Ancient Godly Monarch

Everyone was enjoying the banquet and engaged in idle chatter. Nanfeng Yunxi introduced several people to Qin Wentian. They were immortal emperors of the Southern Region who came to this banquet, as well as many geniuses with extraordinary statuses. Qin Wentian noted down their names. Immortal emperors were characters who stood at the peak of the immortal realms, and they were at the absolute pinnacle of authority.

This was especially so for those more powerful immortal emperors. Just like the three ancient great clans of the Southern Region, they controlled territories of boundless space. It could be said that they were the true hegemons of the entire Southern Region of the immortal realms, and possessed fearsome influence and authority. Their every action could cause the entire Southern Region to tremble.

After the banquet, the beautiful middle-aged woman invited everyone to head to their clan’s Phoenix Arena. After that, the holy maidens and heaven’s chosen proceeded forward.

In the depths of the Southern Phoenix Clan, there was an extremely vast area. A grand and majestic battle platform could be seen right at its center.. Layers of light streamed around it, incomparably dazzling. There was also a powerful formation inscribed there that contained a marvelous might.

At this moment, all the heaven’s chosen had already arrived. Each of the holy maidens were accompanied by the people they sought for help. Next to Nanfeng Yunxi were Qin Wentian, Jun Mengchen, and Purgatory.

Many figures silently appeared in the surroundings of this Phoenix Arena—these were all characters from the Southern Phoenix Clan’s elder generations. They attached a very high importance to this showdown. The Southern Phoenix Clan was presided and governed by the Southern Phoenix Matriarch, and divided into several factions. The holy maidens might have the Southern Phoenix Matriarch’s blood in their veins, but they were all from different factions. And out of the thirty-six maidens, only one could become the Holy Successor. This would be an indication of that particular faction’s potential.

In future, when the Holy Successor ascended to the position of the Southern Phoenix Martriach, her faction would be the one that ruled the entire Southern Phoenix Clan. Hence, the selection of the Holy Successor every one hundred years was an event that received high importance from their clan.

”Let’s go up to the Phoenix Arena,” Nanfeng Yunxi said to the three of them. After which, they mounted one of the arena’s thirty-six minor platforms. This battle platform had the faint shadow of a phoenix shimmering in and out of existence. The other camps of people had also mounted the platforms along with their respective holy maidens. Similarly, the other thirty-five platforms had the faint shadow of a phoenix, albeit in a different form. Despite their distinct appearances, their majesticness was roughly the same.

”Next, we are going to select nine holy maidens to enter the ancestral lands. The maidens are selected based on the top nine camps with the highest battle achievements. The holy maiden can fight if they wish to, or they can send the helpers they have chosen. But one must remember this, holy maidens are able to borrow power from the formation to boost their own combat prowess into reaching the peak of the third level of immortal foundation. Hence, if the holy maiden chooses to fight, then her opponent must at least be someone of the same cultivation level. As for the helpers, they are unable to borrow power from the formation.” At this moment, the middle-aged woman stated the rules as she walked into the Phoenix Arena.

Qin Wentian glanced at Nanfeng Yunxi, only to see her smiling at him.

”You are truly decisive. Holy maidens are able to borrow power from the formations, but I cannot. And yet, you still choose to invite me over? Look at the other holy maidens, the majority have invited helpers at the second or third level of immortal foundation. There’s even one at the fourth-level. Are you not afraid that I’ll negatively affect your battle achievement record?” Qin Wentian asked Nanfeng Yunxi.

”Fourth-level immortal foundation experts can enter the ancestral land, but they are not allowed to partake in this combat trial. As for those at the third level, I can use the power from the formation to deal with them. For those at the first and second level, I believe that with your combat prowess, they should be of no problem to you.” Nanfeng Yunxi smiled. Qin Wentian nodded his head. The holy maidens could borrow the power from the formation for their combat, unleashing a combat prowess equivalent to the third level of immortal foundation. This meant that the main point of the combat trial still depended on the holy maidens themselves.

They invited their friends to act as helpers to assist them in the other battles. Naturally, the stronger their helpers, the more useful they would prove to be. This would be the case even after entering the ancestral lands. For now, Qin Wentian still had no concrete idea on what he had to do, but most likely, he was supposed to protect Nanfeng Yunxi from any danger.

”How many combat rounds are there?” Qin Wentian asked.

”Thirty six. Each camp of holy maidens must fight thirty-five rounds of combat and they cannot fight an opponent twice. The nine maidens with the highest battle achievements will gain the qualifications to enter the ancestral lands,” Nanfeng Yunxi replied.

”Everyone should be clear of the rules by now. Nanfeng Aoxue, let the first battle fall to your camp. After that, the battles shall continue according to the sequence,” announced the middle-aged woman. After that, she floated up into the air and left the central arena for everyone to begin.

Nanfeng Aoxue stepped out, instantly appearing on the center stage. Her aura was overwhelming as power from the third level gushed forth from her. Qin Wentian sighed in admiration, ”She reached the third level of immortal foundation within a hundred years after her birth?”

”No.” Nanfeng Yunxi shook her head. ”The Southern Phoenix Clan selects thirty-six holy maidens every hundred years. At the time of selection, those conferred with the title of holy maiden are ones with extremely high potential. These can include women that have reached adulthood prior to the selection period. When the time of selection comes by, their ages are naturally more than a hundred. During the 100-year selection period, some of the maidens can even be selected before they reach a hundred years in age and have yet to establish their immortal foundations. But once the date of the inheritance trials arrives, they’ll have no choice but to delay their participation until the next trial a hundred years later. Nanfeng Aoxue is part of the former, while I belong to the latter half. They bestowed my title in the middle of this 100-year period. Luckily for me, I ascended to immortality shortly before this round of inheritance trials began. Otherwise, I’d be like Nanfeng Aoxue and can only participate in the inheritance trial a hundred years later.”

