309: Show your power

During the preparations for the competition, the Yao Race did something that angered everyone.

They caused trouble everywhere in the Inner City, constantly challenging the Great Zhou Empress's bottom line.

Their purpose in doing so was to set up a martial arts arena in the Inner City to attract Great Zhou experts to challenge them, giving the Great Zhou Empress a pre-emptive show of force.

And they indeed achieved their goal.

That day, the common people, in a human sea, surrounded a martial arts arena, roaring in anger.

On the stage, the Southern Demon Envoy, though appearing arrogant, were actually terrified deep down.

"Hongye, sir, haven't the two nations' competitions not started yet? Why do you want us to cause trouble everywhere?"

"Look at these people, they all look like they want to skin us alive, it's quite scary for a demon!" the Cat Demon Girl asked Hongye with a look of fear.

Hongye sighed helplessly, "This is the Yao Emperor Your Majesty's intention, to give Great Zhou a severe pre-emptive strike before the official grand competition."

"He also specifically emphasized that for these people, as long as they are not killed, hit them as hard as possible. He just wants to see how the Great Zhou Empress reacts."

The Goat Demon looked pessimistic, "The Yao Emperor Your Majesty clearly took a beating from the Great Zhou Empress, so he wants to get revenge on her."

"Pity us poor laborers, if things go wrong, we'll be skinned and made into coats."

"Mmm-hmm!" The other demons also nodded in agreement.

"Alright, stop complaining, get ready quickly, there's a Human Race member coming up over there," Hongye urged.

A burly man, strong as an ox, stepped onto the stage, glanced at the demons, and then pointed at the seemingly most delicate Cat Demon Girl.

"I am the leader of the Muscle Gang! You! Do you dare to accept the challenge?"

"Me?" The Cat Demon Girl pointed at herself.

"That's right, you, the effeminate one!" the strong man said confidently.

The Cat Demon Girl was timid at heart, after all, a few days ago they had just been suppressed by Dongfang Qian Yue and Su Xiaobai, thinking that all of Great Zhou were Prodigies like them.

But Hongye was already urging her from behind, so she could only brace herself and go up.

Under everyone's gaze, the Cat Demon Girl stepped forward.

The strong man looked at the Cat Demon Girl, who only reached his waist, and a smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. This time he deliberately chose the seemingly weakest opponent; this move was a sure win!

He could go back and brag to his subordinates, saying he single-handedly crushed the entire Yao Race.

"I... I'm coming!"

Opposite, the Cat Demon Girl, with a nervous heart, suddenly lunged forward.

The strong man smiled confidently, "Come on, with your small frame, what's the harm in me letting you have one move..."

But the words that were about to come out of his mouth were quickly swallowed back.

Because the figure of the Cat Demon Girl was no longer in front of him, replaced by a black cat dozens of meters long!

"Roar!" The black cat snarled ferociously at the strong man.

The dense Demonic Qi, almost solidified, an incomparably heavy sense of oppression instantly descended upon the strong man.

A solemn look appeared in the black cat's huge pupils. To avoid being beaten, she used her strongest form right from the start.

But what she didn't notice was that in front of her, the strong man's legs had already begun to tremble.

On the other side, the strong man couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

At this moment, he also sensed the Cat Demon Girl's true Realm, Void Soul Realm (Middle Stage), the same as him.

However, the former's aura was several times denser than his!

The difference between the two was like the difference between a top student and a poor student in the same class.

"Damn it! This little girl looks frail and weak, but she's actually so strong, I was too hasty!" the strong man shouted in his heart, realizing something was wrong.

"I'm going all out!" the Cat Demon Girl warned.

Then her huge body, like a ghost, clawed towards the strong man.

"Wait... wait! Ah!"

Almost instantly, the strong man was like a badminton shuttlecock, his defense instantly broken, and he was sent flying by the Cat Demon's claw.

He finally crashed straight down off the stage, foaming at the mouth, and fainted.

