Lu Xuan raised a slight eyebrow. "The Bronze Ancient Palace?"
The Sect Master explained, "The Bronze Ancient Palace is an Ancient Supreme Artifact from the primordial epoch. Every time it opens, it heralds a Heaven and Earth Change. The Southern Wilds is on the cusp of a major upheaval!" He continued, "A supreme treasure conceals itself. The Bronze Ancient Palace hasn't appeared in a hundred thousand years. Its re-emergence now means a Great Era is about to explode across the Southern Wilds! Perhaps the reclusive, magnate-level factions will finally step out of the shadows."
Ye Chen looked confused, respectfully asking the Sect Master, "What does a Heaven and Earth Change entail?"
The Sect Master replied, "This corner of the Southern Wilds is governed by mysterious and obscure laws. A Heaven and Earth Change means those laws are shifting. According to ancient records, every time the Bronze Ancient Palace appears, the Southern Wilds welcomes a Great Era!"
A Great Era!
A contention for a Great Era meant prodigies would rise, dragons and snakes would surge forth, all chasing the absolute peak of cultivation!
The Sect Master looked at Ye Chen with expectation. "This Great Era belongs to your younger generation."
Fighting spirit surged through Ye Chen. He couldn't wait to clash with the monsters of the Southern Wilds!
Immediately, the Sect Master relayed the news to the other spirit peaks. In the next instant, streaks of divine light erupted from countless peaks of the Grand Dao Sect, shining like a brilliant galaxy. Saint King and Saint auras, vast as the ocean and surging like a great river, permeated the air. All the Peak Masters rose into the sky, their expressions solemn.
Boom!
From a hidden corner of the Grand Dao Sect, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, clad in gray robes, appeared, divine light swirling beneath his feet, and he instantly arrived in the deep void. His gaze was profound as he looked upon the peaks. "Today, the Southern Wilds' Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace, has appeared. All spirit peaks are to prepare immediately and lead your true disciples to the location where the Bronze Ancient Palace has manifested!" His voice boomed across the Grand Dao Sect like thunder.
The Sect Master looked at Ye Chen. "Ye Chen, this is a chance for you true disciples to broaden your horizons."
Lu Xuan smiled at Ye Chen. "Sounds good. You go with the Sect Master." With that, Lu Xuan turned and walked languidly toward his cave dwelling. He was sleepy.
Seeing Lu Xuan's attitude, the Sect Master shook his head. "Lu Xuan, why don't you come with us this time?"
Lu Xuan was surprised. "Why would I go?"
Historically, when major events occurred in the Southern Wilds, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor would only order the sect's Saints and top true disciples to attend, never him. Lu Xuan had no great interest in the Bronze Ancient Palace. His cultivation didn't rely on supreme artifacts or ancient inheritances. As long as Ye Chen went and gained something, he would get the passive feedback. His presence was unnecessary.
The Sect Master looked at Lu Xuan and smiled faintly. "Lu Xuan, you might not realize that the Pill Refining Exchange Conference has only amplified your fame. You are practically like the sun at high noon!"
Lu Xuan's face twitched. He knew his name was now famous across the Southern Wilds because of Ye Chen. He was indeed "hot," but for all the wrong reasons—he was black-red famous! The outside world was even calling him the 'Strongest Profound Qi Realm Cultivator in History!' After all, everyone believed Lu Xuan was stuck in the Profound Qi Realm yet managed to take Ye Chen as a disciple and enjoy immense privileges in the Grand Dao Sect. This was unprecedented.
At that moment, Ye Chen looked at Lu Xuan. "Master, perhaps you could accompany me?"
Ye Chen could tell. His Master had absolutely no interest in the Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace. After all, a treasure of this caliber was beneath the notice of someone at his Master's transcendent realm.
Lu Xuan hesitated for a moment. "Fine, I guess."
Immediately, the Sect Master waved his sleeve, and two streaks of divine light rose beneath Lu Xuan and Ye Chen's feet, lifting them up. The Sect Master led the two of them toward the location of the Cangxuan Old Ancestor.
