The Founding of the Ten Sages

At the summit of a towering mountain, He Qiang and Chen Long sat cross-legged.

"Three months. We've waited here for a full three months already." Chen Long looked at He Qiang. "Dragon Valley only opens for three months once every ten years. Can we really be this lucky?"

"Don't worry. According to my calculations, Dragon Valley's passage will open before long," He Qiang said. "We've already waited three months. Are we really going to fuss over a little longer?"

"Keep blowing hot air. You said the same thing three months ago. I'm seriously starting to doubt whether drifting across the sea with you for six months to reach Star Luo Continent was the right choice." Chen Long said, "Maybe you picked the wrong place."

"This place is nearly two thousand meters above sea level, and the temperature is low. To enter Dragon Valley, we've deliberately suppressed our cultivation to the Soul Ancestor level. We probably can't hold out much longer." He Qiang frowned. "With the food and water in our Storage Soul Tools, we can last at most another year. If it still hasn't opened within half a year, we'll have to leave for now."

Suddenly, the Soul Guiding Array beneath them activated, and a pillar of light instantly tore through the void.

He Qiang and Chen Long hurriedly rose to their feet, grabbed each other's hands, and jumped into the spatial rift.

He Qiang and Chen Long saw nothing but darkness before them. The space around them twisted, making them feel extremely uncomfortable.

The discomfort did not last long before light shone upon them again. At the same time, a sensation of weightlessness struck them.

Seeing that they were in free fall, He Qiang and Chen Long did not panic. Instead, each assumed a different posture, dispersing most of the impact.

"Phew. We finally got in." He Qiang dusted himself off.

"Just as expected, our martial souls and Soul Power have both been restricted," Chen Long said. "What now? Do we absorb dragon souls and Dragon Cloud first, or head deeper in directly?"

"The Dragon Tomb is too dangerous. We can't handle it with our current strength alone," He Qiang said. "Let's spend the first month absorbing Dragon Cloud and dragon souls, adapting to the environment here, and then decide what to do."

"Mm." Chen Long nodded. "If possible, we may need to make a trip to the Dragon Tomb. After all, the number of soul bones there is countless."

"Should we leave some words here? It could clear the way for us twenty thousand years from now," He Qiang said.

"What should we write?" Chen Long asked.

"We'll write that we came here. Twenty thousand years from now, people from the Tang Sect will naturally discover these carvings. That should be of some help to our actions twenty thousand years later." He Qiang said, "But first, we need to give our group a name."

Then, He Qiang suddenly spoke in his mind. "Everyone, are you there? Please respond."

"What is it? Don't disturb our cultivation." Qi Xiaomin was the first to reply.

The others responded to He Qiang one after another, but Liu Xiaoxiao and Fan Yihuang remained silent.

"What's going on? Where are Liu Xiaoxiao and Fan Yihuang?" Chen Long asked.

"Liu Xiaoxiao is in Mizong Grand Canyon with me, but we got separated. I've called him several times too, but he hasn't responded since a month ago," Chen Fang answered.

"Fan Yihuang left half a year ago for Extreme Flame Grand Canyon. He also stopped responding a month ago," Qi Xiaomin answered.

"What exactly happened?" Little Fatty asked in confusion.

"Never mind them for now. Let's discuss today's matter first." He Qiang said, "Simply put, I want to give our group a name. Little Fatty is already among the Shrek Seven Devils, while Lin Bo needs to conceal his identity, so he can't join us for the time being. As for everyone else, I want a team name, like the Shrek Seven Devils."

"Let's call ourselves the Heavenly God Team. It's both mighty and imposing," Da Bao said.

"That name is way too cringey. Pick another one," Li Hong said.

"Old Zheng, what do you think we should call it?" Wang Haochen asked.

"Are you asking me?" Da Bao asked.

Da Bao's real name was Zheng Min, but because of a certain incident, everyone called him Da Bao. His actual name was rarely mentioned instead.

"Of course not. Everyone calls you Da Bao anyway." Zheng Bei said, "Old Wang, what do you think we should call it?"

"Then let's call ourselves the Teletubbies. They're so cute," Wang Haochen said.

"Stop. Cut it out. If we let you keep discussing this, our hard-earned reputation will be completely ruined," He Qiang said.

"Then what do you think we should call it?" Zheng Bei asked.

"Um... let's call ourselves the Ten Saints. Elegant, yet dignified," He Qiang said.

Chen Long shook his head. "I don't think that's very good. There were the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove in ancient times. How about we call ourselves the Ten Sages instead?"

"Good. That name isn't bad," Li Hong said.

"I have no objections either," Qi Xiaomin said.

Everyone agreed, and from then on, they became known as the Ten Sages.

"Since it's rare for us all to chat together, let's first plan our actions five years from now." He Qiang said, "Pass this on to the two who aren't here. Five years from now, we will gather again in Heaven Dou City. After gathering, we'll act according to circumstances. But one matter is especially important: joining the Tang Sect. The six great principles of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record are all extremely important. Even if it's too late to learn some of them now, they will still be greatly useful for our actions ten thousand and twenty thousand years from now. Also, Lin Bo, remember this: never truly kill Tang San."

"I understand," Lin Bo replied outwardly, though no one knew what he was thinking in private.

After ending the conversation, He Qiang found a massive boulder and carved the large words: The Ten Sages Were Here.

After thinking for a moment, He Qiang added the words Tang Sect and a horizontal line before Ten Sages.

Then, He Qiang began writing a passage beneath it.

Chen Long stood on tiptoe to look at the boulder and saw He Qiang write: "We, the First Generation Ten Sages, traveled here. Twenty thousand years from now, disciples of the Tang Sect who come to Star Luo Continent from Douluo Continent, this will be your most precious small world."

"This really does sound a bit like something a charlatan would say." Chen Long smiled.

"Next, I need to write these words on many more stones to ensure nothing goes wrong. After all, who knows whether these words can survive twenty thousand years?" He Qiang said.

Chen Long nodded. "Let's continue onward."

One month later, He Qiang and Chen Long sat cross-legged, digesting the energy within their bodies.

Before long, the two let out long breaths and rose to their feet.

"We've been here for exactly one month now." He Qiang clenched his fist. "After absorbing so many dragon souls and so much Dragon Cloud, our physical condition has improved greatly. The power of the lightning attribute has also increased."

"Are we still going forward? Up ahead is the Dragon Tomb. It may be extremely dangerous there," Chen Long said.

"If we don't dare take risks, how can we become gods and stand out in this so-called game?" He Qiang said calmly. "We have to go. There is no second path for us to take."

"It seems we think alike." Chen Long smiled and nodded. "Then let's keep moving forward."