Gathering Place of Geniuses

Gathering Place of Geniuses . . .

"How astonishing!" gasped Qin Wentian and his two companions as their hearts quaked at the sight before them. They continued their journey through the passageway, a glimmer of hope shining ahead as they approached what seemed like the exit. However, their joy soon turned to terror when, upon emerging from the disaster-ridden region, they were greeted by colossal tsunami waves and an inconceivably massive creature bursting forth from the ocean, soaring into the sky.

This creature was none other than a colossal black dragon, so vast that they couldn't discern its end, spanning at least over 10,000 feet in length. Its enormous saucer-like eyes struck fear into the hearts of all who beheld them.

The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord stepped forward, introducing himself, "Dragon Emperor, I am the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord, and I have brought three young disciples on a pilgrimage to the City of Ancient Emperors."

The black dragon's voice roared like thunder, sending shivers down their spines as it inquired, "What are their cultivation levels, and what of their talents?"

The Emperor Lord responded confidently, "They are all Celestial Phenomenon Realm cultivators, and their talents are exceptional. Without a doubt, all three of them can be classified as outstanding. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought them here."

"Very well. Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants shall be granted access to the first level of the City of Ancient Emperors. Entrust them to me," declared the black dragon before swallowing the ocean waves with its vast maw.

Addressing Qin Wentian and his companions, the Emperor Lord encouraged, "Cultivate diligently. The Dragon Emperor will escort you to the City of Ancient Emperors." With a wave of his hand, a powerful light screen enveloped them, transporting them into the colossal maw of the black dragon by some mysterious force.

As the maw closed, the Emperor Lord nodded and departed, leaving the dragon to tunnel into the ocean's depths and disappear from sight.

Within the pitch-black darkness of the dragon's maw, the three of them could only wait in silence.

After what felt like an eternity, they experienced a rapid descent with unimaginable speed.

Suddenly, they plummeted from the sky, crashing onto the ground with a deafening boom, creating three craters. This was the second time Qin Wentian had experienced such a phenomenon—the first being his arrival in the Immortal Realms, and now, during their journey to the City of Ancient Emperors.

They couldn't resist the dragon's incredible speed in the slightest. The Dragon Emperor's power was truly fearsome.

Crawling out of the craters, they surveyed their surroundings. The Eastern Ocean had vanished, and they now stood in a boundless land. Somehow, they had arrived within the City of Ancient Emperors, a city unlike any other in the outside world. It felt like an isolated realm, with towering buildings and ancient peaks that seemed to pierce the heavens. In the distance, beautiful palaces and ancient mountain pathways stretched out.

What kind of extraordinary place was this, capable of drawing all the young geniuses from the peak of their respective realms?

Approaching them were several figures, including a young man with hair cascading over his shoulders, clad in a robe made from beast hide. His skin had a metallic bronze hue, and an untamed aura surrounded him. He sat atop a fearsome lion-like beast, even more imposing than a lion—the legendary Golden Ni.

Amidst the grandeur of the City of Ancient Emperors, a girl emanated a resplendent rainbow-colored aura. Her beauty was nothing short of mesmerizing, and her gaze fixed intently on Qin Wentian and his two companions. With an air of arrogance, she inquired, "Ah, more arrivals in the City of Ancient Emperors. I wonder, will the three of you manage to survive here? And where do you hail from?"

The girl's tone dripped with conceit, and a glimmer of pride danced in her eyes. It wasn't just her; those around her exuded an innate sense of superiority, indicating their extraordinary status in the outside world.

"We come from the Eastern Sage Thirteen Prefectures. And you, where do you originate?" Jun Mengchen replied.

The girl arched an eyebrow, feigning recognition. "Ah, I believe I've heard of the Eastern Sage Thirteen Prefectures. That's an immortal empire in the western part of the Immortal Realms, isn't it? Are you three disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor?" She didn't wait for Jun Mengchen's response, continuing with her questions.

"Negative," Jun Mengchen answered.

"You're not even disciples of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor? Or perhaps you're under the tutelage of an Immortal King who serves the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor? In that case, you'd best tread carefully here," she remarked with an eerie smile before losing interest and sauntering away.

Others in the vicinity followed suit, their curiosity fleeting. Newcomers arrived in the City of Ancient Emperors regularly, making it an unremarkable occurrence. Most were merely passing through.

In this city, descendants and personal disciples of mighty Immortal Emperors abounded. Immortal King disciples, on the other hand, were a common sight, constituting the majority.

"Do Immortal King disciples hold no sway here?" Jun Mengchen blinked, baffled by the girl's disdainful tone.

