Soon, the scene ahead opened up.
The towering, golden-glowing South Heaven Gate was already right before their eyes. The Heavenly Gate was 9,999 zhang high and 3,333 zhang wide, its entire body cast from Chaos Glazed Gold, carved with ancient tableaus of ten thousand races worshipping and immortals bowing.
On both sides of the Heavenly Gate stood nine phantoms of Golden-Armored Heavenly Kings, each ten thousand zhang tall, holding divine weapons, solemn and majestic.
Inside the Heavenly Gate, layers of palaces were visible, surrounded by immortal clouds, presenting a myriad of grand sights.
At this moment, a line had already formed in front of the South Heaven Gate to welcome them.
Leading them were none other than Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Yuzhen, whom they had just met a few days ago. Both wore their most formal Imperial Robes today, with solemn expressions and majestic bearings. Behind them, honor guards were lined up on both sides. There were phantoms of heavenly generals and divine officials like the Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions, with bright armor and fluttering banners.
There were also phantoms of female immortals such as the Jade Pool Fairies, their rainbow dresses dancing as they carried flower baskets, scattering a rain of flowers across the sky.
Further away, the phantoms of various immortals and gods from the Thunder Department and the Dou Department were faintly visible, guarding the Heavenly Gate.
This was almost the highest specification of hospitality that the Heavenly Court could currently provide.
Although some Heavenly Court deities were only manifested as phantoms—their true bodies perhaps still sleeping or recovering—this gesture was more than enough respect!
Seeing Han Xuanji and his group arrive, Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Yuzhen stepped forward three paces simultaneously, cupped their hands, and announced loudly:
"By order of His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, we are here to welcome the arrival of Xuantian Dao Venerable!"
"Dao Venerable, please!"
As the voice fell, the South Heaven Gate swung open with a boom. Immortal light within shone brilliantly, and a clear, bright path paved with nine-colored clouds extended straight toward the most towering and sacred palace in the depths—the Hall of Miraculous Mist!
Heavenly soldiers and generals stood on both sides, their auras extraordinary, each possessing a cultivation above the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Simultaneously, immortal music played in unison, and the sound of bells and drums shook the heavens!
Han Xuanji nodded slightly, his hands still behind his back, and stepped into the South Heaven Gate.
The moment his foot landed inside the Heavenly Court, all the hanging immortal bells and divine drums in the thirty-three palaces and seventy-two halls of the entire Heavenly Court rang out on their own without being struck!
The clear sound of the bells and the vigorous beat of the drums echoed nine times, representing the Heavenly Court's highest respect for a Hunyuan Wuji Dao Venerable!
[Detected Eight-Star Sign-in Location: South Heaven Gate. Sign in?]
Unsurprisingly, this place was also an extraordinary location of Dao Rhyme.
An Eight-Star Sign-in Location contained opportunities that were of significant use even for the Limitless Primordial Realm.
"System, sign in."
Han Xuanji thought silently.
[Congratulations to the Host for successfully signing in at the Eight-Star Sign-in Location 'South Heaven Gate'. You have received one hundred cubic units of Chaos Glazed Gold.]
The System did not prompt that the Dao Rhyme was insufficient, so Han Xuanji continued to sign in.
[Congratulations to the Host for successfully signing in at the Eight-Star Sign-in Location 'South Heaven Gate'. You have received the Chaos Heavenly Gate Forging Blueprint.]
[Congratulations to the Host for successfully signing in at the Eight-Star Sign-in Location 'South Heaven Gate'. You have received the Zhou Tian Star Array Diagram.]
...Han Xuanji signed in here more than a dozen times, obtaining all sorts of rare Innate oddities, showing how profound the Dao Rhyme of this place was.
The most precious among them was naturally the one hundred cubic units of Chaos Glazed Gold. The South Heaven Gate was forged from this material, standing eternal and possessing many mysteries; even a being of the Celestial Golden Immortal Realm could not destroy it.
The Chaos Heavenly Gate Forging Blueprint was equally extraordinary.
