Jiang Chen traveled at an unhurried pace with Ye Hao. Several days later, they finally arrived near the Purple Firmament Holy Land.
Even from far away, Ye Hao could see the magnificent sight ahead.
Auspicious clouds drifted slowly around over a thousand towering peaks. Exotic flowers and rare herbs grew everywhere, with pavilions and terraces nestled among them. Luan birds and immortal cranes flew leisurely through the clouds. Spiritual Qi wreathed the mountains like ribbons, while clouds billowed and rosy mists surged like boiling water, shimmering with color as auspicious vapors rose.
The mountain gate of the Purple Firmament Holy Land was even more astonishing. Four heaven-reaching divine pillars shrouded in purple Qi supported an ancient gatehouse.
Runes resembling dragons and phoenixes flashed across it from time to time, emanating terrifying pressure. It was like a heavenly gate that had descended into the mortal world, inscribed with four ancient characters: Purple Firmament Holy Land!
The Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor's thirty-thousand-meter dragon body coiled around one of the heaven-reaching divine pillars. His eyes were half-closed, his head lowered beside the gatehouse, and his body swept freely through the air. Every scale emanated overwhelming draconic might, fully displaying the holy land's deep foundations.
"What a magnificent holy land!"
Ye Hao could not help exclaiming in admiration.
Jiang Chen nodded slightly. "The Purple Firmament Holy Land's foundations are unfathomable. What you see before you is merely the tip of the iceberg!"
Just then, the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor's eyes snapped open, bright as two divine lamps. He nodded slightly toward Jiang Chen. "Congratulations on acquiring an excellent disciple, Peak Master Jiang! This must be the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Chen's eyes, but he immediately understood. Presumably, the commotion caused by the Hundred Refinements Devil God's projection had been so great that it had drawn the attention of powerful figures from every side.
It was no surprise that the Purple Firmament Holy Land had learned of it.
"You certainly are well informed, Dragon Emperor! Indeed, this is my newly accepted disciple, Ye Hao!"
Jiang Chen nodded with a smile and gestured to Ye Hao. "This is the guardian of our Purple Firmament Holy Land, the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor! Come pay your respects!"
Ye Hao bowed to the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor. "Disciple Ye Hao pays his respects to Senior Dragon Emperor!"
The Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor nodded in admiration. "Such powerful blood and vitality! No one at your level can compare! As expected of the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body! I hope its glory will shine again through you!"
As he spoke, a pitch-black, teardrop-shaped dragon scale flashed out from between his brows and floated toward Ye Hao. He said thoughtfully, "This is the reverse scale I shed when I broke through to the Emperor Realm. It can protect you and kill your enemies. Take it as a gift for our first meeting!"
Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows slightly and praised him. "How generous of you, Dragon Emperor!"
This was no ordinary dragon scale, but the reverse scale the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor had shed upon breaking through to the Emperor Realm. It was no less formidable than the secret treasures other Emperors had refined over their entire lives!
Even Jiang Chen had not received such treatment when he first joined. This could be considered the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor's investment in the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body.
Still, this first-meeting gift was truly a substantial one!
"This is too precious! I can't accept it!" Ye Hao hurriedly waved his hands.
The Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor opened his jaws, his voice shaking the heavens beyond. "A gift from an elder must not be refused! This is already of no use to me anyway. Take it!"
Jiang Chen smiled. "Since the Dragon Emperor insists on giving you a first-meeting gift, accept it! Just remember this kindness!"
"Then thank you, Dragon Emperor!"
Only then did Ye Hao accept the reverse scale. He wrapped it in divine power and stored it in his Wheel Sea to nurture it, his eyes filled with delight.
Satisfaction appeared in the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor's eyes. Turning his gaze toward Jiang Chen, he said with feeling, "Peak Master Jiang, it really isn't that I'm well informed. The commotion you caused a few days ago was simply too great!"
"You destroyed the Hundred Refinements Devil God's projection with a single punch. The ancestors of every faction were shaken. You've made a name for yourself in the Eastern Wilderness, Peak Master Jiang!"
"Ancestor Lingtian witnessed it personally, and the Holy Lord himself spread the word. The entire Purple Firmament Holy Land knows!"
"The strength you displayed is enough to rival a supreme elder's!"
