Li Xun’s eyes lit up.
If those above the Profound Elixir Realm could directly secure a spot, didn’t that mean… he wouldn’t need to compete?
That was undoubtedly good news, as it would save him a great deal of effort.
“The Sect Master has decided that you will lead the group heading to Zhen Tian City this time,” Elder Xie said slowly. “I will accompany you to ensure your safety.”
“After all… within the Profound Sun Sect, no one under twenty-five is stronger than you. When you enter the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, if possible, take care of the other Inner Sect disciples,” he added, his tone turning solemn.
This was no trivial matter.
The Great Zhou Emperor’s decree would summon nearly every faction across the Great Zhou Empire. At that time, prodigies would flood in like schools of fish crossing a river.
While Li Xun might handle the situation with ease, the same couldn’t be said for others.
The Profound Sun Sect had only recently dealt with the Otherworldly Demon threat, and it could not afford any further setbacks. Losing even a portion of its Inner Sect disciples would push the sect dangerously close to a generational gap in talent.
“Rest assured, Elder. I will do my utmost to ensure you and the Sect Master are not disappointed!” Li Xun took a deep breath and declared resolutely.
“Good!” Elder Xie nodded, pleased. “Your words are enough!”
He was confident in Li Xun’s abilities. Across the entire Great Zhou Empire, there were likely very few who could rival him. Even among the princes of the Great Zhou royal family, few might be his match.
With Li Xun taking action, the Profound Sun Sect might see fewer casualties among its disciples. As for a perfect outcome with no losses—that was never in the cards. Nothing in this world came free; reaping rewards without any sacrifices was nearly impossible.
Once inside the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, the disciples would be free of worldly constraints. Whether they could seize opportunities and survive would depend entirely on their fate and skills.
“For the next couple of days, rest well. The sect still needs to finalize the selection of others heading to the secret realm. You will be notified when it’s time to depart,” Elder Xie said with a smile.
“Understood. This disciple shall take his leave now.”
Li Xun saluted respectfully, turned, and left.
Meanwhile, 100,000 miles away from the Profound Sun Sect…
Within an ancient ruin.
This place was suffused with an incomparably dense spiritual energy. Clouds and mist swirled everywhere, obscuring the view. In the depths of the mist, faint glimpses of magnificent celestial buildings could be seen, making the scene resemble a paradise.
Ordinarily, such a treasure of a location should house a supreme and terrifying faction.
However, the place was eerily silent. Not a single sound could be heard, and the oppressive quiet was enough to send chills down one’s spine.
It was as if beneath this serene and tranquil surface lurked something unimaginably horrifying, rendering this place a forbidden zone where none dared to tread.
Suddenly, a mysterious ripple broke the stillness.
From the depths of the mist, countless beams of divine light erupted, filling the sky with radiance and transforming the area into a dazzling ocean of brilliance. Among the waves, a Azure Dragon soared across the heavens, while a white tiger roared earth-shatteringly.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the brilliance began to recede.
Within the fading light stood a hazy figure, bathed in moonlight-like glow, as if adorned by celestial flowers in bloom. Ethereal and illusory, the figure seemed both near and impossibly far away.
Yet even so, she exuded an aura of untainted perfection.
“Peak Spirit Meridian Realm…”
Her graceful figure was shrouded in divine light, as if seated in the sacred Guanghan Palace, pure and unapproachable.
Had Li Xun been present, he would have instantly recognized her—Qin Xueyi, who had parted ways with him during the Saint Opportunity trial.
The current Qin Xueyi had undergone an earth-shattering transformation. In just over a month, she had advanced from the late Qi Condensation Realm to the peak of the Spirit Meridian Realm.
Her cultivation speed defied common understanding, leaving even prodigies like Ye Han in the dust.
“I have obtained the blood of the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger, but to fully condense the Immortal Spirit Body, I still need the blood of the Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise.”
Qin Xueyi frowned slightly, her crystalline eyes revealing a contemplative look.
In her previous life, it was through the Immortal Spirit Body that she surpassed countless prodigies and ascended to the pinnacle of this world.
It could be said that the Immortal Spirit Body was the key to her rise.
The problem, however, was that this physique typically manifested at birth. If not, it was nearly impossible to develop later.
In her previous life, Qin Xueyi had stumbled upon a secret technique by chance. The method used the blood of the Four Divine Beasts as a foundation to forge the Immortal Spirit Body. However, she had only managed to obtain the essence blood of beasts that carried traces of the Divine Beasts’ bloodlines.
Although she successfully cultivated the Immortal Spirit Body, the detours she had taken were too numerous.
Had she avoided those missteps, her rise would have been faster and even more unstoppable.
With the experiences from her previous life, Qin Xueyi’s current progress was remarkably smooth. She had already obtained the blood of two Divine Beasts. While it wasn’t essence blood, it was far superior to ordinary spirit beast blood.
“If I’m not mistaken, the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm of the Great Zhou Empire is set to open in a little over a month,” Qin Xueyi calculated silently.
“And within that realm, there seems to be the blood of the Vermilion Bird!”
At the peak of the Spirit Meridian Realm, Qin Xueyi’s physique had already undergone tremendous changes after obtaining the blood of the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger. While she hadn’t yet achieved the Immortal Spirit Body, she was already a top-tier genius.
Ordinary Profound Elixir Realm cultivators wouldn’t stand a chance against her.
Moreover, her mastery of formations gave her an edge. If she set up a killing array, she was confident in her ability to take on over a dozen Profound Elixir Realm experts simultaneously.
“Getting into the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm, however, won’t be easy. If I had a sect backing me, it would be far simpler. But as a lone cultivator…” Qin Xueyi’s delicate lips pressed into a thin line as worry flickered across her face.
She was undoubtedly a rogue cultivator. While she technically had the Qin Clan behind her, their influence was minuscule and of no help.
Even with the Great Zhou Emperor issuing an edict to summon geniuses, the decree wouldn’t reach the Qin Family—they weren’t qualified to participate.
Under these circumstances, her only option was to rely on her own capabilities to enter the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm.
“At this point, joining a sect is nearly impossible. The most feasible option might be to connect with the Third Princess of the Great Zhou Empire,” Qin Xueyi mused, recalling events from her past life.
The reigning Great Zhou Emperor was incredibly powerful, just a step away from Saint Realm. During his two-thousand-year rule, he had many children, but none were as exceptional as the Crown Prince and the Third Princess.
These two were extraordinary talents who went on to achieve great renown in her past life. If she could establish a connection with the Third Princess now, entering the Phoenix Origin Secret Realm might no longer be an issue.