The guests from the holy lands of the Nine States entered the Sacred Mountain one after another, but the elder standing on the 3,000 steps was still there.
He looked down and said, "Next, those participating in the Nine State Forum will enter the Sacred Mountain. From the Eastern State, those who are qualified to participate in the Nine State Forum may enter with the Nine State Forum Token."
As soon as he finished, one figure after another walked out from the crowd. They were the participants of the Nine State Forum from the Eastern State.
As the Nine State Forum was held in the Eastern State, it was only natural that the Eastern State had the most participants. Some from the other eight states were unwilling to travel across endless regions to come here. The Eastern State had recently become their home ground, so there were too many geniuses who came.
"Father, I'm going up."
"Go ahead. I will also enter the Sacred Mountain later and watch the ceremony from the periphery. I look forward to your performance."
"Master, I'm going."
Voices were heard from the crowd, and many extraordinary figures stepped forward.
"Village Chief, I'm going up." A girl around 15 or 16 years of age was particularly eye-catching. It was the mysterious girl, Yaya, who had sounded the Law Bell that day. Many recognized her and watched her walk up the steps. The girl was really participating in the Nine State Forum, and no one knew how she cultivated.
The mighty figures stepped up the steps, all holding the Nine State Forum Token. On both sides of the steps, maids stepped forward to lead the way and guide them into the Sacred Mountain.
Then, the participants from the Summer State, Qi State, Cloud State, and other states stepped up the steps to enter the Sacred Mountain.
Those from the Barren State were still at the end of the line. After everyone had gone up, Yu Sheng, Hua Jieyu, and the others walked up the steps. The scattered group of more than 30 people seemed very deserted.
Among those who participated in the Nine State Forum this time, there were hundreds who had sounded the Law Bell, and 3,000 who had been selected from the Sky Stairwell. This meant that there were more than 3,000 people participating in the Nine State Forum. The Barren State only had 30 people, which was a rather pathetic number.
However, when they thought about how the Barren State had not participated in the Nine State Forum for many years, other than the group of elites gathered around Ye Futian, there might not have been many from the Barren State who had come. Everyone felt relieved. After all, the Barren State had only participated in the Nine State Forum because of Xihua Sacred Mountain's invitation out of courtesy. In reality, they were just there to serve as a foil and go through the motions.
After those from the Barren State stepped onto the Sacred Mountain, the elder looked at those below and said, "Today, Xihua Sacred Mountain is holding the Nine State Forum, and they have specially built a viewing area outside the Nine State Forum Platform. You may all go and watch the ceremony. However, today, the saints have come in person, and all the holy lands of the Nine States have gathered. Anyone who enters the Sacred Mountain to watch the ceremony must abide by the rules. No fighting is allowed, and no places outside the viewing area are allowed.
…
In another place, after Ye Futian stepped into the Sacred Mountain, he walked all the way to the Sacred Mountain and soon arrived at the place where the Nine State Forum was held.
It was a huge forum, built on the mountainside. The east side was the most prestigious, and it was the best place for those from the holy lands of the Nine States to watch the ceremony. The three saints of Xihua Sacred Mountain were there, and behind them stood Liu Zong and the other disciples of Xihua Sacred Mountain.
Adjacent to him were the people of the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty, the people of the Lapis Lazuli Holy Temple, the Sky Saint, and Han Yu.
Those from other states had their own independent area, which was extremely wide.
Those from the holy lands of the Summer State were also assigned to the east side, together with those from the Eastern State, the host.
The southern viewing platform of the Daoist Plaza was where the Qi State, Cloud State, and War State, the sacred grounds of the three great states would be spectating.
The northern area of the forum was also divided into three large areas. They were the viewing areas for those from the holy lands of Feng State, Ocean State, and Yu State.
Ye Futian and the people from the Barren State were on the west side of the forum. As there was only one holy land in the Barren State, there was only one force from the Barren State in this area, which was particularly eye-catching.
Ye Futian looked at the mighty ones from the other holy lands. In the Nine States, in the four directions of the north, south, east, and west, the east was the highest, followed by the north and the south, and the west was the lowest, where it was the servant. If the areas were not deliberately divided in this way, it would not have been a big deal. But now that Xihua Sacred Mountain had divided the areas, the people of the Eastern State and the Summer State were in the highest positions, which was normal. The Summer State was, without a doubt, the strongest of the Nine States.
The north and the south were opposite each other, and the other six states would not have any objections. Only the Barren State seemed to be extra, and was divided in the western area.
Moreover, behind the western area was an even larger viewing area. The people of the Eastern State came to the Sacred Mountain to watch the ceremony in this area, which was behind the Barren State's area.
The Barren State and the people of the Eastern State who were not from the holy lands were in the same area.
Perhaps Xihua Sacred Mountain had not prepared the location of the Barren State before and had only invited them at the last minute.
Ye Futian naturally had his own thoughts, but he understood it from his experience in the Chess Saint Villa and gradually got used to it, so he did not think too much about it. Before the Barren State truly rose to power, it would be very difficult to gain enough respect.
The Barren State had no saints, so even if, other than the host of the Eastern State, only the Palace Lord of the Barren State's holy land came to watch the ceremony, he was still assigned the lowest position without any suspense.
