Chapter 800: Central Province’s Martial God Palace
Shui Lingling smiled gently and summoned out the Profound Sun Bird. Then, she took Xiao Chen to a rather spectacular transportation formation on the Supreme Sky Star.
In this place replete with Spiritual Energy, the silhouettes of mountains rose and fell. The mountains were lush with greenery, and Spirit Beasts wandered everywhere. No one would imagine such a scene filled with life in the cold starry heavens.
This area near the Supreme Sky Sect had been perfectly altered, looking no different from the Kunlun Continent.
Xiao Chen and Shui Lingling came to a transportation formation nestled between four mountains. The First Elder, Han Qinghe, several other inner sect elders, and the many true inheritors who came to participate in the Sage War gathered here.
People like Yue Chenxi, Jun Si, and the others had arrived long ago. When Xiao Chen saw all these familiar faces, he asked, “First Senior Sister, are we using this transportation formation to go directly to the Central Province’s Martial God Palace?”
Shui Lingling smiled gently and retorted, “Why? Do you think that is impossible? With enough Astral Cores, it is even possible to send you back to the Sky Dome Realm. This was something that four generations of the Supreme Sky Sect’s Martial Emperors put in a lot of effort to build.”
Directly sent back to the Sky Dome Realm?
When Xiao Chen heard this, his eyes lit up. He still had many bonds tying him to the Sky Dome Realm, like Liu Ruyue, Liu Suifeng, and his family in the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Yulan, Feng Feixue, Ying Yue…these names echoed in the depths of Xiao Chen’s mind, unforgettable.
In the past, Xiao Chen had expected that he would not be able to go back before advancing to Martial Emperor. However, now that he thought about it, that was such a cruel arrangement. Martial Emperor, the peak of martial cultivation, how much longer would it take him to reach that realm?
Shui Lingling’s casual words unintentionally stirred up many thoughts in Xiao Chen’s heart, touching his tender spots.
“Junior Brother Xiao Chen, are you alright? We are going to go down.”
Xiao Chen recovered his wits and smiled. Then he gently drifted to the ground.
When the First Elder, Hang Qinghe, saw the two arrive, he called them over with a wave of his hand. He had a grave expression as he said, “I have some bad news for you two. The Sovereign Noble Clans of the Profound Domain are coming to take part in our Martial God Palace’s Sage War as well.”
Xiao Chen’s expression did not change, but ripples spread in his heart. The Sovereign Noble Clans’ strength was similar to the Holy Lands’. Normally, they did not even pay heed to the Martial God Palace.
The Proud Son of Heaven Ranking did not include the names of these people. Xiao Chen thought about Yan Shisan’s horrifying strength. If all the Sovereign Noble Clan scions were that strong, then obtaining a top ten position in this Sage War would be very difficult.
Shui Lingling said mockingly, “They must be participating for the sake of the Heavenly Dew Divine Spring. These Noble Clans normally do not bother about the survival of humans. Now, when there is such a benefit, they suddenly acknowledge themselves as one of us.”
The Heavenly Dew Divine Spring could wash the marrow and purify the blood. It contained the Qi originating from the Heavenly Dao as well as huge amounts of Luck. Soaking in it guaranteed that one would become a Martial Emperor before the age of one hundred.
This Heavenly Dew Divine Spring in the Kunlun Mountain would fill only once every ten thousand years. Since this was such a rare opportunity, it would be impossible for these clans not to be interested.
Han Qinghe also sighed softly and said, “With the combined pressure from the four Sovereign Noble Clans, the Martial God Palace had to give way. The human race cannot take a civil war among the humans.”
An inner sect elder at the side said helplessly, “We can only blame the Three Holy Lands for not doing well enough. If the Dragon’s Gate’s Azure Emperor from back then were still around, these Sovereign Noble Clans would not even dare to object to anything.”
Han Qinghe said, “This matter is already settled. There is no point feeling any resentment over it. The two of you just need to do your best. In history, there are many outstanding sons of heavens that never soaked in the Heavenly Dew Divine Spring.”
Although the First Elder spoke in a carefree manner, everyone could make out his tone of regret. Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute and said, “First Elder, rest assured. Xiao Chen received much kindness from the Supreme Sky Sect. On this trip, I will definitely get a spot for the Supreme Sky Sect.”
As Xiao Chen spoke, he revealed his sharpness, displaying great self-confidence.
Shui Lingling also revealed a determined gaze and said, “First Elder, rest assured. Shui Lingling will also do her best and obtain a spot for the Supreme Sky Sect.”
Han Qinghe smiled faintly, infected by the two’s enthusiasm. He said rather heroically, “Since the two of you are so confident, I would be doing ourselves an injustice by saying such discouraging words. So what if the Sovereign Noble Clans come? Come! For now, let’s just do our best!”
After saying that, the First Elders issued some instructions. The nearby inner sect elders all started to charge this complex transportation formation with Superior Grade Astral Cores.
“Sou! Sou! Sou!”
Pillars of light shot up from the formation. Space started to tremble intensely, and a huge black hole appeared above everyone.
The black hole was woven with complicated time-space coordinates. A boundless suction force surged out and pulled the crowd in.
Xiao Chen felt his body elongating infinitely, eventually turning into tiny particles. His body vanished; only his thoughts remained in this space-time tunnel.
Then, all the particles started flying to a distant place at a speed that was incomprehensible to cultivators.
When Xiao Chen felt his body reassembling, the group had already arrived at the other side of the transportation formation. Looking around, he saw that the place was crowded; the scene seemed rather familiar.
“We’ve arrived. Let’s head directly to the Proud Son of Heaven Pavilion.”
