Chapter 1408: The Competition Begins

Inside the great hall.

Mingchen's gaze flickered incessantly.

If his guess was correct.

The reason the Empress had dealt him such a heavy hand was likely to deliberately make him harbor awe regarding the events in the Phantom Spirit Realm.

She wanted him to recall this brutal beating every single time he thought of the Phantom Spirit Realm.

Thereby giving rise to fear, causing him to subconsciously avoid asking about it.

The Empress truly had a clever scheme.

It was just a pity...

He had already learned the truth of the matter.

Moreover, the Empress seemed to have overlooked one thing.

He had been clever since childhood; very few people could deceive him.

When the Emperor passed away, though he was young, he still remembered the Emperor's greatness and brilliant talents to this day.

How could the Empress do such a thing?

And also...

That bastard wild man!

The Empress must have been deceived by him.

He must obtain that person's identity information, and then...

Tear him into ten thousand pieces!

"Your Highness the Prince, how did you end up in such a state?"

Just then, Wang Jianqiang spoke again, his face full of concern, "Did you suffer a sneak attack from a cultivator of some clan?"

"Damn it! ~"

"To dare to lay such a vicious hand on you, Your Highness the Prince, no matter who it is, I will definitely make them pay the price!"

By the time he finished speaking, a look of anger had already appeared on Wang Jianqiang's face.

His entire face was filled with righteous indignation.

Hearing Tianyu's voice, Mingchen snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Wang Jianqiang.

If it were normal times.

Hearing this, he might have felt embarrassed and ashamed, but at this moment, he no longer had the heart for that.

In his heart, there was only one thought.

That was to obtain the identity of that wild man!

"Who is that person?"

He suppressed the anger in his heart and stared fixedly at Wang Jianqiang.

Wang Jianqiang smiled, "Your Highness the Prince wants to know? Do me a favor, and after it is done, I will certainly tell Your Highness the Prince."

Mingchen frowned, "You actually dare to negotiate terms with this Prince?"

Wang Jianqiang looked at Mingchen in surprise, "Your Highness the Prince, this matter concerns the Imperial Lord; for a small cultivator of the Black Scale Lineage like me to participate in the Imperial Lord's affairs involves great risk."

"Asking you for a favor shouldn't be considered excessive, right?"

Mingchen's expression stalled, and after a moment of silence, he said, "What favor?"

Wang Jianqiang smiled, "Participate in the Saintess Position Competition of the Jade Clam Clan with me, join Biyan'er's team, and help Biyan'er win the position of Saintess."

"Once it is done, Tianyu will certainly tell you what Your Highness the Prince wants to know."

Mingchen frowned and sneered, "Tianyu, don't think this Prince doesn't know Biyan'er's situation. You are indeed very strong, and this Prince is also gifted, but with just the strength of the two of us, wanting to help Biyan'er ascend to the position of Saintess, the chances will definitely not exceed twenty percent."

"With such a great risk, do you think this Prince will agree?"

"Your Highness the Prince, do not be anxious."

Wang Jianqiang shook his head with a smile, "When did I say there were only the two of us?"

Mingchen's expression stirred.

After Wang Jianqiang smiled, he continued, "Besides the two of us, the Princess and Fairy Jiayue of the Sea Giant race will also participate in this Saintess Position Competition with us, and help Biyan'er together."

Mingchen was stunned upon hearing this.

Lianyin was one thing.

This Tianyu had always been close to Lianyin, and furthermore, Biyan'er had helped them in the Treasure Land before; that Lianyin could agree was entirely within expectations.

But what was going on with Jiayue?

Hadn't she been defeated by Tianyu before?

Shouldn't she hate Tianyu?

How could she agree to help Biyan'er?

After coming to his senses, a trace of suspicion could not help but flash across his face, "Is what you said true?"

Wang Jianqiang nodded with a smile, "Naturally it is true, I, Tianyu, can swear by my Dao Heart."

Hearing this, the suspicion in Mingchen's heart immediately dissipated.

It was just that his heart was still filled with doubts, "Was Jiayue persuaded by Biyan'er?"

Wang Jianqiang smiled and did not explain, "Since Your Highness the Prince has already agreed, then it is settled."

"When the Saintess Position Competition begins, I will notify Your Highness the Prince where to gather."

Mingchen nodded.

He put on a bamboo hat and left, twisting his obese body with difficulty.

Time passed slowly.

Just three days before the start of the Saintess Position Competition, Jiayue arrived at Wang Jianqiang's residence, bringing a piece of news.

Lie Kong had already arrived at the Jade Clam Clan and had agreed to help Biyan'er compete for the position of Saintess.

Upon hearing Jiayue's words, Wang Jianqiang frowned, "Lie Kong's brother, Liehai, died at the hands of Lianyin; would Lie Kong be willing to cooperate with Lianyin?"

"Could he be planning to feign compliance while secretly causing trouble?"

Jiayue shook her head, "He wouldn't; he wouldn't dare even if he had ten times the courage."

"Oh?"

Wang Jianqiang raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

Jiayue nodded and said calmly, "If he dares to play tricks with the task I gave him, his entire lineage will be punished for it; he wouldn't dare."

Hearing this, Wang Jianqiang clicked his tongue in astonishment.

The more time he spent with her, the more he realized how high Jiayue's status was within the Sea Giant race.

It was simply absurdly high!

Could this Sea Giant race be placing too much importance on the geniuses within their clan?

Wang Jianqiang stared at Jiayue, his eyes flickering, "Jiayue, tell me honestly, are you really not the illegitimate daughter of the Sea Giant Clan Leader?"

Hearing this, Jiayue rolled her eyes at Wang Jianqiang, "Brother Qiang, what nonsense are you spouting? Of course I'm not."

Wang Jianqiang chuckled, leaped up, and wrapped his arms around Jiayue's slender neck.

"There is still some time before the Saintess Position Competition begins."

"Let's warm up first."

……

Three days later.

The Jade Clam Clan's Saintess Position Competition began.

Within the Jade Clam Clan, numerous guests gathered toward a vast Square and sat surrounding it.

In the center of the Square stood ten crystal Stone Steles.

At this moment, each of the ten crystal Stone Steles was displaying a scene.

The scenes reflected ten different areas of an unfamiliar space.

At this moment.

All ten scenes were empty.

When all the guests had arrived.

Above the center of the Square, a flash of Spirit Light appeared.

The Jade Clam Clan Chief, Bei Lingyun, flashed into view, smiling as she looked around.

"It is a great honor for our Jade Clam Clan that you Daoist Friends could spare time from your busy schedules to come and observe the ceremony..."

……

Just as Bei Lingyun, acting as the host, was exchanging pleasantries with the many guests.

Wang Jianqiang had already received a message from Biyan'er.

He released Jiayue's waist and leaped down.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"The Saintess Position Competition is about to begin."