Chapter 2761: 2761 **Chapter 2761: The First Round of the Prodigy Gathering, Listening to the Dao!** The Ancient Lotus Holy Land has a long and ancient history. It can be said to be one of the oldest forces among the major powers in the Southern Continent. Usually, the Ancient Lotus Holy Land is very low-key. Within the Holy Land, women hold supremacy, while men are always excluded from the center of power. The rulers of the Ancient Lotus Holy Land have always been women. To them, men are merely tools for reproduction. Lu Fengyao introduced, "Her name is the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Lotus. It is said that when she was born, ten thousand ancient lotuses in the Ancient Lotus Holy Land bloomed simultaneously." "When she was still in her swaddling clothes, she was placed on the oldest ancient lotus for thirty days, neither eating nor drinking, absorbing the essence released by the ancient lotus to survive." "She possesses the Immortal Lotus Sacred Body, which has an extremely high compatibility with the secret techniques of the Ancient Lotus Holy Land. She is the strongest successor of the Ancient Lotus Holy Land in nearly a hundred thousand years." From the moment she was born, the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Lotus was destined to be the successor of the Ancient Lotus Holy Land. Like Lu Fengyao, she received the full support and cultivation of the Holy Land. Now, at less than nine thousand years old, she is already at the second realm of Dao Sovereign. In the last Prodigy Gathering, she narrowly lost to the Holy Son of the Illusory God from the Myriad Scenery Holy Land and did not obtain the title of the strongest prodigy. However, at that time, she was only at the first realm of Dao Sovereign, while the Holy Son of the Illusory God was at the third realm of Dao Sovereign. The gap in their realms was too large. In fact, many prodigies at the second realm of Dao Sovereign were suppressed by her. In this gathering, the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Lotus is already at the second realm of Dao Sovereign. Even if she faces the Holy Son of the Illusory God again, the outcome is unpredictable. The Holy Maiden of the Immortal Lotus is the most powerful contender for the title of the strongest prodigy in this gathering, without a doubt. She arrived alone, without any entourage, stepping on water lotuses to gracefully take her seat at the first position on the left. Her beautiful eyes swept across the venue, and many people avoided her gaze, not daring to meet her eyes. Lu Fengyao said, "How about that? Isn’t she beautiful?" Lin Moyu replied, "She’s alright, but not as beautiful as you, Sister Fengyao." Lu Fengyao snorted, "Your flattery is terrible." Lin Moyu shamelessly said, "I’m just telling the truth." Lu Fengyao said, "After the gathering, I’ll introduce you to her." Lin Moyu asked, "Sister Fengyao, do you know her?" Lu Fengyao nodded, "I visited the Ancient Lotus Holy Land once when I was a child and stayed there for a while." After the arrival of the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Lotus, the remaining prodigies also appeared. The direct successor of the Three Spirits Sect, Wang Tianling, at the second realm of Dao Sovereign. The current Holy Maiden of the Seven Star Holy Land, Cai Xia, at the second realm of Dao Sovereign. The successor of the Eastern Family of the Broken Sky Domain, Dongfang Wuwen, at the second realm of Dao Sovereign. The successor of the Wu Family of Crack Wind Cliff, Wu Xingchen, at the second realm of Dao Sovereign. These people all have the qualifications to compete for the title of the strongest prodigy. However, in Lin Moyu’s view, none of them are as strong as the Holy Maiden of the Immortal Lotus. Nearly all the hundred seats were filled, with only one seat left unoccupied. Coincidentally, this seat was ranked forty-sixth on the right, near the bottom. Lin Moyu smiled, "This person has quite an attitude, making so many people wait for him." Lu Fengyao laughed, "Guess who he is." Lin Moyu said, "No need to guess, it’s the guy who argued with me in the free market." Lu Fengyao laughed, "Correct, his name is Zhong Ao, the successor of the Zhong Family from Ice and Fire City in the Southern Continent. He is over nine thousand years old and at the second realm of Dao Sovereign." As expected, after that day, Lu Fengyao had already gathered all the information about him. The Zhong Family of Ice and Fire City is a six-star force, considered mid-tier among six-star forces, not particularly strong. However, Zhong Ao lives up to his name, being very proud. Lu Fengyao said, "He has the right to be proud. He was born with the Ice and Fire Dao Body, the best physique for practicing the Zhong Family’s techniques." "He practices both the Ice and Fire Daos simultaneously, and both can exert extraordinary combat power." