Chapter 526 - The Celestial Gate

Chapter 520

/*unedited*/

In a mountainous area at the border of Yi and San kingdom to the East and about a week of travel from the capital of Yi kingdom, a large city lays. This city is one of the biggest cities in the Yi kingdom and it can be considered as a small kingdom inside the Yi kingdom. It is called the Lotus City.

Lotus City is a huge city that spans for more than hundreds of kilometers. And it is being ruled by the 12 great sects in the mountainous area within its boundaries. The city itself has its own self-sufficient economy and didn't rely on trades to survive.

As it is being ruled by the 12 great sects, its riches in both materials and money are abundant. Hence even the capital city of the Yi Kingdom would pale to its resources. But of course, the city would not flaunt their wealth as it has already caused them great trouble before and has caused the city to face many deaths and sufferings.

However, after the intervention from the kingdom, the city obtained peace and the other cities within its boundaries stopped attacking them. And after the 12 great sects in the mountainous area focused their resources in the city, it grew to its size and power it has today.

The Lotus city's main entrance has two gates. The first one is a 12-meters solid metal gate with 3 sub gates. And the second one is a normal entranceway with a portcullis that would block its path in times of wars and attacks.

The particular thing about the 12-meters solid metal gate and its 3 sub gate is that it is being used to test the strength of the cultivators wanting to enter the city.

Those who wanted to enter the city with prestige and gain the attention of the sects. They would try the 12-meters solid metal gate, or what they called the 3 celestial gates. When they were able to successfully open the gate and enter it, it means that the cultivator is able to reach the peak of their cultivation realm and would have a chance to enter a sect.

However, the gate would only be able to be opened by cultivators within the realms of the core-forming realms and above.

And so whenever someone would try to use this gate, it would surely attract the attention of the travelers on the road.

And such an event is currently happening right now.

While many are lining up in the normal gate of the city, there is a huge crowd that is currently gathered in front of the other huge gate.

"What's going on?"

"Look, I think that's the crest of one of the aristocratic families in the town near here."

"Yes, you are right… That is the Hung family crest. They belong to a rich family of aristocrats and cultivators."

"Wow, what a huge crowd."

"Oh, I heard that the two geniuses of the family are going to show off their might today."

"Really! This will be a good show. If they can enter one of the 12 major sects or even the minor sects in this area, then their future and fame would be set in stone."

"Look! Look! That young woman looks like a goddess. Plus she has the cultivation level of a gold core realm cultivator at such a young age. I think she is one of the geniuses that you are talking about."

"Yes, you are right…"

The crowd began to talk as they tried to peek at the large crowd gathered in front of the huge 12-meters metallic gate.

Meanwhile, among the crowd, a tall and handsome young man is standing beside a burling man while also looking at this scene. The young man is Shin Jiao.

Shin Jiao shifted his gaze towards the burly man beside him.

"Senior Guxhing, I think if you also pass through that gate, you will attract the attention of a sect." Shin Jiao said in a low voice.

"Haha… I'm not dreaming of doing that. I'm not that young anymore, plus I am already contented with my life of traveling around. I don't wish to confine myself inside a sect and become a hermit… Hahaha…" Gu Guxhing said with a chuckle.

When Shin Jiao heard his words, a faint smile appears on his face. He can relate to the man as he too didn't want to just cultivate inside a cave all of his life. He wanted to explore and see things outside too but also wanted a home to return to after that.

While the two are talking a voice was heard behind them.

"What do you know? Being received by a sect in these parts of the kingdom is an honor worth pursuing."

The voice came from a haughty looking young man wearing a delicately and finely crafted silk robe. He looks like a young master of a rich family with his looks and the way he acts.

Shin Jiao and Gu Guxhing just look at him with curious gazes but didn't start a conversation.

"What are you looking at?" he said with a sneer on his haughty face.

"Humph… a gold core ant, dare to look down on others…" Gu Guxhing muttered as he folded his arms on his bulging chest muscles.

"Che… You're just older than me, that's why you have that cultivation level." The haughty young man said while showing a contemptuous look on his face.

Shin Jiao just shook his head while watching the two but heads with each other as sparks can be seen on their eyes.

Then, their attention was suddenly shifted towards loud gasps by the crowd.

"Oh… Look at that! That young man is able to open the lowest part of the huge gate just enough for him to get inside…"

"What a promising lad, I wish my son at home is just like him."

"Haha… How can we compare to those rich families?"

"Yeah, if we have their resources I think our children can also attain such a cultivation level."

"Look, look! Someone is coming out of the gate… Oh my… the middle gate is opening by half… that person might be an infant soul realm late-stage cultivator."

"It might be an elder of a sect."

The people discussed upon seeing an old man opening the door casually while behind him is a young man walking with a proud gait. 

With Shin Jiao's eyes, he can see that the young man has exerted too much of his strength. However, using his contact lens he noticed that the young man has a slight fluctuation in his aura. This means that he might have used some tricks to reach a high level of power and was able to open the gate.

This is the only way to explain such a fluctuation. But of course, this fluctuation cannot be easily seen by cultivators in the lower realms other than nascent realm cultivators.

"What a lucky lad…" Gu Guxiang muttered.

"Yeah, that is an elder from the Lightning Blade sect… Tsk!" the haughty young man also muttered with a hint of dejection in his eyes.

"Hey, why don't you try opening that gate? You have the right cultivation level." Shin Jiao asked the young man casually.

"…" the young man was not able to answer and a look of hesitation is in his eyes.

"I think he is afraid to fail! Haha…" Gu Guxhing teases with a chuckle.

"I am not! You… If I can punch I will punch you… old man."

"Haha… Okay, okay…" Gu Guxhing laughed while raising his hand in surrender.

Shin Jiao also chuckled on the side while giving the young man a pensive look. He knew that the young man is actually strong enough to open a gate. But it seems that he is a bit hesitating.

"If we can open that gate, we don't have to stay in this line, right?" Shin Jiao suddenly asked the two.

"Well, duh… Why? Do you want to try your luck?"

"Why not… but I'm not going to join any sect in this city. I'm just here to visit." Shin Jiao said while looking at the gate.

"Let's go…" he said as he jumps from the railing and walked towards the crowd on the other side.

When he did this, the two behind him look at each other and just shrug their shoulders and follow behind him. The young man had a mixed emotion though as he didn't know if he can really open the gate or not.

Though he is confident of his strength, he is afraid of failure and to be laughed at by people. That is the reason why after all this time, he just uses the regular gate to enter the city.

But now it seems that for some unknown reason he acted on his instinct and follows the young man with no Qi fluctuation in his body.

As the three walked towards the back of the crowd, a few young people followed behind them. 

Shin Jiao didn't know that what he just did sent some ripples to the hearts of these young people as see for themselves if they truly have the strength to open the gates. At first, they were hesitant because they saw many being ridiculed by others while trying to open the gates.

However, now that they saw someone taking the lead, they also wanted to follow. Plus that someone seems to have no Qi fluctuation which means that he might be a magus warrior or a mage. So, along with their curiosity and desire, they followed behind him.