A moment later:
Whoosh!
Chen Qingyu opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his expression relaxed.
The Blood Sea Realm really was something!
At this moment, the True Qi within him had already undergone a transformation, becoming even more powerful.
In the Blood Sea Realm, True Qi had completely liquefied. Like a murmuring stream, it flowed from the Blood Sea through the martial meridians and acupoints.
Countless points of light glittered within the deep-blue True Qi, like water from the Star Sea.
Cultivation in the Blood Sea Realm meant constantly expanding the Blood Sea in preparation for forging the Golden Bridge.
Once the Blood Sea covered every martial meridian and acupoint, cultivation in the Blood Sea Realm would reach perfection.
Thoughts raced through Chen Qingyu's mind.
Looking within his body, he could clearly see that his Blood Sea was vast and boundless, yet it covered only a tenth of his martial meridians and acupoints.
The supreme foundation truly was unrivaled under heaven.
He had only just advanced to the Blood Sea Realm, yet the strength and breadth of the Blood Sea he had opened were already enough to crush those of most martial experts at Blood Sea perfection.
But because he had so many martial meridians and acupoints, cultivating was actually more difficult.
Of course, his future would also be all the broader for it.
I've already advanced to the Blood Sea Realm. It's time to see the ancestor and ask just what that great opportunity he mentioned is.
Chen Qingyu felt an unbearable itch of anticipation.
Anything that even a mighty figure like the Ninth Ancestor called a great opportunity had to be extraordinary!
Even if he had the check-in system, who would complain about having too many treasures?
Time to go.
Chen Qingyu quickly rose and left the quiet chamber, finding his father, Chen Zhengxing, waiting in the courtyard.
"You broke through?"
Chen Zhengxing could not help looking him over, filled with emotion.
"In just three or four days, you actually traveled the path that took me three years! Truly remarkable!"
Chen Qingyu chuckled.
"Dad, I need to make a trip to the Floating Heavenly Palace. See you later."
Chen Zhengxing nodded in acknowledgment.
With a thought from Chen Qingyu, an auspicious cloud formed beneath his feet, lifting him straight into the sky.
A moment later:
Chen Qingyu flew all the way up to the upper reaches of the sky, a thousand zhang above the ground.
Looking out:
A vast layer of golden astral winds shrouded the higher heavens without obscuring the sun's radiance.
Through the astral winds, he could vaguely see an immense palace standing above the sea of clouds.
Chen Qingyu casually turned his thumb ring.
Before him, the nine layers of terrifyingly powerful astral winds instantly grew docile, as though meeting their master. They parted to either side, automatically opening a passage.
Chen Qingyu urged on the auspicious cloud beneath his feet, passing through the astral winds with practiced ease and arriving at the Floating Heavenly Palace.
"Ancestor!"
He stepped onto the Heavenly Palace stairs and called out:
"I'm here!"
The moment his words fell, his vision blurred.
When he could see his surroundings clearly again, he was already on the floating island within that Star Sea space, with the Ninth Ancestor smiling at him.
"Wonderful! Little Qingyu, you truly haven't disappointed me!"
The Ninth Ancestor beamed, sparing no praise.
"Reaching the Blood Sea Realm in four days!"
Ever since the Kings of High Antiquity laid the foundations of the Human Race on this Desolate Continent, you must be the greatest of all time!
Chen Qingyu chuckled and blinked, seemingly expecting something.
"Hahaha!"
The Ninth Ancestor laughed heartily, then teased him with a smile.
"You came looking for me the moment you broke through to the Blood Sea Realm. Have you set your heart on that great opportunity I mentioned?"
"Of course."
Chen Qingyu answered honestly.
"Who wouldn't want treasures?"
"You certainly are honest."
At his words, the Ninth Ancestor's smile deepened, and he said:
"How about this? I'll first teach you an incantation called the Supreme Void Mora Dao Practice Incantation. Make sure you remember it well."
"Silently reciting this incantation will draw a strand of your consciousness into the [Supreme Void Dao Realm], where that great opportunity lies."
Chen Qingyu's expression immediately shifted at those words.
"The Supreme Void Dao Realm? Could you tell me more, Ancestor?"
The Ninth Ancestor spoke at length in reply.
"Over a hundred thousand years ago, when the Kings of High Antiquity were still alive, they jointly forged a supreme treasure called the Supreme Void Eternal World Mirror."
