Tianluo Continent, Da Luo Territory!

"Even you don't know?"

Nine Nether frowned. "You created this Divine Meridian yourself, yet you don't know its grade? Are you kidding me?"

"If I'm not mistaken, it should be an Eighth Grade Divine Meridian. But this Divine Meridian is especially overbearing, and I'm afraid I won't be able to forge a second one."

"But with my current strength, trying to devour a second Supreme Flame Seed while still in the Supreme Realm is nothing but wishful thinking. So this works out well enough."

Lu Chen said with a smile, without any disappointment in his tone. After all, in terms of potential, an Eighth Grade Divine Meridian was already enough to strive for Saint Grade Heavenly Supreme.

Even the former Saintess of the Ancient Buddha Clan, Mu Chen's mother, possessed no more talent than that.

Besides, he still had the simulator. He might not necessarily stop at Saint Grade Heavenly Supreme in the future.

After forging his Spiritual Meridian,

Lu Chen and Nine Nether immediately resumed their journey without pause. After traveling tirelessly across continent after continent, they finally arrived at their destination.

One month later,

Tianluo Continent.

As one of the most renowned supercontinents in the Great Thousand World, this continent was divided into the eastern, southern, western, northern, and central Five Regions, with each region further divided into four realms. Its vastness and prosperity far exceeded ordinary imagination.

Countless factions dotted it like stars, and the sheer mix of dragons and snakes was enough to leave anyone astonished.

It was precisely because things were so complicated that this continent had never truly been unified. Powerful forces stood side by side, waging endless wars against one another, and nearly every day saw countless factions swallowed up.

Amid such chaos, all kinds of prodigies and mighty figures continuously emerged across this vast, awe-inspiring continent, rising to prominence and injecting fresh blood and vitality into this supercontinent.

Tianluo Continent, Northern Domain.

Northern Region, Da Luo Territory.

Having just arrived on Tianluo Continent, Lu Chen and Nine Nether spent nearly a week making detours under Nine Nether's guidance. Only after passing through more than a dozen Teleportation Spirit Arrays did they finally reach the territory of Nine Nether's faction—the Da Luo Territory.

The headquarters of the Da Luo Territory, Da Luo Outer Heavens.

Two streaks of light cut across the sky and stopped not far from Da Luo Outer Heavens. When the radiance faded, a man and a woman appeared.

They were Lu Chen and Nine Nether, who had traveled for many days.

Lu Chen looked up at the floating island suspended in the sky before him, his face filled with shock. "This is Da Luo Heaven? They actually use an entire small continent as their headquarters? Sister Nine Nether, our Da Luo Territory is ridiculously lavish..."

That was right. Rather than an island, the floating land before Lu Chen was more like a miniature continent.

Its grandeur was simply staggering.

A massive Spirit Array covered the floating continent. Countless palaces stood within it, while innumerable terrifying streaks of light flashed back and forth, emanating astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations.

Even from such a great distance, Lu Chen could still vaguely sense how terrifying the Spirit Array enveloping Da Luo Heaven was. Simply maintaining its daily operations caused the surrounding space to faintly warp.

If someone controlled this Spirit Array and unleashed its full power, even an Earthly Supreme would not dare barge in lightly.

"Of course. This is the headquarters of the Da Luo Territory. If we didn't make it grand enough, how could we display the prestige of the Da Luo Territory as a top faction in the Northern Region?"

"After all, moving an entire continent is a feat only an Earthly Supreme can accomplish!"

Nine Nether stood beside Lu Chen, one hand shading her eyes while the other rested on her slender waist. Her figure was already tall and graceful, and paired with the full curves of her chest, it formed an exceptionally alluring silhouette.

The beauty of those curves made even Lu Chen, who had only glanced over casually at first, unable to stop his gaze from lingering a little longer.

"You brat, what are you looking at!"

Nine Nether flicked a finger and knocked Lu Chen on the forehead, making him clutch it as he stumbled back repeatedly.

"Who would have thought you were such a little pervert? I thought your Dao heart was steadfast and your future promising. What a waste of my good judgment."

Nine Nether curled her lips and spoke with disdain.

"It's only because Sister Nine Nether is too beautiful. I couldn't help looking a few extra times. Looking doesn't affect cultivation anyway..."

Lu Chen rubbed his forehead and instinctively tried to defend himself.

He did not know what was going on either. He had never been fond of women before, but ever since forming the Bloodline Link with Nine Nether, he had felt innately close to her and could not help wanting to get closer.

Right now, he was only looking and had not gotten handsy. That was already the result of his restraint.

"Let's go. We'll be spending a long time here from now on."

With that, Nine Nether grabbed Lu Chen and flew toward Da Luo Heaven, which floated in the sky.

Outside Da Luo Heaven stood a massive Light Gate, roughly a thousand zhang tall. Beyond it was a path of light leading directly into Da Luo Heaven. This was the only passage into Da Luo Heaven.

Nine Nether and Lu Chen landed before the enormous Light Gate.

"Halt! Outsiders are forbidden from trespassing into Da Luo Heaven. Violators will be killed without mercy!"

Just as the two landed, a stern shout rang out. More than a hundred guards clad in black armor appeared, gripping long spears as they stared sharply at the pair.

An aura of slaughter quietly radiated from their bodies.

Nine Nether's pretty face remained calm. She merely lifted her jade-like hand, and a streak of black light shot forth, transforming into a dark token that hovered before the guards.

Upon closer inspection, a soaring black bird was engraved upon the token, accompanied by a faint, clear birdcall.

"The Nine Nether Token?"

The Black Armor Guards were instantly startled. They quickly came to their senses and dropped to one knee, their iron armor clanging crisply.

"We pay our respects to the Nine Nether King!"

Nine Nether nodded indifferently and beckoned with her jade-like hand. The token flew back into her palm.

She then led Lu Chen straight through the Light Gate, disappearing from sight.

Only after she left did the Black Armor Guards rise to their feet.

Seeing this, the bystanders still waiting in line at the entrance to Da Luo Heaven immediately broke into an uproar.

"I never expected the Nine Nether King, who has been missing for years, to return. I thought she had already perished outside..."

"I heard she left to seek an opportunity to break through to the Supreme Realm. Back then, the Nine Nether King was the weakest among the Nine Kings. She had not even reached the Supreme Realm, so what right did she have to be made a king?"

"Isn't it because she comes from the Nine Netherbird Clan? With a good background and Lord Sky Vulture Emperor looking after her, she became one of the Nine Kings."

"Exactly..."

"But earlier, I sensed an oppressive aura from her that was no weaker than the other eight kings. It seems she succeeded in overcoming her tribulation."

"So what if she succeeded? Competition in the Da Luo Territory is becoming increasingly fierce. Her Nine Nether Palace is practically about to be swallowed by the Blood Eagle King. If Lord Sky Vulture Emperor had not stepped in to guarantee her position, she would have long since been removed from the Nine Kings..."

According to the original records of The Great Ruler, Xuantian Ancestor, who provoked Mu Chen, possessed a Sixth Grade Heavenly Meridian and stopped at Spiritual Grade Heavenly Supreme.

From this, it could be inferred that a Seventh Grade Divine Meridian could strive for Immortal Grade Heavenly Supreme.

An Eighth Grade Divine Meridian could strive for Saint Grade Heavenly Supreme, which also corresponded to Qing Yanjing's talent in the original work.

As for a Ninth Grade Divine Meridian, Mu Chen was the only one in the original work to possess one. He should have had the potential to strive for The Great Ruler.