Ancient Godly Monarch
chapter-872

Dongsheng Ting’s eyes swept over all the participants as a smile appeared on his face. The rewards for the top three, considering the wealth of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, would naturally be treasures at the immortal-king rank.

Treasures at that rank were something even immortal-foundation experts had no way to come into contact with. Yet this time around, the top three rankers had the opportunity to acquire immortal-king treasures. How valuable was this?

"For this immortal banquet, the top ranker shall receive a Sky Roc Rune Bone. The Sky Roc Immortal King is one of the four supreme paragons of my Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Immortal kings usually refer to him as Paragon Sky Roc and he is only a step away from becoming an immortal emperor. This rune bone contains the essence energy of Paragon Sky Roc himself."

Dongsheng Ting spoke, his words even caused many of the immortal kings to feel their hearts shaking.

Paragon Sky Roc, that lofty sovereign of the skies. A rune bone from him was extremely hard to obtain and was of incomparably immense benefit to one’s comprehension if one were to meditate on the runes inscribed in the rune bone.

At the banquet, countless immortal-foundation experts stared in disbelief. If they could get the Sky Roc Rune Bone, how good would that be?

Sadly, only the top ranker can receive such a valuable treasure.

"The reward for the second ranker is similarly a treasure refined by a paragon of my Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. This paragon had once cultivated before a mountain rampart for thousands of years, leaving his insights in cultivation engraved on it. It’s exceedingly valuable even to immortal kings."

Dongsheng Ting calmly continued amidst gasps of shock. Even the immortal kings didn’t expect such a valuable treasure would be taken out as a reward.

The four great paragons of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect were characters who followed the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor around since the very beginning. They are supreme characters at the peak within the sect and are the strongest just below the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor.

"As for the third ranker’s reward, it’s an immortal-king ranked divine weapon. Because Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants have no way to fully unleash the power of immortal-king ranked weapons, this treasure is a flying-type divine weapon, and could be used as a life-saving measure." Dongsheng Ting spoke. An extremely rare flying-type immortal-king ranked treasure was a reward for the third ranker. What concept was this?

All three of the treasures are at the immortal-king rank!

"Are you satisfied now?" Dongsheng Ting smiled at Jun Mengchen.

"Haha! Since this is the case, I will definitely become one of the top three rankers." Jun Mengchen laughed. His words were carefree and unrestrained, yet also giving off a sense of wild arrogance.

It was as though he was sure that he would definitely become one of the top three. This is already an arrogance far beyond the ordinary level.

The ten participants were all extraordinary individuals in their own right. Who among them wasn’t an absolute genius? How could it be so easy to get into the top ten?

Other than Jun Mengchen’s fellow sect members who were demon-level characters, the others like Gusu Tianqi, Feather King, Hua Taixu, Ruthless, Ye Qianchen, Qin Ta and Mo Wen were all extremely powerful as well. It was a headache to the spectators as it would be a pity for any of them to be eliminated.

"I have a question I wish to ask your highness." At this moment, Princess Glaze interjected. Dongsheng Ting smiled, "Princess, please feel free."

"Hua Taixu and Ruthless, they are both in the top ten, but would they be considered for the final top three positions?" Princess Glaze asked. Hua Taixu and Ruthless were respectively the disciples of the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King as well as the Undefeatable Devil King. Also, they weren’t someone from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Thus, what would happen if they got into the top three ranker? The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor wouldn’t be able to take them as his disciples.

"Naturally, they are counted in as well. If they enter the top three, the rewards will still be given to them. My royal father won’t force anyone against their wills, they can choose out of their own volition if they want to take my royal father as a master or not. Everything is impartial." Dongsheng Ting’s straightforward laughter filled the air, exuding a demeanor of elegance.

"Mhm, understood." Princess Glaze’s expression didn’t change. However, she knew very well in her heart that the participation of Hua Taixu and Ruthless in this event was arranged by none other than Dongsheng Ting. They were a test for the other participants. If these two became part of the top three, it means that the others simply didn’t have the qualifications to take the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as their master. If not, it would be extremely ugly to hear people talking about how the talent level of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor’s disciples are lower compared to the personal disciples of the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King and the Undefeatable Devil King.

What sort of character was the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor? Although he rarely took on disciples, there was no way he would permit people saying the disciples he accepted was of a lower quality in comparison to others. Although in truth, it was impossible for all his disciples to be more powerful than the disciples of every immortal king. At the very least, there mustn’t be such a thing occurring in this once-per-hundred year immortal banquet organized by his Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. If not, once word of that circulated around the immortal realms, what would happen to his prestige?

"Your highness, the test to rank the top ten must be carried out cautiously. Only a single round of combat cannot be used to determine the rankings. I suggest we carry out three rounds of testing. The test of combat prowess, suppressing everyone’s cultivation bases to the same level as they fight against each other is definitely a criteria, we can use that as the rules for the third round. That will be the most direct method of determining their combat prowess. As for the first two tests, we can invite immortal kings to act and test the participant’s will and determination as well as their temperament."

From the side, a supreme immortal king from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect suggested in a low voice. "Naturally, as for the specifics, we still need input from your highness. I’m merely giving a suggestion."

"Well spoken. Combat prowess is one of the more important criteria and since their cultivation bases are all different, they will all be suppressed to the same level for the third round of testing." Dongsheng Ting smiled. "We will go with what you say and have three rounds of testing. Every round will be ranked and the results will be tabulated for all three rounds before we determine who the top three are."

