Ancient City of Azure Flame

"No wonder it's the largest sect within ten thousand miles. With nearly a thousand years of heritage, the Myriad Phenomena Hall's foundations run deep!"

Standing on the avenue, Qin Hao and his two companions gazed into the distance and could not help marveling once more.

The sight was far more awe-inspiring than it had been from atop the Flame Azure Bird.

From the sky, the surroundings of the Myriad Phenomena Hall had looked smaller. Viewed from the ground, they seemed even more immense.

There was also an avenue leading straight to the foot of the mountain.

At that moment, the three stood on that avenue, dozens of miles from the mountain.

"The Myriad Phenomena Hall will be the starting point of my climb to the pinnacle!"

Chen Yuntian's eyes burned with fervor. "Since we've all come to the Myriad Phenomena Hall, let's compete! We'll see who goes farther and who becomes an inner hall disciple first! And Qin Hao, one victory means nothing. Within two months at most, I'll trample you underfoot again!"

"Haha, exactly what I had in mind! Qin Hao, you'd better work hard, or we might overtake you before you know it!"

Liu Xiao laughed heartily. "Besides, our immediate priority is the entrance trial. The participants are geniuses from all over, and every one of them is extremely strong!"

"Of course. Now that I'm at the Myriad Phenomena Hall, my strength will only improve faster! Let's go collect our entrance resources."

Anticipation filled Qin Hao's heart.

This entrance trial would bring together geniuses from every region.

Myriad Forms City alone was several times grander than Tianshui City.

Countless cities fell under the Myriad Phenomena Hall's authority. Myriad Forms City was merely one of its fortified cities, and there were plenty of others just as large.

Without a doubt, this entrance trial would be a clash of mighty contenders, a truly spectacular contest!

"Screech! Screech!..."

Suddenly, cries from giant birds rang out overhead.

Before some of the Flame Azure Birds had even landed, geniuses from various regions leaped off them, plunging straight down from high above and landing with impacts that shook the ground.

They were all geniuses from cities across the land!

Every one of them wore an expression of utter pride!

"Look, that girl has such a powerful aura!" One girl stood among the crowd with an indifferent expression, and everyone could tell at a glance that she was different. Liu Xiao's gaze sharpened as he spoke in a low voice.

"At least late ninth level of the body tempering realm! And her killing intent is so intense. She must have fought through plenty of life-and-death battles!"

Qin Hao's heart tightened slightly. He had a feeling that if he faced this girl, he might not be her match.

Yet the stronger she seemed, the more excited Qin Hao became.

Tianshui City was nothing. If he was going to compete, he would compete with these supreme geniuses!

By then, an uproar had broken out along the avenue. Many newly admitted disciples fixed their eyes on the girl, their gazes brimming with fighting spirit.

"It's Tang Bingyan!"

"Gasp! Could she be the Tang Bingyan hailed as one of the Six Great Geniuses among the newly admitted disciples?"

"The Six Great Geniuses all have fifth-grade Martial Souls and extraordinary potential. Their current strength is incredible, too!"

Someone had already recognized the girl.

At once, many of the geniuses' eyes narrowed.

Even in the Myriad Phenomena Hall's outer hall, fifth-grade Martial Souls belonged to the highest tier. Peerless geniuses with Martial Souls above the fifth grade were exceedingly rare!

"A fifth-grade Martial Soul? The Six Great Geniuses?"

Qin Hao and his companions exchanged glances, all somewhat surprised.

They had come to the Myriad Phenomena Hall without any information about the other newly admitted disciples.

"Looks like we're badly behind on the news. And every one of these people is itching for a fight. Interesting!" Liu Xiao smacked his lips, his expression equally excited.

Although fifth-grade Martial Souls were immensely powerful, these were geniuses selected from every region. Expect them to bow their heads?

They would have to fight first!

Sometimes, a Martial Soul did not determine everything. Fists spoke the truth!

Soon, the beautiful Tang Bingyan left Myriad Phenomena Avenue.

The crowd quickly dispersed, and Qin Hao and his companions followed the flow of people toward the Myriad Phenomena Hall.

