Li Eight Prohibitions

The Ziwei Imperial Capital was an ancient city of vast proportions, imposing and magnificent. It resembled an immortal Divine City in the heavens, exuding an air of age and weathered grandeur.

Its gates and streets were extraordinarily tall and broad; even dozens of riders on savage beasts could travel abreast without crowding. Supreme formations were inscribed upon its mottled walls, ready to unleash divine might and protect the entire ancient city should a powerful enemy invade.

In the past, the city had been remarkably quiet, without a trace of the bustle of a marketplace. It was entirely unlike the thriving scene ordinary cultivators imagined. Peace and tranquility prevailed, and mortals were almost nowhere to be seen.

Now, however, Princess Yueshi's Coming-of-Age Ceremony had stirred up considerable waves across the Divine Continent. Cultivators had arrived at the imperial capital in droves, making the city exceptionally lively.

"This is..."

Some cultivators were astonished. Auspicious mist wreathed the ancient avenues, and vital essence surged like cascading waterfalls. Within many old buildings and gardens, springs flowed and waterfalls tumbled, ancient trees towered into the sky, and spirit medicines released their fragrance.

This hardly seemed like an ancient imperial city tens of thousands of years old. It was more like a secluded sect sanctuary beyond the mortal world. Not a single mortal could be seen; this was a sacred land for cultivation.

"A little unexpected, isn't it?"

An elderly cultivator among them who knew the circumstances explained with a smile, "The upper ranks of the Ziwei Divine Dynasty are cultivators. They established their dynasty to make better use of resources for cultivation, not out of a craving for glory and riches."

The cultivators understood after hearing this. The Ziwei Divine Dynasty also had mortal cities, and a great many of them, but its imperial capital was not among their number. This was where its highest rulers cultivated.

At the center of the city, purple energy soared skyward in a hazy mass, reaching tens of thousands of feet into the heavens and transforming into countless dragons that wheeled and danced through the sky. One glance revealed it to be a gathering place of supreme ancestral dragon veins. The earth's vital essence flowed here, making it an unparalleled divine land for cultivation.

"Normally, ordinary cultivators would have almost no chance of setting foot in this Divine Capital of cultivation without an invitation from the dynasty's upper ranks!"

A cultivator exclaimed at the sight of this auspicious land and Divine City.

"Indeed. If Princess Yueshi's birthday banquet hadn't brought invitations for the successors and Saint Sons of so many great sects, prompting the dynasty's upper ranks to relax some restrictions all at once, how could we have entered the imperial capital?"

Li Wangxian's horizons had broadened as well. This was much like certain dynasties in Central Province on the Northern Dipper. Many dragon veins and ancestral veins lay beneath the Divine Continent, and numerous supreme sects built cities to gather and nurture the vital essence of heaven and earth, turning them into pure lands for cultivation.

By building cities, nourishing their divine splendor, developing the Great Dao of heaven and earth, and awakening dragon veins and ancestral roots, they could make a pure land ever richer in spiritual energy until it became a divine kingdom for cultivation.

On the Divine Continent, the Ziwei Divine Dynasty stood foremost. Its imperial capital had almost evolved into a heavenly capital, as though a divine kingdom had descended!

"Is Princess Yueshi really so favored? In a divine land like this, never mind cultivating-even simply living here would bring considerable benefits!"

A cultivator exclaimed aloud. They had only been in the imperial capital a short while and had yet to truly begin cultivating, but streams of earthly vital essence mingled with dragon energy were already cleansing their bodies and minds with every breath. Their minds grew clear and unburdened, while their bodies and life essence were gently nourished. The effects were astonishing.

Everyone understood what this cultivator meant. Although the imperial capital's dragon energy and auspicious radiance were almost inexhaustible, most were sealed within the city center, beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Yet a truly considerable number of cultivators had arrived. Even if only the outskirts were opened, so many people breathing in essence and cultivating would still consume a substantial amount of the surrounding vital essence mingled with auspicious energy. Opening the city to so many cultivators was indeed an incredible decision.

"Hmm, I have heard something about that. Apparently, the Ziwei Divine Dynasty's Imperial Mother felt that, with nearly ten thousand years having passed since the Azure Emperor died in meditation, the Great Dao's suppression had vanished, the Emperor Road had reopened, and a golden age had returned. Many extraordinary talents would emerge in a surging tide, so she simply decided to use this opportunity to recruit outstanding heroes."

The random old fellows in Shrouding the Heavens never disappointed. After hearing this news, Li Wangxian's doubts vanished. Opening such an auspicious Divine City to the great sects' Saint Sons for a princess was understandable, but allowing tens of thousands of unaffiliated cultivators in as well had been rather difficult to explain.

