Son of Heaven's Mandate: Xiao Yan Realm: Marrow Cleansing Realm, Fourth Level Physique: Swallowing Flame Body Destiny Value: 270 Heavenly Mandate Treasure: Flame-Swallowing Jar
Xiao Yan's information appeared before Gu Changge.
Because Xiao Yan had handed the Glazed Jade Fire over to Gu Changge, his realm had fallen back to the fourth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.
"Only 270 Destiny Value left. No rush, we'll take it slowly."
Gu Changge said as he looked at Xiao Yan's panel.
Just then, the Palace Master's voice rang out from a distant cave dwelling.
"Changge, come to my cave dwelling."
Gu Changge thus made his way to the Palace Master's cave dwelling atop First Peak.
There, the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy stood inside the cave dwelling, waiting for Gu Changge's arrival.
"May I ask why Master summoned this disciple?"
According to Tianyuan Academy's rules, outer sect disciples were taught by Outer Sect Elders, inner sect disciples by inner sect elders, core disciples by core elders, while Dao Children were taught by the sect leader. Thus, there was no issue with Gu Changge addressing the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy as Master.
"To speak frankly, ever since you entered Tianyuan Academy, Changge, I, as your master, have not properly taught you."
The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy said.
"Master need not blame yourself. You usually need to enter seclusion to cultivate, so naturally you have no time to instruct this disciple."
Gu Changge said.
"Changge, Tianyuan Academy has a forbidden land called the Tianyuan Forbidden Land. Dao Children of every generation must go there to train. Are you prepared?"
The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy said.
"This disciple is prepared, but I do not know how long this trip to the forbidden land will take. This disciple has made a wager with someone, and in two months, I must honor the appointment."
Gu Changge said.
"That works out perfectly. Dao Children of every generation have spent roughly one to two months in the Tianyuan Forbidden Land."
"Then this disciple shall head to the Tianyuan Forbidden Land at once."
Gu Changge cupped his fists in salute, left the Palace Master's cave dwelling, and headed toward the foot of First Peak.
The Tianyuan Forbidden Land had been arranged by Tianyuan Academy's ancestor, Great Emperor Tianyuan. It was located at the foot of First Peak and was a place only Dao Children of every generation could enter to train.
"So this is the Tianyuan Forbidden Land."
Gu Changge descended First Peak and saw mist and clouds winding about the mountain's base, with two core deacons standing at the entrance.
Gu Changge walked straight toward them.
"Stop. This is an important place of the academy. Idle persons are forbidden from entering."
One of the core deacons said.
Gu Changge said nothing and took out his identity token.
"So it is the Dao Child. Forgive us for failing to recognize you."
The other core deacon recognized Gu Changge's identity and said.
"May I enter now?"
Gu Changge said.
"Of course."
The first core deacon said.
These clouds and mist should all be part of the forbidden land's illusion formation.
Gu Changge thought.
The Tianyuan Forbidden Land had originally also possessed a locking formation. Only those holding a Dao Child identity token could enter.
Gu Changge stepped into the Tianyuan Forbidden Land.
Soon, the moment Gu Changge entered the Tianyuan Forbidden Land, the pervasive clouds of spiritual energy shifted and transformed into a forest.
"What a formidable illusion formation. It looks like an Emperor-grade formation. Great Emperor Tianyuan must have arranged it."
Gu Changge said as he watched the changing scene.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, the spiritual energy clouds changed shape again, turning into Spirit Beasts one after another.
Gu Changge brought out an Emperor Artifact and smashed it toward the Spirit Beasts condensed from spiritual energy.
The Spirit Beasts clearly could not withstand the Emperor Artifact's power. After several miserable cries, they transformed back into streams of pure spiritual energy and burrowed into Gu Changge's body.
These Spirit Beasts were not true Spirit Beasts. They had no flesh-and-blood bodies and were merely formed from vast spiritual energy.
"What pure spiritual energy. No wonder Dao Children of every generation have to train in the Tianyuan Forbidden Land. I have only killed a few Spirit Beasts in the forbidden land, yet I have already gained a huge amount of spiritual energy. I can feel the barrier to the sixth level of the Tendon Lengthening Realm loosening slightly."
Gu Changge said as he sensed the spiritual energy within his body.
Training in the Tianyuan Forbidden Land meant battling the Spirit Beasts within it, obtaining pure spiritual energy, and thereby improving one's cultivation.
"I refuse to believe that training in the forbidden land can only increase cultivation. There must be other opportunities here."
Gu Changge said.
He then headed deeper into the forbidden land.
The deeper Gu Changge went into the Tianyuan Forbidden Land, the more abundant the spiritual energy became, and the stronger the Spirit Beasts grew.
"Right. Since I can kill the Spirit Beasts in the forbidden land, absorb their spiritual energy, and improve my cultivation, I wonder whether my Spirit Beasts and puppets can absorb spiritual energy as well?"
Gu Changge said.
He then released three Demonic Beasts at the fourth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm and one at the fifth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, along with six puppets already at the fourth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.
Sure enough, just as Gu Changge had expected, after the puppets and Spirit Beasts killed the Spirit Beasts in the forbidden land, they too obtained pure spiritual energy like Gu Changge.
Thus, the entire Tianyuan Forbidden Land became a paradise for Gu Changge, his Spirit Beasts, and his puppets to absorb spiritual energy. Gu Changge and his Spirit Beasts and puppets saw their cultivation soar higher and higher.
After a month of frantically hunting the "fat sheep" Spirit Beasts in Gu Changge's eyes, Gu Changge's strength had reached the eighth level of the Tendon Lengthening Realm.
The four Demonic Beasts had all risen to the seventh level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, while the six puppets had risen to the eighth level of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.
"It is time to head into the inner region of the Tianyuan Forbidden Land."
Gu Changge said.
Over the past month, although Gu Changge and the others had killed many Spirit Beasts, they had remained in the outer region of the Tianyuan Forbidden Land. They had yet to set foot in the inner region.
Gu Changge and the others then advanced toward the inner region of the Tianyuan Forbidden Land.
"The Tianyuan Ranking?"
In the inner region of the forbidden land, Gu Changge discovered a huge standing stone monument.
The monument's material looked extraordinary. It was presumably forged from Emperor-grade materials as well.
Golden words flowed across the monument. They read, "First place, Liu Zhenyu, Tianyuan Points: 1,054. Second place, Wang Zhirui, Tianyuan Points: 1,024. Third place, Tao Liangying, Tianyuan Points: 1,014. Fourth place, Wu Fengmo, Tianyuan Points: 1,004. Fifth place, Lu Zhenlun, Tianyuan Points: 996. Sixth place, Pang Zantian, Tianyuan Points: 954..."
The Tianyuan Ranking recorded only the top one hundred.
"Tianyuan Points?"
Gu Changge said in puzzlement.
At that moment, Gu Changge looked at his identity token and discovered that a number was displayed on it: 32.
"That's it. Counting carefully, I have personally hunted exactly thirty-two Spirit Beasts. It seems that each Spirit Beast killed adds one Tianyuan Point."
Gu Changge said to himself.
"Then, since only Dao Children of every generation can enter the Tianyuan Forbidden Land to train, it seems everyone on this Tianyuan Ranking was a previous Dao Child."
Gu Changge said, rubbing his chin.
"Master previously said that the Tianyuan Forbidden Land opens once every three years. These senior brothers must have visited the Tianyuan Forbidden Land quite often over the past few eras."
Gu Changge said.
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