Help Us Choose the Next Novel! 🗳️
“What’s wrong?” Xu Qingshan turned his head and asked in confusion.
“With Heaven's Will about to form, I want to focus more on cultivation. This Martial Heaven Tournament has no meaning for me,” Jiang Xier shook her head and replied.
“This time the Martial Heaven Tournament is hosted by the Baili Imperial Clan. I’ve heard that the top ten finalists will receive a Dao Pill. The top twenty will be allowed to enter the small world left behind by the former Grand Emperor Chang Kong to cultivate. Are you sure you want to skip it?” Xu Qingshan asked.
The Dao Pill was crucial in the cultivation of the God Meridian Realm or in breaking into it. And the secret realm left behind by Grand Emperor Chang Kong could greatly enhance training results.
As Heaven's Will approached, countless cultivators needed to stabilize their realm at the peak of the God Meridian Realm, an optimal state. But reaching the God Meridian was already the pinnacle of what humans could touch. It wasn’t so easy to break through. Countless people spent their lives trying in vain.
So at this point, if relying on self-cultivation was too slow, many turned to external help.
“Then I’ll give it a try,” Jiang Xier thought for a moment and eventually said.
Xu Qingshan smiled and nodded.
“Prepare yourselves. In three months, we’ll head to the Baili Imperial Clan. Use this time to improve your strength. What awaits you are the Holy Sons of various lineages and some rogue geniuses,” he said.
“Yes, Elder,” everyone nodded quickly.
After the others had left, Xu Zimo finally said, “Father, I might need to leave for a while.”
“Where to this time?” Xu Qingshan frowned.
“Some personal business. Just something I need to take care of,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile.
“What about the Martial Heaven Tournament? The sect’s counting on you to take the lead,” Xu Qingshan said.
“Just take them there. I’ll meet you at the Baili Imperial Clan,” Xu Zimo said.
“Be careful,” Xu Qingshan reminded him.
After leaving Qingshan Peak, Xu Zimo decided to go to the Mortal Dust Palace.
First, to search for the Nirvana-Fire Pearl. Second, to see Lan Ke’er again.
The two had been apart for a long time. Ever since he destroyed the Lan Clan, they hadn’t seen each other.
After saying goodbye to Lin Ruhu, Xu Zimo also planned to speak with Little Gui.
But when he arrived at Little Gui’s residence, he couldn’t find him for a long time.
Logically, Little Gui should’ve returned to the sect by now. His injuries shouldn’t have taken this long to heal.
Fortunately, he found Yao Shengnan, who was still in the sect.
……
“Little Gui left?” Xu Zimo asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Yao Shengnan nodded. “He told me not to tell you.”
“Why?” Xu Zimo asked in confusion.
“Guilin said his life had been too ordinary. You protected him in the first half of his life, and probably would in the second half as well,” Yao Shengnan explained. “He wants to go out on his own, without relying on anyone. Maybe by the time the battle for Heaven's Will comes, he’ll be able to help you.”
“That brat,” Xu Zimo chuckled. “If he’s chosen his path, I won’t say anything. We’ll all take care,” he said.
After saying goodbye to Yao Shengnan, Xu Zimo left the True Martial Sacred Ground alone.
As one of the Ten Forbidden Grounds, the Mortal Dust Palace was no less dangerous than the other forbidden lands.
Usually, there was only one kind of person who went there:
Someone who had seen through worldly affairs and wanted to escape from the world.
Or perhaps someone once deeply evil, who had a sudden awakening.
People who had experienced great change and become disillusioned, those were the kinds who ended up there.
The origin of the Mortal Dust Palace was said to be a God from the Legendary Era.
Whether true or not, no one could say anymore.
It’s said that during the Legendary Era, there was a world-weary goddess.
She had grown tired of all the world’s sins, greed, obsession, lust, and killing.
So she created an independent realm, pure and clear, where only those who had cast off the seven emotions and six desires, without attachment or relationships, could enter.
If anyone else tried to enter, they would be punished by the divine power.
Whether the world-weary goddess still existed was debatable, but one thing was certain: even Grand Emperors didn’t want to provoke the Mortal Dust Palace.
……
Winter was cold.
Breathing out turned to mist, and snow began to fall.
The sky was gloomy as Xu Zimo walked across the snow-covered land, brushing some flakes from his shoulders.
Strictly speaking, the Mortal Dust Palace wasn’t in the Middle Continent but beneath the Endless Sky Sea.
It was an underwater world.
Xu Zimo would need to reach the heart of the Eastern Continent before he could enter the Mortal Dust Palace.
As he walked through the icy terrain, the day transitioned from noon to dusk.
He was getting farther and farther from the True Martial Sacred Ground.
By evening, as the sky darkened, Xu Zimo slowly came to a stop.
There were no cities around, and in this snowy wasteland, it felt truly desolate.
“Since you’re here, come out. What’s the point of hiding?” Xu Zimo suddenly said, glancing around.
He had sensed someone tailing him ever since he left the sect.
Though the other party was highly skilled, he hadn’t yet identified them.
Now that they still hadn’t made a move, Xu Zimo decided to speak up first.
“As expected of the Holy Son of the True Martial Sacred Ground. Sharp senses,” came an eerie laugh from all around.
Ripples appeared in the surrounding void as three figures in black stepped out.
They wore black robes, their faces and heads covered by dark hoods.
“If you dared to come, why hide like cowards?” Xu Zimo laughed.
“No choice. Your sect is too strong. We didn’t want trouble,” one of the black-robed men replied.
“Do we have personal grudges, or were you sent by someone?” Xu Zimo asked.
“You don’t need to know that. Just take your questions to the underworld and ask the people you killed,” another answered.
Then, all three erupted with overwhelming power.
Their auras were all at the peak of the God Meridian Realm.
“Three God Meridian cultivators, quite the generous arrangement,” Xu Zimo chuckled.
The three said nothing more and unleashed their True Fates.
Each of them had a wolf as their True Fate:
Moonlight Wolf, Starlight Wolf, and Hellfire Wolf.
The three wolves seemed to represent the moon, stars, and sun.
They charged at Xu Zimo.
Each wolf was hundreds of times larger than a human, bringing a gust of foul-smelling wind.
Xu Zimo smiled and stepped into the air. The power of creation spread around him.
With two punches and a kick, he knocked all three wolves flying.
“Moonlight Wave. Starlight Strike. Hellfire Claw,”
The three attackers roared in unison as vast spiritforce engulfed the area, and the three True Fate beasts grew significantly stronger.
“Suppress,” Xu Zimo said calmly.