Chapter 116: Zhongzhou Ancient City, Genius Gathering
After successfully obtaining the second piece of the Samsara Mirror fragment and escaping the pursuit of the Naga tribe, Ye Li and Qin Yixuan hid their whereabouts in the Dongzhou waters and practiced in seclusion for several months.
During this time, Ye Li focused her energy on fusing the newly acquired fragments. With the two fragments united as one, the power of the Samsara Mirror increased significantly. Not only did the previously unlocked abilities of "Time and Space Freeze," "Mirror Projection," and "Causal Perception" see their range and effectiveness significantly enhanced, but a new auxiliary ability, "Eye of Tracing Origins," was also unlocked. This ability, consuming a significant amount of spiritual energy, allows for a brief recollection of relatively clear fragments of past events within an object or area, greatly aiding in the exploration of ruins and the pursuit of clues.
At the same time, her cultivation, nourished by the essence of the Samsara Mirror and honed by her constant travels, was firmly established in the middle stage of the Yuan Dan Realm, steadily progressing towards the later stages. Her integration of the "Emperor's Scripture of the Netherworld" and the "Ice Emperor's Sealing Heaven Art" also deepened, and her self-created "Star Silence" sword technique was even more powerful than before.
With the nourishment of the ten thousand year old sea soul essence, Qin Yixuan's hidden injuries were completely healed, his cultivation was improved, his control over the source of divinity became more and more proficient, his compatibility with the Buddhist rosary became higher and higher, and his strength also increased greatly.
Both felt that after their encounter in the East Continent, they needed a new, larger stage to test themselves, and they also needed to explore the wider world and seek more opportunities and clues. Zhongzhou, the center of the spiritual world, a place where geniuses gathered and the winds of the storm gathered, became their next target.
Zhongzhou doesn't refer to a specific state, but rather a collective term for the core region of the Thousand Realms Spirit World, the most prosperous, richest in spiritual energy, and most complex in its power dynamics. It's a veritable place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, home to ancient aristocratic families, hidden sects, and imperial courts, with heritage stretching back far beyond imagination.
Recently, a piece of news that has shaken the entire Thousand Realms Spirit World is spreading rapidly - the once-in-a-millennium "Thousand Realms Pride Conference" will be held in the first ancient city in Zhongzhou, "Tiandi City"!
The Thousand Realms Pride Gathering is the highest-ranking gathering of the younger generation in the Spirit Realm. Jointly initiated by several of the most ancient and powerful factions, it aims to bring together the prodigies of all realms to exchange ideas and compete for supreme glory and opportunity. Nearly every reputable top faction will send their most outstanding disciples to participate, making this a pinnacle showdown for the younger generation of the Spirit Realm!
This was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for Ye Li and Qin Yixuan. Not only could they hone their skills by competing against top talents from various realms, but they could also access the innermost realms of the spirit world, perhaps even learning about the Samsara Mirror, past life enemies, or even the prophecy of the "Eclipse Realm."
After making the decision, the two of them did not delay any longer. They passed through the large cross-domain teleportation array in the Dongzhou Sea, and after several turns, they finally set foot on the land of Zhongzhou.
Upon entering Zhongzhou, they were struck by a completely different atmosphere. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was so dense it practically turned to liquid form, and with every breath they took, they could feel their cultivation level grow subtly. In the sky, magnificent chariots, massive flying boats, and even palaces pulled by terrifying, rare, and exotic beasts frequently passed by, emanating a terrifying pressure. Across the land, cities stretched endlessly, and sects abounded, a scene of utter prosperity.
Their destination, Tiandi City, was even more magnificent and imposing than one could imagine. Suspended thousands of feet in the sky, the entire city was forged from a divine gold called "Nine Heavens Star Iron" mixed with countless precious materials. Its walls soared into the clouds, engraved with images of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and the state, emanating an unparalleled majesty that suppressed the heavens and the universe. Nine giant dragons, formed entirely of spiritual energy, swirled around the city, their roars adding to its majestic aura.
At this moment, Tiandi City was already teeming with people, cultivators from countless realms and races pouring in like a tide. There were sword immortals wielding divine rainbows, Buddhist cultivators riding lotus pedestals, demon princes brimming with demonic energy, descendants of the demonic path shrouded in demonic clouds, and countless visitors from other lands, clad in bizarre attire and possessing distinct auras... It was truly a gathering of heroes and geniuses!
