Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land

Looking at the girl's actions before her, Ye Xinran asked in confusion, "You bought it to give to me? Is there really such a good thing?"

"Of course. A treasured sword belongs with a prodigy."

The girl explained with a smile.

Faced with her explanation, Ye Xinran said nothing, merely studying her carefully.

Seeing this, the girl continued, "Fine, I just saw that your talent was exceptional and wanted to make friends with you."

Hearing that, Ye Xinran finally nodded. "Mm, that reason does sound quite reasonable."

"My name is Ye Xinran. And you?"

"Jin Xiaoya."

On a forest path outside the city.

"Is there really nothing you want? I took your sword—I'd feel bad if I didn't give you something in return."

Ye Xinran looked at Jin Xiaoya as she asked.

She had been asking the whole way.

"Xinran, there really isn't anything I need."

Jin Xiaoya replied with a bitter smile.

She had answered in the same way the entire journey.

"How about this? If I need anything from you in the future, you can help me out. How does that sound?"

To keep Ye Xinran from asking any further, Jin Xiaoya came up with this solution.

In her view, she could say this for now, and after some time, Ye Xinran would naturally forget about it.

"Mm... I suppose that works. Sister Xiaoya, how much farther is the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land? Won't we miss the Recruitment Ceremony?"

"Don't worry. There are still fifteen days until the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land's Recruitment Ceremony. We have plenty of time."

And so, the two chatted and laughed as they hurried toward the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land.

Eastern Domain, within a Glorious Hall.

A middle-aged man with an imposing expression and a powerful, profound aura was speaking with a young man in star-patterned robes, sharp brows, bright eyes, and an extraordinary bearing.

"Tianci, are you sure you want to go to the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land? Our Lin Clan is a Supreme Imperial Clan, with deep foundations. You can cultivate at home under our guidance—how would that be any worse than the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land?"

The middle-aged man tried to persuade him earnestly.

"Father, only powerful competition can make me grow faster and become even stronger."

Lin Tianci looked at the middle-aged man, his gaze unwavering.

Seeing the battle intent radiating from Lin Tianci, Lin Chengtian knew that his son was going after Xuanyuan Hao, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land.

"Fine. But if you need anything, just tell your father."

Seeing Lin Tianci's resolute expression, and recalling the rankings on the Eastern Domain Prodigy Ranking, Lin Chengtian said no more.

Before long, Lin Tianci bid farewell to Lin Chengtian and set off for the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land.

What he did not know was that the moment he left the Lin Clan, Lin Chengtian sent a guardian to follow him in secret.

Half a month later.

Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land.

At this moment, the plaza outside the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land was a sea of people. Countless young men and women had gathered here for the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land's once-in-a-decade Recruitment Ceremony.

Amid the crowd, Ye Xinran and Jin Xiaoya were especially conspicuous.

Everyone was discussing excitedly. The spirited young men and women all had light in their eyes, as though the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land before them was the glory awaiting them in the future.

"Sister Xiaoya, is the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land really that powerful? Why have so many people come for the Recruitment Ceremony?"

Looking at the lively scene before her, Ye Xinran could not help asking.

Jin Xiaoya was briefly stunned upon hearing this, but then explained, "You might not know this, but the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land is the strongest force in the Eastern Domain. In the past, it produced quite a few Emperor Realm experts."

"Emperor Realm?"

At the mention of the Emperor Realm, Ye Xinran was intrigued, though she clearly knew nothing about it.

But since they were called experts, she had to learn more about them.

After all, this was what she would become in the future.

Seeing that Ye Xinran seemed never to have heard of it, Jin Xiaoya continued explaining patiently, "The Emperor Realm is the highest realm on the Heavenly Desolation Continent. However, the great era has not yet arrived, and currently, there is not a single Emperor Realm expert on the Heavenly Desolation Continent."

"The highest realm? That powerful? There isn't even a single Emperor Realm expert now?"

"That's right. Once the great era arrives and the prodigies contend for supremacy, Emperor Realm experts will be born."

In the void.

Listening to the two of them talk, Ye Chang'an could not help revealing the truth. "Obviously, it was because the previous generation's talent was too poor. It didn't have much to do with this great era."

"Hahaha, Hall Master, if that bunch of old men in the Great Sage Realm heard you say that, they'd probably be furious to death."

At that, Shangguan Shi could not help laughing as well.

Just as the two spoke, five figures suddenly appeared above the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land's plaza.

At the center of the five stood a Purple-robed Middle-aged Man, an imposing aura of authority radiating from him.

"Saint Peak. As the Holy Master of a sacred land, that cultivation is barely passable."

Ye Chang'an glanced at the Purple-robed Middle-aged Man and spoke calmly.

In the plaza below, everyone noticed the arrival of the five.

They fell silent at once.

The pressure emanating from the five was simply too powerful.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land's Recruitment Ceremony. I am Xuanyuan Chen, the Holy Master of the Heavenly Extremity Sacred Land.

"When it comes to accepting disciples, we have only one requirement: talent."

With a wave of his hand, a massive crystal pillar appeared at the front of the plaza. Nine Stars were clearly carved upon it.

"This is the Talent Crystal. Place your hand on it and pour spiritual power into it to light up the stars and test your talent.

"Six stars qualify you as an Outer Disciple, seven as an Inner Disciple, eight as an Elder's Personal Disciple, and nine as my Personal Disciple.

"Now, begin the talent test."

With another wave of Xuanyuan Chen's hand, the crystal pillar at the front of the plaza shone with light, indicating that it had been activated and the testing could begin.

At the sight, nervous young men and women formed lines and walked toward the crystal pillar.

The testing progressed quickly. Most could only light up three or four stars.

Such talent would indeed be considered quite good in a small sect, but this was the Eastern Domain's number one power. They were clearly still far from meeting the threshold.

Watching the youngsters leave in disappointment one after another after having their talents tested, Xuanyuan Chen and the other four above the plaza showed little sympathy.

Not only had they seen such scenes too many times, but this world also revered the strong. Sympathy? It meant little.

Ye Chang'an and Shangguan Shi, hidden in the void, were different.

Watching those dejected backs, Ye Chang'an could not help sighing. "This world is just that cruel. Like sifting the sand in great waves, it seeks only true gold."

Though talent was not absolute, and acquired effort could likewise achieve extraordinary things, how likely was that? How many could truly succeed?

Talent alone could keep them from even entering a sacred land. On the road of cultivation ahead, even obtaining cultivation resources would require painstaking effort.

Unless one possessed extraordinary fortune, this path was truly, truly difficult.

"Hall Master, I've lived in the Primordial Divine Hall since I was little. The five elders are all supreme experts, and my senior brothers and sisters are all heaven's favored. So this is how the rules of the outside world work..."

Since he had grown up in the Primordial Divine Hall, Shangguan Shi did not understand much about the outside world.

Thus, as he watched scene after scene unfold in the plaza, he too felt a measure of emotion.

In the plaza, Ye Xinran and Jin Xiaoya reacted differently as well.

Jin Xiaoya had seen plenty of such things.

But Ye Xinran was different. She knew little about this world.

She felt sympathy for those who were eliminated because of their talent.

But sympathy was all it could be, for there was nothing she could do.