Book Eighteen — The Quest For A New Region
Divine Inst.i.tute.
Within the grand and solemn Heavenpath Hall.
Chi Song’zi that had grey hair, a dignified and indifferent expression, and wore a black robe stood with his hands behind his back, and he stood all alone within the s.p.a.cious black hall.
He was silent, and he was waiting.
As the Grand Educator Elder of the Divine Inst.i.tute, Chi Song’zi had a terrifying cultivation at the Ninth Star Imperial Monarch Realm, and he possessed unimaginably monstrous authority.
Normally, it would be very difficult to even meet him. Yet now, he hadn’t just made an appearance in Heavenpath Hall, he was even waiting for a group of people.
Dong!
The simple and archaic sound of a bell resounded and swept through the heavens and the earth.
Along with this sound, group after group of figures started to surge into Heavenpath Hall like tidewater.
The group in the lead had a total of 18 people, and there were both men and women amongst them. The men were dignified and imposing while the women were delicate and possessed natural grace. All of them were dragons and phoenixes amongst men, and they were peerless geniuses that were extremely dazzling.
They were the 18 Powerseal Disciples of the Divine Inst.i.tute!
Behind these Powerseal Disciples were 36 black clothed cultivators who revealed ghastly and cold auras, and their entire bodies emanated a capable and vicious feeling.
These were the Black Officers of the Divine Inst.i.tute. All of them possessed formidable combat strengths and were ruthless. The reason for their existence was to serve Powerseal Disciples and give their lives up for the Powerseal Disciples!
“Greetings Grand Educator Elder!” The 18 Powerseal Disciples and the 36 Black Officers had solemn expressions when they entered Heavenpath Hall, and they bowed in unison to Chi Song’zi. Not a single one of them dared to be disrespectful.
This was the rules of the Divine Inst.i.tute. If it was in terms of having the most severe and harsh hierarchy amongst the five extremes of the Imperial Region, then it was definitely the Divine Inst.i.tute.
In other powers, going against one’s superiors might be forgivable, but in the Divine Inst.i.tute, it was an extraordinary disrespect and would be given the death punishment!
It was precisely because of this practically abnormally strict rules, the disciples fostered by the Divine Inst.i.tute gave others a cold, fierce, harsh, persistent, and extremely formidable feeling.
“After the time for an incense stick to burn, I’ll lead all of you to the Central Holy Court to partic.i.p.ate in the Dao Discussion. Before this, I want to know who all of you think will be the strongest opponent you meet?” Chi Song’zi spoke indifferently, and his heavy and cold voice was like Yin attribute lightning that surged through the hall and shook the soul.
“Grand Elder, in disciple’s heart, the strongest amongst the partic.i.p.ating experts in the Dao Discussion is the Sovereign Sect’s Elder, Leng Xinghun! He attained the perfection-stage of the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm 13,000 years ago, and he was reputed to be ‘the best in the Imperial Region’ and no one could rival him. Now, so many years have pa.s.sed yet he has constantly suppressed his cultivation and hasn’t advanced into the Imperil Monarch Realm. So, his strength had probably attained an unfathomable height.” A Powerseal Disciple spoke in a cold voice, and it was like he was describing a fact and didn’t reveal any emotion.
Chi Song’zi nodded when he heard this and said, “Leng Xinghun really is the most formidable amongst all the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm experts from the Sovereign Sect that are partic.i.p.ating in the Dao Discussion.”
He paused for a moment, and then he continued. “There’s no need to speak about the Sovereign Sect. Your opponents ought to be Oracle Mountain, Nuwa’s Dao Palace, and the Dao Inst.i.tute.”
As soon as these words were spoken, all of the others present here weren’t surprised. Because the entire Ancient G.o.d Domain was clearly aware that amongst the five extremes of the Imperial Region, Oracle Mountain and Nuwa’s Dao Palace had a good relations.h.i.+p while the Sovereign Sect and the Divine Inst.i.tute had a similar relations.h.i.+p. However, the relations.h.i.+p between both these groups had always been one of confrontation. They’d been enemies for generations, and they were irreconcilable.
