Ancient Path of Stars

Ancient Path of Stars . . .

Qin Wentian cast a warm glance at his companions, his smile radiating a sense of camaraderie. "It's amazing to see everyone reaching the same cultivation level. Who knows, we might just have the chance to ascend to immortality together."

"We've truly been blessed with luck. Who would've thought we'd stumble upon the Sacred Luminance here? Without it, our breakthrough to the ninth level of Celestial Phenomenon wouldn't have been so swift," Jun Mengchen chimed in with a hearty laugh.

"In that case, it seems Princess Qing'er and I are at a disadvantage. We were already at the ninth level of Celestial Phenomenon," Nanfeng Yunxi quipped, her playful tone adding to the lighthearted atmosphere. "With the aid of this ancient holy radiance, someone might even leap two levels. Our luck is indeed remarkable. But then again, one could argue it's not that great. If we had entered the Sacred Luminance after reaching immortality, the effects would have been even more profound."

"This Sacred Luminance, is there absolutely no way to take it with us?" Qin Wentian gazed longingly at the radiant phenomenon. This legendary holy light held the potential to narrow the cultivation gap between him and Qingcheng. If only he could bring it along.

"It's not impossible, but the Sacred Luminance is an ancient holy radiance. To transport it, you'd need supreme-grade sacred treasures from ancient times. Do you happen to possess such a storage treasure?" Nanfeng Yunxi inquired, her smile playing at the corners of her lips. Even if such an ancient sacred treasure existed, few in the entire immortal realms, aside from Qin Wentian, would possess one.

Qin Wentian shrugged. "Since the Antiquity City holds the Sacred Luminance, maybe we'll be fortunate enough to find ancient sacred storage treasures here to carry it with us."

"I hope we're that lucky," Nanfeng Yunxi replied with a grin, bemused by Qin Wentian's greed for an ancient sacred treasure.

At that moment, a piercing cry echoed from within the Sacred Luminance. Purgatory, bathed in flames, had undergone a complete transformation. What had once been a spirit with a corporeal form had, after nurturing in Qin Wentian's bloodstream, gained sentience and experienced the Sacred Luminance's baptism. Now, she possessed a true physical body, adorned with fiery runes and towering with the presence of a divine avian species.

Purgatory transformed into a streak of red lightning and zoomed toward Qin Wentian, circling above his head with palpable excitement.

"Congratulations, Purgatory," Qin Wentian beamed, and Purgatory settled gently on his shoulder, her soft velvet wings brushing his face affectionately.

"Senior Brother, what should we do about that fellow?" Jun Mengchen asked, nodding toward Mo Xie still within the Sacred Luminance.

"Given that he knows we're prepared to confront him, he'll likely remain there indefinitely and not come out. Let's proceed ahead and explore further. He's not worth our time now. With our current strength, Mo Xie no longer poses a threat to us," Qin Wentian replied. Jun Mengchen shot a disdainful look at Mo Xie. "For now, it seems we'll have to let him be."

Jun Mengchen also understood that with all of them now at the peak of the ninth level, Mo Xie was no longer a concern. In any potential conflict between their group and the Qin Sect's enemies, be it the Violet Sect or the Evil Palace, their adversaries would pay a steep price.

"Let's move forward and explore this Antiquity City," Qin Wentian suggested as he soared into the air, his body adorned with runic glows that resembled a majestic wind roc.

"Agreed, let's go," Jun Mengchen affirmed, joining the ascent. As a united front, they soared higher, venturing deeper into the city's heart.

"What's that?" Qin Wentian wondered aloud, pointing to a fiery spectacle in the distance to the left. Flames surged into the sky like a volcanic eruption, their intense heat casting the entire area in fiery hues, a sight both awe-inspiring and daunting.

Nanfeng Yunxi shook her head, her voice filled with caution. "The power of that fire is beyond our imagination. We should steer clear of that place."

The group, heeding Nanfeng Yunxi's advice, continued their exploration, encountering a plethora of bizarre phenomena that stretched their imaginations. They stumbled upon an underworld river that seemed capable of corroding anything it touched and a void stream with the potential to obliterate all in its path. Cautiously, they kept their distance from these perilous areas.

To immortal kings and emperors, these enigmatic locales might have been enticing, offering the potential for cultivation breakthroughs. But for Qin Wentian and his companions, mere Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants, they were too feeble to approach.

Eventually, their path came to an end. Underneath the star-studded sky, a cascade of starlight bathed the Antiquity City. At their journey's terminus, astral gates materialized before them, seemingly dating back to the primordial era and connecting to the stars themselves. This location marked both the endpoint of the Antiquity City and the beginning of a new journey. Stepping through these astral gates felt like entering the realm of the stars, where they might encounter ancient kings and emperors.

"There appears to be no other way forward," Jun Mengchen observed as he regarded the astral gates. "What do you all think awaits us inside?"

"The Ancient Path of Stars," Nanfeng Yunxi replied with a contemplative look. She tilted her head, gazing skyward as she continued, "This is a journey, a pilgrimage to honor the divine. I've read countless legends that have finally come to life. The appearance of the Ancient Path of Stars has unraveled the purpose of the Antiquity City."

Nanfeng Yunxi had, at last, uncovered the Antiquity City's greatest secret. Perhaps the Southern Phoenix Matriarch had known this secret as well but had been unable to act upon it due to her lower cultivation base. Now that she understood, her heart trembled.

