The news of the "Heavenly Dao Palace" appearing, like pouring ice water into a boiling pot of oil, instantly ignited the entire cultivation world. Itschain reaction far more than the Northwest demon troubleintense,even more extensive. This was no longer a regional event but a ten-thousand-year event sweeping the world, touching all high-level cultivators' heartstrings!
From this, winds and clouds gathered.
The first to move were those top forces with deep foundations and sharp intelligence.
In the Central Plains Royal Court's golden palace, symbolizing the peak of mortal and cultivation power, severalancestor-level figures, their auras deep like abysses, who usually cultivated only in imperial tomb secret realms, awoke quietly. Secret orders flew out. The court's most mysterious "Hidden Dragon Guards" mobilized entirely, beginning to gather all clues about "Star-falling Land" and the Heavenly Dao Palace's entrance. Several highly anticipated princes and princesses were gathered with national resources for final sprint and special training.
At the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, that solitary peakperennial sword qi reaching the clouds, the long-unrung "Sword Gathering Bell" rang nine times, its sound traveling ten thousand li! All wandering true disciples were urgently recalled. It was said that that Sword Sect's millennium-unprecedented sword dao genius, who had been in seclusion in the sword tomb for ten years attempting to merge ancient sword souls, the "Trace-less Sword" inheritor, had broken through seclusion. Upon breaking through, ainvisible sword qi rushing to the stars, hundred-li sea of clouds parted for it!
At Xuanji Holy Land, the ice-sealed Sage Maiden Peak's peak,cold air increasinglybone-chilling. Witnesses claimed seeingcolorful glow accompanied by clear phoenix cry pierced the longsky. Likely that current Sage Maiden who had long mastered the "Ice Soul Mysterious Art" to its ultimate realm, usually cultivated in the Northern Desolatedesperate situation, had returned. Her aura wasunfathomably deep, wherever she passed,voidfrost forming.
At the East Sea Dragon Palace, beneath ten-thousand-zhang waves, ancient altars lit up brilliant light. The Dragon Emperor personally ordered the sealed "Dragon Transformation Pool" opened. Several dragon sons and grandsons with pure bloodlines and exceptional talent entered to receiveAncestral Dragon power'sbaptism. On the surging sea surface, huge dragon shadows were often seen tumbling,dragon might vast, intimidating the sea region.
Not only these obvious giants. Many forces and families that had been reclusive for ages, existing only in legends, were alsostartle by this millennium opportunity, beginning to show themselves.
In the depths of the Northern Desert, an ancient tribe famous for taming ancient war beasts sent out their "Beast Spirit Walkers," riding fiercestrange beasts comparable to Golden Core, stepping out of the desert;
In Southern Border dense forests, several isolated, nature-spirit-worshipping mysterious witch villages, their "Spirit Speakers" followingancestral spirits's guidance, walked toward the outside world;
In the Western Extreme, that wastelandGobi desert even cultivators were reluctant to easily enter,ascetic monks walking barefoot, each step leaving golden lotus shadows beneath their feet, chanting ancient scriptures;
Some even claimed seeing on remote overseas islands with thin spiritual energy,suspected to have long lost their inheritance's"ancient cultivators"descendants, cultivatingcultivation techniques drastically different from today's mainstream, their auras ancient yet powerful.
More so, those ancient families with special bloodlines orunique secret techniques, like those skilled inmechanical puppets (Heavenly Craft Ouyang Family), thosemasters of musical killing arts (Wonderful Sound Mu Family), and even some equally righteous and evil, acting mysteriously ancient demonic cultivation families... all dispatched their most outstandingclan disciples, carryingancestral treasures and ambitions, entering this turbulent vortex.
The entire cultivation world,as ifa pot about to boil'swater, countlesslurking'sgiant crocodiles,flood dragons,even hibernating'sferocious beasts, all opened their eyes, directing their gazes toward that legendary "Star-falling Land": the predicted location of the Heavenly Dao Palace's appearance this time!
Geniuses would inevitably contend.
Those with special physiques, innate spirit embryos, ancient bloodline inheritances, who were previously rarely seen, now emerged like bamboo shoots after rain. They wandered alone with swords, or with numerous servants, or concealed their tracks. But their goals were surprisingly uniform: Star-falling Land, Heavenly Dao Palace!
Tianshui City, as the information hub, became a stage for various geniuses' preliminary appearances and mutual probing. The city's atmosphere was tense yetenthusiastic. Each day new powerful names were mentioned, each day rumors of some genius's amazing battle records or special abilities circulated. Conflicts and friction occasionally occurred but mostly kept within bounds. Like the brief calm before a storm, everyone was accumulating strength, waiting for the true stage's opening.
Inside Black Rock Fortress, Tang Xiao Qi looked at the thick jade slip transmitted from Alliance headquarters recording various forces' movements and known genius information. His expression was calm, yet deep in his eyes burnedscorching'sbattle intent.
On the list,one dazzling name after another'snames andastonishingdeeds entered his vision:
Central Plains Royal Court Third Prince, bearing "Imperial Dragon Qi," reportedly already recognized by the Succession Seal...
Ten Thousand Sword Sect "Trace-less Sword" inheritor, sword heart through all, once slew thirteen same-level demonic cultivators with one sword...
Xuanji Holy Land Sage Maiden, ice skin jade bones, mysterious art divine, once froze thousand-li sea area...
East Sea Dragon Third Prince, bloodlineatavism, controlling thunder and lightning...
Ouyang Family mechanism genius, already able to independently make Golden Core stage puppets...
Mu Family music prodigy, one song candisturbing people's minds, control life and death...
And more mysterious geniuses from reclusive families and ancient inheritances, their information incomplete, yet making them even moreunfathomably deep.
"Star-falling land... Heavenly Dao Palace..." Xiao Qi put down the jade slip, gazing toward the direction where "Star-falling Land" was generally located. "It seems this is an unavoidable grand gathering."
He knew this "Qingxu Tang Xiao Qi True Lord" and "Pillar of Righteousness," on this stage gathering the world's heroes, would inevitably face unprecedented challenges. But equally, this was an excellent opportunity to temper himself and pursue higher Dao realms!
Winds and clouds had gathered. Geniuses were about to contend. A dragon-tiger battle wouldintensely performed at that mysterious Star-falling Land! And he would definitely participate. In this magnificent era, he would leave his own profound mark!