Nine Regions Palace

You Mountain City spanned dozens of light-years in both length and width, its entire outline incomparably majestic and grand.

From afar, it resembled a gigantic mysterious divine turtle crouching atop You Mountain, its vast, heavy aura seizing the soul.

Faint, multicolored streams of light flowed through the void above the entire city. Every stream radiated tremendous power; they were the might of the city-protecting formations. It was said that a single stream could effortlessly kill any Saint Realm expert below the God King level. Even a Ten-Source Saint Realm expert would still be annihilated in one strike.

In most areas of You Mountain City, flying through the air above the city was forbidden. Any violation meant death!

Luo Feng put away his spaceship and flew toward the city gate.

As for Morosa and Tie Nanhe, he stored them inside the Star Tower.

As one of the domain lords of the nine great domains, Luo Feng could not exactly be said to enjoy special privileges, but the Domain Lord Token still served as a pass. He was easily granted entry into the city.

The sky within the city, enhanced by formations, looked even more beautiful and pleasant than the sky outside: azure-blue heavens and pure white clouds. Aside from the designated aerial "transport zones," hardly any spaceships or people could be seen in the rest of the sky. Only a few birds appeared here and there.

In You Mountain City, True Gods and those below them were forbidden from flying or using spaceships and other aerial vehicles within the city's transport zones. They could only ride official spaceships or those belonging to other organizations. Only Void True Gods and above could fly or ride their own spaceships.

Looking around, You Mountain City was vastly different from Azure City. Azure City was packed with dense buildings, whereas You Mountain City had far fewer. One could even see stretches of mountain peaks within it. Its many buildings, built in distinct styles, were clearly divided into districts, making it easy to identify the different civilizations and factions they belonged to.

However, those able to claim a place in You Mountain City were generally prominent clans or powerful factions within the You Mountain Nation. Behind each of them, there were more or fewer Saint Realm beings, or even God King experts, connected to them. Whether those figures still lived or had fallen, their histories had always contained a period of glory.

Naturally, the strongest and most influential force was the official You Mountain faction.

For example, the Nine Regions Palace that Luo Feng was heading to this time was an extremely powerful force within You Mountain City, second only to a few major forces such as You Mountain Prefecture.

You Mountain Prefecture governed all of You Mountain. Its prefecture lord was You Mountain, the founding emperor of the You Mountain Empire.

As for the Nine Regions Palace, it was merely a directly subordinate branch of You Mountain Prefecture, overseeing the nine great domains within the You Mountain Empire. It wielded immense authority. The domain lords of You Mountain's nine great domains were only stewards within the Nine Regions Palace, responsible for recruitment each cycle era and assisting the Nine Regions Palace in managing the entire You Mountain Empire.

Although the domain lords of the nine great domains were chosen through challenges, they remained under the direct jurisdiction of the Nine Regions Palace. The Nine Regions Palace had the power to dismiss any domain lord.

The Nine Regions Palace was located within the Nine Dragons Mountain Range in You Mountain City, right beside You Mountain Prefecture at the mountain's summit.

The Nine Dragons Mountain Range truly lived up to its name. It was said to have once been a ferocious dragon beast from ancient times, born with nine heads and powerful enough to rival a peak God King. After You Mountain God King killed it, he placed its corpse atop You Mountain. Following the passage of countless cycle eras, it became the present-day Nine Dragons Mountain Range.

Each mountain range extended for nearly a dozen light-years, an incomparably magnificent sight from afar.

The division of the You Mountain Empire into nine domains had been inspired by the Nine Dragons.

The Nine Regions Palace was not far from the eastern city gate. It was only a few light-years away, and Luo Feng arrived quickly.

From afar, the Nine Dragons Mountain Range merely looked like dragons in shape. But upon approaching it, Luo Feng felt as if he were truly standing atop a dragon's body. Even after countless cycle eras, he could still sense a certain "dragon breath" within the ground beneath his feet. After special treatment and modification, this dragon breath could be absorbed. Living here for long enough, even without cultivation, could strengthen one's body to an unimaginable degree.

"You Mountain God King is truly formidable!" Luo Feng exclaimed. The Nine Dragons' violent aura had been erased, leaving behind only dragon breath beneficial to the divine body. Such methods could only inspire admiration.

As Luo Feng marveled, he arrived before the Nine Regions Palace.

At the main entrance of the Nine Regions Palace stood a gatehouse ten million kilometers tall. The two words "Nine Regions" above it possessed an imposing grandeur, and Luo Feng could not help being deeply drawn to them.

"What's going on?" Luo Feng was secretly startled. When he looked at the words "Nine Regions" just now, he had seemed to fall into some sort of illusion. Had his will not been exceptionally strong, it would have taken him quite some time to awaken.

"Not bad. Your will is quite strong."

Just as Luo Feng recovered from the Nine Domains Plaque, he noticed a figure walking out from within the gatehouse. He appeared to be an elderly man.

The old man was not human, though he still had two hands and two feet. He wore a gray robe, and his distinctly featured alien face was covered in wrinkles, making him appear aged. Numerous round protrusions covered his head, all platinum in color, giving him a rather strange appearance.

Luo Feng looked at the old man, whose aura was completely restrained, making him impossible to perceive. Still, Luo Feng could sense that this old man harbored no ill intent.

"You are Galaxy, the new domain lord of the Azure Domain?" Before Luo Feng could speak, the old man examined him and nodded in satisfaction.

"I am Galaxy. May I ask who you are, Senior?" Luo Feng asked politely.

