The handsome young man in white also walked to the left side of the hall, casually chose a spot to sit down, closed his eyes to meditate, and spoke to no one. He exuded an icy aura, like a block of eternal ice, though not as ferocious as the red-haired man’s murderous intent. His cold demeanor was restrained, yet it carried an aloofness that kept others at a distance.
“Interesting,” Dongbo Xueying glanced at the white-clad youth before turning back to his companions, raising his wine cup. “You flatter me. The Divine Court’s Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet is filled with countless experts—what am I among them? Just passing the Starfield Preliminaries would already be a stroke of luck.”
“If even Brother Dongbo can’t make it, we stand no chance.”
“Brother Dongbo, don’t be modest.”
Time flowed steadily.
Night turned to day, day to night—for deities, two or three days passed in the blink of an eye. More and more participants signed up for the Starfield Preliminaries, far exceeding a thousand in number. Yet the most conspicuous among them remained the red-haired man and the white-clad youth, whose background seemed terrifying. The red-haired man still exuded his unrestrained murderous aura, keeping all other deities at least ten zhang away from him.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” a crimson-armored general strode forward and announced loudly, “Night has fallen, and tomorrow at dawn, the Starfield Preliminaries will begin! Now, everyone, state your names.”
“Tong Ya!”
“Wan Feng!”
“Cang Qiu!”
The crimson-armored general recorded each name, soon arriving before the red-haired man radiating terrifying bloodlust. The man lifted his head, his half-masked face still cold. “Bloodcloud!”
Moments later, he reached the white-clad youth.
“May I ask for Your Highness’s name?” The crimson-armored general was exceedingly polite, bending at the waist as he inquired.
“Seventh Plum Rain,” the white-clad youth replied calmly, looking at the general.
Dongbo Xueying chuckled at the peculiar name.
Soon, it was his turn.
“Dongbo,” he stated simply.
Once all names were recorded, the crimson-armored general smiled. “Rest well and prepare yourselves. At dawn, the Starfield Preliminaries will commence. I will call your names—when you hear yours, step forward for battle.”
……
“Hurry, hurry! The Starfield Preliminaries are about to begin!”
“Quickly!”
Deities from all over Wushan City rushed toward the Bloodblade Domain, eager to witness the battles.
“A grand event that happens once every ten million years! Only the most dazzling and powerful deities have the right to participate. Just thinking about it sets my blood boiling!”
“Watching such an event calls for fine wine. Look, what’s this?”
“Haha, Winterfire Brew? Splendid! You must share half with me later!”
……
The Bloodblade Domain was already packed with countless deities gathered from all directions. The sky had just begun to brighten, the stars still faintly visible above. Yet the esteemed guests had already arrived. As the Starfield Warden, Guan Xunshou naturally occupied the central seat. Beside him, another throne stood nearly equal in status, occupied by the beautiful woman. Below them, on either side, sat five more World Deities and one peak-stage deity—a smiling old man in black robes.
“General Tu, it’s been so long since you last visited my Flying Cloud Lake. No matter how many times I invite you, you never come,” the master of Flying Cloud Lake said with a laugh.
“General Tu, I’ve just acquired a fine barrel of wine—my son fought for it at a high price in the Prefectural City. I’ve been saving it just for you.”
“General Tu…”
The five World Deities below all fawned over the black-robed old man, though they communicated via sound transmission. The old man chuckled amiably in response.
From his high seat, Guan Xunshou sneered before speaking aloud, “Brother Tu, you’ve cultivated for so many years yet still haven’t broken through to the World Deity realm. At this rate, it won’t be long before your divine heart collapses! In my opinion, you should resign from your post as general and go into seclusion for a desperate breakthrough attempt. Perhaps you might still become a World Deity.”
“Thank you for your concern, Warden,” the black-robed old man replied with a smile. “But as I am stationed in the Wushan Starfield by the Divine Court’s decree, I must devote myself fully to my duties. Compared to my life, the Divine Court’s responsibilities are far more important.”
“If you lose your life, you won’t be able to fulfill those responsibilities either,” Guan Xunshou retorted coldly.
“That is no longer your concern, Warden Guan,” the old man said, still smiling.
“Hmph.” Guan Xunshou snorted and said no more.
Indeed.
This black-robed old man was one of the two most powerful figures in the Wushan Starfield—the general of the Garrison Army.
Each starfield had two armies: one was the Warden Army, recruited and established by the Starfield Warden, while the other was the Garrison Army, directly dispatched by the Divine Court. The Garrison Army held greater authority, which was why even the likes of the Flying Cloud Lake master and the other World Deities in the starfield sought to curry favor with its leader.
The two armies balanced each other, preventing the Starfield Warden from acting recklessly.
The beautiful woman seated beside Guan Xunshou observed the exchange before glancing upward. “Warden Guan, isn’t it about time?”
“Indeed.” Guan Xunshou also looked up before rising to his feet.
“Gentlemen!”
Though slender in stature, as a World Deity, his voice boomed across the entire Bloodblade Domain, reaching every corner. The countless gathered deities grew excited. “It’s starting!” “It’s about to begin!” “Quick, keep your eyes peeled—tell me when my third brother steps out!”
Guan Xunshou surveyed the surroundings before continuing. “The Divine Court’s Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet is a grand event personally decreed by His Majesty. It is our hope that the experts of the Wushan Starfield will demonstrate their strength, pass the preliminaries, and even advance through the Prefectural City selections—ultimately earning the right to attend the final banquet alongside His Majesty and the mighty ones, partaking in the Ten Thousand Flowers True Fruit. That would be the greatest honor for our entire Wushan Starfield.”
The spectators’ hearts burned with longing.
How they wished they could see the Bloodblade Divine Emperor even once—such an encounter would be an endless glory. But their strength fell short, and even for the Wushan Starfield, having a single participant reach the final banquet was a rare luxury.
“The rules of the Starfield Preliminaries need no elaboration—you’ve all heard them before.” Guan Xunshou nodded. “Yes, they are simple: within one timeglass, defeat the ‘Savage Witch Soldier’ to pass. Fail, and you are eliminated.”
Hum—
At the center of the vast arena, surrounded by countless deities, a massive battle platform rose, spanning ten thousand li. For deities, such a size was insignificant.
“Roar—!” At the platform’s center stood a twelve-meter-tall, brown-furred humanoid creature. It threw back its head and roared, its hairless face pale, its small eyes gleaming with savagery.
This was the infamous Savage Witch Soldier.
Though seemingly ordinary, this creature had been the opponent in every Starfield Preliminaries of the Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet, felling countless deities. Defeating it? Exceedingly difficult.
“Hahaha, everyone is eager, so I’ll keep it brief.” Guan Xunshou’s voice thundered across the sky. “I hereby declare—the Divine Court’s Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet, Starfield Preliminaries, begin!”
“First contender—Lie Xiao!” At the entrance of the palace where names had been recorded earlier, a crimson-armored general called out.
A figure emerged from within.
It was a man with the head of a bird, likely of magical beast origin—some beasts preferred retaining their features even in human form. This ‘Lie Xiao’ strode along a golden path toward the distant battle platform. Instantly, countless deities turned their gazes upon him, while the Starfield Warden, the Garrison Army general, and the other high-ranking figures on the distant platform watched intently.
“It’s starting.” Inside the palace, Dongbo Xueying and the others observed from afar, most standing by the windows to catch a glimpse of the battle.
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