At this moment, Mu Xiaoxiao stepped forward and spoke.
Upon hearing Mu Xiaoxiao's words, everyone's expression grew serious.
But suddenly, someone pointed towards the direction of the star gate and exclaimed in surprise, "Strange, is that star gate slowly disappearing?"
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing.
Indeed, the star gate was vanishing into a sky full of starlight at a speed visible to the naked eye, and soon it disappeared completely.
Witnessing this scene, not only were the elders of the major powers utterly shocked,
but even the five Heavenly Venerable realm ancestors of Haoxing City, including Mu Xiaoxiao, were taken aback.
What was going on? Why would a perfectly fine star gate vanish?
Could it be that the seal of this star gate had been broken?
Everyone speculated, but no one could find an answer.
Just then, a young man emerged from the direction of the star gate. It was none other than Xin Ci!
"Xin Ci!"
"Little Xin Xin!"
"Xin Ci!"
Seeing Xin Ci appear, Bai Ting, Liu Mu Ming, and Mo Qian immediately rushed towards him excitedly.
"You're alright?"
"You're incredibly daring, actually daring to barge into the star gate alone."
Liu Mu Ming, as usual, reached out to sling an arm around Xin Ci's shoulder.
However, Xin Ci dodged him, a hint of displeasure showing in his eyes.
He thought: This Liu Mu Ming has seen Qing Qing before. For him to casually put his arm around me like this, it's probable that during my slumber, this guy has taken advantage of Qing Qing quite a bit.
Thinking of this, Xin Ci felt a pang of jealousy.
"Little Xin Xin, what's wrong?"
Seeing Xin Ci's unusual behavior, Liu Mu Ming asked, puzzled.
"Huh? Your eyes have turned back to normal, where did those beautiful Star Wheel Eyes go?"
Mo Qian also noticed Xin Ci's strangeness and couldn't help but ask.
"Uh... this is one of my abilities, don't ask too many questions."
Xin Ci rubbed his nose, giving a perfunctory answer.
"Young brother, you seemed to have just come out of the star gate. Do you know what happened inside? Why did it suddenly disappear?"
Mu Xiaoxiao asked.
Hearing Han Lao's words, the elders of other factions also looked at Xin Ci curiously.
Xin Ci concealed some details and recounted how the Star Emperor had intervened to deal with the nether gods and spatial rifts.
Although Xin Ci's explanation was brief, everyone was deeply astonished by what they heard.
"I never expected that Senior Star Emperor's divine consciousness would remain in the statue. This crisis was resolved thanks to Senior Star Emperor."
Mu Xiaoxiao, holding great reverence for the Star Emperor, said respectfully.
The Star Emperor was once the strongest in Haoxing City, and even the strongest in the Eastern Continent.
Their five Heavenly Venerable realm ancestors had to admire the Star Emperor's power.
"Indeed, Senior Star Emperor is not only immensely powerful but also so compassionate. Such a person is truly rare."
Others chimed in.
"Senior Star Emperor is so benevolent, he must be an extraordinary figure."
"Yes, he certainly is."
"..."
Xin Ci's mouth twitched as he listened to their evaluations.
Uh...
Were the Senior Star Emperor they were talking about and the Senior Star Emperor that Han Lao and Qing Qing had described really the same person?
Mu Qing Qing suddenly appeared beside him. Listening to their praise of the Star Emperor,
she couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'm afraid they don't know that the real Senior Star Emperor is an old rascal who loves to show off."
She said with a light laugh.
"However, they are right about one thing. Senior Star Emperor is indeed a remarkable individual."
She added.
"Yes, you're right."
Xin Ci nodded in agreement.
"Right about what?"
Liu Mu Ming, unable to see Mu Qing Qing, thought Xin Ci was talking to him and asked curiously.
"Uh... nothing."
Xin Ci shook his head and said.
Others couldn't see Qing Qing; it seemed he had to be more careful in the future and not expose Qing Qing's existence.
However, Xin Ci secretly felt fortunate that only he could see Mu Qing Qing.
Just as everyone was discussing the star gate and the Star Emperor, someone suddenly shouted, "Since those demonic monsters have been eliminated, how should the outcome of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition be decided?"
As soon as this sentence fell, it immediately captured everyone's attention.
That's right!
The outcome of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition!
Due to the previous disturbance by the nether god monsters, the Eastern Continent Grand Competition had been disrupted.
Would the results of this year's competition be canceled just like that?
If that were the case, wouldn't the major powers have suffered a huge loss?
Everyone began to feel conflicted.
"I think the outcome doesn't need further discussion. Xin Ci was the first to reach the star gate, so he should get first place."
At this moment, Bai Ting spoke first.
Hearing Bai Ting's words, everyone felt that she had a point, as Xin Ci had indeed arrived first.
The other prodigies, such as Wan Shu Wen, Xue Qian Wu, and Tie Lie Feng, also nodded slightly upon hearing Bai Ting's statement.
After all, they had indeed lost to Xin Ci.
As for Nan Yun Ting, although a bit arrogant, he wasn't a sore loser; he would at most snort a few times.
"Alright, since everyone agrees that Xin Ci is most qualified to win first place, then this year's Eastern Continent Grand Competition first place is undoubtedly his."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan Hao was even more excited than Xin Ci.
Xin Ci was a disciple of the Four Symbols Academy, representing their honor. He naturally hoped Xin Ci would win first place.
"I think Xin Ci should take second place."
Just as everyone was unofficially announcing the results, Mu Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke.
Mu Xiaoxiao's words surprised everyone.
"Senior Mu, why do you say that? Shouldn't Xin Ci's performance earn him first place? He was the first to reach the star gate."
Liu Yuan Hao asked, bewildered.
"Are you sure he was the first to reach the star gate?"
Mu Xiaoxiao asked Liu Yuan Hao.
At this, everyone turned to look at Xin Ci.
Being stared at by so many eyes, Xin Ci himself was unsure of the situation.
After all, he had only recently regained control of his body and was also confused.
"It was Xuan Kong!"
Mu Qing Qing suddenly spoke.
"Xuan Kong?"
Upon hearing the name Xuan Kong, a familiar face suddenly flashed in Xin Ci's mind, the person who had helped him enter the city in Dan Ling City back then.
"Did Xuan Kong also participate in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition?"
Xin Ci was somewhat surprised.
"That's right, and I suspect everything that happened inside the star gate was his doing."
Mu Qing Qing said.
Hearing this, Xin Ci frowned. He had always had a sense of unfathomable mystery about Xuan Kong.
Everyone slowly recalled that when Xin Ci arrived at the star gate, a young man seemed to have walked out from within.
"Could that guy named Xuan Kong be the first place in this Eastern Continent Grand Competition?"
Liu Mu Ming mused.
Mu Xiaoxiao nodded, "According to the previous rules, he is indeed the first place in this Eastern Continent Grand Competition."