New Chapter: Thorn at the Grand Gathering

Light was everywhere, and people could see nothing else. What they saw was eternal brilliance, witnessing immortality blooming in an instant.

A single slash cleaved the boundary between life and death, a Wolf Fang Club shattered the void; the two weapons collided and disintegrated, leaving only the Imperial Dao runes burning into light.

A vast expanse of holy light swept across the place of discussion, illuminating all the patterns on the bluestone ground. The five-fold rule array revived, blocking the light.

Fortunately, the protective array of the Dao Discussion Grounds was quite formidable, being the work of an extraordinary being; otherwise, the pouring out of the Imperial Dao runes would have been catastrophic.

Even so, those outside the venue felt a violent aura, like a mountain and sea bursting their banks, and a sense of oppression, like stars falling from the sky, causing their hearts to pound.

Finally, light still flew out. It was the Supernatural Factor purified by the five-fold rule array. Without the Imperial Dao Texture, it surged like a river and sea, with waves crashing against the shore.

Many people were thrown out; although they were not seriously injured, they were still impacted, with some bleeding from their mouths and noses and falling to a distance.

People thought of the sign here, which clearly stated. "Discussing the Tao is dangerous; be cautious when observing closely."

"I was just joining in the fun, wanting to see just how outrageous the duel between the strongest True Immortals could be, and I ended up with three broken ribs?"

Someone looked completely bewildered, then grimaced and got up from the ground. He was a spectator who hadn't entered the arena, and yet he had broken a bone.

"No matter what, I'm Supernatural Practitioner the Heavenly Grade Domain, and many people call me the genius junior brother. So what if I stand a little closer? Now, damn it, my right leg is broken!"

A young human, not very old, stood up and immediately assumed the "golden rooster standing on one leg" stance, looking down at his right leg in disbelief.

Someone comforted him, "Brother, be content. Didn't you see over there? A fellow Daoist suffered a terrible accident and lost a leg. He can now serve as an attendant in the True Emperor 'Dojo."

Of course, this is just a joke. For creatures of this level, losing a leg or head is nothing; they can quickly regenerate their limbs.

Overall, the place where the Dao was being discussed was in complete chaos, and anyone who got too close was thrown out.

The light in the arena dissipated, and the two True Immortals, who were beyond the realm of the ordinary, were both in a sorry state, having already been sent flying and fallen onto the bluestone ground, covered in blood.

Lu Renjia's spotless white clothes were reduced to tattered rags and turned crimson. He was seriously injured and bleeding from all seven orifices.

On the other side, Kong Xuan's Black Gold Armor was also shattered, and he was covered in blood. He struggled to raise his head, but his wildness remained undiminished. His bloodshot eyes were filled with high fighting spirit, and the beams of light were terrifying.

Clearly, at the last moment, Wang Xuan's instincts sensed that a grand will had descended, that a superior being was observing the battle, and that Top Anomalous Being had appeared, and there was more than one of them.

Therefore, he had no choice but to fight back fiercely, putting in a lot of effort to beat himself. Both his true form and his Primordial Body were so badly damaged that his bones were exposed.

Some bones even developed cracks.

Such a fake fight is more dangerous than a real fight. After all, if one side doesn't control themselves well and uses a little too much force, they will lose their balance, and the other side may become incomplete as a result.

Such a brutal fight was a real battle. With an outsider watching from above, Wang Xuan couldn't just pretend and had to show some ferocity.

"Kong Xuan and Lu Renjia are both severely injured, resulting in a draw." An old man announced in public that the two were judged to be of similar strength and evenly matched.

The members of the Candle Dragon Clan, Yuan Hong of the Fusion with Dao Sect, and Yuan Sheng of the Divine Ape Clan all stared at the scene. They were deeply moved when they saw that Kong Xuan's finger bones were exposed and that there were many bloody holes in his body.

This ferocious demon has finally met its end? It has been severely injured. In the past, this domineering demon king, though arrogant, was truly too strong, and no one at the same level could subdue it.

Someone has severely injured him, but unfortunately, they couldn't kill him, which is somewhat regrettable for them.

However, finally someone has appeared who can keep him in check. If there are no restrictions and the fighting continues, Lu Renjia might be able to kill him.

The Candle Dragon Clan, Yuan Sheng, and others were all pondering whether Lu Renjia would become even stronger after obtaining the Imperial Dao runes from that piece of breastbone. This... was definitely worth trying to win over further.

The people in the Bronze Arena and Fortune Casino all had burning eyes after watching this ultimate clash.

This battle between two equally matched immortals is only a warm-up for now. If they can be brought together to fight in an iron cage in the future, it will definitely be a huge hit, attracting countless eyes. The arena will be packed with people betting on who will win.

"This is too powerful. Such a battle between true immortals is truly rare. Either of these two could crush some Heavenly Grade Being with just one hand."

People were talking about it, and the place was in an uproar.

"Lu Renjia, do you still dare to fight? Let's decide the winner and decide life and death!" This is very much in line with the domineering character of the Five Elements Mountain Second Great King.

He swayed as he stood up, his demonic aura soaring to the heavens. He held his head high, acting as if the heavens and the earth were second to none. He stood alone on the earth, his posture subdued only by the heavens, roaming the world with an air of dominance.

"Let's talk about it later. Today I'm fighting to get into the Central Palace, and I want to try the Longevity Fruit Feast." Lu Renjia also stood up. Although his white clothes were tattered and stained with blood, he remained calm and composed.

The two have completely different styles and temperaments.

"There's a chance!" Kong Xuan's group of enemies watched with gleam in their eyes and their hearts burned with excitement. Even if these two didn't fight in the short term, they might become sworn enemies in the future. It was worth their efforts and pushing them forward.

"We'll train Lu Renjia and wear down Kong Xuan until he dies!" Some people thought, hoping for such a scenario to unfold.

"Given Kong Xuan and Lu Renjia's outstanding performance, they are invited to enjoy the Longevity Fruit and drink the Imperial Wine." A voice rang out from the central palace, formally extending the invitation.

Those who were still immersed in the battle of the strongest true immortals suddenly came to their senses and all showed envy. Who wouldn't crave such honor and tangible benefits?

Years later, this will all be a topic of conversation. I once sat with an extraordinary person, shared the fruit of immortality, and drank from a jar of divine wine. Many people's minds began to stir.

"Is a decisive battle absolutely necessary?" someone asked.

"No, as long as you have unique insights in a certain field or have pioneered a new path, you will be invited," an elderly man immediately responded.

"I have something unique to offer!" someone shouted from afar, making Wang Xuan turn his head to look, because he recognized the voice as that of a familiar person.

"My specialty is longevity. Even if the myths end, in the Decaying Universe, I will still be Longevity Seed, able to live for thousands, or even tens of thousands of years!"

These words shocked everyone.

Then, people immediately turned around and saw a large silver tortoise standing upright and opening its mouth; it was Xuan Tian.

Everyone's stunned. How can you be so shameless? A thousand-year-old tortoise or a ten-thousand-year-old turtle is due to the limits of their species. Are you trying to compare lifespan here?

"Step back!" Sure enough, someone in the palace shouted, showing no appreciation for this special skill.

"I discovered a Divine Texture born from the heavens and earth in the mountains and rivers..." someone else spoke up.

"Come forward and show us," someone in the central palace responded.

Although the special texture provided by this person was not very useful, it gave many people hope and made them bolder. Anyone who felt that they had something special about them wanted to try it.

After changing out of their blood-stained battle clothes, Kong Xuan and Lu Renjia walked into the giant palace together. As soon as they entered, they were taken aback by how huge the place was.

Despite being called a palace, the interior was more like a vast, flat plain, incredibly spacious and self-contained, with enormous pillars in the halls resembling Sky-Supporting Pillar.

White mist covered the ground above the ankles, jade stones paved the ground, and on both sides of the road were seven treasure pools containing coral, divine lotuses, and yin-yang divine fish swimming around.

It is said that they are with the strange beings, but those figures are very ethereal and even invisible. They all sit in the deepest part of the giant palace, covered by chaotic mist and blurred beyond recognition.

Kong Xuan and Lu Renjia were each led by a beautiful young female fairy to an area in front of them, where tables and cushions were set up on both sides of the jade road, and next to pillars that seemed to be supporting the sky.

The giant pillar is engraved with many patterns, as well as anecdotes from the old era, and scenes of bloodshed during the great battle at the end of the era. However, it is difficult for outsiders to understand. It is probably meant for extraordinary people to see, to evoke memories of the past and to commemorate the Vanished era.

Nie Qing and Lu Wufa had already entered and were each sitting behind a Jade Stone Table, which was set with fruit and fine wine.

Lu Wufa to get up to greet Lu Renjia, while Nie Qing didn't even lift his eyelids, sitting calmly and drinking silently, clearly in a bad mood.

Kong Xuan and Lu Renjia each sat down at a Jade Stone Table.

As a troublemaker, the Kong Xuan the Demon King grinned, somewhat dissatisfied. Several fruit platters contained glowing fruit flesh, but they were all sliced, not whole; to be precise, they were fruit platters.

The Purple Mansion Peach, a top-tier Exotic Fruit said to extend life by ten thousand years, has only three slices, which Wang Xuan estimated to be about a quarter of a peach.

Although the peach flesh looked radiant and purple, there was far too little of it.

"Do the three slices of peach represent the creation of all things?" Kong Xuan said casually, sitting there, picking up a slice and throwing it into his mouth.

The female immortal who was responsible for leading him here was startled. Lu Wufa also showed a strange expression. Nie Qing was even more surprised. Did this demon king really eat the heart of the Black and White Bear and swallow the gall of the light and dark leopard?

"Is this the legendary Years Fruit? It's golden all over, flowing with the power of time. It's a pity there are only two small pieces. Oh, one of them still has a small piece of the seed stuck to it. Does this represent the birth of three from two?" Kong Xuan said, and ate it all in one bite.

Then, he picked up a wine pot, which was quite small, no more than the height of a palm, and poured it directly into his mouth. This was the Returning Yang Wine Sap, known as the Imperial Wine, which could help extraordinary people practice their skills.

It was indeed effective, instantly making his whole body feel hot, and the Imperial Dao Texture were full of vitality, but the amount of wine inside was pitifully small.

"A pot of wine, barely drunk in two small sips, does that represent one becoming two?" Wang Xuan asked again.

Nie Qing was impressed. This guy really dared to speak his mind. Even he felt uneasy listening to him and was about to break out in a sweat.

Wang Xuan wasn't taking any risks. The Old Anomalous Being of the Black Peacock Clan was up there, as was Chen Gu, the sage of the Bronze Giant Palace, who should also be sitting in the mist. They all knew his "background" and should be able to "be lenient" with him.

"He talks a lot of strange things, no wonder he's a troublemaker." Someone commented with a smile. As an extraordinary person, he was naturally not so petty. He had seen all kinds of beings over the long and varied life.

They have lived for so long that they have experienced more than one Great Universe along with the Supernatural Center. At this level, many of them are practically living fossils, remaining calm and undisturbed for years, and are more interested in unusual and abnormal people and things.

"Senior, the Longevity Fruit is good, and the Divine Wine is wonderful, but there is simply too little of it," Wang Xuan said.

One of the supernatural beings spoke up, "Do you think this kind of thing is produced in large quantities? Some varieties take thousands of years to mature once, and some have to be sent to... unknown places to exchange for a batch with supernatural beings. Our own clan keeps some. How much do you think will be left?"

One of the female supernatural beings laughed and said, "That's interesting. If you want to eat more longevity fruits and drink more fine wine, that's not impossible. Go through the fourth limit-breaking event and unleash your strongest attack. You can consider it."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you." Kong Xuan returned to his low-key demeanor.

"If you can truly do it, you'll be blessed with great fortune," the woman smiled. Intuitively, Wang Xuan felt this resembled the person who lost her cat.

Beside him, Nie Qing had a complicated expression. This troublemaker actually had the honor of talking to an extraordinary person, something that most people wouldn't even dare to dream of.

The extraordinary beings are high above, overlooking the starry sea, and are unapproachable. Even the ancestors of various races rarely display their divine abilities or reveal their true forms within their own clans.

"Announce it: allow those Supernatural Practitioner Dao-imperialized in the True Immortal Domain to enter." From deep within the giant palace, a strange being spoke.

Without a doubt, there are not many people at the True Immortal realm who can take this path. It has already been initially recognized by the Extraordinary Ones, who believe that it has great potential for the future.

Wang Xuan sat quietly, not speaking this time. He knew very well that very few people could walk this path, and it was controlled by the top sects.

How can ordinary people, who don't even have those scriptures, embark on such a journey?

Wang Xuan shook his head, saying that absolute fairness is impossible no matter where you are.

Sure enough, only a few people came in, including Luo Ying.

Xuan Tian also came in. He was Heavenly Grade Being, but he had indeed taken that path when he was a True Immortal and was given special training by his clan. Black Crane He was similar.

"Those who have their names recorded in the Golden Book and Jade Scroll can naturally enter, and their status is even higher," another extraordinary person said.

Indeed, those extraordinary individuals are geniuses who are undefeated across several star systems, possessing both exceptional potential and combat prowess!

In fact, some of these people had already been notified that they would be invited in, so they remained calm and did not move.

There were only a few people, including Ye Ge, an undefeated Ye Ge from the Six Domains who had been known for a long time but only showed up today. He was now at the Heavenly level. There were also An Jingqi, Zhuo Yanran, and three other people.

Nie Qing sighed inwardly, realizing he had acted too hastily. Given his status, he should have been here, but instead, he had fought Lu Wufa first, thus benefiting the latter.

"Any rogue cultivator who breaks through the limits twice or more by relying entirely on their own strength and with a 'savage' charging force is allowed to enter," a supernatural being said.

Then someone added, "Those who rely on the spiritual treasures of heaven and earth, or receive assistance from elders in their sect, are not included. We will conduct a thorough inspection; impersonation is useless."

Many people were moved, as this was also giving opportunities to independent cultivators. In fact, without the resources of top-tier sects, anyone who could break through their limits a second time was already incredibly powerful.

This kind of person has enormous potential.

In the future, when they step into the Super Peerless and try to become extraordinary, they may achieve great things later in life, and perhaps even become stronger than those who broke through their limits three times with the help of their sect.

Several people walked in, possessing traits somewhat similar to Kong Xuan's—a touch of wildness, not particularly timid. It was truly remarkable that a rogue cultivator could reach this level, so boldly breaking through limitations.

The outside world is in chaos, and all the geniuses are too arrogant, otherwise they wouldn't have been brought to the meeting. Don't underestimate some of them just because they are less than 0.9 Blue Ravens; they are still considered quite good within their own clans.

Many people are restless and want to try breaking through in a special field.

"With six eyes open, I can see through illusions; with all eight eyes open, I can see through the Life and Death Road!" Jin Ming arrived, and then, to everyone's astonishment, he opened all eight eyes and actually passed!

"This guy 'Niu Ben, he just went in like that, I want to give it a try!"

Soon, a commotion erupted at the entrance, a cacophony of noise.

A moment later, the entrance to the giant palace was even more chaotic, because a formidable and extraordinary person had arrived. The wolverine successfully passed through, but was still arguing with someone, asking if he could bring his child inside.

"This brother is too ruthless. He cut off his own primordial spirit and committed suicide in public, but he was actually fine. Only one feather on his head was slightly dimmed, and he came back to life."

Clearly, the feathers on the wolverine's head had mutated again, becoming even more mystical than before. These feathers, representing True Fate and immortality, left the old man at the door slightly stunned, and he let him pass.

"He's someone you can't afford to mess with. He's always threatening to cut himself with a knife. Are the organizers just afraid he'll die, which is why they let him pass?"

"How ruthless! He cleaved his own soul and body in two, yet he came back to life. True Fate is indeed hard to extinguish; he has real skill!"

The wolverine successfully brought its cubs and entered the central palace.

Inside the palace, there were more young faces, making it more lively than before. Those who entered all possessed extraordinary abilities, allowing them to enjoy the Longevity Fruit Feast.

The Second King of Five Elements Mountain had finished all the fruit platters and drunk the last pot of wine. He stood up to chat with an acquaintance. Inadvertently, he picked up a piece of fruit from An Jingqi. He was just eating and drinking for free, which instantly earned him glares!

"In the side hall, there is a small banquet, and possibly a masquerade social event. There are complete Purple Mansion Peach Years Fruit there. Would our distinguished guest like to try and see if they can pass the test?"

A female immortal quietly approached the Five Elements Mountain Second Great King and whispered to them in her primordial spirit, secretly informing them of the secret.

"Hmm?" Wang Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He thought of something and naturally wanted to see if there really was someone from another world who had appeared, and just how amazing and powerful they were.

When Wang Xuan arrived at the side hall, Lu Renjia and Ye Ge also entered, followed by two other young men.

A hazy veil obscured the view ahead, through which several tables could be vaguely seen, some displaying Purple Mansion Peach and Revitalizing Wine, others holding scriptures.

On some tables, there were glowing bones!

A female immortal quietly came to Kong Xuan's side again and whispered to him, using her primordial spirit to tell him that as long as he could pass through the heavy veil, he could take whatever he touched.

Wang Xuan looked again and again, and finally discovered that behind the light gauze, in the white mist, sat a woman who was holding a golden page of scripture and looking down at it.

She shouldn't be considered one of the items that can be taken, right?

However, the golden paper in her hand was filled with wisps of chaotic energy, displaying astonishing phenomena and wonders that were truly alluring.

"If you touch something, you can take it away?" Wang Xuan asked, not only to the female immortal whispering to him beside him, but also as if asking the woman in the white mist behind the veil.

Wang Xuan's eyes were drawn to the gold-colored paper she was reading.

"That's right." A voice came from behind the veil.

Kong Xuan paced back and forth, wondering if he should give it a try.

Moreover, the woman nodded slightly, even chuckled softly, and waved the golden paper in her hand, clearly indicating her intention.

Wang Xuan intentionally made it clear to her that he had his eye on that page of scripture; otherwise, if he had acted rashly and directly made a move, things would have been bad if she had found fault with him or refused to admit it.

Now that the woman has expressed this opinion, he really wants to give it a try.

Wang Xuan took a few steps, then frowned. The gauze contained strange patterns, which were quite troublesome. Should he take the plunge and give it a try? He touched his head.

That's a really long chapter. It's Saturday today, time for a break and some time to absorb some spiritual energy to ensure I can stay up all night forever. Update complete, don't wait up, everyone.