When Wang Xiaoqiang heard the words "Divine Beast," he quickly lowered his head.

He clearly understood that Divine Beasts, with their formidable physical bodies and mysterious spell techniques capable of soaring above the Nine Heavens, were beings a level above Spirit Beasts, possessing immense strength, far beyond what a mere cultivator of the Immortal Venerable Level like himself could contend with, so it was best not to provoke one.

As Wang Xiaoqiang bowed his head, the Yellow Dragon on the hall's eaves stopped roaring, closed its mouth, and ceased the movement of its eyes, returning to the state of a stone statue.

Three Imperial Guard Soldiers had already broken out in a cold sweat, and the leader, wiping the sweat from his forehead, whispered to Wang Xiaoqiang, "Champion Young Master, remember not to stare at it continuously, or not even His Majesty might be able to protect you..."

At these words, Wang Xiaoqiang's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but blurt out, "Could it be that this Yellow Dragon is even stronger than His Majesty..."

The leading soldier then cautioned him, "Shh, quiet down, be careful it doesn't hear you... Let me tell you the truth, even His Majesty gives it some respect..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoqiang silently swallowed his saliva and dared not speak further.

Walking through the splendid corridor, the four of them arrived at the entrance of the Yellow Dragon Hall.

At the entrance of the Yellow Dragon Hall stood a burly guard soldier on each side.

Seeing these two soldiers, Wang Xiaoqiang inwardly marveled, mere gate guards, and yet both were figures of the Immortal Venerable Level.

The two guards saw Wang Xiaoqiang dressed in Spirit Golden Armor and did not stop him, allowing him to pass.

After Wang Xiaoqiang stepped into the Yellow Dragon Hall, he saw two rows of officials standing inside.

The officer at the very front on the left was none other than King Ann.

Being in that position, it was clear his status must be above that of the other ministers.

In the middle of the hall stood two people, Ann Miaoyi and Zhao Wenxuan, the runners-up and Third Place Winner of this Armor Snatching Tournament.

Zhao Wenxuan was clad in Spirit Copper Armor, which was also golden in color, but in comparison to Wang Xiaoqiang's Spirit Golden Armor, it was of a much lower grade, and its defensive power was also far inferior to that of Wang Xiaoqiang's armor.

Ann Miaoyi wore white Spirit Silver Armor, which though not comparable to Wang Xiaoqiang's Spirit Golden Armor, matched well with her stunningly beautiful face, enhancing her heroic and valiant appearance, almost like a heroine of legend.

Wang Xiaoqiang, staring at Ann Miaoyi's shapely rear encased in Spirit Silver Armor, secretly imagined, "If Ann Miaoyi wore this armor for me once, I wonder what it would feel like..."

As Wang Xiaoqiang entered the hall, everyone's gaze turned towards him.

Both King Ann and his daughter Ann Miaoyi were shocked and disheartened to see Wang Xiaoqiang alive and well in the Yellow Dragon Hall.

Their disheartenment came from the failure of the assassination.

Their astonishment came from wondering how Wang Xiaoqiang had escaped assassination by two assassins of the Immortal Sage Level?

Seeing Ann Miaoyi fully recovered from near-death injuries within three days also made him marvel at the strength of King Ann; without him, perhaps Ann Miaoyi would have been dead already.

In the eyes of Prince Ann and his daughter, there was deep hostility towards Wang Xiaoqiang,

Facing their gazes, Wang Xiaoqiang maintained a calm demeanor.

Prince Ann coldly stared at Wang Xiaoqiang for a moment, then averted his gaze.

Ann Miaoyi, however, adopted a friendly demeanor, moved with lotus steps to Wang Xiaoqiang's side, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and then whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Wang Xiaoqiang, congratulations, a mere grassroot, a little troublemaker, now you have actually entered the Imperial Palace, the Yellow Dragon Hall, attending the court with the Empire's ministers to meet the Son of Heaven, and you might even be appointed a marquis soon, but Wang Xiaoqiang, just as a grassroot, without any connections or background, how long do you think you can last...?"

While Ann Miaoyi said this, she still feigned a friendly expression, making others think that Lady Ann was getting acquainted with Wang Xiaoqiang!

Watching Ann Miaoyi speak with a friendly face, but uttering words that were sarcastic and demeaning, Wang Xiaoqiang thought that Ann Miaoyi had real potential to be an actress. He humored a smile, also feigned a friendly demeanor, leaned close to Ann Miaoyi's beautiful temple, and said, "Ann Miaoyi, you look truly beautiful in this Spirit Silver Armor, but I think you would look even more beautiful hiding under a bed!"

Upon hearing these words, Ann Miaoyi's friendly expression abruptly turned into one of embarrassed annoyance, just about to explode, when a shrill, high-pitched voice exclaimed, "His Majesty has arrived!"

Hearing this, Ann Miaoyi immediately hid her anger, knelt to the ground, Zhao Wenxuan also hurriedly knelt, and all the ministers did likewise, their faces filled with sincere fear and trepidation.

Only Wang Xiaoqiang did not kneel.

Whether on Earth or in the Immortal Realm, Wang Xiaoqiang only knelt to his parents, never to anyone else.

Even when facing a sovereign, whose cultivation base and status were much higher than his own, Wang Xiaoqiang still adhered to his own principles.

Although doing so might cost him his life, but...

He would not kneel!

Seeing that Wang Xiaoqiang did not kneel upon seeing His Majesty, everyone glanced at him with a strange look,

Seeing this, Prince Ann and Ann Miaoyi exchanged a cold, smug smirk, their eyes seemed to say, "Humph, Wang Xiaoqiang, you dare to be arrogant, now you are certainly doomed!"

The power structure of the Yellow Dragon Empire was quite strict; the Emperor, in order to strengthen the central authority, deliberately elevated his own authority. Not only in this Imperial Palace, but throughout the entire Yellow Dragon Empire, except for the Emperor's biological mother, everyone else must perform the kneeling bowing ceremony when facing His Majesty.

Anybody who fails to do so is guilty of the crime of deceiving and offending the sovereign, and will be executed on the spot.

Wang Xiaoqiang's refusal to kneel was clearly a suicidal act.

At this moment, everyone in the hall thought Wang Xiaoqiang was courting death, and his chances were slim.

Walking to the Dragon Throne, Huang Ce, just about to sit, suddenly saw someone not kneeling and glanced upward, taking a closer look and seeing it was Wang Xiaoqiang. He was quite puzzled but unexpectedly, did not become angry, instead signaling to a eunuch with his eye.

The eunuch, watching Wang Xiaoqiang, barked in a stern voice, "Bold Wang Xiaoqiang, why do you not kneel when you see His Majesty?"

Although Wang Xiaoqiang was afraid, he felt that kneeling would be harder than death, so he braced himself and said, "I, Wang Xiaoqiang, only kneel to my parents in this life, this is my long-standing principle and my sincerity. To kneel against my will would be disloyal to His Majesty and a form of implicit blasphemy to you. So, I will not kneel!"

"Bold Wang Xiaoqiang, not kneeling before His Majesty means death!" Before Huang Ce could speak, Prince Ann already pointed at Wang Xiaoqiang and roared loudly.

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)

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