Chapter 1555: Chapter 1426: Immortal Mansion Ruins

As the crowd discussed, Ye Fan gained a deeper understanding of the history of the Great Emperor’s development in this world.

The Great Emperor, a supreme being revered by the Ten Thousand Clans, made tremendous sacrifices and contributions for the Human Race. Every Great Emperor lives in people’s hearts.

The conversation was lively, and they chatted until midnight before dispersing.

Early the next morning, Ye Fan and the others, led by the vice dean and Elder Lan Yingfei, stepped onto the Transmission Array Platform in the academy. With a flash of light, they traversed the void.

Lancang City is located between the Central Domain and the Eastern Domain. It is an ancient city passed down through time, now abandoned and devoid of people. Besides the existing buildings, there are only dead trees, withered weeds, and vines throughout the ancient city, giving it an extremely desolate and dilapidated appearance.

"Swish!"

A flash of white light, the void cracked open, and Ye Fan and the others fell from the void, scaring away several foraging stray dogs. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Is this the Immortal Mansion Ruins?"

Many were dumbfounded after seeing the scene before them. It was far too desolate and rundown, completely disconnected from the idea of an Immortal Mansion.

"Naturally, this isn’t it. The Immortal Mansion Ruins are hidden in the void, and without the correct coordinates, you can never enter."

"Its coordinates are inside a ruined temple in this abandoned ancient city!"

With that, the vice dean and Lan Yingfei led the group toward the center of the ancient city.

From a distance, Ye Fan saw an extremely dilapidated ancient temple, its walls mottled and almost collapsing. The windows were covered in cobwebs, and the roof was overgrown with dead weeds trembling in the cold wind.

The climate in the Central Domain differs from the Southern Domain and the Southern East Domain. The Central Domain was in deep autumn, with cold weather and a bleak landscape.

Upon getting closer, Ye Fan realized that although the temple seemed small, it was actually quite large, equivalent to a few palaces joined together, with only a single main entrance. The temple gate was archaic and mottled but not decayed, with faint traces of the Essence of Tao circulating around it, clearly sealed.

On the stone steps in front of the temple gate, the people from the Imperial Academy had already arrived, led by their powerful leader, waiting there. As they saw them approach, each one had a somber expression and unfriendly demeanor.

The foremost was an elderly man with a chubby, smiling face—none other than the vice dean of the Imperial Academy, Old Monster Zhou. The other, who appeared to be middle-aged, was likely already several hundred years old, with unfathomable strength.

"Haha... Old Monster Lu, you all are late!"

The vice dean of the Imperial Academy, Old Monster Zhou, greeted them with a fake smile, looking Ye Fan and the others up and down, and praised, "The strongest elite disciples of the Immortal Academy must be all gathered here, right?"

"Oh, hardly. They’re just some of the most underwhelming disciples of our Immortal Academy, merely brought to see the world. They’re nothing compared to the Imperial Academy, which only admits the Emperor’s disciples and Saint Heirs. Our Immortal Academy is weak!"

Despite their seemingly friendly demeanor, the two old foxes were full of barbs, exchanging hidden jabs even before entering the Immortal Mansion Ruins.

"Blue Bird, after all these years, how are you not dead yet?"

The middle-aged strong man from the Imperial Academy also approached, but his target was Lan Yingfei.

"If you aren’t dead, how could I be? If anyone’s dying first, it would be you!"

Lan Yingfei retorted bluntly, and the two quickly exchanged a few moves, dazzling to the eyes. However, no Divine Power was released, as they neutralized it within their palms and fingers.

"Hmph! Just a bunch of nobodies! What qualifications do they have to enter the Immortal Mansion Ruins with me?" The disciples from the Imperial Academy were quite arrogant, seemingly possessing a natural superiority.

It’s no wonder; they were either from the Di Clan or were descendants of the Holy Land and Wu Shang Sect, whereas most Immortal Academy disciples lacked such deep backgrounds.

"Just a bunch of freeloaders leaning on clan power, parasites. Without the power behind you, you’re nothing at all!"

The Immortal Academy had equally unwilling-to-back-down disciples who rebuked sharply, hitting the nail on the head, igniting the tempers of the Imperial Academy disciples, who were livid with rage.

"What? Hit the mark? Angry enough to act? Want to make a move? Try it and see!"

The Immortal Academy also had descendants of the Di Clan, like Wu Jingtian and Yue Chuan. Additionally, Sikong Po was a descendant of a long-standing family in the Eastern Domain, Central region. They weren’t afraid at all.

The Imperial Academy valued pedigree over individual strength, where clan or sect power was relatively more important.

For the Immortal Academy, it didn’t matter where one came from or what background one had; only strength mattered. At the Immortal Academy, even a descendant of the Di Clan received no special treatment if they weren’t as strong, driving the disciples to cultivate vigorously, resulting in formidable strength.

However—

It’s not to say the Imperial Academy was weaker than the Immortal Academy. The Imperial Academy controlled far more resources, and most of their disciples had a solid foundation from an early age, generally giving them an edge in overall strength over the Immortal Academy.

"Enough!"

"Silence!"