"So, are you saying that the Antiquity City was created to pay homage to the divine?" Qin Wentian inquired.

"Regardless of the era, is one's cultivation journey truly finished at the peak of the immortal emperor realm? Are there even loftier realms beyond that remained uncharted?" Nanfeng Yunxi posed these questions with a solemn tone. "Ancient emperors sought to ascend to higher realms, channeling their lifetime's strength toward this goal. The only path remaining was to seek miracles within divine ruins. The Antiquity City we find ourselves in is, in fact, a divine ruin. That's why ancient emperors flocked here, searching for what they sought. It's unknown whether anyone succeeded in navigating the Ancient Path of Stars and encountered divine beings."

"Miracles? Divine ruins?" Qin Wentian pondered aloud. "Since this is a divine ruin, we must explore it."

"You're only at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm!" Nanfeng Yunxi exclaimed in disbelief.

"Given that this is a divine ruin, its creators likely anticipated individuals of various cultivation levels entering the Ancient Path of Stars. I'm already at the peak of Celestial Phenomenon, a mere step away from immortal ascension. Now that the Ancient Path of Stars lies before me, how could I resist the urge to explore it fully?" Qin Wentian declared confidently, his words leaving Nanfeng Yunxi astonished.

At the peak of Celestial Phenomenon, on the cusp of immortality? The time was ripe to expand their horizons.

"Furthermore, I wish to experience and navigate this path of dreams," Qin Wentian asserted. He exuded an air of pride, his eyes piercing as he gazed forward.

Having embarked on his cultivation journey as a young boy, Qin Wentian had traversed five significant cultivation realms: Body Refinement, Arterial Circulation, Yuanfu, Heavenly Dipper, and Celestial Phenomenon. Now, at the pinnacle of Celestial Phenomenon, he was on the cusp of entering the Immortal-Foundation Realm. For immortals, each of them had truly ascended to unparalleled heights, reigning as kings and emperors in the immortal realms.

As for the seventh realm, the immortal king/emperor realm, populated by immortal kings and emperors...

Were there even more elevated realms to achieve in cultivation?

The Antiquity City and the Ancient Path of Stars were designed for immortal kings and emperors. Despite not yet having reached Immortal-Foundation status, Qin Wentian was determined to explore.

"I want to see it too," Jun Mengchen declared, his eyes alight with fervor.

Nanfeng Yunxi gazed at the two with a mixture of emotions, her heart resolute. "Alright, since we've come this far, let's venture together along the Ancient Path of Stars. But if we encounter life-threatening danger and have the means to flee, promise me that you'll run, no matter what."

"Let's go," Jun Mengchen urged, his impatience growing.

Qin Wentian stood there, his gaze locked onto Qing'er. Tenderly, he grasped her hand, his voice laced with emotion. "Qing'er—"

Before he could finish, Qing'er interrupted, her words filled with unwavering determination. "I will go wherever you go." She seemed to anticipate his thoughts, her eyes reflecting her resolute commitment. Qin Wentian could only smile warmly, a mix of love and concern in his eyes as he held her gaze. "Please, promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"Mhm." Qing'er nodded in acknowledgment. With that, they, along with their companions, approached the path and stepped through an astral gate.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, Qin Wentian found himself in a different dimension, a realm that felt like yet another illusory world. To his surprise, Qing'er and the others were no longer with him; he stood alone in this strange new place. An array of brilliant beams of light bathed his body, and suddenly, an intense, searing radiance emanated from him.

In this illusory world, a monstrous avian creature bore down on him with a menacing aura. Its malevolence seemed to seep from every feather, and Qin Wentian couldn't identify its species; he had never seen anything like it before. In the blink of an eye, the demonic bird's talons were poised to strike him with crushing force.

Qin Wentian's own aura erupted in response. His body radiated a resplendent runic light as runes materialized around him. He thrust his palm forward with tremendous force, capable of shattering even the stars themselves.

With an earth-shattering boom, Qin Wentian was forcibly pushed back by the avian beast. A blood-red light enveloped the creature, and the sky filled with runic glows. This primordial, demonic bird exceeded any entity Qin Wentian had encountered, surpassing even those of the same cultivation level, such as Mo Xie and Zi Daoyang.

The avian creature remained fixed on Qin Wentian, charging once more and leaving behind countless afterimages. A surge of runic light burst forth. Qin Wentian felt the very heavens change color as myriad clones of the demonic bird swarmed him, threatening to tear him apart.

Qin Wentian's heart raced, and he realized the Ancient Path of Stars was living up to its reputation—its trials were truly formidable. Yet, the more challenging the trial, the stronger his battle spirit burned. If he could overcome this path, would a miracle await him?

Roaring in fury, Qin Wentian unleashed the divine energy particles he had painstakingly condensed, using his palm to shatter the sky. He deftly blocked the countless attacks amidst the chaos, feeling the turbulent currents surge around him. In the midst of this turmoil, a razor-sharp talon descended upon him. Prepared for this moment, Qin Wentian's palm radiated a fierce white and crimson glow from his demonic bloodline. He struck with unparalleled force, creating an earth-shattering explosion that reverberated through space.

Undeterred, the avian beast continued its relentless onslaught, while Qin Wentian relied on the formidable defense of his physical body. His aura swelled to immense proportions, and layers of armor in red and white hues encased him, making him even more powerful than before. His body expanded with a deafening roar, and he seized the demonic bird's wings. In a climactic display of brute strength, he tore the monstrous creature in two, scattering blood across the sky.