The gateway was so awe inspiring and eye catching that anyone who set their eyes on it would instantly be able to tell that it was incredibly profound. Only by building this massive building around it and claiming it was a holy site were the five powers able to maintain its secrecy.
Nearly a thousand years ago, the ancestors of the five powers discovered this gate and realm when they were young. The gateway normally stood dormant and inconspicuous to the eye, but whenever it prepared to open, it was extremely noticeable.
The five of them were friends, and entered this realm together. After obtaining powerful treasures inside, the five friends all used those opportunities obtained inside to establish their own powers, which resulted in the five powers of today.
To keep the pocket realm a secret from the world, the majestic building was built over the archway, and the ancient pact was made to never reveal its location to anyone. The tournament was also established soon after, to designate the limited number of slots for the most talented juniors sixteen years or younger.
Although no one knew why there was an age limit imposed by the realm, they did know that the entrance wouldn't allow anyone over sixteen years old to enter. Because of this, many in the five powers had kids so that they would be around fourteen to sixteen years old when the pocket realm opened, ensuring that they would have a chance to enter.
This dynamic caused each power to have waves of generations of children, instead of a continuous output.
After staring at the archway for some time, John looked around and noticed that all of the powers except the Crimson Valley Clan had arrived.
Barden made an offhand comment regarding their tardiness, while both Ryan and Miko made their way over to John to discuss the realm they were about to enter.
"I hear we'll be entering in waves, based on our rank," Miko said as he recalled what his father told him.
"Mhm, the gateway only allows around ten cultivators to enter at a time, and so you'll be in the first wave, while Ryan and I will be in the second wave," John responded in affirmation.
While the three of them were talking, the Crimson Valley Sect finally arrived and entered the massive structure. John turned around with narrowed eyes and scanned the group.
Without any suspense, Warren Gildar was at the front with Jason right in tow. Surprise entered the eyes of many as they saw Dylan walking behind Jason, as many thought he would still be injured from the beating he had taken from John.
Everyone knew that Dylan was in serious condition after the fight, and most assumed that he would take months to heal, but he was with the Crimson Valley Sect, and looked to be in perfect health. Hate filled Dylan's eyes as he stared straight towards John.
"Seems like you didn't give him enough of a beating last time" responded Miko with a voice loud enough for all to hear, and many loud laughs were heard soon after.
"Seems like I didn't give you a beating enough either. Just wait for me patiently in the pocket realm." Jason spoke up with an icy tone towards Miko.
"Fenix Clan kid, you may have beaten me last time, but don't expect the same to happen again once we're inside." Dylan spoke up in a voice filled with confidence. Based on the beating he took last time, no one knew where his confidence came from.
"Who allowed his beaten dog to speak? Shouldn't you patiently wait behind your master?" Miko sneered while looking sideways at Dylan, disdain present on his face.
"What did you say?" Dylan exploded with anger.
"If I had taken an embarrassing beating like that, I would have crippled myself to save face for my Clan." Miko responded, the same look of disdain evident on his face.
At this time, the five leaders had gathered in front of the pocket realm archway, and confirmed that it was ready to be entered. The spatial fluctuations given off by the gateway had stabilized, which meant the pathway was now open.
As the host of this pocket realm opening, Waylon Varis turned around and addressed the crowd, his booming voice silencing any words Dylan was about to shout back.
Thousands were gathered as they stared at Waylon, and the powerful gateway directly behind him.
"We are gathered here today to watch our selected youths participate in the pocket realm opening. We have determined that the gateway is fully stabilized, and as such entry shall commence soon."
Excited murmurs echoed throughout the crowd at the mention that the gateway was stabilized.
"Now, before entry, I must reiterate the rules for once you are inside, and there is only one rule. No crippling, or killing another junior inside. All those who do so will be punished with punishments equal to the crime committed."
Waylon looked at the crowd seriously. The past had shown that killings inside happened, and the five powers decided to enact this rule ever since that incident to discourage such killings in the future. The five powers used to be quite harmonious with each other, but the Crimson Valley Sect had become more and more unruly in the past few hundred years, eventually leading to that incident decades ago.
The Crimson Valley Sect was of the mind that the strong should never be punished, and that it was the fault of the weak for dying, but they begrudgingly accepted the ruling since the other four powers all agreed on it.
"Now, one last thing. The realm stays open for three months. After that, it will start to show signs of instability, and will eventually expel all those within back out here. Do your best to seize all the available opportunities in that time."
The gazes of those soon to enter the realm heated up, and Waylon once more spoke to the crowd and summoned the ten Qi Condensation youths to the front.
"You will be the first group to enter. Good luck." Waylon said to the crowd, and gave his son Miko a look of encouragement.
The group consisted of Parker, Miko, Jason, and seven other Qi Condensation youths. Two came from the Ronan Clan, and one girl and one boy, both sixteen years old. One came from the Flowing River Sect, a girl sixteen years old. Two more came from the Varis Clan, one of which was Ella Varis, and the last two belonged to two sixteen year old boys from the Crimson Valley Sect, which put their total Qi Condensation numbers at three, the most of any power here.
The Fenix Clan only had Parker at the Qi Condensation Realm, revealing what a disappointing generation it was overall.
"You may enter."
All ten youths steeled their eyes and walked forward. The crowd watched them walk into the swirling energy that existed in between the archway, at which point all ten of them immediately vanished.
The gateway dimmed slightly, and the crowd waited patiently for some time before it returned to its peak state. Waylon stepped forward once more and urged the next ten youths to step forward.
"You're up. Good luck inside" Barden said to John.
John nodded and stepped up with ten other youths, Ryan included, and stood directly before the gateway. He could feel its immense power humming directly in front of him, and other than the palace realm, this was by far the most awe inspiring thing John had ever seen or felt in his life.
"You may enter."
John took a deep breath and stepped forward into the gateway, instantly disappearing from the crowd's view.