The Withered Wood Sea was located more than ten thousand kilometers north of Mingyang City , and further north was the primordial continent bordering the Eight Desolate Continents. Although the Withered Wood Sea was called the Sea, there was not a single drop of water. Instead, it was a desert that stretched for hundreds of kilometers. There were withered old trees everywhere, so it was called the Withered Wood Sea. There was a lake about ten kilometers long in the oasis south of Withered Wood Hai. At the edge of the lake, there was a grand palace. Because the lake was called the Emerald Lake, this palace was called the Emerald Little Building. His name was Little Building, but it wasn't small at all, as could be seen from the square that could accommodate tens of thousands of people.

At this moment, thousands of xiuzhe had gathered around the Jadeite Building Square from all over the continent. Among them, there were many sects that had come to cheer. They were really crowded with people, and they were extremely lively. Moreover, there were also people who came from all directions with swords.

The small jade building was located very high, and the view from the plaza was extremely wide. One could see the withered trees in the desert sandstorm of the Withered Wood Sea. Chu Jun looked into the distance. Everything in his sight was desolate and silent. He actually couldn't see the slightest bit of vitality. This Dead Wood Sea was indeed a land of death. However, he didn't know if there would also be a spirit-defying vein beneath such a large area of land of death.

Twenty-nine xiuzhe who entered the final competition were divided into six rows according to their respective houses. Each row consisted of five people. Only the Great Ming Manor had four people. The first place of the Great Ming Manor team was Luo Heng from the Haotian Sect, followed by Wei An, Chu Jun, and Zhao Yu. On the left side of the Great Ming Manor team was the Beiyang Manor, and on the right was the Ming Yang Manor. Chu Jun discovered that Ye Zhong was in the team of the Ming Yang Manor, while the petite female cultivator with long fiery red hair was standing in the team of the Beiyang Manor.

There was a high platform in the middle of the square. There was a row of seats set up on it. Obviously, it was for the important figures who were hosting the competition. These people had not appeared yet.

All the contestants in the arena were secretly sizing up the opponents around them. They were so arrogant that they even released their divine sense to probe. Zhao Yu suddenly felt a wave of divine sense leaking towards her chest. She was furious in her heart, and a wave of divine sense burst out from her sea of consciousness. Lun Spirit, I'm afraid no one here is Zhao Yu's opponent. I only heard someone in the Beiyang Prefecture squad groan and then turn around to stare at Zhao Yu in surprise. The two xiuzhe beside him also seemed to have noticed something as they turned around. A sturdy fellow snorted coldly and glared fiercely at Zhao Yu.

Chu Jun raised his eyebrows and asked via voice transmission, "Young Master An, what are the origins of those three fellows?"

Wei An said with a serious expression, "These three are from the Beast Controlling Sect, and they are the only sect that has three spots in this upstart competition." "That sturdy fellow is called Fan Changhe. His cultivation is at the middle Gold Core stage. The female cultivator behind him is called Sun Shuangshuang, and the last one is called Gu Liudao. His strength cannot be underestimated. Moreover, the Beast Controlling Sect is a member of the Eldest Prince's faction. You must be careful when you encounter him!"

Chu Jun couldn't help but rub his chin playfully. He remembered that he had promised Lin Yueyi to take the Immortal Life Tower from the Beast-controlling Sect. He was destined to be the enemy of the Beast-controlling Sect. Since the other party was a member of the Eldest Prince's faction, then it would be best!

Zhao Yu's powerful divine sense cultivation had completely suppressed the surrounding people. No one dared to probe their divine sense in this direction anymore. Even Chu Jun and Wei An were stained clean. Luo Heng had always lowered his eyebrows in front of the team, as if the whole world had nothing to do with him. He lured the female cultivators outside the field to peek at him, even Sun Shuangshuang from the Beast Control Sect was no exception.

"Old Wei, is this Luo Heng from the Eldest Prince's faction?" Chu Jun asked through a familiar voice transmission.

Wei An couldn't help but laugh and cry as he replied, "The Haotian Sect is only a second-rate sect, and has never had any contact with the Eldest Prince before. Of course, we can't rule out their secret dealings, so we don't know. Also, don't call me Old Wei. This Young Master isn't that old!"

Chu Jun smiled and said, "Alright, how about calling it Little An?"

Wei An's shoulders trembled, "It's better to call me Old Wei!"

At this moment, a group of people walked out of the palace. Among them was a middle-aged man wearing a purple python robe and a yellow belt around his waist. He was born with a leopard head and an aggressive aura. On the middle-aged man's right hand was Du Wu. He wore a bright red golden cloak, full of heroic spirit, and was valiant and agile. The middle-aged man's left hand was a sinister old man dressed in black. It was as if a gust of wind could blow him away. However, since this man could walk side by side with Du Wu and the middle-aged man, it could be seen that his status was not low. Behind the three of them were six old men, all of whom were Nascent Soul experts.

Wei An's expression changed as he whispered, "Indeed, it was the First Prince who presided over it!"

"That person is the first prince, Du Ru'nan ?" Chu Jun blurted out.

Wei An waved his hand and set up a soundproof barrier between the three of them. Then he nodded and said, "That's right, the First Prince is also the City Lord of Mingyang City , so he will personally host the third round of the competition!"

Zhao Yu couldn't help but frown, "If he is deliberately biased, then what should we do?"

"Don't worry, Miss Zhao Yu. The palace's main hall is also the vice presiding officer, and the black-clothed old man should be worshipped by the black-clothed guards. The first prince definitely wouldn't dare to do anything selfish!" Wei An said in a deep voice.