After all, over tens of thousands of years of inheritance, there had already been countless princesses, imperial uncles, and sovereigns. If every one of them did this, what would become of the dynasty?

Even if they truly wished to receive the cultivators' congratulations and proclaim the occasion to the world, they could have chosen another towering Divine City whose grandeur and imposing stature would not fall short of the imperial capital.

"Speaking of this matter, I have also heard a rumor, though I do not know whether it is true.

"Apparently, a little over two years ago, while traveling through Ziwei, the Ziwei Divine Dynasty's Imperial Mother encountered Li Shenzhou and the mysterious youth rumored to have obtained the Human Emperor's Immortal Scripture in Tianyuan City. She was greatly astonished by their peerless talent.

"After returning, she reflected on how many outstanding heroes there were in the world, and that was what led to this grand gathering."

An elderly cultivator dropped this explosive revelation, sending the young cultivators' hearts surging. They wished desperately that they themselves were the legendary young genius whose stunning talent had caught the Imperial Mother's eye.

"Just how extraordinary must their talent have been for even the Imperial Mother of an immortal dynasty, who has seen countless gifted people, to be so astonished? Isn't this a little too fantastical?"

One cultivator found it inconceivable. The Imperial Mother of an immortal dynasty ruled over hundreds of millions of miles of mountains and rivers and must have seen more extraordinary talents than anyone could count. Just how heaven-defying a prodigy would it take to astonish and shake even someone like her?

"Exactly! It's simply unimaginable. I'm afraid only a legendary young Great Emperor could possess such bearing!"

At these words, everyone paused, then found themselves agreeing. If the rumor was true, perhaps only that could explain it.

Off to one side, Li Wangxian, one of the people in the rumor, was lost in thought. These cultivators' descriptions sounded somewhat familiar. The Ziwei Divine Dynasty's Imperial Mother had seen him twice two years ago, once outside the Thunder Domain and once outside Tianyuan City?

Was it that little girl and the beautiful woman beside her, the one with such an imposing air of nobility and all those divine generals guarding her?

With a vague suspicion forming, Li Wangxian's thoughts stirred. If I approach the Ziwei Divine Dynasty's people as Li Shenzhou, could I learn the whereabouts of the Sun Scripture? Could I even seize an opportunity to obtain it?

As Li Wangxian weighed the advantages and disadvantages, numerous armored divine soldiers and generals arrived from deeper within the Divine City. These were the troops the Ziwei Divine Dynasty had sent to escort the cultivators to their lodgings in the imperial capital.

"Follow us closely. The dynasty has arranged communal lodgings for you. Also, do not wander about the city without permission. If you trigger one of the sacred formations here, no one will be able to save you."

As they led the way, some armored divine generals explained the prohibitions. Various ancient formations were inscribed throughout the city; anyone who wandered carelessly without understanding their layout could easily face mortal danger, and even a Great Ability would struggle to save them.

"Moreover, the inner city is layered with great formations. Unless we escort you through the safe passages, anyone attempting to sneak inside will die without a place to bury their bones!"

Seeing many in the crowd staring fixedly at the dragon energy and auspicious radiance filling the sky above the inner city, their eyes gleaming, the divine general gave a displeased snort that jolted them out of their reverie.

"What a pity!"

Everyone sighed. Though they had expected as much, they were still filled with regret at that moment.

After all, they understood that the divine general was not lying. Such an auspicious sacred land for cultivation was one of the dynasty's crucial foundations, and no degree of protection would be excessive. It was easy to imagine that there would be no shortage of world-shaking formations. Forcing their way in would certainly lead to death.

Still, some noticed that although the divine general sounded displeased, his manner remained quite amiable. They gathered their courage and struck up a conversation, then asked about their earlier discussion of the Imperial Mother's order to select outstanding talents, as well as the qualifications for entering the inner city.

After hearing their questions, the divine general readily nodded and answered them earnestly.

"The Imperial Mother does indeed intend to select outstanding heroes. If you can overpower all rivals in the Battle Arena and win every one of a hundred battles, you may be allowed to cultivate in the inner city and receive her rewards and favor."

Everyone was shaken. Many of the young cultivators' eyes shone brightly, their fighting spirit rising. They possessed an indescribable vitality and confidence. Even those whose cultivation was still low firmly believed that once they matured, they would be no weaker than anyone else.

They drew sidelong glances from quite a few middle-aged and elderly cultivators.

The Battle Arena-will my name, Li Eight Prohibitions, resound throughout Ziwei today?

Li Wangxian was stirred as well. Divine light burst from his eyes, shaking the surroundings.

There will only be one update today. Readers who feel the updates are too short can let the chapters build up first and read once there is more material.