Chapter 409: Chapter 392: The Weirdness in the Dark
The three guest ministers all possessed High Class White Hole Level strength.
Along with the two High Class White Hole Level sect masters, a total of five High Class White Hole Level experts escorted the group.
"Let’s go!"
The group set off on the journey to the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect.
The journey was long, and everyone else was joyfully chatting, imagining the powerful beings they might encounter in the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect and the benefits they would receive upon entering.
However, one of the guest ministers coldly interrupted their fantasies.
"You have only been granted the recommendation qualification; if you truly wish to enter the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, you are not yet worthy."
The speaker was a guest minister dressed in a white robe with black edges, a face frozen in expression like an ice mountain, making him difficult to approach.
"Brother Yuan, could you enlighten us?"
Zhao Xiang asked respectfully.
This guest minister was knowledgeable about matters of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, which would benefit both the disciples and elders of the sect. Naturally, the more they knew, the better.
"My understanding of the Divine Sect is not deep, but I was once one of you, having participated in the true trial of the Divine Sect."
Guest Minister Yuan said coldly, "You think too lightly of the Divine Sect trial. This is not an ordinary sect task, but one where you must fight for your life, walking between life and death. With one wrong move, both you elders and disciples could lose your lives!"
At these words, many of the genius disciples were in an uproar.
The sect master and elders, however, remained calm.
The selection of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect had been held many times. They had experienced it, so naturally, they knew something about it.
The trials of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect were full of dangers, so much so that a misstep could result in death, which they all knew... And yet, despite this, to enter the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect and gain stronger power, they would still let their disciples compete for the recommendation qualification and participate in the Divine Sect trial.
If just one disciple succeeded in entering the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, the entire sect would be under the protection of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, along with which the Great Dragon Dynasty would gain attention!
Once, a disciple successfully entered the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect.
At that time, the Great Dragon Dynasty held a grand celebration all over for this event.
However, not long after, the unfortunate news of this disciple’s death arrived, severing the only connection with the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect.
In other words, until now, not a single disciple from the Great Dragon Dynasty had truly become a member of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect!
Those who experienced the Divine Sect trial and returned by luck would either maintain silence and focus on their cultivation after returning to the sect, eventually becoming elders, or leave the sect to venture outside.
"I know these things; the trials back then were incredibly dangerous."
A Lingxu Martial Sect elder spoke up, "I couldn’t even endure the first challenge and chose to withdraw."
The elder spoke calmly, but the flicker of fear in his eyes revealed just how perilous the Divine Sect trials were.
"Guest Minister Yuan, could you elaborate, so they know more? Even if they can’t pass the Divine Sect trial, at least they could preserve their lives."
Situ Wumen said.
Then, Guest Minister Yuan began to narrate his experiences to everyone.
Wang Xu, cultivating alone at the side, also extended his senses and listened intently to Guest Minister Yuan’s account.
The Divine Sect trial consists mainly of three stages.
Each stage is more lethal than the last.
The first stage Guest Minister Yuan faced was a fierce battle with a Mechanical Beast made entirely of steel, a stage he successfully passed.
However, the second stage was to hunt the demon beasts hidden in a blood-red swamp!
No matter how strong a Celestial Level martial artist was, they couldn’t face a demon beast alone. Fearing for his life, Guest Minister Yuan chose to give up.
"...Before I left, I inquired about the third stage and heard it was even more terrifying..."
Guest Minister Yuan recalled, his hand trembling involuntarily, "The third stage requires them to hunt a Sky Giant Beast!"
"Hiss—"
Everyone gasped.
To send a Celestial Level disciple to hunt a Black Hole Level Sky Giant Beast?
Could anyone succeed in such a trial?
Such a challenge already crossed a whole realm. The might of a Sky Giant Beast could easily crush a Celestial Level martial artist. Even a hundred Celestial Level martial artists together couldn’t contend with a single Sky Giant Beast!
"Guest Minister Yuan, in the end... did anyone pass this trial?"
Their gazes gathered once more.
The trial was shocking, but even more shocking would be the ones who passed it... To be able to kill a Sky Giant Beast with the strength of a Celestial Level martial artist, what a powerful genius disciple it would take!
Guest Minister Yuan lightly nodded.
"The geniuses who passed the trial are disciples from the ’Venerable Dynasty,’ their strength unimaginably powerful, single-handedly able to slay a Sky Giant Beast!"
"Venerable Dynasty!"
Everyone present, including Wang Xu, knew what kind of mighty existence the Venerable Dynasty was.
In the Red Sun Divine Continent, there were countless dynasties, some strong, some weak.
Thus, the divisions of "Ordinary Dynasty," "Great Dynasty," and "Venerable Dynasty" existed.
The Great Dragon Dynasty was at most just one of the less noticeable ones in the Ordinary Dynasty.
How could it compare with the disciples of the Venerable Dynasty!
