42: Chapter 42 The Grand Competition in Progress

He had long heard that the envoys from the Four Great Sects were coming, and he was determined to make an impression before them.

Paving the way for The Great Competition tomorrow, his palms were sweating at this moment.

"Zhao Tianlong, greets the four envoys!"

Zhao Tianlong cupped his hands in a salute, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible tremor.

The envoy from the Qingfeng Sword Sect did not even look at him, and the woman from the Luoxue Sect remained expressionless as ever.

Only the fiery old man from the Lieyang Martial Gate glanced at him and hummed, "The physique is passable, but you are too green."

The scholar-like envoy from the Tianyang Academy smiled gently and nodded.

"A young hero, not bad."

Zhao Shanhe's smile widened, and he hurriedly said.

"My son has mediocre Aptitude, I hope the four envoys will offer him more guidance in the future."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the main hall of the manor. Zhao Shanhe hurriedly ordered the servants to serve tea and said enthusiastically.

"The four envoys have had a hard journey. I have prepared a sumptuous dinner and hope you will honor me with your presence so I may fulfill my duties as a host!"

"No need," the middle-aged man from the Qingfeng Sword Sect spoke first, his tone flat.

"We who Cultivate the Dao do not value the desires of the palate. We must preside over The Great Competition tomorrow, so it is better to rest early."

The old man from the Lieyang Martial Gate echoed.

"Exactly! With that time, it is better to Cultivate for a while longer. The banquet can be skipped!"

The woman from the Luoxue Sect remained silent, merely nodding slightly, which counted as agreement.

Zhao Shanhe's smile stiffened for a moment, then immediately returned to normal.

"Since the four envoys are uninterested, I will not force the matter. Quiet courtyards have been prepared in the manor. You may rest first, and if you have any needs, just instruct the servants."

The four envoys nodded, turned around, and followed the steward toward the backyard.

The woman from the Luoxue Sect walked at the back. When she passed by Zhao Tianlong, her indifferent gaze swept over him.

It caused Zhao Tianlong's body to instantly stiffen, as if enveloped by icy coldness, and even his breathing stalled for a moment.

After the other three envoys had walked far away, the scholar-like envoy from the Tianyang Academy stopped in his tracks.

He turned to look at Zhao Shanhe, his face still bearing a gentle smile.

Zhao Shanhe's heart stirred, and he hurriedly signaled Zhao Tianlong with his eyes, whispering.

"You step back first; I have a few words to say to Envoy Li."

Zhao Tianlong understood, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave. Before leaving, he did not forget to look at the scholar-like envoy gratefully.

Only Zhao Shanhe and Envoy Li remained in the main hall.

Zhao Shanhe hurriedly stepped forward, took a black Storage Pouch from his bosom, quietly stuffed it into Envoy Li's hand, and lowered his voice.

"Envoy Li, you have had a hard journey. This small gift is just a token of my respect, I hope you will accept it."

Envoy Li took the Storage Pouch, his fingertips moved slightly, and he sensed the Mystic Power fluctuations within. A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes as he quietly put the Storage Pouch away.

There were three hundred low-grade mysterious stones in the bag; this was not a small amount.

"City Lord Zhao, why do you go to such trouble?" Envoy Li's smile became even gentler, but his tone became much closer.

"Both you and I are under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Family; it is only right that we support each other."

Zhao Shanhe was overjoyed and hurriedly said.

"With those words from Envoy Li, I can rest easy. My son Tianlong is participating in The Great Competition tomorrow; although his Aptitude is not top-notch, he is diligent and hardworking. I hope Envoy Li will look after him."

"City Lord Zhao, rest assured." Envoy Li gently waved his folding fan, his tone carrying a hint of certainty.

"In The Great Competition tomorrow, as long as your son performs normally and there are no accidents, he will definitely have a spot."

"Thank you, Envoy Li! Thank you, Envoy Li!"

