A calm gaze fell upon the dozen or so figures rapidly approaching the arena.
Thoughtful.
On the arena, two people were currently sparring.
Such a grand assembly of heroes, drawing the world's attention.
It was a perfect opportunity to make a name for oneself. Even if one knew deep down they couldn't secure the position of deputy leader, there were still those who wanted to seize this chance to rise to fame.
The best way to do that was to step up and fight before the truly strong had taken the stage.
Once the first person stepped forward, such challengers came in an unending stream.
And the true experts, by mutual understanding, held back, leaving the stage for these Xiantian realm fighters to showcase themselves.
This was a kind of wisdom in dealing with people and affairs.
No one who had reached the Grandmaster realm was a fool; they all understood this.
Even if a rare few didn't grasp it, others would inform them.
Thus, the atmosphere at the scene was excellent, with many people excited and eager to try.
The spirit of the heroes' assembly had been elevated several notches.
One after another, several people took the stage to compete.
Many Grandmasters watched with smiles, showing great patience and appreciation, nodding frequently.
Guo Jing stood at the edge of the arena, behind him the strikingly eye-catching Huang Rong and a few young figures.
Three men and one girl who bore some resemblance to Huang Rong, very beautiful but with a hint of willful pride in her brows.
Two of the three men were speaking to the girl with flattering smiles.
The other, an exceptionally handsome young man, stood somewhat silently, as if lost in thought.
After a moment, the girl suddenly spoke with some displeasure: "Yang Guo, why are you so distracted?
The ones sparring on the arena are rare experts from across the land. If you can pick up a few moves, you'd be lucky."
Her words were laced with arrogance.
"Yeah, Yang Guo, don't tell me you look down on them?" Immediately, one of the men beside her raised his chin in mockery.
"Heh, he's always been proud. It's only natural he'd look down on them," the other chimed in with a laugh.
The young man called Yang Guo glanced at them calmly but said nothing.
Just as the two young men were about to speak again, Huang Rong's melodious voice cut precisely through their midst.
"Fu'er, Dunru, Xiuwen, Guo'er, all of you watch properly and don't speak."
The three of them obediently fell silent, not daring to say more.
Yang Guo looked at Huang Rong, a flicker of complexity in his eyes, then shifted his gaze into the distance.
Suddenly, he, who usually loved a lively scene, found the bustling spectacle before him less appealing.
The longing in his heart grew even stronger.
·····
This was just a tiny, insignificant part of the grand heroes' assembly.
Elsewhere, all sorts of events were unfolding.
Some big, some small.
On a chair, Murong Fu's calm and composed smile concealed a mind that never stopped scheming.
If all went smoothly, the three deputy leader positions would surely not be mine.
But I could support one of them, gaining their help and using this alliance to develop my own strength.
Pity that Murong Qiudi hasn't married Li Daoqiang yet. With his backing, there would be much more to gain.
A few seats away.
Yi Jifeng's calm smile masked a deep inner turmoil.
Even a hint of nervousness.
I must secure one of the three deputy leader positions.
He swore to himself.
······
Countless thoughts swirled. In this situation, soon several more Xiantian experts took the stage one after another.
Just as two were sparring—
Suddenly—
"Hahaha, is this the grand heroes' assembly? Just a few Xiantian realm fighters showing off their skills?"
A voice, arrogant and disdainful, came from the north, booming across dozens of miles around the arena.
Instantly, many faces changed.
On the arena, the Grandmasters seated in their chairs all stood up.
They turned to look north, on high alert.
So they've come.
Under countless gazes, a dozen figures rapidly approached from the northern void.
Accompanying them was an overwhelming aura, rolling in as if to sweep everything before it.
"Hmph, a pack of wolves and tigers. Are you declaring war?"
The next moment, a cold snort erupted, and a majestic aura surged upward, clashing with the oncoming pressure.
Immediately, a series of auras rose from the Grandmasters on the arena, surging toward the overwhelming force.
"Boom~!"
The world seemed to shift, and rumbles echoed across the sky.
Ripples spread, and the clouds in the sky scattered, vanishing entirely.
The many martial artists around the arena stared wide-eyed, shocked by the spectacular sight.
"Hong Qigong, Guo Daxia, is this how you treat guests at your heroes' assembly?"
The voice rang out again, tinged with mockery.
At the same time, the dozen figures arrived not far from the arena.
All the martial artists could see them clearly, and many gasped.
A dozen people, each with formidable auras, all Grandmasters.
The Grandmasters on the arena also wore grave expressions.
Especially those who recognized some of the figures, their hearts sank.
"Ouyang Feng! You've recovered?" Hong Qigong frowned slightly, staring intently at one of them.
Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Guo, and others also looked on in surprise.
The man was tall and sturdy, showing signs of age, with a hint of coldness in his brows.
