Chapter 165: Chapter 164: Chosen One
[December 3, 2125, 10:55 AM]
Jiang Qiu glanced at the time on his phone, then looked around. A group of people had gathered on the mountain peak across the valley. They wore thick cotton coats and had golden hair and blue eyes. Over twenty Dharma Realm Martial Artists and one Grandmaster Level Martial Artist were clustered around a young man.
The young man looked to be in his twenties, with blond hair and blue eyes, and an expressionless face. Sensing Jiang Qiu’s gaze, he glanced over, his eyes holding neither killing intent nor warmth.
"That guy is Yu Ri, a Saint Heir from the Western Church. I heard he reached the Dharma Realm before he was even twenty. According to their system, he can summon a hundred-zhang-tall Four-winged Angel. He’s just a step away from the Grandmaster Realm."
A level voice spoke up beside him. A young man with a sheathed sword on his back stood with his arms crossed, gazing with Jiang Qiu toward the Western Church’s contingent on the other side.
This was Tang Guang, the number one Sword Dao prodigy of Jiangnan. It was said that he had grasped a sliver of Sword Intent several years ago and that when fighting the top prodigies from other provinces, he never needed a second strike.
After the disaster at North Border City passed, the Hundred Machines Giant Kite was operational again, and he arrived in North Border City shortly after.
He expressed neither regret nor anticipation about not being able to fight Jiang Qiu as planned, merely remarking that defending North Border City had not been easy.
Now, he too held a Golden Token, awaiting the opening of the Great Secret Realm.
The endless snowfall obscured the sky and distant mountains, a vast expanse of white stretching across the world. Jiang Qiu casually evaporated the few flakes of cottony white dotting his hair. "How long do Great Secret Realms usually last?"
"A few months at the shortest, several decades at the longest."
Tang Guang answered casually.
One after another, the nine powers holding Golden Tokens arrived at North Ice Valley, each escorting their own peerless prodigy. They stood on different peaks, looking down at a great Square Stele that stood in the center of the valley.
The inscription on the stele recorded the Realm requirements for entering the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm, as well as a recommendation concerning the indescribable quality of Talent.
Only those who had manifested a Dharma Aspect and held a Golden Token could enter the Great Secret Realm. Furthermore, the higher one’s talent, the better.
The prodigy who ultimately completed the Great Secret Realm’s trial would obtain the Enlightenment Fruit and step into the Grandmaster Realm in a single bound.
’These rules are strange,’ Jiang Qiu thought. ’After all, a Secret Realm that tests for Talent gives off an unusual, almost bizarre feeling, completely different from the many Secret Realms that test one’s Realm.’
’A few months at the shortest, several years at the longest... If I can’t get back before the Demon King [Chen] fully recovers his power, I might not find the Northwest Province in one piece.’
’I have to clear this Great Secret Realm, and I have to do it fast.’
WHOOSH—
Suddenly, a fierce gale swept overhead, tearing a gap in the drifting snow. A surging wave of Demonic Power bore down from the distance. Jiang Qiu’s heart tightened, and he clenched his fists as he looked up at the sky.
A host of Ancestral Great Demons were seen descending from the sky, escorting members of the Purple Feather Demon Clan. They landed on another mountain peak a few hundred meters away, immediately drawing the attention of all the other powers.
CRACK.
The sound of Jiang Qiu’s knuckles cracking drew Tang Guang’s gaze. He glanced at the newcomers and murmured, "The Kunlun Demon Clan... Demon General [Juan], and the prodigy, Feng Li. Isn’t that the demon clan that attacked the team of new students from Northwest Martial University..."
Before coming to North Border City, he too had heard about the situation in the Northwest Province and the Northern Wilderness from some of his seniors. The infamous Kunlun Demon Clan attack from half a year ago was a story known to all.
In the Northwest Province, Feng Li was an incredibly famous demon prodigy. Barring the unpredictable Demon King [Chen], he was covertly hailed as the number one prodigy of the Kunlun Demon Clan.
Back when the stele for the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm appeared, ten Golden Tokens flew out to the world’s major powers and clans. Naturally, the powerful Kunlun clan was not left out.
