drew his sword. His ten-thousand-zhang Dharma Form rose to the heavens, and water elements surged like a tide, engulfing space. He roared fiercely, "I will give you one last chance. Leave, or don't blame this old Daoist for being impolite!"
The man from the Golden Tent Royal Court looked at Daoist Tianshui and laughed heartily and boisterously, "Tianshui, it's been many years. Your temper is still as bad as ever, but I'm not here to fight you today."
Saying this, he turned his gaze towards Nangong Maoguan on the other side, or rather, towards Nangong Huaitian. He smiled, revealing his white teeth, pointed at Nangong Huaitian, and said, "The one I'm looking for is her."
...