"We, the younger generation, pay our respects to Great Emperor Xiao Wu!"
Under Duan Zijue's lead, the contestants from the eastern division stepped onto the arena and stood at the east side. They were filled with excitement as they bowed deeply to Xiao Yi in the direction of the imperial building.
Everyone had a look of admiration on their faces. They couldn't wait to prostrate themselves before him.
Emperor Yuan stood at the peak of martial arts and deserved such respect.
Moreover, he might be their father-in-law. Who wouldn't want to leave a good impression on their father-in-law?
"Okay!"
Xiao Yi's expression was indifferent. His gaze swept past Duan Zijue for less than half a second.
As for the other contestants, he didn't even glance at them.
"Let's welcome the contestants from the western division!"
Gongsun Changxing shouted.
Dong, dong, dong. The majestic beast skin drum sounded again.
As the imperial guards blew the horn, another group of valiant figures slowly stepped onto the arena from the west.
When they got closer, everyone saw that the leading martial artist was a young man wearing the uniform of the Northern Yan Song family. A gold-bordered "Song" character was embroidered on his chest.
This young man was gentle and elegant. Qin Hao couldn't be more familiar with him. He was Song Ziyang.
Song Ziyang was the eldest son of the Song family. He was destined to bring misfortune to his parents. His father didn't like him and had been suppressed and ostracized by his family.
Currently, his ranking on the Emperor Martial Roll was only second to Duan Zijue, ranking 12th. His ranking was indeed not low.
As Song Ziyang appeared, Patriarch Song, who was sitting in the imperial building, desperately twitched his eyes a few times. He squeezed out two words in a hoarse voice. "Bastard."
He didn't want to see Song Ziyang appear on the arena. Due to the fact that the people seated around him were all influential figures in Beijiang, he didn't dare to act rashly.
He couldn't flare up.
The scene shifted to below the arena. In fact, there were two other people behind Song Ziyang. Their auras were not much inferior to Song Ziyang's.
One of the two young men was wearing the uniform of the Medicine Emperor Pavilion, and the other was wearing the uniform of the Zhanyue Mansion.
Although they weren't the son and eldest disciple of Mansion Master Cui and Pavilion Master Jiang, their status was extraordinary since they could appear together with Song Ziyang.
The three of them walked forward in a triangular formation, leading the western division contestants onto the arena. They stood opposite the eastern division contestants led by Duan Zijue.
Then, everyone saluted Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi glanced at Song Ziyang, and it didn't even take half a breath's worth of time. As for the others, he didn't even look at them. He waved his hand, indicating for Gongsun Changxing to continue.
"Let's welcome the contestants from the southern division!"
Gongsun Changxing swept the horsetail whisk in his hand again.
"Hey, it's Song Zi Yang!"
Jiang Fan poked Ling Xiaoxue with his elbow.
That day, when the Jiang Family and Lingyun School were besieged by Xiao Yi at Lanchuan Mountain and their lives were hanging by a thread, it was Song Ziyang who rushed forward without a care for the consequences.
At that moment, Ling Xiaoxue let go of her hatred for Song Ziyang.
To put it simply, Song Zi Yang's goal was to protect Ling Xiaoxue.
In other words, he had saved the entire Soaring Cloud Sect because of this.
Even though she had already let go of her hatred, Ling Xiaoxue still hadn't spoken a single word to Song Zi Yang to save face.
"Why aren't you reacting at all?
Song Zi Yang is participating in the Imperial Martial Arts Competition to marry Jingyue. Aren't you heartbroken at all? "Jiang Fan stared at her.
"He can marry whoever he wants. What does that have to do with me?" Ling Xiaoxue grumbled unhappily.
The surrounding Lingyun School disciples sighed. Mu Feiyu and Yang Kun could hear the jealousy in Ling Xiaoxue's grumbling.
In fact, no one would say anything if they approved of Ling Xiaoxue and Song Zi Yang being together. But why couldn't Ling Xiaoxue let go of her pride?
