‘Is that a… Formation compass?’ Duan Ling Tian speculated inwardly when he saw the square plates with intricate inscriptions in the hands of the leaders from the Three Sects and Two Clans.
Indeed, Duan Ling Tian’s speculation was correct. The Formation compasses were the key to opening the entrance to the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm. They had been given by the Profound Nether Mansion to the Three Sects and Two Clans for safekeeping.
Bihai Mingfeng, the Third Sect Leader from the Coupling Celestial Sect, said indifferently, “Let’s begin.” Then, he tossed the Formation compass in his hands out.
The Formation compass rose up into the sky instantly as a mysterious force surged out.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Following that, Zhangsun Xiong Qi, the Second Elder of the Zhangsun Clan, and the other leaders from the Three Sects and Two Clans followed suit and tossed the Formation compasses in their hands.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the five Formation compasses formed a circle in the air. It was as though there was a mysterious connection between them that held them together.
A soft noise rang in the air before a burst of white light shone from the five Formation compasses at the same time. Eventually, the five lights merged into a beam of light that shot up into the sky. The beam of light was like a pillar that extended from the ground to the heavens.
Boom!
A loud noise rang in the air, causing the void to ripple in response. Soon after, a spatial tear appeared, revealing a majestic gate. Two pillars stood at the sides of the majestic gate, and the complex patterns on the pillars made them look ancient. Above the majestic gate, there was a sign with the words ‘Southern Heaven Ancient Realm’.
Upon seeing the four words, most of the Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials averted their eyes after a moment or two. A powerful energy had surged out toward them as soon as they laid eyes on the four words. They could not bear the pressure and could only look at the words for one or two breaths, at most, before they had to look away.
On the other hand, the Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials who were considered more powerful could only last a few breaths longer.
Apart from Duan Ling Tian, no one could look at the four words for more than ten breaths. The only reason Duan Ling Tian could look at the words for so long was due to the Profound Divine Metal that guarded his soul. This was because the pressure from the four words targeted one’s soul.
“Hm?” After a while, Duan Ling Tian discovered the other Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials were unable to look at the sign for a long time. He was certain there was something special about the sign. With this discovery, he tried to blend in and averted his eyes as well.
Nevertheless, Duan Ling Tian’s action did not escape the notice of the leaders from the Three Sects and Two Clans.
“This young man is something else!”
The leaders from the Three Sects and Two Clans were aware of the immense pressure from the sign. How could they not be surprised that Duan Ling Tian was able to look at it two times longer compared to the others? Moreover, they had seen him deliberately avert his eyes.
“Interesting.” On the sedan, Bihai Mingfeng, the Third Sect Leader of the Coupling Celestial Sect, looked at Duan Ling Tian with a hint of a smile on his face.
Apart from the Overarching Heaven Supreme Celestials, including Duan Ling Tian, who averted their eyes, the powerhouses from the other major forces also averted their eyes after more than a dozen breaths.
One of the Overarching Heavenly Celestials asked in a trembling voice, “Were those words left behind by our Southern Heaven Territory’s Southern Heaven Celestial Lord?”
“That’s right. These words were left behind by our Southern Heaven Territory’s Southern Heaven Celestial Lord. However, we’re not sure when the Southern Heaven Celestial Lord left these words behind…”
Among those who were present, there were some who knew the words were left behind by the Southern Heaven Territory’s Southern Heaven Celestial Lord.
“Just the words he left behind are so terrifying! How much more terrifying would it be if he were here?” Huang Jia Long said in a slightly shaky voice.
“The Southern Heaven Celestial Lord…” Unlike Huang Jia Long, Duan Ling Tian was not even the slightest bit impressed by the Southern Heaven Celestial Lord’s power. After all, he had met beings who were even more powerful than a Heavenly Emperor who ruled over a Devata Realm. All Heavenly Emperors who ruled over a Devata Realm were titled Celestial Emperors. It was only natural that he was unimpressed with a titled Celestial Lord. Although there was only one stage difference between the two, their strength was incomparable. A titled Celestial Emperor could easily kill a titled Celestial Lord with a flick of his or her finger. Moreover, he could not feel the seemingly crushing pressure that the others faced due to the protection from the Profound Divine Metal.