As for the Dao Inst.i.tute, it had always maintained a neutral att.i.tude.
Under such circ.u.mstances, it was a matter of course that Chi Song’zi placed his targets directly on Oracle Mountain, Nuwa’s Dao Palace, and the Dao Inst.i.tute.
“I think that Kong Youran from Nuwa’s Dao Palace can’t be underestimated. She’s a direct line descendent of the primeval Peac.o.c.k King and possesses innate wisdom. She’s the only Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d in Nuwa’s Dao Palace that has grasped the techniques of the five wheels, the five elements, the five colors, Skandha, and the five spirits. Her natural talent is extraordinary while her cultivation is profound. She’s said to be the number one expert amongst the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.ds of Nuwa’s Dao Palace.” A female Powerseal Disciple spoke.
“Kong Youran…. That woman really is extraordinary.” Chi Song’zi nodded and said, “However, all of you have to pay attention to a disciple called s.h.i.+ Yu from Nuwa’s Dao Palace. According to the information I obtained, his ident.i.ty during his previous life was extraordinary, and he’d once followed Nuwa throughout the world during the primeval times and gained an eternal reputation for himself. Now that he has awakened the memories of his previous lifetime, even though he’s merely at the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm, he absolutely can’t be underestimated.”
s.h.i.+ Yu!
Their hearts shook as they firmly remembered this name.
“Who else?” asked Chi Song’zi.
“Grand Elder, I think that the Dao Inst.i.tute’s Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui are extraordinary figures, and they aren’t inferior to Leng Xinghun and Kong Youran.” A man with snow white brows, dark blue pupils, and an extremely handsome face spoke. His voice was low, and it carried a strand of unique magnetism.
As soon as he spoke, the gazes of many disciples in the hall were drawn over, and they were slightly surprised.
Even Chi Song’zi was slightly stunned. This man with an extraordinarily handsome appearance was called Zhu Qianyu. He was the Powerseal Disciple ranked at the 2nd position in the Divine Inst.i.tute, and his cultivation had already attained an unfathomable state.
Zhu Qianyu himself was even a descendent of a lord amongst FiendG.o.ds during the primeval times, the Serpent Dragon, and the strength of his bloodline was extraordinary and supreme.
If it wasn’t for the fortune within the Forgotten Grounds of Chaos, an existence like him would have stepped foot into the Imperial Monarch Realm many years ago and became an Educator Elder of the Divine Inst.i.tute.
Yet now, Zhu Qianyu actually spoke and felt that the Dao Inst.i.tute’s Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui couldn’t be underestimated, and this was too surprising to the others.
It was common knowledge that Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui had merely advanced into the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm a few tens of years ago. So, how could they possibly compare to an old fellow at the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm like Leng Xinghun who’d made a name for himself a long time ago?
Even Kong Youran had advanced into the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm for a few thousands of years now.
Under such circ.u.mstances, Zhu Qianyu had compared Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui to Leng Xinghun and Kong Youran, and this was slightly unexpected.
Indeed, everyone present here was clearly aware that while they were at the Domain Enlightened Spirit G.o.d Realm, both Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui had always occupied the first and second position on the Domain Enlightened Chart.
This continued up until a few years ago when they both advanced into the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm successively. At that time, their advancement even caused phenomenon of the heavens and the earth that shocked the entire Imperial Region to descend, and it caused everyone in the world to exclaim with admiration towards them.
But in the end… they’d merely advanced into the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm for a few tens of years. So, how could their cultivations be formidable?
At this moment, Zhu Qianyu seemed to have not noticed the unusual gazes everyone shot at him, and his voice was calm as he spoke slowly. “Yea Chen is a descendent of the Eternal Yea Clan. Everyone is probably clearly aware that his ancestor was reputed as the Overlord of Eternal Night during the primeval times, and he was a terrifying existence that could instill fear in any Daolord. However, all of you’re probably unaware that Yea Chen inherited a ninth-grade Emperor Rank Ancestral Dao Root that his ancestor left behind!”