Zhao Shanhe was so excited that he cupped his hands repeatedly, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.

With the promise from the Tianyang Academy envoy, the hope of Zhao Tianlong entering the Four Great Sects greatly increased.

For the Zhao Family, this was undoubtedly a huge Opportunity.

Envoy Li smiled, said no more, and turned to walk toward the backyard.

Watching Envoy Li's retreating figure, Zhao Shanhe let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

Zhao Tianlong, who was to the side, also hurriedly walked out, his face wearing an eager expression.

"Father, Envoy Li he..."

"It is done!" Zhao Shanhe patted his son's shoulder, his tone excited.

"With Envoy Li's help, you will definitely stand out in The Great Competition tomorrow! As long as you can enter the Four Great Sects, the status of our Zhao Family will surely rise to a higher level in the future!"

A scorching light erupted in Zhao Tianlong's eyes, and he trembled with excitement.

"Thank you, Father! Tomorrow, your son will definitely not disappoint your expectations!"

The father and son looked at each other and smiled, their eyes full of longing for the future.

At the crack of dawn the next day, the Martial Arts Arena in the center of Shiyun City was already bustling with noise and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

This Martial Arts Arena was built by Shiyun City after years of painstaking effort; it covered a large area, and the ground paved with bluestone slabs was as flat as a mirror.

The edges were lined with stands several zhang high, layered one upon another, enough to accommodate thousands of people.

At this moment, the stands were already packed, with the sounds of clamor, discussion, and the crisp clashing of weapons intertwined.

Converging into an exceptionally lively scene, even the air was permeated with a restless atmosphere.

At the highest point of the stands, an exclusive seat was set up, covered with luxurious brocade.

The envoys of the Four Great Sects sat upon it, their temperament outstanding, completely out of place with the surrounding clamor.

The middle-aged man from the Qingfeng Sword Sect was still resting with his eyes closed, the long sword at his waist occasionally flashing a hint of cold light.

The fiery old man from the Lieyang Martial Gate rested his chin on one hand, his eyes sweeping across the stage below, carrying a bit of impatience and scrutiny.

The beautiful woman from the Luoxue Sect supported her chin, her indifferent gaze falling on the center of the Martial Arts Arena, the cold air around her making the air beside her seem to freeze into frost.

Only Envoy Li from the Tianyang Academy held a folding fan, occasionally whispering with the people beside him, his face always wearing a gentle smile.

On the VIP seats below, City Lord Zhao Shanhe was dressed in a python-patterned brocade robe.

Sitting upright in the main seat, his expression was majestic, and his eyes scanned the entire venue sharply.

On both sides of the VIP seats sat the heads of the major families of Shiyun City, all of whom were cultivators with deep and steady auras.

Among them, sitting alongside the City Lord's Manor was Wang Kun, the head of the Wang Family.

He wore a dark blue long gown, his face was square, his eyes were steady, and his whole body exuded the majestic aura of the Great Martial Master Realm.

Although slightly weaker than Zhao Shanhe's Great Martial Master 3rd Layer, he was still one of the few top powerhouses in Shiyun City.

The reason the Wang Family could rival the City Lord's Manor was not only because of Wang Kun's strength.

It was also because the younger generation of the Family produced a Genius girl, Wang Yuyan.

This girl had outstanding Aptitude and, at a young age, had already reached the 9th Stage of Martial Master Realm; she was a strong contender for the top three in The Great Competition.

The heads of the other families sat in order according to their status, either whispering to each other or secretly sizing each other up, their eyes hiding their respective calculations and expectations.

And in the open space in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, hundreds of young boys and girls stood densely.

They were all cultivators under the age of twenty.

Everyone was dressed in tight-fitting attire, with swords or sabers at their waists, or hidden weapons hanging, their faces brimming with vigorous youthful energy.

In their eyes, there was not only longing for the future and desire for the spots in the Four Great Sects, but also vigilance toward their opponents and intense Battle Intent.