Legends about the ruins of the immortal palace abounded since ancient times.
According to legends, the immortal palace used to be the residence of Immortal Prehistory, whose power was later overthrown by the Prehistoric Immortal Clan. But the palace was protected by a mighty supernatural power, which prevented outsiders from entering. Countless attempts had been made by the Celestial Court to break through and explore the immortal palace, but it turned out to be a ma.s.sive failure that incurred great losses.
Later, the Celestial Court got the key to the immortal palace and was about to open it. However, Earth was invaded by extraterritorial demons at that moment and internal chaos also erupted, which led to the loss of the key. The immortal palace had never been opened again, until the defeat of the Celestial Court and the sealing of the battlefield by the Dark Yellow Clan G.o.ds.
It was said that there were countless books on magical powers and secret skills, rare treasures, immortal armor as well as sharp weapons in the immortal palace. They were treasures left by the Prehistoric Immortal Clan.
In Antediluvian times, there was a rumor that said, “Whoever controls the immortal palace will control the world and live eternally with an indestructible body.”
After the era of the Prehistoric Immortal Clan, there arose different dynasties created by the immortal clans of Antiquity, Antediluvian, and so on. The closest immortal dynasty was the Celestial Court.
With the revival of the world, gates of small worlds had opened. The remaining prestige of the Celestial Court still shocked all parties. All the cultivators of immortal sects felt that even if the gate of the immortal palace opened, they would have no chance to enter. So they came to the Immortal-Devil a.s.sembly just for fun and thought they only stood a 1 percent chance of entering.
But it seemed that everyone could enter the immortal palace, according to the words of the founder of Chunyang Clan.
Could this good news be true?
“Today, all righteous parties and evil forces are gathered together, which should be the most magnificent scene since the opening of the Battlefield of Chaos. Pavilion of Nature’s Secret of the Celestial Court has figured out that another golden age for cultivation is coming. Complying with the tradition of ancient dynasties, the Celestial Court is going to reset three lists of Heaven, Earth and Human today. Anyone who is on the list is qualified to enter the immortal palace to look for opportunities.”
The voice of the founder of Chunyang Clan echoed throughout the entire square.
“What? Reset the three lists?”
“But, numerous people may die because of the undeserved reputation.”
“Once the three lists are reset, a b.l.o.o.d.y turmoil will be awaiting us.”
“Haha, the opportunity has come for me, Quan Buer, to make a name for myself as Invulnerable Knife of Flash.”
“It is said that during the heydays of the divine dynasties, there were three lists of Heaven, Earth and Human. Those who appeared on these lists were all rare geniuses in a million, as if blessed by G.o.d. The ranks were used as a standard by divine dynasties to select divine generals and right-hand men. Only in this way could their destinies continue.”
“It’s said that these three lists are divine artifacts themselves, which can test human combat capabilities in the fairest way.”
This remark aroused a heated discussion.
Almost everyone at the square joined in the discussion.
Li Mu looked at w.a.n.g Yanyi curiously and said, “You’ve known about it for a long time, haven’t you?”
w.a.n.g Yanyi replied, “Of course, it isn’t difficult to guess.”
“So you’re also ready to make it on the ranks?” Li Mu asked.
w.a.n.g Yanyi nodded. “Of course I have to. Otherwise, why would I partic.i.p.ate in this Immortal-Devil a.s.sembly and take such a great risk?”
Li Mu asked, “Are the ranks very important?”
w.a.n.g Yanyi said with a serious look, “Sure. Think about it. When you are in conflict with others in the future, all you have to do is to state your name on the ranks. Without having to do anything at all, they will be scared out of their wits and even pee their pants. The winner can be determined in an instant, saving time and energy, as well as being pretentious. That’s cool.”
“What the f.u.c.k!”
Li Mu was speechless.
“Is he joking? He must be joking.”
w.a.n.g Yanyi was really good at spouting rubbish in Li Mu’s mind.
Li Mu felt that he didn’t know this person very well before. But today he really had a greater insight into his character.
“Then, how does one make it on the ranks?” Li Mu asked.
w.a.n.g Yanyi answered, “If you want to appear on the three lists, you have to undergo the tests of the three divine artifacts. Your name will be displayed after you pa.s.s the tests. Besides, the divine artifacts are spiritual and will list your name by strength automatically. The process is very simple.”
Li Mu was shocked. “Are they so intelligent that there is no need to battle it out in the fighting ring?”
w.a.n.g Yanyi said, “In principle, there is no need. The divine artifacts are far more intelligent than ordinary experts of immortal sects.”
“How do you know so much?” Li Mu asked.
w.a.n.g Yanyi said, “I’m just making a guess.”
Li Mu was speechless.
“Can’t we have a good chat?”
“In fact, there are also some people who are unwilling to be listed on the three lists because they think that it will expose their trump cards. The divine artifacts seem extremely mysterious. As long as you take the tests, they are able to gauge your strength. In a sense, it also means that the total strength of a testee is exposed to the Celestial Court. Moreover, there are also some people, who don’t seek fame or profit,” w.a.n.g Yanyi said.
As soon as Li Mu heard these, he understood what was going on.
So, the three divine artifacts were similar to technological data collectors in the mortal world. Once you were tested, not only would the ranking be shown, but all the data would be extracted. Like investigation companies, the Celestial Court collected most people’s social relations and preferences, as well as the secrets of cultivators of immortal sects through these tests.
Personal privacy was very important to both mortals and cultivators.
Li Mu said, “In that case, why do you still want to make it to the ranks?”
He couldn’t understand w.a.n.g Yanyi’s thought.
w.a.n.g Yanyi replied, “Although the three divine artifacts are intelligent, they can’t spy on everything. There’s something that can’t be seen through. What’s more... Well, a high ranking can really make me ostentatious, for their high authority.”
