All disciples immediately bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, Elder Mo!"
Yun Guang's gaze swept across everyone. A few disciples trembled under his spiritual pressure. When his eyes landed on Lin Chen, he paused.
The Sect master's eyes narrowed slightly.
Strange… This brat's aura feels completely different. This Celestial aura… something has changed about his Celestial Dao bone.
He had long known his Celestial Dao bone that's why he made him Holy son. In addition, he did not have any background and family, so he can only stay with sect in the future. At least he did thought like this.
But no matter how he probed, he couldn't sense anything. Lin chen stood there like a bottomless abyss.
Yun Guang looked away, but didn't question it. A Holy Son was allowed secrets.
"Since everyone has gathered," Elder Mo Cang said calmly, "let us depart."
With a wave of his sleeve—
FWOOOOSH!
A massive object descended through the clouds.
A majestic Flying Cloud ship, snow-white with golden spirals on its horns and a miniature cloud-sea drifting beneath its hooves. Its aura alone could crush Void Breaking cultivators.
Some disciples looked awed at this site. Lin Chen stepped up calmly. Elder Mo cang stood near the head, controlling the flying ship's path.
"Holy Son," he said with a faint smile, "take this trip seriously. The Imperial Genius Gathering is a battlefield of young monsters and imperial heirs. Make our sect proud."
Lin Chen nodded casually.
"As long as destiny doesn't try to kill me," he murmured.
The elder blinked, not understanding.
The Flying Cloud Sheep rose slowly, lifting all fifty disciples as the teleportation formation activated.
Golden light burst around them. They shot into the sky like a streak of light—toward Black Emperor City, the land of geniuses, young emperors, and hidden dragons.
Lin Chen quietly go in the seluction as he still have some things to understand about his new body. Rest of disciple also went to their cultivation rooms.
The journey lasted half a day. When the Flying Cloud Ship broke through the final layer of clouds, an immense ancient city appeared in the distance—so vast it seemed carved into the horizon.
A colossal city wall towered like an ancient dragon's spine. Pitch-black stones gleamed under the sun, each etched with formations capable of withstanding saint experts attacks.
Above the gates hung three golden characters, radiating imperial might:
BLACK EMPEROR CITY
Below, an ocean of people surged through the streets. Tens of thousands of young geniuses, clan heirs, proud daughters of sects and rogue cultivators filled the city like a tide.
Vendors shouted, spiritual beasts roared, floating talismans glowed above shops—everywhere was chaos and brilliance intertwined.
This was a sacred event held once every few centuries—the Imperial Genius Gathering.
Not only it include gathering of various young talents from all over continent, but there are also big auction held by Silver Moon Chamber of commercial.
The air itself was thick with ambition, pride and young blood.
At the very center of the city floated a titanic platform suspended by golden chains—like a divine altar. Imperial banners fluttered on the towers. Armored guards stood in rows, each exuding terrifying cultivation at the Nirvana realm.
Three aged men in golden robes floated above the platform, their presence vast and unshakable. Black Emperor Royal Family's three Saint elders. They were here to welcome the great powers of the continent. Crowds on the ground murmured:
"Look! Another flying treasure is coming!"
"That's from a Holy Land, right?"
"Which one? The formation pressure is insane…"
Boom—!
A deafening roar split the sky.
A gigantic black ship descended from the heavens, surrounded by demonic winds. Three pairs of bat-like wings unfolded from its sides. Blood-red lines pulsated along the hull like beating veins.
The moment it appeared, countless spectators fell silent.
"Sky Demon Holy Land…"
"They're truly here."
"Tch. Those mad devils again."
"They're powerful, ruthless and arrogant. Better not provoke them."
No one dared speak too loudly. A group stepped off the ship with one elder leading and fifty disciples, all dressed in crimson robes embroidered with beast-like runes.
The elder was tall middle aged man with black-white hairs and a faint smell of blood around him. That alone was enough to silence weaker cultivators.
A young man walked confidently behind him. He is handsome except his cold predatory eyes. He was the Holy Saint of Sky Demon Holy Land.
The Imperial Saint Elder descended to greet them:
"Welcome, Elder Mang Qi of the Sky Demon Holy Land. The Imperial Family honors your arrival."
Mang Qi merely snorted.
"Hmph. You should."
His gaze swept across the imperial guards—eyes filled with contempt. Some disciples whispered:
"Still so overbearing…"
"As expected of Sky Demon cultivators."
"Even the imperial elders don't argue with them."
The imperial elders frowned slightly but swallowed their irritation. No one wanted unnecessary trouble with a Holy Land that had produced more than one Great Emperors in history.
But before their tensions settled—
WOOOOSH!!!
A radiant blue streak tore through the sky as the Flying Cloud Ship descended, carrying Lin Chen and his sect disciple.
People immediately recognized the symbol on the ship.
"That's… Azura Cloud Holy Land!"
"The guardians of the azure heavens!"
"There may be a good show ahead!"
It would not hard to find out that these two Holy Lands had always been positioned as equals… and natural rivals. The ship floated gracefully above the platform as Elder Mo Cang stepped down calmly, followed by the fifty disciples.
The Imperial Saint Elder greeted them warmly.
"Elder Mo Cang, welcome. The Imperial Family is honored by the arrival of Azura Cloud Holy Land!"
Elder Mo Cang bowed politely. Behind him, Lin Chen stepped out.
Young, sharp-eyed, handsome—yet an indescribable pressure radiated from him, making many disciples frown in confusion.
Is this Holy son of Azura Cloud Holy Land! He feel so… celestial being?
The Sky Demon disciples immediately noticed him. Their Holy Saint scoffed, showing clear disdain.
"The new Holy Son… Lin Chen?" He sneered. "So this is the boy who dares carry the Celestial Dao Bone? Hmph. Doesn't look like much."