Myriad Dragon Divine Sovereign

Liu Jingwen watched Wen Qingye’s figure recede into the distance, sighing softly to herself.

Yanr Yuhuan couldn’t help but exclaim, "To think he’s a top master on the Cyan Cloud List, and so incredibly powerful. I was completely wrong about him."

Liu Jingwen looked away and smiled. "Yes, that’s right. For someone at the Yin Yang Realm Eighth Layer Heaven to be able to slay a genius at the Peak of Ninth Heaven of Yin Yang Realm... It just goes to show that he’s destined for greatness."

"Let’s treat Xiao Yuan’s injuries first, then hurry to the summit of Xuwang Mountain."

"Okay."

......

「Xuwang Mountain Summit.」

Atop a vast, open plateau hundreds of yards long, clouds and mist drifted hazily. The area was overgrown with tangled vines, lush forests, and strange, jagged boulders.

An endless, dusky-yellow halo emanated from the center, from which wisps of white smoke diffused, continuously spreading in all directions.

An immense silhouette floated in the air, but it was difficult to see clearly, shrouded as it was by the white smoke.

"The Dao Patterns will manifest soon," a young man of about twenty said calmly, his eyes fixed on the silhouette ahead.

The young man wore ice-blue robes in the distinct style of the Taiyi Pavilion. Only a select few within the sect were permitted to wear such attire—not even most Elders had the privilege—a testament to his immense talent.

This was none other than the Cold Venerable, Hankong, one of the seven venerables of the Taiyi Pavilion’s younger generation.

Hankong and Jiang Wu were of the same generation and had crossed paths several times. Without fail, Jiang Wu had never lasted more than thirty moves against him.

Beside Hankong stood two others whose cultivation was on par with Jiang Wu’s: Huang Zhentian and Gu Xu, both outstanding disciples of their generation from the Taiyi Pavilion.

Gu Xu also had another identity: the grandson of Taiyi Pavilion’s Elder Gu Chunyang. Gu Chunyang was one of the elders in charge of law and punishment, a man of high status and immense power who was deeply respected within the Taiyi Pavilion. Furthermore, he shared a distant blood tie with Gu Yifeng, one of the Three Elders.

Huang Zhentian smiled sycophantically. "Senior Brother Han, the way I see it, our Taiyi Pavilion can easily claim three of the seven spots from the Great Wilderness Ancient Stele. And with your talent, Senior Brother Han, you’re bound to comprehend Spirit-Grade Martial Arts, or perhaps something even greater."

As if he hadn’t heard a word Huang Zhentian said, Hankong kept his eyes fixed on the scene before him.

Gu Xu kept his head down, silent as ever.

"I don’t know if your Taiyi Pavilion is taking all seven, but my Daoist School of Non-action is taking two."

Just then, several figures ascended the mountain path, the words coming from the man in the lead.

Hankong remained as still as a statue, gazing into the distance. Beside him, Huang Zhentian’s brow furrowed as he looked at the newcomers. "You must be Zhong Tiandao of the Daoist School of Non-action?"

If Fangg Xin was ranked third among the prodigies of the Daoist School of Non-action, then Zhong Tiandao was ranked second. He was the true leader of their contingent for this event.

Behind Zhong Tiandao stood many members of the Daoist School of Non-action, along with disciples from several allied sects who seemed ready to follow their lead.

A chill went through Zhong Tiandao when he saw Hankong. He then turned to Huang Zhentian. "And you are? Jiang Wu? Or Huang Zhentian?"

Huang Zhentian puffed out his chest and declared loudly, "Huang Zhentian of Taiyi Pavilion’s Sea of Forgetting!"

A serious expression flickered in Zhong Tiandao’s eyes. He nodded. "So it is you."

"Amitabha Buddha!"

Just then, another voice rang out, causing everyone’s heart to tremble. Though the voice sounded calm, it struck them like the tolling of a great temple bell, imbued with a powerful, resonant force.

Hankong finally looked away from the stele and spoke slowly. "Don’t resort to such petty tricks. I don’t like it."

BOOM!

Jiekong, who was approaching from a distance, suddenly felt his heart seize. A current of Formless and Shadowless Primordial Qi, like a cold, sharp dagger, viciously stabbed into his body. His face went deathly pale in an instant.

Hankong stood perfectly still, as if nothing had happened.

Zhong Tiandao watched this unfold, inwardly shocked. ’The Cold Venerable, one of Taiyi Pavilion’s seven venerables, is truly terrifying.’

The Daoist School of Non-action and Baoling Temple were both situated in the central part of the Eastern Profound Domain, so he was well aware of Jiekong’s formidable power. Yet, in a mere instant, Jiekong had been brought to his knees. At this thought, Zhong Tiandao gave Hankong a long, hard look.

SWOOSH!

Figures flickered through the sky, countless silhouettes streaking toward the summit of Xuwang Mountain. In the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the peak was teeming with people from more than half of the powers in the Eastern Profound Domain.

A vast, dark sea of people covered the mountaintop. The entire open summit was a hive of activity, packed not only with masters of the younger generation but also with experts from the old guard.

Of course, the older generation masters were fewer in number. With the passage of time, they had not only achieved profound cultivation but also accumulated vast, worldly experience.

Everyone now stood around the periphery, their eyes fixed on the Great Wilderness Ancient Stele ahead, their expressions fervent.

Amid the crowd, Su Zixin of the Jade Maiden Sect looked around in astonishment. "Heavens! There are people from eighty-seven sects and Ancient Countries here already, and we’re still waiting on half the sects to arrive. There are so many people!"

The Jade Maiden Sect had also sent a good number of masters this time, a dozen or so in total, all of whom were quite powerful.

"So many masters," Luu Han said gravely, nodding.

The woman at the front of their group spoke softly, "Quiet now. Stick close to me. I’ll take you to the disciples from the Celestial Profound Sect."

Luu Han and Su Zixin immediately fell silent. This woman was Youu Junlian, the most outstanding prodigy of the Jade Maiden Sect’s current generation.

Youu Junlian led the members of the Jade Maiden Sect to a spot not far away, where the disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect were gathered.

"Senior Brother Cao, Brother Shil!" Youu Junlian said with a smile as she approached gracefully, addressing the two leading the Celestial Profound Sect contingent.

One of them, a rather handsome man, smiled politely at the group from the Jade Maiden Sect. "Junior Sister Youu!"

Youu Junlian said softly to the man, "Senior Brother Cao, it’s been two years. Your cultivation has grown even more consolidated."

"Hahaha, Junior Sister Youu, you flatter me! Tianlong’s cultivation is what’s truly advancing by leaps and bounds," Cao Yun laughed heartily at her words, projecting an air of great magnanimity.

Beside him, Shil Tianlong smiled faintly and shook his head. "Senior Brother Cao’s strength is what’s truly formidable. He ranks higher than me on the Cyan Cloud List. The difference is clear for all to see."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Youu Junlian looked past them at the other disciples, her expression curious. "Didn’t the Celestial Profound Sect recently have a notable figure emerge, someone by the name of Wen Qingye?"

At the mention of his name, Cao Yun’s face darkened. "Him? Hmph. He looks down on us, thinks our strength is beneath him, and refused to travel with us. It’s better if we don’t speak of him, Junior Sister Youu."

Cao Yun, with his petty and narrow mind, had already come to resent Wen Qingye for that slight.

Youu Junlian nodded in understanding and said no more.

Thousands of people were scattered across the summit of Xuwang Mountain, occupying various positions. The masters among them were too numerous to count, but all eyes were fixed on one thing: the Great Wilderness Ancient Stele.