13 Observers

The day of competition arrived in the Frozen Plateau City, sending the usually slow-paced and laidback atmosphere into overdrive.

From the registry of the City Lord Residence released to the public, a total of around ten thousand individuals signed up to join the competition.

It wasn't too much compared to other cities but every one of these individuals were at least in the True Realm. Only the elites were in Mage Realm and Archmage Realm.

However, most just wanted to join the fun and already knew they could never win the competition. They just wanted to witness personally the fights between the elites and luckily, fight with one to gain fame, honor, and experience.

Among these thousands of participating individuals, around a hundred came from the Edgewater Pavilion, Emerald Stone Veranda, and Golden Wheel Merchant Organization.

These hundred individuals were all the cream of the crop and many had already predicted that the top ten in the competition would come from this list.

Naturally, the Three Peak Sect also had its own genius that everyone wanted to see in action. The genius was Bai Ningshuang who solidified her position as the Darling of the Frozen Plateau City after her fight in the Myriad Beast Sect went viral through recordings.

A beauty who was a young emperor and as a bonus, using an ice-based art manual. She had already dazzled the eyes of many men and frozen the hearts of her admirers without her knowing.

Only a minority knew that the other contestants coming from the Three Peak Sect were also not to be trifled with.

Led by Ji Chen and five elders, the ten contestants made their way to the venue of the competition.

It was an arena in the center of the city which could accommodate at least two hundred thousands of people. Made with polished and carved basalt and quartzite, the arena had a simple and monotone appearance.

When Ji Chen and his group arrived at the vicinity of the venue, they immediately got the attention of the surrounding people who recognized them.

"Aren't those Sect Master Ji and Emperor Bai?"

"Oh my goodness, she is indeed a dazzling woman."

"Look at the other three ladies. They also have their unique beauties."

"Shh! What other ladies? One of them is Elder Li. Do you want to die?"

"This is my first time seeing in person someone from the Three Peak Sect."

The last remark did not surprise Ji Chen since he knew how holed in the members of his sect were during the past years. It was uncommon to see any of them in the downtown part of the city. Somehow, he felt regretful and blessed at the same time.

"Sect Master Ji, welcome to the Cold Stone Arena."

Either by coincidence or not, City Lord Feng arrived behind them together with the other four emperors of the City Lord Residence.

They did not dare to ignore Ji Chen as he was recognized publicly as the strongest in the city. At the same time, they were startled after discovering that all the elders behind Ji Chen had improved in their cultivation stage.

"Greetings, City Lord Feng." Ji Chen nodded and smiled faintly.

The addition of the five well-known emperors instantly made the party more eye-catching, creating hushed discussions and gossip around the group.

"So we're quite late, uh." Qiang Ji said after seeing the sea of people inside the arena.

"It's still early. Some observers from the Azure Sea Mansion of Northern Capital will come to watch the competition and maybe scout geniuses." City Lord Feng replied.

Ji Chen clicked his tongue after hearing the ominous words he did not want to hear such as 'guests from blabla' and 'scout geniuses'. He looked over Bai Ningshuang and thought, 'Guests. Hope it's not some arrogant young masters.'

The group sat in the reserved section for Three Peak Section neighboring the City Lord Residence seats and Edgewater Pavilion seats.

As they walked towards their seats, Pavilion Lord Su and Veranda Lord Wuji greeted Ji Chen. When their attention shifted to the elders behind him, they turned petrified.

'All of them improved their cultivation!' The two cried inwardly.

"Congratulations to all of you." They both expressed with some envy. 'Is too late to apply for an elder position?'

While the uncles and aunties were having their talks, the representatives of different forces were sizing up the newly arrived group led by Bai Ningshuang.

Naturally, many male contestants were compelled to look at her and even towards Hesha and Ling Jingjing. The three were together having their own world, not minding the different gazes of people around them.

After some pleasantries, Ji Chen finally managed to settle on his seat. They watched the arena being filled to the brim with people until the others were already standing behind the last row of seats.

