Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 406 - 390: Attending the Ceremony (1/3)

Chapter 406: Chapter 390: Attending the Ceremony (1/3)

"I do not know what kind of test the elder wishes to conduct?" Zhou Heng inquired.

"It’s quite simple, you just need to touch this jade artifact!" Shan Dingxuan extended his right hand, which now held a piece of azure jade pendant. The pendant was covered with various lines that seemed to contain a complex magic array.

There was also a Blood Moon mark on the jade pendant, which caused Zhou Heng to pause in surprise.

Because he had seen the same mark in the Fairy Continent, in the only intact Daoist temple within that Immortal City, the door bore exactly the same Blood Moon mark.

In that temple, there was also a headless statue, worshipped by everyone! Yet it belonged to Huo Tian’s enemy, even causing Huo Tian upon ascending to the Fairy Continent to sense it and "pursue" it all the way there.

If it was Huo Tian’s enemy, it meant it was also his enemy!

An idea suddenly formed in his mind.

Hadn’t the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion always been searching for their true pavilion master? If that was indeed the owner of the Blood Moon mark, it was highly probable that during the battle that shattered the Immortal Realm continent years ago, the master of the Blood Moon mark also participated and fought against Huo Tian to a devastating draw, who knows whether he perished or, like Huo Tian, was healing somewhere.

That would explain why the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had been searching for their master all this time!

A Immortal of Huo Tian’s level, who would dare to betray him?

But there was one problem – although the statue in the Daoist temple of the Immortal City was headless, it was clearly a woman. Why then did the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion not distinguish between genders in their test, testing everyone alike?

That’s it!

Hadn’t Gu Yan said that Immortals can detach their Deities, possess others and emerge anew?

This could completely allow one to occupy a man’s body, as long as the Divine Sense remains the same!

Zhou Heng didn’t know if his guess was accurate, but he had already lost his good impression of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. He extended his hand towards the jade artifact—if he was truly that person’s "reincarnation," how could Huo Tian possibly show him any "gentleness"?

Shan Dingxuan’s eyes shone with obvious anticipation, even a hint of ardor, a display that was incredible coming from a warrior of the Divine Infant Realm!

His palm pressed down.

No change occurred.

"...Not again!" Shan Dingxuan showed intense disappointment as if he had aged decades in a moment, exuding a sense of powerlessness and leaning back in his chair as he closed his eyes tightly.

Nonetheless, a warrior of the Divine Infant Realm is just that – he soon recovered and said, "Young friend, this old man has troubled you!"

Zhou Heng stood up to see the guest out and when they reached the main entrance, he suddenly asked, "Elder, regarding Heavenly Venerate Wuji’s invitation to observe the ceremony, do you have any thoughts?"

"Nothing but an arrogant fool who has just advanced to the Divinity Transformation Realm!" Shan Dingxuan said with a hint of disdain, clearly not taking a newly ascended Heavenly Venerate of the Divinity Transformation Realm seriously.

This disdain was definitely not feigned!

Zhou Heng could not help but be amazed. The continent had not seen a Heavenly Venerate of the Divinity Transformation Realm for tens of thousands of years, and now that a prodigy had finally emerged, someone capable of dominating all under heaven, could the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, despite its profound heritage, possibly withstand an era-defining Heavenly Venerate?

That was the very definition of the strongest in the Mortal Realm!

However, the nature’s spiritual energy of the present was said to have recovered almost to the level of the Ancient Times, and the Ancient Times was not lacking in outstanding people. With the emergence of such individuals at this time, ascending to the Divinity Transformation Realm would be swift, and it definitely would not be Heavenly Venerate Wuji alone in the limelight then!

Heavenly Venerate Wuji might have taken the first step, but to regard the world and proclaim himself unrivalled might still be premature! Of course, until a second Heavenly Venerate of the Divinity Transformation Realm arises, he is undoubtedly the strongest under the heavens, there’s no question about that!

After seeing off Shan Dingxuan, with the date for the ceremony spoken of by Li Wujie drawing near, Zhou Heng, along with Black Donkey and Zhao Duotian, set out with Ying Mengfan and the other women, as this time they refused to stay obediently at the Zhao Family residence.

Thus, he decided to bring his parents along as well; a large group boarded Zhao Duotian’s flying artifact and headed for the Far East Region.

— Li Wujie was currently the only one in the Divinity Transformation Realm on Xuanqian Star, and he had even traversed from another planet, making him a rare creature which naturally warranted observation.

Zhou Heng and his group aimed for the Poisonous Vast Sea located at the far eastern edge of the continent, the first target chosen by Li Wujie in his declaration to eradicate the Four Great Death Places.

After flying for half a month, they arrived at the easternmost boundary of the continent, where a vast and boundless sea loomed ahead.

This was not the true edge of the continent; it was said to stretch tens of thousands of miles further to the east, but it was believed that after a warrior of the Divinity Transformation Realm from the Ancient Times perished, his body transformed into this sea.

The Poisonous Vast Sea, spanning thousands of miles without a wave, was as still as dead water!

Like the Death Forest, where the extreme Yin gives birth to Yang, that which is dead nurtures life, and the sea water of the Poisonous Vast Sea, filled with potent poison, could also nurture the occasional Spiritual Medicine with the power to resurrect the dead!

Therefore, a large crowd came to observe the ceremony, among them some who wished to search for Spiritual Medicine in the Poisonous Vast Sea after Li Wujie had leveled it. Finding a treasure comparable to the Nine Suns Vitality Grass would mean striking it rich!

By the time Zhou Heng and his companions arrived at the seaside, the long coastline was already overcrowded.