"Though I am not from the Great Dragon Dynasty, I cannot bear to see you sent to your deaths in vain. Therefore, I advise you, always know when to retreat when difficulties arise. Some challenges are not for you to overcome, and forcing through will only result in one word—death!"
Guest Minister Yuan spoke harshly and earnestly.
After Yuan finished recounting his experiences, it was the turn of the elders who had also participated in the Divine Sect trial to speak.
Gradually, Wang Xu lost interest in the matter and sealed off his senses to continue his cultivation alone.
...
Several days later, the group finally left the boundaries of the Great Dragon Dynasty.
From this moment on, no one could afford to relax in the slightest.
After another two days of travel.
"There is the ’Rain Forest Giant City’ of the ’Mingzhen Dynasty’ not far ahead, how about we take a break?"
Zhao Xiang suggested.
Since the Lingxu Sect Master had spoken, the others naturally could not refuse.
Immediately, everyone entered Rain Forest Giant City.
"Sect Master, we want to go look around."
The two Kunlong disciples and the Kunlong Elder had rarely left the Great Dragon Dynasty, and now they were eager to go out and experience the world beyond.
"Hmm."
Wang Xu nodded.
Wang Xu stayed alone in the hotel, seizing every moment to cultivate.
...
The night was hazy, thousands of miles covered in dark clouds, with not a trace of light to be seen.
Rain Forest Giant City was still bustling, illuminated brightly.
"Hmm?!"
Wang Xu suddenly opened his eyes, standing up from the void.
The Pure White Jade Curved Saber appeared in his hand.
His spiritual consciousness spread out, sweeping the movements within a mile radius.
Just now, Wang Xu sensed an unusual fluctuation of primordial Qi not far from him. This fluctuation was subtle, yet Wang Xu was still keen enough to detect it.
His spiritual consciousness scanned the area, finding nothing.
He scanned for a long while.
Finding no anomalies, Wang Xu put away the Pure White Jade Curved Saber and resumed his seated cultivation.
Meanwhile, in a pitch-black house just three hundred meters from Wang Xu, an eerie pair of eyes peered through a dilapidated window, hovering subtly in the darkness.
"Such powerful perception, he could actually detect my presence."
The eerie eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly astonished and puzzled that Wang Xu had sensed his gaze.
The next day, the group set forth on their journey again.
This journey lasted an entire year.
During which, they encountered bandits more than once; these bandits were all led by Black Hole Level experts, attempting to seize the recommendation order from them.
Fortunately, the group included five High Class White Hole Level individuals, who repelled wave after wave of bandits.
The two sect masters displayed impressive strength, while among the three sects, only Kunlong Martial Sect’s sect master, Wang Xu, was the weakest, playing no significant role in the battles.
This led many disciples to privately mock the Kunlong Martial Sect’s members.
"According to the map, we only need to proceed a few more days to reach the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect smoothly."
Guest Minister Yuan said.
The eyes of all the disciples shone brightly.
The Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, one of the three most mysterious divine sects of the Red Sun Divine Continent, was a colossal presence that the Great Dragon Dynasty revered and longed for. What could it possibly look like?
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiang’s gaze subtly revealed a vicious intent.
"Everyone, I’ve heard that many robbers await on the final inevitable routes; perhaps we should rest in the nearest giant city to avoid them."
Zhao Xiang stated.
Heading for the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect wasn’t solely a quest for the Great Dragon Dynasty.
Numerous dynasties across the Red Sun Divine Continent hurried on day and night towards the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect.
As Zhao Xiang suggested, these bandits likely await on the final paths, because as one nears the end, their guard tends to drop, marking the last chance for bandits to capture recommendation orders, likely staging a full assault.
This challenge wasn’t exclusive to one dynasty but a problem all dynasties faced.
In that case, why not let other dynasties confront the bandits first, allowing the Great Dragon Dynasty a smoother path forward?
"No, as we’re near the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, the bandits, however rampant, wouldn’t dare act recklessly; we should accelerate forward to reach the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect sooner."
The one speaking was Wang Xu; over the past year, he’s spoken rarely, directly opposing Zhao Xiang’s suggestion now.
"What Wang Sect Master said is correct; we’ve entered the jurisdiction of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, making it impossible for bandits to risk being hunted by the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect to attack us. We should arrive sooner, as lingering here would only increase the danger."
Guest Minister Yuan supported Wang Xu’s words.
"I find Zhao Sect Master’s viewpoint more reasonable."
Situ Wumen said, "The bandits are certainly not only targeting our Great Dragon Dynasty; as soon as other dynasties pass by, they will definitely draw them away, making us safer. As for the threat of the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect, frankly, to these bandits who’ve long defied death, what does the threat from the Imperial Extreme Divine Sect count for?"
For a moment, both sides held to their views, unable to persuade each other.
Eventually, they voted to decide the course based on collective inclination.
Thus, Zhao Xiang’s suggestion received four votes, while Wang Xu’s had only himself and Guest Minister Yuan with two votes.
"Let’s stay and rest in the giant city ahead." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian () to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please head to to read.)