The Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm was located in the vast central region of the Heavenly Realm, while the Imperial Supremacy Heavenly Domain stretched across its western reaches. Between them was an immeasurable distance: endless lands, countless territories, and dangers aplenty.
Even an Immortal Emperor, relying solely on personal strength, would need considerable time to traverse such a span. Thus, during the journey, the Hidden Star Immortal Emperor utilized several teleportation arrays.
To Chen Fan, it felt as though he had crossed half an eternity. He knew that if he were to head toward the Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm from the Featherlight Sect with his current cultivation level, he would never arrive, not even in an entire lifetime.
Of course, this wasnt to say that Chen Fan could never cover the distance, but that he might meet his end along the way.
In the Heavenly Realm, Void Immortals and Legends were as common as fish in rivers. Only after reaching the Immortal Platform realm would they have a little bit of status.
One could easily imagine the peril such a journey held, otherwise, why would the sect have entrusted their passage to a behemoth Immortal Emperor?
Finally, the group arrived in front of a vast ocean, worn from travel. Towering waves crashed, and splashing noises rang out endlessly.
Were here, said Hidden Star Immortal Emperor, surprising Chen Fan.
Were here? The Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm is in the sea?
This is the Desolate Sea. It is sentient. You cant cross this sea without at least Immortal King realm cultivation.
Hidden Star Immortal Emperor waved his hand, continuing forward with the three. They flew above the Desolate Sea, in just a single step, they left the shore far behind.
The sea waves roared, and the winds howled furiously along the way.
The trio was soon enveloped by a curtain of light. Ahead, a black storm loomed, swallowing heaven and earth in a suffocating shroud of grey.
Within that chaos, tornadoes howled and hurricanes twisted violently, while destructive lightning split the void in blinding arcs. Storms tore mercilessly through the skies, waves roared beneath, and a suffocating heaviness pressed down on their hearts.
Although the three of them were protected, they understood that any ordinary person who dared step into this maelstrom would be shredded instantly.
Yet, Hidden Star Immortal Emperor directly stepped into this black storm. Endless immortal light enveloped him. It was as though a colossal screen of lightning had wrapped itself around him, destructive currents slamming into it again and again.
Hidden Star Immortal Emperor strolled forward as if nothing were happening. The endless ripping storm and lightnings destructive power struck him, but they could not shake him in the slightest.
The sight shook the trio to their core. At such heights of cultivation, one truly stood against heaven and earth itself.
Bolts of lightning poured endlessly, flowing across him. Instead of harming the elder, they were devoured, absorbed into his being like rivers swallowed by the sea.
At last, the storm parted, and what lay beyond was a scene of utter contrast: a quiet little island, calm as still water. Hanging in the skies above was a massive bronze gate, its surface ancient and solemn, standing wide open.
Hidden Star Immortal Emperor said, Go on in. Once you are Immortals, you will be expelled according to the rules of the Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm. Afterward, you shall return to the sect on your own. Consider it a test for you.
The trio nodded and swept toward the bronze gate.
In an instant, Chen Fans vision turned dark. He felt as if he were plummeting at a terrifying speed.
Chen Fan plummeted from the sky and crashed onto the ground, producing loud rumbling noises and forming a crater around him.
He burst out of the crater and swiftly scanned his surroundings.
The Desolate Sea was gone, in its place stretched vast, boundless lands. Ye Kuang and Mo Xue were also missing. Obviously, they had been sent to different locations.
Before him unfolded an endless ancient realm: towering peaks pierced the heavens, grotto-heavens and blessed lands shimmered faintly, and endless mountain ranges loomed in the distance. Far away, the silhouettes of grand structures stood solemn and eternal.
This was the trial ground that drew the greatest prides of heaven from across the Heavenly Realm. What kind of miraculous land would this be?
Not far away, several figures strolled over.
At their head walked a young man with bronze skin, long hair brushing his shoulders, and a beast-hide overcoat draped across his frame. His very presence radiated raw, untamed wildness. Beneath him prowled a monstrous mount. It was lion-like in form, yet far more vicious, its aura dreadful enough to shake the earth.
There was also a woman, radiant with multicolored light. She fixed her eyes on Chen Fan and said with a lofty tone, Another person has come to the Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm. I wonder if he can walk out alive. Which heavenly domain are you from?
Her words dripped with haughtiness, her expression steeped in pride. Everyone around her was a prodigy, each bearing extraordinary lineage and status.
Imperial Supremacy Heavenly Domain. What about you? Where did you come from? Chen Fan asked in return.
Imperial Supremacy Heavenly Domain, the Lower Eleven Heavens.
The woman did not answer Chen Fan, and her words seemed to carry faint disdain, as though the words themselves were beneath her.
The Heavenly Realm was divided into thirty-three domains, separated into Upper, Middle, and Lower Eleven Heavens.
The disparity was immense: the Lower Eleven Heavens lagged far behind the other two, not only in overall strength but also in cultivation environments and resources.
If the people of the Heavenly Realm viewed the lower realms as barren lands, then in the eyes of the people of the Middle and Upper Eleven Heavens, the Lower Eleven Heavens werent much better. Perhaps not quite barren… but close enough.
Hoho, early-stage Void Immortal. Do your best.
The womans lips curved into a smile, tinged with a sinister charm. She turned away slowly, her interest already gone. The others followed suit.
The Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm did not open at fixed intervals. Cultivators entered constantly, so the appearance of a newcomer was nothing rare. These figures had merely passed by, pausing out of idle curiosity.
Within this realm, the descendants of Sages roamed freely, while disciples of Immortal Emperors were far from uncommon. As for disciples of an Immortal King Clan, they were everywhere, scattered across the land in numbers too great to count.
Are people from the Lower Eleven Heavens so inferior? Chen Fan blinked. The womans tone seemed to carry a hint of disdain toward him.
In the outside world, disciples of Immortal Kings were revered, their status extraordinary, their presence drawing envy and awe. But here, they were nothing special, mere common figures. After all, only Immortal Kings or higher could personally bring their disciples into this trial ground, making such disciples a dime a dozen.
Although Immortal Kings were called powerhouses and were figures at the highest rung anywhere, when viewed against the vast entirety of heaven and earth, they were still only one tier among many. There were simply too many of them.
Makes sense. There are many disciples, as well as descendants, of Immortal Emperors in the Immortal Conferral Ancient Realm. Disciples of the Immortal Kings are as common as carp in rivers. Everything comes down to strength, in the end, Chen Fan muttered.
Identity and status, he realized, were nothing more than tickets at the gate. Talent and powerthose alone were the foundation for survival.