End Of The Preliminaries

The next preliminary round was the last and probably the most brutal. Only thirty-two people were due to advance onto the next round out of the thousand 'heaven chosen children'. It was to be set in the Eternal Sky Divine Tower and the thirty-two finalists would be chosen based on who reaches the top of the 300th floor the fastest. Each floor has its own profound beasts and shadows protecting it, of course, with each floor, the difficulty increases.

All one thousand participants were separated and death would mean being sent down ten floors (the shadows and beasts also respawn).

Naturally, when the round started, every single profound practitioner rushed into the higher floors. These geniuses could easily handle the first few floors since the enemies were few in number and around the lower stages of the Divine Spirit Realm. Aerion had the easiest time of his life as he simply released his aura which caused all of the profound beasts (and shadows) to stray as far away as possible. In the later floors, this strategy was slightly less effective so he used the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon to freeze everything in his path while speeding away with the Flying Wind God's Art.

It was a rather graceful and elegant walk, his superiority to the other 'heaven chosen children' and even the Four God Children was blatantly obvious to those watching the third round unfold. There was a teleportation profound formation at the top of the tower which he walked into.

Aerion was the lone disciple standing on the Conferred God Stage.

Back at the Conferred God Stage, I see... no one else has made it before me. This means that I'll have to wait.

It took some time for another disciple to appear on the Conferred God Stage and this was none other than Jun Xilei. Although her Divine King Realm strength was slightly unstable, she was still head and shoulders above the other Four God Children who had remained at the peak of the Divine Spirit Realm. Izanami came third after some time, swiftly followed by Luo Changsheng. Then it was Shui Yingyue, Lu Lengchuan and many other disciples Aerion didn't recognise well.

Hmm, where the hell is Robb?

Is that... Shui Meiyin? But her cultivation strength lies in the first stage of the Divine Spirit Realm, how could she have come this far?

Aerion wondered.

Twenty-nine... Thirty... Thirty-one...

The hours passed and Aerion was starting to feel anxious.

This isn't funny...

The thirty-second person to appear on the Conferred God Stage was, in fact, Robb. His Ice Phoenix Snow Robe was a total mess and he seemed to resemble a caveman in multiple regards.

"Why did you drop down so low?" Aerion asked. "You almost gave me a heart attack..."

"It took me a long time to bring out my true strength... honestly, I just wasn't really feeling it..."

"A minute later and your run would have ended in the third round." Aerion sighed. "We'll have to work on that... you must learn to use your power at will."

"Understood, My Lord."

After that, they started to call out the thirty-two finalists starting from the bottom.

"Thirty-second place, Robb, using one hundred and thirty-six hours."

Now, Robb had to stand atop the adjudication profound formation and once he did so, his name along with several other details appeared on the screen of light.

Robb—Origin: Snow Song Realm, Lifespan: 28, Cultivation: Seventh level of the Divine Tribulation Realm.

This process, of course, continued towards those ranked higher.

"Twenty-eighth place, Shui Meiyin..."

"Twenty-sixth place, Huo Poyun..."

"Sixteenth place, Wu Guike..."

"Sixth place, Lu Lengchuan, using eighty-two hours."

"Fifth place, Shui Yingyue, using seventy-eight hours."

"Fourth place, Luo Changsheng, using seventy-two hours."

"Third place, Izanami Uchiha, using seventy hours,"

"Second place, Jun Xilei, using fifty hours."

"First place, Aerion Targaryen, using... seven hours."

"Only seven hours!? Did he teleport through the floors?"

"Four God Children... hmm, that doesn't sound quite right. It should be the Four God Children and their daddy!"

I had to wait for more than five days... this King's patience remains unmatched.

Aerion Targaryen—Origin: Snow Song Realm, Lifespan: 26, Cultivation: Second stage of the Divine King Realm.

"Two Divine Kings along with four peak Divine Spirits... the Eastern Divine Region's future is looking rather promising." Cang Shitian stated. "Especially this Aerion Targaryen... I wonder, what heights will he reach after three thousand years in the Eternal Heaven Pearl?"

"Only time will tell." The Moon God Emperor replied.

"The Snow Song Realm will prosper greatly, that is guaranteed." The Dragon Monarch added. "The Eastern Divine Region is fortunate overall to have so many geniuses gathered at such a convenient time. I still remember the day when the heavenly lightning struck... it was somewhere in the Eastern Divine Region, I believe."

"The heavenly lightning which shook Primal Chaos... eleven frightening rounds. It was most densely concentrated in the Eastern Divine Region, could it be that this genius is standing on the Conferred God Stage now?" The Brahma Heaven God Emperor wondered. "And if so, who would it be?"

"Are you implying that Aerion Targaryen could be this heavenly genius?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor thought about it. "It is far-fetched if I do say so myself... but he would be the only logical candidate."

"That particular case of heavenly tribulation lightning would have killed a God-Emperor hundreds of times over, surviving it would be impossible for anyone." The Star God Emperor countered.

"Hmm, that is true but this genius did survive all of the previous rounds... who's to say the last round was impossible?" The Brahma Heaven God Emperor added. "Perhaps, the lightning wasn't harmful to this heavenly genius in any way."

"You truly wish for this heavenly genius to exist..." The Eternal Heaven God Emperor laughed. "I do, too, once in a while. The chances of the calamity being averted would be far greater in that case."

