Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates
Chapter 378 - 376: Opening a Grotto Heaven

Chapter 378: Chapter 376: Opening a Grotto Heaven

A peak battle among the youth generation of the East State concluded with the fall of Jun Shitian, and Xiao Ye’s fame also reached its zenith because of this battle, quickly spreading throughout the entire East State and winning over everyone’s admiration, making him a target for all young talents to pursue.

In front of Xiao Ye, any young talent from the East State pales in comparison. However, just like a meteor, after radiating extreme brilliance, Xiao Ye’s journey seemed destined to dim.

In the history of the True Spirit Continent, there were no shortage of geniuses who dared to comprehend the Slaughter Principle only to be consumed by it and become murderous maniacs, eventually executed by powerhouses.

Thus, many felt deeply regretful for Xiao Ye, a peerless genius who seemed to be headed down this unfortunate path.

Time passed, and before long, a month had elapsed since the end of the Kingdom Battle, with 500 youths selected for the Dynasty Battle, and the vacancy left by Jun Shitian was already filled by a Dynasty Envoy.

Starfall Royal City, floating above the heavens within Sky City.

Donning a flowing robe, King Starfall stood with his hands behind his back, his deep gaze fixed on a nearby palace, his eyebrows knitted together.

At this moment, that palace was enveloped in endless blood light, rolling tumultuously and emitting a soaring killing aura, restrained by the Array outside the palace, unable to escape.

Otherwise, the entire Sky City would be shrouded in that horrifying killing aura.

"Lord Starfall." At this time, Jiu Zhu, carrying a longsword, approached and saluted King Starfall, "In half a month’s time, the 500 selected Heavenly Prides are set to embark toward the Heavenly God Dynasty."

"Xiao Ye has been unconscious for one month, should we..."

"Wait a bit longer." King Starfall waved his hand, cutting off Jiu Zhu’s words directly.

Jiu Zhu gave a wry smile, understanding King Starfall’s sentiments; a genius like Xiao Ye was not someone any kingdom would easily give up on.

In fact, he still found it hard to accept how incredibly powerful Xiao Ye had become, rightly considered the foremost among the youth generation of the East State today.

But as the saying goes, ’Heaven envies the talented.’ Since being brought back by King Starfall, Xiao Ye had been unconscious until now. Even if he were to awaken, he might just become a mindless killing machine.

Such people were not tolerated by the Heavenly God Dynasty, and even King Starfall could not protect him.

"If only Xiao Ye could wake up, with him and Nangong Xingyu, the Starfall Kingdom would surely become renowned across the Four Great States," Jiu Zhu contemplated wistfully, saluting King Starfall before departing.

"Xiao Ye, the Dynasty Battles of the four great states of the East, South, West, and North, the peak assemblies leading to Central State, host even stronger geniuses. With your temperament, you would surely not miss it."

"So, you must wake up."

King Starfall looking up at the heavens, sighed, and then vanished from the spot.

At this moment, no one noticed that the blood light covering the palace flickered slightly.

Xiao Ye lay inside the palace, now dressed in a clean black robe, his body’s blood-red color slowly receding, revealing skin as tender as a baby’s, and his jet-black long hair.

His body’s wounds had also completely healed, leaving not a single scar. Above his head, the illusory images of four Grotto Heavens suddenly appeared, each exuding a tremendous force, as if they yearned to reveal themselves to the world.

...

In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed. Each day, King Starfall would come to the entrance of Xiao Ye’s palace to check if he had awakened.

But each time he returned disappointed.

Finally, on the eleventh day...

Boom!

A terrifying aura burst forth from Sky City, shattering the heavens, the boundless power fluctuations nearly enveloped half the Royal City, as if a king had awakened from his slumber.

The Martial Artists in the Royal City, each with faces full of shock, looked up at Sky City, exclaiming, "As expected of Lord Starfall, his aura is too mighty, surpassing ours by thousands of times indeed."

Some with keen senses wore solemn faces, "This is not Lord Starfall’s aura."

At this moment, Sky City was violently shaking, all the buildings trembling as if they were about to collapse, innumerable Palace Maids and guards were struck with horror.

"Xiao Ye, you brat, have you finally awakened?" No need for someone to report, King Starfall had already sensed that strong aura, which was emanating from Xiao Ye’s palace.

Immediately, King Starfall rushed out.

Roaring thunder!

Just as King Starfall had rushed outside, he saw the sky densely covered with dark clouds, streaks of lightning tearing through the heavens, lighting up the void. The terrifying Heavenly Might pressed down towards Sky City, making everyone feel the suffocating pressure.

"Someone is advancing to King Martial, attracting Heavenly Tribulation. Who could it be?" King Starfall furrowed his brows. He remembered that within his own territory, there was no one qualified to ascend to the King Martial Realm.

Cultivating Martial Arts, possessing transcendent power, was an act against the heavens. Once someone advances to King Martial Realm, they would attract Heavenly Tribulation, and to claim an Emperor’s title, an even more terrifying Tribulation would come, this was common knowledge in the True Spirit Continent.

Once ascended to the King Martial Realm, one would have the right to dominate a region, receiving the Emperor’s treatment of assigning territories and titles.

