At the highest point of the main hall, mist and clouds swirled.
The mighty ones and Four Heavens Realm Gods gathered in small groups, chatting leisurely. Servants carried plates of rare delicacies to the long tables arranged in precise order. At the very top, four seats were reserved—clearly, four Rulers would attend the Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet this time.
Below the Rulers’ seats were three more positions.
Further out, separated by a noticeable distance, lay the numerous other seats.
“Look, beneath the Rulers, there are three seats. In the past, that made sense—there were the Three Ancestors. But now, Pang Yi has ascended to Ruler status, leaving only two of the Three Ancestors. Yet they’ve still arranged three seats. Could the rumors be true? Has Dongbo Xueying become the new third Ancestor?” Three mighty ones whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between the seating arrangements.
“Not necessarily. Another Venerable might be attending. In the past, the North Profound Palace Master and the Venomous Ying Emperor have joined.”
“Hmph. Non-Blade’s Edge Divine Court Venerables attending the Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet are exceedingly rare. I’d wager Dongbo Xueying will take that seat.”
“He’s too young. Does he have the strength?”
“They say he ranks thirty-third on the Cosmic Deity-Demon Ranking. That’s impressive.”
“But compared to Pang Yi, the Bamboo Mountain Manor Lord, or the Destruction Overlord of the past, he’s still far behind. And he’s just a Four Heavens Realm God.”
—
It wasn’t just these three. Many mighty ones and Realm Gods in the hall had noticed the seating and were quietly discussing it via sound transmission, unwilling to openly offend Dongbo Xueying.
Some mighty ones felt a twinge of discontent.
A few Realm Gods doubted Dongbo Xueying’s placement: “His Majesty the Divine Emperor is fair. Without sufficient strength, he wouldn’t seat Emperor Dongbo there. Another esteemed figure must be attending.”
“Exactly. Rumors are just rumors. If the Rulers and mighty ones all witness Dongbo Xueying sitting alongside the Destruction Overlord and the Bamboo Mountain Manor Lord today, it would be an official acknowledgment.” The Realm Gods found it hard to believe.
Public recognition was far weightier than mere whispers.
For years, rumors had swirled, but Dongbo Xueying never responded. If the Divine Emperor placed him among the Three Ancestors today, it would be an undeniable declaration of his status. The Divine Emperor’s word carried immense authority—he was, after all, the undisputed strongest in the Divine Realm, ranked first even above the Abyssal Primogenitor on the Cosmic Deity-Demon Ranking.
“Look, Jing Qiu has arrived.”
“Emperor Dongbo’s wife. Those behind her must be their children.”
Whispers continued.
Yet when Jing Qiu and her children arrived, everyone greeted her politely. Regardless of opinions, Dongbo Xueying far surpassed them in strength.
“Could His Majesty truly seat Xueying there today?” The Redfire Ancestor, also attending, watched silently. “Isn’t it too soon? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until he has undeniable achievements? Unless… another Venerable is coming.”
—
*Whoosh.*
Dongbo Xueying descended, spotting Jing Qiu surrounded by enthusiastic mighty ones and Realm Gods. His children, Qingyao and Yu, eagerly scanned the hall, thrilled to see legendary figures in person.
“Xueying.” Jing Qiu brightened upon seeing him.
“Emperor Dongbo.” The mighty ones and Realm Gods bowed respectfully.
Dongbo Xueying exchanged brief pleasantries.
“Junior Brother.” A voice called—a white-robed, bald youth approached.
“Senior Brother Huiming.” Dongbo Xueying smiled warmly. Huiming’s aura, once transcendent, now felt even more profound, subtly drawing others in. Even Xueying, with his mental fortitude, felt an instinctive affinity.
“You remind me more and more of Ruler Pang Yi,” Xueying remarked.
“You flatter me. I’m but an ant on the ground; Master is a dragon in the sky. The more I cultivate, the more unfathomable he seems.”
Xueying chuckled.
“Xueying, Huiming.” The Redfire Ancestor joined them.
“Ancestor.” Both greeted him warmly.
“After eight million years, your strength must be even more unfathomable,” Redfire said.
“Progress grows harder at this level,” Xueying demurred.
Redfire transmitted privately: “See the seating? Below the four Rulers are three spots—once for the Three Ancestors. Only the Bamboo Mountain Manor Lord, the Destruction Overlord, and you remain. No other Venerables have arrived. It seems you’ll take that seat.”
“Me?” Xueying frowned.
“Rumors become reality today,” Huiming added.
As they spoke, two figures approached.
“Dongbo.” A deep voice boomed. “You’re late.”
Xueying turned to see a resplendent black-robed elder and a purple-robed man—the Destruction Overlord and the Bamboo Mountain Manor Lord.
“Overlord. Manor Lord.” Xueying stepped forward.
The hall’s attention shifted to them—the two remaining Ancestors and the rising star.
“I came early to see you,” the Destruction Overlord grinned. “Yet you arrive late.”
“I was with Master,” Xueying said.
“The Divine Emperor favors you greatly,” the Overlord mused. “No wonder. A million years to reach Venerable, and now, after eight million, your strength has soared further, hasn’t it?”
Xueying paused.
Few knew of his *Ten Thousand Demons True Body* manual. But the Overlord’s connections ran deep. Yet why announce it publicly? Their conversation wasn’t private.
The hall listened intently.
*A million years to Venerable? Eight million more of growth?*
“Your strength may surpass mine now,” the Overlord sighed. “The Divine Emperor’s disciples—you and Qing Jun—ascend too swiftly. This old man watches as you leave him behind.”
The crowd stirred. For a figure like the Overlord to admit inferiority was monumental.
“Could Dongbo Xueying truly be that powerful?”
“With his talent, eight million years of cultivation… it’s possible.”
“The Overlord wouldn’t lie.”
Mighty ones recalled Xueying’s Cosmic Ranking at thirty-third. Eight million years later, a breakthrough was plausible.
Realm Gods trusted the Overlord’s word implicitly.
Thus, with a few statements, skepticism waned.
“You honor me too much,” Xueying said, bewildered by the Overlord’s praise.
The Overlord merely laughed.
He had lived too long, knew too much. Survival meant aligning with the strong—his disciple, the Divine Emperor; Qing Jun; and now Xueying, whose potential rivaled even a Ruler’s. Better to forge ties early.
Pride meant little when the next cosmic cycle would humble the arrogant.
Xueying, though puzzled, felt gratitude for the endorsement.
—
*Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.*
Four figures descended—the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, Hellfire Ruler, Niluo Ruler, and Pang Yi Ruler. Silence fell as they took their thrones.
“Be seated,” the Divine Emperor commanded.
Servants guided guests to their places. Xueying’s escort led him to one of the three seats nearest the Rulers.
He, the Destruction Overlord, and the Bamboo Mountain Manor Lord walked forward. The hall watched.
*Rustle.*
All took their seats.
Xueying sat beside the two Ancestors, the Divine Emperor’s declaration clear: Dongbo Xueying was now the Third Ancestor.
“An Ancestor?” Seated there, feeling the weight of countless gazes—Jing Qiu’s pride, his children’s excitement—Xueying smiled. “So be it.”
This position, below the Rulers but above the mighty ones, let him survey the hall—the powerful, the hopeful, and the thousand-nine-hundred young deities at the periphery.
“Once, I dreamed of learning under the Three Ancestors. Now I am one.” Xueying chuckled at fate’s whimsy.
(*End of Chapter*)
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