The Prodigies War-Chapter 2843 Unexpected Participants
Ji Shanhai! The moment this woman appeared, Yuan Changtian, Cang Fufeng, and Wen Qiaoshui all rose to their feet and stepped forward to greet her.
“Miss Shanhai, it’s an honor.”
“I didn’t expect you would truly come in person.”
“Miss Shanhai, it’s been too long.”
Three divine sons from three divine clans of the Ninth Heaven Domain came forward together to greet her. This scene instantly set the hall ablaze with murmurs.
Lin Xun couldn’t help but be taken aback. From this scene alone, one could see how transcendent Ji Shanhai’s status was. Her ethereal grace and unearthly beauty only added to the sense of awe surrounding her. It was no wonder she commanded such reverence wherever she went.
Despite that, Lin Xun’s surprise faded almost as quickly as it came. His gaze quickly shifted. When it fell upon Senior Brother Well Moon, a warm smile surfaced on his lips.
He had only met Well Moon once long ago. It was during the earth-shattering chess match in the Ancient Wasteland Domain, when his senior brothers and sisters fought side by side to resist the forces of Nameless Esteemed Emperor.
Now, seeing him again, Well Moon had already attained the perfect Nirvana Spirit Realm! He had warm, wheat-colored skin, and a lean, powerful frame. His eyes were deep and steady, and his long black hair was tied neatly behind his head, revealing a defined and resolute face.
When their gazes met, Well Moon’s lips curved faintly. His voice sounded in Lin Xun’s mind, “Junior Brother, in this Immortal Dao Battle, how about we compete and see who can slay more beasts?”
“Why not?” Lin Xun raised a brow and replied through voice transmission, “I’ve long heard that my senior brother’s archery shakes the heavens. I’ve always wanted to witness it myself.”
Well Moon chuckled softly. While the two exchanged words, he and the others from the Spirit Sect Ancestral Court had already taken their seats.
Of note, even amid so many extraordinary figures, Ji Shanhai remained the most dazzling presence in the hall. However, she seemed long accustomed to such gazes. After taking her seat, she quietly took out a scroll and began to read, serene and detached. Her transcendent grace felt utterly apart from the world, as though she existed in a different world, untouched by mortal dust.
At that moment, Fang Daoping spoke aloud, “Brother Zu, now that all the participants from the Four Great Ancestral Courts have arrived. Should we depart for the Ten Directions Demon Realm?”
Zu Wenheng smiled faintly, “Brother Fang, there’s no need to rush. This Immortal Dao Battle will not be like the previous ones. This time, there are others joining us.”
His words rippled through the hall like a sudden wave. Fang Daoping and others of the Origin Sect, Jiaye and others of the Zen Sect, and Qing Yun and others of the Spirit Sect all exchanged surprised looks, clearly unaware of this arrangement.
Zu Wenheng raised his head slightly. “Judging by the time...they should be arriving any moment now.”
Just as his words fell, a deep voice rang out, “Report! Experts from the Ten Immortal Giants of the Eight Heaven Domain have arrived!”
The announcement rolled through heaven and heaven like thunder. Fang Daoping’s brows knit tightly. He had never imagined that the Shaman Sect Ancestral Court would actually draw in the power of the Ten Immortal Giants!
Cao Beidou and Yun Tianming, on the other hand, exchanged glances, unable to conceal the gleam of delight flickering in their eyes. The Ten Immortal Giants! Which of them didn’t hate Lin Xun to the bone? Who among them didn’t dream of erasing every successor of Fangchun Mountain from existence? If the Ten Immortal Giants truly took part in this Immortal Dao Battle, how could Lin Xun possibly hope to leave it alive?
At that moment, even the usually reserved Li Zhen could no longer stand by and watch. His voice sounded in Lin Xun’s mind, “The Shaman Sect’s arrangement is no coincidence. They’ve gathered all forces with one goal: to bring you down.”
“No, they’re not just targeting me, but they’re after my senior brother Well Moon, as well.” Lin Xun’s expression remained calm. “The more desperate they become, the more it proves they’re running out of patience. If they fail to kill me this time, they may never have another chance.”
He knew all too well that not to mention the Ten Immortal Giants, the Shaman Sect and the Zen Sect, even Yuan Changtian, Cao Beidou, and Yun Tianming had no desire to see him return alive to the Origin Sect! Lin Xun, however, paid it no mind.
In the distance, a piercing sound tore through the heavens. The Ten Immortal Giants had come. Each clan had sent forth a perfect Transcendence expert to lead five participants. There were sixty figures in total, and their presence alone made the heavens quake.
The Ten Immortal Giants were the Wang Clan, Donghuang Clan, Fu Clan, Zhongli Clan, Qi Clan, Mu Clan, Chi Clan, Zu Clan, Jing Clan, and the Zhong Clan. Among them, Lin Xun had already crossed blades with many. He had clashed with the Donghuang, Fu, Zhongli, Qi, and Mu Clans years ago.
The Wang Clan’s Sword of Dao Judgment had once grievously wounded Kong Jue outside the Ruins of the Gods, making Lin Xun hate them to the bone. As for the Chi, Zu, Jing, and Zhong Clans, he had already faced their experts during the last Nine Peaks Dao Contest. Among the Ten Immortal Giants, there was not one that wasn’t Lin Xun’s enemy!
When they arrived, Zu Wenheng smiled broadly and said, “Now that all the participants are gathered, please follow me. We shall proceed to the Ten Directions Demon Realm.”
With that, he took the lead, tearing through the void ahead. Behind him, the Origin Sect, Zen Sect, Shaman Sect, Spirit Sect, and the Ten Immortal Giants followed in succession.