Clang!
A loud noise rang from the gate, attracting everyone’s action. No one bothered to look at the sign above the gates anymore. Even the few powerhouses from the major forces who could endure the pressure looked away as the gate sounded.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the gate opened inwards, revealing endless darkness. It was so dark that one would not even be able to see one’s hand in front of one’s face.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
As soon as the gate in the spatial tear opened, ten people from each of the Three Sects and Two Clans moved to stand in front of the gates.
With the sign above the gate, everyone could, naturally, tell the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient realm lay beyond the gate. Thus, they were not surprised by the actions of the people from the Three Sects and Two Clans.
“Now, all those who aren’t entering the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, move back 1,000 meters,” Zhangsun Xiong Qi said in a booming voice.
Instantly, everyone from the various forces who accompanied their Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials here, including the Supporting Fall Nation’s Emperor Hu Lin Yi, moved back 1,000 meters.
The Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials who had changed their minds about entering the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm stepped back as well.
With roughly 8,000 people stepping backward, there were now roughly 12,000 people left. The nine people from the Supporting Fall Nation, including Duan Ling Tian, were among these 12,000 people.
“Very good. It seems like there are more than 10,000 participants.” A satisfied expression appeared on Zhangsun Xiong Qi’s face when he saw there were roughly 12,000 participants. “Out of 12,000, only 3,600 would survive. Those who survive may choose to join any of the Three Sects and Two Clans. The 3,600 survivors will also be ranked according to the points they have in their Accumulative Points Jades.”
“The top 100 participants will receive additional rewards from the Three Sects and Two Clans. The top 30 participants will be given better rewards. Needless to say, those who rank in the top ten, especially those in the top three, will be handsomely rewarded,” Zhangsun Xiong Qi continued to say, “Naturally, your rewards are separate from the rewards of the forces you represent. There’s no need for you to give a share of your rewards to the forces you represent.”
This meant that Duan Ling Tian would not have to share his rewards with Hu Lin Yi, the Emperor of the Supporting Fall Nation, whom he represented.
“After this, all of you will be divided into 50 groups and take turns to enter the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm… Everyone must first establish ownership over their Accumulative Points Jades; this includes the Minor Jades of the Accumulative Point Jades,” Zhangsun Xiong Qi explained, “The Minor Jade will be left out here so we can track the changes in your points. If your Accumulative Points Jade’s Major Jade shatters, the corresponding Minor Jade would shatter as well. Based on the points in your Minor Jade, we’ll rank you. However, those with only one point wouldn’t be ranked.”
‘The Accumulative Points Jade can be separated into a Major Jade and a Minor Jade? The Minor Jade I’ll be leaving here will be able to show my points, and they’ll rank me based on my points?’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself as his eyes glinted. Hu Lin Yi did not tell them about this earlier. Perhaps, Hu Lin Yi knew Zhangsun Xiong Qi would explain this to them.
“As for the other matters, I’m sure your respective leaders have already explained them to you… Now, split up into 50 groups and take turns entering the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm,” Zhangsun Xiong Qi said, “Remember, everything you obtain there belongs to you. The higher your rank, the better you’d be treated when you join the Three Sects and Two Clans! Good luck!”
Subsequently, the 12,000 Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestials, including Duan Ling Tian, separated into 50 groups before they made their way to the entrance to the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.
The 50 people from the Three Sects and Two Clans would lead a group each.
After dropping a drop of blood on the Accumulative Point Jade’s Major Jade and Minor Jade and passing the Minor Jade to the people from the Three Sects and Two Clans, the participants were granted entry to the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.
Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!
After establishing ownership on their Accumulative Points Jade, the first group crossed the gate and entered the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm. No movement could be seen once they walked into the darkness beyond the gate.
One group after another, they entered the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm. Soon enough, it was the turn of the group where those Supporting Fall Nation were in.
