Chapter 3716 Yuan Ancient City

With the Supreme Token of Star Plucking Tower and the Hundred Champions Competition participation token in his hand, Ye Bufan led everyone to the Middle Heaven Region without any obstruction.

After exiting the teleportation array, he activated Nine Heavens and flew directly towards Yuangu City.

When he returned to the Lower Heaven Region, he had already made arrangements for Ling Jianfeng to set off with the Lingyun Sword Sect members first, so they could meet up there.

The current Nine Heavens was already a High Grade flying Immortal Artifact, moving at an astonishing speed, quickly soaring forward.

Luo Bingyan exclaimed, “Senior Brother, your flying Immortal Artifact is too fast! It can probably keep up with an Immortal Lord’s speed.”

“At this rate, we’ll probably arrive in less than three days, much faster than before.”

Ye Bufan had never truly witnessed the strength of an Immortal Lord, so he wasn't sure how much difference there was between Nine Heavens and an Immortal Lord’s speed.

He said, “By the way, you’ve lived in the Middle Heaven Region for so long, have you heard of the Dark Shadow Gate?”

“I have heard of it,” Luo Bingyan’s expression changed slightly when she heard those three words. “The Dark Shadow Gate has a great reputation in the Middle Heaven Region. Although it is outside the Three Sects, Five Factions, and Seven Great Families, no one dares to underestimate it.”

Situ Dianmo was a bit puzzled: “Why?”

“In the Immortal Realm, strength determines everything, and they possess a terrifying strength that makes people tremble,” Luo Bingyan said. “No one knows where the headquarters of the Dark Shadow Gate is. Their modus operandi is assassination, and the Disciples of their Sect also practice assassination techniques.”

Shen Qiyun pouted, “What’s so special about that? At most, it’s just a killer School, an existence that can’t see the light of day, yet it’s being exaggerated so much.”

The relationship between the two had always been like needle against wheat, but now it had eased a lot because of Ye Bufan, though their words were still sharp.

“What do you know? The Dark Shadow Gate is not an ordinary killer School,” Luo Bingyan spoke without reservation. “The Dark Shadow Gate is extremely powerful. Legend has it that their Sect Leader has reached the Immortal Venerable Realm.”

“Moreover, the Dao of assassination cannot be entirely measured by cultivation. Sometimes, even an Immortal Lord can assassinate an Immortal Venerable-level expert, and an Immortal King can also kill an Immortal Lord.”

“Specifically, no one knows how many experts they truly have, because they have always been hidden in the dark, so they are not included among the Three Sects and Five Factions, but no one dares to underestimate them.”

Hearing her say that, everyone around them became serious. Such a School was already extremely powerful, and if it remained hidden in the dark, it would indeed be difficult to provoke. Luo Bingyan continued, “The Rank of the Dark Shadow Gate is extremely high. To ask them to act, each time requires at least 100 million middle-grade celestial crystal.”

“In other words, there aren’t many people in the entire Middle Heaven Region who are worth their assassination attempts.”

At this point, she looked at Ye Bufan with some surprise, “Senior Brother, how do you know about the Dark Shadow Gate?”

“I am one of those few people. The woman who attacked me a few days ago came from the Dark Shadow Gate.”

Ye Bufan looked helpless. He had originally thought it was just an ordinary School, but he never expected it to be so powerful and troublesome. He was going to have some trouble for a while.

“What?”

Everyone present changed their expressions greatly. They had just said that the Dark Shadow Gate was extremely troublesome, but they never expected Ye Bufan to become their target.

Situ Dianmo said, “Ye Dage, don’t you have the Hundred Sects Tournament token?”

Luo Bingyan shook her head, “This thing can only restrict participating Sects, it’s ineffective against the Dark Shadow Gate.”

Shen Qiyun was a bit worried, “Then what should we do? Won’t we have to face endless assassinations from now on?”

Luo Bingyan said, “The Dark Shadow Gate also has its own rules. To accept a task, the minimum is 100 million middle-grade celestial crystal, but they only act three times.”

“If they fail three consecutive times, they will abandon the target, and the 100 million middle-grade celestial crystal will not be refunded.”

“Only three attempts?” Shen Qiyun’s expression brightened, “Then doesn’t that mean Senior Brother will be fine after surviving two more times?”

“It’s not that easy,” Luo Bingyan’s expression was grim. “The Dark Shadow Gate’s rules are set this way, but over so many years, very few have been able to continuously evade three assassination attempts.”

“After the first failure, they will definitely send stronger assassins for the second, and the third will be even more powerful.”

Hearing this news, Ye Bufan also felt a headache. This time, an Immortal King-level assassin was sent, so what about next time?

Will it be Immortal King Peak, or will they directly send an Immortal Lord to act?

Jin Meier said, “Is there no other way to break this?”

“No,” Luo Bingyan said, “The Dark Shadow Gate’s rules are known throughout the Middle Heaven Region. They always collect payment first before acting, and once they accept a task, they will not give up halfway.”

Hearing her say this, everyone present showed worried expressions.

Ye Bufan, however, smiled slightly, “Everyone, don’t worry. It’s not that easy to kill me. Didn’t they fail this time? There’s a first time, and there will be a second. As long as I endure three times, it will be completely over.”

Although the others were still a bit worried, they also understood this logic.

This was a man skilled at creating miracles. All along the way, though dangers were constant, he always passed through safely, without serious harm.

The remaining time passed in casual conversation. On the evening of the third day, they saw a towering, massive city in the distance.

It was grand in Aura, vast in scale, and carried an ancient, weathered Qi, truly the most famous Yuangu City in the Middle Heaven Region.

Ye Bufan put away Nine Heavens, and the group slowly flew forward.

Luo Bingyan, as a native of the Middle Heaven Region, introduced the situation to everyone as they walked.

“Yuangu City was built for the Yuangu Secret Realm. It doesn’t belong to any single party and is jointly managed by the Three Sects, Five Factions, and Seven Great Families.”

“It has its own city rules, which everyone must obey when they come here.”

“The City Lord is held by members of the Three Great Sects, rotating every hundred years.”

“It is precisely because of this that Yuangu City holds an extremely high status, and usually no one dares to cause trouble here.”

As they spoke, the group arrived at the city gate. Even a casual guard here was of the Great Yi Immortal Rank.

Ye Bufan presented his Hundred Sects Tournament token, and after inspection, he led everyone into the city.

The city was bustling, with shops lining the streets and many Immortals buying and selling various resources.

Luo Bingyan said, “Yuangu City is very prosperous. Here you can buy many immortal spirit grass and other Cultivation resources that you normally can’t find.”

“Moreover, transactions are fair, so you don’t have to worry about forced buying or selling. No one dares to act recklessly here.”

“This is even more so during the Hundred Sects Tournament, which happens once every hundred years, when Disciples from all major Sects gather here.”

“Those with Sects cheer for their own, and those without Sects come to watch the excitement and broaden their horizons.”

The group walked and talked, soon arriving at the inn designated for the competition.

The Hundred Sects Tournament had been held for so many years that all procedures were extremely well-established. The inn was very large, divided into a hundred individual small courtyards.

Upon arriving at the entrance, Ye Bufan again showed his participation token to the manager, and was then led to a small courtyard.

A wooden plaque hung at the entrance, with the words “Dile Heaven” written on it.

As soon as they entered, Ling Jianfeng and the others immediately came forward to greet them.

“Master, you’re finally here! I have something to report!”