"The Supreme Void Eternal World Mirror can create a vast illusion almost indistinguishable from reality, superimposed upon the actual world. Its power covers the entire Desolate Continent, and this illusion is called the [Supreme Void Dao Realm]."
"The Supreme Void Mora Dao Practice Incantation is the key to entering the [Supreme Void Dao Realm]."
Chen Qingyu listened, dumbstruck.
Good heavens, the Kings of High Antiquity actually had the mighty power to create a virtual world?
He steadied himself, then could not help asking:
"Ancestor..."
"Where exactly in the Supreme Void Dao Realm is the great opportunity you mentioned?"
The Ninth Ancestor said with a smile:
"The [Supreme Void Dao Realm] itself is a treasure land with opportunities everywhere."
"In the [Supreme Void Dao Realm], young geniuses of every race from all corners of the Desolate Continent spar, compete, fight, and kill one another."
"The [Supreme Void Dao Realm] not only lets people rapidly improve their combat strength without risking death, but also contains many mysterious blessings."
"Of course, whether you can obtain those opportunities and blessings depends on whether you have the strength and luck."
As he spoke, he paused before continuing solemnly:
"As for the great opportunity I mentioned, I was specifically referring to the Dragon Gate Dharma Assembly."
Chen Qingyu held his breath.
"The Dragon Gate Dharma Assembly?"
"That's right."
The Ninth Ancestor nodded slightly and said:
"Do you know of the Emperor Yuan Palace?"
"Yes."
Chen Qingyu nodded and said:
"I studied the history of the Emperor Yuan Palace during my elementary schooling in the clan."
Roughly thirty thousand years ago:
At that time, the open and covert struggles between the Human Race and the alliance of other races had reached their fiercest point.
Yet a white-robed genius came across the sea alone.
His identity was an enigma and his origins mysterious. It was said that he came from the same place as the Kings of High Antiquity.
His talent shook the ancient past and dazzled the present; peerless in bearing, he stood proud above the world.
As he rose, he swept aside his peers and roamed unchallenged. Even supreme experts of the older generation could not withstand a single blow from him.
His brilliance rivaled the sun and moon; heaven and earth veiled his silhouette.
In that era, every invincible genius and monstrous prodigy could only gaze up at his receding back.
He went through epic battles involving the succession of holy lands, upheavals in Tianzhou, and wars between the Human Race and the alliance of other races, remaining invincible throughout, without a single defeat.
His radiance grew ever more dazzling.
Until a thousand years had passed:
The past became history, and history became myth.
The white-robed genius of a thousand years before had already surpassed the realm of the Kings of High Antiquity, becoming truly invincible throughout the world. With his strength alone, he subdued all under heaven and ended the era of war and strife.
The many holy lands acclaimed him as the common ruler of the Desolate Continent, the supreme sovereign of all races, with the title Emperor Yuan.
"Ancestor."
Chen Qingyu's expression shifted.
"Could the Dragon Gate Dharma Assembly you mentioned be connected to the Emperor Yuan Palace?"
After becoming invincible throughout the world, Emperor Yuan had no interest in power. Once he established the Emperor Yuan Palace, he withdrew into secluded cultivation and never emerged.
For thirty thousand years, the Emperor Yuan Palace had remained lofty and aloof, standing apart from the world. It never interfered in disputes between the great holy lands, maintaining its transcendent position.
"That's right."
The Ninth Ancestor nodded with a smile.
"As everyone knows, Emperor Yuan most enjoys fostering the younger generation, especially invincible geniuses who tower over their contemporaries."
"Every so often, Emperor Yuan holds the Dragon Gate Dharma Assembly, inviting outstanding geniuses from across the world to the Emperor Yuan Palace, regardless of race."
"At the Dragon Gate Dharma Assembly, you can not only hear Emperor Yuan personally expound the Dao; there are also all kinds of immortal pills, divine medicines, and natural treasures, as well as contests of magical prowess."
"Those who rank near the top in these contests not only receive rewards from Emperor Yuan, but even have a chance to become his personal disciples."
At this point, he deliberately paused before continuing:
"Take a guess. With the Emperor Yuan Palace standing apart from the world, how does it select the strongest group of outstanding geniuses from the entire Desolate Continent?"
Chen Qingyu drew a deep breath and murmured:
"Naturally, it can only be through the Supreme Void Dao Realm..."