Dongbo Xueying and Yunhai stepped out of their rented cave abode and were immediately greeted by streaks of light streaking across the sky—countless deities soaring through the heavens.
“Quite the spectacle,” Dongbo Xueying remarked in admiration.
“How could it not be?” Yunhai sighed with emotion. “The grandest event in the entire Divine Realm is about to begin. Registration opens three days before the pre-selection starts. Just thinking about it is thrilling. The Divine Realm is vast beyond measure, and the most talented and dazzling deities from across its expanse will gather to compete. First comes the starfield pre-selection, followed by the brutal elimination rounds in the prefectural cities. Only a handful will make it to the final battles at the Divine Court. Layer after layer of competition… Those who reach the end may even be granted the Ten Thousand Blossoms True Fruit! They’ll easily be taken as disciples by mighty figures. I’ve heard even His Majesty of our Bloodblade Divine Court will take on disciples. When will I ever shine so brightly? Alas, among the countless deities, I am simply too ordinary.”
Dongbo Xueying said nothing. There was little he could say to comfort Yunhai.
Because, in the grand scheme of the Divine Realm, Yunhai *was* ordinary. The Divine Realm was unimaginably vast. A single life-bearing planet, tens of thousands of miles in diameter, might only produce one deity in its entire history by sheer luck. Yet, across an entire starfield, deities numbered in the billions. And the entire Divine Realm? To mortals and newly ascended deities, Emperor Yunhai might seem formidable.
But in the eyes of the Divine Realm as a whole? He was insignificant. Moreover, his age disqualified him from participating in the Divine Court’s Ten Thousand Blossoms Feast.
—
The two flew side by side.
In the distance stood a majestic, towering palace, its grand gates wide open, revealing a broad golden pathway. Countless deities had gathered around it, yet few dared to step onto that radiant corridor.
Because walking down that path and entering the palace meant registering—signing up for the starfield pre-selection three days later.
“Someone’s stepping forward,” Yunhai pointed toward the golden pathway.
Dongbo Xueying followed his gaze. Amid the sea of onlookers, a plainly dressed elder chuckled as he stepped onto the golden path. Instantly, the eyes of millions of deities locked onto him. Murmurs spread through the crowd, and some even recognized the elder, whispering his background to those nearby. Yet, no great stir was caused.
The elder soon reached the end of the golden path and disappeared into the palace.
“Another reminder,” a cold, majestic voice boomed from within the palace. “Only those at the peak of deity-level strength have any hope of surviving the pre-selection. Once you enter the palace, you *must* participate. If you insist on withdrawing, you will suffer a hundred lashes as punishment.”
Soon, another stepped onto the golden path, then another, and another…
Since registration only opened three days before the pre-selection, today—the first day—naturally saw the largest turnout.
“Don’t be fooled by how many are signing up,” Yunhai remarked with a smile as he watched from midair. “Very, very few will pass the pre-selection. Most participants barely meet the threshold for survival. But mere survival isn’t enough—they must *win*. I recall the last pre-selection in the Tianxiang Starfield only produced twelve victors. Of course, even failing to advance is an honor. At least they can say they participated in the Ten Thousand Blossoms Feast, even if they didn’t make it past the first round.”
Dongbo Xueying chuckled but didn’t rush to register. Once he did, he’d have to remain in the palace until the pre-selection began.
Deity after deity stepped forward to register.
From his vantage point in the sky, Dongbo Xueying watched as, in just half an hour, over a hundred and sixty signed up. Considering the Tianxiang Starfield’s last pre-selection only yielded twelve victors, the Wushan Starfield likely wouldn’t fare much better. Clearly, the vast majority stood no chance.
“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying’s eyes narrowed.
Another figure descended onto the golden path—a red-haired man wearing a half-mask, a blade at his waist, its hilt wrapped in a crimson ribbon. He walked in silence, yet an invisible aura of killing intent radiated from him. Many of the watching deities felt their hearts constrict, an instinctive fear creeping over them.
“Such intense bloodlust,” Dongbo Xueying murmured in astonishment. “I never expected the Wushan Starfield to harbor such an expert.”
“None of the onlookers seem to recognize him,” Yunhai observed. “He must keep a low profile. Though his killing aura is thick, that doesn’t necessarily mean his strength is extraordinary.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly. Still, this was the most bloodthirsty deity he’d ever encountered.