As they traveled, Fang Daoping’s calm voice sounded in Lin Xun’s mind. “Once inside the Ten Directions Demon Realm, you must stay vigilant, especially against the Wang Clan. I suspect the Ten Immortal Giants will rally under their command. If they find you, they will never let you leave alive.”
Lin Xun listened quietly. Instead of dread, a faint, almost eager light flickered in his eyes. Nearly everyone entering the battlefield was his enemy! But to him...was that not perfect? He did not fear having too many enemies. He only feared having none to kill.
“Brother Lin, if you wish, I’d be honored to have you act alongside me. We can watch each other’s backs.” Yuan Changtian’s voice suddenly sounded in Lin Xun’s mind.
He clearly understood that once they entered the Ten Directions Demon Realm, Lin Xun’s situation would become perilous.
“No need. It’s better if we act separately, so I don’t drag you into trouble. If anything happens to you because of me, I’d be bringing shame upon our sect.” Lin Xun declined lightly.
Yuan Changtian smiled faintly. “Then so be it. But remember, should you ever need me in the Ten Directions Demon Realm, don’t hesitate to find me.”
Lin Xun glanced at him. “And if Elder Yuan ever needs my help, I won’t stand idly by.”
Yuan Changtian chuckled and said nothing more.
Lin Xun’s thoughts turned to his plans once inside. The Ten Directions Demon Realm was an immensely vast and extraordinary world, said to contain the buried law powers of countless epochal civilizations.
This world was divided into ten great regions. They were the eight demon realms: Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, Northeastern, Southeastern, Southwestern, and Northwestern, along with the Earth Demon Realm and the Heaven Demon Realm at the center. Hence, it came to be known as the Ten Directions Demon Realm.
Participants who entered the Ten Directions Demon Realm would be randomly teleported into one of the eight directions demon realm. Only after nine full years of battle could one pass through the opened barriers and step into the Earth Demon Realm. There, another year of fierce trials awaited before one could finally ascend to the Heaven Demon Realm.
For example, if Lin Xun were sent to the Eastern Demon Realm, he would need to battle through nine years of endless struggle before reaching the Earth Demon Realm. After that, he would need to endure another year there before setting foot in the Heaven Demon Realm.
The reason was simple. Both the Earth Demon Realm and Heaven Demon Realm were extraordinary beyond comparison. The greatest fortunes of the Ten Directions Demon Realm were often hidden within these two realms.
......
Half an incense stick’s worth of time later...
Outside the Shaman World, in the depths of the boundless starry sky, Zu Wenheng, who had arrived first, produced a golden beast bone and slashed it across the air.
Boom!
A violent ripple surged through the void. Space twisted, and from the turbulence, a vortex portal slowly unfurled. This was the entrance to the Ten Directions Demon Realm! Ten years from now, this same vortex would reopen and only those who survived would emerge from it.
Zu Wenheng turned and said with a smile, “This time, our friends from the Origin Sect shall enter first. Brother Fang, please let your participants step forward.”
Fang Daoping nodded, his gaze sweeping across Lin Xun and the others. “No matter what your final ranking may be,” he said solemnly, “I only hope you all return alive. Go on.”
The five bowed in unison, cupping their fists respectfully before flying toward the vortex. In an instant, their figures were swallowed by the swirling light and vanished. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
“Next, the Shaman Sect’s cultivators.” Zu Wenheng announced.
Once after another, the various great factions entered the portal. Finally, the vortex pulsed and dissolved into the starry void. Only Fang Daoping, Zu Wenheng, Buddha Venerable Jiaye, Spirit Venerable Qing Yun and the leaders of the Ten Immortal Giants remained.
“Fellow Daoists, this Immortal Dao Battle will last for ten years. Why not come to my Shaman Sect as guests? We can drink and discuss the dao at our leisure.” Zu Wenheng suggested with a hearty smile.
“If it’s only drinks and discussion, why go to such trouble? The starry sky itself is vast enough for that.” Spirit Venerable Qing Yun replied with a smile.
“Agreed.” Fang Daoping nodded.
No one voiced any objection.
Moments later, these peerless figures sat cross-legged in the void, with the endless stars as their backdrop. Cups of immortal wine shimmered in their hands as they drank and conversed. On the surface, it seemed a peaceful, convivial gathering.
......
The sky and the earth stretched vast and boundless.
Buzz!
Eastern Demon Realm.
Within a colossal ancient city that had stood for countless ages, the air suddenly rippled and five figures emerged from the void: Lin Xun, Yuan Changtian, Cao Beidou, Yun Tianming, and Li Zhen.
At once, a crushing wave of oppressive power swept toward them. The air seethed with chaos and the winds were laced with strands of law power that sliced across their skin like blades. Cultivators below the immortal path likely would have been torn apart instantly beneath such force!
“Just as the rumors say, the Ten Directions Demon Realm is steeped in too much law power. Even the breath of heaven and earth here has turned violent and chaotic. It’s a pity these law powers can’t be refined and have no value to us.” Yuan Changtian mused as he surveyed the surroundings.
It was their first time setting foot in this place. Although they had studied much about the Ten Directions Demon Realm beforehand, standing here in person in a world steeped in peril still made them feel a chill of awe and dread.
“This place, known as East City, is the heart of the Eastern Demon Realm. We’ll likely have to spend the next nine years here...” Cao Beidou said softly.
“Not necessarily. Setting aside the Heaven Demon Realm and the Earth Demon Realm, we can still move between the other seven regions during these nine years to hunt for Desolate Law Power Beasts. Naturally, participants from other factions might show up in this Eastern Demon Realm at any time.”
As Yuan Changtian said this, he turned to Lin Xun, “Brother Lin, have you decided whether to stay in the Eastern Demon Realm, or venture into other regions?”
