Chapter 1052: Heroes Gather

"His Highness Prince An has arrived!"

Following the eunuch's announcement, the gazes of everyone in the Dao Discussion Arena turned toward the entrance.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A giant elephant advanced slowly, each step shaking the ground. Its massive form was imposing.

Astride the gray giant elephant, an old man with white hair and beard sat cross-legged, eyes closed in deep meditation, completely unperturbed by the commotion around him.

Prince An, the fifth prince of the Great Yu Royal Family, was enfeoffed with Jingtian and Yeshou Prefectures in the southeast. These lands were not prosperous, but they were vast and home to many alien races.

"The Elephant Camel Tribe, a powerful alien race from Yeshou Prefecture... Is this the candidate Prince An nominated for the grand competition? Letting an alien race participate in the Palace Grand Competition... Isn't that..."

"Imperial Great-grandfather never said that outsiders were forbidden from participating in this Palace Grand Competition. Prince An's move is perfectly within the rules."

The speakers were two very young members of the Royal Family. Their cultivation was the weakest among the competitors present, only at the early divine transformation realm.

Yet no one dared to underestimate them. These were the two Imperial Grandsons, both deeply favored by the Emperor of Great Yu, who had personally declared that they both possessed the potential to be enfeoffed as kings and had a strong chance of reaching the Body Integration Realm in the future.

Their future fiefs had even been selected: each would receive a county, adjacent to one another, both located in the prosperous and fertile heartland of the Great Yu Kingdom.

As the giant elephant reached the edge of the field, it shrank its body and extended its long trunk behind it to lift Prince An down.

"Haha, sorry to keep you all waiting. This Prince was delayed on the road, I hope you will understand." Prince An maintained an approachable demeanor, his smile exceptionally gentle and kind.

Behind him, the giant elephant slowly transformed into a humanoid form—an elephant-headed man, though its long trunk still trailed on the ground.

This was a member of the Elephant Camel Tribe at the late Void Refinement Realm, holding a high status within its clan and possessing an extraordinary bloodline. The fact that it had been recommended by Prince An spoke volumes of its exceptional nature.

"I never expected you, my Fifth Imperial Brother, to persuade a member of the Elephant Camel Tribe to come out of seclusion. It seems you are truly determined to obtain that Black Iron Small Shield," Prince Huai said with a light chuckle.

The elderly-faced Prince An remained unfazed. "From the great ancestor to our Imperial Father, our Great Yu Kingdom has always upheld the policy of equality and coexistence among all races. Why shouldn't I invite a fellow daoist from the Elephant Camel Tribe to join me?"

Aside from the human race, the Great Yu Kingdom was home to many alien races. Without a national policy championing such integration and equality, governing the realm would have been a nightmare.

"I have no objections, of course," a voice declared. "But I won't be surrendering the Black Iron Token so easily."

"Yan Huizhi, wouldn't you agree?"

As the words fell, an elegant young man with a scholarly air stepped forward from beside Prince Huai. He bowed deeply, his manners impeccable. "Your Highness, I am at your command. I shall do my utmost."

Initially, few had noticed the elegant young man named Yan Huizhi. But as he revealed himself, the crowd instinctively narrowed their eyes.

"A member of the Yan Family... How did we miss him before?"

"Heh, he must be a master of the Yan Family's Heaven and Earth Conjunction Classic. Once perfected, it makes one unconsciously ignore his presence."

"So it really is someone from the Yan Family of Jinghe Prefecture. To think Prince Huai would recommend him."

The Great Yu Kingdom, of course, had its own aristocratic families. Though not as powerful as the Royal Family, they held extraordinary status, having once helped the founding ancestor conquer the realm.

The Yan Family was one such clan, possessing an extraordinarily prominent status.

Seeing the Yan Family's representative so close to Prince Huai, many people exchanged meaningful glances.

Before long, the eunuchs' high-pitched announcements echoed through the field once more:

"His Highness Prince Liyang has arrived!"

"His Highness Prince Louheng has arrived!"

A prince and an imperial grandson!

Having heard the eunuch's intelligence yesterday, Li Qing turned his gaze toward the newcomers.

A young man in armor, riding a dark red unicorn, slowly entered the field. He exuded the aura of a seasoned warrior, clearly a veteran of many battles.

The young man wore jet-black profound armor, his features as sharp and defined as if carved from stone.

The moment Li Qing saw him, he was reminded of the cavalry unit he had encountered upon first arriving on the Azure Profound Continent.

The Thirteen Heavenly Cavalry Legions were a crucial military force within the entire imperial dynasty of the Great Yu Kingdom. Li Qing's expression grew grave.

This Prince Liyang is definitely no ordinary figure. He must be a general of the Thirteen Heavenly Cavalry Legions.

A prince who commanded military power, tempered by years of fighting and slaughter on the battlefield, was bound to be far from ordinary.

"No wonder the eunuch said yesterday that Prince Liyang is a strong contender," Li Qing muttered to himself. "He's truly not an ordinary man."

Upon entering the arena, Prince Liyang dismounted with a swift, fluid motion. He cupped his fists and bowed to the assembled princes. "Greetings, my royal brothers!"

Though he was senior to Prince Ning in rank, he was considerably younger. Yet, out of respect for Prince Ning's formidable cultivation, he still offered him a respectful cupped-fist salute.

With his arrival, twenty-six of the competitors for the Palace Grand Competition had now gathered. Only two were still missing.

Just as some of the princes were beginning to frown in impatience, wondering who was still absent, the sky suddenly changed color.

A shimmering red carpet unfurled across the heavens. At its far end, a magnificent Phoenix Carriage, drawn by two phoenixes, emerged from the clouds.

Seated upon the carriage was a woman of incomparable grace and poise. Her elegant figure was draped in a phoenix robe that shimmered in harmony with the dazzling phoenix coronet atop her head.

Behind this empress, the epitome of maternal virtue and imperial beauty, sat two young and beautiful women. One was lively and spirited, while the other was serene and refined, each possessing a distinct and captivating charm.

As the princes saw the figures on the Phoenix Carriage, they all bowed deeply in greeting.

"Greetings, empress mother."

"Greetings, empress."

"..."

The woman in the phoenix coronet offered a gentle smile, stroking the Phoenix Carriage as she said softly, "You may rise."

"Jianing, Jinhua, you two may disembark as well."

The two women behind her immediately stood up and stepped off the Phoenix Carriage. "As you command, empress mother!"

She was the current empress of the Great Yu Kingdom. No matter which prince or imperial grandson was present, even if their cultivation was immense and their status high, they all had to address her as "empress mother" at this moment.

The empress slowly withdrew a black iron shield about the size of a palm. The instant the shield appeared, many in the crowd felt their hearts tremble.

A Black Iron Token!

"I have heard of the Xuantian Divine Palace long ago, but I never expected you all to fight so vehemently over a mere small shield. It is truly unbecoming."