Return to the Southern Region

Before long, the remaining half hour flashed by. Gu Changge successfully held Arena Number One and won first place in the martial arts tournament.

"I hereby announce that the 3,652nd martial arts tournament has officially concluded!"

The divine minister present announced loudly.

"First place in the martial arts tournament may select ten Emperor Artifacts, five Emperor Techniques, and thirty thousand Spirit Stones from the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's secret treasury."

"Second place in the martial arts tournament may select five Emperor Artifacts, three Emperor Techniques, and ten thousand Spirit Stones from the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's secret treasury."

"Third place in the martial arts tournament may select three Emperor Artifacts, one Emperor Technique, and five thousand Spirit Stones from the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's secret treasury."

"Those ranked fourth through tenth in the martial arts tournament may select one Emperor Artifact and three thousand Spirit Stones from the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's secret treasury."

"Those ranked eleventh through one hundredth in the martial arts tournament may select one thousand Spirit Stones from the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's secret treasury."

"As for those beyond the top hundred in the martial arts tournament, there will be no rewards."

The divine minister paused before continuing, "In this martial arts tournament, the faction rankings are as follows: first place, Tianyuan Academy; second place, the Longevity Huo Family; third place, the Lingxu Divine Dynasty; fourth place, the Blazing Flame Sect; fifth place, the Ice Soul Sect; sixth place, Tianxing Hall; seventh place, the Xuanjing Sect..."

Afterward, Gu Changge headed to the Lingxu Divine Dynasty's secret treasury together with the hundred top winners of the martial arts tournament.

Gu Changge casually selected ten Emperor Artifacts and sold them all to the system, gaining 900 System Points. As for the Emperor Techniques, he kept two: one called the Light Dust Escape Technique, and the other the Gentle Light Healing Technique. They happened to make up for Gu Changge's shortcomings in escape and healing techniques.

Worried that biting off more than he could chew, Gu Changge sold the other three randomly selected Emperor Techniques to the system and gained 270 System Points.

The Light Dust Escape Technique drew upon the wind Spiritual Power in the surroundings, swiftly leaving several fleeting afterimages to evade an enemy's attacks.

The Gentle Light Healing Technique, meanwhile, allowed its user to draw upon the surrounding light Spiritual Power and transform it into energy that healed injuries.

After selecting the Emperor Weapons and Emperor Techniques, Gu Changge returned to Tianyuan Academy with the core disciples of Tianyuan Academy.

After returning to Tianyuan Academy, Gu Changge went to the Tianyuan Academy Palace Master's cave dwelling atop the First Peak.

"Disciple Gu Changge requests an audience with Master!"

Gu Changge said.

"Come in, Changge."

The Tianyuan Academy Palace Master transmitted his voice.

"Changge, you did very well in this Northern Region martial arts tournament. You secured first place in the faction rankings for Tianyuan Academy."

The moment Gu Changge entered the Tianyuan Academy Palace Master's cave dwelling, the Palace Master praised him.

"Master overpraises me."

Gu Changge said.

"Master, this disciple has come to ask a favor of you."

"What is it?"

The Tianyuan Academy Palace Master asked.

"This disciple wishes to leave Tianyuan Academy and return to the Southern Region of the Eastern Wasteland for a while."

Gu Changge decided to return to the Southern Region of the Eastern Wasteland and complete a world mission.

"I can naturally agree to that request. Go without worry. You will not lose your position as Dao Child."

The Tianyuan Academy Palace Master knew that the force behind Gu Changge was the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty, a giant of the Southern Region, so he said this.

Thus, after packing his things, Gu Changge took the two maidservants he had subdued, Ye Muqing and Lin Ni Yu, and flew all the way toward the Southern Region of the Eastern Wasteland atop a flying sword.

"Master, where are we going?"

Ye Muqing asked in confusion.

"My home—the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty."

Gu Changge said.

"So Master actually comes from a colossal force like the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty."

Lin Ni Yu said with some surprise.

The two maidservants then fell silent and sat upon the giant sword, while Gu Changge controlled the flying sword as he cultivated in quiet concentration.

After killing Xiao Yan and Lin Bing, Gu Changge inherited their positions as Sons of Heaven's Mandate. Thus, Gu Changge could now be considered a Son of Heaven's Mandate as well.

After becoming a Son of Heaven's Mandate, Gu Changge clearly felt the affinity of the Tianwu Continent's Heavenly Dao toward him. Both his cultivation speed and his intangible, elusive fortune had increased considerably.

Only by killing every other Son of Heaven's Mandate on the Tianwu Continent could Gu Changge obtain complete affinity with the Heavenly Dao. Then he could battle the Sons of Heaven's Mandate who emerged victorious from other planes, contend upon the Emperor's Road, become the final winner, gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao of every plane in the Myriad Worlds, carve out his own Great Dao, and attain the Dao to become an Emperor.

The Myriad Worlds contained a total of 36,500 planes, divided into low-grade planes, middle-grade planes, high-grade planes, and super-grade planes.

The Tianwu Continent where Gu Changge was located was a super-grade plane. Cultivators on this plane could cultivate up to the peak of the Quasi-Emperor Realm. High-grade planes restricted cultivators to the peak of the Five Soul Mansion Realms, middle-grade planes to the peak of the Five Dao Palace Realms, and low-grade planes to the peak of the Five Dantian Realms.

When the Emperor's Road opened, it meant that the era had entered a Golden Age, when one could attain the Dao and become an Emperor. Every kind of peerless genius and monstrous prodigy would emerge, including the Holy Sons, Dao Children, and heirs of various factions, as well as ancient freaks sealed in spirit sources, unfathomable to the extreme.

"Chirp!"

Just then, a sharp bird cry rang out.

Gu Changge focused his gaze and said, "Not good. It seems we've run into trouble. This is a demon bird estimated to be at the Qi Condensation Realm."

"Master, what should we do?"

Lin Ni Yu said.

"We can only grit our teeth and face it."

Gu Changge said.

Thus, Gu Changge stopped cultivating and focused on controlling the flying sword, evading the demon bird's attacks again and again.

In the end, Gu Changge and the others were still struck by the demon bird and unfortunately plummeted from the sky.

"Flying Feather Spear Technique!"

At the instant of their fall, Gu Changge took out the Azure Nether Spear and unleashed the Flying Feather Spear Technique, hurling it to kill the demon bird and vent his fury.

Seeing the two women falling, Gu Changge hurriedly caught them in his arms, and the three of them fell through the air together.

Gu Changge activated the Primordial Supreme Body and used the Light Dust Escape Technique, successfully bringing the two women safely to the ground.

"Whew, that was far too dangerous just now."

Lin Ni Yu said, drenched in fragrant sweat.

"I wonder where we are."

Ye Muqing said, likewise covered in fragrant sweat.

The three of them landed in a city. They saw many cultivators in the city rushing toward its gates.

Gu Changge casually grabbed a passerby who was about to hurry over and asked, "May I ask where this is?"

"This is Pear Blossom City."

The passerby he had grabbed answered, somewhat bewildered.

"Then may I ask why so many people in Pear Blossom City are running toward the city gates?"

Gu Changge asked again.

"You must be people from another city. I heard that a Rogue Cultivator at the Quasi-Emperor Realm from our Liuli Divine Dynasty passed away in Pear Blossom City, Liusha Commandery. Many people want to take a look at the Quasi-Emperor's ruins. Maybe they can obtain one or two treasures."

The passerby was rather warmhearted and patiently explained.