The vice deans of the Immortal Academy and the Imperial Academy simultaneously intervened, stopping the rivalry between the academy geniuses. They then grimly remarked, "The Immortal Mansion Ruins are fraught with danger, requiring you to cooperate. Fighting as soon as you meet is simply improper!"

The looming chaos was thus contained, but whether from the Immortal Academy or the Imperial Academy, everyone knew that genuine cooperation was nearly impossible, unless faced with a life-or-death situation, which might change the hostility between them.

Not all Immortal Academy and Imperial Academy disciples participated in the earlier bickering. Ye Fan didn’t speak; although he would certainly act if a real fight broke out, derogatory exchanges held no meaning.

There were also others in the Imperial Academy who frowned at the argument, refraining from participation, clearly understanding the futility of words when direct action could suffice.

Additionally, there is a deeper reason; whether it’s the Immortal Academy or the Imperial Academy, they are both elite disciples of the Human Race, the backbone of humanity’s future.

The Demon Clan is about to emerge, and the Human Race cannot afford to waste itself any longer. Otherwise, once the Demon Clan emerges, they will certainly vie with the Human Race for control over this world. At that time, it will be a series of brutal battles, and no one can remain unaffected.

To enter the Immortal Mansion Ruins, one must first enter this Ancient Temple. The vice principals of both academies and the Law Enforcement Elders put aside prejudice and worked together to unlock the seal on the temple door.

Afterwards, accompanied by the teeth-gritting creak, this Ancient Temple, sealed for countless millennia, finally opened. Inside, it was pitch black, the light seemed swallowed, eerie and terrifying.

"Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!"

The two vice principals led the way, followed by the two Law Enforcement Elders, and twenty top disciples from the Immortal Academy and the Imperial Academy entered the Ancient Temple.

Ahead was utter darkness, with only the two vice principals casting out two clusters of Divine Fire to illuminate a small part of the surrounding space. Besides the echoes of footsteps, there was only silence, oddly unsettling in the vacant grand hall.

"Is this the Immortal Mansion Ruins or the Netherworld?"

Many people wondered this in their hearts, yet no one spoke, fearing that something strange might occur.

From outside, the temple, though large, seemed to have a limited space inside. Yet the group walked nearly an hour before reaching a bronze gate.

The Bronze Gate sparkled with specks of light, full of the power of sealing. On either side of the door were grooves a length akin to arms.

The two vice principals exchanged a glance, serious-faced, each presenting an item neither gold nor wood, fitting the size of the grooves.

"Click!"

Simultaneously, they embedded the bars into the grooves, and the bronze gate slowly opened. A blinding light shot through the crack, slowly expanding.

"What is this..."

Everyone was stunned by the scene behind the gate—a world, with bright sunshine overflowing with Primordial aura, as though the essence of immortality was circulating within.

The previous glaring light was simply ordinary daylight; it was just that the grand hall was so dark that the sudden exposure made many people’s eyes uncomfortable, hence appearing dazzling.

"Is this... the Immortal Mansion Ruins?"

Many felt as though dreaming, somewhat incredulous. The Immortal Mansion Ruins were not enclosed in a valley or Dong Mansion, but a vast world, differing greatly from prior imaginations.

The sun glistened, the sky was clear as though washed. It lacked a single impurity, like a giant sapphire resting above.

"Caw!"

A peculiar cry drew attention. A colossal bird soared across the void, momentarily obscuring the sun, Divine Light flowing over it, casting vast shadows upon the earth.

"Hiss!"

Everyone was stunned, what a massive bird, like a passing cloud, sheer vastness.

"Look, there’s another one!"

The burly Shi Ye, sharp-eyed, pointed skyward.

Following his direction, everyone saw not a solitary bird, but several such gigantic birds. Evidently, they differed from those Ye Fan and the others previously saw, even differing among themselves.

"Boom!"

Far away, the earth shook, a verdant mountain ridge ascended, thrusting towards the heavens, exuding endless fierce evil aura.

"That mountain... flies?"

An Emperor’s disciple gaped, speaking incoherently, never having seen flying mountains before. Everything seemed to overturn their previous understanding.

"That’s not a mountain ridge, but a giant python!" Old Monster Zhou from the Imperial Academy explained seriously.

Even without explanation, everyone understood by then. At the "ridge’s" head, eyes like tiny suns shot two beams of Golden Light, resembling Heavenly Swords.

It lay dormant for unknown ages, covered thick in soil, even sprouting trees.

Launching skyward, it fiercely engaged the previously seen giant bird, scales scattered, divine feathers fell, blood mingled with dirt and trees, the battle extraordinarily brutal.

Such is the world of Xuan Beasts; not only do they combat humans, they also endure survival battles among themselves.

In the Xuan Beast world, survival of the fittest reigns supreme. To live longer, one must be sufficiently strong.

This speaks to the differences between Xuan Beasts, Demon Clan, and Humans. Though Demon Clan and Xuan Beast competition is fierce, their methods undeniably produce incredibly mighty strong people.

Nine dogs for one Mastiff, hundred poison for one Gu, such are the true depictions of Xuan Beasts and Demon Clan!

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