Chapter 141: A Mere Buffoon

She turned her gaze toward the distant viewing platform, focusing on Young Master Chen, who sat there quietly, and attempted to sense his aura.

Nothing. Not a shred of cultivation!

He was clearly nothing more than an ordinary young man.

Murong Lan grew even more perplexed. How could Donggong Qianxue possibly forfeit her candidacy for the Holy Emperor just for the sake of an ordinary man? What was so extraordinary about this Young Master Chen? Could it be merely because he was handsome?

"Very well, this final assessment concludes here," the Ancient Emperor announced.

"Do not rush to leave just yet, everyone. I have a major announcement to make."

At that moment, Gu Shaobai stood up, a pleasant, faint smile gracing his handsome, feminine features.

A major announcement?

Those who were about to leave sat back down, their faces filled with curiosity. Chen Changsheng and his companions also showed keen interest.

"That wretch—what grand announcement could he possibly have?" Tantai Wushuang frowned slightly, casting a glance at Gu Shaobai from afar with a look of disdain.

"Ahem!"

Gu Shaobai cleared his throat and said with a light, cheerful smile, "What I am about to tell you today is a heaven-shattering secret of the Holy Domain."

A heaven-shattering secret?

The curiosity of everyone present intensified, and they all stared at Gu Shaobai with burning eyes.

"That's right!" Satisfied with their reaction, Gu Shaobai continued with a faint smile, "Do you know that in the distant past, the Divine Phoenix Clan existed in this Holy Domain?"

"The Divine Phoenix Clan?"

The crowd murmured, casting strange glances at Donggong Qianxue, who possessed the powerful bloodline of the Divine Phoenix within her. In an instant, they realized that her bloodline must have originated from this very domain.

Gu Shaobai continued, "Do you know why the Divine Phoenix Clan has vanished from the Holy Domain now?"

Chen Changsheng merely offered a faint smile. He and the Blood Demon Ancestor had already deduced this long ago; it was hardly a "heaven-shattering secret."

"Why?" someone shouted.

Everyone in the arena was dying to know.

"A good question!" Gu Shaobai nodded with a smile. "Because the progenitor of the Divine Phoenix Clan comprehended the Way of Heaven. They then led the entire clan through that path into an immensely superior world of immortals and gods. Surprised? Shocked?"

The entire martial arena erupted instantly.

The crowd was stunned to the core, their hearts roiling like a stormy sea. It was simply too insane—the progenitor of the Divine Phoenix Clan had actually grasped the Way of Heaven and led their entire race into a higher realm of immortals and gods.

Terrifying! It was truly terrifying!

"And what I am about to tell you is that, in the future, I, too, shall use the Way of Heaven discovered by the Divine Phoenix progenitor to ascend to that superior world."

Gu Shaobai tilted his head back, his expression arrogant. "Therefore, I announce that I am relinquishing my nomination for the Holy Emperor. In the future, the Princess of the Sacred Moon Kingdom shall be the Holy Emperor of this domain."

Since he was destined for the higher realm of immortals and gods, the position of Holy Emperor meant nothing to him.

"Huh?" Chen Changsheng blinked, slightly taken aback. "This bird-brained fellow wants to use the Eternal Staircase to reach the World of Gods? That’s not right—they can't ascend. If they could, they would have done it long ago, rather than remaining ignorant of the Void Gate at the top of the stairs until now."

"Young Master Chen, it's obvious," the Blood Demon Ancestor’s voice echoed in Chen Changsheng's mind. "The Ancient Emperor and his son have deduced that we can reach the World of Gods via the Eternal Staircase. Their scheme is to capture you and force you to lead them there."

"Is that so?" Chen Changsheng was slightly surprised.

"Indeed, I am certain of it," the Blood Demon Ancestor affirmed. "Aside from abducting you, I cannot think of any other way they could possibly ascend the Eternal Staircase."

Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips. So, this father-son duo actually wanted to hold him hostage? How interesting.

The crowd remained in a state of utter shock. Gazes filled with worship and envy were cast upon Gu Shaobai from all directions. So, he hadn't cared about the Holy Emperor candidacy at all; they were destined for a world far beyond their reach.

Once they entered that immortal realm, they would become true immortals and gods, separated from those in the arena by a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.

Gu Shaobai reveled in the spotlight. Satisfied with their reaction, he lifted his chin, his face full of arrogance. "The world of immortals and gods is a superior realm where even the natives are divine beings. Compared to that, our Yin-Xue Realm is nothing."

As he spoke, he cast a faint glance at Tantai Wushuang, who was staring at him in utter astonishment, her chest heaving with agitation.

*Hmph, you stuck-up girl, you’ve always looked down on me. Soon, you’ll be begging to lick my boots!* Gu Shaobai felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

"Ahem!"

He cleared his throat and said to Tantai Wushuang, "Fairy Tantai, are you interested in joining me in that immortal world? Perhaps I can take you with me, but it won't be without conditions..."

Heavens! Gu Shaobai was actually offering to take Tantai Wushuang with him. Such an incredible opportunity—no matter the conditions, it would be a bargain!

Envious and jealous glares shifted toward Tantai Wushuang. Many thought bitterly: *Why didn't he choose me? If he were willing to take me to that immortal world, I would gladly lick his boots a hundred times over!*

"Damn, this clown and his shameless schemes are really refreshing my worldview," Chen Changsheng thought, his jaw practically hitting the floor. Not only was this idiot plotting to hold him hostage, but he was actually using it to tempt Fairy Tantai!

"I..." Tantai Wushuang recovered from the shock, a coldness appearing in her brow. She shook her head slightly. "Not interested."

"What? She's not interested? Did I hear that right?"

"Heavens, is Tantai Wushuang brain-damaged? She’s actually turning down a chance to enter the immortal world!"

A deafening uproar broke out around the arena. No one could believe their ears.

Gu Shaobai and the Ancient Emperor were completely stunned. They had never imagined that Tantai Wushuang would refuse so decisively.

*Hmph, this stubborn girl must be playing hard to get. There are too many people here; she’s just embarrassed to agree,* Gu Shaobai reasoned to himself. He refused to believe that anyone in the Yin-Xue Realm could remain indifferent to such a heaven-sent opportunity.

Leaving Tantai Wushuang aside for the moment, he looked toward Lou Meisha in the distance and smiled. "Empress of the Mo-Lou Sacred Kingdom, are you interested in joining me in that immortal world when the time comes?"