After watching for half a day, he glanced at the sky. The distant sun-star was beginning to set—though the sun-star itself never moved, the colossal Wushan City rotated slowly like a celestial body, creating the illusion of sunset.
“I’ll head in now,” Dongbo Xueying said to Yunhai.
“With your skills, passing the pre-selection should be no trouble,” Yunhai grinned. “I’ll be counting on you to take me to the prefectural city.”
“Mm.”
Dongbo Xueying transformed into a streak of light, landing on the golden path in the distance.
“It’s him!”
“That mysterious expert, Dongbo!”
“That’s the one who lashed Young Master Yunhu in the streets!”
“Right, that’s him!”
“I heard his strength is terrifying—he effortlessly crushed an entire patrol squad!”
Whispers erupted all around. Those unfamiliar with Dongbo Xueying’s reputation quickly learned of his deeds from the surrounding chatter.
As Dongbo Xueying strode down the golden path, he couldn’t help but smile wryly at the commotion. It seemed his fame had spread far and wide.
“Hmm?” His gaze flicked to the distant figure of Young Master Yunhu, surrounded by his entourage. The young master’s expression was sour.
“Tch.” Seeing Dongbo Xueying’s glance, Young Master Yunhu snorted coldly.
Unfazed, Dongbo Xueying continued forward, soon stepping into the palace.
Inside the grand hall, a general sat upon a throne, soldiers standing at attention around him.
“Dongbo! With your strength, survival won’t be an issue,” the general said with a smile, tossing him a token.
Dongbo Xueying caught it. The token bore a runic number—’528’—marking his place in the pre-selection order.
“Please wait over here,” a soldier directed.
The hall was vast.
To the left, a large group of deities had gathered—all participants of the starfield pre-selection. Dongbo Xueying’s eyes swept over them, landing on the red-haired, half-masked man with the overwhelming bloodlust. The man sat alone in a corner, keeping his distance from everyone. Given his aura, the others seemed reluctant to approach him.
Dongbo Xueying chose a spot and sat down.
“Brother Dongbo?” A deity immediately approached, eager to ingratiate himself. Whipping Young Master Yunhu had indeed made Dongbo Xueying a figure of renown in Wushan City.
Time passed.
The sky darkened.
Servants brought wine and delicacies to the waiting participants.
“Whoa!”
“What’s this?”
“The Patrol Commander is escorting someone?”
A sudden uproar erupted outside.
Dongbo Xueying and the others turned toward the massive palace doors. Outside, a handsome youth in white robes descended from the sky, flanked by a stunningly beautiful woman and a lean man—the latter being the Wushan Starfield’s Patrol Commander.
Both the Patrol Commander and the woman exuded oppressive auras, the woman’s especially terrifying. With a single glance, she forced every deity in the sky to land, none daring to remain aloft.
“*Strong*,” Dongbo Xueying thought, startled. “That woman… is she a second-level World God?”
As a World God himself, his judgment was sharp.
The Patrol Commander seemed almost obsequious in her presence.
“Wait here,” the woman commanded. Behind her stood a retinue of white-robed maids, each breathtakingly beautiful and dignified.
The white-robed youth landed on the golden path, the woman and Patrol Commander following behind.
The trio soon entered the palace.
“Commander!” The general distributing tokens immediately rose to his feet.
“Don’t mind me. Carry on,” the Patrol Commander instructed.
“Commander Guan,” the woman said coolly, “my young master has chosen your Wushan Starfield for the Ten Thousand Blossoms Feast purely by chance. Proceed as usual.”
“Understood, understood,” the Patrol Commander replied hastily.
The woman nodded, then glanced at the general, who quickly tossed her a token. She handed it to the white-robed youth. “Young Master, your pre-selection token. Shall we retire, or—?”
“Didn’t you say to follow standard procedure?” the youth replied, his voice as cold as glacial ice. “I’ll wait here until the pre-selection begins.”
“As you wish.”
The gathered deities in the hall trembled inwardly. Anyone with half a brain could tell the woman far surpassed the Patrol Commander in strength—yet she seemed to be nothing more than the youth’s attendant?
“Who *is* this?” the deities wondered silently, not daring to voice their thoughts. Only a fool wouldn’t recognize the youth’s terrifyingly formidable background.
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