Dazzling

Wanxiang Ancient Domain, the Sword Emperor Sect.

The Sword Emperor Sect had endured for thousands of years, its foundations exceptionally deep. It was said to have been founded by a peerless Sword Emperor of extraordinary brilliance in ages past. The Sword Dao inheritance he left behind remained renowned even in the Ancient Eight Domains of today.

Countless powers filled the Wanxiang Ancient Domain, as numerous as hairs on an ox, but the Sword Emperor Sect was unquestionably one of the mighty powers standing at the summit. Few could rival it. Known as the foremost holy land for Sword Dao cultivation in the Wanxiang Ancient Domain, it was famous throughout the world.

Thus, every ten years, when the Sword Emperor Sect opened its gates to select disciples, it was a major event in the Wanxiang Ancient Domain. The entire domain would boil with excitement.

Outside the Sword Emperor Sect, countless figures converged from every direction. Numerous young geniuses gathered there, all seeking to claim a place in the sect.

To become a disciple of the Sword Emperor Sect, however, one had to pass an exceptionally harsh trial. Only then could one rise above countless gifted youths and leap through the dragon gate like a carp.

As the event began, Ten Thousand Swords City, where the Sword Emperor Sect was located, grew ever livelier. The area around the sect in particular was a sea of people. Countless spectators craned their necks in anticipation, wondering what figures would rise to prominence this year and enter the Sword Emperor Sect as disciples.

High in the sky, a group of figures walked atop fiery clouds, passing over the crowd and entering the Sword Emperor Sect directly. Scorching, violent firelight spread unchecked wherever they went, and the terrifying heat warped the very sky in waves. It was a fearsome sight.

The crowd looked up at them, their eyes filled with envy and awe. Those figures were clearly people who had received Sword Invitations from the Sword Emperor Sect and come to attend the ceremony.

A Sword Invitation from the Sword Emperor Sect carried immense weight. Anyone who received one was extraordinary in background, talent, and strength, and was sure to be a figure of peerless brilliance.

"Was that Yan Ying of the Heavenly Fire Clan who just passed by?" someone in the crowd asked, having recognized him.

"That was him. I heard Yan Ying is one of the Heavenly Fire Clan's most outstanding monstrous talents of this generation. He ventured into the world to temper himself many years ago. They say he visited thirty-three places of divine fire in the Crimson Firmament Ancient Domain, obtained the Primordial Fire God's inheritance, and awakened the Heavenly Fire Bloodline. His strength ranks among the best in all eight domains, and his fearsome name is known throughout the world."

Astonished voices rose from the crowd. Monstrous talents like him were not easily seen on ordinary days.

"Look over there." Someone turned toward another part of the sky, where another group was riding the wind toward them. At their center was a young man in golden robes, with an exceptional bearing, an arrogant expression, and a sharp gaze.

"The crown prince of the Heaven-Contending Dynasty in the Heavenly Wind Ancient Domain, Yun Lou!" someone below immediately exclaimed, recognizing him.

The Heaven-Contending Dynasty was the foremost imperial power in the Heavenly Wind Ancient Domain. It held sway over the far western reaches of the ancient domain, covering the sky with one hand.

Yun Lou was the second son of the dynasty's ruler, possessed of extraordinary combat prowess and monstrous talent. He had ventured deep into the God-Burying Ancient Land and obtained the battle will of an ancient god. Invincible among his peers, he had consequently been made crown prince of the Heaven-Contending Dynasty.

"The people from Heaven's Gate Palace are here too." Someone had noticed another part of the sky, where dark clouds churned and thunder shook the heavens. A pressure-filled, intensely aggressive fluctuation swept over them, making their hearts tremble.

Above the rolling thunderclouds, several figures could be seen cutting through the air. Of the two figures at the front, one would certainly have been recognized at a glance by Ning Xuanyuan.

Heaven's Gate Palace's Innate Thunder Venerable, Su Ting!

Standing beside Su Ting was a stern-faced young man. Purple arcs of lightning danced across his body, and the presence he radiated was even more domineering than Su Ting's. In particular, his eyes seemed to contain an entire world of thunder. An ordinary person could not withstand even a single glance from him.

Another large group of figures came through the air. Their presences were all powerful, and the man at their center had an exceptional bearing. He was Dongliu Haomiao, a genius of the Dongliu Family from the southern region of the Wanxiang Ancient Domain itself.

The Dongliu Family was likewise one of the top powers in the Wanxiang Ancient Domain, with deep foundations and dominion over its own territory. The fact that Dongliu Haomiao could represent the family at the Sword Emperor Sect's ceremony gave some indication of his talent and strength.

Moreover, it was said that Dongliu Haomiao had once refused to enter the Sword Emperor Sect to cultivate. One could well imagine how proud he was.

As the top monstrous talents from various powers appeared one after another, cries of astonishment rose from the crowd below from time to time.

"Someone from the Asura Domain!" Just then, countless people looked up, their gazes converging on the same place.

Nine dragons pulled a chariot beneath a sky filled with blood-red clouds. Blood-red Asura figures seemed ready to spring to life from its bronze body, their domineering presence on full display. Its rolling wheels crushed through the void, leaving a scarlet trail in space wherever they passed.

In an instant, a suffocating killing intent enveloped the sky.

The vast, clamoring sea of people fell silent in an instant; not a bird could be heard. Countless gazes fixed on the chariot, their expressions varied.

The chariot stopped, and the nine dragons submitted. Their enormous bodies danced in the air, their eyes filled with boundless, ferocious killing aura. It was a terrifying sight.

The chariot door opened, and a figure stepped out. The moment he appeared, an earth-shaking sword cry suddenly rang out from within the Sword Emperor Sect. Boundless Sword Qi howled into the sky, becoming a fearsome current that swept outward before circling endlessly above him.

"The Sword Qi is resonating—the Asura Sword Body!"

Countless people were visibly moved, their eyes filled with shock.

The Asura Sword Body was a born sovereign among swords. It contained the Heavenly Dao Sword Veins and was attuned to the Sword Dao. In the future, its bearer could merge with the Dao through the sword and reach the Human Emperor realm!

"He should be Qin Lang, the young king of the Qin Clan, one of the Five Great Blood Clans of the Asura Domain. So the Asura Domain sent him to attend the ceremony this time," someone in the crowd said quietly. Yet as soon as he finished speaking, everyone's gaze suddenly froze.

Qin Lang, who had stepped out of the chariot, moved to one side and stood with his body bowed.

Then a figure in white emerged from the chariot.

As soon as he stepped out, the blood-red clouds filling the sky dispersed. Brilliant sunlight poured down and bathed him, making him look particularly dazzling.

His long black hair hung loose over his shoulders. He had sword-like brows, starry eyes, and delicate features. A seemingly lazy smile curved his lips, lending him an indescribably wicked air.

The Asura Blood Scion, Ning Xuanyuan!

When Ning Xuanyuan appeared, the eyes of everyone present flickered. No wonder Qin Lang, with his Asura Sword Body, stood at his side and bowed in submission. The one who had truly come to attend the ceremony today was the Blood Scion, second only to one person in the Asura Domain!

Ning Xuanyuan lowered his gaze and looked around, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

I'm so dazzling, there's no way you don't know who's showing off, right?