“No way.”
Li Mu had an unspoken criticism.
He suddenly understood the true thoughts of the Celestial Court.
Under normal circ.u.mstances, cultivators might resist the tests of the three divine artifacts.
After all, besides those who were really enthusiastic about fame, there were many real genius experts who would not allow their privacy to be spied on.
But this time, the immortal palace was used as bait by the Celestial Court. Supposedly no one could resist the temptation.
“What a sophisticated conspiracy!”
w.a.n.g Yanyi said again, “What do you think? Why don’t you have a try, since you are here? Maybe you can gain something unexpected.”
Li Mu looked at him seriously, trying to tell whether this guy was talking nonsense again.
“Guys, no matter if you belong to righteous or evil parties, whether you are cultivators of immortal sects or experts in the human world, as long as you are interested, you can compete for the rankings. But before the resetting of the three lists, there are some grudges between both parties that have acc.u.mulated over the years. Today is the best opportunity to settle these problems in the Immortal-slaying Ring. No more nonsense. The following performance in the Immortal-slaying Ring will be presided over by my descendant. Please.”
After all, the founder of Chunyang Clan had an extremely high status. He concluded his speech with a few words.
The divine light flashed.
Immortal Taoist appeared on the Eight Trigrams flying plate.
“The Buddha of immeasurable life greets you. h.e.l.lo, seniors and brothers. I am a descendant of the Chunyang Clan, Immortal. Greetings, everyone.”
Immortal Taoist was tall, slender, handsome, and fair-skinned. He was almost similar to his master.
He said, “My master has already made it clear. So, I will not repeat so as not to waste everyone’s time. Guys, the Immortal-slaying Ring is ready. Those who want to duel can register in the Langya Pavilion in the northwest corner of the square. As long as the record is made, you are permitted to fight in the ring. You can defeat your enemy or kill him, which is completely up to you. But remember, once you’ve fought in the ring, you should never pester each other anymore after you get out of the ring. Otherwise, it will be regarded as disobeying the Celestial Court and violating the rules. Even divine generals of the Celestial Court cannot be forgiven. Please think before you leap.”
Li Mu looked in the northwest direction.
He saw a pavilion with glazed tiles, on which a plaque was hung. Two little Taoist children were sitting inside, one of whom was Athanasia Taoist Child. He was talking and laughing with his companion at the moment. He looked pure, which made him seem like a real ignorant Taoist child.
“w.a.n.g Yanyi, go into the ring if you dare.”
Young elites of the Rain Clan who provoked w.a.n.g Yanyi before, came over again, as if they were afraid that he would run away. On the other side, people from the Rain Clan had gone to the Langya Pavilion to register.
w.a.n.g Yanyi stood up lazily.
A milky white stream of light fell vertically from the sky.
A vessel similar to a gla.s.s fish tank floated in midair with the light stream. It was about 10 meters long and 10 meters high, with immortal Qi swirling around. Its bottom was square, while the top was round. The round cover was upside down and had a strange shape. It was indescribably delicate and exquisite.
“Is it the Immortal-slaying Ring?”
Li Mu was extremely curious. It was quite different from what he had imagined.
“The first battle in the Immortal-slaying Ring is w.a.n.g Yanyi, an extraterrestrial pract.i.tioner, fighting against Lin Yuhan of the Rain Clan.”
Athanasia Taoist Child shouted.
The contenders for the first match in the Immortal-slaying Ring had already appeared.
Surrounded by many Rain Clan masters, a slender middle-aged man who had an ancient bronze sword that had no scabbard strapped on his back, slowly walked to the container. He stared at w.a.n.g Yanyi intently and said, “Lin Yuhan of the Rain Clan... Please.”
With these words, he crashed into the Immortal-slaying Ring.
Swoos.h.!.+
He entered the gla.s.s-like ring.
To Li Mu’s great surprise, Lin Yuhan, a 1.9-meter-tall master from the Rain Clan, appeared in the “narrow” vessel at the next moment, but his body shrunk in size until it was as small as an ordinary person’s finger. In this way, the originally “narrow” Immortal-slaying Ring suddenly turned into a huge square.
w.a.n.g Yanyi took a step forward and also crashed into the Immortal-slaying Ring.
The next moment, he also appeared in it. His figure also shrunk in proportion, following the same process.
They were like two little people being raised in a giant fish tank.
The battle began in an instant.
The enmity between w.a.n.g Yanyi and the Rain Clan was irreconcilable. Hence, both sides didn’t try to probe each other or hold anything back. The moment they started fighting, they made their most powerful ultimate moves.
Standing on the outside, Li Mu could clearly see that there was no obstruction in their moves, strength, techniques, positions, or power application. Apart from their bodies being shrunk hundreds of times, everything else was normal.
Like Li Mu, the other pract.i.tioners of immortal sects around also saw it clearly.
“That’s a way to guarantee fairness and justice. Under the gazes of so many eyes, everything on the battlefield can be seen clearly. No matter who it is, he can never cheat.” Immortal Taoist appeared next to Li Mu.
Li Mu remained silent.
He felt that Lin Yuhan and w.a.n.g Yanyi were like warriors sent to the arena and were performing for the onlookers.
“Does Brother Li intend to make it to the three lists?” Immortal Taoist asked.
Li Mu suddenly came up with an idea and asked, “So what if I do and so what if I don’t?” Li Mu wondered why he asked this question.
“If you are interested, I can arrange for you in advance. If not, please have a try. It’s different from the past. If your name appears on the Earth Rankings List, it will be much easier for you to deal with the Celestial Court in the future.” Immortal Taoist advised.
Li Mu laughed and said, “Then, please make the arrangements in advance. Of course, I want to take a shot.”