The next moment, King Starfall’s pupils constricted because the Tribulation in the sky was clearly gathering towards Xiao Ye’s palace direction.

"Xiao Ye is undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation? How is that possible!" King Starfall’s head spun, his face full of disbelief as this had surpassed his understanding.

At that moment, the massive thunderclouds quickly condensed in the heavens, the Thunder Sea roiling intensely. Streaks of dazzling lightning swept through the void, causing Sky City to tremble violently.

At the same time, the martial artists in the royal city also realized something was amiss, looking at the massive thunderclouds in alarm.

Boom!

At that moment, a black figure stepped into the void, hair flying wildly, shattering the array outside the palace, and arriving above the void, yet his eyes remained tightly closed, appearing to be unconscious.

"Damn, at this rate, Xiao Ye is surely doomed!" Lord Starfall regained consciousness, without time to delve into the reasons, he had people protect his family, then looked at Xiao Ye with a worried face.

When others undergo Heavenly Tribulation, no one else can help, otherwise it will draw divine punishment, involving themselves as well.

Rumble!

At this time, Xiao Ye’s body burst out with intense light that grew brighter and brighter, resonating with the thunder in the sky, causing the thunder to boil even more violently, ready to strike at any moment.

As time passed, the aura on Xiao Ye’s body reached a limit, then it seemed to be suppressed and no longer increased.

At the same time, a thick bolt of lightning fiercely descended, striking directly at Xiao Ye. The defenses automatically formed by the forces within Xiao Ye’s body blocked it, both forces were at a stalemate for a moment, then dissipated together.

"Xiao Ye must have encountered resistance in opening his Grotto Heaven, this way, it’s impossible for him to survive the Heavenly Tribulation," sensing Xiao Ye’s aura, King Xingyun suddenly realized.

"Let’s gamble!"

King Xingyun quickly made a decision, then his body charged into the Thunder Sea, grabbed Xiao Ye, and dived down.

Rumble!

The Heavenly Tribulation, as if provoked, burst out with even more terrifying sounds, causing the Thunder Sea to expand a hundredfold, rapidly chasing after King Xingyun.

King Xingyun, holding Xiao Ye, rapidly maneuvered through the Sky City, arriving in front of a huge pond, and smashed the sealing with a palm.

Gurgle gurgle!

The green pond water rolled violently, emitting a rich fragrance, intoxicating.

King Xingyun valued his descendants very much, so he had specially had people dig a pond, fused with many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, personally refined this pool of water, specifically reserved for his descendants to use in opening their Grotto Heavens, and named it True Dragon Pond.

It can be said that the True Dragon Pond had an astonishing effect on opening Grotto Heavens.

"Among my descendants, no one has reached the level of opening a Grotto Heaven, it benefits you first, this much water is enough for you to open Grotto Heavens a hundred times."

King Xingyun said, then threw Xiao Ye into it.

Splash!

Falling into the pond, Xiao Ye’s body sank directly into it, immediately causing the pond water to surge, thick jets of energy rolling violently.

Rumble!

At this time, that boundless Thunder Sea had already arrived above King Xingyun’s head.

"Haha, I underwent a Heavenly Tribulation ten years ago, didn’t expect to experience it again today, truly exhilarating!" King Xingyun swept his hands, sealed the True Dragon Pond, then faced the Thunder Sea and laughed heartily.

Swoosh!

King Xingyun soared into the sky, drawing the massive Thunder Sea and flew towards the outskirts of the Royal City.

With his current level of cultivation, the Heavenly Tribulation he drew was enough to destroy the entire Royal City, he naturally needed to find an unpopulated place to undergo the tribulation.

Since the True Dragon Pond was sealed by King Xingyun, Xiao Ye’s aura couldn’t be emitted temporarily, causing that miniaturized Thunder Sea to lose its target, hovering in mid-air, making this area a forbidden zone that no one dared to approach.

Bottom of True Dragon Pond.

"What’s happening?"

Xiao Ye was in a unique state, although his eyes were not open, his consciousness gradually cleared up, he felt like he was opening a Grotto Heaven, involuntarily running the secret technique to open a Grotto Heaven.

Rumble!

The four Xuandans inside Xiao Ye simultaneously erupted, causing fluctuations that stirred the pond water to roll violently, with the illusions of Four Grotto Heavens appearing behind Xiao Ye.

Following that, Xiao Ye’s body seemed to turn into a black hole, continuously devouring the energy from the True Dragon Pond, forming a massive vortex in the pond.

With the energy from the True Dragon Pond aiding him, the illusions of the Four Grotto Heavens behind Xiao Ye became clearer, emitting tremendous fluctuations.

It didn’t take long before the water of True Dragon Pond was drained, and Xiao Ye’s four Xuandans were completely illuminated, burning fiercely like four suns, emitting a dazzling light.

As time went by, the fiery light from the Xuandans was intense, flying out from his body towards the first Grotto Heaven illusion, slowly merging together.

Boom!

Suddenly, a terrifying aura swept across all directions, intimidating all living things, a Grotto Heaven with blazing fire rose behind Xiao Ye, drawing in the essence Qi from all directions.

At the same time, Xiao Ye’s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened.