Chapter 429: Chapter 427: A Gathering of Heroes
Before Shen Haoran stood a vast city, so immense that its end could not be seen at a glance. All of its buildings were surprisingly constructed from sand and stone. As if unable to withstand the erosion of time, most of the structures had been reduced to crumbling ruins and broken walls. However, the palpable sense of ancient history they exuded seemed to tell the world of this Ancient City’s long and storied past.
As the Camel Peak Bird drew closer, Shen Haoran and the others could feel an exceptionally ancient aura emanating from within the Ancient City. Furthermore, a faint, transparent light barrier enveloped the entire city. Though the barrier appeared extremely fragile, it gave off a sense of being indestructible. Everyone could feel an immense pressure emanating from it, a pressure so powerful it made their hearts tremble.
"This light barrier was supposedly erected by a Spirit Emperor Powerhouse from the Ancient Era. Legend says that during the Ancient Era, the Northern Domain faced a great enemy. All the Sects of the Northern Domain, large and small, gathered here to form the Hundred Alliance Group and resist the invaders. A great war came to an end. Although the enemy was repelled, the Sects within the Hundred Alliance Group completely collapsed. After that one battle, ninety-nine percent of the Martial Artists in the entire Northern Domain vanished. It was exceptionally tragic. The Northern Domain fell into a decline and only began to revive after several thousand years of slow development!" Ling Feng explained the origin of the Desert Ancient City to Shen Haoran from the side.
"Come on, let’s head down!" the Grand Elder ordered. The Camel Peak Bird then descended, landing at the city gate. The Desert Ancient City was a forbidden area in the Northern Domain, but also a Sacred Land. To fly directly into it would be a sign of disrespect toward the ancient city.
Upon reaching the city gate, the Grand Elder took a simple, ancient-looking Token from his robes and pressed it against the transparent light barrier. Instantly, the barrier began to tremble, sending ripples spreading outward in circles. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, a fissure wide enough for a single person to pass through split open.
"Let’s go." The Grand Elder glanced at the stunned group behind him, chuckled, and stepped into the Ancient City first. Seeing him go, Shen Haoran and the others hurried to follow.
Upon entering the Desert Ancient City, Shen Haoran truly felt that incredibly thick, ancient aura. The dilapidated buildings around them were covered in carvings that did not belong to this era. Even in their ruined state, one could imagine how glorious this place must have once been. ’But in the end, nothing can withstand the erosion of time.’
The Grand Elder led Shen Haoran and the others toward the center of the Desert Ancient City, where the altar—and the entrance to the Secret Realm—was located.
By the time Shen Haoran’s group arrived at the altar under the Grand Elder’s lead, the area was already packed with people. Factions of all sizes had brought the genius disciples from their Sects to participate in the trial.
When Shen Haoran and his group arrived at the Altar Square, all the Martial Artists there turned to look. After all, the Celestial Spirit Sect was considered a White Technique Level power in the Northern Domain, so the other factions had to show some respect on account of their Points.
The Grand Elder strode toward the very center of the altar. Along the way, the Elders and Sect Leaders of the Minor Sects cleared a path for the members of the Celestial Spirit Sect. Such were the benefits of being powerful. The Grand Elder, showing not the slightest hint of gratitude, walked straight to the center of the Altar Square.
"’Elder Feng, your Celestial Spirit Sect is the last to arrive!’ As soon as the Grand Elder reached the center of the Altar Square, another elderly man stepped forward to greet him with a smile.
"Haha, Jian Elder! We were delayed on the road, but thankfully we made it in time," the Grand Elder laughed, cupping his fist in greeting.
Shen Haoran glanced over, curious about the man the Grand Elder of the Celestial Spirit Sect was treating with such respect. When he saw the emblem of a Sharp Sword embroidered on the chest of the man called Jian Elder, he knew at once: this was the Grand Elder of the Wind Sword Sect. Since the Wind Sword Sect was a power on par with the Celestial Spirit Sect, it was only natural for their Grand Elder to treat him as an equal.
After the Grand Elder of the Wind Sword Sect, two more elderly men approached. On their chests were embroidered a Heartless Flower and a skull, respectively. They had to be the Grand Elders of the Valley of Heartless and the Fallen Valley, also known as the Northern Domain Two Valleys.
"Hmph. As expected of the number one Major Sect in the Northern Domain. Putting on such airs, making all of us wait for you. Truly impressive, Elder Feng," the Grand Elder of the Fallen Valley said snidely as he stepped forward.
"If Ghost Gui didn’t want to wait, you were free to leave. I certainly didn’t ask you to," the Grand Elder replied coolly.
"Hmph!" Ghost Gui could only snort coldly and fell silent. ’Leave? What a joke. The Desert Ancient City’s Secret Realm only opens once a decade. If we miss this opportunity, we’ll have to wait another ten years. The geniuses of the Fallen Valley can’t afford to wait that long.’
"Elder Feng, this generation of your Celestial Spirit Sect’s disciples is quite strong," the Grand Elder from the Valley of Heartless remarked with a light laugh as he stepped forward, glancing at the group behind Elder Feng. "It looks like the Celestial Spirit Sect may once again take first place in this Desert Ancient City expedition!"
Hearing this, the Grand Elder chuckled. "Haha, Elder Qing, you flatter us. Whether or not we can win first place for the Sect will depend on the performance of these little ones!"
"Hmph, that’s right. Winning first place *does* depend on the disciples’ performance. And as for who will take the top spot this time... that remains to be seen!" Ghost Gui chimed in from the side, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
Upon hearing Ghost Gui’s words, the Grand Elder, Jian Elder, and Elder Qing from the Valley of Heartless all showed looks of displeasure, their brows knitting together.
Standing behind the Grand Elder, Shen Haoran overheard their conversation and felt a pang of confusion. He leaned over and asked Ling Feng, "Brother Ling, isn’t this supposed to be about the opportunities within the Secret Realm? How did it turn into a competition for Sect rankings?"
"I don’t quite understand it myself," Ling Feng said, shaking his head. "I just know that this journey into the Desert Ancient City’s Secret Realm is an opportunity and a trial for us, but it seems to be one for our Sects as well. I suppose the Grand Elder will explain it to us later."
"I see. It looks like this trip into the Secret Realm won’t be so simple," Shen Haoran murmured, beginning to understand the situation a little better.
As he had walked through the crowd, Shen Haoran had been observing everyone. The participants in this Desert Ancient City Secret Realm expedition were almost all geniuses from the Northern Domain. To say nothing of the fact that all fifty people on the Hidden Dragon List had come, he had also noticed many powerful Martial Artists with formidable auras among the minor factions and Minor Sects. Though these individuals weren’t on the Hidden Dragon List, their strength was in no way inferior to the top twenty experts on it; they were simply more low-key and uninterested in competing for a ranking. There was even one person who exuded an aura so powerful that Shen Haoran himself felt a slight pressure from him. It was clear that the true strength of the Northern Domain’s young geniuses was not something the Hidden Dragon List alone could represent.
"’A gathering of elites, is it? Now *this* will be interesting!’ As Shen Haoran thought this, the fighting spirit in his body surged uncontrollably...
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