With that said, the hall master of the Hundred Rivers Hall was about to retract his Soul Force from the voidrealm when he was interrupted by the youth.
“Hall Master, I’ve already made my decision.” Firm determination was etched in the youth’s eyes. “I want to participate in this Bloodforge.”
The hall master was taken aback.
A moment later, his face softened. “Good! I look forward to the day ten thousand years from now, when a peerless hero from my Hundred Rivers Hall shakes the Immortal Continent.”
With that, the hall master’s avatar vanished into thin air.
“Bloodforge?” The young man muttered, hoisting his poleaxe up and proceeding deeper into the hall.
The two Void Refiner Eminences exchanged glances, their hearts thundering in their chests.
“How decisive!”
“Others are forced to join the Bloodforge, begging to escape but to no avail. Yet the Sageling willingly volunteered for it?”
“Let’s hope the Sageling can make it out alive.”
…
Starsword City was a fourth-tier city. A true immortal city, it was home to countless immortal cultivators and encompassed a vast area.
Inside an enormous mansion within the Redmoon Immortal Army’s quarters.
“Old Yu.” Zhuo Haiyue, clad in silver armor, shook her head slightly, “I bet you never imagined that the kid from years back would turn out this strong.”
“Haha, indeed.” Old Yu, shrouded in black robes, laughed, “I thought he was promising back then, but I only expected him to reach the criteria for the Moonsilver World’s standard entry at most.”
“Little did I expect that in just over ten years, Li Xia has grown so much, astounding everyone with his talent.” Old Yu declared sincerely.
It was Old Yu who first recognized Wu Yuan’s potential years ago.
“The stronger he is, the better.” Zhuo Haiyue nodded. “Old Yu, in half a year, the trial assignment will end, and we will have to return. Thank you for your help during this time.”
“You have completed your mundane world trial with flying colors,” Old Yu replied with a smile, “It’s been an honor to accompany you for over a decade.”
He was well aware of Zhuo Haiyue’s talent and status.
“Hm. After returning to the Moonsilver World, I will first head to the immortal nation to meet my master. Then, I will join the Bloodforge,” Zhuo Haiyue said in a low voice.
“You still intend to go?” Old Yu frowned, “Your Highness has already participated in the Golden Core Bloodforge. According to the rules, you can forgo participating in the Amethyst Cradle Bloodforge.”
“Moreover, the Bloodforge is a trial meant for the geniuses of Bloodforge Devil Hall. It shouldn’t have anything to do with our Eternal Sun Immortal World.”
As a powerhouse from the immortal nation, Old Yu knew this well. The Eternal Sun Immortal World and Bloodforge Devil Hall were both subordinate to the Taiyuan Divine Court in the wider macrocosm and were technically allies.
However, it did not mean that the immortal nations and immortal continents under each of their jurisdictions shared friendly relationships.
On the contrary, due to differing ideologies and conflicts of interest, intense battles were the norm, and occasionally even Archimmortals would perish.
“Mm. I have the right to decline.” Zhuo Haiyue spoke softly, “However, I have consulted with my master in the Eternal Sun Immortal Realm. There is a reason I must participate no matter what.”
Old Yu nodded, no longer trying to dissuade her.
Zhuo Haiyue’s master was an Astral Monarch, a great existence even within the macrocosm.
To intervene was to overstep his boundaries.
“Will you meet with Li Xia?” Old Yu changed the topic.
“There’s no need. I sent him a congratulatory message. That’s enough.” Zhuo Haiyue smiled, “When the Moonsilver Tournament comes around, we will meet again.”
“After the Moonsilver Tournament ends, it will be time to step into the Void Refiner phase.”
…
The Dragon Star Tournament of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect had a great impact on the immortal continent, but it was mostly limited to the younger generation of various sects, especially with the Moonsilver Tournament imminent.
The top talents of the major sects and factions naturally paid full attention to their future competitors. As a result, through this battle, the names Li Xia and Hao Shanjing were etched into the minds of countless Golden Core cultivators and Amethyst Cradle cultivators on the Redmoon Immortal Continent.
Of course, the group of powerhouses that truly stood at the peak of the immortal continent, like the Earth Immortals, High Immortals, and even Archimmortals, paid far less attention.