Ye Li and Qin Yixuan restrained their auras and blended into the crowd as they entered Tiandi City. The city's streets were wide enough to accommodate dozens of carriages, and shops lined both sides, selling all sorts of rare and precious treasures never before seen. Even legendary divine materials and sacred elixirs occasionally made an appearance, creating a dazzling spectacle. The air was filled with powerful auras. Yuandan realm cultivators could be found almost everywhere, and even Yuanying and Huashen realms were not uncommon.
"It's worthy of being the center of the spiritual world. It's really full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers." Qin Yixuan sighed softly, and the shock could not be concealed in her cold eyes.
Ye Li nodded, her eyes sweeping over the young figures with extraordinary auras on the street, a fighting spirit quietly rising in her heart. Here, they would face true genius opponents from the entire spiritual world.
Following the instructions, they arrived at the Tianjiao Association's registration office—the "Ten Thousand Races Square" in the center of the city. The square was enormous, and now it was packed with young cultivators who had come to register. The atmosphere was bustling and lively.
Registration required a bone age test (no more than 100 years old) and a preliminary assessment of cultivation (at least Yuan Dan realm). This was naturally no problem for Ye Li and Qin Yixuan. They passed the test successfully and received the "Tianjiao Token," representing their eligibility to participate. The token felt smooth to the touch, with the word "Tianjiao" engraved on the front and a blank back. It was said that it would record the holder's performance and ranking as the competition progressed.
Just as they received the tokens and were about to leave the square and look for a place to stay, several unfriendly gazes locked onto them.
"Huh? Aren't these the 'Ice Phoenix' and 'Xuan Nu' who are somewhat famous in that small place in the Northern Territory? I didn't expect you to dare to come to the Tianjiao Conference?" A voice full of ridicule sounded.
Several young men and women, dressed in lavish attire and exuding a sense of arrogance, approached. The leader, wearing a brocade robe embroidered with golden flames, had a haughty expression and sized up Ye Li and Qin Yixuan with disdain. His cultivation had surprisingly reached the late Yuan Dan realm. The others around him also possessed a strong aura, all at or above the mid-Yuan Dan stage.
Judging from the insignia on his clothing, he seemed to be a prince from a well-known family in Zhongzhou—the Lihuo Divine Dynasty. The Lihuo Divine Dynasty was famous for its fire-based techniques and was considered a dominant force in Zhongzhou.
"What kind of decent genius can come from a barren and desolate place like the Northern Territory with a poor spiritual energy? He is just a tall one among short ones." A woman with revealing clothes and an enchanting figure next to her covered her mouth and chuckled with her hands, her tone was harsh. She was the daughter of a minister of the Lihuo Divine Dynasty.
Obviously, Ye Li and Qin Yixuan's reputation in the Northern Territory had also reached the ears of some people in Zhongzhou, but they were obviously not taken seriously by these Zhongzhou geniuses with superior backgrounds. Instead, they became the subject of their ridicule.
Qin Yixuan frowned slightly, but she wasn't angry. She just glanced at them calmly and ignored them. Ye Li didn't even bother to lift her eyelids. She had seen this kind of pointless provocation many times.
However, their silence was regarded as cowardice by the other party.
Seeing this, the prince of the Lihuo Divine Dynasty became even more proud. He took a step forward, his eyes sweeping across Qin Yixuan's beautiful face with a hint of lust. He then looked at Ye Li's cool profile and said with a chuckle, "You two girls have come from afar, so you must be unfamiliar with Tiandi City. Why don't I treat you and take you on a tour? You can see what true prosperity and power are. It's better than staying in your little place in the Northern Territory."
As he said that, he actually stretched out his hand and wanted to pull Qin Yixuan's wrist.
Just as his fingers were about to touch Qin Yixuan, a bone-chilling chill that seemed to be able to freeze the soul suddenly broke out!
Ye Li didn't even look back, but just put her fingers together like swords and pointed them lightly backwards!
"roll."
