There were many important immortal emperors here at Giant Astral Prison.
Even the immortal emperors who were not here were paying attention to the results. Many other places throughout the sky palaces were discussing the fight now. The usual debate was between Yang Jian's son Yang Qiang and Nezha's son Li Tianji.
It mattered greatly which of them would step into Everlasting Battlefield and was gifted the breakthrough to the immortal emperor realm. It would have a ripple effect on the dynamics of the next million years in the sky palaces.
One True Lord Erlang-level immortal emperor was a huge asset for the sky palaces.
If it was Yang Qiang who rose, then he would be one step quicker to catching up to his father True Lord Erlang. That was huge.
Before the Immortal Emperor Trials officially began, there was still a formal invitation ceremony, where delicacies and wines were served up as refreshments for the immortal emperors.
The Patriarch Bodhi rarely brought out the wine brewed in the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars. Drinking it was very beneficial for one's cultivation realm.
Especially to the many young and talented immortal kings - these fine wines could help them move a step closer to the immortal emperor realm!
Although it was a cup of water on a fire, but this one cup of wine was equal to 1000 years of hard cultivation. Of course, the effects diminished the more you drank it.
After three to five cups, the next would roughly have no effect. Still, that was 3000-5000 years of cultivation saved.
This was nothing to sneeze at. After all, none of them were in the eternal immortal emperor realm yet. If they used up all their lifespan, it might come down to these last few thousand years.
At the feast, the mood was cheery as they ate, drank, and reveled.
However, this was all superficial. In truth, the immortal emperors were engaged in tense and silent struggles against each other, especially those with children competing. Hidden meanings and layered words were garbed in a veneer of politeness.
Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord laughed heartily: "Empress, how confident is your daughter Happy Fleece Fairy about the Immortal Emperor Trials? Do you think she will make it to the top 8?"
Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord was also known as the Immortal Ancient of the Three Islands and Ten Continents. Lord Dong had white hair and was dressed in white, and yet his face was that of a middle-aged man. His saintly aura was very impressive.
The empress he was addressing was the Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress, also known as the Purple Madame. She was the Queen of the Big Dipper constellation, and one of the Five Directional Divine Emperors, alongside Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord.
Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress smiled sweetly back at Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord, hiding her displeasure.
Top 8?
What a complete underestimation of Happy Fleece Fairy. In Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress' eyes, her daughter could enter top 4 with ease, even if she could not win. What a slight on her own status as Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress this was!
Therefore, she gave a lilting laugh, and replied: "Emperor, you jest. Happy Fleece is about as strong as Peach Cloud Fairy. Have you so little faith in your daughter, to only mark her as top 8 material?"
"Of course not, but there are many strong fighters at this Immortal Emperor Trials. It's not so easy to reach top 4."
Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord smiled and shook his head, explaining. "Look at that Yang Qiang, True Lord Erlang's son. Callous, with the power to carry out his cruel will. And that Li Tianji, son of Nezha and grandson of Li Jing. He's made a name for himself here already, even daring to take on the Patriarch Bodhi's disciple. And that Wu Yu. As well as the Great Yellow Horn Immortal's son Jiang Taiji. None of them are weak."
"A strange assessment." Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress shook her head in return. "Jiang Taiji, I'll let it pass. How could you count Wu Yu among them? He's just an ordinary mortal who ascended. If our daughters are not his match, are we not laughing stocks?"
"Empress, you forget that even the younger brother of the Dhrtarastra, Mo Liyin, was killed by the boy." Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord reminded her.
"Indeed, it warrants some notice. But Wu Yu had others with him, and the mystical dragon was helping him as well. It is nothing of note."
Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress shook her head dismissively.
During the feast, the first generation disciple Limitless Confusion Immortal Emperor began to introduce the 128 immortal king talents.
Of course, he should have introduced the most noteworthy immortal emperor children first.
But seemingly by accident, the first he introduced was the disciple of the Patriarch Bodhi, Wu Yu!
Wu Yu was the only challenger from the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars, and also the final name that the Patriarch Bodhi himself had determined. Many of the immortal emperors knew about him.
Limitless Confusion Immortal Emperor was a benign-looking immortal, and favored Wu Yu with a warm smile while introducing him. "Wu Yu, from Mettle Sky, under the Patriarch Bodhi!"