Han Qinghe waved his hand, and a King Grade warship appeared. He raised the Supreme Sky Sect’s banner and brought the group over to the Martial God Palace’s Proud Son of Heaven Pavilion.
All sorts of warships and flying Spirit Beasts filled the airspace around the Supreme Sky Sect’s warship. Noisy chatter buzzed endlessly. It seemed like all the high-ranked sects of the entire Tianwu Domain had come.
The Sage War took place every four years and was originally a momentous occasion for the Tianwu Domain’s humans. At this time, the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking would undergo great changes and get refreshed entirely.
Since this round of the Sage War coincided with the opening of the Heavenly Dew Divine Spring, such a grand and bustling scene was not strange.
It was just that Xiao Chen could not get used to the sudden shift from an absolutely silent environment to such bustling furor.
In this somewhat constricted space, the warship proceeded onwards. Finally, it arrived at the Proud Son of Heaven Pavilion after one hour.
The original Sage Wall had been shifted to some unknown location; only the one thousand Sage Sky Lanterns of the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking remained, arranged in a pyramidal shape.
The space for five kilometers around the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking was absolutely empty. It looked like there was a formless barrier encompassing the entire place, from the sky to the ground.
With the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking as the center, all the warships that had arrived from everywhere formed a gargantuan circle.
Xiao Chen stood on the deck and looked down. He saw at the lowest part of the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking his own Sage Sky Lantern. He could not help but be stunned. Then, he revealed a smile.
It had been almost two years. Unexpectedly, no one had managed to knock off his lantern.
“The Supreme Sky Sect’s people are here!”
Three thousand to four thousand warships surrounded the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking, from the ground to the sky. Each of these warships represented a sect.
Looking around, although there were many sects, there were not many Rank 9 sects. This was especially so for peak Rank 9 sects, like the Supreme Sky Sect, which were even rarer.
When the Supreme Sky Sect’s warship appeared, it immediately attracted the attention of several people, including many whom Xiao Chen was familiar with.
Full Moon Pavilion’s Feng Xingsheng, the battle realm’s Niu Deng, the Ximen Noble Clan’s Ximen Bao, the Thousand Mystery Sect’s Hua Dao, and the seven giants’ Wang Meng and Murong Lingfeng, the Passionate Young Master…they had all arrived already.
“I heard that the demonic genius that occupied the last spot of the Proud Son of Heaven Ranking for almost two years is on the Supreme Sky Sect’s warship.”
“That fellow is truly a demonic genius. After arriving in the Kunlun Realm two years ago, he already comprehended a will. Then he defeated the Extreme Yin Sect’s Bai Wuxue with force.”
“However, he is too inconsiderate. He occupied the last rank for two years, not saying or asking anything about it. You have no idea how many new disciples of several sects are cursing him in secret.”
“The last rank does not give any rewards. This fellow should have spent some time increasing his rank slowly.”
Xiao Chen felt somewhat surprised. He had not expected the discussions about the Supreme Sky Sect to focus on him.
Jun Si, who was at the side, smiled. “Junior Brother Xiao Chen, it looks like you are really popular, able to rival the seven giants already. In the past, when people mention the Supreme Sky Sect, they would usually discuss our First Senior Sister.”
When Shui Lingling heard that, she smiled casually and said, “Seven giants? What seven giants? They no longer exist. Those who do not comprehend a will are left behind. They will not be able to stand at the very peak.”
Xiao Chen could not help but view Shui Lingling’s words from another angle. It was like she was saying that she had long since comprehended a will. However, he could not tell if he read her correctly just based on her appearance.
He chatted idly with the others. All at once, the noisy scene fell quiet. Apparently, someone incredible arrived.
“Pu ci!”
Suddenly, bright, dazzling holy light descended from the sky. Xiao Chen squinted and saw three strangely shaped warships slowly appear in the sky. These warships surpassed King Grade; they were Emperor Grade.
One warship had the shape of the deep sea’s heavenly tortoise, the Black Tortoise; one was the shape of the eastern divine bird, the Vermilion Bird; and the last had the shape of the Holy Beast of the clouds, the White Tiger. The holy light was dazzling and overwhelming, covering everything.
“The Three Holy Lands’ people are here!”
The crowd that kept silent for a long time looked up and erupted with excitement.
The sound waves were like waves on the sea, undulating and spreading out, sending several of the warships rocking.
The bright light could not blind Xiao Chen’s eyes. The boundless Holy Might could not suppress the surging fervor in his heart.
The Three Holy Lands—the Phoenix’s Passion Palace, the Divine Martial Gate, and White Emperor City—Xiao Chen finally saw their true faces. He wondered what level the three Holy Scions were at right now.
“Sou! Sou! Sou!”
Just at this moment, four warships traveling side by side suddenly appeared to the east. A Holy Might spread out, no weaker than that of the Holy Lands. Unexpectedly, those were also Emperor Grade warships, which surpassed King Grade warships.
From left to right, the banners had the characters Yan, Ying, Jiang, and Lin. These were the four Sovereign Noble Clans of the human race.
The warships of the four clans were no weaker than the Three Holy Lands’. It even seemed like they were provoking the Three Holy Lands.
A few youths stood at the bow of every Sovereign Noble Clan’s warship. These were the absolute geniuses that the Sovereign Noble Clans were sending to fight for a spot.
This time, the four Sovereign Noble Clans were very ambitious. Each clan wanted to obtain at least two spots, leaving only two spots for the sects of the Tianwu Domain.
An old man from the Jiang Clan, who was on one of the warships in the middle, waved his hand.
Then, three people jumped out from each of the other three warships—one elderly and two youths.