"Bai Xiaosheng!"
Upon hearing Wu Yue shout the name, Ye Ling and Bai Lan's eyes both flashed with a hint of sharpness, their gazes falling on Bai Xiaosheng in unison.
Outside the grand hall, the imperial guards and inner court experts had drastic changes in their expressions upon hearing that the newcomer was Bai Xiaosheng.
"He's Bai Xiaosheng? The number one Bai Xiaosheng in the world?"
"Bai Xiaosheng is so young? He's not like I imagined!"
"I've only heard his name before, never seen him. This is my first time seeing the real person!"
"Oh no! If Bai Xiaosheng helps the Emperor, then Wang Liren is doomed to lose! What will happen to us then?"
For a moment, the area outside the grand hall became incredibly noisy, with everyone's thoughts in disarray, some joyful, others fearful.
"Master, is that Bai Xiaosheng? Why does he look so ordinary to me?"
Bai Lan sized up Bai Xiaosheng and couldn't help but transmit her thoughts to Ye Ling, asking, "Does he really know how to find the Primordial Martial King? I have some doubts."
"Don't be careless. The Primordial Martial King might be observing us through Bai Xiaosheng. If it's not necessary, don't make a move, lest you reveal your true abilities!"
Ye Ling transmitted his instructions to Bai Lan, while subtly observing Bai Xiaosheng's every move.
Although Bai Xiaosheng appeared ordinary to Bai Lan, he was, in reality, the martial arts alliance leader of the Wu Dynasty, the undisputed number one in the Wu Dynasty.
If Bai Xiaosheng were placed in the Primordial Chaos, without the suppression of the Extreme Martial Domain, he would be able to contend with the supreme powerhouses!
"Oh."
Bai Lan replied, immediately abandoning her intention to spar with Bai Xiaosheng.
Bai Xiaosheng looked at Ye Ling, who was holding Wu Yue by the neck, and said with a smile, "Sir, could you do me, Bai Xiaosheng, a favor and release Wu Yue first?"
"Of course, I'm not in a hurry to kill him." Ye Ling smiled, loosened his grip on Wu Yue's neck, and let him fall to the ground.
"Cough cough!"
Wu Yue, having regained his freedom, coughed violently, shot Ye Ling a venomous glance, and then scrambled to the back of Bai Xiaosheng, saying gratefully, "Bai Xiaosheng! Thank you for saving me today, otherwise I would have truly been harmed by a bunch of rebellious ministers!"
As he spoke, Wu Yue did not forget to glance back at the inner court experts outside the grand hall, as if to engrave each of their faces in his memory.
In his eyes, everyone who betrayed him must be exterminated to the ninth degree!
The inner court experts who were swept by Wu Yue's gaze all shifted their gazes away, praying that Ye Ling could defeat Bai Xiaosheng while also beginning to contemplate their escape routes.
Bai Xiaosheng did not respond to Wu Yue, but merely looked at Ye Ling with a smile and said, "The Azure Demon Swordsman Wang Liren, less than seven days after emerging from seclusion, defeated the Furious Sea Mad Monk Fa Yun, killed the Chief Eunuch Wei Zhong, and now has single-handedly infiltrated the imperial palace, easily defeating Emperor Wu Ning Wu Yue. His strength is unfathomable, comparable to Sword Saint Lu You."
Upon hearing Bai Xiaosheng's evaluation, Bai Lan couldn't help but transmit her thoughts to Ye Ling, "Master, Bai Xiaosheng's information isn't that accurate! Didn't you also kill the City Lord of Cangyue, Shi Ming?"
"This is the Extreme Martial Domain, and we teleported directly from Cangyue City. It's normal for Bai Xiaosheng not to have received the information," Ye Ling transmitted back.
"However... you mentioning that reminds me. If we don't see the Primordial Martial King today, then Bai Xiaosheng must die!"
"Why?" Bai Lan was startled, not yet understanding what she had reminded Ye Ling of.
