I manage female characters in all the heavens.

"thump--"

Some people couldn't withstand the oppressive feeling; their legs buckled, and they knelt down, their foreheads pressed against the cold bluestone floor, their voices trembling as they cried out:

"The Great Sun Immortal Venerable... possesses boundless magical power... has vast supernatural abilities... and reigns supreme over the Central Plains..."

Nowadays, no one dares to call "Li Mochou" "Little Fairy" anymore, even though "Little Fairy" was a name that "Li Mochou" herself chose.

"Your Excellency, I bow to you!"

"May the Immortal Venerable reign for eternity, and unite all living beings!"

More and more people knelt down, like wheat fields blown down by the wind, prostrating themselves on the ground one after another, shouting various words of praise.

Those who did not kneel down all had weak legs, pale faces, and fine beads of cold sweat on their foreheads.

Some of them collapsed to the ground, their eyes glazed over, muttering to themselves, "This is... the Great Sun Immortal... This is a god... This is an immortal..."

There were also people who, full of ambition, climbed Mount Hua, ready to show off their skills in the sword competition and make a name for themselves.

When they actually stood there and felt that magnificence beyond comprehension, their fighting spirit instantly collapsed, leaving only a deathly silence of despair.

Those who knelt, those who sat slumped, and those who muttered to themselves were all still hesitating.

Those who were utterly desperate had already silently turned around, lowered their heads, and left the summit of Mount Hua step by step.

Their backs were desolate, as if they had lost all strength and were just moving their feet mechanically.

"With the Celestial Venerable here, what's the point of discussing this sword?"

"Go home and farm..."

"Number one in the world? Hah... The Immortal Venerable is already in heaven!"

More and more people are choosing to leave.

The once bustling crowd dispersed within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The original number of people, numbering in the thousands, has dwindled to less than a thousand.

Those who remained took their seats in the stands, guided by disciples of the Great Sun Immortal Sect.

They dared not speak loudly, and even deliberately kept their breathing soft, for fear of disturbing or alarming the high and mighty immortal.

For a moment, the once bustling summit of Mount Hua became unusually quiet.

Only the sound of the wind.

And within that magnificent golden palace, there was a faint, elusive aura.

Time passed slowly in silence.

The sun gradually rose higher, rising from the eastern mountain peaks and hanging in the center of the sky.

The light intensified, and the sunlight spilled onto the summit of Mount Hua, making the magnificent golden palace even more dazzling.

It was noon.

The sun blazed overhead, its light dazzling.

Just then—

Several figures appeared on the distant horizon.

They moved with incredible speed, streaking through the air like streaks of light, and in the blink of an eye, they were already above the summit of Mount Hua, without ever needing to use any force along the way.

The sheer skill and agility of this technique left everyone present speechless.

"They're here! They're the eight top experts under the Immortal Venerable!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, their eyes fixed on those figures.

Seven figures, like seven great roc birds, swept across the sky.

Their movements were graceful and elegant, their robes fluttering as they deftly turned in mid-air and landed steadily in the center of the arena. Each leap covered a distance of twenty or thirty zhang (approximately 33-60 meters), as if they were immortals descending to earth, moving with effortless grace.

It was Lin Yunshuang, Ma Xiaotian, Wu Santong, Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Mu Nianci, and Yang Tiexin.

Lin Yunshuang was still dressed in a simple white robe, her face was aloof and she was as ethereal as a fairy, as if she had stepped out of a painting. Her temperament was exactly the same as that of the Immortal Venerable. She was indeed worthy of being called Immortal Lin.

She landed in the center of the ring, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings, cold as ice, showing none of the old woman's kindness.

Ma Xiaotian wore a dark blue robe. His face was no longer old; he had white hair and a youthful face, was vigorous, and his eyes gleamed.

Wu Santong, on the other hand, was clad in heavy black iron armor, with a broad back and a thick waist. He carried a heavy broadsword on his back, and his imposing aura was as solid as a mountain. Every step he took caused the ground to tremble slightly.

Guo Jing wore a suit of gleaming armor, which was more symbolic than practical, with a long sword hanging at his waist. He exuded a gentle yet resolute aura.

Although he didn't deliberately exude an aura, his calm and steady demeanor made people feel at ease.

Huang Rong wore a pale yellow dress, with a soft sword hanging at her waist. She had a delicate face and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She landed in the center of the ring, turned around and waved to the audience in the stands with a smile.

Mu Nianci was dressed in red, like a burning flame. Her face was more mature than before, less naive and more heroic. A long sword hung at her waist, and she held it firmly in her hand.

Yang Tiexin was dressed in simple, close-fitting clothes, holding a dark iron spear. The spear stood firmly in his hand, exuding an aura of iron and blood.

After landing, the seven people did not linger at all. They immediately used their lightness skills and, with a sway of their bodies, flew up like roc birds and landed in the eight specially prepared positions on both sides of the palace.

The eight seats were arranged in a row on both sides of the throne, neither too high nor too low, just half a step above the throne. They were clearly reserved for the most outstanding experts under the Immortal Venerable.