These words roused the Patriarch Bodhi's disciples into wild cheering.
Wu Yu was their representative during the Immortal Emperor Trials.
Therefore, even those senior brothers like Complete Zen Immortal Emperor, who had looked down on him before, were now hoping that he could win.
They knew that much of the competition came from powerful stock, whereas the Patriarch Bodhi's disciples had more humble beginnings. They could relate to Wu Yu.
These powerful immortal emperors looked down on them, and they naturally hoped that Wu Yu could get back at them on their collective behalf.
Besides, the matter of Li Tianji wounding Memory Star Immortal Emperor was now common news.
Back when Wu Yu had argued against Li Tianji, all of the Patriarch Bodhi's disciples had started to hope that Wu Yu could defeat him, and win back honor for Memory Star Immortal Emperor.
Ironically, it was the urbane Memory Star Immortal Emperor himself who did not bear that much of a grudge against Li Tianji.
But the other disciples were not as forgiving. They were nursing enmity against Li Tianji, and would feel great if Wu Yu could be the vessel of their revenge.
As Limitless Confusion Immortal Emperor introduced Wu Yu, the crowd broke into liberal cheers.
Especially since the Immortal Emperor Trials was held at Mettle Sky, the Patriarch Bodhi's disciples were the largest congregation, and the arena rang with cries of "Wu Yu!"
Wu Yu was moved.
When all of the Patriarch Bodhi's senior brothers united behind him, their chorus indeed touched his heart.
Complete Zen Immortal Emperor, Memory Space Immortal Emperor, Complete Fall Immortal Emperor, and many others were all cheering on Wu Yu eagerly. They were fired up, and hoped that he could take the win.
In truth, even if the Patriarch Bodhi had set the Immortal Emperor Trials himself, his disciples were reluctant to see the Everlasting Battlefield opportunity given away.
Therefore, if Wu Yu could win, that would be best.
The glowing welcome for Wu Yu soured the moods of the other immortal emperors.
Wu Yu had been the first to be introduced, and so many people had cheered for him. The other immortal emperors felt that they had been slighted.
Especially True Lord Erlang Yang Jian, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord, and Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress.
They were not pleased at the cheers for Wu Yu.
To them, this Immortal Emperor Trials had been prepared for them. Who was this Wu Yu, barging in? What gave him the right to fight here?
"The Immortal Emperor Trials is no child's play. Skill will show on the battlefield. Noise now is just hot air."
Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord smiled confidently, seemingly unconcerned. Deep down, he was pissed.
"Do they think their din can take the win? Dream on."
From behind him, Dong Hua Great Emperor Lord heard Peach Cloud Fairy huff.
Mysterious Spiritual Dipper Empress and her child Happy Fleece Fairy wore almost identical expressions. Neither took Wu Yu seriously either.
Especially Li Tianji. When he saw the whole crowd chanting Wu Yu's name, his eyes flashed sharply in Wu Yu's direction.
His forceful gaze demanded Wu Yu's attention, and their eyes locked across Giant Astral Prison in a fierce clash of wills.
They had two points of contention. First, Memory Star Immortal Emperor. Second, Luo Pin.
Wu Yu refused to lose to Li Tianji for both reasons.
Li Tianji, stubborn and hard-headed.
Even across a goodly distance, he continued to mouth the words "You're dead!" across the space.
Wu Yu could not hear him, but could read his intentions well enough.
Wu Yu ignored him.
Li Tianji was skilled, and if Wu Yu fought clouded by anger, he stood a good chance of losing.
Therefore, Wu Yu kept his cool, refusing to rise to the challenge.
Another strong contender, Yang Qiang was dressed in imposing black. He too directed a dead stare Wu Yu's way. His dead eyes were full of killing intent.
Wu Yu could sense it.
"This Yang Qiang also wants to kill me?"
Wu Yu frowned. Nothing surprising, coming from Li Tianji. But he had no quarrel with Yang Qiang. It had to be True Lord Erlang behind this.
Or perhaps it was True Lord Erlang's will. In any case, Wu Yu was not fazed or cowed.
This was his chance to rise to eternal immortal emperor status. He would rise up and take this for himself. He would defeat all of them!