[Chaos Heavenly Gate Forging Blueprint: Records the method of forging the 'chaos heaven gate' using supreme oddities such as Chaos Origin Qi and Chaos Glazed Gold. Once this gate is completed, it can automatically draw in Chaos Qi and suppress the Luck of the Dao Field. A world is formed within the gate, evolving infinite defensive Restrictions that even a Limitless Primordial expert cannot easily break through. (Note: A complete 'chaos heaven gate' has power comparable to a Primordial Chaos supreme treasure.)]
"The South Heaven Gate should only be an incomplete chaos heaven gate..."
Han Xuanji pondered inwardly.
Even the Heavenly Emperor, after countless years, had not built a complete chaos heaven gate, showing how formidable this object was.
If he were to build it, wouldn't his Dao Field be impregnable?
As for the Zhou Tian Star Array Diagram, it was also unusual, being the protective array of the Heavenly Court.
[Zhou Tian Star Array Diagram: The core array diagram of the Ancient Heavenly Court's Zhou Tian Star Array. This array can summon Chaos Origin Star Power, possessing world-destroying power. It fuses with external space, allowing it to lock onto enemies so they cannot escape. Its defensive power is equally astonishing, enough to withstand attacks from the Limitless Primordial Realm.]
"It is also a good thing..."
Han Xuanji's heart stirred.
This was not one of the imitations he had signed in for before, but the true Zhou Tian Star Array with infinite power. In ancient times, the Heavenly Emperor relied on this array to battle the Demon Ancestor.
"South Heaven Gate... worthy of being the portal of the Ancient Heavenly Court and a place where Luck converges. This sign-in harvest is indeed worthy of an eight-star rating."
A trace of satisfaction crossed Han Xuanji's heart. These rewards were not divine weapons or Magic Treasures that directly increased combat power, but they were all top-tier treasures.
With a thought, Han Xuanji put away all the rewards. His surface remained calm as he followed the two Emperors, Ziwei and Yuzhen, surrounded by the grand honor guard, through the South Heaven Gate and along the clear path paved with nine-colored clouds toward the Hall of Miraculous Mist.
The rewards from the sign-in had quietly entered his System space, waiting to be counted slowly after his return.
Next, however, was the main event.
Lu Fan, Li Taiqing, and the other Disciples followed closely behind, walking through this legendary place. Feeling the curious or scrutinizing gazes from all directions and the ubiquitous Innate Spiritual Qi, even though their Heart-Nature had undergone much tempering, it was hard for them not to feel their hearts swell with emotion at this moment.
But they strictly kept to their duties, looking straight ahead with a calm and composed demeanor, showing the fine style of Han Xuanji's lineage.
The procession moved steadily along the clear path toward the Hall of Miraculous Mist.
Along the way, they saw magnificent palaces, wandering Auspicious Beasts, soaring cranes, and flowing spiritual springs.
Although many places lacked Life Qi, the majesty and holiness accumulated over countless eons rushed toward them.
Before long, the Hall of Miraculous Mist, which ruled over the heavens and symbolized the supreme authority, was right before them.
At this moment, the hall doors of the Hall of Miraculous Mist, which towered into the clouds, were slowly opening in front of them.
The height of the hall was unknown, as if it supported the entire Nine Heavens. Its whole body was cast from supreme divine materials such as Chaos Glass, Nine Heavens White Jade, and Astral Divine Gold. It was adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, densely covered with Dao patterns, exuding an aura of eternal and undying majesty.
The hall doors were now fully open. Inside, immortal light was misty and auspicious Qi rose. One could vaguely see figures with deep and vast auras lined up on both sides.
Before the hall doors, Emperor Ziwei and Emperor Yuzhen stopped, turned sideways in an inviting gesture, and said in unison:
"Xuantian Dao Venerable, please! His Majesty is already waiting inside the hall."
Inside the hall, amidst the endless immortal light and divine radiance, a figure wearing Imperial Robes and the Heavenly Emperor's Crown had already risen from the throne.