Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xu Yang City was one of the cities in the Eight Upper Province’s Nan Dou Territory of the Jade Emperor Heaven. The city was under the control of the Piercing Clarity Celestial Sect.
“The Piercing Clarity Celestial Sect is a grade-six sect. It’s comparable to most of the grade-six forces in the Spirit Overarching Heaven’s Southern Heaven Territory… However, it’s a far cry from the Profound Nether Mansion. The Piercing Clarity Celestial Sect only has dominion over two small cities in the Nan Dou Territory. The Nan Dou Territory is indeed worthy of being one of the territories in the Eight Upper Province of the Jade Emperor Heaven… Even a grade-six sect is nothing here.”
After spending a few days in Xu Yang City, Duan Ling Tian gained a certain level of understanding of the city through various means.
“The Spirit Overarching Heaven’s center is called the Spirit Overarching Territory. The Seven Upper Province, including the Heavenly Territory, are seven territories that surround the center of the Spirit Overarching Territory like the stars surrounding the moon. Apart from that, the Heavenly Emperor of the Spirit Overarching Heaven stays in the Spirit Overarching Territory. There are also many heaven-grade and supreme-grade forces that are based there,” Duan Ling Tian muttered to himself, “Similarly, the center of the Jade Emperor Heaven is called the Jade Heaven Territory, and it’s surrounded by the Eight Upper Province, including the Nan Dou Territory.”
Apart from Xu Yang City, Duan Ling Tian learned many things about the Nan Dou Territory as well over the past few days. Among the Eight Upper Provinces, the Nan Dou Territory was rather special. The Eight Upper Provinces in the Jade Emperor Heaven were each ruled by a titled Celestial Emperor except for the Nan Dou Territory. The titled Celestial Emperors who had tried to conquer the territory in the past eventually died trying. This was because the three strongest forces in the Nan Dou Territory were strong enough to kill titled Celestial Emperors. Unless the titled Celestial Emperors had a huge force under their control, it was impossible for them to conquer the Nan Dou Territory. For this reason, the Nan Dou Territory was considered special in the Jade Emperor Heaven. In fact, it was said that the three strongest grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory had Celestials comparable to titled Celestial Emperors but did not claim their titles at the Title Temple. Apart from that, there was only one word that could describe the situation of the top forces in the Nan Dou Territory: chaotic.
“The three strongest grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory are a sect, a clan, and a Celestial Beast clan. Although there are other grade-one forces, they’re no match for these three forces.” Duan Ling Tian was rather shocked when he learned about the Nan Dou Territory.
When Duan Ling Tian arrived in the Jade Emperor Heaven, he knew the fastest way for him to raise his cultivation base was to join a powerful force to enjoy its resources. If he had stayed in the Southern Heaven Territory, he could only join one of the Ten Major Clans and Top Five Sects. These grade-five forces did not appeal to him at all.
Now that he was in the Jade Emperor Heaven, it was best if he could join one of the grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory.
“The Celestial Beast clan is definitely not an option. Between the clan and the sect, I would prefer to join the sect. However, it definitely won’t be easy to join a grade-one sect.” Duan Ling Tian had a headache when he thought about this matter.
“It’s better for me to obtain more information to see if I can find a way to join a grade-one force…”
Since Huan’er had entered closed-door cultivation to comprehend the law of space through the Supreme Powerhouse Divinity, Duan Ling Tian went out alone to gather information.
…
It took Duan Ling Tian a month before he finally obtained a piece of information that he deemed useful.
“The Genius Secret Realm in the Nan Dou Territory opens every 1,000 years. Celestial Lords under 1,000 years old will be able to enter and explore the realm. The secret realm contains treasures left behind by the ancestors of the grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory. There are ordinary Emperor Grade Celestial Weapons, purely defensive Emperor Grade Celestial Weapons, and soul defensive Royal Grade Celestial Weapons as well. There are also Celestial Pills and Celestial Fruits that can assist the cultivation of Celestial Lords. Young geniuses from all the grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory will enter the secret realm in search of fortuitous encounters during that time… Sectless cultivators are also able to enter the secret realm. If they perform well, they might even be invited to join one of the grade-one forces.”
Duan Ling Tian finally found out that the Genius Secret Realm was one of the ways to join a grade-one force. This was also his preferred method. The grade-one force would definitely pay attention to him and carefully nurture him if they invited him to join them after he performed outstandingly in the Genius Secret Realm. After all, to be able to perform outstandingly in the Genius Secret Realm indicated one’s boundless potential. How could they not put in their resources and efforts to nurture such a talent?
