Chapter 268: Prodigies Gather, Ancient Desolate Secret Realm

Zhou Chen followed Star Child into Prodigy City and was immediately attracted by the bustling scene.

His gaze scanned through the crowd as the System panel continuously popped up information.

[Name: Ying Zi'ang]

[Recent Opportunity: First Layer of Emperor Realm cultivation, Overlord Body (Gold). Will obtain the Saint Grade Top-Grade Cultivation Technique "Overlord Manual" within the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm.]

[Name]: Jiang Tianxing

[Recent Opportunity: First Layer of Emperor Realm, Heavenly Path War Body (Gold). Will obtain the Imperial Rank Low Grade Spiritual Artifact, Army Breaker Spear, within the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm.]

[Name: Li Xiao]

[Recent Opportunity: First Layer of Emperor Realm, Sword Dao Prodigy (Purple). Will obtain the Immortal Sword Dao Legacy within the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm and comprehend the first stage of the Sword Intent Law.]

Zhou Chen's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected the quality of geniuses in the Eastern Desolation to be so high.

He had just entered the city and already saw three geniuses with good Luck, two of whom even had golden fates!

There were indeed many opportunities in this Heavenly Pride Grand Assembly!

“Yo, isn't this Feng Biao from the Heavenly Star Holy Land?”

A sharp female voice suddenly rang out.

Zhou Chen turned his head and saw a young girl in a red dress walking over.

The girl had exquisite features and a tall figure, but her eyes revealed a hint of meanness.

[Name: Jiang Mengyao]

[Recent Opportunity]: None.

Someone from the Jiang Family?

Zhou Chen glanced at her and didn't bother to respond; a mere Fire Phoenix Body (Purple) with no opportunities wasn't worth his time.

Jiang Mengyao walked up to Zhou Chen and looked him up and down: “Are you deaf, or can you not understand human speech?”

Zhou Chen still ignored her, continuing to look around to check for opportunities.

He was busy checking other people's opportunities; how could he have time to deal with such a boring woman?

If there weren't so many eyes watching, Zhou Chen might have just sent her to the afterlife on a whim.

“You…”

Being ignored made Jiang Mengyao's face turn dark immediately.

“Feng Biao, what's with your attitude?”

She sneered: “Or are you just a bumpkin who's come to Prodigy City for the first time and been scared witless by the prosperity?”

A bumpkin?

The corner of Zhou Chen's mouth twitched.

Is this woman sick? Or did the previous Feng Biao offend her somehow?

“Jiang Mengyao, watch your words.”

Star Child frowned: “Feng Biao is the Saint of my Heavenly Star Holy Land, how can you insult him as you please?”

“Elder Star Child, I didn't insult him.”

Jiang Mengyao smiled: “I'm just telling the truth. Look at his unsophisticated appearance, gawking all over the place—if he's not a bumpkin, what is he?”

Zhou Chen finally turned his head and looked at Jiang Mengyao.

“Are you done?”

“What, not convinced?”

Jiang Mengyao raised an eyebrow: “If you have the guts, once we enter the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm, let's see who's more powerful.”

“Sorry, I have no interest in trash.”

Zhou Chen said indifferently. Zhou Chen originally had a bad temper, and being criticized repeatedly, even a clay Buddha would have some anger.

“Who are you calling trash?!”

Jiang Mengyao was furious, her finger almost poking Zhou Chen's nose: “You think you're worthy? You're the trash! You are provoking the Jiang Family!”

“Am I?”

Zhou Chen looked at her, his eyes terrifyingly calm: “Did I say something wrong? With a Quasi-Emperor cultivation, you probably won't even make the top hundred in this Prodigy City.”

“You…”

Jiang Mengyao trembled with rage.

“Feng Biao, you just wait!”

She gritted her teeth: “Once we're in the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm, I'll show you!”

After saying that, she turned and left.

