Gathering at the Underworld Mountains

Gathering at the Underworld Mountains . . .

Qin Wentian's gaze swept over those who had spoken, his smile warm but tinged with a hint of caution. "While the Qin Sect is newly established, we don't accept members casually. Those who join us become our brothers, bound by loyalty and obedience. I expect unwavering commitment to my leadership, and any deviations will be dealt with severely. Do you still wish to join the Qin Sect after hearing these rules?"

Before Jun Mengchen could voice his thoughts, Qin Wentian had already articulated the conditions clearly. He couldn't help but chuckle at the audacity of these individuals. It was ironic that they had offered no assistance when danger loomed, but now, with the Twin Stars Alliance defeated and Qin Wentian, Qing'er, and Nanfeng Yunxi's prowess evident, they suddenly expressed their desire to join the Qin Sect.

Qin Wentian sneered inwardly at the thought. Accepting such a multitude would only breed discord within their ranks, as each genius harbored their own motives and designs. It seemed wiser not to admit any of them.

Their expressions froze as one person dared to question, "Brother Qin, but you didn't specify any criteria when Nanfeng Yunxi expressed her intention to join?"

With a carefree laugh, Qin Wentian responded, "If your ranking matches hers, I won't object. In fact, I won't impose criteria on anyone ranked in the top ten who wishes to join."

His relaxed demeanor left those who had applied shaking their heads in understanding. They recognized Qin Wentian's intentions—he and Nanfeng Yunxi would risk their lives for ordinary geniuses during moments of peril, sharing the benefits when good fortune arrived. Such convenience was unheard of. Presently, the Qin Sect stood as a formidable force that no one dared to approach.

"Let it go, let it go. Soon, there will be turmoil in the City of Ancient Emperors. Even Zi Daoyang mentioned the discovery of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's ruins. Would anyone like to form an alliance to explore this forbidden land?"

Indeed, the prospect of uncovering the inheritance of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor within the Underworld Mountains was enough to stoke the ambitions of these geniuses. Despite the mountains being notorious as a perilous forbidden ground, countless had ventured in but few had returned. However, the revelation of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's legacy had ignited their fighting spirits. They refused to believe that an army of geniuses couldn't break the supposed curse surrounding the Underworld Mountains.

Excitement rippled through the crowd as voices chimed in, discussing the potential alliance and their collective determination to conquer this perilous realm. Qin Wentian, however, remained silent. Although he had briefly entered the Underworld Mountains, his knowledge of the place was limited, and he had little information about its traps. He was hesitant to dissuade the others from entering, knowing they would likely misconstrue his intentions, thinking he wanted to claim the legacy solely for himself.

"The Qin Sect is still in its infancy, and we won't be accepting new members for the time being. I appreciate your interest, but please take your leave," Qin Wentian stated firmly, dismissing the hopeful applicants. They had no choice but to depart.

"Nanfeng Yunxi, the Qin Sect currently consists of just six members. Feel free to choose your accommodation," Qin Wentian said, flashing her a warm smile once the others had departed.

Nanfeng Yunxi nodded and inquired, "When will we set out?"

Qin Wentian leaned in, his voice lowered as he shared confidential information with Nanfeng Yunxi. "Now that you've joined the Qin Sect, there's something you should know. I recently ventured into the Underworld Mountains. They exist in a separate dimension, veiled by mist and fog. Within, a mysterious energy saps the strength of stellar martial cultivators, making it challenging to stay for prolonged periods."

Puzzlement crept onto Nanfeng Yunxi's face as she questioned, "Then how did you all manage to leave?"

"Qing'er possesses a spatial-type treasure," Qin Wentian replied.

Nanfeng Yunxi grinned. "It seems I made the right choice joining the Qin Sect. In that case, we have nothing to worry about. Let's gather more Yuan Meteor Stones to replenish our astral energy. During the recent battle, you acquired the interspatial rings from the Xiao Branch members, so I'm sure you're not lacking in Yuan Meteor Stones."

"In that case, we'll rest for a day and depart tomorrow morning. The news has already spread, and most likely, numerous geniuses from the City of Ancient Emperors will be heading there as well," Qin Wentian declared decisively. His main concern was Little Rascal, who remained inside the Underworld Mountains. If he crossed paths with the second-ranked contender, Little Rascal's combat abilities would pale in comparison.

Nanfeng Yunxi nodded in agreement. The six of them dispersed to their respective courtyards to focus on cultivation. Qin Wentian needed this extra time to regenerate divine energy particles and reassemble the God's Hand.

The former Xiao Branch headquarters now served as the Qin Sect's base, where tranquility reigned. As night descended, the only sounds were the gentle gurgling and splashing of water from the surrounding mountains' waterfalls.

In a separate courtyard, Nanfeng Yunxi stood with her arms behind her back. As a princess of the Southern Phoenix Clan, she carried the weight of great expectations. Matriarch Southern Phoenix had charged her with a mission. The thirty-three immortal realms had experienced prolonged peace, but the matriarch had foreseen a coming upheaval. Nanfeng Yunxi needed to enhance her strength rapidly and mature as swiftly as possible. As a descendant of the Matriarch Southern Phoenix, she had to ensure that, within a hundred years, she'd establish her immortal-foundation, as foretold by the matriarch. The prophecy hinted at impending chaos.

With chaos came the birth of exceptional geniuses, those capable of influencing the world and changing its course. In a realm teeming with prodigies, who would ascend to the pinnacle? Nanfeng Yunxi often pondered this question. In the turbulent era ahead, could she carve out her own path to the sky?