Before long, the Peak Masters of the various peaks had gathered in the sky, each accompanied by a top true disciple. Fang Yan, Luo Lingkong, and Liu Xuan all smiled and nodded at Ye Chen when they saw him. Ye Chen smiled and returned the greeting.
Several Peak Masters looked at the Sect Master. "Is Lu Xuan coming this time too?"
The Sect Master nodded. "I had to drag him along, or he would have gone back to sleep."
The crowd burst into laughter. Lu Xuan's face darkened. Sigh... the prejudice people hold against me is a mountain I can't climb! Who said he only slept in his cave dwelling? He had personal hobbies, thank you very much! Like painting, reciting poetry, or reading storybooks.
The Body Tempering Peak Master laughed and said to Lu Xuan, "Lu Xuan, you're a celebrity in the Southern Wilds now."
Lu Xuan sighed faintly. "The world misunderstands me too deeply."
The others struggled to hold back their laughter. Ye Chen looked at Lu Xuan, feeling a sense of shared experience. The Southern Wilds didn't understand his Master, and his Master disdained letting the world understand him.
Soon after, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor spread his right hand, and a blinding light surged from the hidden area, manifesting as a river of stars stretching before them. This river contained spiritual fish swimming within it, looking incredibly profound and mysterious. Everyone gasped in awe.
Lu Xuan recognized it immediately. This river of stars was the one the Cangxuan Old Ancestor used for 'Fishing for Dao Enlightenment' in his seclusion! He hadn't expected it to be a supreme artifact!
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor looked at the crowd. "Step aboard."
Everyone immediately stepped onto the mysterious, long river. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s will shifted, and the river of stars transformed into a massive Black and White Dao Palace.
The scenery before Lu Xuan suddenly blurred and twisted. When he recovered his senses, he and the Grand Dao Sect group were already inside the Black and White Dao Palace.
Ye Chen was utterly astonished. This technique was too profound! Was this the power of a Great Emperor?
Inside the Black and White Dao Palace, two streams of mysterious energy flowed, instantly clarifying everyone's minds and filling them with immense comfort.
The Sect Master smiled. "This Black and White Dao Palace is the Cangxuan Old Ancestor's Emperor Weapon. This time, he is personally mobilizing it, allowing you to witness the power of the Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace!" The Peak Masters were accustomed to this, but the top true disciples were wide-eyed with astonishment.
Ye Chen whispered to Lu Xuan, "Master, this feeling is so profound."
Lu Xuan nodded.
The Sect Master looked at Ye Chen. "The energy flowing within the Black and White Dao Palace is the 'Dao' that the Cangxuan Old Ancestor has comprehended! He has a deep understanding of the Grand Dao Scripture, and the Black and White Dao Palace holds other mysteries. You can use this opportunity to gain some enlightenment; it will be of great benefit to you."
Hearing this, Ye Chen immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to comprehend the 'Dao' of the place. The other disciples, such as Liu Xuan and Luo Lingkong, followed suit.
The Ethereal Peak Master asked, "Sect Master, where is the Bronze Ancient Palace manifesting?"
The Sect Master replied, "Near the Heavenly Blade Sect."
The Ethereal Peak Master frowned slightly. "The Heavenly Blade Sect? Isn't that a subordinate force of the Ancient Qin Family? I didn't expect them to have such a profound opportunity."
The Sect Master smiled. "The Heavenly Blade Sect cannot bear such an opportunity! This time, the Ancient Qin Family has invited all the magnate-level factions of the Southern Wilds to jointly suppress the Bronze Ancient Palace!"
As he spoke, the Sect Master glanced at Ye Chen, thinking, We are now stepping into the Ancient Qin Family's territory. I wonder if the Ancient Qin Family's Divine Son, Qin Xiao, will make an appearance? Now, Ye Chen and Qin Xiao were practically mortal enemies. Ye Chen had nearly killed Nangong Baixue, and Qin Xiao and Nangong Baixue had already announced their engagement! However, the Sect Master had witnessed Ye Chen's battle with the Grand Dao Sect's top true disciples, and he wasn't worried about Ye Chen's strength. He expected a Clash of Prodigies once the Bronze Ancient Palace was suppressed. The battle between Ye Chen and Qin Xiao was inevitable!
