Free Web NovelChapter 61: Chapter 61: Prodigies from All Quarters Gather
The two of them walked forward and soon arrived inside the canyon.
The True Dragon Nest had a total of four entrances and exits. Countless geniuses gathered from these four points, waiting for the grand formation to activate so they could enter.
Although this place was a canyon, it had long since been developed over the years.
The surroundings were filled with carved beams, painted rafters, small bridges, and flowing streams, presenting a quaint and antique scene.
The central pavilion had the largest gathering of people. Among them were Nalan Rongruo, Zhang Ling’Er, and Zhang Lei, who had appeared just moments before.
When the three of them saw Shen Daoxing, their expressions changed slightly.
"Look! Chen Baxian is here!"
"He possesses the Overlord Bloodline and is at the Ninth Layer of the Profound Platform realm. He’s definitely one of the top experts entering the True Dragon Secret Realm this time."
"And there’s Zhu Kai from the Tang Kingdom. I heard he’s already comprehended the Six Paths Spear Intent."
"The most formidable of all has to be Mo Yunlei, the head of Celestial City Academy’s Four Heroes. Chen Baxian failed to get on the Martial Arts Ranking twice, but Mo Yunlei has challenged it three times."
"This trip to the True Dragon Secret Realm is going to be another bloodbath."
.....
The geniuses present all sighed with emotion, realizing they were destined to be mere foils.
Lin Ke’Er sighed softly. "So many geniuses came this time. There are at least three or four who have challenged the Martial Arts Ranking."
Just being able to challenge the Martial Arts Ranking was a tremendous honor in itself.
Shen Daoxing’s gaze was calm, but a growing desire for the Martial Arts Ranking stirred in his heart.
’If these geniuses who haven’t even made it onto the Martial Arts Ranking are this impressive, just how astonishing are the ones who actually have?’
"That’s the Prince of the Wei Kingdom, Chen Zhihe!"
A gasp of surprise rang out.
A man dressed in a golden Python Robe, bathed in a golden glow, walked over as if he were the moon surrounded by stars.
His expression was icy, and every movement carried the aura of a superior.
This newcomer was precisely the most talented and powerful member of the Wei Kingdom’s Royal Family.
Chen Zhihe’s aura was not only powerful and profound, indicating he had clearly reached the Ninth Layer of the Profound Platform realm, but he was also wearing third-grade Treasure Armor and wielding a fourth-grade weapon. How many in the same realm could be his opponent?
"That’s Xu Jiying from the Yan Kingdom’s Celestial Secret Academy, Zhong Li from Netherworld’s Lingyuan Academy, and Meng Zifeng of the Zhao Kingdom’s Meng Family! They’re here too! I heard the three of them broke through to the Ninth Layer of the Profound Platform realm not long ago. Their strength is astonishing."
In the distance, more geniuses arrived one after another.
Three among them, in particular, caused a sensation.
They attracted a great deal of attention.
Shen Daoxing looked up. The three people everyone was talking about had arrogant expressions and extraordinary strength, a minor realm slightly above Zhang Lei. ’They must be the top geniuses from their respective academies,’ he thought.
"Look, Zhu Kai is here!"
A cry of alarm rang out.
A man in a black robe, carrying a longspear, walked over from the distance. His entire body exuded a terrifying might, like a bloodthirsty Fierce Beast.
He instantly drew everyone’s gaze.
Shen Daoxing also looked over, his brow furrowing slightly.
This person’s aura was powerful, much stronger than Zhang Lei’s. He had clearly reached the Ninth Layer of the Profound Platform realm. Moreover, he was a master of the spear, having comprehended at least five types of Spear Intent. He was definitely a rare expert.
Seeing the newcomer, Lin Ke’Er’s lips parted slightly. "He really came!?"
Shen Daoxing subconsciously asked, "You know him?"
The moment he asked the question, he regretted it.
Lin Ke’Er was the disciple of the Tang Kingdom’s National Preceptor, while Zhu Kai was a renowned genius from the Tang Kingdom. Of course they would have interacted.
Lin Ke’Er said with a grave expression, "I do. He is one of the Tang Kingdom’s rare spear geniuses. He once enrolled in the Tang Kingdom’s Royal Academy, but he dropped out after only a year."