A subtle but extremely condensed ice-blue wind shot out silently and hit the prince's wrist precisely!
The prince's face changed drastically. He felt a fatal sense of crisis and wanted to withdraw his hand, but it was too late!
"puff!"
There was a slight sound, followed by the sound of bones breaking! The prince screamed miserably. A bloody hole had been pierced through his wrist, and blood was dripping. An extremely cold force spread upward along the meridians of his arm, causing his entire arm to lose consciousness instantly!
"Your Highness!"
"How dare you do that!"
The other people from the Lihuo Divine Dynasty were shocked and angry. They drew their weapons and surrounded them aggressively. The aura of the Yuandan realm was released without reservation, attracting the attention of many people around them.
Ye Li slowly turned around, her eyes as cold as a thousand years of black ice, sweeping over the group. She didn't unleash any powerful pressure, but her deep and calm gaze sent a shudder through the souls of the Lihuo Divine Dynasty, as if being stared at by some ancient beast. They involuntarily took a half step back.
"A genius from Zhongzhou, is this all he's capable of?" Ye Li's voice was calm, yet tinged with an invisible sarcasm. "If you want to cause trouble, I'll be there for you at the Tianjiao Conference. Now, get out of the way."
Her tone carried an unquestionable majesty, the kind of authority that could only be cultivated by someone who had long held a high position and controlled life and death. It formed a sharp contrast with her age and cultivation level.
Several people from the Lihuo Divine Dynasty were intimidated by her aura, and since the prince was injured, they did not dare to move forward for a moment. They could only watch Ye Li and Qin Yixuan calmly pass through the crowd as if nothing had happened and disappear at the end of the square.
"Damn it! You bitches from the Northern Territory! This prince will never let you go!" The prince clutched his injured wrist, his face grim and growling, his eyes filled with venom. This was a huge loss of face, and he would definitely regard it as a great disgrace.
The crowd around him cast surprised and curious glances at Ye Li. To have severely damaged the Lihuo Dynasty's prince with a single blow, such strength and courage didn't seem like someone from the "wild lands." It seemed that this Thousand Territory Pride Gathering was truly filled with hidden talents; even the prodigies from the Northern Territory were not to be underestimated.
This little incident did not affect Ye Li and Qin Yixuan's mood. They found a quiet inn in the city to stay and waited for the official opening of the Tianjiao Conference.
In the following days, they met more top talents from various domains in Tiandi City:
There was a Buddhist disciple from the Great Leiyin Temple in the Western Regions, with a solemn appearance and a faint Buddha light rotating behind his head. His every word and action was filled with Zen.
There is the demon saint from the Southern Wilderness's Ten Thousand Demon Valley, with a fierce energy and blood, a powerful body, and an unruly gaze;
There is the young master from the East Sea Star Palace, who is surrounded by the power of the stars and is mysterious and unpredictable;
There are also descendants from several of the oldest imperial clans and holy places in Zhongzhou. Their aura is unfathomable, like a young dragon lurking in the abyss, which is heart-wrenching.
Any one of these geniuses would be enough to sweep away their contemporaries in the Northern Territory, but here, they were just one of many contestants.
Ye Li and Qin Yixuan felt the pressure, but more than that, they were filled with a burning desire to fight. To be able to face such an opponent was exactly what they had been looking forward to.
The Thousand Realms Prodigy Competition adopts a complex and progressive competition system, including secret realm survival, arena duels, teamwork, and tests of the heart of Tao, etc., to comprehensively measure the comprehensive strength of a prodigy.
Finally, amidst everyone’s anticipation, the once-in-a-millennium Thousand Domains Prodigy Conference officially kicked off!
Above the Myriad Races Plaza, an immense "Battleground of the Heavens," inscribed with countless profound runes, slowly descended, emanating a boundless pressure. The contestants' Tianjiao Orders flashed, and the next moment, tens of thousands of young Tianjiao were randomly transported into the first level of the Battleground of the Heavens—a vast, ancient jungle teeming with danger!
The Talent Show has officially begun! The legends of Ye Li and Qin Yixuan will begin a new chapter on this stage, where the gazes of the universe converge! Can they stand out among this dazzling crowd and become famous in the spirit world? All will be revealed in the fierce competition that follows.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