Meanwhile, halfway up the Myriad Phenomena Hall's main peak lay a vast cultivation court built from white jade. An enormous formation covered it, filling it with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy so rich that it almost formed a hazy mist.

Above the court stood an even grander, more imposing hall.

Whoosh...

Light as a swallow, Chi Zhenheng entered the hall with effortless ease.

"Greetings, Hall Master!"

Chi Zhenheng steadied himself and cupped his hands toward the head of the hall.

Many people with powerful auras stood inside. Quite a few of their auras even far surpassed Chi Zhenheng's!

They were all elders of the Myriad Phenomena Hall!

At the head of the hall sat a middle-aged man, his eyes closed in repose. Black-and-white ripples enveloped him in a haze, making his true features impossible to discern.

Without seeing him with their own eyes, no one could have sensed his presence.

He was none other than the master of the Myriad Phenomena Hall!

By then, several elders could no longer hold back their questions.

"Elder Chi, what did your investigation reveal?"

"Were those spiritual energy fluctuations we sensed last time caused by a treasure or ancient ruins?"

"The fluctuations were enormous. If it's a treasure, it's certainly no ordinary one. Ancient ruins seem more likely!"

How powerful was the third-ranked elder of the Myriad Phenomena Hall's outer hall? How exalted was his status?

Would he really travel to Tianshui City merely to oversee the Myriad Phenomena Genius Tournament?

Chi Zhenheng's more important task on this trip had been to investigate the spiritual energy fluctuations!

"I've confirmed it." A sharp gleam flashed through Chi Zhenheng's eyes as he said gravely, "The source of those spiritual energy fluctuations is Azure Flame Ancient City, a ruin from antiquity!"

"What? An ancient city ruin, the hardest kind of ancient ruin to find?"

His words immediately sent the hall into an uproar.

Everyone's breathing quickened.

No ancient city was ever ordinary.

In ancient times, numerous sects and factions had established themselves within enormous cities to withstand the countless demonic beasts.

Countless years passed, and humanity defeated the demonic beasts. Yet many ancient cities vanished without a trace, either sinking underground or breaking into scattered fragments.

They were submerged beneath the vast tide of time.

Yet ancient cities often held endless treasures, countless ancient cultivation methods, and secret techniques.

Obtaining them would undoubtedly make the Myriad Phenomena Hall even stronger.

Of course, ancient cities were also extraordinarily dangerous. Even true martial realm experts risked death upon entering them.

"Azure Flame Ancient City lies at the bottom of Clearheart Lake. There's a small island on the lake... Clearheart Island!"

Chi Zhenheng continued, "The entrance to Azure Flame Ancient City is beneath Clearheart Island, enclosed by an immensely powerful formation. Ordinary force cannot possibly break through it."

"As for Clearheart Island..."

"The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy on Clearheart Island is far denser than elsewhere! It has spawned vast numbers of demonic beasts, including quite a few high-tier second-rank beasts! I've already slain those mighty beasts, but there were too many first-rank beasts for me to deal with."

The elders nodded repeatedly at his words. Directly above the entrance to an ancient city, the spiritual energy was bound to be dense. It was only natural for powerful demonic beasts to emerge there.

However, some time ago, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy on Clearheart Island had suddenly fluctuated violently. Even the Myriad Phenomena Hall, ten thousand miles away, had sensed it clearly. For such a disturbance to occur, Azure Flame Ancient City must contain Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures!

"There's no hurry to explore the ancient city ruins."

A calm yet authoritative voice rang out. The master of the Myriad Phenomena Hall swept his gaze over everyone and said thoughtfully, "A city like this is bound to have danger lurking on every side. Until we unravel its wards, no one is to enter. As for Clearheart Island..."

"Let's hold this year's outer hall entrance trial on Clearheart Island. It will also clear out the low-tier demonic beasts there. Elder Chi, you investigated Azure Flame Ancient City. What do you think?"

Everyone immediately turned to Chi Zhenheng.

Chi Zhenheng nodded. "Clearheart Island now has only low-level demonic beasts. It is indeed suitable for the entrance trial."

"Very well. This year's entrance trial will be held on Clearheart Island!"

The master of the Myriad Phenomena Hall swept his gaze over everyone, his voice filled with indifference and authority.