Chapter 99: First Entry into the Realm Beyond

After flying for a short while, an elder cautioned, "Everyone, take heed. We are about to pass through the barrier. It might get a bit bumpy."

*Rumble, rumble!*

Even though the barrier was currently open, it still exerted a significant influence on the flying beasts, causing them to shudder and sway violently.

After about a hundred breaths of time, the flying beast plunged into a stretch of darkness, followed quickly by soft, gentle light falling upon everyone's faces.

What met their eyes were majestic, emerald peaks towering into the sky, with winding green rivers in the distance. Blossoms bloomed in abundance everywhere, and the dense spiritual energy made them feel incredibly refreshed.

So, this was the Transcendental Realm!

The Mortal Martial Realm could not even begin to compare to this place.

"Look, Senior Brother! What kind of beast is that? It's terrifying!"

In the sky not far away, a colossal, nameless beast the size of a mountain was actually treading through the air.

"Good heavens! That beast could easily crush ten cultivators of the Saint Realm!"

"Indeed, its aura is terrifying!"

Everyone grew excited; they had never seen a beast with such a powerful aura.

"Haha," an elder chuckled, stroking his beard. "That is the Auspicious Qilin of Qingyun Palace. It possesses one-eighth of a true Qilin's bloodline and can be considered a divine beast."

"Look over there! That giant python—heavens, it stands taller than a mountain peak when it rears up!"

The crowd looked over, struck with awe by a towering python that was breathing out clouds and mist.

"That is the Dragon-Patterned Python, the guardian sacred beast of the Spirit Taming Sect," an elder explained. "Rumor has it that in another thousand years, it will undergo tribulations and transform into a dragon."

Along the way, the others were wild with excitement, asking about this and that.

Only Xia Jiuxuan and Duanmu Wan remained completely uninterested, for in their eyes, these were merely the most ordinary of beasts.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Just then, a series of figures swooped down from above, blocking the path of the dozen or so flying beasts.

"Impudent!"

An elder bellowed, "What blind fools dare block the path of the Eighteen Sects?!"

"Forgive us, Elder Lu Hongyun. We are acting on orders to find someone. We hope the elders will grant us passage," the leading youth among them said, bowing respectfully to Lu Hongyun.

"Scram. The person you seek is not here," Lu Hongyun replied, showing no politeness.

A few lackeys, yet they dared demand someone here? Who did they think they were!

"Elder Lu, please calm your anger. This is the will of our Feather Ascension Sect's Grand Elder. We ask for your understanding."

"The Feather Ascension Sect?" Lu Hongyun frowned. "Your Feather Ascension Sect belongs to the Northern Realm. Why have you come to our Southern Domain to demand someone? Who are you looking for?"

Hearing that it was the Feather Ascension Sect, Lu Hongyun's attitude softened slightly.

The Feather Ascension Sect was a top-tier sect in the Northern Realm, comparable in status and power to their Eighteen Sects. Thus, there was no need to offend them too deeply.

"Elder Lu, I won't waste everyone's time and will speak plainly. We have come to apprehend a man named Xia Jiuxuan. I ask for your cooperation," the leading youth said.

Xia Jiuxuan!

Why was it Xia Jiuxuan again?

What connection did he have with the Feather Ascension Sect?

"What cooperation? We will discuss this only after the exploration of the secret realm is complete. You may leave now."

After a moment's thought, Lu Hongyun refused outright.

Xia Jiuxuan was extraordinary; how could they let the Feather Ascension Sect take him away?

This time, it wasn't just the Eighteen Sects of the Southern Domain looking for representatives; the other realms were also searching for their own.

Strangely enough, beneath the Northern Realm lay the Immortal Martial Dynasty, whose barrier could not be opened by any means, and the sects of the Transcendental Realm were unable to contact its emperor. Consequently, the sects of the Northern Realm had excluded the Immortal Martial Dynasty entirely.

"This... Elders, I am here on the orders of our Grand Elder. Do you truly wish to make things difficult for me?"

The youth knew Xia Jiuxuan was among them. He hadn't expected the Southern Domain elders to show so little respect and refuse to hand him over, so he began to panic.

"What do you mean? From your tone, if we do not hand over Xia Jiuxuan, are you going to kill us instead?!"

One of the Southern Domain elders flared up in anger, releasing a wave of pressure that swept over them like a crashing wave.

The Feather Ascension Sect disciples hovering in midair turned pale, beads of sweat breaking out on their foreheads.

The leading youth gritted his teeth, his eyes scanning the crowd before finally landing on the calm and composed Xia Jiuxuan.