Although Li Wujie had only invited Half-Step Immortals, who wouldn’t want to witness the elegance of a Divinity Transformation Realm Heavenly Venerate? Moreover, with Li Wujie’s ambition to conquer the Four Great Death Places, who would want to miss such an event that only happened once in tens of thousands of years?

Therefore, everyone who could make the journey did so. Of course, the current situation on the Xuanqian Star was like a sweet potato on the verge of burning, riddled with danger, where even those in the Land Cleaving Realm, let alone Heaven-Opening Realm, dared not take the risk of a long journey. Those who made it here were at least in the Heaven-Opening Realm, with the majority in the Mountains and Rivers Realm.

Zhou Heng’s group, however, included three Nascent Soul Realm and one Divine Infant Realm, a lineup that could almost rival superpowers like the East Spirit Immortal Pond. As they made their way, the crowd automatically parted, allowing them to proceed to the foremost position.

No matter the time, the strong always inspired awe.

At the very front, a vast area was cleared out where a large platform had been erected, standing tall above all, surrounded by thousands of much smaller platforms.

The highest platform remained unoccupied but prominently displayed a flag embossed with the characters for "Wuji."

Clearly, the high platform was reserved for Li Wujie, while the smaller ones below were for the spectators to rest and sit. As for the unsolicited Spirit Sea Realm and Mountains and Rivers Realm Minor Warriors, they were simply ignored.

The smaller platforms were already half-filled with Nascent Soul Realm and Divine Infant Realm old ancestors, difficult to meet under normal circumstances. Some Zhou Heng had seen before, and others he had not. And it wasn’t just from the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Dynasty; the ambitious Heavenly Venerate Wuji, seemingly aspiring to become the second Great Eternal Emperor, had drawn many Alien Races experts as well.

To witness so many Alien Races experts and human experts sitting so close, sharing a tea like this was inconceivable under normal circumstances. Yet now, it was truly happening, and there were no signs of imminent conflict between them.

—— It was meaningless!

Everyone was speculating about the still unseen Heavenly Venerate Wuji, pondering his origins: was he of human race, or of the Alien Races? "Alien Races" was a broad term; could the Night Demon Clan and the Heavenly Demon Clan really be lumped together?

Among the myriad races, each held its own, judged only by who was strongest, capable of making other races submit, or even annihilating them!

"This Heavenly Venerate Wuji is indeed arrogant. Once I ascend to the Heavenly Venerate status, I will make sure to kick his ass!" Black Donkey grumbled discontentedly.

Having spent so much time together, whether it was Zhao Duotian, Zhou Dinghai, or anyone else, all had gotten used to the shock of a talking donkey and knew just how sharp-tongued it could be. However, they all readily agreed with its assessment.

Heavenly Venerate Wuji was truly too dismissive of others!

He might be the only Divinity Transformation Realm Heavenly Venerate on the Xuanqian Star for now, but how long could he maintain this sole reign? In a few years, or even a few months, it was inevitable that someone among the Ancient Outstanding People would break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm!

On this point, others might not be sure, but Zhou Heng firmly believed that the Moon Shadow Saintess could definitely accomplish this, otherwise he wouldn’t have speculated that she would be the first to break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm.

However, to put on an air of unrivaled arrogance so impatiently when ahead of others was really too proud!

"Among all the nonsense you spout, donkey, that statement actually makes sense!" Zhou Heng nodded in agreement.

"Woof, I’ll bite you to death!"

The group found a platform to sit down, and naturally, Black Donkey started quarreling with Zhou Heng again, to kill some time.

"Brother Zhou!" Not long after, a person flew over, Divine Radiance swirling above his head, with a small black python that had become incredibly solidified—it was Sang Qingshan.

"Turns out to be Brother Sang!" Zhou Heng went out to greet him.

"Does Brother Zhou have any more information on this Heavenly Venerate Wuji?" asked Sang Qingshan.

Zhou Heng shook his head, saying, "I’m afraid no one in the world knows yet!"

Sang Qingshan’s face was stern. "If this Heavenly Venerate Wuji turns out to be from the Alien Races, it wouldn’t bode well for us!"

His concerns were not unfounded. Not everyone was like the Great Eternal Emperor who harbored the world in mind. Though he unified the continent, he didn’t eradicate the Alien Races but instead integrated them, treating all races equally.

But if Heavenly Venerate Wuji was from the Alien Races, the worst-case scenario could be him wiping out all other races. At best, he might degrade others to slaves, but hardly anything good could come of it.

This ceremony was essentially a display of might meant to showcase the terrifying power of a Divinity Transformation Realm Heavenly Venerate. How could it not worry people?

"There will be a way when we come to the mountain, Brother Sang, patience! Patience!" advised Zhou Heng. He wasn’t too concerned about Heavenly Venerate Wuji. First, it was certain another Divinity Transformation Realm Heavenly Venerate would soon emerge among the Xuanqian Star natives, creating a balance that would prevent any one person from covering the sky with one hand.

Moreover, he had Huo Tian at his side!

If this master were to truly unleash his power, even the Immortal City could collapse, so what was one Divinity Transformation Realm Heavenly Venerate worth in comparison?

"There’s nothing else we can do!" Sang Qingshan sighed. However, as his gaze brushed past Zhou Heng, his eyes widened, and his mouth formed an O-shape in shock, "You, you, you’ve broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm!"

"Embarrassingly, it’s only the Third Layer Heaven of the Nascent Soul Realm!" Zhou Heng replied humbly, thinking he could have reached the Divine Infant Realm before the ceremony.

Sang Qingshan: "..." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit qidian.com to cast your vote for recommendation, ticket for the month, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)