’As it stands, the most challenging opponents are Yu Ri of the Western Church and Feng Li of the Kunlun Demon Clan,’ Tang Guang mused. ’If there’s only one Enlightenment Fruit, then Jiang Qiu will be a rival too.’
’As for Sang Island, they were supposed to have a Golden Token as well. But strangely, it wasn’t found on any of their Grandmasters who died in the Northern Wilderness, not even on Sakai Yoshiei. And as it happens, we’re short one Golden Token holder here...’
Time slowly passed. There was little conversation between the major powers. After all, they came from all corners of the globe. The demon clans were not allied with one another, and the relationships between the human factions were complex. Simply standing together peacefully was, in itself, a tacit adherence to the rules.
HUMMM...
Suddenly, a ripple of secret realm energy emanated from the stone stele in the valley below. It was as ethereal as fingers plucking a zither string, instantly pulling Jiang Qiu back from his thoughts.
SWISH!
The Golden Token hidden in his Storage Ring suddenly shot out, erupting with a white light as brilliant as a scorching sun. In an instant, it melted away the snowy landscape, and everything else.
Jiang Qiu felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, yet the frigid wind only grew more intense. The Dragon Spirit within him thrashed twice, its eyes wide, before its eyelids gradually drooped and it fell into a deep slumber.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP...
Hurried footsteps grew closer, their sound distinct. Yet they didn’t belong to Tang Guang or the Xia Country Martial Artists at his side.
CRUNCH... CRUNCH...
The crunch of thick snow collapsing underfoot. A heavy breath washed over Jiang Qiu’s face. He tried to open his eyes. The dizzying, blinding white light faded in a flash, and the first thing he saw was a rugged man clad in animal skins.
In his left hand, he carried a Cold Iron Spear engraved with Ancient Inscriptions. A massive wild boar that blocked the view was slung over his shoulder. From Jiang Qiu’s perspective, it seemed he was lying on the ground; the man’s broad shoulders and the boar took up two-thirds of his vision, blocking the light filtering down through the branches of the Snow Forest.
’I’m already in the Secret Realm, and I’ve run into a stranger!’
Jiang Qiu’s pupils trembled. Though he couldn’t tell if the brawny man before him was friend or foe, he subconsciously tried to summon his Spirit Charm.
"..."
’The Dragon Spirit is asleep. The Flame isn’t responding.’
’There’s no Spirit Charm in this Secret Realm Space?!’
Jiang Qiu’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes flew wide as he tried to get up and run.
Two delicate baby hands flailed in his vision, and two short little legs kicked energetically at the air as if paddling.
!!!
Jiang Qiu’s thoughts came to a screeching halt, replaced by an endless chill, as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss.
’Not only can I not use my Spirit Charm, but my body is that of a baby! And I’m in a frozen wasteland, facing a weapon-wielding man who might be over two meters tall!’
’Is this also part of the Great Secret Realm?!’
’What kind of bizarre Secret Realm rules are these!’
"Ah LuLu..."
The brawny man mumbled the heavy syllables, a smile spreading across his cheeks, which were painted with yellow dye. He casually tucked the spear into his right armpit and snatched Jiang Qiu up with his left hand, like a savage who had just found a Ginseng Fruit.
"Ah LuLu, oh, Ah Lu..."
Carrying the massive wild boar and holding Jiang Qiu, the brawny man strode deep into the snowy expanse.
Jiang Qiu’s heart trembled with each of the man’s steps. ’Thankfully, his hand is warm, and he hasn’t crushed me like an insect. Plus, my status panel is still here, it just has a new status.’
[Chosen One]
[Description: Having entered the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm, you have accepted a trial from Ancient Times. Your soul has entered this world, and your body has grown from the snow. You must face the great worldly calamity in your most primal state. After a twenty-year growth period, you will compete with the other nine Chosen Ones for the Enlightenment Fruit.]
[Note: Your original body is sealed away in a void of space-time. Your Realm and Talent are unharmed. Even in this infant state, you still possess all your previous insights.]
