Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

'All of this... perhaps it was no coincidence!'

A thoughtful look appeared in Ye Chen's eyes.

'Perhaps the Qin family really wasn't as simple as I'd imagined.'

'Their so-called ordinary family status might just have been a disguise.'

'After all, I hadn't even stepped onto the path of cultivation back then. If there had been Practitioners in the Qin family disguised as ordinary people, there's no way I could have noticed anything was amiss.'

"It seems you've already found some answers."

Seeing the clarity return to Ye Chen's eyes, a faint smile graced the Kunlun Immortal's face.

"Yes. Although there are still many things I don't understand, I've managed to grasp a few clues from the backlash I experienced."

Ye Chen said faintly, his eyes glinting.

'It seems the Qin family was hiding quite a few secrets back then.'

"It is for the best, then, that I was able to help you, the one chosen by destiny."

"However, my time is nearly up. Now that the Chaos Prison-Suppressing Cauldron has been successfully entrusted to you, I consider my mission fulfilled."

The Kunlun Immortal glanced around at the secret realm.

The surrounding void was a boundless expanse of stars, seemingly infinite. Myriad constellations seemed to revolve around the landmass, rising and falling. Hazy starlight cascaded down, illuminating the Kunlun Immortal's face and adding to his transcendent air.

"Thank you, Senior, for bestowing this secret treasure upon me!"

"Whatever karma the Chaos Prison-Suppressing Cauldron carries, now that it has been entrusted to me, I will naturally bear it all!"

Ye Chen's expression was solemn and respectful. He cupped his fists and spoke.

In any case, the Kunlun Immortal was a powerful senior who had granted him this monumental opportunity. Ye Chen was deeply grateful to him.

"'Bestowing' is too strong a word. I doubt anyone would willingly gift such a priceless treasure of heaven and earth to another!"

"Your appearance here, your ability to claim the Chaos Prison-Suppressing Cauldron... all of it was arranged by fate. It has nothing to do with me!"

"The Chaos Prison-Suppressing Cauldron chose you; I did not give it to you."

As he finished speaking, the Kunlun Immortal's form suddenly grew a little blurry.

Clearly, the power of his will-incarnation was on the verge of dissipating completely.

"Alright. Once my will-incarnation dissipates, this secret realm could collapse at any moment."

"I will send you on your way now."

The Kunlun Immortal thought for a moment before adding a warning. "Of course, I feel I must remind you that the situation outside is likely far from optimistic. Young friend, I fear you will face a bloody battle the moment you leave."

"Is that so?" Ye Chen's brow twitched. He already had a good idea of what was happening, and a confident smile touched his lips.

"Senior, you can rest assured. I don't give a second thought to the enemies waiting outside."

Hearing this, the Kunlun Immortal glanced at Ye Chen and chuckled. "That is true. With your current strength, young friend, dealing with those fellows outside should be more than enough."

"However, 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' You must still be careful, young friend."

These words instantly put Ye Chen on high alert.

He knew the Kunlun Immortal would not have said that without reason.

''The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'... It must mean there are other enemies lurking in the shadows!'

"In any case, I have witnessed the divine speed of your progress over these past hundred-odd days of cultivation, young friend."

"I imagine you are fully prepared for the situation outside. I will send you out now."

With a casual wave of the Kunlun Immortal's hand, ripples spread through the void. A shimmering portal materialized out of thin air before them.

"After you depart, I will use my remaining power to bestow a rare blessing upon this land."

"After all, it would be a terrible waste to let myself and this secret realm simply fade away into nothingness."

The Kunlun Immortal smiled.

"I will never forget your kindness, Senior!"

"Perhaps, one day in the future, I will be able to meet your true self somewhere in the vastness of time and space!"

"When that time comes, I must have a proper chat with your true self about what happened here."

Ye Chen said with a smile.

"Hahaha, that would be wonderful."

"I rather look forward to seeing what heights you will have reached by the time you meet my true self."

The Kunlun Immortal clapped his hands and laughed heartily, showing no trace of regret for his imminent dissolution into the ether.

As his voice faded, Ye Chen hesitated no longer. He focused his mind, took a single step, and strode into the portal before him.

WHOOSH!

In an instant, he felt as if he had entered a spatio-temporal tunnel. He was surrounded by a kaleidoscope of lights so dazzling he could barely keep his eyes open.

Ye Chen glanced back and saw everything around him receding at a tremendous speed.

In the mere blink of an eye, the portal he had just entered was already thousands of miles away.

Back in the secret realm, watching Ye Chen's figure recede into the distance, the Kunlun Immortal was once again left alone in the vast, empty expanse.

The Kunlun Immortal was lost in thought for a moment, then shook his head and murmured to himself, "Meet my true self, he says?"

"With such peerless talent... perhaps it's not impossible that he will one day surpass my true self."

...

「On the summit of Kunlun Mountain.」

The once-bustling plaza was now deathly silent.

Everyone stood in silence, merely waiting for the stone gate before them to open once more.

If Ye Chen had seen this, he would have been quite astonished.

Over the past half-month, the crowd in the plaza had ceased to be a chaotic free-for-all. Instead, they had separated into eight distinct, well-defined groups.

A major power presided over the front of each group.

The four factions to the left of the stone gate each wore clothing embroidered with the gold-trimmed likeness of a ferocious beast.

One depicted a majestic, fearsome tiger, baring its fangs and claws.

Another showed a fire phoenix, soaring through the heavens and leaping into the sky.

A third featured a rhinoceros, heavy as the earth itself, its eyes glinting with a sharp light.

And a fourth, a giant ape with a green face and sharp fangs, as mighty as a mountain.

These four factions were, of course, the top powers from the Black Triangle Zone: the Black Tiger Tribe, the Cyan Ape Tribe, the Fire Phoenix Tribe, and the Lingxi Tribe!

Each of them revered a ferocious beast as their totem, which protected them and allowed them to grow their factions. Once a tribesman reached a certain cultivation realm, they would gain a portion of their totem beast's formidable power, making their own combat strength even more terrifying.

Opposite them, to the right of the stone gate, were naturally the Four Great Families of the Black Triangle Zone!

They were also among the top powers of the Black Triangle Zone. With the exception of the enigmatic Xuanwu Tribe, their overall heritage was in no way inferior to the other four great tribes—and in some aspects, even surpassed them!