Unmatched Realm

Unmatched Realm...

Ouyang Kuangsheng led Qin Wentian and the others away from the crowd, leaving them behind.

Due to Ouyang Kuangsheng's assertive intervention, Qin Wentian, who had forced Ouyang Ting to kneel, escaped punishment. Undoubtedly, this marked the greatest humiliation Ouyang Ting had ever experienced. Presently, she clenched her lips, her face pale, and traces of blood were visible at the corners of her mouth.

Duan Qingshan swiftly moved to Ouyang Ting's side, like a gust of wind. He extended his arms and gently clasped her hands, his voice soothing as he said, "He will pay for this, no doubt."

"Indeed." Ouyang Ting nodded with a heavy expression. "If I don't make him pay, I won't be able to face anyone ever again."

Ouyang Ting belonged to the direct bloodline of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan. If word of this incident got out, how could she show her face again? People would mock and ridicule her incessantly behind her back.

"Ouyang Ting." The elderly man in the air looked at her. She met his gaze, but a distinct chill lingered in her eyes. The elder shook his head in silent disappointment. "Individual strength always takes precedence. Qingshan, you should also aim to break through to the Heavenly Dipper Realm within this year. If not, at least strive to secure a top-ranking position on the Heavenly Fate Rankings by year's end."

"Of course." Duan Qingshan maintained his composure, still holding Ouyang Ting's hands as he respectfully bowed to the elder. Unlike Ouyang Ting, he was an outsider with the bestowed Ouyang surname. He knew his place well. To gain further recognition, he had to become even stronger, surpassing all others in his generation, especially those directly descended from the Ouyang Aristocratic Clan.

"Disperse now, the matter is settled," the elder commanded with a wave of his hand. The crowd began to disperse slowly. News of the incident spread like wildfire. Some were amazed by Qin Wentian's audacity, while others rejoiced, considering that Ouyang Ting had tormented many before this.

Ouyang Kuangsheng led Qin Wentian's group to his residence—a vast estate equivalent to the size of a small kingdom in places like Chu and Qiyun. They settled on a grassy knoll at the highest point of Ouyang Kuangsheng's property, which offered a panoramic view of the sprawling beauty of the Azure Continent.

"Beautiful, absolutely beautiful!" exclaimed Fatty Fan Le, his eyes wide with excitement. The opulence of Ouyang Kuangsheng's residence was a sight to behold. Even the serving maids seemed to have been handpicked for their exceptional beauty, causing a mischievous glint to appear in Fan Le's eyes.

Ouyang Kuangsheng cut straight to the point, his curiosity piqued. "What's your cultivation level now?" The earlier incident with Ouyang Ting seemed to have slipped his mind.

"Fifth level of Yuanfu, one level below yours," Qin Wentian replied. He could naturally discern Ouyang Kuangsheng's cultivation level. At the sixth level of Yuanfu, Ouyang Kuangsheng's progress was impressive, reflecting his remarkable talent. Even Qin Wentian, had he not been engrossed in studying the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, might have been at the sixth level of Yuanfu as well.

"You can even discern my cultivation base?" Ouyang Kuangsheng regarded Qin Wentian with a mix of shock and amusement. Then, a grin spread across his face. "Fortunately, I'm still ahead of you. But considering how effortlessly you subdued Ouyang Ting, your combat strength must have already surpassed the fifth level of Yuanfu."

"If I go all out, I should be able to take on opponents two levels higher, even those at the seventh level of Yuanfu. Of course, it depends on who the opponent is. After all, I'm not the only one who can fight beyond their cultivation level," Qin Wentian replied thoughtfully. He drew from his sparring experience with Chu Mang to make a cautious estimate. He believed that facing an opponent two levels above him was manageable. However, if it were three levels, the challenge would be significantly greater. Against an eighth-level Yuanfu expert, he would have to employ all his strategies, especially since the disparity in Astral Energy was considerable. Thankfully, he possessed three Yuanfu receptacles, which helped mitigate this disadvantage. Furthermore, opponents at the eighth level of Yuanfu usually possessed a Mandate will at the Transformation Boundary, an area he lacked advantages in.

