Xiao Shimin, who had already arranged everything, now sneered, "Si’er, if your Xiuyuan Country’s performance is underwhelming during tomorrow’s evaluation, you might not even get a single star. In that case, your Xiuyuan Country can no longer be called a country. Perhaps you should change its title to Xiuyuan Village."
Having said this, Xiao Shimin’s eyes gleamed with smugness.
Wu Tian chuckled and stepped forward. "Say that again. I didn’t hear you clearly."
"You didn’t hear me?" Xiao Shimin was startled but then responded breezily, "Fine, I’ll say it again. Tomorrow, during the evaluation, if you all..."
SMACK!
The little guy suddenly moved and slapped him across the face.
The blow left Xiao Shimin utterly stunned. The surrounding princes and princesses were equally dumbfounded.
The little guy chuckled and looked at Wu Tian. "Dad, how did I do?"
"Not bad," Wu Tian nodded.
This was the Immortal Emperor Realm. Without fighting or killing, one could not establish authority!
Beaming with joy at Wu Tian’s praise, the little guy was pleased with himself.
"Remember, some things should be said, and others shouldn’t," Wu Tian said with a chuckle as he turned back to Xiao Shimin. "Your fate will be decided tomorrow."
With that, Wu Tian commanded, "Let’s go," and led Si’er and the others away.
"This is treason! Treason!" The Empress of the Heavenly King Country hadn’t expected Wu Tian to be so arrogant as to strike someone without any warning. She clutched Xiao Shimin’s hand and said, "Your Majesty, do you see? He has no respect for you! Even a child dares to slap your face! We can’t let them leave!"
"No, let them go. Indulging in a moment’s gratification is the mark of a brute," Xiao Shimin said with a cold sneer. "Tomorrow, if Wu Tian is the one representing Xiuyuan Country in battle, I want them dead. This time, I’ve specially invited a master from the outer realms. As long as I keep silent, who’s to know that master is from somewhere else?"
"Your Majesty is wise." At this moment, the Empress knew exactly what to say.
Xiao Shimin was overjoyed. "It is I who, through tireless work and effort, have secured these peaceful River and Mountains! I am a truly wise ruler."
But the words had barely left his mouth when a soldier came rushing to report, "The Dog Clan is attacking the city again! They say if we don’t hand over some good bones, fine meat, and women, they’ll fight us to the death!"
Xiao Shimin was left speechless. The smile on his face instantly froze. It was as if he’d been slapped in the face all over again.
After leaving the Heavenly King Country, the various princes and princesses gradually took their leave along the way, returning to their respective kingdoms. Their faces were etched with worry, fearing their own kingdoms would perform poorly the next day and be judged unworthy of the title "Country," only to be demoted to a mere village.
Once back in Xiuyuan Country, Si’er immediately convened his ministers to discuss the impending evaluation.
Wu Tian, Qin Yuhan, and the little guy returned to Duke Guang’s Mansion. The little guy and Qin Yuhan went off to their cultivation, while Wu Tian returned to his study. The moment he entered, he stepped into the Heavenly Emperor’s Treasure House within the Nine Dragon Ring.
This time, he had come for the Eyes of Golden Flame.
He once again approached the dilapidated Doushuai Temple, his footsteps echoing crisply in the silence.
TAP, TAP, TAP.
He strolled leisurely, as if wandering through a garden, until he arrived before the vast, ancient Furnace of Eight Trigrams.
BOOM!
With one hand, he lifted the heavy lid of the furnace. Immediately, a scorching heat that seemed capable of melting bones and refining souls roared out from within. In the blink of an eye, Wu Tian was soaked in sweat.
Hot! It’s way too hot!
Hesitation? That word had long since departed from his vocabulary.
How exactly did Sun Wukong forge the Eyes of Golden Flame?
Are these the Eyes of Golden Flame?
It’s not just the Eyes of Golden Flame. After just an hour in the Furnace of Eight Trigrams, I feel my Immortal Spiritual Power is approaching the Ninth Grade of the Tongxuan Realm.
"Sect Leader, do you know what day it is today?" Hong Ji asked with a sigh.
Wu Tian paused, then nodded. "Isn’t it just the day for the minor power ranking assessment?"
Minor?
Wu Tian’s word made Dao Feng and the others frown deeply. Even with Wu Tian, Xiuyuan Country had only one true combatant. Officials were forbidden from participating in the assessment, so City Lord Guang was out. Besides Wu Tian, they had no one else. Moreover, Wu Tian wasn’t even considered a citizen of Xiuyuan Country. Whether he was even eligible to compete was a serious question.
"Dao Feng, it’s time I taught you a new skill," Wu Tian said suddenly, looking at him. Here, Dao Feng was the only true citizen of Xiuyuan Country.
Dao Feng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
"Can we learn it too?" Lan Niang asked curiously, her face full of hope.
"You can try," Wu Tian said. But he doubted Lan Niang and the others would be able to learn it. The little guy, on the other hand, just might.
Wu Tian led everyone to an open area before speaking again. "Dao Feng, today I will impart to you a Martial Arts Technique. It has no tier, and it is called the Arhat Overturning Heaven Seal."
The Arhat Overturning Heaven Seal was a unique skill of Ji Gong. It was incredibly powerful and capable of being used in combos. Its strikes manifested as massive golden palm imprints marked with a swastika, and it had a natural suppressive effect on the Monster Race.
Wu Tian demonstrated the technique once and explained the mental method. Lan Niang, Hong Ji, and the others all tried, but to no effect.
Dao Feng, however, succeeded on his first attempt. The air rippled as a golden palm imprint shot forth, blasting a well into the backyard from which a fountain of spring water shot into the sky.
Dao Feng was overjoyed. "I... how have I never been this talented before? In the past, I was always slower than the average person at learning anything."
Wu Tian explained, "That’s because your compatibility with this Martial Arts Technique is one hundred percent. It’s not because you have high aptitude. Your aptitude... I’d say it’s about the same as a pig’s."

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