Chapter 310: Academy Intelligence, Beyond the Emperor Realm

The guard gestured with his hand toward Zhou Chen, signaling him to stop.

Zhou Chen tossed out his command medallion.

The guard's Divine Sense swept over it, and he immediately bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Chief Elite Disciple!"

"Please, enter!"

They cleared the path, and Zhou Chen stepped into the Intelligence Repository.

Next, he was going to find his answers.

Jixia Academy, Top-Secret Intelligence Repository.

As Zhou Chen walked into the Intelligence Repository, the scene before him surprised him slightly.

The space inside was many times larger than it appeared from the outside; bookshelves were everywhere, densely packed and stretching as far as the eye could see.

Every shelf was filled with Jade Slips, ancient texts, and scrolls.

These were the intelligence accumulated by Jixia Academy over tens of thousands of years, covering every aspect of the Tianxuan Continent.

"Little child, what intelligence are you looking for?"

An aged voice rang out.

Zhou Chen turned his head and saw a grey-robed old man sitting in the center of the hall, leisurely sipping tea.

"And Senior is?"

"I am the Pavilion Guardian Elder of the Intelligence Repository; you may call me Elder Mo."

The old man smiled. "A Chief Elite Disciple can consult all intelligence, including that of the top-secret level."

"However, I must remind you that knowing certain information might bring you trouble."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior."

Zhou Chen cupped his hands. "This Junior wishes to consult intelligence on two fronts."

"First, the Realms beyond the Emperor Realm."

"Second, clues regarding Treasure Artifact fragments."

Elder Mo narrowed his eyes, sizing Zhou Chen up carefully.

"Realms beyond the Emperor Realm… it seems your ambition is not small."

He set down his teacup and stood up. "Follow me."

Zhou Chen followed Elder Mo toward the depths of the Intelligence Repository.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Elder Mo stopped in front of a bookshelf.

This bookshelf was different from the others; it was cast entirely from purple gold and emitted a faint glow.

There were only a dozen or so ancient books on the shelf, each radiating an extraordinary aura.

"What is collected here are the secrets among secrets, forbidden from being spread outside."

Elder Mo said, "Information regarding the Realms beyond the Emperor Realm is within this book."

He took out a simple, ancient-looking book and handed it to Zhou Chen.

On the cover of the book, four ancient characters were carved—'Imperial Dao Secret Code'.

Zhou Chen took the book and reached in with his Divine Sense.

Countless pieces of information flooded into his mind.

The Cultivator Realms of the Tianxuan Continent's first seven stages are Body Refining, Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Saint Realm, and Emperor Realm.

The eighth Realm is the Imperial Realm, and the ninth Realm is the Venerable Realm.

Zhou Chen's heart jolted.

As expected, there were indeed Realms beyond the Emperor Realm!

Zhou Chen patiently continued to read.

The secret code mentioned that the characteristic of the Imperial Realm is mastering Imperial Dao Laws and condensing an Imperial Dao Golden Body. One can control the rules of a portion of the world; within this Law Domain, one's word becomes Law, acting as the sovereign of a small world in a single thought.

However, the Breakthrough conditions were extremely harsh. Not only did one need to survive the Nine-Nine Imperial Tribulation, but one also had to successfully condense an Imperial Dao Mark to achieve the Imperial Dao Golden Body, which would cause the Physical Body's strength to skyrocket a hundredfold.

Surviving the Nine-Nine Imperial Tribulation involved a total of eighty-one bolts of Heavenly Tribulation.

The power of each bolt was equivalent to the full-strength strike of an Emperor Realm Tenth Layer Peak.

With eighty-one bolts descending consecutively, the slightest oversight would result in being reduced to ash.

In the history of the Tianxuan Continent, Cultivators who could survive the Imperial Tribulation were one in ten thousand.

Zhou Chen took a deep breath.

The Imperial Realm was too terrifying.

Furthermore, the Breakthrough conditions were incredibly harsh; eighty-one bolts of the Nine-Nine Imperial Tribulation descending in succession was enough to make anyone despair just thinking about it.

He continued to read.

As for the Realms after that, Zhou Chen found there were none.

