I tricked you into thinking you had the makings of an emperor, but you actually did it?

Baidi City, Qishi Mansion.

A spacious hall was filled with the younger generation from all regions of the Xuanhuang Great World.

There are geniuses from the eight great academies of the Central Region, eminent monks from the Western Region, genius talisman masters from the Eastern Region, and mysterious Qi cultivators from the Southern Region.

Zhu Yuanbing sat in the center. She was beautiful and charming, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

She now understands what it means to rise with the tide. With the great changes in the world, she can now stand on equal footing with the geniuses of the Central Region that she used to admire, even if the ones she can invite are just ordinary geniuses.

At this moment, the short-haired woman entered the hall and said loudly, "Miss, the Jiang family's divine son said he has important matters to attend to and does not wish to come."

Discontent immediately arose at the banquet; some slammed their wine glasses on the table, while others snorted coldly.

Zhu Yuanbing observed these reactions without being too surprised, as today's banquet was ostensibly to welcome the Xuan Tian twins.

Most of the geniuses present were there because of Shen Ming.

Shen Ming's decision not to come at all naturally offended people.

This was within Zhu Yuanbing's plan.

Shen Ming's low-key travel, without resorting to the grand gestures of the Jiang family's divine son, already demonstrated his stance.

She continued to send people to invite him, intending to push Shen Ming to the opposite side of the geniuses from all regions.

"There are plenty of sixteen-year-old Earthly Sovereigns in the Central Region. They would have to call me Senior Brother."

"Among the top geniuses from the eight major academies in the Central Region, which one isn't more outstanding than him? What's with the airs!"

"Hmph, it's a good thing he's only an Earthly Sovereign, otherwise I'd like to see what kind of reputation he has on the Sovereign Ranking."

The Supreme Ranking does not distinguish between Heaven and Earth Supreme Realms; naturally, only Heaven Supremes can compete for a spot on the ranking.

"Everyone, it is Yuan Bing's oversight that has caused you all to come here for nothing."

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Zhu Yuanbing finally spoke.

The geniuses from all regions will not blame her, not even those who know her little schemes.

Boom!

Just as the party was about to end, a deep, muffled drumbeat came from outside.

Like a thunderclap, it suddenly exploded between heaven and earth, striking straight to the soul.

"War drums!"

Ordinary drumbeats wouldn't have this effect; they are war drums used by one side to declare war.

"Who dares to beat the drum in my Baidi City!" Zhu Yuanbing was both shocked and furious. Fighting was strictly prohibited in Baidi City. Violators would be driven away, and those who violated the rules would be killed.

Not to mention things like beating drums to declare war.

Immediately, someone came in to report, saying, "The divine son of the Jiang family has beaten the drum to challenge the Black and White Daoist Temple!"

"what?"

At the banquet, everyone suddenly stood up; they couldn't sit still any longer.

The dissatisfaction of the geniuses from all regions with Shen Ming vanished instantly, because the fact that he was challenging the Black and White Dojo was so exciting that it was completely understandable if they didn't come.

"Really?!" Zhu Yuanbing was equally shocked.

The four major academies and four great schools of the Central Region, together with the Great Luo Palace, have established eight major training grounds to guide martial artists in the Northern Region.

No one has ever questioned their qualifications to set up a temple here.

The significance of the name "Central Region" is fully demonstrated in the Northern Region.

The cultivators from the Northern Region were eager to enter the training ground to study, but you, Shen Ming, came and ruined everything!

The best part is that this doesn't violate the rules of Baidi City.

Even the short-haired woman's eyes lit up; it was genuine admiration.

Boom boom boom!

At this moment, the war drums sounded in succession, a total of nine times, and Zhu Yuanbing's open mouth could fit an egg.

What does nine consecutive rings represent?

People from outside the region were unfamiliar with the customs of the Northern Region and were somewhat confused, so they all looked at Zhu Yuanbing.

Zhu Yuanbing was still in shock when the short-haired woman said, "This represents the highest level. If the Jiang family's divine son fails the challenge, his life or death will be handled by the Black and White Academy. If he succeeds, the Black and White Academy will have to relinquish its Dao."

A collective gasp filled the hall.

"The Twin Divine Sons of the Northern Region truly live up to their names! They've got guts! I'll toast them!"

One of the most talented individuals from the Central Region spoke from the bottom of his heart and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

He came from the Central Region and knew the capabilities of the Black and White Academy.

The others were eager to try, some even impatient.

……

Outside, countless people flocked to the place where the drumbeats were coming from.

The Black and White Dojo occupies the former Chang Le Palace in Baidi City.

A magnificent palace complex stands like a series of shining monuments, rising one after another from bottom to top.

Outside the palace stood an exceptionally beautiful woman.

She wore a long, snow-white dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind, making her look like a fairy who had descended from the heavens.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, with a few strands fluttering gently in the breeze.

In front of her, holding drumsticks, was a huge war drum with the character 'Jiang' written on its surface.

The war drums had finished beating, and her eyes shone brightly, as if sparkling stars were twinkling within them.

She slightly raised her chin, her jade-like neck forming a graceful arc, exuding an air of pride.

Her lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile, and her eyes conveyed a sense of triumphant satisfaction.

"Who dares to be so insolent here!"

Within the Black and White Dojo, powerful half-step Dominator Realm cultivators emerged one after another, dressed in flowing black and white robes, each with an angry expression.

"The divine son of the Jiang family challenges the Black and White Dojo," Li Miaozhen announced loudly.

"What a joke! If just any Tom, Dick, or Harry comes to challenge my Black and White Path Palace, wouldn't we be constantly busy sooner or later?!"

A middle-aged man dressed in a black robe shouted.

“I’m not from the Northern Region, so I can’t explain the nine beats of the war drums. Why don’t you ask someone?” Li Miaozhen’s smile was enigmatic and captivating.

The members of the Black and White Dao Palace looked at each other, their ears perked up, clearly trying to inquire about the meaning behind the nine beats of the war drums from the Northern Region.

"Regardless of life or death, hand over the Black and White Sword Path?!"

After finding out the truth, they were all furious.

"How dare you! The divine son of the Jiang family, when will you come to fight?!"

There's not much to say about the people from the Black and White Dao Palace.

"Tomorrow at noon!"

"We'll be waiting!"

The middle-aged man in black robes, who was in the lead, waved his sleeve and angrily returned to the dojo, with the others following closely behind.

Upon hearing that the event would begin tomorrow, none of the people who had gathered decided to leave. Some even set up makeshift beds on the floor, eager to witness the spectacle tomorrow.

"They didn't seem to explain how the challenge would be conducted."

"The rules in the Central Region and the Northern Region are different. Initiating a challenge is the rule of the Northern Region, and the content of the challenge is naturally determined by the Black and White Dao Palace."

"Will the Black and White Academy directly send a Supreme Realm disciple to accept the challenge?"

"No, the challenge from my Central Region is not so superficial. The Black and White Academy will most likely use the Black and White Divine Palace."

Some cultivators from the Central Region spoke with certainty that the Black and White Divine Palace was very famous in the Central Region and was used as a training ground, assessment site, and even a selection site for disciples of the academy.

This time in Baidi City, the test for the training ground is to pass through the Black and White Divine Palace, and so far no one has succeeded.

"That's just the difficulty of the assessment. The academy won't underestimate this level of challenge; it will definitely be of the highest standard!"