Sage Wanxiang, Zhuge Qingfeng, and the others naturally had the same thoughts as Ye Futian. They also knew that with the current situation, they had no right to say anything.
If Ye Futian had not come, the Barren State would have been arranged at the end, and they would have nothing to say. After all, the Barren State was indeed the weakest, and they knew that.
But Ye Futian was here. In terms of status, as the Palace Lord of the Barren State's holy land, he had the same status as the saints of the holy land, and had the right to sit in the eastern area. Of course, they also understood that this "same status" did not carry much weight. Nobles could not have the same status as saints, but no matter what, he was still the Palace Lord of a holy land. Together with them, he should at least be in the same area as the other six states, but in the end, he was assigned this way, which showed how little weight they had.
Even though they understood the difference, it was impossible to say that they did not have any thoughts about it.
After all, it was still very unpleasant to be disrespected.
Ye Futian did not think too much about it. In the Chess Saint Villa, when the Chess Saint chose Liu Zong, he understood that in the eyes of the saints of the Eastern State, he, the Palace Lord of the Holy Zhi Palace, was not even comparable to the heirs of the holy lands, let alone the lords of the other holy lands. As such, what was so strange about today's situation?
The three saints of Xihua Sacred Mountain thought the same, of course.
They should get used to it.
What was important was the Nine State Forum this time.
Looking forward, diagonally below them, there was an endless edge of the forum stage, which was also divided into nine major areas. Each area was engraved with words: Xia, Qi, Yun … Barren.
The nine major areas were facing the holy lands of the Nine States.
At that moment, the mighty ones of the Eastern State had been guided to the edge of the forum stage, where the Eastern State's area was.
Then, the mighty ones who participated in the Nine State Forum appeared one after another.
Like the order in which the holy lands entered, the ones who participated in the Nine State Forum also entered in order. Furthermore, the four directions overlapped with the viewing area.
The ones from the Eastern State and the Summer State were in the eastern area.
The ones from the Barren State were the last to enter. They were in the western area, below Ye Futian's group. Due to the small number of people and the fact that they were in one direction, they seemed rather lonely.
Behind Ye Futian and the others, countless figures were guided to the ceremony one after another, filling up the entire area. Although Ye Futian was slightly ahead of them, he gave off the feeling that he was surrounded by the audience, blending in with the crowd. He was far different from the other eight states' holy lands, who each occupied a distinguished area and sat on the high platform. They were clearly separated from each other and looked very imposing.
Noises were heard behind them. While the people at the back were all in an orderly manner, the vast area was able to accommodate an endless number of people, and the slightest sound from one person was enough to drown out the space. However, due to the huge size of the forum stage, the people in other areas were not affected. Only Ye Futian and the others' ears were ringing, which made the expressions of Sage Wanxiang and the others look even worse.
They felt that the position they were in was getting more and more awkward.
Yu Sheng, Hua Jieyu, and the others stood below and looked up to see the situation in front of them.
They looked at the people of the Nine States. Other than the Barren State, all the other holy lands seemed to be in a respectable position. The Barren State was the only one who seemed to be in an awkward position.
"It seems like they are looking down on us," Xu Que said lazily. Xu Que said lazily. He squinted his eyes and was obviously displeased. He could have let it go when he was the last one to appear, but the scene before him made it hard for him not to have any thoughts.
A cold look flashed in Hua Jieyu's eyes. She looked up at Ye Futian, but Ye Futian only smiled brightly at her, as if he did not care.
She pursed her lips at Ye Futian. She was clearly unhappy.
Yu Sheng's temper had never been good. Perhaps it was because he cultivated in demonic arts that he had always been rather irritable. Ye Futian was the leader of the Barren State, after all. It was bad enough that he came to watch the ceremony and was ranked last, but the current situation made him even more displeased.
He stepped forward, leaving the area of the Barren State and walking towards the center of the forum stage. That direction was also facing the Eastern State's holy land, Xihua Sacred Mountain, in the east.
"Stand down." In the east, several elders stood at the edge to preside over the Nine State Forum. Now, before the Head Saint of Xihua Sacred Mountain announced the start of the Nine State Forum, Yu Sheng walked out. Did he not know any manners?
"Yu Sheng, come back." Ye Futian saw Yu Sheng's actions and frowned. What's wrong with this guy now?
This is the Nine State Forum, after all. All the holy lands of the Nine States are here. It is not worth it to offend Xihua Sacred Mountain over such a small matter.
He knew very well that only strength could win respect, and the Barren State at the moment did not have such strength.
Yu Sheng looked back at Ye Futian. He did not listen to him and go back. It would have been fine if he had been the one to be humiliated.
The Nine State Forum would be the first time Ye Futian appeared on the stage of the Nine States as the leader of the Barren State. He wanted to regain the face that he had lost.
"Yu Sheng, a student of the Holy Zhi Palace of the Barren State, greets the seniors of the holy lands," Yu Sheng said loudly. Yu Sheng said loudly. Ye Futian glanced at Yu Sheng and felt a little less worried. It seemed that Yu Sheng's temperament had changed after being with him for so many years. He would not be so impulsive as to do things without thinking about the consequences. He should know his limits!
(End of Chapter)
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