"I am the gatekeeper here. You may call me Chi Yi," Chi Yi replied with a smile.

"The gatekeeper? Senior Chi Yi, does the Nine Regions Palace still need someone to guard its gates?" Luo Feng was astonished. What kind of place was You Mountain City? Surely no one would dare cause trouble here?

Chi Yi smiled. He understood Luo Feng's doubts.

Unhurriedly, Chi Yi said, "Gatekeeping is merely a position. It does not represent anything. When you looked at the Nine Domains Plaque just now, what did you see?"

"Reporting to Senior, I saw a world," Luo Feng replied.

"What? A world?" Chi Yi was shocked. "This Nine Domains Plaque was forged by His Majesty You Mountain God King from the brains of the Nine Dragons. It contains endless mysteries and can test the strength of one's Heart Force. The stronger one's Heart Force, the greater one's potential and future accomplishments."

Heart Force?

Luo Feng was puzzled. "What is Heart Force?"

"Heart Force? I do not understand it either." Chi Yi shook his head. "It is a term His Majesty the God King used. According to His Majesty, Heart Force is neither divine power nor soul force. It is merely an inner strength, representing one's resolve and conviction toward one's goals. Those with stronger Heart Force, so long as they do not fall midway, often achieve great things."

"When some people observe the plaque, they see a gourd of water, a rainstorm, a blade, or a spear. Others see a mountain or an ocean. What each person sees is different, and that represents the difference in their Heart Force. The greater the thing one can see, the stronger one's Heart Force."

"You saw an entire world, which shows that your Heart Force is exceedingly, exceedingly strong. Your conviction in your beliefs can be said to be utterly unshakable."

Chi Yi looked at Luo Feng with a trace of admiration in his eyes.

Listening to Chi Yi's explanation, Luo Feng finally understood. Wasn't Heart Force what Ancient Huaxia had mentioned? In Huaxia's historical inheritance, Wang Yangming had even founded Heart Studies, which included methods for cultivating Heart Force.

Heart Force truly was an unfathomably mysterious power. It could silently influence the course of a person's life.

The Earth Lineage created by Mountain Guest seemed to have been transformed from the depths of the soul, making the Heart Force of that lineage stronger and thereby producing super experts.

Heart Force could completely make up for deficiencies in talent. No matter how poor one's aptitude was, as long as one's Heart Force was strong enough, effort could carry one to where the heart wished to go. Take Hong of the Earth Lineage, for example. His aptitude was far inferior to Luo Feng's, yet Hong's heart was as vast as heaven and earth. Wherever he believed he could reach, he would arrive, even if the road were covered in thorns.

"Senior Chi Yi, who possesses the strongest Heart Force among those who have viewed this plaque?" Luo Feng could not help asking.

"The strongest?" Chi Yi pondered. "I do not know that. Of those I know, you should be the strongest. Next is the chief steward of our Nine Regions Palace. He saw a vast ocean, while I saw only a mountain."

"However, you must remember that Heart Force is only a reference. It cannot represent everything. You must not become arrogant, or no matter how strong your Heart Force is, it will be nothing more than decoration."

Chi Yi looked at Luo Feng with a serious expression.

"Senior is right. Galaxy will remember this!" Luo Feng nodded repeatedly.

Pride goes before a fall—he understood that principle. He might have been able to feel proud in the Universe Ocean, but on the Origin Continent, Luo Feng knew he was not yet qualified.

"Mm." Chi Yi nodded. "I have heard some of your deeds. You likely have your own secrets as well, or Mad Demon would not have fallen into your hands. You must still be wary of Palace Master Lihua. Her abilities are not something Mad Demon can compare to. While you are in You Mountain City, she cannot do much to you, but once you leave You Mountain City, she has plenty of ways to deal with you.

"Still, you need not worry. Her true body will take nearly another cycle era to return. As long as you do not give her an opening during that time, with your methods, she should be unable to kill you."

"Thank you for the warning, Senior." Luo Feng felt a chill run through him.

Chi Yi nodded and said, "You Mountain City is not as peaceful as it seems. His Majesty the God King has not explicitly forbidden conflict. Openly, people cannot act recklessly, but there are still tricks to be played in the shadows. Palace Master Lihua's status is extraordinary. With her abilities, hiring a Mad Demon was a trivial matter. Next time, who knows which old monster it will be."

"Within You Mountain City, your potential is also your strength. The more outstanding you are, the more importance others will place on you, and the less they will dare touch you. Once you comprehend the Primal Chaos Stele, you can try challenging the Nine Dragons Tower. The further you progress, the greater your potential will appear, and naturally, the more others will value you."

Looking at the silver-armored human before him, Chi Yi could not help feeling a sense of closeness. After all, Luo Feng belonged to the Nine Regions Palace.

Although the Nine Regions Palace belonged to the You Mountain Empire, factional struggles also existed within the You Mountain Empire.

In his eyes, Luo Feng was a promising prospect.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Chi Yi. Once I emerge from the Primal Chaos Stele, I will challenge the Nine Dragons Tower." Luo Feng could also sense Chi Yi's friendly feeling toward him.

He knew of the Primal Chaos Stele, and the Domain Lord Token also contained records of the Nine Dragons Tower.

The Nine Dragons Tower consisted of nine Dragon Towers, each with nine levels. Three represented comprehension, three represented combat power, and the remaining three represented will.

Of the nine Dragon Towers, only You Mountain's three God Kings had cleared them all!