"So, how strong are you exactly?"
Ji Lingxian leaned in, her curiosity piqued. The stories of the Upper Realm fascinated her—it was a place where countless geniuses and monstrous talents fought for dominance.
In such a realm, those who were considered geniuses here would be merely average. Only the most extraordinary could truly dominate.
Since Qin Tian had descended from the Upper Realm, it was obvious that the power behind him was immense, and by extension, so were his talents and abilities.
"Do you really want to know?"
Qin Tian grinned mischievously, his gaze lingering on the cross-dressing Ji Lingxian. A sudden thought to tease her crossed his mind.
"I'll tell you if you agree to warm my bed in the future."
"Ugh! You're no different from that lecher Yu Lin!"
Ji Lingxian's face flushed red, and the image she had built up in her mind of Qin Tian as a cold, aloof prodigy shattered instantly.
...
The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone!
One of the two great forbidden zones in the Eastern Wastelands, the outskirts of this place were teeming with strange, ancient beasts. There were even creatures equivalent to Human emperor—powerful beings that ruled over entire regions. And there wasn't just one, but several Human Emperor Level Monster lurking within.
Despite the danger, cultivators frequently risked their lives to venture into the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone, drawn by the hope of discovering rare spiritual herbs—or even royal-grade medicines, the most prized treasures.
A single royal-grade herb was worth more than any ordinary treasure. In the Qing yun Realm, royal-grade herbs were the stuff of legend, and few had ever laid eyes on one.
Today, the usually quiet outskirts of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone were bustling with activity as many people had gathered.
"Brother Lin, do you think we stand a chance of finding any opportunities here?"
In a hidden spot, two youthful figures stood. One of the boys, looking toward the boy named Lin, whispered softly. They had met by chance and, having found their personalities compatible, decided to travel together.
"I don't know," Lin Fan replied quietly. Numerous powerful figures—both known and unknown—had arrived.
Rumors had spread that the former Emperor of the Da Zhou Dynasty was planning to storm the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone, seeking royal-grade herb to help strengthen the foundations of his descendants.
Thinking of his own experiences, where he had risked his life for mere spiritual herbs, Lin Fan couldn't help but sigh at the differences in fate. Some were simply born lucky.
"When the time comes, we'll hang back and see if we can pick up any herbs left behind," Lin Fan said after a moment of thought.
"That sounds like a good plan, Brother Lin," Ye Peng, his companion, agreed with trust in his voice.
...
"Look! It's the Golden Chariots of the Da Zhou Dynasty!"
Suddenly, a voice cried out in excitement as they spotted the arrival of the Da Zhou Dynasty's famed war chariots.
Everyone in the Zhong zhou knew that when a significant figure from the Da Zhou Dynasty traveled, they were accompanied by grand chariots pulled by powerful and exotic beasts.
From the distance, dozens of enormous chariots approached, each one exuding a mighty aura. But the most awe-inspiring sight was a single dark-gold chariot among them. The beast pulling this chariot seemed to distort the space around it—a clear indication that it was a creature of the Grand void Realm.
A beast of the Grand void Realm pulling a chariot! In the Eastern Wastelands, during an era without Human emperor, those of the Grand void Realm were the peak of strength, revered as elders of sacred lands and sects.
"The Battle Emperor of Da Zhou has arrived," murmured one powerful cultivator, his gaze fixed on the dark-gold chariot.
The Battle Emperor, once known as Ji Kong, was the former ruler of the Da Zhou Dynasty. His name had dominated the Eastern Wastelands for centuries, and with the Human Sovereign Cauldron in hand. The fame spread throughout the Qingyun Realm
But no matter how powerful, all cultivators eventually faced the decline of age. Only those who broke through to higher realms could escape that fate—or those who reached the Heavenly Sovereign Realm and achieved immortality. Such beings could live for tens of thousands, even millions of years, witnessing the rise and fall of entire eras.
"Greetings, my fellow Daoists."
A deep and resonant voice echoed from within the dark-gold chariot. In response, the beasts pulling the chariots roared, as if answering their master's call.
"The Battle Emperor looks as strong as ever. It seems he's on the verge of stepping into the Human emperor Realm," one observer commented, his tone filled with admiration.
In the sky, a massive golden roc descended, landing smoothly. A group of over a dozen cultivators disembarked from its back.
"Battle Emperor, it's been a while. How have you been?"
An elder with white hair smiled warmly as he greeted the dark-gold chariot, though a glint of caution flickered in his eyes. The rumors outside had said that the Battle Emperor was on the verge of death, but seeing him now, the elder felt a twinge of doubt.
A moment ago, he had secretly sent a powerful surge of sword energy toward Ji Kong to test him, but to his surprise, the sword energy had been silently dispersed.
This meant that Ji Kong was far from the near-death state the rumors had claimed.
"Thank you for your concern, Elder Feng, but I'm doing well," the Battle Emperor replied calmly from within the chariot. He knew full well what these people were after, but he had no choice now but to fight with everything he had—to be reborn from the ashes.
The current state of the Da Zhou Dynasty was bleak. It was no exaggeration to say that they were on the brink of collapse. Without a strong person in the Human emperor realm to protect them, the dynasty could fall, and their entire clan might be wiped out.
"Battle Emperor, perhaps it would be best if the Da Zhou Dynasty merged with the Da Xia Dynasty. It would be mutually beneficial," a new voice suddenly interjected.
A middle-aged man dressed in golden robes adorned with five-clawed dragons appeared before the Battle Emperor. He was a prince of the Da Xia Dynasty, and the brother of Da xia emperor.
"No need. The Da Zhou Dynasty has no habit of becoming someone else's vassal," the Battle Emperor replied coolly. A merger? It was nothing more than a bloodless invasion.
"Well then, I look forward to seeing how you fare in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone today," the prince said with a slight smile, seemingly unfazed by the rejection.
After all, if convincing the Battle Emperor were that easy, this matter would have been resolved long ago.
"I won't disappoint you," Ji Kong responded as he stepped out of the dark-gold chariot and flew into the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone.
No one followed him. The danger inside was immense, and even a half-step Human emperor would provoke the wrath of the powerful creatures within. If more people entered, it might attract multiple Human Emperor Realm monsters.
The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone had its own set of restrictions. All who entered would have their cultivation suppressed by several levels—Human emperor included. This was one of the reasons why even the strongest cultivators in the Qing yun Realm feared the place.
Not only would their strength be diminished, but they would also have to face countless dangers. The royal-grade herbs within the zone were sentient and could control tree demons and poisonous plants, making the place a living nightmare.
...
High above, on the back of a massive flood dragon, a group of figures silently watched the events unfold below.