Gathering of the Nine Continents

Gathering of the Nine Continents

Silence enshrouded the observers below as Qin Wentian descended. Could this platform still be deemed the Heavenly Stele Platform without the Heavenly Stele itself?

To their astonishment, the Stele had been gifted to Qin Wentian.

However, the onlookers remained unaware of the Heavenly Stele's true nature. If they did, the upheaval would reverberate across all of Grand Xia.

The Divine Stele, emblematic of Grand Xia's ascension and subsequent decline, had once baptized countless heroes of the Ancient Grand Xia era.

Comparable to an ancient mirror, it encapsulated the annals of history, engraved with Grand Xia's nine paramount arts. Yet, it had fractured into nine fragments, never to be reunited again.

Had Qin Wentian been more versed in Grand Xia's history, he'd realize that the present-day transcendent powers boasted arts and techniques as foundational pillars. Their origins, however, derived from the engravings on the Divine Stele.

Although still potent, these remnants were a mere shadow of their past glory.

Ancient Grand Xia surpassed the fragmented Nine Continents in might. Even combined, today's transcendent powers couldn't match Ancient Grand Xia's splendor. But why had this mighty dominion eventually crumbled?

The elderly man recommenced his sweeping, likely for the last time he'd be seen there.

"Hey boss, can I borrow the Heavenly Stele for a spin? Just a few days," Fan Le inquired with a sly grin, mischief twinkling in his eyes. A potent artifact in the hands of Qin Wentian—imagining its application against opponents was tantalizing.

Qin Wentian shot Fan Le a stern look as he approached their group. His survey revealed his companions' growth, their strengths visibly elevated. The invaluable aid of the Heavenly Stele Steps couldn't be underestimated.

His gaze shifted to Situ Po and Yue Bingying. Situ Po met his gaze, his words ringing clear: "We'll meet again at the Ginkou Continent."

As his voice faded, Situ Po and Yue Bingying vanished from view. A cold glint flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes, his thoughts shrouded in mystery.

Situ Po's lingering hostility didn't escape him. So be it, Qin Wentian would settle their feud in the Ginkou Continent. The year's end approached swiftly, meaning all of them would soon set off for the Ancient Kingdom.

"Xuan Xin, let's head back," those from the Mystic Maiden Palace signaled their departure. Xuan Xin's gaze lingered on Fan Le, her smile radiant. "Will you be going to the Ginkou Continent as well?"

Fan Le nodded affirmatively. "Yes."

"Then we shall meet there," Xuan Xin said with a sweet smile before she left alongside Xuan Yan and her fellow disciples.

Even after Xuan Xin's departure, Fan Le continued to sport a dreamy grin. Witnessing this, Qin Wentian couldn't help but sweat—could love really render people so foolish, even someone as audacious as Fan Le?

Not far away, the white-clad maiden also prepared to leave. Yet, Qin Wentian's voice broke the stillness. "Yun Mengyi."

Yun Mengyi paused, and Qin Wentian swiftly joined her. "I have some questions for you."

With that, he led her away. Perhaps Yun Mengyi possessed the answers to the riddle weighing on him. Why did Princess Tianyu bear such an uncanny resemblance to her?

Yun Mengyi's brows furrowed slightly; she wasn't accustomed to being pulled along. But after losing to Qin Wentian, she allowed him to guide her. This spectacle left Ouyang Kuangsheng and Fan Le baffled.

"Our boss is really something else."

"Absolutely." Ouyang Kuangsheng concurred, his gaze tracking Qin Wentian and Yun Mengyi's retreating figures. Where were they headed?

Walking beside Yun Mengyi, Qin Wentian finally inquired, "Who are you, truly?"

Yun Mengyi's gaze met his as she replied icily, "Yun Mengyi."

"Did you recognize me even before I entered the Unmatched Realm?" Qin Wentian met her gaze, his eyes unyielding.

Yun Mengyi brushed his hand away in that moment. She understood that Qin Wentian had already witnessed the scenes depicted on the Stele. "I am Xia Tianyu."

Qin Wentian's face stiffened. "That's impossible."

"Do you doubt me?" Yun Mengyi's gaze met his, a mysterious smile fleeting in her eyes. "Would you believe me if I told you I'm your older sister?"

Qin Wentian remained silent. The Yun Mengyi before him exuded an unsettling aura. Her smile was unfamiliar, like that of a stranger.

Nothing substantiated her claims. The truth behind her words remained known only to Yun Mengyi—whether they were genuine or fabricated.

"No," Qin Wentian replied firmly.

"In that case, why do you persist?" Yun Mengyi turned and began to walk away. Her presence remained as cold as ever.

Drawing in a deep breath, Qin Wentian struggled to unravel the enigma. Could the woman saved by his insufferable old man really be Yun Mengyi?

What link existed between Yun Mengyi and Xia Tianyu?

And why was the Heavenly Stele now in his possession? Was it truly because he gained the old man's recognition through the Stele's trials? There must be more to it.

The old man was undoubtedly formidable, given his capacity to safeguard the Divine Stele remnant for so long. Claiming to follow the orders of his master, the old man's master—how powerful could they be?

"What's troubling you?" Ouyang Kuangsheng and the others approached, noticing Qin Wentian's contemplative stance. Little Rascal darted into Qin Wentian's embrace and nestled there.

"Nothing," Qin Wentian replied, shaking his head. The intricacies of his own lineage eluded him; revealing Yun Mengyi's claims would amount to nothing. He wondered if this forthcoming journey to the Ancient Kingdom might unveil the answers to this cryptic puzzle that had long consumed him.

