Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

The middle layer of the Jiaoyun Secret Realm.

On a certain largetribune.

As time passed.

The murmuring of discussions transformed into a raucous fever pitch.

Three whole days had gone by.

And yet, nobody had managed to set foot on Renjie Island and get through the second round.

This bizarre situation.

Had far exceeded the imaginations of many cultivators in the grandstands.

"Where are the top ten talents of the Foundation Establishment stage? Why is no one trying? As the universally acknowledged top ten geniuses of the Human Race in the Foundation Establishment realm, they should be as bold as the Red-Eyed Golden Peng at the beginning, forging ahead without fear!"

"The indomitable progress you're talking about, does it mean scurrying around randomly within that thousand zhang space beneath Renjie Island?"

Some snickered.

At this moment.

In the crowd.

A man and a woman sat side by side, both focusing intently on the same spot.

However, their expressions couldn't be more different.

The man's gaze was fixed fervently on Qu Junhou, worshipping admiration and anticipation in his eyes.

The woman on the other hand had the image of Zhang Jing reflected in her lively, black eyes, revealing a trace of trepidation.

...

Another part of the Secret Realm.

Over ten thousand people were scattered in the vast, endless space.

No one uttered a single word.

The horrifyingly suffocating silence reigned.

Although their energy was different, each of them was enveloped in fluctuations of the dharma doors inherited by the Boundless Tai Yi Taoist Gate.

In an inconspicuous corner.

You Yuanming was staring blankly at the terrifying spectacle before his eyes.

As though something occurred to him.

He rigidly turned to glance at his dharma brother.

Turbulent shock welled up within him.

Yuanming remembered what his senior brother had said to him before they arrived, that he intended to join the Jiaoyun Secret Realm competition a century later, and strive to rank among the top ten thousand.

But now...

His gaze unsteadily swept over the Secret Realm again.

Whether it was the pitch-black cyclone, Yin Fire, Red Thunder, or sand storm, at his current level, they all spelled death at a touch.

Not to mention the eerie region located right at the top.

Even the terrifying golden peng of the All-Heavens Myriads Spirits Camp had been trapped inside.

Yet, to secure a spot among the top ten thousand rankings, one had to face and overcome this stage!

"In a hundred years, will my strength truly reach this level?"

A sense of unease crept into Yuanming's heart.

Thinking this, he turned to look at Zhang Jing, who was quietly seated in a corner of the Secret Realm.

His eyes instantly lit up with a touch of admiration and envy.

What seemed to be an insurmountable objective to him probably wouldn't even constitute a difficulty in Zhang Jing's eyes.

After all, he recognized the man standing in golden robe next to Zhang Jing.

It was Qu Junhou, one of the top ten talents of the Human Race at the Foundation Establishment stage, who had gained widespread fame by defeating the Red-Eyed Golden Peng on the Fairy Fighting Platform.

An individual with terrifying strength.

However, his junior brother whom he once knew, Zhang Jing, appeared to have quite the friendly relationship with Qu Junhou.

Yuanming, who had once been considered a prodigy in the Lower Realm, knew very well what this indicated.

Their abilities were on the same level.

Even if there were a gap, it wouldn't be significant.

"The talent of Zhang Jing... Even among the prodigies in the Upper Realm, his talent is incredibly formidable."

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

At his side.

His senior brother seemed to pick up on Yuanming's change in emotions.

After a moment of contemplation.

He heard his senior brother laugh and reassure him, saying:

"Junior Brother Yuanming, don't worry, this issue should stem from the spirit of the Secret Realm. The difficulty for the second round was set a little too high."

"The third round might not even gather ten thou—"

But before he could finish, his voice abruptly stopped.

Confused, Yuanming turned to look at his senior brother.

Only to find his mentor's gaze frozen, his face covered with shock.

What happened?

He couldn't help but follow his senior brother's gaze.

Then, his eyes widened in awe.

He saw a beam of cold moonlight rising swiftly from the ground, breaking through the layers of obstacles like the pitch-black cyclone, fire, thunder, yellow sand, and so on, as though they were nothing.

Following this.

The woman that the moonlight had transformed into casually hoisted up the Red-Eyed Golden Peng, and with effortless ease, ascended the desolate Renjie Island!

The whole process was unhurried and relaxed.

Even the time it took her didn't exceed twenty breaths.

The terrifying strength she revealed was simply astonishing!

Compared to her, the previously dominant Red-Eyed Golden Peng seemed like a firefly facing the bright moon, a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

Behind them.

A wave of gasps broke the silent atmosphere.

"Hiss — who is this woman?"

"She's never shown her true strength before, but when she does, it's earth-shattering. Saving the Red-Eyed Golden Peng... she's likely one of the creatures from the All-Heavens Myriads Spirits Camp."

"We're doomed!"

"Before, formidable beings like the Red-Eyed Golden Peng, the Water-Avoiding Deer, and the Mountain-Carrying Strength Sheep Demon were indeed daunting, but we of the Human Race had the top ten cultivators of Foundation Establishment, who can contend with them."

"But this mysterious woman…"

"Alas~"

Everyone seemed dispirited and dejected.

As though in their eyes.

The moment that mysterious woman showed her strength,

The ownership of the first place in this Jiaoyun Secret Realm for the Foundation Establishment stage was already decided.

...

At this moment.

Inside the Secret Realm.

There was a commotion.

