208: Get ready

Ye Kong had never felt such unprecedented pressure since advancing to the Supreme Realm.

Ye Kong’s Extreme Killing Intent was released from his body, protecting him and resisting the terrifying might.

In the face of this terrifying might, Ye Kong stood firm, not moving an inch.

Fortunately, the pressure quickly dissipated.

At the front of the main hall were steps paved with golden bricks, where the Human Race Emperor sat, exuding the boundless majesty of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

On the golden brick steps, armed guards were lined up, each a Martial Saint Realm expert.

On the left and right sides were civil and military officials, as well as the princes and nobles of the Ten Kingdoms of the Human Race.

The Dragon Kingdom Royal Family, Wang Jian, Wang Xiong, and Dragon Kingdom official Cao Zhan were also among them.

At this moment, they also looked at the Emperor with considerable shock, wondering why he had acted in such a manner.

The Emperor appeared to be over fifty years old, radiating the brilliance of the Great Dao. Ye Kong could tell that the Emperor must be in the Deity Realm.

On the golden-lacquered, dragon-carved throne within the hall sat a Deity Emperor who looked down upon the world. He leaned against a corner of the Dragon throne, cupping his chin and observing Ye Kong with a faint smile.

Ye Kong did not dare to be negligent, bowing deeply and saying, “Reporting to the Emperor, I am Ye Kong. I would not dare to utter the word ‘Supreme’ in front of the Emperor.”

The Emperor’s deep voice came again, but this time without the added might of the Great Dao of the Gods.

“Just now I heard that the Dragon Kingdom found an outsider to be their representative, so I wanted to test you.”

“You were able to withstand my Deity’s pressure without releasing your True Qi, which indicates you have a Divine Body.”

The other princes and nobles looked at Ye Kong with astonished eyes upon hearing the Emperor’s evaluation.

“It’s actually a Divine Body!”

“Ye Kong is a renowned expert, so a Divine Body is not surprising.”

“I originally thought that the Dragon Kingdom, having lost the Great Qin King, wouldn’t be able to cultivate good future talents, but I didn’t expect them to attract Shura Ye Kong for this Ten Kingdoms Tournament.”

Everyone discussed in low voices, wary of Ye Kong’s reputation.

Many people had originally thought that after the Dragon Kingdom lost the Great Qin King, their standing would plummet.

There were even many aristocratic families eager to replace the Dragon Kingdom Royal Family.

When they learned that they had already recruited Ye Kong as their Dragon Kingdom representative for the Ten Kingdoms Tournament, they had to reconsider.

“Let’s see how far this renowned Ye Kong can go in the Ten Kingdoms Tournament!”

The Emperor waved his hand nonchalantly, and a servant quickly walked up to Ye Kong with small steps, saying to Ye Kong, “Please take a seat.”

Ye Kong quickly followed the servant to the Dragon Kingdom’s designated spot on one side of the main hall.

Wang Jian greeted Ye Kong warmly.

Ye Kong nodded with a smile and sat down beside Wang Jian.

Cao Zhan then whispered to Ye Kong, “This Ten Kingdoms Tournament is personally supervised by the Emperor. Ye Kong, you must perform well; you might even gain the Emperor’s appreciation!”

Ye Kong quietly replied, “I understand!”

After a while, a soldier ran into the hall from outside, knelt on one knee, and, with a clenched fist over his chest, reported to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, all the aristocratic families participating in the Tournament outside the hall have arrived, and the Zhongyuan Gate has been closed.”

The Emperor waved his hand, and the soldier immediately withdrew.

Then the Emperor swept his gaze over the civil and military officials in the hall, as well as the experts from the Ten Kingdoms of the Human Race who had gathered there.

Ye Kong noticed that people from a country opposite them were all looking at him with strange eyes.

Moreover, many of them showed expressions of disdain and contempt.

As Ye Kong wondered, the Emperor stood up at this moment.

The civil and military officials below also rose, and Ye Kong also stood up with the Dragon Kingdom Royal Family.

The Emperor walked down the golden steps, full of vigor, with the Great Dao flowing around him.

This greatly astonished Ye Kong.

In the Deity Realm, one could indeed display divinity and the power of the Great Dao with every gesture.

However, Ye Kong had never seen anyone like the Emperor, who could exude the Great Dao of the Gods at every moment.

How much Great Dao had this person absorbed, and how many runes had he comprehended to reach such a Realm?

Advancing to the Deity Realm allowed one to control the power of the Great Dao, but it wasn't a hundred percent mastery. To be able to circulate the Great Dao as freely as the Emperor made it hard not to believe that he had completely comprehended the Rune Great Dao.

As the Emperor walked down the golden steps, the armed guards on both sides followed him one by one.

Soon, all the civil and military officials followed the Emperor out of the main hall.

Upon seeing the Emperor appear, all the aristocratic families rose and paid their respects to the Emperor.

Ye Kong thought, 'Surely, meeting the Emperor doesn't require the three kowtows and nine bows, does it?'

But he hadn't performed such a grand ceremony just now.

Indeed, the aristocratic families did not kneel before the Emperor but clasped their fists and bowed.

The Emperor also raised his hand to return their greetings, then cleared his throat.

This clearing of the throat was, in fact, an emission of the Great Dao’s pressure, and the entire Imperial Palace was awed by the Emperor’s might.

No one made a sound; even the clamor outside the Imperial Palace ceased.

The closed Zhongyuan Gate opposite the main hall was now being filmed by the Imperial Palace’s designated media, capturing the Emperor’s majestic appearance.

Soon, the Emperor’s speech began.

“Everyone, our Human Race has lived on this continent and established the Ten Kingdoms Dynasty for over two thousand years.”

“Since our ancestor, the Great God Pangu, created a place for the Human Race to thrive, and until now, we have repeatedly suffered invasions from foreign races.”

“Fortunately, the Ten Kingdoms and the great aristocratic families have joined forces to repel the enemy, having repelled foreign invasions no less than a hundred times, both large and small.”

“I recall the most recent one, which broke out in Jinan City and Wuji City of the Dragon Kingdom.”

“Today, all the royal families and aristocratic families are gathered here, which is a blessing for our Human Race.”

“The Ten Kingdoms Tournament is to enhance the strength of our Human Race, for all experts to spar and exchange knowledge, integrating the strengths of various experts.”

“Ultimately, it is to find strong individuals to prepare for future resistance against foreign races…”

The voice of the Deity, subtly aided by the power of the Great Dao, was immensely vast and refreshing.

All the common people in the entire Imperial Capital could hear it.

Of course, those not in the Imperial Capital could also listen via live television broadcast.

As Ye Kong listened to the Emperor’s speech, he kept feeling several malevolent gazes from behind him.

Ye Kong suddenly turned his head sharply and immediately saw those people who had previously been hostile towards him in the main hall.

Those people, whose eyes were fixed on Ye Kong with fierce glares, quickly averted their gaze when Ye Kong suddenly turned, their hostile looks instantly disappearing as they looked elsewhere.

Ye Kong narrowed his eyes, turned back, and quietly asked Wang Jian, “Brother Wang, who are those people over there?”

Wang Jian looked back in surprise and whispered, “Those are people from the Great Qing Kingdom. Besides their own experts, they’ve also found extremely powerful external aid this time.”

“I’m not sure exactly who they are, but I believe, Ye Kong, that you are the biggest dark horse!”

Ye Kong smiled and nodded.

People from the Great Qing Kingdom?

I’ll knock your representative down in a bit!