"Hmm?" The Cat Demon looked at her claws in confusion. This person... seemed unexpectedly weak?

The other demons were also watching this battle, and looks of confusion appeared on their faces.

These Human Race members didn't seem as strong as they thought?

Could it be that only those few people they met a few days ago were exceptions? Was the real Great Zhou actually full of such weaklings?

Thinking this, they immediately regained their confidence, and a cruel smile appeared at the corners of their mouths.

Then let these Human Race trash in Great Zhou witness the power of their Yao Race Prodigies!

The next two days.

Human Race experts continuously challenged the Southern Demon Envoy, but without exception, they all suffered crushing defeats.

Moreover, every defeated Human Race member had their arms and legs brutally broken, and were thrown off the stage like trash.

They also cursed, "Is this all your Human Race Geniuses are capable of? Heh, a bunch of trash, not even worthy of carrying my Yao Race's shoes!"

Faced with such humiliation, everyone's faces turned red with anger, but they were powerless.

Because the strength of these Yao Race members was indeed terrifyingly strong.

The common people ultimately placed their hopes on the imperial court, hoping that the court would send powerful Geniuses to confront the Yao Race and tell them: What does our Great Zhou Prodigy fear?!

...

Imperial Palace.

Su Xiaobai did not attend court again.

"Your Majesty, these Yao Race members are truly too rampant, humiliating our Great Zhou in every way. We cannot let them continue like this!"

"Yes, our morale has significantly dropped these past few days. After two days, we haven't won a single match!"

"Although this is not the official competition, and those who fought were folk experts, it is still the face of our Great Zhou that is being lost."

"I propose that we quickly start the grand competition between the two nations to regain the face of our Great Zhou!"

A group of officials spoke with indignant passion.

On the high throne, the Great Zhou Empress's delicate brows were tightly furrowed.

These past few days, she had deliberately slowed down the progress of the martial arts arena preparations precisely to find talents who could contend with the Yao Race.

But before she could find them, the Yao Race had taken action first, giving her a pre-emptive strike.

"If I were still in the First Realm, how could they be so rampant?!" The Great Zhou Empress clenched her fists, her heart filled with anger.

At this moment, Prince Ming's lips curled slightly, and he stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, the common people's resentment is very deep now. If we don't start the competition soon and achieve victory, it is very likely to cause public discontent."

The Prince Party followed Prince Ming's lead closely, quickly echoing him.

"Yes, Your Majesty, what do we have to fear from them!"

"Isn't Commander Su still here? I heard that in Lian Prefecture, he alone suppressed all the Cultivators in the entire Lian Prefecture.

Even Xuan Daozi, who was in the First Realm, was defeated by him. Wouldn't it be enough to send him to the front?" someone said sarcastically.

Chief Sun frowned slightly, and said with a solemn expression, "Commander Su is indeed exceptionally talented, but besides him and Li Luo... I'm afraid there are no others we can put forward."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expressions quickly fell.

Yes, the talents of their Great Zhou were indeed too scarce. How many could reach the level of Commander Su?

"Your Majesty," Prince Ming stepped forward again, "We cannot shrink from battle because of scarce talent. The common people will not care about these things; what they want to see is the court's attitude!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, let's start the grand competition between the two nations!"

The Prince Party immediately responded in unison.

The Great Zhou Empress gave Prince Ming a deep look and snorted coldly.

His calculations, she naturally knew well.

Knowing that Great Zhou's chances of winning were extremely low, yet forcing her to quickly start the grand competition between the two nations, was nothing more than wanting Great Zhou to lose, so that he could then use this to incite public pressure and force her to step down.

Did he really not know how terrifying the consequences of the Yao Race's probing this time would be?

Facing the pressure from her officials, the Great Zhou Empress could not act on her own will.

She sighed and said loudly, "Pass down my decree, the grand competition between the two nations will officially begin tomorrow. Let the Southern Demon Envoy arrive on time!"

"Yes!"

In the shadows, Prince Ming's lips curved slightly upward.