Chapter 161: A Big Wave of Face-Slappers Enters the Arena

After giving two cigarettes to General Li and settling everything, Xu Que stepped into this long-lost Imperial Palace once again.

This was his first time entering the Imperial Palace since his transmigration and rebirth, but he had familiar impressions of many places in his memory.

The trial grounds were set up on the vast platform outside the Golden Bell Hall. It looked like a giant formation had been set up to shroud that open space, isolating it from the Imperial Palace's buildings.

The platform was very vast, at least as large as six or seven football fields, with dozens of martial arts stages set up in the middle, each with an Imperial Guard standing beside it.

But in the center of those dozens of martial arts stages, there was a giant teleportation array, surrounded by ten Nascent Soul Stage Imperial Guards, making it impossible to guess what its purpose was.

"Setting up a teleportation array, could it be that we have to go to other places to fight later?" Xu Que frowned and muttered to himself.

A scholar happened to pass by Xu Que and heard him muttering, so he couldn't help but smile: "Brother, don't you know what the trial will be later? The Imperial Notice yesterday already said that besides the literary test, there is also a martial test today!"

"Oh? Then what trial does this teleportation array belong to?" Xu Que asked curiously.

The scholar replied enthusiastically: "Naturally, it belongs to the martial test! Nowadays, our Fire Yuan Kingdom is plagued by demon beasts, and countless commoners have been harmed. Therefore, this martial test is to send us to major desolate forests to slay demon beasts!"

"Just that simple?" Xu Que was stunned.

The scholar was immediately ashamed: "Brother, this is not simple at all. Demon beasts are born with physical advantages over our human race and are almost invincible at the same level. Moreover, this martial test is about who hunts more Golden Core Stage demon beasts. The situation is very difficult!"

Xu Que was delighted after hearing this. Comparing who kills more—how interesting!

Just slaying demon beasts, isn't that simple? It's completely so-easy!

"Brother, you must not take it lightly. If you encounter danger in the desolate forest, I'm afraid no one can save you. However... it's not easy to enter that martial test. Look, there's still a literary test waiting for us." The scholar pointed to the trial grounds and smiled bitterly.

Xu Que looked at the dozens of martial arts stages and raised his eyebrows: "Why set up these martial arts stages for a literary test?"

"Of course, it's for us to spar with each other. Because this literary test compares basic martial arts. This formation can seal the True Essence power in our bodies, so we must rely solely on physical strength to spar."

"The literary test is actually comparing martial arts? I thought it was about composing poems and couplets!"

"Composing poems and couplets is also included, of course, but you have to pass the martial arts test first before you can compete in poetry!"

"So that's it! Many thanks for the guidance, brother!"

Xu Que cupped his hands in thanks.

The scholar also cupped his hands and walked away.

Xu Que's gaze also swept toward the trial grounds, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. Comparing martial arts? Comparing poetry and songs?

Hehe, this is too simple!

At the same time, there were more and more people around the trial grounds. Many cultivators who had lined up early to enter, as well as those who came through the back door like Xu Que, gathered outside the trial grounds waiting.

Suddenly, bursts of exclamations arose from not far away, followed by a commotion in the crowd outside the palace, very noisy, making it impossible to hear what they were shouting!

Xu Que turned his head to look and saw the palace gates wide open, and several teams walked in under the protection of Imperial Guards.

"Look quickly, the disciples of the Three Great Sects of the Five Kingdoms have arrived!" Beside the trial grounds, a scholar said in surprise.

"I heard early on that the Three Great Sects of the Five Kingdoms would have disciples participating in the marriage recruitment, but I didn't expect so many to come."

"Sure enough, every one of them has an extraordinary appearance, and their strength is so powerful!"

"The team in the lead is the Langjian Sect. That white-clothed swordsman standing in the front must be the legendary son of the Sword God, Ye Zhangfeng!"

"Correct, it is said that he has a Red Cloud Shadowless Sword, which was personally passed down to him by the Langjian Sect Master. It kills without a shadow or trace!"

"His cultivation is also not to be underestimated. At such a young age, he has already reached the third layer of the Nascent Soul Stage!"

