Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Reunion with Liu Qingcheng
"So this is the Profound Domain Holy City..."
At the city gate, Ji Chen leaped off Ao Tian’s back.
His arrival did not attract anyone’s attention.
In a place like the Holy City, almost everyone coming and going possesses a certain status.
The myriad flying demon beasts dazzled the eyes.
Therefore, it was not particularly surprising when Ji Chen arrived riding Ao Tian.
Soon, he smoothly entered the Holy City.
On the bustling and lively streets, people came and went. From the aura, Ji Chen could feel that the cultivators here were much stronger overall than those he had encountered in Celestial Essence City.
In Celestial Essence City, cultivators at the Vein Condensation Realm were commonplace, but it was rare to find even one at the Spirit Transformation Realm out of a hundred.
However, within this Holy City, nearly the whole street was full of Spirit Transformation Realm experts. As for the legendary Returning Ruins Realm powerhouses, Ji Chen had just arrived and had already spotted several.
For those at the Returning Ruins Realm level, they could travel by controlling the sky.
In the sky above the Holy City, rainbow lights frequently flashed by; those were naturally entities whose cultivation had reached the Returning Ruins Realm level.
"It’s certainly worthy of being the true hub of the Profound Domain."
Ji Chen muttered to himself, not feeling too surprised. Apparently, he had anticipated this before coming.
Especially considering his past life’s experiences, a place like the Holy City was hardly noteworthy.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that with his former life’s status, beings like those at the Returning Ruins Realm wouldn’t even qualify to guard a door for him.
"With the Emperor Ye ancient ruins about to open, I didn’t expect it to attract so many people."
"That’s only natural. Who was Emperor Ye? He was the greatest expert in the history of the Profound Domain. In countless millennia, the Profound Domain has produced only this one Saint. His burial place is accompanied by countless magical treasures and opportunities. Legend even has it that thousands of years ago, someone found a Holy Weapon in the ancient ruins!"
Walking down the busy streets, Ji Chen overheard many such discussions among the people passing by.
Nowadays, the Emperor Ye ancient ruins had become a frequently talked-about topic.
"The elite disciples from top factions like Lingxiao Palace and the Sword King Sect have also arrived, along with many geniuses from prominent families. Truly, the gathering of elites. I wonder what kind of opportunities they will all gain from this ancient ruins trip?"
"Competition will probably be fierce. After all, putting so many geniuses together is bound to spark some peak-level battles. It’s a pity we’re too old now to enter the ruins and witness these young competitors ourselves."
"In every era, there will be extraordinary talents who lead the way, excelling for hundreds of years. Nowadays, the Profound Domain has unknowingly produced many prodigy-level geniuses. It’s said that with the opening of the ancient ruins this time, Yu Jing, the chief disciple of Sword King Sect, has also come. Three years ago, he had successfully stepped into the Spirit Transformation Realm, hailed as one of the top ten outstanding talents of the younger generation in the Profound Domain. I wonder what level he has reached now?"
"At least beyond the fifth layer of Spirit Transformation Realm, I guess?"
"Speaking of the top ten outstanding talents of the younger generation in the Profound Domain, in this ancient ruins trip, aside from Yu Jing of the Sword King Sect, it seems several others have come too. These are true prodigies among the younger generation in the Profound Domain. Now that they are all gathered, a great spectacle is bound to unfold!"
"I wonder if Liu Qingcheng of the Purple Cloud Sect has come? The only genius in the Profound Domain in thousands of years with four Spirit Veins, she is the top of the current ten outstanding talents, several years younger than Yu Jing. But her cultivation is said to be no longer beneath Yu Jing’s."
"She is truly a goddess of the Profound Domain, the chief disciple of the Purple Cloud Sect. Once the Purple Cloud Sect establishes itself as a Sacred Land in the future, she will be the primary candidate for the Saintess!"
Many people were discussing topics all centered around these renowned young geniuses in the Profound Domain.
Among them, the name Ji Chen heard most frequently was undoubtedly Liu Qingcheng.
The Profound Domain is a true grand stage.
Besides the ten countries, there is also fertile land like Ningzhou, with countless clans and sects standing, fierce competition, and significant events occurring daily.
Compared to these matters, the life-and-death battle between Lingyun Sect and Celestial Profound Sect in Chu Kingdom could only be considered as minor skirmishes, hardly attracting much attention, not even mentioned by anyone.
This implies that in the eyes of these true great forces, Lingyun Sect, or even Chu Kingdom, is simply unworthy of mention.
"It’s said that the entrance to the Emperor Ye ancient ruins will appear within Li Yuan’s Tomb in three days, and now the Holy City is crowded with countless geniuses waiting for the ruins to open. These young people, all proud and competitive, cannot be surpassed. In recent days, several battles among them have already erupted in the city."
"Those are mere scuffles. The Holy City now has quite a few elder-level figures. With the old generation watching over, true life-and-death battles among the young are unlikely here."
"But once inside the ruins, it might be different. Without the balance of the older generation’s might, these young people will undoubtedly go all out to seize opportunities."
"In a Forest Park in the north of the city, there seems to be a gathering of young people tonight. Many young talents rising to fame will attend." In a certain teahouse, Ji Chen sat by the window and accidentally overheard this news.
He instantly became interested.
The Profound Domain, along with the ten countries and Ningzhou, is vast and boundless. Therefore, this land is home to many young geniuses.
The most representative of these are undoubtedly the ten young outstanding talents.
They are the ten strongest young prodigies in the Profound Domain. Liu Qingcheng is currently the leader of the ten outstanding talents, possessing four Spirit Veins—a talent unique to her since the end of the Cyan Emperor Era, in thousands of years in the Profound Domain.
It is said that several of the ten outstanding talents will be present at tonight’s gathering. Ji Chen was also eager to see what kind of people these so-called ten outstanding talents were.
As night fell, he left the teahouse.
Following the information he had gathered, he headed towards the Forest Park in the northern part of the city.
Along the way, Ji Chen saw many young people heading in the same direction, evidently also going to attend that so-called young people’s gathering.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed.
Finally, a woodland appeared in front of Ji Chen.
This was one of the few scenic spots in the Holy City, said to have existed long before the Holy City was built.
At this moment, at the entrance of the Forest Park, many young figures had already gathered.
Occasionally, he could see black shadows sweeping over from the distant void. These were the flying demon beasts, and outstanding young people leaped off their backs without retracting them, letting them stay at the entrance to the Forest Park as if to flaunt their noble status.
These flying demon beasts were of unusual shapes, different from ordinary flying demon beasts typically seen. Clearly, those who had such flying demon beasts were mostly young masters from wealthy families.
"Hmm?"
Ji Chen stood outside the Forest Park for a moment without staying too long. Just as he prepared to head into the park, suddenly, from the distant void, an azure bird flew over.
On that azure bird, he saw a familiar figure.
It was a young woman, dressed in a white long dress, with unparalleled elegance. Under the moonlight, her demeanor seemed incredibly ethereal and refined.
The woman was none other than Liu Qingcheng, the chief disciple of the Purple Cloud Sect!