"You, kid! You must be Xia Jiuxuan. Do you dare admit it?!" the youth yelled, pointing at him.

"I am indeed your grandfather," Xia Jiuxuan replied, not denying it.

He held a grudge against the Feather Ascension Sect, but he hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.

To have intercepted him the moment he entered the Transcendental Realm meant they had prepared long ago.

"Good, very good! You actually have the guts to come to the Transcendental Realm! Just you wait, you will die a death a thousand times worse than Senior Brother Qin's brother! Let's go!"

These disciples knew they stood no chance against the elders of the Southern Domain's Eighteen Sects. Now that they had confirmed Xia Jiuxuan had arrived in the Transcendental Realm, they could report back. Thus, they promptly retreated.

After the Feather Ascension Sect disciples departed, Lu Hongyun flew over to Xia Jiuxuan's side. "Xia Jiuxuan, how did you manage to offend the Feather Ascension Sect while you were still in the Mortal Martial Kingdom?"

Xia Jiuxuan said indifferently, "I killed the biological grandson of one of their elders."

Everyone stared at Xia Jiuxuan in astonishment.

This guy was indeed a troublemaker. He even dared to kill the grandson of an elder from a Transcendental Sect?

Putting aside how he had managed to do it, everyone wanted to ask: how did he have the audacity?

Hearing this, the elders sighed inwardly. It seemed Xia Jiuxuan was not just arrogant; he was downright mad. Were it not for his astounding potential, who would be willing to protect such a lunatic?

"Very well, let us put this matter aside for now. We shall return to the sect first to discuss the secret realm."

The flying beasts accelerated, heading toward the core region of the Southern Domain.

Eighteen immortal peaks stood tall between heaven and earth. Upon each peak sat a sect. These Eighteen Great Sects represented the pinnacle of the Southern Domain.

"The spiritual energy here is as thick as fog!"

"Heavens! If I could cultivate here for three years, I would surely step into the Saint Realm!"

"Sigh, if only I had been born in the Transcendental Realm, I wouldn't have had to cultivate so bitterly."

...

After entering the immortal peaks, most of the youths felt a mix of awe and melancholy, sighing quietly to themselves.

"Young talents, your natural talent is actually not inferior to the top disciples of our sects. After this treasure hunt in the secret realm, regardless of your contribution, as long as you emerge alive, you may choose to remain and cultivate in our Transcendental Sects. This is one of the rewards granted to you," an elder announced.

Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed.

"Elder, is that true?! If so, we will risk our lives to complete the mission!"

"Yes, if I can stay, I am willing to gamble my life for it!"

"Wonderful! If I can cultivate here, I will surely surpass the Saint Realm within twenty years!"

At this, an elder couldn't help but chuckle. "Young friend Fan Hu, you lack ambition. The cultivation methods of the Transcendental Realm are different from those of your Mortal Martial Realm. Your so-called Saint Realm is not even worth mentioning here. Your potential is far greater than that. You will understand when the time comes."

Soon, they arrived before a palace.

This grand palace was far more magnificent than the imperial palace of any Mortal Kingdom.

On the vast plaza, many disciples clad in white were cultivating, while others were sparring with one another.

"Hey, look, the bumpkins from the Mortal Realm have arrived."

"What a bunch of trash. They're so weak."

"If it weren't for that strange secret realm forbidding us from entering, how could such lowlifes ever get the chance to go in?"

"Come on, let's go meet them."

Just as they stepped onto the plaza, several sect disciples flew over, landing right in front of Xia Jiuxuan and the others.

"We welcome the elders back," the disciples saluted the elders. Then, one of them spoke up, "Elders, are these the geniuses from the Mortal Realm? They indeed possess extraordinary bearing and must be extremely powerful. We would like to spar and exchange pointers with them to foster friendship. Would the elders grant us permission?"

"Stop this nonsense. What if you injure them?" an elder scolded gently.

Hearing this, the sect disciples remained unfazed, but the geniuses from the Mortal Realm felt extremely displeased.

"Elders, what that senior brother said is not wrong. A friendly spar might not be a bad idea, lest we from the Mortal Realm be called useless lowlifes!"

The whispers from earlier had actually been heard by everyone.

"Hmph. So you also wish to spar? Fine. Tell me, who is the strongest among you? I shall grant him one move to see if he has the ability to withstand it!" a white-clothed disciple said with a cold sneer.

"Go get him, Senior Brother Xia! Beat him until he submits!"

Duanmu Wan could not stand the provocation either, and immediately urged Xia Jiuxuan to take the lead.