Beiming Youhuang
Beiming Youhuang . . .
With the arrival of forces from the Myriad Devil Islands, it became evident that all the powers of the immortal realms had congregated in this place.
Within the vast expanse of space where the sacred academy had materialized, each power was led by a formidable immortal king or emperor. Of course, there were also factions led by ordinary individuals, but they remained relatively inconspicuous, as the limelight gravitated toward the mightiest entities.
Qin Wentian gazed across the scene, and even with his keen perception, he couldn't discern where it ended. The multitude of powers that had assembled here seemed incalculable.
"Even the City of Ancient Emperors pales in comparison," Qin Wentian mused in a hushed tone.
"The City of Ancient Emperors has always been a fixture in the immortal realms, attracting the top talents from major powers. The difference lies in the timing, as they send their elite geniuses at different intervals. The sacred academy, on the other hand, presents a unique scenario. Its appearance is akin to a divine opportunity and a herald of an era when ancient emperors will once again emerge. It's only natural that it has drawn all the major powers of the immortal realms," Bai Wuya explained. All peak powers naturally aspired to attain a status akin to that of an ancient emperor, standing at the pinnacle of the immortal realms. Given the true manifestation of the Heavenly Dao Sacred Academy, it would be inconceivable for them not to seize this opportunity.
"Everyone, make way," an ice-cold voice resonated. Astonishingly, the crowd parted to create a path for a group of individuals exuding formidable demonic energy. What puzzled many was the mode of their arrival, as they soared through the air while perched atop the backs of immensely powerful experts. Remarkably, these mounts were none other than human immortal kings, who had expanded their forms to serve as carriers for those emanating demonic energy.
"Immortal king slaves?" Qin Wentian's eyes narrowed as he observed the powerful newcomers. He immediately discerned that they were members of a demonic race from their aura and the malevolent glint in their eyes.
"They hail from the Sky Roc Race of the Western Regions. The Sky Roc Race inherits the ancient heavenly roc bloodline and is considered a pure-blooded greater demon lineage. They are exceedingly dominant and often capture potent human cultivators to serve as their slaves. In their society, demonic beasts reign supreme while humans are relegated to servitude," a nearby onlooker explained. Qin Wentian's gaze grew intent; the divide between humans and demons was profound, with each race seeking to exert dominance over the other.
As pure-blooded greater demons, the Sky Rocs possessed an unparalleled arrogance. In their eyes, they belonged to the highest echelons of existence, while humans were viewed as lowly and insignificant.
"Move aside!" These commanding demons ordered their human slaves to advance rapidly, roaring their instructions as they made a beeline for the central area. Their eyes exuded haughtiness as they surveyed their surroundings.
"Even a group of vile beasts dare to be so insolent?" A mocking voice rang out, drawing the attention of everyone present. There were individuals audacious enough to taunt the Sky Roc Race.
The experts from the Sky Roc Race reacted swiftly, casting sharp glares at the provocateur. Across from them, a group of individuals with formidable auras stood their ground, exuding an air of regality and majesty.
"People from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire," murmurs of recognition rippled through the crowd. The Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire, a peak power in the Central Regions, practiced the Royal Great Emperor Classic, endowing them with boundless authority. They were one of the three great immortal empires in the Central Regions.
"Step forth," an authoritative figure from the Sky Roc Clan bellowed. His voice cut through the air like a blade, and his eyes gleamed with an intimidating golden radiance, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard him.
"Outrageous!" Another young man from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire chided.
"It's tolerable for you vile beasts to behave arrogantly in the Western Regions, but now you have the audacity to act so brazenly here?" Another voice echoed, belonging to an expert from the Chasing Sun Immortal Empire, another of the Central Regions' three great empires.
"ROAR!" A thunderous roar shattered the tense silence, accompanied by a palpable surge of killing intent. A multitude of war chariots soared through the skies, bearing ferocious demonic energy. The foreheads of these mighty greater demons bore the character '王' (King). Their strength was clearly extraordinary.
"Greater demonic white tigers," murmurs rippled through the crowd. Among greater demons, the white tiger variety was the most distinguishable. Those of royal lineage bore the '王' character on their foreheads, an ancient symbol that radiated an ominous aura and instilled fear in those who beheld it.
"Do you seek confrontation?" The expert from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire retorted coldly. They stood within Nine Tripod City, a territory claimed by humans. They had no reason to fear the royal-blooded greater demons, despite their formidable combat capabilities. As a peak power of the Central Regions, they exuded supreme confidence.
"RUMBLE!" The war chariots of the White Tiger Clan rumbled, exuding an overwhelming aura. The baleful qi of the greater demon white tigers pervaded the area. The experts from the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire snorted disdainfully. In an instant, radiant immortal light flooded the surroundings, and a majestic emperor's aura radiated outward.
"The ancient sacred academy is a place for both humans and demons to cultivate. Now that we've all gathered here, and the academy has manifested itself, is a conflict truly necessary?" A melodious voice intervened. From a certain direction, a group of white-clad fairies gracefully floated through the air, each possessing breathtaking beauty. Their features were of the highest quality, surpassing even the beauties of the Southern Phoenix Clan. This drew the involuntary attention of many males present.
"An expert from the Jadestage Immortal Palace," Bai Wuya whispered to Qin Wentian and the others, broadening their knowledge.
