The black-robed youth nodded slightly and walked step by step toward the battle platform.

His footsteps carried immense weight. Each step he took seemed to follow a strange rhythm, like pounding directly on the hearts of everyone present, thump, thump, thump.

Even the three disciples of Thousand-Ox Dao Court focused their gazes, taking a more serious measure of him.

The black-robed youth stopped, raised his right hand, and beckoned slowly toward the side of the Star River God-Dynasty, signaling for someone to come forward.

King Star-River’s expression turned dark. He glanced back at the princes behind him.

“Have you decided?” he asked.

The First Prince, Chen Tiansheng, immediately stepped out, smiling.

“Your son has a recommendation.”

As his words fell, a gray-robed youth walked out.

“This is the current Holy Son of Fire Cloud Sacred Ground, Huo Yunzi. Though he does not appear on the Hero Ranking, the reason is that he has remained secluded in cultivation, unwilling to engage in worldly conflict. But his strength is formidable, enough to match the opponent.”

The Second Prince, Chen Luo, also stepped out, casting a glance at Yu Huashang.

“I too have a recommendation. Yu Huashang, a prodigy of this generation in Tranquil World Tower. Among the younger generation, she is outstanding. Though not listed on the Hero Ranking, it is only because she dislikes pointless fighting.”

“I also have someone to recommend,” said the Third Prince, then the Fourth Prince, soon, all of the princes had proposed their candidates.

For a while, the scene grew extremely lively.

“You must choose just one,” King Star-River said coldly. “I can’t send every single one of them up to test.”

“You may send them in a wheel battle, or even all at once,” the black-robed youth on the platform said faintly. “To me, it makes no difference.”

Though it was only a few words, the arrogance and unshakable confidence bled through.

At once, the candidates recommended by the princes wore faces of anger.

It was blatant contempt. He didn’t even bother to put them in his eyes.

“King Star-River, I am willing to fight!” Huo Yunzi and the others spoke out.

Only Yu Huashang remained cold and silent, saying nothing.

“I want to test him too,” she finally said flatly. “To see just what gives him the gall to treat us with such disdain.”

King Star-River fell into silence.

His gaze turned to Xiao Buhui at the side, for ultimately, the presiding authority was his. If Xiao Buhui did not agree, there was nothing he could do.

“This is a contest between your two empires,” Xiao Buhui replied indifferently. “As long as King Breaking-Dawn has no objection, I don’t care.”

King Breaking-Dawn chuckled lightly.

“King Star-River, your Star River God-Dynasty has truly declined. Very well then, I will allow it this time.”

King Star-River’s face looked grim. But this matter was too critical.

He would rather lose face than lose the match.

“Then all of you, go up together. If you win, each will be rewarded richly,” he said.

On the battle platform, the black-robed youth’s eyes glinted with mockery.

He slowly raised his hand and peeled back the hood that covered his face.

What emerged was an extremely ordinary face, so plain that if thrown into a crowd, no one would pay it any attention.

His hair was short and tousled, and his eyes were dim, devoid of vitality.

With a single gesture, the heavens split open with a massive rift.

From the void, a colossal blade stretched for several kilometers, descending into his grasp.

Holding the curved saber firmly, he swept his gaze across everyone present.

Those who had been preparing to step forward immediately halted their steps.

“You are…” Huo Yunzi frowned.

“Hero Ranking’s number one, Traceless,” someone said aloud.

The moment the words fell, everyone’s expressions shifted drastically.

Hero Ranking number one. What kind of concept was that?

Traceless was shrouded in mystery. It was said that ten years ago, he had already ascended to the top of the Hero Ranking.

Once he took the throne, he held it for a full decade.

The list changed countless times, second place, third place, names rose and fell.

But Traceless never moved. Like a mountain, he remained unshaken, never once defeated.

Rumors claimed that since the day he toppled the then-number-one ten years ago, he had never lost another battle.

If this man truly was Traceless, then they were utterly unqualified to stand against him.

The candidates who had been about to climb the platform quickly lost their will.

King Star-River cast a sharp glance at King Breaking-Dawn.

“King Breaking-Dawn, you’ve played this game well.”

“That’s not fair,” King Breaking-Dawn laughed softly. “I gave your Star River God-Dynasty plenty of opportunities. Had I sent Traceless in the second match, there would never have been a third round at all.”

“What is this, then, humiliation?” King Star-River’s aura flared like a storm, his eyes radiating danger.

King Breaking-Dawn was not cowed. That frail, aged body seemed to contain boundless power.

A tempestuous pressure spread out between them.

“Both of you, remember this is a contest,” Xiao Buhui interjected coolly.

“What’s the point of continuing?” King Star-River snorted.

Just as he prepared to concede defeat, a thunderous explosion erupted from the distance.

“What happened?” someone exclaimed.

“It’s from the direction of the Mystic Realm!” another shouted.

All eyes turned toward the Mystic Realm.

From within it, waves of mysterious power surged skyward.

The mighty energy twisted the very heavens above.

“It’s the phantom of the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereign!” Second Prince Chen Luo cried.

“When the Mystic Realm was first discovered, his phantom also appeared, shining through the endless night for a whole night.”

“No… this power is not the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereign,” someone said, shaking his head.

“This… this is Imperial Might.”

That Imperial Might spread endlessly, enveloping all around.

Everyone felt the crushing suppression of an awe-inspiring force.

“It’s a Grand Emperor,” Xiao Buhui’s face shifted, his voice low. “But in the Four Domains of today, how many Grand Emperors still live?”

His gaze flicked toward Xia Wanqing and her group, a sudden thought striking him.

“Could it be…?”

Within the flood of Imperial Might, a towering figure appeared in the skies.

The man was tall, his eyes carrying the brilliance of countless stars, no ordinary mortal could meet his gaze.

He seemed to bear the heavens upon his shoulders. The overwhelming power emanating from him arched across the Mystic Realm like a rainbow piercing the sun, like clouds falling from the sky.

“It’s the Martial Heaven Emperor!” Xia Wanqing cried out. “He is the ancestor of our Martial Heaven Sacred Ground!”

“Yes, I once glimpsed a portrait left behind by our forebears. It’s him, without a doubt.”

“But isn’t this supposed to be the inheritance of the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereign? Why would the Martial Heaven Emperor appear?”

“This Mystic Realm is becoming stranger and stranger.”

The crowd erupted in discussion, all eyes fixed on the vision in the heavens.

“This Mystic Realm, we must enter it,” the Sixth Elder declared firmly. “The inheritance of our ancestor cannot fall to others.”

“But how can we?” Xia Wanqing asked. “Our Martial Heaven Sacred Ground holds no authority here.”

“How fascinating,” Xiao Buhui chuckled softly. Turning toward the two emperors, he said, “Hurry and choose your third fighter.”

…

Xu Zimo turned to Xia Wanqing. “Do you want to enter the Mystic Realm?” he asked.

She nodded slightly.

Seeing King Star-River about to concede, Xu Zimo yawned, then slowly walked toward the battle platform.