“There are easier ways to join a grade-one force if one’s willing to join as an ordinary disciple. Although I can rise in ranks by proving myself even if I’m an ordinary disciple, it’ll take a long time since there’ll be many obstacles that stand in my way. Jealous people are everywhere, after all. Therefore, it’s best if I wait for the Genius Secret Realm to open and show my capability in there to directly attract the attention of a grade-one force. There are 60 years left before it opens… At that time, Huan’er should’ve already become a Celestial Lord… As for me… It’ll be quite challenging for me to become a Celestial Lord in 60 years…”
For the average person, it was completely impossible to become a One Basic Celestial Lord from a Nine Palaces Celestial King within 60 years. In fact, even geniuses from grade-one forces needed at least 100 years to become a One Basic Celestial Lord from a Ten Directions Celestial King.
Duan Ling Tian who was only on the brink of a breakthrough and becoming a Ten Directions Celestial King only had 60 years to become a One Basic Celestial Lord. Despite having a high innate talent and many trump cards up his sleeve, he was not sure he could compare to the geniuses from the grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory due to the resources they received. Although it was not completely impossible as it was for ordinary people, it was still a rather difficult task for him to break through within 60 years.
“Those geniuses might not have the branch from the Divine Tree of Life to help their cultivation, but their resources should be, at least, comparable to the branch from the Divine Tree of Life. However, in terms of comprehending laws, it’s impossible for them to be superior to Huan’er and me.”
The Supreme Powerhouse Divinity was Duan Ling Tian’s greatest treasure. It was from a Supreme Powerhouse, after all. The grade-one forces might have amazing resources to help their geniuses to comprehend the laws, but they definitely could not compare to the Supreme Powerhouse Divinity.
‘I can only try my very best to raise my strength in the coming 60 years…’ Duan Ling Tian sighed inwardly.
…
Since Duan Ling Tian was short on time, he did not plan to stay long in Xu Yang City. When Huan’er finally emerged from closed-door cultivation, he decided to leave the city.
Similar to the past, Huan’er wore a veil and hat when she was out despite not liking them. After all, as strong as they were, they were only comparable to ordinary Celestial Lords in the Nan Dou Territory that was filled with many titled Celestial Lords. Therefore, it was best for them to keep a low profile.
When Huan’er learned about Duan Ling Tian’s plan, she asked, “Brother Ling Tian, why don’t I give you six drops of my blood essence to consume?”
“There’s no need for that.” Duan Ling Tian shook his head. “The 10 drops of blood essence you gave me previously were barely effective. The most I can get out of another six drops of blood essence is directly breaking through and becoming a Ten Directions Celestial King. Even without the blood essence, I’m already very close to becoming a Ten Directions Celestial King.”
Although Huan’er blood essence was potent, its effects would diminish the more one consumed it and the higher one’s cultivation base was. Moreover, Duan Ling Tian knew that it was agonizingly painful for Huan’er to harvest her blood essence. The pain was comparable to being forced to lie in a bed of nails. Previously, she had secretly harvested the ten drops of blood essence without his knowledge. If he had known about it, he would have stopped her. Alas, he only found out about it when she presented the ten drops of blood essence to him. At that time, he was in a dilemma when deciding whether to consume her blood essence or not.
Upon recalling the past, Duan Ling Tian sternly said to Huan’er, “Huan’er, don’t mention harvesting your blood essence in front of me ever again. I hope you won’t do it without my knowledge either. Otherwise, I’ll ignore you!”
When Duan Ling Tian first found Huan’er had harvested her blood essence, he had wanted to say these words to Huan’er, but in the end, he held back because the words were too hurtful. However, now that Huan’er offered to harvest her blood essence again, he felt it was necessary to say these words to ensure she would not harvest her blood essence again.
“I-I understand, Brother Ling Tian…” Tears welled up in Huan’er’s eyes when she heard Duan Ling Tian’s eyes.
Her sadness, naturally, drew Duan Ling Tian’s sympathy. He felt guilty and instantly regretted his harsh words. However, in the end, he remained firm.
…
Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er wandered the border of Xu Yang City before they finally left the city. Eventually, they decided to temporarily join a grade-six sect instead of wandering aimlessly in search of fortuitous encounters.
Most grade-six forces here had two One Basic Celestial Lords respectively. Their strength was ordinary and their comprehension of the laws could not even compare to Jun Chong Shan, the Vice Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall of the Wind Thunder Dao Sect in the Spirit Overarching Heaven’s Southern Heaven Territory. However, their cultivation and Celestial Origin Energies were slightly better.
In the end, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er decided on a sect that was located in the north of the Nan Dou Territory. It seemed like this place was covered with snow all year round.
Huan’er easily defeated the sect’s Celestial Lords. With that display of strength, the sect’s Celestial Lords enthusiastically invited the duo to become the sect’s Revered Elders.
The truth was Huan’er was the one who had chosen to join this grade-six sect; she had only chosen the sect because she thought the name sounded good. The name of the sect was the Snow Horizon Celestial Sect.