A moment later, the Sect Master withdrew his gaze from Ye Chen and looked at Lu Xuan. "Lu Xuan, has Fuyao sent back any news? Her sect mission has been nearly three months, hasn't it?"
Hearing this, the other Peak Masters also looked at Lu Xuan. Ah, yes. It's been a long time since we saw Ji Fuyao!
Lu Xuan nodded. "She should be back soon."
The Sect Master replied, "Good."
Half a day later.
The void tore open! Space twisted! The Black and White Dao Palace traversed the void, stepping out of the spatial rift and descending directly upon the territory of the Heavenly Blade Sect.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s will shifted, and the Black and White Dao Palace suddenly vanished from sight.
Lu Xuan and the others stood in the void, looking toward the direction of the Bronze Ancient Palace. Divine light surged there. The Bronze Ancient Palace was massive, like a towering mountain range, leaning against the heavens and the earth. It was covered in rust, and every surface was inscribed with terrifying Dao patterns. Brilliant spiritual runes pulsed, emitting a mysterious and profound aura. The Bronze Ancient Palace was magnificent and overwhelming!
Around the palace, the earth cracked, mountains collapsed, and rivers dried up. The terrifying Dao patterns inscribed the very 'Dao and Essence' of the world, causing the surrounding space to twist and the void to constantly tremble. Divine light shot into the sky, like a giant sun sinking between heaven and earth, occupying thousands of miles of territory, vast as a boundless sea.
Ye Chen, Liu Xuan, and the others couldn't see it clearly. They tried to use their divine sense, but their eyes immediately stung, and clear tears streamed down their faces. A monumental shockwave rose in their hearts. This is an Ancient Supreme Artifact? It was terrifying and obscure. The profound feeling was ineffable, sending chills down their spines. Ye Chen felt that the Bronze Ancient Palace, leaning against the world, was just as lazy and transcendent as his Master, seeming to look down on all the magnates of the Southern Wilds with an air of supreme indifference.
The Sect Master warned, "Do not use your divine sense to look at it. The power of the Bronze Ancient Palace is not something you can withstand!"
Ye Chen and the others immediately withdrew their gazes.
Just then, a terrifying fluctuation surged in the void, like a star descending. A massive Ancient Spirit Boat, resembling a vast domain, sailed through the deep void. It was incredibly heavy, filled with the ancient, time-worn aura of ages. A huge banner was planted on the Spirit Boat: "Supreme Profound Sect!"
The Supreme Profound Sect had arrived!
At the peak of the Spirit Boat, Yuan Qingzi sat cross-legged, looking at the Cangxuan Old Ancestor. He said faintly, "Cangxuan Fellow Daoist."
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor nodded. "Yuan Qingzi Fellow Daoist."
Before long, the other major powers of the Southern Wilds began to arrive!
The Yao Family arrived in a giant pill furnace, which drifted with wisps of medicinal fragrance, making everyone feel refreshed. Yao Baili, standing among the crowd, offered a smile to Lu Xuan and Ye Chen. Ye Chen glanced at the Yao Family's pill furnace and muttered internally, That pill furnace of the Yao Family doesn't seem to be as high-grade as the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron Master gave me!
The Cangmu Academy arrived! The Pill Fragrance Sect arrived! And other magnate-level forces of the Southern Wilds, such as the Ancient Wang Family, also descended!
The void continuously tore and reformed. Divine light surged. The magnate-level forces, each with an overwhelming aura, occupied their own corner of the sky, surrounding the Bronze Ancient Palace from a distance. The entire area was rendered dazzlingly bright.
Many of the Old Ancestors of these factions turned their attention to Ye Chen and said to the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, "Is that Ye Chen? A single Pill Refining Exchange Conference made him famous throughout the Southern Wilds. Your Grand Dao Sect has produced a true alchemy genius!"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled faintly. "You are too kind, Fellow Daoists."
Then, the Old Ancestors of the various factions turned their attention to Lu Xuan and began to mock him. "Lu Xuan! Peak Master Lu! Hearing your name is not as good as meeting you, and meeting you is even more... memorable!"