Chapter 952: The Youth of This Time, Unknown to All
The young man in the bamboo hat said, "Does the Heavenly Selection require one to declare their origins and background?"
His voice was very flat, without any rise or fall, like water—and moreover, still, waveless water. But if a truly profound and lofty figure were present, they might discern that this was not water, but rather ice, which could not be so without enduring millennia of frost and cold.
The distant onlookers erupted in an uproar, never expecting this person's reaction to be so cold and stubborn.
The Heavenly Selection Ceremony was named the Heavenly Selection, yet from its rules, it was clear that what was truly valued was self-reliance. Whether under the protection of ancestral spirits or through self-strengthened victory, there was no need to consider identity or background. Throughout all the Heavenly Selection Ceremonies since ancient times, this point had never required explanation.
That elder council member was momentarily at a loss for words, glaring at the young man in the bamboo hat and saying angrily, "I hope you can keep that hat on your head all day today."
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...
The morning light grew increasingly bright. Though it was deep winter, there was a natural warmth.
The red sun in the distant mountains rose higher and higher, and the damp mist shrouding both banks of the Red River had completely dissipated. The scenery was clear and beautiful, a sight too lovely to behold.
The duels on the platforms within White Emperor City were also in full swing, with countless thrilling and dangerous battle scenes unfolding continuously.
In the streets and alleys, on the stone walls, beside the grassy meadows, and before the imperial palace, the rough and hearty cheers of the demon race's common folk rang out endlessly, punctuated by occasional gasps of surprise.
Many renowned young demon race experts defeated their opponents, yet there were also many upsets.
Some figures selected from small tribes in remote mountain ranges displayed unexpected levels of cultivation and strength.
The platforms near the imperial palace and the Heavenly Watchtower were naturally the center of everyone's attention, relatively quieter, with more focused gazes.
As the Heavenly Selection Ceremony progressed, the vast majority of eyes fell upon three platforms.
On those three platforms stood three individuals.
Little De, the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent, and a young man wearing a bamboo hat.
As the strongest among the demon race's middle generation and the nephew of the Empress, Little De and the Second Prince of the Great Western Continent were naturally the focus of attention. But now, more gazes—especially those of the great figures on the imperial city viewing terrace—fell upon the young man in the bamboo hat.
That young man in the bamboo hat was too mysterious.
Up until now, aside from a name on the registration form of unknown authenticity, no one knew his identity or background. That young man seemed to possess some kind of magic; none of his opponents even had a chance to make a move. As soon as they stepped onto the platform, they would collapse strangely and fall unconscious.
By now, this young man had won four consecutive matches. Yet neither the Carp Clan referee responsible for judging victory and defeat, nor the elder council members tasked with supervision, nor even the demon court general Chong Xinghe, who had specially come to inspect during the third match, could discern what technique he was using.
Who was he, and which tribe did he come from?
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...
When the vast majority of gazes were focused on the imperial city and the Heavenly Watchtower, and when the few great figures who knew the inside story looked at the young man in the bamboo hat with complex emotions, something also happened on a remote platform. However, at that time, it did not attract any attention from the demon race's common folk.
This platform was located in Song Town, a slum area of White Emperor City, very remote and too close to the riverbank. The fish spirits frolicked joyfully in the Red River, churning up countless foul odors from the silt at the river's bottom, which drifted to the shore with the wind, making anyone who smelled it want to vomit. What expert would be willing to come here?
Earlier in the morning, just after the war drums had sounded in the upper city and gradually reached Song Town, the thin layer of yellow sand spread on the platform, hastily built overnight from stone blocks, began to tremble slightly. But aside from the Carp Clan referee, two supervisors, and the relevant clerks, no other figures could be seen.
Although the Heavenly Selection Ceremony was a celebration for all, life still had to go on. The lower-class common folk living in Song Town still had to work, or else they would go hungry at night. Compared to hunger, platform duels, though interesting, had to be set aside for later.
Before working, of course, the first priority was to fill their stomachs. Crude stone stoves began to emit cooking smoke. In the already blackened oil pots that had been used for who knows how many days, various types of dough began to swell and then painfully bubble. The demon race common folk, who hadn't even washed their faces, yawned and lined up.
Xuan Yuan Po hadn't slept much the night before and had woken up relatively early, so he had bought breakfast before the crowd.
In the courtyard deep within the alley, there was a faint mist rising from the kettle on the stove.
Behind the paper door of the room, there was also a faint mist, the sacred aroma of steaming white flour buns and meat-filled baozi from the torn paper bag.
Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi ate the buns.
Xuan Yuan Po ate the meat baozi. That baozi was not much smaller than his face. After he took a bite, the fragrance and meat juice flowed out together.
Wuqiong Bi's face was very ugly. She looked at him and said, "Why do you get to eat baozi while we have to eat plain buns?"
Xuan Yuan Po simply ignored her, continuing to eat his baozi, occasionally sucking the meat juice that dripped onto his fingers, looking extremely delicious.
Wuqiong Bi's face grew even uglier, and her voice turned sharp as she said, "Are you eating this just to show off to us! Get out!"
Xuan Yuan Po still ignored her.
After a night of regulating his breath, Bie Yanghong's spirits had improved slightly, but the look of death in his eyes still could not be dispelled.
He looked at Xuan Yuan Po and asked, "What filling is in that baozi?"
"Beef and green onion," Xuan Yuan Po replied indistinctly.
Bie Yanghong sighed and said, "It smells really good."
Only then did Xuan Yuan Po realize, quickly swallowing the food in his mouth and earnestly explaining, "Sir, I'm not trying to tempt you on purpose, but the Dean said that after an injury, you shouldn't eat anything too greasy. Just drink the porridge in your bowl; it's fine to skip the buns."
The Dean he referred to was, of course, Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng placed great emphasis on health preservation, and naturally, the people of the National Academy, including Xuan Yuan Po, were deeply influenced by him.
Bie Yanghong smiled.
Wuqiong Bi said viciously, "Just eat your baozi! Hope you choke to death!"
Xuan Yuan Po didn't bother with her and continued explaining to Bie Yanghong, "I'm going to expend a lot of energy today, so I need to eat my fill."
Although Bie Yanghong was severely injured, his spiritual sense remained sharp. He could clearly hear the war drums from outside the courtyard and the discussions in the streets. Hearing Xuan Yuan Po's words and recalling what he had said the night before about having things to do in the next couple of days, he vaguely understood and asked, "Are you going to participate in the Heavenly Selection Ceremony?"
Wuqiong Bi had a difficult temperament but was extremely knowledgeable. She knew what the Heavenly Selection Ceremony meant to the demon race. She was momentarily stunned, then a mocking smile appeared on her face as she sneered at Xuan Yuan Po, "With a stupid bear like you, you actually dare to dream of marrying the White Emperor's daughter?"
Even with Xuan Yuan Po's good temper, he couldn't hold back anymore. He said in a muffled voice, "What do you know?"
Wuqiong Bi's gaze fell on his visibly atrophied and weak right arm, and she sneered, "All I know is that you're a waste."
Bie Yanghong also noticed the abnormality in Xuan Yuan Po's right arm, but his reaction was different from Wuqiong Bi's. His expression slightly changed as he asked, "Did you cultivate the Heavenly Thunder Guide?"