Skywind Dynasty

Bai Ye found an unoccupied spot and altered his appearance first.

Before long, his originally exceptionally handsome face and figure had become utterly ordinary after the disguise.

He also changed out of his Azure Cloud Sect robes and into an ordinary gray-black robe.

Next, he chose the nearest entrance.

The entrance was a light curtain roughly thirty feet tall.

Light and shadows flowed within it, and the towering Ancient Trees inside could vaguely be seen.

The light curtain was still somewhat illusory, but the halo around its edges was growing ever more solid. Clearly, it would not be long before it opened.

More than two hundred cultivators had already gathered around the entrance, a motley mix from every walk of life.

There were disciples wearing sect robes, Rogue Cultivators, and several young people riding demonic beasts, who were clearly scions of extraordinary noble clans.

None of their auras were weak. Even the weakest among them were at Late Meridian Condensing.

"Judging by the density of this light curtain, we'll be able to enter in half an incense stick at most." The Bearded Cultivator weighed the Giant Axe in his hand and grinned. "I hope I can score a Thousand Year Purple Ginseng this time, so my wife can use it to break through to the Vein Condensation Realm."

"Thousand Year Purple Ginseng? That's a third-grade spirit medicine. How could it be so easy to obtain?" The Thin Daoist curled his lip. "I only hope to find some Mysterious Iron Essence to temper the edge of my flying sword."

"Look over there!" Someone suddenly cried out, pointing toward the left side of the entrance.

Everyone looked in that direction and saw the Azure Brocade Youth slowly approaching.

He was tall and slender, with a jade belt at his waist and handsome features. His brows carried an innate air of nobility. Even standing casually, he possessed a bearing that made people afraid to meet his gaze directly.

The Spiritual Energy fluctuations around him seemed gentle, yet faintly revealed a sharp edge, as though wherever the wind passed, even the air flowed with him.

"It's the Ninth Prince of the Skywind Dynasty!"

Someone recognized him, their voice full of amazement.

"I heard he's only twenty-five this year, yet he's already a Third level of Primordial Core expert. He also possesses the rare Wind Spirit Physique, capable of drawing upon the wind Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth. Vein Condensation Realm cultivators wouldn't even get the chance to strike before him!"

"A Wind Spirit Physique... that's a top-tier combat constitution. No wonder he can fight above his level."

"This entrance is so remote. Why would the Ninth Prince choose to come here...?"

"Who knows? Maybe he just happened to be closer to this entrance."

Amid the discussion, the eyes of many cultivators flickered with awe, envy, and wariness.

Yet no one dared step forward to strike up a conversation.

Rumor had it that this Ninth Prince had a capricious temperament. Previously, a Rogue Cultivator who did not know his place had tried to curry favor with him, offended him, and was casually struck into serious injury by a single Wind Blade.

Bai Ye stood beneath an Old Locust Tree, clad in an utterly ordinary blue-gray robe. Blended into the crowd, he was wholly unremarkable.

He glanced at the Ninth Prince, one brow lifting slightly.

"Third level of Primordial Core... His Spiritual Energy is condensed, but it carries a few traces of instability. He must have broken through only recently."

He silently assessed, "The Wind Spirit Physique is indeed not bad, but his foundation does not seem to have been firmly laid. Compared to a true Top Genius, he is still lacking some polish."

He withdrew his gaze and swept it over the surrounding cultivators.

Late Meridian Condensing cultivators accounted for sixty percent. There were roughly thirty-odd at the Primordial Core Realm, most at the first or second level. Third level of Primordial Core cultivators like the Ninth Prince were already few in number.

Moreover, middle-aged people made up the greater half of these cultivators, while young faces under thirty were few and far between.

"It seems the Azure Spirit Secret Realm is ultimately still a stage for the Primordial Core Realm and the Profound Comprehension Realm." Bai Ye understood inwardly. "Qi Refining and Vein Condensation Realm cultivators are mostly here to try their luck. They want to soar to the heavens in a single step through the secret realm? Difficult."

He thought no more about it. Folding his arms, he leaned against the tree trunk and closed his eyes to rest.

Ten Thousand Times Comprehension had made his perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth far surpass that of ordinary people. He could clearly sense that the energy within the entrance's light curtain was becoming increasingly stable. The time of its opening was close at hand.

Half an incense stick of time quietly passed.

The halo at the edges of the light curtain had become almost tangible, and the swaying shadows of trees within could vaguely be seen!

Just then...

Clang!

Twelve figures suddenly stepped out from the crowd, their movements perfectly uniform.

They all wore fitted black outfits, with a golden character for "Wind" embroidered on their chests. All of them were cultivators of the Skywind Dynasty.

The immense Spiritual Energy pressure of twelve people erupted at once, like twelve invisible mountains bearing down in all directions!

The air instantly froze, and even the sound of the wind ceased. The faces of the weaker Vein Condensation cultivators turned pale as they involuntarily staggered back several steps.

"Primordial Core Realm! They're all at the Primordial Core Realm!"

Someone cried out in shock.

At their head stood a stern-faced Middle-aged Man.

He stepped forward, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd. His voice was flat, yet carried an unquestionable dominance. "From today onward, this entrance is under the control of my Skywind Dynasty. Cultivators not of my dynasty are forbidden from entering."

He paused, his tone utterly calm. "If you wish to enter the Azure Spirit Secret Realm, please use another entrance."

"What?!"

"Why should we? The Azure Spirit Secret Realm was left behind by an ancient powerhouse. Since when did it become the private property of your Skywind Dynasty?"

"How overbearing! We were here first—why should we give it to you?"

The crowd instantly erupted, waves of disgruntled discussion surging forth like a tide.

Several Rogue Cultivators in the Primordial Core Realm even stepped forward, Spiritual Energy circulating through their bodies. Clearly, they had no intention of yielding.

A cold smile curled across the Middle-aged Man's lips as his contemptuous gaze swept over the crowd. "Ignorant fools. This secret realm's opening differs from those of the past. Every entrance now has a limit on the number of people allowed through—at most one hundred and eighty."

"Not only this place, but every other entrance as well has long since been occupied by the major powers." He slowly raised his right hand, faint golden light flickering in his palm. "If you refuse to accept this, then by all means, try it. See whether my Skywind Dynasty has the right to claim this entrance!"

At those words, the crowd broke into an uproar once more.

"A limit on the number of people? Is that true?"

"If that's the case... wouldn't smaller factions and Rogue Cultivators have no chance at all?"

"But what if he's lying to us? What if he's deliberately trying to monopolize the entrance?"

The discussions gradually quieted, and hesitation appeared on many faces.

If there truly was a limit, then with the Skywind Dynasty having sent twelve Primordial Core Realm cultivators to seize the entrance, Rogue Cultivators and disciples of minor sects like them had no ability to contend against them.

Just then—

A thunderous boom rang out, and the thirty-meter-tall curtain of light suddenly flared brilliantly.

Light and shadow flowed across it, and the scene within became incomparably clear. Ancient stone paths and towering old trees seemed to stand right before their eyes.

The Azure Spirit Secret Realm had officially opened!

"Move!"

The Middle-aged Man gave a low shout. Twelve Skywind Dynasty cultivators instantly formed a battle formation, their Spiritual Energy interweaving into a black curtain of light that firmly blocked the entrance.

A longsword had appeared in the Middle-aged Man's hand, azure spiritual light flowing over its blade. It was clearly no ordinary Profound Tier Magic Artifact.

His gaze was as cold and sharp as a blade as it swept over the still-hesitating crowd. "You have ten breaths to get lost!"

"Otherwise, none will be spared!"

Boom—!

The Spiritual Energy on the sword blade suddenly surged.

A grim killing intent spread through the air, as though even the atmosphere had frozen solid!