Destined to Become a Great Emperor-Who Would Dare Show Disrespect?

"Why did so many Flying Boats suddenly show up?"

"Judging by their direction, they're heading for the Tianyuan Holy Land."

"Could they be planning to attack our Tianyuan Holy Land?"

"What a joke! Those few Flying Boats could carry a few tens of thousands at most. Any Outer Court elder could easily wipe out such a paltry force!"

"True enough."

"Wait, the emblem on those Flying Boats seems to belong to the Great Wu Imperial Clan!"

"The Great Wu Imperial Clan? Why would they come to the Tianyuan Holy Land?"

While everyone was still puzzling over it, the elder accompanying them had already set off, walking through the air.

With his aura alone, he forcibly halted several Royal Clan Flying Boats.

As a late-stage Martial Saint Realm cultivator, he commanded that much respect even without the Tianyuan Holy Land behind him.

"Greetings, Senior!" Several figures clad in imposing armor, each bearing the air of a general, stepped forward and saluted in unison.

Before he could speak, they hurriedly explained why they had come, terrified that the escort elder might wipe out the Flying Boats and everyone aboard with an angry sweep of his hand!

Even if he truly did so, the Great Wu Dynasty would dare neither resent him nor speak out.

The Great Wu Dynasty owed its many years of stable development to the protection of the Tianyuan Holy Land.

Otherwise, outsiders would not have claimed that Great Wu's true ruler was not its royal family, but the Tianyuan Holy Land behind it.

Their visit was purely to congratulate Chen Mu, the young master, on awakening two top-grade talents.

The Flying Boats carried no elite soldiers or fierce generals, only mountains of congratulatory gifts.

Only after sweeping them with his divine sense and confirming there was no threat did the escort elder step aside and let them pass.

"That's our Tianyuan Holy Land's young master for you. Even a dynasty has to come bearing gifts."

"Of course. With a heaven-rank supreme thunder spirit root, a fire spiritual root, and the Tianyuan Holy Land's resources, he's destined to become a Great Emperor. Who would dare show disrespect?"

"A Great Emperor! How many years has it been since Great Cang last produced one? If the young master truly breaks through to the Great Emperor realm, the Tianyuan Holy Land will surely live as long as heaven itself and tower above all ages!"

The mere thought filled everyone with excitement they could scarcely contain.

A Great Emperor?!

Ye Qingcheng felt the same way.

If she could remain by Chen Mu's side and witness him attain the Dao as a Great Emperor, it would be an unparalleled honor for her!

Meanwhile, Chen Mu had no interest in the Great Wu royal family's arrival or their gifts.

He had the Tianyuan Holy Land send anyone they pleased to receive them.

Then he rolled over and resumed his sweet dreams.

An hour later, the Tianyuan Holy Land's Flying Boat reached the secret realm.

The enormous Flying Boat and the Tianyuan Holy Land's emblem immediately drew countless people to stop and stare.

"Look! That's the Tianyuan Holy Land's Flying Boat!"

"How magnificent! That Flying Boat must be at least saint-grade!"

"A saint-grade Flying Boat?!"

"I wonder whether the Tianyuan Holy Land's young master came along. I'd really like to see what dual talents combining thunder and fire can do."

"I don't see him anywhere."

"A little secret realm inheritance probably isn't worthy of the Tianyuan Young Master's attention. His household has vast holdings, after all."

"Wait! Isn't that the Sky Sword Sect's saintess, Ye Qingcheng? Why is she aboard the Tianyuan Holy Land's Flying Boat?"

"Behind on the news, are you? I heard Saintess Ye has been taken into the young master's residence to be groomed as his wife."

Groomed as his wife?

Hearing their conversation, Ye Qingcheng had never expected rumors about her relationship with the young master to have spread this far.

She ignored them and focused on the task at hand.

Surviving the secret realm, obtaining more inheritance treasures, and not disgracing the young master were Ye Qingcheng's only goals!

"Ah, let's go. With the Tianyuan Holy Land here, someone like me has no chance of getting the inheritance."

"Exactly. It feels like any random one of them could match our sect's finest prodigy."

"Such terrifying depth of strength!"

After confirming that the Tianyuan Holy Land would take part in the treasure hunt, more than half the people chose to give up.

They returned where they had come from.

They saw no reason to sew another person's wedding gown, wasting all their effort only to gain nothing in the end.

Whoever wanted to be the green leaves framing someone else's flower could have the role!

With Ye Qingcheng in the lead, the Tianyuan Holy Land's disciples entered the swirling azure Teleportation Gate.

Although Chen Mu had never acknowledged it, that did not stop them from believing Ye Qingcheng might well become the young master's future wife.

Even if the chance was only one in a thousand or one in ten thousand, they still had to show her every respect.

The escort elder remained outside the Teleportation Gate.

This trial had been prepared for the younger generation. Someone of his level could not appropriately participate; he only needed to wait quietly.

That way, he would avoid damaging the Tianyuan Holy Land's reputation.

Disciples from the other sects and holy lands followed close behind.

Yet in the very next instant, a shocking change swept through the Teleportation Gate!

Boom!

Spiritual energy went berserk and surged outward. The surrounding space shook violently, as though it were about to tear apart.

Many were driven back seven or eight steps or hurled dozens of meters away.

The Tianyuan escort elder raised a hand and effortlessly quelled the abnormal surge of spiritual energy.

When he saw the Teleportation Gate turn blood-red and its entrance seal shut, the escort elder's expression changed. "This is bad! It's a trap!"

"Who was responsible for assessing this secret realm?!" he roared.

Even the mountains and rivers trembled!

"Senior, we were responsible for the assessment. Previously—previously, we found nothing unusual. I believe whoever infiltrated this secret realm must be far stronger than us, which is why..."

Bang! Boom!

With a twitch of his fingers, the escort elder sent them flying dozens of meters. Their bodies slammed into the mountainside, embedding deep in the rock.

He said coldly, "If any disciple of my Tianyuan Holy Land is killed or injured because of this, I'll exterminate your entire clans!!"

He had no desire to hear excuses meant to shirk responsibility.

If they lacked the ability to assess it, they should have found someone capable of doing so!

Without a diamond drill, why take on porcelain repairs?

Now that the secret realm's entrance had closed, there was no way to open it from outside.

They could only rely on Ye Qingcheng and the others within to break the shackles themselves.

If they failed, they would become nourishment for those malicious old monsters seeking a chance at reincarnation!

Ye Qingcheng and the others inside the secret realm knew nothing of this.

They stood in a desert filled with drifting yellow sand, stretching beyond the limits of sight.

Fierce winds howled around their ears, carrying tiny grains of sand and stone that scraped painfully across their faces and exposed skin.

"What a harsh environment. I wonder what cruel trials await us in here?" A disciple of the Everlasting Pole Sect felt an inexplicable chill creep up his back.

"It never hurts to be careful. Disciples of the Ten Thousand Verdant Sect, stay together! Don't split up!"

Everyone remained on utmost alert as they slowly advanced through the desert, into the wind and sand.

Rumble!

Suddenly, violent tremors rose from beneath the earth.

Unable to keep their footing, many dropped to all fours and lay low.

Looking up, they saw yellow sand cascading from above like a waterfall.

As that waterfall of sand grew thinner and thinner, the colossal creature hidden behind it came into view!