"What is a black-clothed guard?" Chu Jun asked curiously. Just as he asked this question, the gaze of the black-clothed old man in the distance swept over. Chu Jun immediately felt as if the space between his eyebrows had been pierced. His heart couldn't help but tremble. Could it be that he could hear it even with the Soundproof Barrier?

Wei An secretly sent mentally, "The Black-clothed Guards are organizations directly under the control of the Continent Lord. Their ears and eyes are all over the major cities, and they are equivalent to the mouths and ears of the Continent Lord. I heard that the six great reverends of the Black-clothed Guards are all at the God Refining Stage!"

Chu Jun's heart couldn't help but tremble. Six great deities of the Divine Refinement Stage. Damn, this black-clothed guard was too terrifying. It was similar to organizations like the Royal Guards and the Thing Factory in his previous life. To put it bluntly, it was the emperor's old son's secret service.

At this time, Du Wu and the others had already sat down on the high platform. Wei An immediately removed the soundproofing barrier and stood there in a solemn manner. It was so quiet that needles could be heard falling from outside the arena.

The first prince, Du Ru'nan , sat in the middle and swept his gaze across the audience with a dignified expression. The first prince was already over two hundred years old. He looked like he was only around thirty years old. He should have eaten the Face Setting Pill and other things. His cultivation had already reached the middle stage of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Du Ru'nan suddenly grinned and nodded in satisfaction, "It's good to see you young rising stars. You are the most outstanding talents of the younger generation in Chongming Island, and the future belongs to you!"

Chu Jun had no choice but to admit that this fellow's smile was very infectious!

'"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I, Du Ru'nan , am the city lord of Mingyang City . I am hosting this year's Chongming Island's rising star competition. This is my sister Du Wu, Palace Master Tian Ce, and this is Wang Quwang, the black-clothed guard. They are all deputy envoys of the competition. Assist me in hosting the competition!" Du Ru'nan introduced with a smile.

Du Wu and Wang Qu both stood up and waved their hands, causing thunderous applause to resound!

Chu Jun couldn't help but rub his chin. This old-fashioned opening line was indeed the same in every world.

Du Ru'nan raised his hand and pressed down on his palm, causing it to immediately calm down!

"Those who can enter the last round of the competition are all outstanding talents, but you are not the top. Only when you have the ability to emerge from the eighteenth floor will you be qualified to be called the top!" Du Ru'nan put away his smile and said solemnly, "As long as you can enter the top twelve in the last round, then you are qualified to enter the eighteenth floor. Only then will you have the chance to prove that you are the top. Therefore, young people, show your true strength and go forward bravely. Only by grinding through life and death, blood and fire can you truly be the top, truly sharp!"

Du Ru'nan 's voice sounded very calm, but it had an exciting magic power. The listeners were all boiling with passion. The strong man of the Beast Control Sect, Fan Changhe, even shouted on his chest like a wild beast, "Those who block me die!" His voice was like muffled thunder, causing the ears of the people beside him to buzz.

Chu Jun couldn't help but roll his eyes and secretly said, "This guy still thinks that he is Mount Tai, an ape-man!"

Du Ru'nan suddenly stood up and loudly shouted, "Five hundred li of Dead Wood Sea is your battlefield. Go fight, young man, and prove that you are the best!" "Do you see the six Nascent Souls behind you? Half an hour later, half an hour after you enter the Withered Wood Sea, they will mercilessly hunt you down. Only the victors will persevere until the end!" He laughed loudly.

The expressions of the 29 participants changed drastically. Heavens, facing the merciless pursuit of six Nascent Soul experts, this was simply insane!

Du Ru'nan 's tone changed. "Of course, if you can't resist, you can admit defeat on the spot. The hunters will stop attacking you. However, you have lost the qualifications to continue participating. The last twelve will represent Chongming Island in the 18th level of the calendar!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Everyone's hearts immediately relaxed. At that time, as long as we admit defeat, there will be no danger to our lives. We are not afraid of being killed by the Nascent Soul experts. However, we heard Du Ru'nan say, "The participants can attack each other, regardless of life or death. At that time, we will drive a large number of spirit beasts into the Withered Wood Sea. Each of us must obtain a fourth grade beast crystal or more. Otherwise, even if we enter the top twelve, we will be crippled and the last one will make up for it!"

The three Beast Controlling Sect cultivators couldn't help but be overjoyed. Beast Controlling was their specialty!

Du Wu frowned imperceptibly. Du Ru'nan 's move was not low. Not only did it make people unable to grasp anything, it also basically ensured that the three of them entered the top twelve.

The twenty plus participants couldn't help whispering. Facing the six Nascent Souls, it was already enough. It was too difficult to deal with a spirit beast. Not to mention, killing a level four spirit beast that was equivalent to the strength of a Golden Core Stage spirit beast.

"Is there a problem?" Du Ru'nan said indifferently.

No one in the arena dared to say anything, unless someone's head was pinched by the door before they dared to raise an objection to the king.

Du Ru'nan smiled and said, "Six Nascent Souls will only hunt you in the daytime and stop at night!"

Once these words were spoken, everyone could not help but feel a little relieved. As long as they persevered until night, they would be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Du Ru'nan threw out another bomb. "All participants can only carry magic treasures. All restorative spirit medicines are forbidden to be brought into the Withered Wood Sea. Otherwise, their rankings will be cancelled!"