After some pleasant words, honourable Qu Hui announced that the Conferred God Battle would be held tomorrow. Each of the thirty-two finalists was given one Time Wheel Pearl, an item which was capable of erecting a special barrier. Within this barrier, a month would be equivalent to two hours in real-time.

"This item is amazing... and it is made out of only a tiny fraction of the Eternal Heaven Pearl's power!"

Aerion nodded. "It will be useful, especially in the Seventh Heaven Realm. Let's leave for the Snow Song Realm's residencies before preparing for the Conferred God Battle."

Aerion, Izanami and Robb walked to where everyone from the Snow Song Realm was.

"The Snow Song Realm King will be extremely pleased with the results... in fact, any Realm King would be!" Mu Huanzhi stated.

Aerion chuckled. "You flatter us, Great Elder."

"You three have made not only me proud, but the Great Realm King and the entire Snow Song Realm as well." Mu Bingyun added.

"Do you think that I'll become a core disciple after this?" Robb asked.

Aerion laughed. "Of course... why wouldn't you? But it isn't exactly a necessity, in my opinion. You should be worrying about the upcoming battles instead of some rank in the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect!"

"Right... I will work hard!"

"Are you three going to join us in the palace?" Mu Bingyun inquired.

"Of course, it is better that way," Izanami replied.

"I see."

~

Once they gathered in his room, Aerion unleashed the Seventh Heaven Pearl and dragged them into it, along with himself. The heavenly, blue, sky was clear of any clouds and seemingly unreachable. Leaving the Seventh Heaven Realm by flying out of it... this was simply impossible. The only way out was through the formation.

It was similar to the Kamui Dimension but improved by leaps and bounds. One could breathe in and gather Primiordal Profound Energy in the Seventh Heaven Realm, after all. Because of He Lin's assistance, many beautiful and heavenly plants had grown in most areas of the Realm. Naturally, these things would grow but He Lin greatly accelerated the process.

In the distance, one could hear a dragon roar followed by a lion's roar.

"Daemon and Rhaegal, eh? They're as loud as ever." Robb chuckled.

"True, the mountains are their little playground. Ever since they've started residing in here, their size has also been gradually decreasing while their strength still increases."

"Being slightly smaller in size isn't the worst thing when you're already colossal," Robb stated. "It can be considered a good thing."

"Yes, I suppose you're right. Now get cultivating."

"Alright, alright... I will." Robb took out the Time Wheel Pearl and channelled his profound energy into it. Suddenly, a special barrier surrounded him as he closed his eyes

"A month in two hours... Izanami, you and Robb will have to enter the Eternal Heaven Pearl without me."

"Why is that?"

"I have something to deal with... I'm afraid that if I spend those three years in the Eternal Heaven Pearl, that specific event will pass and I won't be able to do anything about it."

Jasmine... I swear that I'll prevent the ceremony from being complete, even if I must use the Evil Infant's Wheel of Myriad Tribulations! Of course, that would be the last resort...

"Another one of your Dragon Dreams?" Izanami asked.

"Mhm, something like that."

"That is unfortunate... you would have emerged as the strongest person in the Primal Chaos Dimension, then your ambition could be realised in no time whatsoever."

"Yes... that is true. Instead, you'll have to realise my ambition for me!" Aerion laughed. "Who would dare stand against a peak Divine Master Perfect Susanoo anyway?"

Izanami smiled. "No one... I'll use the Time Wheel Pearl to prepare for the Conferred God Battle, you should do the same even if it isn't necessary."

"Are you worried about Jun Xilei beating you?"

"No, not at all. It will be a swift victory."

Oh?

She used the Time Wheel Pearl as well. Aerion smiled.

I like her confidence.

This Time Wheel Pearl... I'll save it for later. They'll give out some more in the later rounds so I should just stack them up for a couple of breakthroughs.

Aerion flew to where he had sensed He Lin's aura. "Oh. Master, you've returned?"

"Yes, I have. How are things going?"

"Pretty well... this place is amazing, after all."

"Good to know. I'll return to you later for some refining... I have to see my three profound beasts first. Have they caused you any trouble?"

"No, not at all. I quite like their company."

"I see." Aerion nodded.

He flew to the mountains only to see them all fast asleep apart from Icy. Rhaegal and Daemon seemed to have been in another scuffle of theirs... as usual, Daemon had a slight upper hand. Little Rhae slept on top of Rhaegal's rather smooth back. Icy greeted her Master. "Master, you've returned."

"I have... and it seems like you've all reached the peak of the Divine King Realm in this time."

"That was mostly because of the ancient horned dragon... but a breakthrough to the Divine Sovereign Realm is imminent simply because of this Realm's impressive profound energy."

"Hmm, this place was made for swift breakthroughs. Once the Conferred God Battle is over, I'll be sure to hunt down some Divine Sovereign or even Divine Master profound beasts for even greater progress."

"You are a kind and caring Master."

Aerion chuckled. "It's only because I want to make use of you in battle! A Dragon Emperor cannot ride out into battle without a dragon, after all."

"That's not the exact truth, Master, and you know it... every time one of us makes a breakthrough, it makes you proud at heart. The main reason isn't just to benefit yourself."

Aerion smiled. "You don't act like an Ice Dragon at all. I suppose that's a good thing... hmph, I'll be going now."

Time to refine some resources for my new vassals.