Immortal Palace

Immortal Palace . . .

In the grandeur of the Royal Sacred Region, where geniuses from across the world congregated, the Royal Sacred Sect stood as the unrivaled hegemon. The individuals gathered here today were no ordinary talents; they were the cream of the crop, known as Heaven Chosen.

This selection, however, was exclusive to those at the supreme-tier of the Heavenly Dipper realm—experts who had grasped the essence of true intent and possessed formidable combat abilities. While they seldom ventured beyond the sect's confines, no one dared question their prowess. Any one of these geniuses could easily turn the world on its head if they stepped outside. Though they may not have shone as brilliantly as the eight era-suppressing geniuses, they weren't too far behind.

Given these circumstances, with the recent emergence of a young external Heaven Chosen whose name echoed throughout the Royal Sacred Region, a figure whose actions had even led to the death of a senior elder, it was inconceivable for these Royal Sacred Sect Heaven Chosen to harbor friendly sentiments towards Qin Wentian. Could they admit inferiority to him?

Qin Wentian cast a measured glance over the crowd, his countenance unruffled as he passed by. These Heaven Chosen hailed from diverse factions and were undoubtedly representatives of various major powers.

"Qin Wentian." A voice cut through the air, causing Qin Wentian to pause. Turning toward the source, he spotted a tall and graceful woman. Her legs were slender yet strong, emanating a sense of power and agility. She folded her arms across her chest and gazed at Qin Wentian with sparkling eyes. With a teasing smile, she remarked, "I've heard of your impressive feats—comprehending two true intents on the Battle Sacred Platform and defeating ninth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns while only at the seventh level."

Qin Wentian regarded her silently, offering no response.

The gleam of amusement in her eyes gave way to a more mocking expression. "Perhaps you are genuinely powerful, but those ninth-level Heaven Chosen you defeated hardly qualify as Heaven Chosen in my eyes, let alone era-suppressing geniuses. It's laughable. In our Royal Sacred Sect, we have many talents. Among my apprentices and peers, several have already mastered two, three, or even four true intents. If you were to fight them, what do you think your chances of victory would be?"

Her own answer followed immediately, spoken with a cold smile. "Not even 10%. You'd undoubtedly lose." The words were a direct provocation to Qin Wentian and an affront to Fan Miaoyu, who was present among the onlookers.

Qin Wentian maintained his silence, though his furrowed brows betrayed his emotions. In addition to the woman, there were four or five others surrounding her, their gazes icy. A few among them exuded an air of arrogance, unmistakably nobility from the Royal Shang Clan, representing the Grand Shang Faction within the Royal Sacred Sect. The deceased elder from before had been their senior, a fact discerned from their auras and demeanor.

Qin Wentian's keen senses enabled him to draw this conclusion from their collective presence.

"So?" Qin Wentian's voice finally broke the silence, infusing his words with icy determination.

"Lower your gaze," the woman commanded, her eyes growing colder in response to Qin Wentian's defiance. A subtle undercurrent of hostility emanated from her.

Qin Wentian observed her for a moment, then casually inquired, "You've reached the ninth level of Heavenly Dipper; that's impressive. How many true intents have you mastered?"

The woman's face initially registered puzzlement before she proudly declared, "I've comprehended three."

"Wow," Qin Wentian nodded appreciatively before probing further, "So, when you were at the seventh level of Heavenly Dipper, how many true intents did you have under your belt?"

A sudden stiffness gripped the woman's eyes, and she laughed somewhat coldly, "The timing of true intent comprehension depends on luck and circumstances. It doesn't necessarily equate to greater strength."

"I see," Qin Wentian acknowledged. He then continued with a languid tone, his words hanging heavy in the air, "Back when our cultivations were on equal footing, a single slap from me would probably have been enough to end you. Would your earlier words still hold true then? It doesn't necessarily equate to greater strength, after all."

With a dismissive shake of his head, Qin Wentian expressed pity for her apparent lack of understanding. Her eyes smoldered with murderous intent, her hatred plain.

"Senior sister, he's just a minor figure. Why let his words get to you?" A young man standing nearby offered a gentle smile. Though hardly consoling, the woman nodded in agreement, though her gaze remained fixed on Qin Wentian.

Drawing near Fan Miaoyu and Wu Teng, Qin Wentian greeted them with a nod and a question, "Would you like to form an alliance? I have two senior apprentices from the Battle Sword Faction over there."

He gestured nonchalantly toward where his senior apprentices stood.

"Of course," Fan Miaoyu agreed, her smile warm. Wu Teng echoed her sentiments. They recognized the factional dynamics at play here, with different sects and clans forming their own groups. The Core Faction took the lead, while the other groups vied against each other. Survival of the fittest.

At that moment, a group of seven individuals approached, led by the person who had earlier extended an invitation to Qin Wentian to join the Core Faction.

These seven exuded an extraordinary aura, their cultivation bases either at the eighth or ninth level of Heavenly Dipper. They maintained a composed demeanor, though a subtle glint occasionally sparked in their eyes, capable of captivating those who caught it.