"Your highness make sense." The immortal kings in the surroundings nodded.

"The first test will be handled by the Dream Demon King then, it’s the most appropriate." Dongsheng Ting turned and glanced at an immortal king not far from him. This immortal king was shrouded in black. In fact, he seemed to currently be in a state of deep sleep in the chair where he was currently seated.

Dongsheng Ting wasn’t bothered by it, he knew that the Dream Demon King was able to hear him. This Dream Demon King was absolutely the nightmare of many powerful experts. He was able to kill through the dreams of others and was an extremely terrifying existence within the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect.

"Indeed, it’s extremely suitable if the first test is conducted by the Dream Demon King." The other immortal kings smiled.

"However, it is still early. Let them rest a little more, while we continue to enjoy this fragrant wine." Dongsheng Ting raised his cup and toasted the immortal kings. They continued to chat leisurely and the atmosphere felt extremely harmonious.

"Senior brother," At this moment, Jun Mengchen called out. Qin Wentian turned to him, only to here Jun Mengchen transmitting his voice over. "Senior brother, do you have a grudge with Dongsheng Ting and Deepflame? Before this, the Deepflame Immortal King already hinted that you are destined to never be ranked within the top three. Also, right from the start, this Dongsheng Ting has been exceedingly polite, just like a smiling tiger that plans to pounce on you when you are unaware. I wonder if he will intentionally target you in the next round."

Qin Wentian’s eyes flickered with light, he didn’t expect that Jun Mengchen would think of this. According to Dongsheng Ting’s earlier words, there would be three rounds of testing and only the last round would be direct combat. The rules of these tests are all set by Dongsheng Ting, and there was indeed a possibility that Dongsheng Ting might intentionally act against him.

"Mengchen, if he wants to target people, all three of us might be intentionally targeted. I will block whatever comes, doing my very best. Even if they wish to intentionally target us during the most important round of testing, the final round of direct combat, it will be impossible for them to do so." Qin Wentian replied. Jun Mengchen nodded, "If they truly try something in the dark, we will cause so much trouble that even the skies and earth overturn."

The three of them chatted silently, but at this moment Dongsheng Ting’s voice rang out, "Everyone, the rules for the rounds of testing have been set. The first round will be administered by the Dream Demon King. Now, can the ten participants move onto the battle platform?"

Upon hearing his words, the top ten respectively walked up to the platform and stood at different locations.

The Dream Demon King was still sleeping, as though he was never once awake through the immortal banquet.

"This test will be administered by senior Dream Demon King. Whoever persists the longest will be ranked the highest. Naturally, this is only the ranking for the first round. There will be a ranking list for the second and third round of testing as well, and we will tabulate the results once all three rounds of testing have ended." Dongsheng Ting spoke. After that, he turned to the Dream Demon King, "Senior, you may proceed now."

With no hints of any sign nor any fluctuations of aura, the ten participants on the platform all felt their surroundings changing. A moment later, they were no longer on top of the battle platform.

"Dreamscape." Qin Wentian’s countenance stiffened. Right now his surroundings were a boundlessly vast area. He was brought into the dreamscape of the Dream Demon King.

Qin Wentian regarded his surroundings and there were no other individuals within this dreamscape other than him. He found a stone platform and sat there cross-legged, closing his eyes in meditation.

The atmosphere was so silent that it was terrifying. There were no signs of any other life-forms within. It was as though only he was isolated within this dreamscape.

A long time seemed to have passed. Qin Wentian’s state of mind remained calm, he didn’t bother about what was happening and merely sat there quietly.

But at this very moment, his eyes opened. In front of him, a female silhouette appeared. This silhouette could only be described as flawless, she was akin to a snow lotus atop an ice mountain and her eyes that were now staring right at him, were clear as the blue skies.

"Qing`er…" Qin Wentian murmured, staring at the silhouette that appeared before him. "Are you doing well?"

Qing`er’s expression also changed as a soul-stirring and mesmerizing smile appeared on her face.

"This is just a dream, how is it possible for you to appear here?" Qin Wentian gave a self-mocking laugh but he truly did long for Qing`er. Upon thinking till here, a smile curled up his lips, many scenes of the memories between him and Qing`er flashed within his mind - starting from the time at the Celestial Lake Palace till the end.

Bit by bit, everything surfaced, appearing in front of his vision. It was as though Qin Wentian was already buried in his memories as longing flickered in his eyes.

"This place is a dreamscape created by the Dream Demon King, I actually had no way to stable my mind and heart." Qin Wentian silently mused. He discovered that he was no longer in the open area before but rather, he was lost within his memories. These memories of him and Qing`er were like a dream that was currently playing out scene after scene.

Abruptly, Qin Wentian perspired intensely as cold sweat dripped down his back. He also cultivated dream energy and he discovered that right now, this wasn’t the dream the Dream Demon King created but was his own dream instead!

The Dream Demon King was reading his dream, prying and peeping into his memories.

"NO!" Qin Wentian guarded his mind and heart, discarding all distracting thoughts but even so, he discovered that the scenes continued playing on one after another. This time around, it was not only his memories with Qing`er but everything about him as well.

The people outside had no idea what was happening to him. All ten of the participants sat on the platform unmoving and the Dream Demon King himself had never moved from his spot right from the start. Dongsheng Ting’s gaze swept across the participants, flickering like torches in the dark. More often than now, his gaze would gleam with sharpness whenever it landed onto Qin Wentian!