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖 "When he was at the Heavenly Sovereign realm, he could fight across realms. But after reaching the Dao Sovereign realm, he has no corresponding achievements." "Because he practices the Fire Dao, his temper is not very good and sometimes gets out of control." Practicing both the Ice and Fire Daos simultaneously and sometimes losing control, Lin Moyu felt that he hadn’t balanced the two Daos well. As Lu Fengyao spoke, a person finally entered the venue. With each step, ice spread under his left foot, and burn marks appeared under his right foot. Zhong Ao’s entrance was grand, but everyone looked at him as if he were a joke. Behind Zhong Ao followed a young woman, only at the Heavenly Sovereign realm. She was very beautiful and followed closely behind Zhong Ao. Zhong Ao ignored everyone’s gaze, walked to his designated seat, which was the only one left unoccupied. He frowned, clearly dissatisfied with his seat, but still sat down. His gaze swept across the prodigies at the second realm of Dao Sovereign, filled with battle intent. However, no one paid attention to his battle intent. To many, Zhong Ao seemed like an idiot living in his own world. Zhong Ao finally noticed Lu Fengyao and Lin Moyu, and his gaze became even more provocative. He didn’t seem to understand why he was seated at forty-sixth on the right while Lu Fengyao was at tenth on the left, such a significant difference. Lin Moyu laughed, "This guy isn’t very bright." Lu Fengyao agreed, "People who practice the Fire Dao often aren’t very bright." After Zhong Ao sat down, all the prodigies were finally present. Lin Moyu’s spiritual sense told him that many Dao Sovereigns were already observing the Prodigy Gathering from the sky. A majestic voice rang out, and ten elders appeared in the sky. No one knew the identities of these elders, but everyone could feel the terrifying pressure emanating from them. The aura of these elders was incredibly powerful, at least at the seventh realm of Dao Sovereign. The elder’s aura spread, and the entire venue fell silent, even the lake surface became still. No one dared to breathe loudly under this oppressive pressure, which came from the soul level. Finally, the elder spoke, breaking the silence, "Everyone is here. The Prodigy Gathering officially begins." "The first round of the gathering: Listening to the Dao!" Without further ado, the elder waved his hand, and the hundred seats from left one to left fifty, and right one to right fifty, all flew into the air, hovering above the lake. The seats floated ten meters above the lake. Those accompanying the prodigies, like Lin Moyu, remained in their original seats without any change. The hundred seats above the lake were arranged in the same order, from left one to right fifty. An invisible force enveloped the lake, preventing any outside noise from entering. No matter how people around the lake talked, it wouldn’t affect those listening to the Dao. The elder announced the rules, "Listen to my Dao, comprehend my Dao, use my Dao to resist. The one who lasts the longest wins. Falling into the water means defeat!" The rules were simple: the elder would lecture on the Dao, and the hundred people on the lake would listen. During the lecture, the seats would gradually descend towards the lake. The prodigies had to use the elder’s Dao to keep their seats from falling. The one who lasted the longest would be the final winner. Once a seat fell into the lake, the person would be eliminated. Lin Moyu realized that this round tested comprehension. Not only did they have to listen to the elder’s lecture, but they also had to comprehend it immediately. If their comprehension wasn’t enough, they would fall into the lake and be eliminated. Being eliminated was a minor issue; losing face was a big deal. No one wanted to be eliminated, at least not the first to be eliminated. The first round didn’t compare cultivation levels, which was good news for those ranked lower. The majestic voice rang out again! "Silence, the lecture begins!" ---