"Hua Taixu," Qin Wentian recognized a familiar face among the seven—none other than Hua Taixu, who had also received an invitation to join the Core Faction. In the Immortal Martial Realm, only he, Hua Taixu, and Gu Liufeng had completed the path of monuments, reaping substantial rewards. Hua Taixu had evidently chosen to join the Royal Sacred Sect, indicating that he had likely mastered a true intent.

"The Royal Sacred Sect has summoned you talented geniuses of the Royal Sacred Region because we're embarking on a unique journey," the imposing figure who had previously invited Qin Wentian addressed the group. His words triggered a memory of his earlier conversation with Qin Wentian.

However, the information shared with the rest differed. Those from the Core Faction now held the authority to command others. Qin Wentian deduced that any benefits reaped within the Vermilion Bird Immortal Palace would first benefit these seven. If he had agreed to join the Core Faction earlier, he too would have been part of the leadership, enjoying these privileges.

The assembly of geniuses here was a congregation of supreme arrogance, a collection of individuals who bowed to no one unless those in command were exceptionally powerful. The seven at the forefront, given the task of leadership, couldn't possibly have earned their respect unless they possessed staggering strength. Among them, Xia Sheng stood out—a name that triggered an exclamation from Fan Miaoyu by Qin Wentian's side.

Qin Wentian communicated through his thoughts, "You're familiar with him?"

"Of course," Fan Miaoyu responded. "Xia Sheng was quite renowned in the Royal Sacred Region back in the day, making a name for himself even before Gu Liufeng. However, he later joined the Royal Sacred Sect and vanished from public view. People believe he's remained in the Heavenly Dipper Realm, choosing to consolidate his foundations. If he's leading this group now, it means his strength must be monstrously unfathomable."

Qin Wentian acknowledged this assessment. It was clear that Xia Sheng possessed immense power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have emerged as the leader among these seven from the Core Faction. "Understood."

"We will follow Senior Xia Sheng's orders," declared the experts from various powers. They held a deep respect for those with talents significant enough to belong to the Core Faction, and with Xia Sheng's strength, his leadership was unquestioned.

"In that case, ensure your preparations are in order. We depart immediately," the lead expert instructed. Nods of agreement rippled through the group before they soared into the sky, departing from the Royal Sacred Sect.

Xia Sheng's group, comprising core disciples, numbered seven in total. Other groups varied in size, some larger, others smaller, but the total remained around a hundred. Each group had its core leader, such as the white-haired young man from the Grand Shang Empire, an enigmatic figure of uncertain age. Standing silently beside him was the girl who had earlier tried to humiliate Qin Wentian. As for those like Fan Miaoyu and Wu Teng, along with individuals unaffiliated with major powers, they formed or joined groups as they saw fit.

The group from the Battle Sword Sect was among the smallest. Discounting Fan Miaoyu and Wu Teng, only three members remained—Qin Wentian, Quinn, and Siko.

Quinn projected an air of righteousness and scholarly charm, boasting a cultivation base at the ninth level of Heavenly Dipper.

In stark contrast, Siko exuded an eerie, almost malevolent presence, shrouding him in a sinister aura. The two disciples' personalities clashed profoundly, making it difficult to imagine they were from the same sect.

"Baim is incredibly powerful, at the ninth level of Heavenly Dipper, and he's mastered four true intents."

"Tu Leng leads the Violet Thunder Sect group, and his strength rivals Baim's. We must be cautious around these two," Quinn cautioned his junior. Although he and Qin Wentian were not particularly close, he felt compelled to offer guidance. Baim referred to the white-haired young man, while Tu Leng was a stout, muscular figure at the forefront of the Violet Thunder Sect group, his subordinates standing in respectful formation behind him. His core status within the Violet Thunder Sect was evident.

Qin Wentian etched those characters into his memory. Everyone gathered here outclassed him in strength, and it wasn't an idle warning from the Battle Sword Sect's ancestor. The leaders of these groups were genuinely terrifying individuals.

They embarked on a journey that lasted two days, bringing them to the outskirts of the Royal Sacred Region, near the Illusion Mountain in the Grand Zhou Empire. The Royal Sacred Sect's guide paused, producing a dazzling, compass-like object to find their bearings before leading them deeper into the Illusion Mountain Range in pursuit of the Vermilion Bird Immortal Palace.

The mountains in this region twisted and coiled like serpents and dragons, creating a sprawling landscape. After a while, they entered a concealed realm, and when they gazed upwards, an immensely vast immortal palace loomed above the misty clouds.

Qin Wentian had glimpsed this place before in the Grand Xia Royal Tomb. Now, in his physical form, he realized that even a single glance couldn't capture the palace's entirety. It appeared as if the palace had drifted here from another world. The crowd's hearts pounded with awe, struggling to articulate the grandeur of this spectacle.

Fan Miaoyu, her heart racing, couldn't help but ask, "What kind of place is this?" The floating palace, seemingly boundless, left everyone in amazement, pondering the unfathomable power of its creator.

Indeed, not only Fan Miaoyu but everyone present stood in silent reverence, their souls trembling as they gazed upon this breathtaking sight.