"It's time for us to depart for the Ginkou Continent. Most from the Azure Continent have already set out, and the Ginkou Continent is certainly bustling by now." Ouyang Kuangsheng chuckled, excitement sparkling in his eyes. The triennial pilgrimage to the Ancient Kingdom attracted countless prodigies. Every prominent power in Grand Xia dispatched their younger generations to test their talents.

"Indeed, only a few months remain." Qin Wentian felt the urgency. Despite his progress, he was still unprepared to compete against the top three Heavenly Fate Rankings contenders.

Those top-ranked figures were the pinnacle of Yuanfu across Grand Xia. It was almost certain that their Mandates had attained Perfection, and some among them might have even delved into the second level of their respective Mandate insights within the Yuanfu Realm.

"Let's return to my Ouyang Clan first. I'm sure many of my clan members will be joining the journey as well," Ouyang Kuangsheng suggested. Qin Wentian and his companions voiced no objections, following Ouyang Kuangsheng to the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan.

After Ouyang Kuangsheng conveyed his discoveries to the higher ranks, a decision was reached: in seven days, all those capable of vying for Heavenly Fate Rankings would embark on a collective journey to the Ancient Kingdom of Grand Xia.

Within Ouyang Kuangsheng's abode, a three-sided Stele levitated, while Qin Wentian, Fan Le, and Chu Mang sat beneath it, palpably feeling the weight of the Ancient Will it radiated.

"Strength, use my strength against me, attack my body," Qin Wentian instructed. His body quivered with each impact. He had discerned that the Stele had its own will, and he had the power to regulate the intensity of its emanations.

"More power. I can endure it," Qin Wentian rose into the air, and a resounding boom followed. The Stele's formidable energy surged into him, causing blood to spurt from his lips. Yet, determination gleamed in his eyes, undiminished by the pain—a thirst for greater strength fueled him.

A treasure as celestial as the Stele couldn't be trifled with. They must harness its intense pressure to shatter their own limitations.

The Divine Stele that once sanctified the Ancient Grand Xia's royal lineage now spurred Qin Wentian's ascension to new heights.

With a certain degree of "enthusiasm," Ouyang Kuangsheng, Fan Le, and the others endured the "torture" inflicted by the Heavenly Stele. Though the torment was excruciating, they felt their strength and resolve solidify in its wake.

Seven days elapsed in a blink. The day had arrived; Ouyang Clan members eligible for the journey gathered at the main training grounds. Numerous demonic beasts were being prepared as mounts for the trek to the Ginkou Continent.

Qin Wentian's gaze scanned the assembly. Over several hundred ninth-level Yuanfu cultivators stood before him. As an Aristocrat Clan, their ranks boasted adepts across every Yuanfu tier. Yet, even with hundreds at the ninth level, most remained expendable troops. These numbers hinted at the vast wave of cultivators descending upon the Ginkou Continent.

"Let's depart." The Ouyang Clan's patriarch personally bid the participants farewell. Though these cultivators hailed from the younger generation, those who withstood the upcoming trial and distinguished themselves would earn a chance to become core members of the illustrious Ouyang Clan.

The sky became a constellation of demonic beasts as they took to the air, casting a shroud of demonic qi over the heavens as they soared toward the Ancient Kingdom of Grand Xia.

......

Within the Nine Continents of Grand Xia, the Ginkou Continent, Moon Continent, and War Continent were situated in the shape of a triangle, forming the core of the Grand Xia realm.

Among these three, the Ginkou Continent held paramount importance. Even in the days of Ancient Grand Xia, it commanded prominence. Even the small nations bordering Ginkou boasted strength beyond that of countries like Chu. Over there, experts were as common as the drifting clouds.

Though the Ancient Kingdom had crumbled, the Ancient Capital remained the grandest and most opulent metropolis in all of Grand Xia. This capital was a testament to the former glory of Ancient Grand Xia, welcoming an unending influx of people and mounts, both human and demonic.

For human cultivators, some traveled alone or in small groups of three to five. Conversations filled the air as they soared, excitement coursing through their veins. Even those on the ground shared in the exhilaration as they laid eyes upon the Ancient Capital.

Suddenly, a chilling aura sliced through the clouds, marking the arrival of a contingent of sword-wielding cultivators. Arrayed in white attire, each stood upon a flying sword, suspended in the sky.

"Are those the Swallow Swordsmen from the Yan Continent?"

"Look there! A multitude of demonic beasts. Could they be from the Demon Continent? The Skydemon Sect and the Beast King Hall?"

"Hey, what about that formation over yonder? It's emanating such power. They must be from a transcendent sect." The crowd's collective gaze shifted to another direction, punctuated by exclamations. In their line of sight stood a lone figure, projecting an imposing aura that extended for miles around. It was as if no matter how many people surrounded him, he would dominate the space.

"Hua Taixu. I've seen him before. He's from the Hua Clan in the Moon Continent. And those by his side, they seem to be from the same place—the Pill Emperor Hall."

As eyes continued to scour the scene, they picked out other remarkable figures alongside Hua Taixu.

"Isn't that young man with the golden gleam in his eyes, Zhan Chen? I heard he's cultivating an art passed down by an Ascendant. I wonder how much stronger he's become. Rumor has it he's deliberately holding back his cultivation, avoiding advancing to the Heavenly Dipper Realm so he can vie for the top spot on the Heavenly Fate Rankings."

"Oh, and who's that maiden? Such grace and beauty, she could conquer kingdoms with a glance."

"That's likely the direct disciple of the Pill Emperor's daughter, Luo He. She usually keeps a low profile, so there's little known about her. But despite that, she's incredibly famous and sought after in the Moon Continent."

Innumerable voices carried diverse conversations, reverberating through the air. As they beheld this assembly of heroes, each representing a major power from one of the nine continents, gathered in the Ancient Capital of Grand Xia, it was only natural that there would be an endless array of topics to discuss.