Heading to the City of Ancient Emperors

Heading to the City of Ancient Emperors . . .

In the tranquil ambiance of Driftsnow City, the snowflakes gracefully descended from the heavens, like fragments of crystalline dreams. Amidst this serene setting, Qin Wentian turned to his companion, Pei Yu, a question lingering in his voice as he asked, "Are you not leaving, Qing'er?" The hushed tone carried a sense of concern, for he knew all too well the depth of Pei Yu's obsession. He hadn't fathomed that such a twist of fate would have entangled her in the tale of the Driftsnow Master and Immortal Jade, leading to a heart captivated by the enigmatic Driftsnow Master.

With a gentle shake of her head, Pei Yu brushed aside a few errant snowflakes that had landed on her hand. "No, I find this place quite appealing," she replied, her gaze fixated on the falling snow.

"Very well then. But do remember, Qing'er, that the Driftsnow Master belongs to an ancient era. Don't allow yourself to be consumed by this fascination," Qin Wentian cautioned, a hint of concern in his eyes.

A soft smile graced Pei Yu's lips as she nodded in understanding. He sighed inwardly, aware that he couldn't change the course she had chosen. With a final glance, he turned and made his way out of the area, followed closely by a group of figures. A short while later, he produced an interspatial ring and addressed the leader of the group, "Exchange these immortal-ranked divine weapons for a Sky Demon Oracle Bone and some Yuan Meteor Stones for my cultivation."

"Understood," replied the immortal-foundation expert, bowing respectfully before leading the group into the skies, leaving Driftsnow City behind.

As Qin Wentian departed, he refrained from looking back. Despite the city's mobility, he lacked the strength to relocate it. Leaving it where it was seemed the wisest choice for now.

Suddenly, a flying boat appeared, hurtling towards him at an astonishing speed. It came to a stop in front of Driftsnow City, and several individuals disembarked, their eyes filled with a chilling determination as they fixed their gaze on Qin Wentian.

"Not giving up, are you?" Qin Wentian met their cold stares with a steely resolve. Over the past six months, he had survived more than ten assassination attempts. Since the first attempt, the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord had assigned experts to protect him whenever he ventured out.

"Attack!" The assassins roared, unleashing a potent wave of immortal power directed at Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian's guards reacted swiftly, engaging the assailants in combat. The most formidable among them shielded Qin Wentian with a barrier of immortal light.

"These persistent assailants... They never send a large number of experts in each attempt. What exactly are they plotting?" Qin Wentian's expression darkened. The assassins never revealed their origins, but it was not difficult to deduce that they hailed from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Only this sect dared to send assassins into the six prefectures now controlled by the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord with the intent to kill him.

However, the identity of the person who had ordered these assassinations remained a mystery. It could be Dongsheng Ting, the Deepflame Immortal King, or even other high-ranking members of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect.

The battle between immortals raged on, and Qin Wentian stood like a spectator, seemingly detached from the turmoil surrounding him. Yet, at this critical moment, an enormous, invisible palm imprint surged forth, blotting out the skies and homing in on Qin Wentian with lightning speed. Its swiftness left no room for defense.

"Be careful!" one of the guards in front of Qin Wentian bellowed. Instead of attempting to block the attack, he swiftly pulled Qin Wentian away, seeking to evade the impending danger. However, even though the palm imprint had not yet struck them, its pressure sealed the space around them, rendering Qin Wentian utterly immobile. The protective veil of immortal light he had cast cracked under the immense pressure.

In a split second, a beam of intense immortal light surged towards Qin Wentian, its sheer power enough to end his life. But just before it could strike him, an image materialized before him. It was none other than a manifestation of the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord himself.

"Scram!" The thunderous roar of the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord reverberated through the heavens, shattering the palm imprint. The sheer force of his voice caused the surrounding space to tremble violently, revealing a hidden immortal-king expert who could no longer conceal himself within the void and was forced to reveal his presence.

In the wake of the confrontation, an astonished expert couldn't help but remark, "Who would have thought that the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord would be so protective of this disciple?" His heart was awash with astonishment. It had become apparent that the enigmatic Emperor Lord had left a formidable strand of his immortal sense intertwined with Qin Wentian's very being. This revelation bore profound implications: the assassination attempts against Qin Wentian were now rendered futile, for they could never succeed in eliminating him.

Leaning against the ethereal barrier of the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord's presence, the image quivered with pent-up fury. An aura of overwhelming power radiated from the Emperor Lord as he vented his frustration, "I initially thought you all were merely jesting, but it seems that the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect has truly dispatched an immortal king, well-versed in spatial laws, to assassinate my disciple. Remarkable! Does the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect hold no reverence for me?"

The immortal king responsible for the spatial manipulation chuckled dismissively, creating ripples in the fabric of space as he distanced himself further and further from the scene. "Emperor Lord, you take things too seriously. We only came to assess how dear Qin Wentian is to you. We had no genuine intention of harming him," he quipped. With an abrupt shift in the spatial continuum, he vanished, and his fellow assassins swiftly followed suit, fleeing in haste, unwilling to linger even for an instant.