The seven people took their seats, their gazes calmly overlooking the arena below.

But how can seven people occupy eight positions? Does that mean there are actually only seven of the eight masters?

And at that very moment—

A red shadow streaked across the sky.

The red figure was incredibly fast, like a red lightning bolt, arriving in an instant from the distant horizon.

With a hissing sound, the red figure shot towards the palace like an arrow, then made a nimble turn in mid-air and landed steadily in the fourth seat to the right of the throne.

It was a snake.

Its entire body is bright red, and its scales are as clear as jade, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight. It does not give people any sense of coldness or terror, but rather a warm, beautiful, and extremely lively feeling.

Its body is as thick as a bowl and more than ten feet long. It sits on the seat like a red sculpture.

Its eyes, like two red gems, shimmered with a lively luster, and its tongue flickered in and out gently, emitting a soft hissing sound.

It is none other than the first spirit beast under the Great Sun Immortal Venerable, the guardian beast of the Great Song Empire—Lord Little Red!

Little Red perched on its seat, head held high, its large eyes sweeping disdainfully over the stands below. It flicked its tongue, seemingly announcing its presence to everyone.

After a period of offerings and worship, Little Red Snake's appearance changed completely. It had big, bright eyes that were very cute, and it would roll around and act adorable. Sometimes, even the Immortal Venerable couldn't resist playing with it a couple of times.

At this point, all eight seats on either side of the throne were occupied.

Eight masters guarded the Immortal Venerable, their lofty auras intertwined.

The Immortal Venerable's already boundless aura seemed even more majestic and unapproachable in comparison to them.

The audience in the stands below felt an even heavier sense of oppression, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on their chests, making it almost impossible to breathe.

"Eight masters... Any one of these eight masters could dominate the world!" someone exclaimed in a low voice.

"Look at Guo Jing, I heard he single-handedly broke through the Mongol camp and captured Genghis Khan alive!"

"That Huang Rong is no simple character either. She is a master strategist who can win battles from afar. Half the credit for the great victory of the Northern Expedition can be attributed to her planning!"

"And there's that Old Immortal Lin, the head of the Ancient Tomb Sect. I heard he's the master of the Immortal Venerable, and his martial arts are unfathomable."

"That snake... that's the number one spirit beast under the Immortal Venerable's command. I heard it's already sentient, can understand human speech, and can devour hundreds of people in one bite!"

"Tsk tsk, the Immortal Venerable's forces are truly a veritable sea of ​​experts..." Or rather, a chaotic dance of demons.

The audience whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with awe and envy.

Just then, three more figures swept in from different directions.

"Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, has arrived!"

"Hong Qigong, the Beggar from the North!"

"And there's also Zhongshentong's junior brother!"

Zhou Botong couldn't help but exclaim, "Old Urchin, my name is Zhou Botong, not the junior brother of the Central Divine!"

The three arrived at the summit of Mount Hua almost simultaneously.

Huang Yaoshi was still dressed in a blue robe, with a thin face and a calm expression, as if he was indifferent to everything.

Hong Qigong was dressed in tattered beggar's clothes, carrying a wine gourd in his hand. He looked disheveled, but his eyes were bright and piercing, as if they contained flames.

Zhou Botong, on the other hand, had a playful and mischievous look on his face, like a rascal, as he hopped and skipped onto the arena.

Chapter 145: The Sword Debate is Not About Human Relationships, It's About Fighting and Killing.

The three landed on the arena and exchanged glances.

"Haha, the old poisoner hasn't arrived yet?" Hong Qigong laughed, patting his belly. "I don't think he'd dare to come!"

Everyone in the world knows that Ouyang Feng offended the Immortal Venerable, so it's normal that he doesn't dare to come.

"Although Ouyang Feng is ruthless, he is devout in his pursuit of martial arts. How could he miss this grand event?" Huang Yaoshi said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

"Whether they come or not, I, the Old Urchin, am going to stretch my muscles today!" Zhou Botong rubbed his hands together, looking expectant. "I heard that quite a few experts have come this time. Perfect, they can fight me!"

As the three chatted and laughed, they did not linger on the arena. Instead, they used their lightness skills to leap into the air and land on the platform in front of the palace.

Huang Yaoshi landed on the left side of the platform, Hong Qigong landed on the right side, and Zhou Botong sat down on the steps with his legs crossed, looking completely unconcerned.

The three looked at the white-clad figure on the throne, clasped their hands slightly in greeting.

Although they didn't sit in those eight seats directly, they were gathered around the Immortal Venerable, clearly indicating that they had already joined his camp.

In the stands below, some people's expressions turned rather grim.

"Even the Eastern Heretic and the Northern Beggar have become the Immortal Venerable's people?"

"Is this Mount Hua Sword Tournament really about fighting swords, or is it about watching the Immortal Venerable 'ascend the throne'?"

"Sigh, even the Five Greats are so obedient, is there any need to discuss swordsmanship?"

Immediately, the audience was abuzz with discussion, and many felt a complex mix of emotions that were hard to define.