But his bearing as a Grandmaster was unmistakable.
His gaze swept over and stopped at Guo Jing and Huang Rong, his voice carrying an unspoken authority: "Recovered, so I've come to find you."
Guo Jing and Huang Rong's hearts grew heavier. He had come to settle scores.
"Huogong Toutuo, how dare you set foot in the Central Plains?" Xuan Cheng glared, fixing his eyes on a burly figure with a fierce, murderous aura.
"Hahaha, why wouldn't I dare? Xuan Cheng, I didn't expect you to recover either. When I heard you were crippled, I was overjoyed," the figure laughed arrogantly.
Xuan Cheng's face flushed with anger, and he snorted coldly.
"Heh, it seems the arrival of these gentlemen has surprised many friends here," said a young man standing subtly at the center of the group, speaking calmly to those around him.
From his voice, he was the one who had spoken earlier.
"Who are you, sir?" Guo Jing stepped forward and asked solemnly.
"If you want my Han name, you can call me Fang Yeyu," the young man said with a light smile.
He looked very refined, but was tall with broad shoulders, a blend of elegance and dominance, giving an impression of both literary and martial prowess.
Though young, he seemed to be the leader among these dozen Grandmasters.
"The Little Demon Master of the Demon Master Palace, Fang Yeyu!" Guo Jing raised an eyebrow, speaking gravely.
"Indeed, it is I. I didn't expect Guo Daxia to know of me," Fang Yeyu smiled.
Guo Jing's heart grew heavy. If Fang Yeyu had come, had the Demon Master Pang Ban also arrived?
The thought flashed and was suppressed.
The peerless experts would be dealt with by the Zhenren and others; their battlefield was here.
Glancing briefly at Hong Qigong and the others, he said seriously, "Why have you come, sir? Do you intend to start a war?"
"Haha, Guo Daxia jokes. Since you're holding a heroes' assembly here, we've come to join it. As for war, no rush. There will be plenty of time and opportunity later," Fang Yeyu said with a confident, easy smile, as if everything was under his control.
"If you're not here to start a war, then please leave. We're holding this assembly to resist the Mongol Yuan. We don't welcome Mongol Yuan participants," Guo Jing said firmly and resolutely.
"Yes, we don't welcome Mongol Yuan people. Get lost!"
"Leave now. Do you think a dozen Grandmasters can cause trouble here?"
"Exactly, get out!"
"Right, leave, leave!"
······
Hong Qigong and others on the arena spoke in turn, and the martial artists below, emboldened, joined in with shouts.
Amid the clamor, the dozen figures remained unfazed, some even sneering.
"Hahaha," Fang Yeyu laughed again. When the noise subsided slightly, he said disdainfully, "I never expected the grand heroes' assembly to be like this.
Why can't Mongol Yuan people participate?
Did you state beforehand that Mongol Yuan people weren't allowed?"
Guo Jing remained unyielding, saying solemnly, "We didn't, but Mongol Yuan people still cannot participate.
Since the battle hasn't begun, we won't make things difficult for you. You may leave. Go."
In the silence, a rare, dominant forcefulness emerged from Guo Jing.
More than that, it was a steadfast resolve.
A resolve that could not be shaken even by death.
Fang Yeyu looked deeply at Guo Jing and sighed lightly: "I didn't expect this. It seems this so-called heroes' assembly has great limitations, not truly open to the entire world.
Thus, this assembly is greatly diminished. I won't bother attending."
With that, he smiled again: "But among us, Mr. Ouyang and Mr. Jingang are not Mongol Yuan people.
Surely, they can participate in this heroes' assembly, can't they?"
Guo Jing and others frowned.
They looked at Ouyang Feng and the rest.
Indeed, half of them appeared to be dressed in Central Plains Han attire.
Strictly speaking, they were not Mongol Yuan people.
So they came prepared!
Guo Jing and the others exchanged glances, their expressions serious.
The other side's intent was clear and simple: to disrupt the heroes' assembly.
For Ouyang Feng and those who weren't Mongol Yuan, they couldn't explicitly refuse their participation.
Because this assembly, strictly speaking, was open to all under heaven to resist the Mongol Yuan.
Refusing Mongol Yuan people was one thing, but refusing others would have too great an impact.
Many neutral, underworld, or even demonic path figures were also resisting the Mongol Yuan.
After a brief, silent exchange among themselves,
Guo Jing said solemnly, "They may participate, as long as they follow the rules."
"Heh, that won't do," Fang Yeyu shook his head, speaking seriously: "The alliance leader has already been chosen as Zhenren Wang Chongyang, so be it.
But the three deputy leader positions are to be decided by martial contest.
Mr. Ouyang and the others are few. If they participate, they'll surely face a gauntlet of challengers.
Don't tell me, Guo Daxia, that you can guarantee there won't be a gauntlet."
(Chapter 1.)