"Formidable," Ouyang Kuangsheng remarked with a roll of his eyes. Qin Wentian's claim of fighting opponents two levels higher, up to the seventh level of Yuanfu, equated to combat strength comparable to Ouyang Kuangsheng's.

"You should have come to the Azure Continent earlier. Where did you go after leaving Chu?" Ouyang Kuangsheng's curiosity got the better of him as he inquired about Qin Wentian's adventures.

"Well, where do I even begin?" Qin Wentian sighed wryly, shaking his head. He proceeded to recount the events since leaving Chu, eliciting both gasps of surprise and beads of sweat from Ouyang Kuangsheng. The revelation that Qin Wentian was now a fourth-ranked Grandmaster left Ouyang Kuangsheng awestruck. The weight of this revelation pressed heavily on him. Qin Wentian's current status rivaled that of Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns, and he was even younger.

"Do you really plan to break into the top three rankings of the Heavenly Fate Rankings?" Ouyang Kuangsheng's question was direct. Qin Wentian chose not to disclose his affiliation with the hidden Azure Faction or his role as the successor to the Azure Emperor. Although he trusted Ouyang Kuangsheng, he deemed it unnecessary to reveal such matters.

"Yes, that's my goal," Qin Wentian replied with conviction.

"You'll have your chance at the end of this year. However, you've got only a year's worth of time to achieve it, and it won't be easy," Ouyang Kuangsheng stated, his eyes gleaming with a determined light. "Coincidentally, this year marks the conclusion of a three-year period, and all of Grand Xia will be turning its attention to the Ancient Capital of the Ginkou Continent. Countless rising talents of the younger generation will be flocking there, making it the prime opportunity to secure a spot in the top three of the Heavenly Fate Rankings. Missing out on this chance means you'll have to confront the current top rankers directly to claim a spot."

"What do you mean?" Qin Wentian inquired.

"Have you ever heard of the Ancient Dynasty of Grand Xia?" Ouyang Kuangsheng posed the question.

"I've heard rumors, but only that the current dynasty is a mere shadow of its former glory," Qin Wentian responded, nodding.

"Exactly. In its prime, the Ancient Emperor of Grand Xia united the entire empire through his singular power—an awe-inspiring feat. Under his rule, every inhabitant of the empire was considered his subject. But a great upheaval occurred, leading to the fragmentation of the kingdom he built. From that chaos arose numerous powers and factions, giving birth to the nine continents as we know them today."

Ouyang Kuangsheng elaborated, "Despite the passage of time, the people of Grand Xia still hold deep reverence for the ancient emperor. Every three years, Yuanfu Realm experts from across Grand Xia gather in the Ancient Capital to vie for the Emperor's fortune. The Venerate Heavens Sect then recalibrates the Heavenly Fate Rankings completely. As fate would have it, this year marks the third year."

"However, our time is limited to just a year. With my cultivation at the sixth level and yours at the fifth, we need to rapidly raise our strength if we even want to qualify to contend against the experts flocking to the Ancient Capital."

"Ancient Capital, one year," echoed Qin Wentian, his eyes brightening with resolve. The challenge ahead was indeed formidable. The current Heavenly Fate Rankings were being scrutinized by all the top contenders, poised like tigers eyeing their prey. The moment the leading figures achieved a breakthrough to the Heavenly Dipper Realm, their positions would be up for grabs.

Qin Wentian was well aware that reaching the Heavenly Dipper Realm wasn't a trivial endeavor. It represented a monumental milestone in the cultivation path.