”In that case, doesn’t she hold a greater advantage than the others?” Qin Wentian smiled. ”But, being able to reach the third level of immortal foundation within a hundred odd years should also be considered an extremely outstanding feat, right?”

”Our Southern Phoenix Clan is an ancient clan with extremely deep foundations. You cannot use common logic to appraise us. The extraordinary individuals among our members will naturally cultivate faster than the geniuses outside of our clan. If I manage to become the Holy Successor, you’ll have to work hard or I’ll swiftly overtake you,” Nanfeng Yunxi joked.

”Let’s wait and see.” Qin Wentian didn’t mind and laughed along.

Nanfeng Aoxue chose the camp of another holy maiden. The holy maiden of that camp stepped out. She used her ancient phoenix bloodline to activate the arena’s formation and borrowed its power, allowing her to have the aura of a peak, third-level immortal foundation expert. Both their immortal foundations gushed forth with might as two terrifying ancient phoenix shadows could be seen in the air. Their immortal foundations seemed to be in the form of a phoenix, both shimmering in and out of existence.

”Did you also establish a phoenix immortal foundation?” Qin Wentian asked curiously.

”Naturally. If we have enough ability, the holy maidens of the Southern Phoenix Clan will always be able to establish a phoenix-form immortal foundation. But even though our immortal foundations might have similar phoenix forms, their grades and tiers will still be different. The might we can unleash will naturally differ as well,” Nanfeng Yunxi explained. The immortal foundations established by stellar martial cultivators were formed by the fusion of energy from their astral souls and constellations.

”Evidently, it can also be a disadvantage to use the power of the formation to augment one’s own power to the peak of the third level. A true third-level immortal foundation is much stronger in comparison,” Qin Wentian mused silently as he observed the combat. Nanfeng Aoxue was like a true phoenix. Her every move was backed by the power of the phoenix shadow she’d earlier manifested, containing enough might to startle the heavens. The Phoenix Arena was covered by a screen of light, and hence, the shockwaves produced by the combatants wouldn’t be able to affect their surroundings.

”Speed, strength, fire, immortal-ranked innate techniques. In all aspects, Nanfeng Aoxue possesses the clear advantage. There’s no suspense.” Qin Wentian knew that victory and defeat would be determined almost immediately. And just as he expected, a few moments later Nanfeng Aoxue defeated her opponent and obtained victory.

After her combat ended, she said, ”My friend will still continue the battle.”

”Okay.” In the air, the beautiful middle-aged lady nodded. After that, Zong Zhan stepped out.

Zong Zhan was a Golden Heaven-Warring Condor—he had a pure bloodline and supreme combat prowess. It was said that his type of demonic beast possessed a defense comparable to the divine avian species, the golden-winged rocs.

Zong Zhan walked up the Phoenix Arena. His body was instantly cloaked in golden battle armor. His eyes gleamed as they took in his surroundings—he actually wanted to fight against a few of the most outstanding heaven’s chosen in attendance. But upon thinking of Nanfeng Aoxue, he temporarily suppressed his desire to do battle. After entering the ancestral lands, there would be no lack of chances for him to fight. What he had to do now was to first guarantee victory by winning thirty-five combat rounds to qualify entering the ancestral lands.

”I think I will pick you guys again.” Zong Zhan’s eyes turned to the camp of the holy maiden whom Nanfeng Aoxue had just defeated. This instantly caused that holy maiden to frown. She had invited two helpers, and they were both experts on the same level as her—the second level of immortal foundation. However, they were still not strong enough to fight against Zong Zhan.

”I’ll fight him.” A heaven’s chosen next to that holy maiden stepped out. This helper was a heaven’s chosen from a major power in the Southern Phoenix City. Arrogance rolled off him in waves, and he exuded a sense of might, but in that moment, Zong Zhan’s entire body cloaked itself in a golden light. The immortal might from his immortal foundation was also gushing out with extreme power.

—BOOM!— He stepped out, shooting across space like a bolt of golden lightning, instantly arriving before his opponent. Numerous fearsome-looking golden condors appeared. They were formed from law energy and resembled a powerful battle formation that suppressed the entire space.

His opponent’s countenance drastically changed. His immortal might gushed forth, painting the sky a silvery white to bury the attacks from the golden condors.

… chi… chi… Zong Zhan’s battle formation of sliced apart the silvery screen, directly boring down on his opponent. Terrifying rumbling sounds echoed out as the dazzling silver-white light was snuffed out, and his attacks blasted full-force into his opponent, causing him to cough out blood.

”How violent.” The spectators stared at Zong Zhan. Nanfeng Aoxue alone was already extremely strong, but it seemed that her helper was powerful as well. They instantly secured two victories.

”Rong Xiao, help me fight the third round,” Nanfeng Aoxue requested of Rong Xiao. Rong Xiao nodded. When Zong Zhan retreated from the arena, he walked up and turned his gaze onto the others. His cultivation base was at the second level of immortal foundation and he had extremely strong combat prowess.

He then glanced in Nanfeng Yunxi’s direction, his eyes landing on Qin Wentian as he said, ”Brother Qin from the Eastern Region, I wonder how powerful you are? Can I request for us to spar? Naturally, if Brother Qin is terrified, I’m fine if holy maiden Yunxi steps out with you.”

If a holy maiden stepped up to battle, they could only fight opponents with an equivalent cultivation base as them. And Nanfeng Yunxi’s helpers all seemed to only be at the first level of immortal foundation. Many were puzzled by this. Could it be that Nanfeng Yunxi wanted to depend on her strength alone to enter the ancestral lands?

Although the holy maidens were the main point of these trials, it was still very important for them to depend on others during some critical moments!