How can simply creating a sect make you invincible?

"Patriarch Xuanyuan, you'd better let us have our way with this year's promising talents!"

Haha, you're too kind, everyone. There are so many promising talents this year, we won't have trouble finding good ones.

Even the best seedlings can't compare to your Xuanyuan Qing! His future achievements will at least make him a Quasi-Emperor, and he has a very good chance of becoming a Great Emperor.

"Patriarch Murong, you jest. My son is still young and has a long way to go. It's your Murong Xuan and Murong Shuang who have the most promising future!"

On the high platform, they flattered each other, chatting and laughing, while directly below the platform were the seats of the nine great talents from the major powers.

At this moment, a subordinate walked up to Xuan Yuanqing, whispered a few words in his ear, and then turned and left.

After listening to his subordinate's words, he looked up and saw Liu Yiyi chatting and laughing with several young people. When she saw Mu Qingcheng, she paused slightly: "There really is a woman with such temperament in this world."

"Xuanyuan Qing, what's wrong with you? You look so startled, and there's a smile on your lips. Are you lovesick?"

"Mengyao, shut your stinking mouth! It's those five from Fengtian City who's here. Look for yourself, Liu Yiyi is entertaining them!"

Following the direction Xuan Yuanqing pointed, not only Mengyao, but everyone looked towards the area not far below the stage, and sure enough, they saw Liu Yiyi chatting and laughing with several young people.

At this moment, Xuanyuan Qing said to the crowd with a hint of warning in his voice: "This imperial prince is currently lacking a maidservant. I want that woman below."

Upon hearing Xuan Yuanqing's words, everyone saw Mu Qingcheng's appearance and was slightly surprised. This woman's appearance, figure, and temperament were all exceptional.

Even Mengyao was surprised. This woman was no less than herself in any aspect, and even slightly better in terms of temperament.

"I've heard that Brother Xuanyuan doesn't like having women around him. How about we give this woman to this prince?" Huangfu Song said with a smile to Xuanyuan Qing.

Xuan Yuanqing glared at Huangfu Song with a dark expression: "If you dare to have any improper thoughts about her, I will kill you."

"Hmph... This imperial prince doesn't lack a woman. You can have this one."

Murong Shuang sneered: "Without becoming emperor, one is ultimately an ant; love and affection will only lead to a life of frivolous beauty and broken bones."

Many others, however, curiously observed the group, wanting to see if they were as powerful as rumored.

At that moment, the referee's command resounded throughout Tiandu Square: "The Heavenly Pride Arena Battle officially begins. We invite all 566 Heavenly Pride contestants to come forward and draw lots."

The once silent plaza instantly came alive again. Five hundred and sixty-six prodigies from all corners of the country, from various sects and aristocratic families, set off, their figures orderly ascending the majestic main arena of the martial arts competition along the jade steps.

These prodigies, the youngest of whom were fifteen or sixteen, each possessed a refined aura, their spiritual power surging throughout their bodies, and their brows exuded the demeanor of youth and the arrogance of chosen ones. They were either core disciples carefully cultivated by their sects or peerless geniuses from reclusive clans, all having fought their way through their own sects to reach this grand gathering of prodigies that had shaken the entire Central Continent. They were all proud and ambitious individuals.

According to the rules of the arena, everyone took turns stepping forward and picking up a battle card from the jade box floating in the center of the high platform. They then faced off against each other based on the cards they drew, competing for the final ranking on the Heavenly Pride List.

All eyes were focused on the arena, with thousands of cultivators holding their breath and watching, eagerly anticipating the clash of the greatest talents.

Just as a group of promising young talents reached out to pick up the lots, a petite and delicate figure slowly walked onto the smooth and cold white jade arena with light and delicate steps.

In an instant, the entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

She was a little girl who looked to be only five years old.