In particular, the Archimmortals had seen too many talents in their long lives. Only a shockingly brilliant, truly unbelievable genius was worth their time. For example, someone who cleared level eighty of the one-star tower!
Wu Yuan only caught the attention of the Archimmortals previously because he was taken as a nominal disciple by an Archimmortal.
It was due to a change in status, not his talent.
However, among the many Archimmortals, there were always exceptions.
The Silvermist Immortal Nation ruled over more than six thousand immortal continents in different spacetime planes, and even spatial layers. It was not just a simple landmass or expanse of cosmos.
Even Earth Immortals found it difficult to travel between different immortal continents with their own strength.
Within a different spatial layer, far from the Redmoon Immortal Continent, lay a gigantic immortal continent.
Deep within this immortal continent was a world where countless beings lived. Numerous mortals and even immortal cultivators faced a sacred flame, chanting prayers.
These myriad beings were all worshiping the same idol, generating the mysterious Faith Incense.
At the center of the world stood a majestic temple, with divine pillars towering more than a thousand li high on both sides.
A figure cloaked in crimson sat regally on the throne. His piercing gaze shone bright, and the space around him seemed to distort.
“Great Immortal Ancestor! As per your instructions, we have been monitoring the Dragon Star Immortal Sect in the Redmoon Immortal Continent.” A figure draped in black robes knelt on the ground, “Recently, Li Xia, the genius who was taken in as a nominal disciple by Archimmortal Long Xing, gave a brilliant performance during the tournament.” [1]
“He’s making rapid progress in the Celestial Body Dao and even revealed nine lifebound flying swords.”
“According to our assessment, his talent is so great that it tops this generation across the entire immortal nation.” said the figure in the black robe respectfully.
“Sword cultivation? The Celestial Body Dao?” The figure in the crimson robes pondered. “Are you sure he’s Long Xing’s disciple, and not that bastard Dong Yang’s disciple?”
His voice seemed to carry an invisible power, exerting pressure on the spirit of the black-robed figure and causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead.
The black-robed figure was well aware of the grudge between his immortal ancestor and Sword Immortal Dong Yang.
“We are absolutely certain,” the figure in black robes responded respectfully. “We have investigated the matter from various angles and have yet to find any evidence indicating that Li Xia has any relation to Dong Yang.”
“Hmph! I don’t believe it. That old dragon is too crafty, when did he ever take a sword cultivator as a disciple?” The towering figure in crimson robes snorted coldly.
“Everyone knows Dong Yang is adept at the Metal Dao, but I know that his powers in the Earth Dao are not weak.”
He could not forget that sword strike during their battle a hundred thousand years ago. That single strike had brought down entire stars. If not for Dong Yang’s small mana reserves, he would have fallen to that strike!
“What should we do, Immortal Ancestor?” The figure in black robes asked nervously. “Shall we assassinate this Li Xia?”
“No need. I will take action myself and kill this Li Xia.” The figure in crimson robes decided. “The greater his talent, the more uneasy I am. I don’t believe Dong Yang can resist making such a bright genius his successor.”
“An Archimmortal’s disciple? He may deceive others, but not me.” The crimson-robed figure’s eyes were filled with extreme hatred.
In that great war, he lost the most crucial opportunity of his life.
“Take action personally?” The figure in black robes was shocked. “Immortal Ancestor, surely it’s unnecessary for you to step in for a mere Li Xia. Launching an attack on the Redmoon Immortal Continent is equivalent to declaring war on Archimmortal Redmoon and Archimmortal Long Xing.”
He was well aware of Archimmortal Redmoon and Archimmortal Long Xing’s strengths. His immortal ancestor was weaker than them.
“There’s no need to worry. I serve under the Astral Monarch. What can Archimmortal Redmoon do to me?” The figure in crimson robes scoffed dismissively. “Long Xing? His true body has already left the Eternal Sun Immortal World.”
“As for Dong Yang? I won’t send my true body. It’s a good chance to test his abilities, to see how far he is from overcoming the Ninth Tribulation.”
Whoosh~ A red-robed figure shrouded in flames appeared out of thin air outside the temple. He was equally imposing and emanated endless radiant light.
Crack! A fissure stretching tens of thousands of li opened within space, tearing heaven and earth apart. The fiery red-robed figure took one step and entered the crack.
1. Dragon Star is the translation of Long Xing ☜