"Well, it looks like I might get a shot at this. A visit to that ancient kingdom sounds intriguing," Chu Mang exclaimed, a spark of excitement in his eyes. He had reached the seventh level of Yuanfu cultivation, and with more dedication, he could likely push into the ninth level, granting him the qualifications to challenge the brightest talents of Grand Xia.

"Who did you say is aiming for the top three in the Heavenly Fate Rankings?" A voice rang out, and from a distance, an elegant figure strolled over, her eyes dancing with mischief. She glanced at Qin Wentian and his companions, a playful grin on her lips. "Are these the troublemakers who humiliated Ouyang Ting?"

"Xiaolu, come here and meet my friends. This is Qin Wentian, Fan Le, and Chu Mang," Ouyang Kuangsheng introduced with a smile. "Everyone, this is my younger sister, Ouyang Xiaolu."

"How charming," Fan Le chimed in, his gaze lingering appreciatively on Ouyang Xiaolu's graceful form. She stood tall and beautifully curved, her fair complexion radiating youthful energy. Her eyes held a playful glint, suggesting a mix of innocence and mischief.

"Not bad, but your eyes betray your true intentions. You seem like quite the lustful guy," Ouyang Xiaolu remarked, studying Fan Le with amusement. Fan Le, caught off guard, spluttered, "Ahem, well, I assure you, this humble and rotund person is a pure and chaste gentleman."

Qin Wentian, observing from the side, fought back a bout of nausea. He shook his head, both amazed and bewildered by Fan Le's antics.

"I'll believe that when pigs fly," Ouyang Xiaolu quipped, laughing. She then turned her attention to Qin Wentian. "You bold rascals dared to treat Ouyang Ting that way? She's never faced criticism in her life, and you made her kneel? You better watch out, she's not one to let things slide."

"Just stay at my place. No one would dare make a move here," Ouyang Kuangsheng nonchalantly dismissed her warning.

"You're quite the character," Ouyang Xiaolu teased her brother, rolling her eyes.

"Anyway, let's change the topic. Follow me, I'm taking you to a fantastic place," Ouyang Kuangsheng's eyes lit up as he remembered something exciting. Catching the glint in his eyes, Ouyang Xiaolu pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Where are you dragging them to?"

"You know me too well, little sister," Ouyang Kuangsheng ruffled her hair. He gestured for Qin Wentian and his group to follow as they soared into the sky, heading toward the horizon. Eager to uncover the mystery, Qin Wentian and his companions followed, wondering where their friend was leading them.

After a while, they arrived at a secluded mountain range beyond the Azure Continent. Qin Wentian gazed at the massive entrance before them, where three ancient characters had been engraved in bold strokes, elegantly trailing into a cursive finish— "Unmatched Realm."

"Unmatched Realm? Those are some bold words. What kind of place is this?" Qin Wentian mused aloud, his curiosity piqued.

"Tell me, what's this Unmatched Realm all about?" Qin Wentian's curiosity got the better of him. Ouyang Kuangsheng grinned, striding forward confidently as he swung open the entrance door. As the gateway revealed a whole new world, Qin Wentian's eyes widened in awe. Mist and clouds drifted around, surrounding flowing water. Figures of young cultivators moved within, their expressions a mix of astonishment and even resentment when they spotted Ouyang Kuangsheng and his companions outside.

"Ouyang Kuangsheng, how dare you bring outsiders here?" The young cultivators spoke in tones of condemnation directed at Ouyang Kuangsheng.

"The atmosphere here is charged. These young cultivators definitely have influential backgrounds. What's the deal with this Unmatched Realm?" Qin Wentian pondered.

"They won't be outsiders for long," Ouyang Kuangsheng chuckled.

"What? Do you seriously believe these three can enter the Unmatched Realm? Do you take our Azure Continent's sacred ground so lightly?" One of the young cultivators jeered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Unmatched Realm—the Azure Continent's Sacred Ground. Those who achieved rankings on the Heavenly Fate or Heavenly Dipper lists had, without exception, set foot in the "Unmatched Realm" before.