Everyone discussed spiritedly, their gazes all falling on a white-clothed swordsman!

Xu Que listened to the comments and also swept a glance over, thinking to himself, *Damn it, another big wave of face-slappers has arrived. Daring to act cool in front of this Face-Slapper? You guys aren't qualified yet! *

Look at them one by one, what Three Great Sects of the Five Kingdoms! Making it seem like you're all guaranteed admission, but in the end, don't you still have to compete on the stage?

Xu Que especially couldn't stand others acting cool in front of him. Isn't this just showing off in front of an expert? That so-called son of the Sword God, do you have the guts not to use your father's name to roam the world?

Walking with a wiggle, dressing all in white, do you really think you're the protagonist? This low-level acting cool, this Face-Slapper has long since grown tired of playing it, okay?

Muttering in his heart, Xu Que naturally wouldn't take that so-called son of the Sword God seriously. A mere third layer of the Nascent Soul Stage—he could slap him to death with one hand.

Besides the Langjian Sect, disciples from the Heavenly Fragrance Valley and the Wendao Sect also came. The disciples of these Three Great Sects all looked heroic and extraordinary, possessing a unique temperament.

When they entered the arena, they all held their heads high, naturally enjoying the envious and awe-filled gazes of other cultivators and scholars.

But in Xu Que's eyes, these were all a bunch of low-class face-slappers. What he really cared about was the Heavenly Fragrance Valley side!

Recalling that he had once caused a huge scene at the Heavenly Fragrance Valley trial point, and later met a woman as still as water at the Spirit Domain Tower, it was a pity he hadn't managed to flirt with her before he pinched a Divine Movement Escape Talisman and ran away.

Now that he saw the Heavenly Fragrance Valley disciples had arrived, Xu Que naturally took a few more looks.

But he was very disappointed. Besides the dozen or so disciples, the Heavenly Fragrance Valley only had an elderly man at the Infant Transformation Stage leading the team, and they were all unfamiliar faces. Clearly, they were not the people he had met at the trial point last time!

"Sigh, is it destined that we have no fate?" Xu Que shook his head and sighed.

Before long, the people entering the palace had piled up. Disciples of major sects, including students from large academies, were all arranged in designated areas, provided with seats and tea.

Only those like Xu Que who came alone and had no status or position could only find a place to stand and wait!

At this time, a eunuch walked out from the Golden Bell Hall.

Holding an Imperial Edict, majestic and imposing, he stood on the high steps, pulled his sharp voice, and shouted loudly: "The Imperial Edict has arrived!"

Instantly, everyone in the arena stopped talking, their gazes converging toward the Golden Bell Hall on the steps.

The eunuch opened the Imperial Edict and read in a sharp voice: "By the grace of Heaven, the Fire Emperor decrees: There are countless heaven-gifted geniuses in the world, but only those who are both literary and martial can become the Prince Consort of our Fire Yuan Kingdom..."

After a simple opening, the eunuch took back the Imperial Edict, scanned the crowd, and said sharply: "The first round of competition, begins now!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Drums sounded inside and outside the Imperial Palace, deafening and making one's blood boil!

Everyone present also straightened their bodies, eager to try.

"The first round is a literary test. As long as we pass the martial arts test, it will be advantageous for us!" a scholar said with some excitement.

"When it comes to poetry and songs, those sect disciples or scattered cultivators will probably fall in large numbers!"

"The Fire Emperor is ultimately biased toward us scholars. The first round compares martial arts first, just to avoid casualties and fierce fighting, and finally eliminates some cultivators who only know how to fight and kill through poetry and songs, allowing us scholars to pass smoothly!"

"However, the truly difficult part is the second round, which requires slaying demon beasts. That can only rely on ourselves."

Several literary cultivators discussed in low voices, but their faces were full of confidence.

"Boom!"

Just at this moment, the trial grounds emitted a muffled sound, the formation barrier flickered slightly, and nine entrances were opened, shining with brilliance, leading to eighty-one martial arts stages respectively! ===== CHAPTER 162 =====