68: Chapter 68 The prize pool is still piling up; the allure of quasi-Emperor artifacts.

Early the next morning.

Before dawn had even broken, the gates of Tianque City were already open.

Today was the day of the Genius Tournament main event. The martial arts arena, located a hundred miles outside the city, had already been set up, and crowds of people were setting out from Tianque City, rushing toward the arena!

Gu Chen got up early, and Gu Qingshan and Li Shuangxu were already waiting at the door.

Ru Shuang also emerged from her room, having changed into a clean white outfit. Her hair was tied up, making her look much more spirited.

"Let's go." Gu Chen took a step forward.

The four of them walked out of the Zuixian Restaurant.

In that instant, countless gazes landed on them simultaneously.

Behind the windows of the teahouse across the street, several pairs of eyes narrowed at the same time!

Since Gu Chen's name had appeared yesterday, everyone was astonished to discover that he was the very person the Zhao Family was looking for!

The Zhao Family had offered a quasi-emperor artifact as a reward, a temptation that naturally everyone wanted to obtain!

Everyone stared intently at Gu Chen; he was walking around just like a fat lamb!

At the same time, people were whispering and discussing this Gu Family, wondering what kind of background they had that they would dare to come to the Genius Tournament after killing Zhao Ritian!

Was he not afraid of death?

"Look, that's Gu Chen!"

"The one who killed Zhao Ritian?"

"Yes, that's him! I heard the Zhao Family is offering a quasi-emperor artifact for his head, yet he actually dares to come and participate in the competition?"

"He's got too much nerve. I heard three quasi-emperors from the Zhao Family are waiting outside the city; isn't he just walking to his death?"

"For a small Family that popped up out of nowhere, making it this far is already pretty good!"

Discussions surged from every corner like a tide, one wave after another.

Some were shocked, some were confused, some were gloating, and others were simply there to watch the spectacle!

"I heard Patriarch Zhao Wuji is leading the team himself—a Third Heaven quasi-emperor—plus two quasi-emperor Elders. With three quasi-emperors guarding the outside, this kid won't be able to escape even if he had wings!"

"Then why is he still coming to the competition? Has he lost his mind? Why doesn't he run away quickly?"

"Who knows? Maybe he thinks he's going to die anyway, so he might as well die on stage with some dignity!"

"Dignity? Death is death wherever it happens, what's the difference? As for running away, do you think he can escape in front of three quasi-emperors?"

Among the crowd, a young man sneered, "I think he just doesn't know what's good for him. He thinks winning one round of the preliminary matches makes him something special, not realizing that in front of a quasi-emperor, he's not even as good as an ant!"

The person next to him chimed in, "Exactly, no one the Zhao Family wants to kill has ever left the Central Plains alive!"

"It's a pity for that girl, she's caught up in his bad luck too!"

"What girl?"

"The one third on the beauty ranking, Ru Shuang, the one who came with Gu Chen. Didn't you see her yesterday?"

"Oh, that one. What a pity indeed! Such a succulent girl!"

Ru Shuang heard these words clearly!

She felt somewhat speechless!

It wasn't because of fear, but because of those people's faces!

They didn't know anything at all, yet they spoke so confidently, as if Gu Chen were already dead!

She turned to look at Gu Chen.

Gu Chen was sitting beside her, wiping his sword, completely unconcerned by the gazes of the people around him.

"Young Master Gu." Ru Shuang couldn't help but speak up.

"Hmm?"

"Aren't you afraid?"

Gu Chen looked up at her, "Afraid of what?"

"They say there are three quasi-emperors outside the city!"

"Oh, that?" Gu Chen smiled, "Is that something to be afraid of?"

Afraid?

Uncle Jian had said he could take them all on!

He was not the one who should be running!

Ru Shuang opened her mouth, wanting to ask why he wasn't afraid, but swallowed the words back.

