Departure

The Supreme Secret Realm was about to open, and the news spread in all directions. Across the Three Thousand Dao Provinces, countless prodigies rubbed their fists and flexed their palms.

This was not merely because of the divine relics within, but also because it was an opportunity to make a name for themselves.

All prodigies in the world hoped their names would rise above others. They had always been arrogant and self-assured.

At this moment, the Mystic Heaven Immortal Domain and the Three Thousand Dao Provinces were in upheaval. One powerful figure after another soared into the sky, heading for Barren Province, where the Supreme Secret Realm lay.

Some saw brilliant Dragon Shadows emerge from Dragon Emperor Ridge, shaking the void and stunning countless cultivators.

Others saw the invincible prodigy of the Ancient Dao Sect—heroic and towering, overwhelmingly powerful—crossing the heavens aboard an Immortal Boat. Starlight illuminated three thousand miles, leaving countless female cultivators entranced.

Some saw the Golden-Winged Little Peng King of the Primordial Royal Clan spread his wings and take flight, his golden radiance dazzling as he streaked across the sky with an unstoppable momentum.

A prodigy from the Dragon Sparrow Clan was wreathed in blazing flames, setting the void alight with billowing black mist. Wherever he passed, he burned the heavens and boiled the seas...

They were all prodigies from peak powers. Their strength was far beyond what ordinary sect prodigies could compare to; each possessed the bearing of invincibility...

At this moment.

Primordial Forbidden Zone.

As one of the world's forbidden powers, the Primordial Forbidden Zone had naturally learned long ago that the Supreme Secret Realm was opening.

"Imperial Son, everything has been prepared. We may depart at any time!"

Clad in a blood-red robe and radiating a formidable aura, Sixth Elder Blood Soul stood beside Ye Ming as he spoke.

After Ye Ming had condensed nine strands of immortal qi last time, every powerhouse within the forbidden zone had changed their attitude toward him, treating him with greater respect.

"Good. This Supreme Secret Realm will be the perfect chance to hunt some of those so-called prodigies!"

The speaker was Ye Ming, dressed in black robes, with an exceptionally handsome face and a powerful aura.

His long hair drifted in the wind, his bearing transcendent. Yet the hardest thing to look at directly was his pupils—black and profound, like an abyss that devoured all light in the world.

For others, the Supreme Secret Realm might merely be a battlefield for obtaining divine relics and competing against other prodigies.

But for Ye Ming, beyond those two things, he also wanted the powerful constitutions of those prodigies. Every prodigy he devoured meant that his Primordial Demonic Body would grow even stronger.

Under ordinary circumstances, there was simply no such perfect opportunity.

This Supreme Secret Realm had practically been designed specifically for him.

Above the skies of the forbidden zone, Nine Black Dragons soared and danced through the air, their Dragon Might blanketing heaven and earth, intimidating all beneath the skies.

The Nine Black Dragons pulled a War Chariot etched with runes. Unless one was a Quasi-Emperor, it could not be broken. The light of countless Magic Arrays rose up, accompanied by profound and intricate Dao radiance. Ye Ming stood atop the War Chariot, wreathed in Demonic Mist, his aura peerlessly powerful.

Behind him followed several elders of the forbidden zone, all Saint Realm existences, along with a host of Demonic Slaves. Demonic Flames surged skyward, their might imposing beyond measure.

Also accompanying Ye Ming on this journey was the forbidden zone's First Elder, Mo Ao.

The opening of the Supreme Secret Realm was no small matter. Experts from forbidden powers, immortal Dao lineages, and Archaic Imperial Clans would gather there. With a Great Saint Realm powerhouse overseeing matters, they would be enough to deter all major powers.

"Depart!"

At Ye Ming's command, the vast procession in the heavens prepared to set out.

Just then, a graceful figure appeared below.

"Wait... I want to go too!"

Her voice was like clear springs cascading over rocks, sweet and pleasant. Three thousand strands of black hair fell naturally around her, framing delicate features and phoenix eyes. Dressed in green, her flawless figure curved in all the right places, her skin fairer than snow, her flesh like ice and her bones like jade.

Her delicate body shimmered with a lustrous glow, bright enough to serve as a mirror. Like a green lotus standing alone in a pond, she seemed apart from the world.

It was Liu Mingyue.

By now, Ye Ming had planted a secret technique within her—the Heavenly Demonic Heart-Capturing Technique. It was a supreme secret art unique to the Primordial Forbidden Zone, a method for enslaving the hearts of men.

No matter how deeply she had once hated Ye Ming, she had now completely acknowledged him as her master...

Barren Province.

This place lay on the frontier of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces within the Mystic Heaven Immortal Domain.

A Supreme Being had once fallen here. Even after endless ages had passed, the lingering aura of that fallen Supreme Being was too terrifying, and no peak power dared occupy this land.

Within Barren Province stood a city called Barren City. Ordinarily, no powerful forces came and went here.

But because this place was closest to the Supreme Secret Realm, over this recent period, top prodigies from great sacred lands, immortal sects, Primordial Royal Clans, and even immortal Dao lineages had all been arriving.

Immortal Boats crossed the void above, while warships gathered like clouds, blotting out the sky.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Powerhouses arrived riding ancient exotic beasts and divine birds, crossing the void amid endless bustle as one incomparably powerful aura after another emerged.

For a time, the place was exceptionally lively. Cultivators gathered in clusters, and a sea of clamor filled the air.

Just then.

In the distance, a vast fleet of Immortal Boats swept through the sky. Immortal light shone brilliantly, illuminating the horizon. It was at least a peak power.

A cultivator recognized them and shouted.

"Look! The people from the Flying Immortal Sacred Land are here!"

The moment those words rang out, the surrounding commotion grew even louder.

Not long ago, the Flying Immortal Sacred Land had lost several Saint Realm elders, and even its Saintess had been taken away. It had utterly lost face throughout the Three Thousand Dao Provinces.

Hearing the discussions below, the elders of the Flying Immortal Sacred Land aboard the Immortal Boats turned livid. Faced with the Primordial Forbidden Zone, they could only swallow this bitter humiliation for the time being.

However, only young prodigies could enter the Supreme Secret Realm this time. This was their perfect opportunity to wash away their shame. They had boundless confidence in their own Holy Son, Chu Yan. With the power of the Saint Spirit Body, coupled with the hand bone Chu Yan had obtained, dealing with that Imperial Son of the Primordial Forbidden Zone would be as easy as turning over his hand!

At this moment, someone spotted Holy Son Chu Yan.

"The one at the front should be Holy Son Chu Yan, right? I heard his Saint Spirit Body is incredibly powerful. He is one of the seeded contenders for this secret realm!"

"As expected of one of this era's top prodigies. His aura alone is beyond what ordinary prodigies can compare to!"

"I heard that the Holy Son of the Flying Immortal Sacred Land condensed five strands of immortal qi in the Dao Palace Realm!"

The moment these words were spoken, they immediately caused a stir among those nearby. Condensing even one strand of immortal qi in the Dao Palace Realm was already enough to be called a prodigy.

"Hiss! Five Strands of Immortal Qi—among the invincible prodigies of this era, he must surely have a place!"

Someone exclaimed in amazement...