The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord saw no need to give chase to these immortal-foundation experts. His status was beyond question, and pursuing such minor figures would only serve to tarnish his dignity.

With a casual wave of his hand, the Emperor Lord spirited Qin Wentian away. In a matter of moments, they returned to the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect, located within the Cloud Prefecture Manor, an area that had undergone significant transformation under the Emperor Lord's guidance. It had expanded substantially, both in terms of its physical layout and its aura of grandeur.

The ethereal image of the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord gradually dissipated. As Qin Wentian strode into the sect, he was greeted by numerous disciples who respectfully bowed and extended warm greetings. "Young Master Qin," they chimed in unison.

Qin Wentian maintained his composure, unfazed by the acknowledgment. It was clear that not only the outside world but even those within the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect regarded him as the personal disciple of the Emperor Lord. The Emperor Lord himself had never refuted this perception, tacitly endorsing it and thereby granting Qin Wentian a newfound identity and status. Qin Wentian had no reason to dispel the rumors; indeed, he saw the advantages in embracing this identity.

The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord, having been able to appear at the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect to retrieve them, undoubtedly possessed a unique connection to the Heavenly Talisman Realm. Though not officially a member, he undoubtedly held a more profound association with the realm compared to others.

Soon, Qin Wentian proceeded deeper into the sect. There, he encountered a man tending to the flourishing flora with an air of tranquility and leisure. The man's demeanor exuded an aura of serenity amidst the vibrant greenery.

"Emperor Lord," Qin Wentian addressed him, closing the distance.

The Emperor Lord, continuing his gardening, didn't immediately turn around. With measured care, he tended to the plants and flowers, his movements deliberate and graceful. Finally, he acknowledged Qin Wentian with a warm smile as he inquired, "You've returned. From this point forward, your movements within the six prefectures won't be restricted. Do you have any plans at the moment?"

Qin Wentian met the Emperor Lord's gaze with determination as he posed a question of his own, "Emperor Lord, can you arrange for me to enter the City of Ancient Emperors?"

The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord, still tending to the vibrant blossoms, turned to Qin Wentian with a knowing smile and asked, "Are you absolutely certain?"

Qin Wentian's excitement was palpable as he nodded in agreement. The allure of the City of Ancient Emperors had ignited a blazing desire within him, just as it had for countless others who yearned to step foot within its hallowed walls. This was no ordinary city; it was a realm reserved for the elite, a place where only those possessing the strength of an immortal king could breach the formidable barrier that guarded its entrance. Thus, the city's denizens were a select group—descendants, personal disciples of immortal emperors and kings, or members of the most prestigious immortal-ranked sects.

The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord, his presence exuding wisdom and authority, added his counsel, "At this moment, your foundations are firmly established, and you have ascended to the pinnacle of the seventh level of Celestial Phenomenon. When you enter the City, it's advisable not to emerge until you achieve immortal ascension, or at the very least, attain the peak of Celestial Phenomenon in your cultivation."

"I appreciate your guidance, Emperor Lord. Your words will be etched in my memory," Qin Wentian acknowledged with utmost respect.

The Emperor Lord inquired further, "When do you intend to embark on this journey?"

Qin Wentian replied, "I wish to wait for my junior apprentice brother, Mengchen, so that we can set off together."

The Emperor Lord readily agreed, saying, "That's perfectly acceptable. You may depart when the time is right."

With a courteous bow, Qin Wentian took his leave, departing the presence of the Emperor Lord. Several days later, the immortal-foundation expert he had dispatched to procure the Sky Demon Oracle Bone and Yuan Meteor Stones returned with the coveted items. Qin Wentian wasted no time in utilizing them to enhance both his strength and the defensive capabilities of his physical body through rigorous cultivation.

The passage of time proved relentless, and several months drifted away like ephemeral dreams. On this particular day, Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan crossed the threshold into the Thousand Transformations Immortal Palace, their faces alight with excitement as they called out to the Emperor Lord, "Emperor Lord, is my senior brother here?"

The Emperor Lord smiled warmly and replied, "I have already sent for him."

Jun Mengchen nodded eagerly, anticipation dancing in his eyes. Shortly after, Qin Wentian made his appearance in the palace. A subtle smile graced his features as he greeted his junior apprentice brother and Zi Qingxuan, "You've both finally arrived."

"Mhm, we had a feeling you might be here, so we came to check it out. Oh, by the way, you mentioned the City of Ancient Emperors before. Are we going there together?" Jun Mengchen inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Qin Wentian's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he responded, "I've been waiting here precisely for this reason. I had requested the Emperor Lord's assistance, and now that you two are here, we can set off without delay. Shall we embark immediately?"

Jun Mengchen's laughter was infectious as he nodded enthusiastically, "Let's go!"

With unanimous agreement, the trio and the Emperor Lord prepared to embark on their journey to the City of Ancient Emperors. The Emperor Lord couldn't help but smile, observing the boundless enthusiasm of these young disciples. With a wave of his hand, they vanished from sight, their destinies intertwined as they ventured into the unknown.