"Fairy Yao remains as eloquent as ever," a White Tiger Race expert mused, gazing at the maiden. "It's said that the Jadestage Immortal Palace boasts an abundance of beauties, and now that we've met, I must say they've lived up to their reputation. If you ladies have the time, consider visiting our clan. Who knows, a legendary love story between humans and demons might unfold."
Laughter erupted among the White Tiger Race experts, their eyes sparkling with a sly glint.
"A beast will always be a beast," a Nine-Emperors Immortal Emperor expert retorted, his tone dripping with disdain.
A sudden gust of violent wind swept over the crowd. All eyes turned toward the source of the commotion—a magnificent immortal sedan, carried aloft by several experts. Those seated within the sedan must undoubtedly hold prestigious statuses, or they wouldn't have arrived in such a grand manner.
"That's a major power from the Northern Region, experts from the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty," Bai Wuya informed those around him, showcasing his extensive knowledge.
"Oh, our younger sister Youhuang is here," a powerful immortal king beauty from the Jadestage Immortal Palace remarked. The immortal sedan was gently lowered, and as its curtains parted, a flawless visage emerged.
Qin Wentian's gaze locked onto the perfect features, a sense of déjà vu washing over him.
"Who is that?" he inquired.
"That would be Princess Beiming Youhuang from the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty. She's a renowned beauty in the Northern Regions, famed for her formidable talent and combat prowess," Bai Wuya explained. Moments later, the beautiful figure gracefully exited the sedan, unveiling a perfectly sculpted physique that harmonized perfectly with her exquisite features. Yet, an air of icy arrogance and unmistakable nobility emanated from her.
"It's her?" Recognition flashed across Qin Wentian's eyes. At his side, even Little Rascal emitted a sharp, excited bark, fixating his gaze on her direction.
He had encountered this woman before. In the past, during their time in the City of Ancient Emperors, that ethereal and mesmerizing female figure who shared similarities with Nanfeng Yunxi had been none other than her.
Now, to encounter her again, and to discover that her identity held such staggering significance—Princess Beiming Youhuang, an immortal king-level expert and royalty of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty.
Beiming Youhuang seemed to sense something amiss. Her gaze shifted and, a moment later, locked onto Little Rascal. Her eyes gleamed with a keen intensity. Little Rascal, sensing her scrutiny, shrunk back, whining in a baby-like voice, "Oh no, this female ghost also has a part of the inheritance. She's going to gobble this baobao up!"
"The inheritance of the Brahma Heavenly Great Emperor," Qin Wentian mused, his eyes narrowing. Beiming Youhuang also possessed a share of this inheritance. Back then, her desire to enter the City of Ancient Emperors was most likely driven by her quest to claim that inheritance.
"The woman is positively frigid," Little Rascal whimpered, appearing genuinely fearful of her.
At that moment, a resounding dragon's roar echoed through the air. As all eyes turned toward the source, true demonic dragons could be seen soaring amidst the clouds, approaching the scene. Upon arrival, they assumed human forms and touched down on the ground. The experts from the Central Region furrowed their brows in response—the demonic dragon race, hailing from Dragon Island in the Western Sea, had made their presence known as well.
The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as all the major powers began adjusting their positions. Only those at the pinnacle of the immortal-emperor hierarchy had the privilege of standing at the forefront. Even formidable sects like the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect didn't possess this honor.
The sheer number of major powers in the immortal realms was staggering.
In the Central Regions, the three great immortal empires—Nine-Emperors, Chasing Sun, and Senluo—reigned supreme. Not to mention the influential Nibblesky Sacred Cult, Thundergod Hall, and more.
The Southern Regions boasted three ancient clans, each with their own storied history.
The Western Regions teemed with powerful races such as the Sky Roc, White Tiger, and Scorpion King. Here, the greater demons were formidable pure-blooded beings, and the notorious Myriad Devil Islands lay nearby.
The bustling gathering in Nine Tripod City marked the beginning of a new era, one where ancient emperors were destined to reemerge.
Among the spectators, countless ordinary powers marveled at the assembly of elite beings from across the immortal realms. This event promised the birth of numerous demon-level geniuses—a spectacle they eagerly anticipated witnessing.
Many of these powers harbored deep-seated conflicts. For instance, the simmering feud between the Skymist and Evergreen Immortal Empires remained unresolved. Astonishingly, the Skymist Immortal Empire chose to temporarily set aside their grievances, prioritizing full preparation for their entry into the Heavenly Dao Sacred Academy.
Today, radiant beams of light descended from the heavens, alighting within the sacred academy. These beams converged, forming a towering platform bathed in boundless astral illumination. Atop the platform, a sacrificial altar emerged, presided over by a figure clutching a scepter.
This figure possessed an ethereal quality, appearing as a shimmering illusion.
"Only immortal kings have the opportunity to enter the sacred academy, excluding immortal emperors. Those who have cultivated for over 10,000 years to attain immortal king status do not meet the criteria. Only those who ascend to immortal king status within 10,000 years from the moment they reach immortal foundation are eligible to stand upon this altar. Divide yourselves into groups of a hundred and approach one by one," the scepter-wielding figure announced. In response, numerous immortal kings, distinguished for their exceptional talents across various major powers, stepped forward eagerly, yearning for entry into this ancient-era sacred academy.
The Heavenly Dao Sacred Academy set strict criteria, accepting only immortal kings and immortal-foundation experts. Furthermore, it rigorously screened for potential, granting admission solely to the most prodigious talents among them.