Gusu Tianqi

Gusu Tianqi . . .

Gu Liufeng's gaze shifted to Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan, and he couldn't help but inquire with a warm smile, "And who might these two be?"

Qin Wentian chuckled as he introduced, "Allow me to present my junior apprentice brother, Jun Mengchen, and junior apprentice sister, Zi Qingxuan." He gestured to Gu Liufeng and added, "This is Gu Liufeng, a friend from my particle world."

"Haha! If you're a friend of Senior Qin, that makes you my friend too, Jun Mengchen," Jun Mengchen declared with a carefree laugh. Zi Qingxuan nodded in acknowledgment to Gu Liufeng. While she initially maintained a certain distance and aloofness when she first met Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen, the journey had warmed her up to them. Both of them had gained her recognition, and their exceptional qualities were evident.

Zi Qingxuan couldn't help but feel bewildered. She hadn't expected Qin Wentian to originate from a particle world. In that case, he and Gu Liufeng must have been the most brilliant figures in their particle world.

"To encounter you again in the vast immortal realms, Qin Wentian, is truly remarkable. I've also heard rumors that Hua Taixu might appear here today. If that's true, the top three rankers of the Immortal Martial Realm Ranking will have all gathered. Fate works in mysterious ways. Despite the vastness of the immortal realms, the three of us find ourselves here," Gu Liufeng remarked, his personality seemingly transformed. In the past, he was taciturn and preferred solitude, a lone wolf. However, reuniting with Qin Wentian in the immortal realms appeared to have made him more talkative.

"Hua Taixu," Qin Wentian said with a touch of warmth in his heart at the mention of the old acquaintance. He had known Hua Taixu for a long time during his youth. Back then, Hua Taixu had been the top-ranked figure in the Heavenly Fate Rankings and the idol of countless individuals, exuding unparalleled charisma. Later, when Qin Wentian himself became the top-ranked participant in the Heavenly Fate Rankings, he had pursued Hua Taixu's younger brother and participated alongside him in the Immortal Martial Realm's trials before reconciling their differences. Now, they were fated to meet again in the vast immortal realms, this time as competitors. Fate was indeed mysterious.

Yet, Qin Wentian greatly admired Hua Taixu. Hua Taixu had entered the tutelage of the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, receiving personal guidance from an immortal king. He was bound to become even more extraordinary.

"Let's find an inn and take a break. The inns and taverns in this area are all under the control of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect and are considered their business establishments. Just by showing this medallion, all food and services are complimentary. We won't have to pay for anything we eat or any place we stay," Gu Liufeng explained, having arrived earlier and learned about the arrangements. He had noticed the medallions adorning the robes of Qin Wentian and his companions and sighed in admiration. Qin Wentian had indeed encountered something extraordinary. Among the three, Qin Wentian held the 27th rank in the Cloud Prefecture, while Zi Qingxuan was ranked 5th, and the youngest, Jun Mengchen, was ranked 2nd. Their achievements as fellow sect members were increasingly remarkable.

"Alright," Qin Wentian agreed, and they entered a nearby tavern to take a seat. As old acquaintances, they had plenty to catch up on. Meeting in the vast expanse of the immortal realms, especially as geniuses from the same world, brought a sense of familiarity and camaraderie.

Gu Liufeng was quite talkative during their conversation. The Immortal Martial Realm held the status of an immortal king-tier power in the immortal realms, supported by an immortal king-level expert at its core. They closely observed and valued talents from particle worlds, establishing Immortal Martial Realms in those realms to recruit elite disciples. This was why the Royal Sacred Sect, despite knowing their intentions, couldn't openly oppose the Immortal Martial Realm. The Immortal Martial Realm's strength and deep-rooted foundation made it a supreme power in the Qian Prefecture.

"Since most of the disciples were recruited from particle worlds, we all began from scratch when entering the immortal realms. We were chosen talents from different particle worlds, and the competition within the sect was incredibly fierce. The weak were eliminated, leaving only the strongest. Looking back, those eight era-suppressing geniuses don't seem all that special in comparison," Gu Liufeng reflected as he took a sip of wine.

Gu Liufeng's presence in the immortal realms today indicated that he had a decent standing within the Immortal Martial Realm. It was unclear how many competitors he had surpassed to reach his current position since arriving in the immortal realms.

"The competition here is indeed ruthless. We not only have to contend with outsiders but also compete with our fellow sect members for resources and the recognition of the elders," Gu Liufeng remarked, shaking his head.

"That's only natural," Qin Wentian responded with a deep nod. Even for the eight era-suppressing geniuses, they had to continually improve and mature to become more outstanding; otherwise, they would remain ordinary in the immortal realms. The geniuses he encountered now had each triumphed over numerous opponents to stand where they were.

For true excellence to shine through, it wasn't just about short bursts of talent. It required constant growth and self-transcendence, continually pushing one's limits to rise above the rest.

"Jun Mengchen holds the second rank in the Cloud Prefecture, so he must be exceptionally talented. However, this banquet will feature countless geniuses, and the most renowned and powerful among them will likely be from the top three prefectures: Eastern, Qian, and Li. Their names have been on everyone's lips since I arrived here," Gu Liufeng commented thoughtfully. Although he still exuded confidence, the unwavering certainty of his past self had dimmed.

In his prime, Gu Liufeng had ranked first among the eight era-suppressing geniuses. In the vast sea of talents in the immortal realms, he now found it challenging to compete with his fellow sect members, let alone the countless geniuses across the thirteen prefectures. The reality had tempered his confidence and added a touch of caution to his character.