She wore a simple white dress, her hair tied in two round buns. Her skin was as white as jade, her face delicate and soft, and her clear, bright eyes seemed to hold the stars and moon, pure and untouched by any worldly dust. Her small figure was slender and frail. Standing among Ning Tian and the others, among the many powerful geniuses, she seemed as insignificant as a blade of grass swaying in the wind, appearing completely out of place.

No one expected that this supreme battle of prodigies, which brought together the top young talents of the Central Continent, would feature a child who was still very young and barely taller than an average person's waist!

The deathly silence lasted only a moment. The next second, the entire spectator plaza erupted in chaos!

"Splash—!"

A deafening roar instantly swept across the sky, and everyone looked on in astonishment, craning their necks to look at the small figure on the stage in disbelief.

"What's going on?! Where did this little brat come from?"

"Damn, this kid is probably only four or five years old!"

"Are you crazy! This is a top-tier arena battle for the Central Continent's elite, a battlefield where the next generation of geniuses clash, not a stage for children to play on!"

"Five hundred and sixty-six geniuses are competing, each one a peerless prodigy, how could a mere child have slipped in?"

"Did the organizers fail to conduct thorough checks? Such young children probably can't even perform the basic breathing exercises; how can they be allowed to participate in the competition?"

A cacophony of exclamations, whispers, and doubts rose and fell, echoing like thunderclaps that reverberated throughout the heavens and earth. Countless cultivators below the stage were shaken, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes fixed on the little girl on the platform, their faces filled with disbelief.

The elders, sect leaders, and family heads of various sects on the stage sat up straight, their eyes filled with astonishment. Their disciples had all undergone arduous training before being allowed to step onto the stage, and now, seeing this mere five-year-old child stepping onto the arena, they found it utterly absurd.

On the arena, all the prodigies who were about to pick up their lots stopped and turned around. Their sharp gazes fell on the little girl, and their handsome or cold faces were filled with shock and astonishment.

Some people frowned, their faces full of confusion.

Some people looked on with amusement, treating it as a farce.

Some people looked on with serious expressions, secretly wondering if this child had some extraordinary trump card. On the huge arena, hundreds of spirited prodigies were now completely captivated by this small figure.

What is most awe-inspiring is the nine emperor-level forces overlooking the world from the top of the high platform!

But at this moment, their gazes also fell on the young, innocent figure on the arena. The nine Emperor-level experts were all slightly moved, and a look of astonishment flashed across their calm eyes that had been steady for thousands of years.

At this moment, Liu Bai stood up and said, "Everyone, don't underestimate this little girl. She's one of the five people who came from Fengtian City, and her strength is no less than those prodigies."

Upon hearing Liu Bai's words, the leaders of the eight major forces were also slightly surprised. A five-year-old child stepping onto the arena of the Heavenly Pride Grand Ceremony was something they had never seen before.

At this moment, Dean Su of Qinglan Academy said: "Such an age is unprecedented. What kind of foundation could have nurtured such an extraordinary person? Ordinary children are still playing in ignorance, yet she has stepped into this place of top-level competition. She is definitely not simple."

Hearing Liu Bai's words, Xuan Yuan Gu Yun also became interested in the child. If she truly was a peerless prodigy, he could try to recruit her into the Xuan Yuan Imperial Clan for proper training. Therefore, he transmitted his voice to the referee elder: "Tell everyone that all the geniuses participating in the arena have undergone rigorous examinations."

Upon receiving a telepathic message from the family head, the elder standing on the arena immediately announced loudly: "The registration for the Heavenly Pride Arena Battle has undergone rigorous verification and there has been no fraud. The drawing of lots shall continue!"

Hearing the referee's words, everyone could see that this was no farce.

The small figure stood quietly in the center of the arena, unafraid of the scrutinizing gazes of thousands around her, unperturbed by the astonished stares of countless powerful figures. She blinked her clear eyes, and with her short legs, she walked step by step toward the jade box containing the winning tokens.

Xiao Ningyun suddenly looked at Ning Tian: "Brother, I... I can't reach this jade box for drawing lots, it's not high enough."

Hearing what this brat said, everyone almost fell over.