If Gu Chen hadn't appeared back then, she would likely have been taken away by Zhao Ritian.

She recalled what her grandfather had said last night: he was a fool with a trump card.

But what exactly was that trump card?

Meanwhile, Nangong Lie was in a corner, his gaze fixed on Gu Chen.

His face was gloomy, and his fingers were trembling incessantly!

That was an ultimate emperor weapon!

He wanted it so badly!

"The Grand Elder said not to make a move today, let's see how the Zhao Family reacts," the gray-clothed old man whispered.

Nangong Lie gritted his teeth, "Can those three quasi-emperors from the Zhao Family take him down?"

"Hard to say," the gray-clothed old man narrowed his eyes.

"That kid's guardian is not simple. To be able to kill the Zhao Family's Uncle Zhao, they must be at least a quasi-emperor. Let the Zhao Family's three quasi-emperors fight them first!"

"And what if the Zhao Family loses?"

"If they lose, even better. We'll have our chance then!"

Nangong Lie took a deep breath, suppressing the unwillingness in his heart!

Fine, then he would wait!

See how the Zhao Family wraps this up!

See how Gu Chen dies!

In the distance, representatives of several imperial families sat together, whispering to each other.

"The Zhao Family has spent a fortune this time. Three quasi-emperors, and even Patriarch Zhao Wuji has come in person."

"What is that kid's background? To make the Zhao Family take him so seriously?"

"I heard he killed Zhao Ritian."

"No wonder the Zhao Family has gone crazy like this. Three quasi-emperors, and even Patriarch Zhao Wuji has come in person."

"You can't say that. If he dares to come and participate in the competition, it means he has confidence."

"Confidence? What kind of confidence can withstand three quasi-emperors?"

That person opened his mouth but couldn't answer.

That's right, what kind of confidence could withstand three quasi-emperors?

Unless there was someone stronger than a quasi-emperor standing behind him!

But someone stronger than a quasi-emperor would be a Great Emperor!

A Great Emperor who hasn't appeared in hundreds of thousands of years—how could that be possible?

The stands were buzzing with discussion; not a single person thought Gu Chen would succeed!

Everyone felt that he would definitely die today!

Before the competition had even begun, Gu Chen had already become the target of everyone's hostility!

Ru Shuang walked behind Gu Chen, her palms full of sweat.

Her grandfather's voice in her mind also grew tense, "Girl, if a fight breaks out later, stay far away. The aftermath of a battle at the quasi-emperor level could shake you to death!"

"Grandfather, Young Master Gu!"

"Don't worry about him. His guardian is not simple. If they really fight, it's not certain who will win or lose. We would only be a distraction to him."

Ru Shuang bit her lip and said nothing more.

Her strength was too weak; she couldn't help at all. Even if her grandfather controlled her body, it wouldn't be enough against a quasi-emperor!

It might even get them discovered.

All of this was because her own strength was too weak!

She secretly vowed that she must become stronger!

In inns, restaurants, and on the street, a dozen groups of people were all staring at Gu Chen.

Some held transmission jade talismans in their hands, ready to send messages out at any moment.

Some had their fingers pressed on their Storage Pouch, which contained Immortal Binding Ropes and Spirit-Sealing Formation Plates, ready to act at any time!

Others followed directly behind, not too far and not too close, maintaining a distance of a hundred feet!

Gu Chen was like a fat lamb, walking in the middle of a pack of wolves!

Countless gazes fell squarely on Gu Chen.

The Zhao Family was offering a quasi-emperor artifact as a reward—dead or alive, it didn't matter!

This price tag was enough to tempt anyone!

Everyone was staring at him!

Everyone wanted his life!

Gu Chen walked down the street, his expression normal, not caring in the slightest!

Of course, he knew these people were watching him!

Jian Wuji had already told him!

They were all small fry, unable to make any waves!

Gu Chen didn't bother with them anymore!

Small fry were not worth his distraction!