"I don't buy into the idea that the geniuses from the Eastern, Qian, and Li Prefectures will outshine us. I firmly believe that I, along with my senior brother and senior sister, will undoubtedly make it to the very top," declared Jun Mengchen, his determination unwavering. Their mission was to become the most prominent trio among these geniuses. While the three great prefectures held significant power among the thirteen, it didn't mean that their geniuses were inherently superior.

As Jun Mengchen's words echoed, several pairs of eyes in the vicinity turned toward him, with onlookers silently thinking that this young man might be underestimating the vastness of the immortal realms.

"Gusu Tianqi from the Eastern Prefecture is unmatched under the heavens. Despite your second rank in the Cloud Prefecture and exceptional talent, you can't possibly compare to Gusu Tianqi. Attempting to measure up to him would be a gross overestimation of your own abilities," remarked a citizen of the Emperor City. The name 'Gusu Tianqi' triggered nods of recognition in the inn, followed by laughter. "Anyone who dares to compare themselves to Gusu Tianqi is simply inviting humiliation upon themselves."

"That's right. The Gusu Clan has had only one descendant for nine consecutive generations. In the first generation, there was Gusu Pingjiang, an Immortal Emperor expert. In the subsequent generations, every Gusu Clan descendant reached at least the immortal king level, making it an immortal-king tier aristocratic clan. The current descendant of this generation is Gusu Tianqi, an immensely talented individual with an immortal-king physique. There's even speculation that he may ascend to the rank of an immortal emperor. I've heard that even the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor favors him, and his participation in this event is essentially a formality. He's destined to become number one and the personal disciple of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor in the near future."

The atmosphere in the inn erupted with excitement at the mere mention of Gusu Tianqi's name. It was as though Gusu Tianqi didn't need to be present; his name alone was enough to stir such commotion. This indicated the extraordinary nature of his talent.

In the immortal realms, fame didn't come without unique qualities that set a person apart. Gusu Tianqi was unquestionably an exceptional individual.

"I've heard his name quite often," Gu Liufeng sighed.

Jun Mengchen's eyes sparkled with a radiant intensity, filled with unwavering determination. He spoke, "I genuinely hope to cross paths with him. I wonder what his current cultivation level is."

"He's currently at the sixth level of the Celestial Phenomenon realm, but I've heard that he can challenge ninth-level ascendants and hold his own," Gu Liufeng responded, his tone serious. A sixth-level ascendant competing evenly with a ninth-level one was an incredibly terrifying concept. Given Gusu Tianqi's widespread reputation in the Eastern Prefecture, he had to be incredibly powerful.

"In addition to Gusu Tianqi, there are other notable figures like Xia Jiufeng from the Eastern Prefecture, Ye Qianchen from the Qian Prefecture, and Cang Aochi from the Li Prefecture. These individuals are highly renowned. Xia Jiufeng holds the second rank in the Eastern Prefecture, while Ye Qianchen and Cang Aochi respectively top the rankings in the Qian and Li Prefectures. The participants from these three prefectures have already arrived in this area."

Gu Liufeng continued, "Beyond them, there's another group of famous geniuses. They are all personal disciples of influential immortal kings. For instance, Hua Taixu, who trained under the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King. With so many extraordinary talents participating, I expect the competition this time around to be incredibly fierce."

Qin Wentian nodded, committing these names to memory. The intensity of the upcoming competition was well within his expectations. With geniuses from all thirteen prefectures gathering, it was bound to be fierce.

"Now, all we can do is wait for the competition to begin," Qin Wentian remarked, his eyes filled with determination. "Let's find a place to stay and I'll focus on stabilizing my cultivation."

"Good idea. Why don't we go to the inn where I'm staying? The environment there is quite pleasant," suggested Gu Liufeng, rising from his seat. As they exited the tavern, they encountered countless individuals from various powers, their gazes sharp and assessing.

Before long, Qin Wentian and his companions arrived at the inn where Gu Liufeng was staying. The inn's decor featured ancient, natural trees, and it provided a peaceful environment conducive to cultivation. They approached the reception desk, and Gu Liufeng inquired, "I need three more courtyards. Do you have enough available?"

"Yes," the receptionist confirmed. "I'll have someone show you to them right away."

"Great," Gu Liufeng replied. A waiter led them to the courtyards they had rented. Along the way, they passed through an elegant environment filled with the fragrance of beautiful flowers.

"This inn is also owned by the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. It's very tranquil, and no one will disturb us here," Gu Liufeng explained as they walked across a small bridge. The waiter accompanying them pointed ahead and said, "These three individual courtyards are the ones we mentioned. You're in luck; these are the last three unrented courtyards in our inn."

"It seems quite nice here," Zi Qingxuan remarked, nodding in approval. However, at that moment, a figure hurriedly approached them, blocking Qin Wentian's path. To their surprise, it was the same receptionist who had served them earlier.

"My apologies, everyone," the receptionist began, "but there's been a misunderstanding. These three courtyards are already rented out. I must ask that you seek accommodation elsewhere."

Qin Wentian frowned, finding it hard to believe that someone with their level of martial cultivation could make such a mistake. Something fishy was going on.

"But there's no one in those courtyards at the moment," Gu Liufeng protested.

"I'm truly sorry. It was my careless mistake. These courtyards were actually reserved by someone else in advance, but I forgot," the receptionist admitted, offering his apologies.

At that moment, a group of figures descended from the sky. The person leading them said, "Gentlemen, your courtyards are right this way."

Qin Wentian and the others looked at them, their expressions growing cold as they realized the inn was kicking them out because this group of cultivators had arrived later, not because of any mistake made by the receptionist.