In the world outside, Immortal King disciples enjoyed exceptional status and dazzled with their prowess. Figures like Hua Taixu and Ruthless were personal disciples of Immortal Kings.

However, within these ancient walls, Immortal King disciples appeared commonplace. While Immortal Kings were revered as mighty and paramount beings in the Thirteen Prefectures, and indeed throughout the Immortal Realms, their numbers far exceeded those of Immortal Emperors.

"Many here are the offspring or direct disciples of Immortal Emperors. Hence, Immortal King disciples may seem ordinary by comparison. But remember, that's all relative. Ultimately, individual strength reigns supreme," Qin Wentian explained, earning a nod of agreement from Jun Mengchen. Status and identity served as mere entry tickets here; it was one's strength and talent that truly mattered.

"But did you notice, just before she left, she wore that eerie smile and wished us luck? What could she have meant by that?" Zi Qingxuan, attuned to subtleties, couldn't help but sense something amiss in the girl's parting words. As a fellow woman, she sensed an underlying complexity in their encounter.

Amidst the vibrant tapestry of the ancient city of immortals, our trio of adventurers found themselves immersed in the electric atmosphere of genius and ambition. Qin Wentian couldn't help but marvel at the sheer concentration of extraordinary individuals who had converged here to forge their destinies. Their presence practically guaranteed frequent clashes of both wills and abilities, a volatile concoction of potential waiting to be unleashed.

In hushed tones, Qin Wentian shared his observation with his companions, "I also noticed that. This place contains absolute geniuses who came here to temper themselves. There would surely be frequent clashes among the people here." His words carried a weight of understanding and intrigue.

Zi Qingxuan nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the curiosity and determination that had brought them to this city. "Mhm," she affirmed, her voice a whisper amidst the bustling energy that surrounded them. With a shared resolve, the three of them ventured deeper into the heart of the city, eager to unravel its mysteries.

As they strolled through the ancient streets, they couldn't help but cross paths with formidable experts who radiated an aura of power that resonated with the very heavens. Qin Wentian quickly discerned that every individual here had reached the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, marking this place as a gathering ground for ascendants. Yet, even within this uniformity of cultivation, there existed a glaring disparity in the levels of extraordinary prowess that these ascendants possessed.

Jun Mengchen, never one to hold back his thoughts, couldn't help but comment on the intriguing surroundings. "Why are there sects here?" he mused aloud, his gaze fixed on a massive section of the city cordoned off by pavilions, buildings, and ancient peaks. At its entrance, three imposing words were engraved - 'God Extermination Palace.'

The sheer force emanating from those words made it clear that this was more than just a name; it was a statement of power and authority. Jun Mengchen couldn't resist a chuckle, "What an arrogant name." 'God Extermination Palace' seemed to underestimate the vastness of the immortal realms, yet it hinted at a formidable lineage that its members might hail from.

Unbeknownst to them, their candid conversation had reached the ears of those within the sect, and several imposing figures swiftly approached. Each one exuded an extraordinary aura, clearly marking them as formidable individuals.

At the forefront of this group stood a man adorned in resplendent golden robes, exuding an air of elegance and regality. A crown graced his head, and he fixed his gaze upon our trio, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. He inquired, "Have the three of you just entered the City of Ancient Emperors?"

Jun Mengchen, ever straightforward, responded with a nod, "Correct. Why are there sects within this place?"

With a hearty laugh, the elegant man explained, "Haha, are you very puzzled? This is where the pinnacle of genius congregates. It's only natural for like-minded individuals to form organizations and bonds, becoming brothers and sisters. It's also an opportunity for networking. After they survive and exit this place, the survivors will become prominent figures in the immortal realms, their connections and friendships established here paving the way for their ascent. The sects they create will ascend to the highest echelons, and their renown will echo throughout the realms."

Qin Wentian absorbed this wisdom with a thoughtful nod. It made perfect sense; these were the cream of the crop, the brightest stars of their generation. Surviving here meant transcending their current limits, and the alliances formed in this crucible would undoubtedly prove invaluable, given the formidable backgrounds many of them hailed from.

Seemingly unfazed by the aura of these powerful individuals, Jun Mengchen declined the offer with a polite shake of his head, "No thanks, we've just arrived. We intend to acquaint ourselves with the various powers in the city first."

The elegant man's eyes glinted with intrigue, and he adopted a carefree demeanor as he continued, "Oh? Well, since you're not interested in joining, how about you hand over your interspatial rings right now?"

Qin Wentian couldn't help but notice the concealed intent behind the smiles of these newcomers. The sly grin from the girl they had encountered earlier suddenly made sense. In a place where monsters gathered, only the extraordinary dared to tread. Our trio had stepped into a realm where the ordinary had no place, and their journey was about to take a perilous turn.