CHAPTER 463: CHAPTER 463, THE HEART OF CONTEMPT

Prince of a Hundred Swords Wang Xuanyi nodded and spoke, "As in previous tea ceremonies, apart from the Profound List geniuses, everyone else is free to act."

The seating on the high platform for the entire tea ceremony totals tens of thousands, yet the number of young talents participating in the tea ceremony is merely four or five hundred. The remaining seats are occupied by martial artists coming to observe. These martial artists might not have strong talent, but their strength is not inferior, and they hold significant prestige in various domains.

However, the seating for participating young talents and spectators is entirely separated, all arranged by Wang Xuanyi.

At the highest point of the seating are the positions for the top four young talents, below them are the top thirty seats of the Profound List, followed by the other Profound List geniuses, and at the lowest are the common young talents.

Although some of the common young talents are not any weaker than the Profound List geniuses, there is nothing that can be done about it.

Among these domains, the Sword Domain, Fire Domain, Thunder Marsh Domain, and Chifeng Domain undoubtedly have the most representatives, each domain roughly having around a dozen participants. Other domains generally have about seven or eight participants. The number of people from Celestial Realm, Golden Sand Domain, and Beiming Domain is quite small, only two or three, while Qinghai Domain is even worse off, having only Yao Song, who is not even qualified to participate in the tea ceremony.

Once everyone was seated, as the host of the tea ceremony, Prince of a Hundred Swords Wang Xuanyi spoke once more.

"Although this tea ceremony will impact the formulation of the new Profound List, it is also an opportunity to observe others and self-improve. With this session, the tea ceremony has been held three hundred and seventy-two times, greatly enhancing the strength of the younger generation of the Eastern Hundred Domains. I hope everyone won’t feel restrained this time."

His clear voice, augmented by spiritual power, reached everyone’s ears distinctly.

Thunder Spirit Prince Lei Wushuang continued, "Prince of a Hundred Swords is right. For all of us, the tea ceremony is an opportunity for enlightenment and enhancement. We should not be overly concerned with personal wins and losses, but rather find ways to elevate our own abilities through this tea ceremony."

"Since Prince of a Hundred Swords and Thunder Spirit Prince said so, I’ll start the tea ceremony this time. Zhang Ming of the Ten Directions Domain, who will enlighten me?"

Zhang Ming wasn’t worried about facing a young hero whose strength exceeded his by too much. The beauty of the martial tea ceremony lay in this very aspect. One would estimate the opponent’s strength before challenging. If they felt they were equally matched, they would proceed with the challenge. If they were much stronger, they wouldn’t bother. Winning would be meaningless unless the opponent was Prince of a Hundred Swords or Thunder Spirit Prince, except for those with personal vendettas.

"I, Zhao Quan from Sword Domain, will challenge you!"

Shush!

A shadow shot out rapidly from Chu Ming’s left side,

"Please enlighten me!"

"Please enlighten me!"

The two were separated by dozens of meters, cupping fists to each other. Their gazes suddenly sharpened, their eyes never blinking as they sought the right moment to strike.

Ha!

Zhang Ming made the first move, launching an attack.

Zhao Quan didn’t dare to slack off, raising his sword to meet the attack.

One wielded a saber, the other a sword. They fought fiercely, causing the air to tremble.

In the end, it was Zhang Ming who was slightly superior, winning the first bout of the tea ceremony.

With that initial bout, the process became smoother. Young heroes from various domains began to take the stage. Sometimes, even two or three matches would occur simultaneously. The resplendent spiritual power flows reflected colorful lights, showcasing brilliant martial techniques, beautiful and dazzling. The onlookers sipped tea while watching the matches, feeling thoroughly at ease.

However, the young heroes on the Profound List showed no intention of taking action. The initial matches were merely appetizers; the real highlights were yet to come.

After more than fifty matches, finally, a young hero could no longer contain his impatience and started challenging the Profound List geniuses.

Whoosh!

A young man in red robes leaped from his seat, landing directly at the center of the high platform.

"Bei Shengxiao from the Fire Domain, I challenge Yuan Shu!"

Bei Shengxiao stood proudly in the arena, provocatively addressing a young man in black on the Profound List seats.

Although Prince of a Hundred Swords and Thunder Spirit Prince’s words were accurate, that no one should overly concern themselves with personal gains and losses in this tea ceremony, most young heroes were here primarily for the honor of the Profound List and their personal fortune. They would fight wherever they could.

"You will regret your choice."

Yuan Shu, ranked fifty-fourth on the Profound List, was by no means a top-tier young hero, but he wasn’t weak either. A genius from Celestial Light Domain, he certainly was displeased to be the first Profound List young hero challenged.

Whoosh!

Standing a hundred meters away from Bei Shengxiao, Yuan Shu’s gaze suddenly turned frosty, locking onto Bei Shengxiao, ready to strike at any moment.

Boom!

However, just as he got in position, Bei Shengxiao suddenly made his move. A violent Fierce Palm transformed into a raging wind, directly attacking Yuan Shu.

Swish swish swish!

A bright light flashed in Yuan Shu’s hand, and sword lights instantly enveloped the space within ten meters around him.

"Seems like Bei Shengxiao is quite confident!"

Watching the rapid movements of the two, though fast, they still couldn’t escape Lei Wushuang’s eyes.

"He has the capability!"

Princess of Fire Huo Qingwu said faintly. Her gaze swept over to Chu Ming, who was watching the sparring matches.

"Is that Chu Ming?"

Thunder Spirit Prince Lei Wushuang narrowed his eyes, a flash of brilliance erupting from them. A formidable power surged within him, hidden yet potent.

"Should be!"

Huo Qingwu nodded slightly. At this moment, Yuan Shu and Bei Shengxiao in the arena had already exchanged hundreds of moves, spiritual power glistening, and gray shockwaves swirling violently in the air.

"Looks ordinary, definitely no threat to us."

Thunder Spirit Prince Lei Wushuang spoke calmly.

"We must not underestimate this tea ceremony; there might be unexpected turns."

Prince of a Hundred Swords sat composed on his seat, speaking plainly.

Bang!

In the arena, Yuan Shu was struck by Bei Shengxiao’s palm, flying backward with a flushed face, clearly suffering severe internal injuries.

"Damn it!"

Ha!

Yuan Shu roared, tightly grasping his long saber with both hands. He raised it above his head, spiritual power surging, transforming into a hundred-zhang long saber aura, tearing through the air towards Bei Shengxiao.

"Wave-Breaking Godslaying Slash!"

With this saber strike, it carried the momentum of slaying gods and Buddhas instantly, reaching Bei Shengxiao.

"Shock Flame Palm!"

Bei Shengxiao tapped his right foot on the ground, not retreating but advancing, his body turning into a wind. His garments fluttered, and his right hand, like a scorching iron, countered Yuan Shu’s saber aura with a palm strike.

Swish swish swish...

The saber aura instantly dissipated. The vacuum compressed, and the air swept outward like a wave.

Puff...

Yuan Shu was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood mid-air, his face pale.

"Yuan Shu, thank you for letting me win!"

Bei Shengxiao said lightly, stepping onto the spot that originally belonged to Yuan Shu, transforming into a flash of fiery red light.