At this time, the contestants from the southern division had already stepped onto the arena and stood on the west side of the stage. They formed a tripartite confrontation with the contestants from the eastern and western divisions. The atmosphere was tense.
The only difference was that the leader of the southern division wasn't from Beijiang.
Instead, he was a tall and handsome young man who looked to be at least two meters tall.
Although the young man was tall, he wasn't fat at all. On the contrary, his body was very well-proportioned and looked very strong.
What was even stranger was that there was a word "Hao" embroidered on his chest.
"Who is this person?"
"He's qualified to stand at the top of the southern division contestants!" The ministers and patriarchs in the imperial tower began to discuss.
Someone pointed below and replied, "That person is called Qin Yun. He's from Western Liang!"
"Western Liang?
How can he be qualified to stand in our territory? "
"Why is there a woman?"
Someone saw Xing 'er behind Qin Yun. Xing' er's face was as cold as ice. She wore a white phoenix dress with a word "Hao" embroidered on the collar.
"Why is there a woman participating in the selection of a prince consort for the princess?"
"What a disgrace!"
Some ministers slammed the table angrily.
They didn't understand what the word "Hao" on Qin Yun and Xing 'er's clothes meant.
"What's wrong with being a girl?
My Han 'er is also a girl. In terms of cultivation, aptitude, and ability, she's not weaker than any man in the world. "
Xiao Yi saw this and scolded his ministers jokingly. Immediately, the ministers blushed and quickly lowered their heads. No matter what Emperor Xiao said, they didn't dare to disobey.
Then, Xiao Yi's gaze fell on Qin Yun for a full two seconds.
To be precise, he was looking at the word "Hao" on his chest.
Xiao Yi smiled and muttered in his heart, "Qin Hao's Grand Alliance?
Looks like you have to reveal your identity today. "
He knew very well that this was a sign that Qin Hao was about to stir up the situation in the Northern Frontier.
"But it's a pity that you hid too deeply, so deeply that Han 'er fell to the bottom of the valley with you. Even now, she still remembers the Li Bai you disguised as. She won't come to watch the competition at all. You've made such a big scene, but she won't be able to see it at all!"
He found it funny that Qin Hao was too smart for his own good.
However, the gaze that was fixed on Qin Yun for two seconds attracted the attention of the ministers.
All of them were cunning old foxes. They clearly saw that Emperor Xiao was disdainful of the hundreds of geniuses below the stage. His gaze was only on Duan Zijue and Song Ziyang for half a breath.
That half a breath was already a great honor.
Now, he was staring at Qin Yun for such a long time.
"This person must be extraordinary!"
"His cultivation is definitely not simple!"
The ministers began to pay attention to Qin Yun.
"Greetings, Great Emperor Xiao Wu!"
Qin Yun led the group and bowed to the Imperial Tower.
In the group, Zhou Wuneng looked sullen.
He should have been the one to lead the group. His ranking on the Imperial Martial Ranking List was higher than Qin Yun's.
But Su Hao, who had slashed Zhou Wuneng down from the sky, replaced Zhou Wuneng's glorious 25th ranking.
"Damn it, Su Hao, you'd better not meet me today. Otherwise, you'll die!" Zhou Wuneng gritted his teeth and secretly swore.
"Rise!"
Xiao Yi was in a good mood. Because of his relationship with Qin Hao, he waved at Qin Yun and the group of contestants from the Southern Division in a very friendly manner.
Suddenly, the contestants from the Southern Division were moved and tears welled up in their eyes.
Look, Emperor Xiao must think that we are stronger than the people from the Eastern and Western Regions, so he looks at us differently.
"I'll do my best!"
"My father-in-law sent me a signal!"
"Don't worry, father-in-law. I won't let you down!"
"I'll risk my life to marry my beloved baby Jingyue!"
The contestants from the Southern Division swore in their hearts.
"It turns out that Emperor Xiao likes me so much. Can I, Zhou Wuneng, lose to anyone?" Zhou Wuneng also thought in his heart.
"Let's welcome the contestants from the Northern Division!"