Many cultivators on the ground watched the woman and the Red-Eyed Golden Peng who had disappeared onto Renjie Island, disbelief written all over their faces.

Was that woman really in the Foundation Establishment realm?

She was able to effortlessly bypass the numerous obstacles below, disregarded the irregularities of that thousand zhang space surrounding Renjie Island.

Furthermore.

She even casually hoisted the Red-Eyed Golden Peng onto Renjie Island!

How was this possible?!

Time slowly passed.

Thousands of complex gazes remained fixed on the spot where the woman and the Red-Eyed Golden Peng disappeared, reluctant to move for a long time.

Back to the spot.

Qu Junhou slowly recovered from the shock.

A hint of shock flashed in his eyes.

"When did such a being appear in the All-Heavens Myriads Spirits Camp?" he murmured in a daze.

Even though it was just a fleeting glance.

For some reason.

Upon seeing that mysterious woman for the first time, Qu Junhou instinctively felt that he was likely not her match.

The next instant.

He seemed to realize something.

He quickly looked to Zhang Jing, who was standing next to him.

"Brother Zhang, you just said that you are now sure, could it be..."

Facing his anticipatory look.

Zhang Jing responded affirmatively with a nod.

After getting a positive reply.

Qu Junhou unconsciously looked again at the place where the woman just disappeared, his eyes flashed with a hint of joy.

"Although I don't know how Brother Zhang worked it out, I believe he should be right. Even if not... following that woman's path definitely can't be wrong."

He thought to himself.

Right at this moment.

Thousands of figures filled with powerful auras rose quietly and immediately transformed into rainbow lights, flying toward the sky.

Clearly.

These people had the same idea as Qu Junhou.

On the other hand.

Zhang Jing swept his eyes over the rainbow lights in a rush to fly up.

Then he shook his head.

How could he not know what those people were thinking.

However...

The mind-will targeted by the realm below Renjie Island has no significance in following someone else's path.

With that in mind.

The figure of that unfamiliar woman once again surfaced in front of Zhang Jing.

He couldn't help but deeply ponder.

Which tribe did this guy belong to in the All-Heavens Myriads Spirits Camp? How could her strength be far superior to creatures such as the Red-Eyed Golden Peng?

Could it be the Imperial Clan?!

His eyes flickered slightly.

The first moment he saw her.

Zhang Jing felt.

If he doesn't use the imitation Innate Origin Immortal Light and only relies on various combined Tao intents, it should be quite challenging to defeat her.

"The All-Heavens Myriads Spirits, truly are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. But... the stronger, the better!"

There was an unconscious hint of anticipation in Zhang Jing's eyes.

The Jiaoyun Realm is a big stage.

The stronger she is.

The better it can highlight the terrifying power of his imitation Innate Origin Immortal Light!

In the future, this legacy will sell well within the Tao Sect.

...

"Brother Zhang, are we going up now?"

The sound of Qu Junhou suddenly rang in his ears.

Upon hearing this.

Zhang Jing straightened up and said with a smile:

"Naturally! There's no point in delaying any longer."

Upon his words.

Two streams of rainbow light instantly soared into the sky.

...

In another corner of the crowd.

"One of the 'Top Ten Foundation Establishment Heroes of the Human Race,' Ji Jiulin, stood quietly behind a man dressed in a dark golden, nine-dragon-robed man.

Before long.

The man withdrew his gaze from Renjie Island, a fiery combat desire bursting forth in his eyes.

"The Taiyin Jade Rabbit clan is truly extraordinary!"

Next.

He looked back at Ji Jiulin behind him. His eyes flashed once and teasingly said:

"Imperial brother, how do you find the title of one of the 'Top Ten Foundation Establishment Heroes of the Human Race'? Are you getting used to it?"

In response.

Ji Jiulin could not help but feel embarrassed, forced a smile and said:

"It's just some cultivators with no insight spreading rumors, imperial brother, please stop teasing me. How can I possibly live up to this title?"

In fact.

As for the so-called 'Top Ten Foundation Establishment Heroes of the Human Race,' Ji Jiulin completely sneered at it and was even ashamed to admit it.

Not to mention anything else.

The imperial brother in front of him.

His strength was far beyond his reach.

It's just that the other party doesn't deign to reveal it.

Similar existences.

Even without thinking, Ji Jiulin knew there must be in the Jiaoyun Realm!

For example...

The image of a young man who suppressed the Ancestor Demon School's Wang Wunian with his strong aura involuntarily flashed through his mind.

The opponent was very powerful.

Yet he had virtually no fame.

On the other hand, Wang Wunian, whom he easily suppressed, was like him, inexplicably given the title of 'Top Ten Foundation Establishment Heroes of the Human Race.'

Isn't this laughable?

While lost in thought.

"Imperial brother, it's time to board the island."

A faint voice reached Ji Jiulin's ears.

"Yes, imperial brother!"

He responded respectfully.

...

Similar words were simultaneously resounding in every corner of the crowd.

Thousands upon thousands of rainbow lights suddenly filled the sky.

Boom, boom, boom——

Xun wind, Yin fire, Red thunder, Yellow sand!

All sorts of phenomena suddenly appeared.

For a moment.

This part of the sky became lively in an unprecedented way.

And all of this

Should clearly be attributed to the mysterious woman from the very beginning.

Seeing this scene.

Most of the people still left on the ground, looked at each other with disbelief.

They were completely caught off guard.