Zi Daoyang, Qing'er, Qin Wentian, the second-ranked contender, and other peak geniuses of the City of Ancient Emperors—would they be any less formidable than herself?

Suddenly, Nanfeng Yunxi sensed an unusual presence. She whirled around, scanning the surrounding mountains, but there was no sign of human silhouettes or discernible auras.

Her brows furrowed as a hint of unease flickered in her eyes. Nanfeng Yunxi possessed keen senses, and there was something peculiar nearby. Yet, she couldn't detect any aura. Could her anxiety be making her paranoid?

In the tranquil courtyard, Qin Wentian diligently pursued his cultivation, while Qing'er had chosen a training spot by a waterfall. From there, she had an uninterrupted view of Qin Wentian. Her eyes, clear and transparent, were fixed on him, but her expression betrayed a sense of unease. She stood there in deep contemplation, thoughts swirling in her mind.

Qing'er's innocence and unfamiliarity with the world endowed her with a pure heart and a sharp intuition that allowed her to sense things others might miss. Reflecting on the day's events, she had a nagging feeling that Zi Daoyang's appearance was somehow linked to her. Yet, she had no prior connection with him, making it challenging to decipher his true motives.

Considering Zi Daoyang's stature and charm, he had no shortage of admirers, including Xiao Lengyue. He could have won her heart with ease if he wished. Therefore, his pursuit of someone simply for their beauty seemed unlikely.

Qing'er's thoughts then drifted to her father, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor. She glanced at Qin Wentian, her gaze filled with uncertainty about whether her father would approve of him. A flicker of worry danced in her beautiful eyes. However, as she observed the tranquil expression on Qin Wentian's face, wholly engrossed in his cultivation, Qing'er's countenance softened. The icy facade melted away, and warmth replaced it.

On this night, the world seemed less cold.

...

The crisp mountain air carried a hint of mist that enshrouded the surrounding peaks. Normally, this place was a haven of silence. But today, it teemed with human figures, clustered in small groups of three to five, each taking up positions around the area and heading deeper into the mountains.

These figures were none other than the other experts from the City of Ancient Emperors who had caught wind of the news.

Despite the Underworld Mountains being a reputed forbidden ground, the presence of numerous experts brought about a newfound courage. After all, everyone gathered here was a genius, and cowardice had no place among them. People had started arriving since yesterday.

In the ancient ruins of Ancient Emperor Yi, the lost secret art known as the God's Hand had indeed surfaced and been comprehended by Qin Wentian. Now, the equally renowned Brahma Heavenly Emperor's legacy had stirred excitement. Could the Great Brahma Art also reveal itself here?

If any one of them successfully comprehended the Great Brahma Art, even if they couldn't reach the Heavenly Brahma Emperor's level of mastery, it would already propel them to prominence in the immortal realms.

No one considered themselves inferior, and no one expected to fail in unlocking the mysteries of these lost secret arts, especially among the geniuses gathered in the City of Ancient Emperors.

Qin Wentian and his companions ventured into the Underworld Mountains, stepping across its boundaries. The group comprised Qin Wentian, Qing'er, Nanfeng Yunxi, Jun Mengchen, Zi Qingxuan, and Hua Taixu—the six members of the Qin Sect.

Wherever they went, they drew the attention of onlookers. Among the six, three were top-grade beauties. Zi Qingxuan was already exceptionally attractive, but Qing'er and Nanfeng Yunxi surpassed her in terms of allure. Their entourage was an undeniable sight to behold.

People who had heard of yesterday's battle immediately recognized them, but others, unaware of the recent events, were left to wonder about the identities of these two supreme beauties, Nanfeng Yunxi and Qing'er.

The pace of their group was nothing short of breathtaking. Following familiar routes, Qin Wentian and his companions swiftly reached the outskirts of the Underworld Mountains. Here, they found numerous experts who had already gathered, most of them forming their own groups. Only a handful dared to venture into this dangerous territory alone. It was clear that, as treasures and legacies were likely to be contested fiercely, alliances were paramount. In a place where might made right, refusing to form an alliance was akin to inviting disaster.

"Nanfeng Yunxi!" A voice rang out, drawing the gaze of many towards Qin Wentian and his party.

"Princess Qing'er is here too, alongside the #3 and #5 ranked supreme beauties," another voice chimed in, causing the Qin Sect to instantly become the center of attention.

"Interesting, the Twin Stars Alliance has also arrived." Spectators shifted their focus to another direction, where Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue led a sizable group. Xiao Lengyue's injuries, which had seemed severe only a day ago, appeared miraculously healed. Speculation arose regarding the potent remedies she must have employed. However, Greedwolf was conspicuously absent, likely requiring a year or more to fully recover.

"Nanfeng Yunxi and Princess Qing'er have formed an alliance, and the Twin Stars Alliance has Xuan Yang and Xiao Lengyue. Maybe we should gather more people and form our own group," a voice in the crowd suggested to a companion. The strength of the Qin Sect and the Twin Stars Alliance was undeniably formidable.

"Let's proceed," Nanfeng Yunxi spoke in a hushed tone. Qin Wentian nodded, and their group boldly stepped into the Underworld Mountains. After a brief moment of hesitation, others followed suit. If even Nanfeng Yunxi and Princess Qing'er were entering this forbidden realm, who could afford to be fearful or hesitant?

Before long, the City of Ancient Emperors' geniuses had assembled into groups and ventured deeper into the heart of the Underworld Mountains. As mist and fog enveloped the surroundings, an eerie and mysterious atmosphere settled over them all. The true Underworld Mountains loomed ahead, exuding an unmistakable aura of chilling malevolence.