The place buzzed with laughter, raucous cheers, and conversations for another half an hour before the guests from faraway arrived.

Three men and two women arrived from the main entrance. An older man was leading the party. The crowd became silent after sensing the aura being released intentionally by the older man.

The aura of a great emperor could even cover the whole Myriad Beast Sect so a smaller arena like the Cold Stone Arena was a piece of cake.

Ji Chen squinted his eyes while calculating the exact strength of the man. 'Early-stage and a little weaker than me. That's good.'

He heaved a sigh of relief before moving his attention to the four youths behind the man. They looked as young as Bai Ningshuang. The four also released their own auras making it easier for him to probe them.

All of the four youths were at the peak-stage of Archmage Realm. To be exact, all of them could be considered half-step emperors based on the intensity of their auras.

While he was scrutinizing the guests from afar, City Lord Feng and his four subordinate emperors already headed toward the guests and welcomed them.

The guests gave perfunctory greetings before all of them went back towards the reserved seats of City Lord Residence.

The leaders of major forces nearby greeted the guests. Ji Chen also did a simple greeting to avoid getting attention.

However, it seemed that if he tried to avoid problems, it would volunteer itself to find him. Before City Lord Feng could introduce Ji Chen as a great emperor, the older man already spoke up.

"I heard on the way here that your sect destroyed another sect just days ago?" The older man asked impassively.

"Yes. It's a blood feud dating back a decade ago." Ji Chen replied with the same indifference.

"Is your feud more important than the Saint Star Competition?"

Ji Chen looked at the man as if he was looking at a moron but remained civilized in his answer.

"It's more important to us. The competition can go on but our sleepless nights cannot."

Because Ji Chen was hiding his real cultivation by using the Origin Veil Secret Art, the older man did not realize that he was speaking to a fellow great emperor. Thus, there was contempt and disdain in his tone.

The older man felt offended and his tone became heavier. "Can you say that in front of the Royal Family?"

Before Ji Chen could say 'yes' to the meddling man, a sonorous voice of a lady broke the rising tension.

"Elder Panxing, you didn't hear the whole story. I heard that Sect Master Ji's sect almost got annihilated a decade ago. He reached the Great Emperor Realm months ago and did not seek trouble. It was only after the leaders of the Myriad Beast Sect attacked his sect again several days ago that he decided to end their feud once and for all."

Ji Chen looked with surprise and found one of the two young ladies with a noble temperament spoke out with a calm expression.

Despite being an outsider, she researched the situation first unlike the older man who did not even know that he was a great emperor.

"A great emperor?!" The older man jolted from his high pedestal and became wary of Ji Chen. He could only see the aura of peak-stage Emperor Realm.

It was too deceiving.

'Why are you hiding your aura? Are you purposely trying to create trouble?' The old man asked inwardly.

Ji Chen nodded at the noble young lady with gratitude before saying, "I will stand to what I said. I did not actively try to seek revenge on them but they invited a great emperor from the outside. It's fortunate that I was able to dispose all of them."

His words frightened the older man as he felt his heart skip a beat. Killing a great emperor while being a great emperor was too hard, unless Ji Chen was at the peak-stage and his opponent was at the early-stage.

'An early-stage great emperor killing another early-stage great emperor?' The older man felt his worldview had changed before recovering himself. He showed a more courteous expression as he excused himself.

"I did not hear the whole story. So it is like that. Young Miss is really knowledgeable."

Although he came from the capital, a great emperor being an enemy was hassle and dangerous.

Even if he asked his backer to destroy Ji Chen's sect, the main target would surely be able to escape and then hide in the dark to ambush him. It would be very meddlesome by then. Thus, he chose to retract his former statement.

Ji Chen accepted the older man's retreat and added, "Our city is a known place for retirees. We all prefer to be peaceful here as much as possible."

City Lord Feng heaved a sigh of relief. His heart skipped a bit as he worried about the confrontation of the two.

After some pleasantries, they all both settled down to their seats before City Lord Feng stood up and said in a voice that could reach all ears in the arena, "It's time for the competition to start. The preliminary round officially starts now."