Chapter 732: Gathering of Heavenly Prodigies

One month later!

"Since this is the Gathering of Heavenly Prodigies, the higher-ups have decreed that each prodigy may bring only one person inside!"

In the temporary Dao hall palace of the Zhu Que Imperial Domain, Nan Qiqi looked at the nine Heavenly Prodigies before her and said slowly: "Ladies and gentlemen, therefore, please have your extra personnel rest here for now!"

"There will be team leaders personally overseeing this—there will be no safety issues!"

He Pingsheng glanced at the people beside him.

Ting Tong, He Tianya, Su Zhenzhen, Zhou Qingmei, Zi Qing.

Only one person allowed inside?

Who should I take?

"Mother, I believe you should accompany Father inside," He Tianya declared for his father without hesitation.

He Pingsheng had nothing more to say, and was about to reluctantly accept it—when Su Zhenzhen shook her head and said: "I won't go. You know I dislike being in the spotlight. And in such an important setting, what if something unexpected happens?"

"So I think it's better to let the two He Ti body-integration sisters go in—then we'll be better prepared if anything goes wrong."

Su Zhenzhen's gaze turned sincerely toward Zhou Qingmei and Zi Qing.

Zi Qing said: "I don't want to go either, He Pingsheng—take your servant inside with you!"

He Pingsheng nodded: "Fine."

In the end, Zhou Qingmei followed He Pingsheng out of the temporary Dao hall.

Nan Qiqi led the group personally, and the ten of them headed toward the very center of Shitai City.

They had been here for nearly a month, and only two days remained before the official start of the Shitai Gathering; thus, before the event began, the authorities held a pre-competition gathering of the Heavenly Prodigies.

To bring together the prodigies from all major imperial domains so they could get to know one another.

They were also to pay respects to the great emperors who had arrived here.

On one hand, the prodigies would meet each other; on the other, the elder masters wished to see these new young talents.

Thus, the gathering was organized.

At the very center of Shitai City lay a vast palace complex.

Within this vast palace complex stood one particularly enormous hall.

At the hall's entrance, four official officials clad in black Dao robes stood in two rows, smiling as they welcomed the arriving prodigies.

One by one, the prodigies entered the great hall.

He Pingsheng was no exception—he followed Nan Qiqi inside.

Nan Qiqi reminded them all: "Fellow cultivators, I ask you all to be discreet once inside. You all know the situation in our Zhu Que Imperial Domain—our grandfather has just ascended, and we have no powerful backing left!"

"It's better to be humble."

"Mm," Nan Qing said: "Once inside, we'll just sit in the corner."

He Pingsheng internally chuckled: Discreet? Sit in the corner?

Will you not show yourself during the actual competition?

Ridiculous!

As they spoke, He Pingsheng and Zhou Qingmei entered the massive hall.

Inside, it felt as if they had stepped into a miniature world.

Thousands of seats were arranged across the vast floor, yet the space did not feel crowded.

The key point was, Nan Qiqi could no longer afford to be discreet—the seating had already been assigned. Each imperial domain's position was predetermined; simply sitting in a corner wouldn't work.

The Zhu Que clan, as one of the Nine Heavenly Clans of Tianhuo Continent, was naturally seated at the very front.

Alongside the Kong Que, Jin Gang, and Tian Hu clans.

Many were already seated.

He Pingsheng's gaze swept over the dense rows of tables and chairs, then turned to the front, where dozens of jade lotus thrones stood.

But all the lotus thrones were empty.

He knew these were reserved for the great emperors of each imperial domain.

Once everyone arrived, the emperors would appear.

"The Zhu Que Clan's Heavenly Prodigies have arrived—please take your seats!"

A voice rang out.

He Pingsheng and Nan Qiqi and the others were startled.

Good heavens—there's someone here just to announce arrivals?

Swish…

All eyes in the hall turned toward them.

By now, many other clans' prodigies had already entered; seeing the Zhu Que Clan, they naturally took extra notice.

After all, Zhu Que was one of the Nine Heavenly Clans, and their old patriarch had only just ascended.

Countless gazes fell upon them—and Nan Qiqi, walking at the front, lowered her head nervously.

He Pingsheng remained expressionless; his spiritual sense surged outward, sweeping across the hall.

All kinds of races were present!

But he saw none of the Nine Heavenly Clans' prodigies.

Because, except for the current Zhu Que Clan, the others from the Nine Heavenly Clans had not yet arrived.

"It seems the Zhu Que Clan has truly declined!"

"Indeed—it's nothing but a ragtag army!"

"Only two true Zhu Que among them; the rest of the prodigies aren't even Zhu Que!"

"Bai Hu? Tian Hu?"

"No way—what the hell? I just saw a human?"

"Tsk tsk tsk… Has the Zhu Que Imperial Domain run out of people? They're sending a human to hold up their face?"

"Can a weak race like humans even appear at the Shitai Gathering?"

"That's not entirely true!" someone immediately countered: "Actually, there is one… As far as I know, there's a human name on the Shitai Heavenly Stair!"

"That's the Youming Emperor, right?"

A chorus of sharp, mocking whispers spread through the crowd.

Most of them were aimed at He Pingsheng.

It was simple—he was human.

Humans were considered a weak race across the entire Tianhuo Continent.

But that wasn't entirely accurate—humans were actually quite strong.

In the Spirit Realm, there were tens of thousands of races, and humans ranked among the top hundred—though they were at the very bottom of that top hundred.

It was said that human presence at past Shitai Gatherings was extremely rare.

Hence He Pingsheng's appearance caused such an uproar.

"He Dao you, don't mind what they're saying," Nan Qiqi turned to comfort He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng merely smiled, saying nothing.

But Zhou Qingmei, beside him, wore a cold expression, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Full of killing intent!

She was human too.

Everyone found their seats and sat down.

Zhou Qingmei sat beside He Pingsheng.

Wait.

Once everyone arrived, the Gathering of Heavenly Prodigies would begin.

"I wonder if fighting's allowed at this Gathering—if it is, I'll beat up those bastards later!"

Zhou Qingmei was fuming.

What could she do?

She was He Pingsheng's slave; hearing others insult him, she naturally grew angry.

It was the Heavenly Slave Law at work.

"No," He Pingsheng shook his head: "What are you thinking? Even if fighting were allowed, you wouldn't be allowed to fight—you're already Body Integration!"