"We teleported directly from Cangyue City. Given the travel speed of beings in the Extreme Martial Domain, it's impossible for them to have arrived in the capital from Cangyue City so quickly."
"Once Bai Xiaosheng knows what we did in Cangyue City, the secret of our origin outside the Extreme Martial Domain will likely be exposed, and perhaps the Primordial Martial King will no longer appear."
"At the time, I thought we could save some time since Wu Mei wasn't with us, but now I realize it was an oversight."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Bai Lan was stunned and hesitated, "This is just a minor oversight, it shouldn't be that serious, right?"
"After all, the Primordial Martial King is one of the Seven Primordial Kings, and one of the Upper Three Kings. We cannot underestimate him. We were having too much fun in the Extreme Martial Domain and became careless. From now on, we cannot afford to make any more mistakes!"
While transmitting his thoughts to Bai Lan, Ye Ling retorted to Bai Xiaosheng, "So, the reason you appeared here is to state what I've done?"
"Of course not..." Bai Xiaosheng chuckled. "Since you emerged from seclusion, you have accomplished several earth-shattering deeds. Your strength is fully qualified to rank third on the 'Jianghu Heroes Record.' I came this time, partly to inform you of your ranking."
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, "I'm only third?"
Bai Xiaosheng smiled, "The 'Jianghu Heroes Record' is strictly ranked according to personal achievements and江湖 reputation. With your current achievements, you are only below Sword Saint Lu You."
"Of course, if you defeat another top ten master later, you can rank second."
"Then how can I rank first?"
"Haha, you've asked a very good question! To be number one, you naturally have to defeat me first. However..." Bai Xiaosheng changed the subject, "I don't advise you to do so."
"Because, people will die."
"Is that so? The more you say that, the more I feel like trying." Ye Ling smiled, his aura locking onto Bai Xiaosheng, killing intent surging in his eyes.
"Alas... you truly don't know when to stop!" Bai Xiaosheng felt Ye Ling's killing intent, sighed repeatedly, and shook his head, appearing disappointed by Ye Ling's choice.
Looking at Bai Xiaosheng's expression, Ye Ling merely smiled slightly. Just as he was about to make a move, he sensed something and stopped.
"Young friend, let this old man have Bai Xiaosheng." At this moment, a deep and magnetic voice echoed from outside the grand hall.
Everyone outside the grand hall turned to look, only to see a white-haired old man carrying a large saber and dressed in brown cloth slowly walking over.
"Huang Ke!"
Upon seeing Huang Ke appear, Wu Yue's pupils contracted slightly, and he exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Huang Ke bowed slightly to Wu Yue, then his gaze fell on Bai Xiaosheng, saying, "I have been diligently practicing martial arts for twenty years, and have finally comprehended the divine techniques 'Sunflower Manual' and 'Evil-Repelling Mad Saber,' all for this day."
"Bai Xiaosheng, do you dare to fight me?"
As soon as Huang Ke uttered these words, a fierce wind suddenly arose, and the heavens and earth changed color!
"Oh dear, why am I encountering two challengers in a row today?"
Facing Huang Ke's powerful aura, Bai Xiaosheng merely smiled slightly, then looked at Ye Ling again, "Actually, I greatly admire your talent and cannot bear to see you perish."
"Why don't you watch a match between me and the Ancestor of the Sunflower Saber first, and then consider whether to challenge me?"
Ye Ling chuckled, looked at Huang Ke, and said, "Ancestor of the Sunflower Saber, it's not impossible for me to give you the opportunity to challenge Bai Xiaosheng. Can you give me the quota for the Ten Thousand Dynasties Martial Arts Tournament?"
Huang Ke said, "My lifelong aspiration is to defeat Bai Xiaosheng. Since you, young friend, can give me the chance to compete with Bai Xiaosheng, what's wrong with me giving you the quota for the Ten Thousand Dynasties Martial Arts Tournament?"
"Huang Ke, no!!!" Wu Yue's face changed color, and he quickly tried to stop him.
Ye Ling, however, was beaming with joy, "Deal!"