Feng Biao's cultivation had always appeared as Quasi-Emperor, never revealing his Emperor Realm cultivation, so Jiang Mengyao still thought Feng Biao was on the same level as her.

However, Zhou Chen didn't care; after all, Feng Biao was the one taking the blame.

Star Child watched Jiang Mengyao's departing back and sighed.

“Fellow Daoist, the people of the Jiang Family are not to be trifled with. I am truly sorry…”

“No matter.”

Zhou Chen waved his hand: “I'm not the real Feng Biao anyway. If she wants to find trouble, she won't find it with me.”

Besides, he really didn't care about a little girl at the Late Stage of Quasi-Emperor.

If she dared to look for trouble in the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm, then she couldn't blame him for being unkind.

Star Child's face was full of black lines after hearing this; if Feng Biao were present and heard this, he would probably cough up blood.

“Let's go, the assembly is about to begin.”

Star Child led Zhou Chen toward the Prodigy Platform.

On the Prodigy Platform, representatives from various major forces were already standing.

In the very center was a high platform where several old men sat, all of whom were experts at the Emperor Realm Fifth Layer or above.

“Everyone!”

One of the white-robed Elders stood up, his voice echoing: “I am Long Yan, the Vice City Lord of Prodigy City. Today, I have been entrusted by all parties to preside over this Heavenly Pride Grand Assembly!”

“The rules of this assembly are very simple. You will enter the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm to search for ancient desolate spirit pearls.”

“ancient desolate spirit pearls?”

Confused voices came from the crowd.

“Correct.”

Long Yan nodded: “After the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm opens, countless ancient desolate spirit pearls will appear within. These spirit pearls are scattered throughout the Secret Realm, guarded by Yao Beasts or anomalies.”

“Your task is to collect as many spirit pearls as possible. Three months later, the person who has collected the most spirit pearls will be the first place of this assembly!”

“Of course, the Secret Realm is full of dangers, including not only Yao Beasts but also various Forbidden Lands and anomalies.”

Long Yan's voice became serious: “Furthermore, life and death in the Secret Realm are irrelevant! There are no life-saving teleportation talismans; once you die, you are truly dead!”

“There are only two ways to leave the Secret Realm.”

“First, survive for three months and gather at the designated location, at which time the Secret Realm will automatically open an exit.”

“Second…”

Long Yan paused: “Die inside.”

A blanket of silence fell.

Everyone was stunned by these cruel rules.

No teleportation talismans?

Life and death irrelevant?

This wasn't an assembly; it was clearly a life-and-death struggle!

“What, scared?”

Long Yan sneered: “If you're scared, it's still not too late to withdraw now.”

The crowd grew restless, but no one withdrew.

Who among those who came to participate in the Heavenly Pride Grand Assembly wasn't an elite of a major force?

Fear?

Non-existent!

“Very good.”

Long Yan nodded with satisfaction: “Since no one is withdrawing, I hereby announce that the Heavenly Pride Grand Assembly has officially begun.”

He raised his hand and waved, and a huge crack appeared in the sky.

The crack was bottomless, emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.

“That is the entrance to the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm.”

Long Yan said: “Go in. Three months later, I will wait for you to come out!”

As soon as he finished speaking, countless Cultivators rushed toward the crack.

Zhou Chen also flew up with the crowd, but just as he was about to enter the crack, he suddenly felt a cold killing intent lock onto him.

He turned his head and saw Jiang Mengyao staring at him coldly.

“Once you're in the Secret Realm, you're dead.”

Jiang Mengyao said wordlessly.

Zhou Chen smiled.

She really held a grudge; then he couldn't be blamed for being a ruthless flower-destroyer.

“Whoosh—”

Zhou Chen's figure flashed, and he also rushed into the crack.

The next second, the world spun, and Zhou Chen appeared on a desolate land.

Is this the Ancient Desolate Secret Realm?

Zhou Chen looked around and found that there were broken walls and ruins everywhere, as if it had experienced a world-destroying battle.