Shen Daoxing was somewhat stunned. "Dropped out?"
Lin Ke’Er nodded. "That’s right. He felt he couldn’t learn anything at the Royal Academy, so he began to travel the Tang Kingdom, challenging all sorts of experts. It’s said he once fought a Grotto Heaven realm master and survived."
The Profound Platform realm and the Grotto Heaven realm were separated by an entire major realm. For Zhu Kai to be able to cross such a vast gap to challenge an expert and survive was a testament to his terrifying strength.
When Chen Baxian saw the newcomer, a hint of battle lust appeared in his eyes. "You’re here!"
His Primordial Energy erupted, and a golden light flowed around him. His robes fluttered, giving him an imposing and extraordinary air, making him seem sacred and inviolable.
Zhu Kai said nonchalantly, "I’m here."
Chen Baxian said coldly, "You shouldn’t have come!"
Zhu Kai replied, "But I came anyway."
Chen Baxian growled, "This time, I will make you bow down to me!"
Zhu Kai smiled. "We’ll see about that."
The two exchanged a few lines of seemingly pointless banter, but everyone could hear the sharp antagonism in their voices. It was clear they had a major grudge.
The surroundings immediately erupted in excitement.
It seemed the two of them planned to settle the score inside the True Dragon Secret Realm. After all, they were both top-tier geniuses in their respective kingdoms. A fight between them would surely be spectacular. If one of them were to fall, it would undoubtedly cause a massive uproar.
Geniuses continued to appear, making the scene incredibly heated. Everyone eagerly awaited the opening of the True Dragon Nest.
At this moment, several figures stood in a corner of the pavilion.
They were Fang Rong, a genius from the Martial Kingdom’s Divine Wind Academy, and Zhang Binbin, a genius from the Martial Kingdom’s Royal Academy.
The two looked at each other and shared a bitter smile.
They had been famous since childhood, later astounding everyone with their abilities. Their cultivation progressed at lightning speed as they overcame all obstacles. Even after entering Divine Wind Academy and the Royal Academy, they were considered first-class geniuses.
It had taken them over a decade of hard work to reach the entrance of this True Dragon Nest.
But now, facing the endless stream of geniuses from various kingdoms, they felt like ordinary passersby, completely inconspicuous.
Fang Rong smiled bitterly. "I guess we’re just here to fill a spot in the True Dragon Secret Realm."
Zhang Binbin sighed. "Still, it’s good to see the world and broaden our horizons."
Fang Rong thought of something and asked, "When is Mo Yunlei coming?"
Since they were from the same kingdom, they might be able to get some help from him inside the True Dragon Secret Realm.
Zhang Binbin seethed with frustration and gritted his teeth. "Don’t even mention it. I had someone ask the people from Celestial City Academy, but none of them even bothered to answer me."
Fang Rong shook his head.
’The people from Celestial City Academy, teachers and students alike, have always been arrogant and insufferably proud. They look down on every academy besides their own.’
’It seems getting their help this time will be impossible.’
On the other side, Shen Daoxing suddenly felt a familiar aura shoot over from the distance, and he couldn’t help but look in that direction.
Several figures were seen floating down gracefully.
The person in the lead was dressed in white robes, a gentle smile on his lips that felt like a spring breeze. His eyes were bright and full of spirit, like starlight.
Following behind him were two people. One of them was the very Swordsman who had crossed swords with Shen Daoxing on the Desolate Mountain.
"The people from Celestial City Academy are here!"
"It’s Mo Yunlei! The head of the Four Heroes!"
....
Every genius present turned to look.
In recent years, Celestial City Academy’s reputation had soared among the kingdoms. Top-tier geniuses and masters emerged one after another, and with the appearance of Xia Junze—a genius on the Martial Arts Ranking—their prestige reached its peak.
This most ancient academy of the Martial Kingdom—and perhaps even the most ancient among all the kingdoms—displayed a terrifying power and presence that made the deans of other academies and even the Human Emperors’ hearts tremble.
"Mo Yunlei!?"
Shen Daoxing’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’If I kill the head of the Four Heroes, the experts at Celestial City Academy will surely be heartbroken.’