"The Holy Lord said it himself: a supreme elder's seat awaits you!"
In truth, the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor had sensed a faint pressure from Jiang Chen in the past. Suspecting that Jiang Chen might be an Emperor Realm expert, he had always treated him courteously.
However, even the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor had not expected Jiang Chen to destroy a devil god's projection with a single punch!
This meant Jiang Chen had long since entered the Venerable Lord Realm!
Moreover, he was an exceptionally powerful Venerable Lord!
As far as the Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor knew, most peak masters of the Purple Firmament Holy Land were ordinary Emperors. Only a very few had reached the pinnacle of the Emperor Realm, as he had.
As for Venerable Lords, under normal circumstances, they would long since have become supreme elders of the Purple Firmament Holy Land and gone deep into various secret realms and grotto-heavens to focus on cultivation. Almost none would continue serving as peak masters.
Several months earlier, myriad Daos gave rise to tribulation, ushering in an age of great contention.
The Purple Firmament Holy Land had opened access to all its cultivation resources, and many peak masters had made rapid progress.
However, he had yet to hear of any peak master breaking through to the Venerable Lord Realm!
Jiang Chen waved a hand and said breezily, "Aside from me, our Clear Void Peak lineage has only two newly accepted disciples, both far too young. I can't take up a supreme elder's position for now. I can only politely decline the Holy Lord's kindness."
"You're still young, Peak Master Jiang. Then keep shining and giving your warmth to the Clear Void Peak lineage!"
The Dark Annihilation Dragon Emperor spoke with a smile. Then, seemingly remembering something, he said thoughtfully, "Right, Peak Master Jiang, the Holy Lord mentioned another piece of news not long ago."
"Ancestor Lingtian sensed that a Nameless Heavenly Palace is about to emerge above the Chaotic Cloud Sea. It is a Divine Spirit ruin that has never appeared in the world before."
"In as little as half a month, or as long as several months, it should fully manifest in the world!"
"If you're interested, Peak Master Jiang, you could look into it!"
Above the Chaotic Cloud Sea?
A Divine Spirit ruin?
Jiang Chen's expression shifted slightly as information about the Chaotic Cloud Sea surfaced in his mind.
The Chaotic Cloud Sea was a vast ocean spanning nearly a million li, where countless ferocious demonic beasts lurked.
Most of the Chaotic Cloud Sea was ruled by the savage and domineering Sea God Hall. With countless ferocious sea beasts under its command, it dominated the region, and no one dared provoke it.
Eight great Dao domains were scattered around the Chaotic Cloud Sea, home to three holy lands and twelve divine-path factions, as well as over a hundred ancient sects and great schools. The Purple Firmament Holy Land was one of those three holy lands.
Normally, a Divine Spirit ruin that had never appeared before, such as the Nameless Heavenly Palace, was certain to be filled with opportunities. Every faction would go mad over it!
However, it would also have restrictions, whether on cultivation or age.
This Nameless Heavenly Palace had likely only just begun to reveal faint phantoms of itself. None of the factions could determine what restrictions it held, and further investigation would be needed to find out.
Of course, a Divine Spirit ruin that had never appeared before would also be fraught with danger. The slightest carelessness could leave one buried within it.
It might even wipe out every explorer.
Wave after wave of lives would have to be thrown into it before more details about the ruin could gradually be uncovered.
Yet this did nothing to dampen the factions' enthusiasm for exploring it. If they obtained a Divine Spirit's inheritance, they would truly strike it rich!
Since Ancestor Lingtian could sense that the heavenly palace was about to emerge, the Divine Realm ancestors of other factions would surely sense it as well.
As the Nameless Heavenly Palace's seal grew weaker, news of the Divine Spirit ruin's impending emergence would spread rapidly. A clash of dragons and tigers would be inevitable then!
"Thank you for telling me, Dragon Emperor. There's still plenty of time anyway. Let's leave the matter of the Nameless Heavenly Palace for later!"
Jiang Chen replied with a smile.
Jiang Chen had no intention of visiting this Nameless Heavenly Palace himself, though he could let his disciples enter it to seek opportunities.
After all, whenever his disciples broke through or gained enlightenment in the Dao, Jiang Chen reaped even greater benefits!
Wasn't a Divine Spirit ruin simply a backyard for a son of fortune?