This was likely because his authority was insufficient.

After all, in the eyes of the world, the Emperor Realm was already the end.

"As expected, one can only have a better perspective on a larger platform…"

Zhou Chen couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

If he were a Loose Cultivator, it would be impossible for him to obtain this information.

Even if he did, it would be ages later.

"But then again, this path… is truly difficult."

Zhou Chen lamented.

But there was no retreat in his eyes; instead, a raging fighting spirit was ignited.

"The more difficult it is, the more I must challenge it!"

"One day, I will stand at the Peak and control my own destiny."

He put away the 'Imperial Dao Secret Code' and looked at Elder Mo.

"Thank you, Senior."

"No need for thanks."

Elder Mo smiled. "This information is generally only available to Cultivators who have reached the tenth layer of the Emperor Realm or above."

"However, as you are now the Chief Elite Disciple, you naturally have the right."

"By the way, you also wanted to check clues for Treasure Artifact fragments, correct?"

"Yes."

Zhou Chen nodded.

"Follow me."

Elder Mo led Zhou Chen to another bookshelf.

He took out a scroll and handed it to Zhou Chen.

"This is all the intelligence regarding Treasure Artifact fragments."

Zhou Chen unfurled the scroll and began to read carefully.

Treasure Artifact fragments: fragments of a legendary supreme treasure with the ability to suppress all things; their specific grade is unknown. During the ancient war, the Treasure Artifact was shattered and scattered across the Tianxuan Continent. Each fragment contains terrifying power. According to the latest intelligence, the largest core fragment of the Treasure Artifact last appeared in the Ten Thousand Demon Plains.

The Ten Thousand Demon Plains were located at the extreme eastern direction of the Tianxuan Continent, approximately thirty million miles from the Central Continent, separated by an Endless Sea. Countless terrifying Yao Beasts roamed there; attempting to cross the Endless Sea was simply wishful thinking.

That was the territory of the Ten Thousand Demon Clan, and it was extremely dangerous for Human Race Cultivators to enter.

Within the Ten Thousand Demon Plains lived countless powerful Yao Beasts, the weakest of which were at the Saint Realm.

Furthermore, the Ten Thousand Demon Clan Cultivators were extremely hostile toward the Human Race; once a Human Race Cultivator was discovered, they would surely be attacked by the whole group.

There had been several Human Race powerhouses of the Emperor Realm Tenth Layer who entered the Ten Thousand Demon Plains to search for treasure, but none of them ever returned.

Zhou Chen's brow furrowed.

The Ten Thousand Demon Plains…

It seemed like an extremely dangerous place.

But since the core fragment of the chaos bell was there, it was impossible for him to give up.

"Senior, does the academy have a teleportation array leading to the Ten Thousand Demon Plains?"

Zhou Chen asked.

"Yes."

Elder Mo nodded. "The academy has set up teleportation arrays all over the Tianxuan Continent, including near the Ten Thousand Demon Plains."

"However…"

He paused. "The teleportation distance to the Ten Thousand Demon Plains is too far and requires a massive amount of Spirit Stones."

"It requires approximately ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones."

Ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones?

Zhou Chen's brow arched.

That was not a small number.

However, he was now the Chief Elite Disciple and had the authority to mobilize a portion of the academy's resources.

He should be able to apply to use the teleportation array.

"Senior, I wish to apply to use the teleportation array to go to the Ten Thousand Demon Plains."

Zhou Chen said.

"Are you certain?"

Elder Mo frowned. "The Ten Thousand Demon Plains are extremely dangerous; even a powerhouse of the Emperor Realm Tenth Layer could fall there."

"You are only at the Emperor Realm Seventh Layer; if you go, I'm afraid the odds will be against you."

"I am certain."

Zhou Chen said firmly.

Elder Mo let out a sigh.

"Since you insist, I will not stop you."

Elder Mo shook his head. "However, I must remind you that the Ten Thousand Demon Plains are not only dangerous but also complex."

"It is divided into three areas: the outer perimeter, the inner circle, and the core."

"In the outer perimeter, it is mainly Saint Realm Yao Beasts, which shouldn't be much of a problem for you."