A ninth-grade Emperor Rank Ancestral Dao Root! Their expressions finally started to become serious.
“As for Yu Jiuhui. His glow has always been outs.h.i.+ned by Yea Chen, causing everyone to constantly pay attention to Yea Chen alone and overlook his existence.” Zhu Qianyu’s dark blue pupils were suffused with strands of terrifying light. “Everyone in the world doesn’t know that no matter if it’s in terms of natural talent, physical const.i.tution, or status, he isn’t inferior to Yea Chen in any aspect! The reason he’s ranked below Yea Chen is merely because he lacks a strand of luck when compared to Yea Chen.”
The others seemed to be lost in thought when they heard this, and they remained silent.
Chi Song’zi’s cold and stiff face revealed a rare wisp of praise at this moment. He said, “Well said. There’s only a mere trace of luck that separates Yea Chen from Yu Jiuhui. It’s impossible for the efforts of the Dao Inst.i.tute to be absolutely fair when fostering the two of them, and even if it’s merely a shred of unfairness, it would still draw the gap between them further apart.”
“Grand Elder, I have a different opinion,” said a Powerseal Disciple.
“Feel free to speak your mind.” Chi Song’zi spoke indifferently.
“Even though Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui’s natural talent and physical const.i.tutions can be said to be unparalleled, they’ve advanced into the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm for too short a period of time in the end. The combat strength hey possess now….”
Before that Powerseal Disciple could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Zhu Qianyu. “That is nothing to the Dao Inst.i.tute. So long as one possesses sufficient resources and fortuitous encounters, then a cultivator’s time of cultivation is utterly unable to restrain a cultivator from advancing by leaps and bounds!”
He paused for a moment and continued. “Moreover, according to my knowledge, for the sake of allowing these two to obtain a spot during the Dao Discussion, the Dao Inst.i.tute had activated the Ancient Springtime Realm a long time ago and sent the two of them in to cultivate there. If nothing unexpected happens, then they’ve probably attained perfection in the Universe Enlightened Ancestral G.o.d Realm a long time ago.”
The Ancient Springtime Realm!
It was an ancient Secret Realm that could turn time around and remodel it. According to legend, cultivating within it for a thousand years was equivalent to a mere day in the outside world, and it could be said to be inconceivable.
This was different from the Grand Dao of Time that cultivators grasped. The Dao Insight of Time could only be utilized in battle and on things that didn’t possess any traces of life.
The reason was very simple. Every single G.o.d had grasped and comprehended the energy of Time, so it was utterly impossible to affect them at all.
However, this didn’t mean that they possessed the ability to turn time around and change it.
If it was like that, then the entire Ancient G.o.d Domain would have probably been turned upside down a long time ago.
s.p.a.cetime was the general name for s.p.a.ce and time, and once it was in disorder, then the world would cease to exist.
Even though cultivators could obliterate the time and s.p.a.ce in an area with a single wave of their hands during battle, it was only temporary. After the battle came to an end, it would recover after experiencing the pa.s.sage of time.
Simply speaking, the energy of time was grasped by practically every G.o.d, but very few were capable of possessing the might to change and reverse time.
The Lag of Time, Time Layer, Time Wave…. All of these were merely abilities in combat in the end, and they were the might emanated by the energy of time and were unable to exist eternally.
So, when they found out that the Dao Inst.i.tute had activated the Ancient Springtime Realm and sent both Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui in to cultivate there, everyone within the hall immediately fell silent and completely acknowledged Zhu Qianyu’s opinion.
After all, the Ancient Springtime Realm couldn’t just be activated at will. It required at least three Daolords and the consumption of numerous peerlessly rare treasures in order to be activated just once.
This clearly displayed the heavy price that the Dao Inst.i.tute had paid in order to allow Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui to obtain spots from the Dao Discussion to enter the Forgotten Grounds of Chaos.
Under such circ.u.mstances, if they still continued to underestimate the strength possessed by Yea Chen and Yu Jiuhui, then they would really be taking a narrow view of things and remaining complacent without any desire to improve.