Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

A bitter smile crossed Zifeng Jun’s face.

A distant look appeared in his eyes as he recalled memories from the past.

The truth was...

Zifeng Jie’s father had once been a top master within the Purple Wind Clan, a clan elder at the Ninth Stage of Human King Realm.

As Zifeng Tianhen’s right-hand man, Zifeng Jie’s father held a pivotal position in the Purple Wind Clan and was entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

However.

Zifeng Jie’s father was unwilling to remain subordinate to Zifeng Tianhen, so he secretly colluded with experts from the Royal Family to plot against Zifeng Tianhen.

But the plot was exposed, and Zifeng Tianhen crippled his cultivation.

Unable to bear such a devastating blow, Zifeng Jie’s father chose to take his own life.

At that time, Zifeng Jie was still young and naive. Out of consideration for their old friendship, Zifeng Tianhen took him in as a disciple and taught him with great care.

The emotion and energy Zifeng Tianhen poured into him far exceeded what he gave his own son, Zifeng Jun.

”When we were children, Zifeng Jie had a great relationship with me and my little sister. We all looked up to him as an older brother. Father even considered passing the position of Young Master to him. But a few years ago, I don’t know where he learned the truth about his father’s death. Zifeng Jie has always believed that my father killed his father. On top of that, the clan elders all argued that since his father had colluded with the Royal Family, he was not qualified to be the Young Master, and the position was passed to me instead. That’s when he stormed off in a rage...”

Zifeng Jun said with a bitter smile, ”For all these years, no one knew where Zifeng Jie was, but every time he comes back, he causes a scene. Father, mindful of his old friendship with his father, always turned a blind eye to his antics, which is how Zifeng Jie developed his current personality.”

Jiang Chen fell silent after hearing the story.

’Setting aside Zifeng Jie’s father for a moment—the man betrayed his clan and tried to assassinate Zifeng Tianhen. He brought his death upon himself.’

’Just the tolerance and care Zifeng Tianhen showed Zifeng Jie over the years should have been more than enough to clear any debt.’

’That Zifeng Jie really is an ungrateful fool!’

”This man is vicious and vengeful. You offended him today, so he definitely won’t let you off. Brother Jiang, you need to be careful!” Zifeng Jun warned.

Jiang Chen nodded. ”I know!”

They traveled the rest of the way in silence.

Without the wind and snow to worry about, they traveled at an incredible speed.

It took them only two double-hours to arrive at a place called Ancestor Mountain, located in the center of the Profound Celestial Ice Field.

Ancestor Mountain!

From a distance, it looked like a burial mound. It wasn’t towering or majestic; on the contrary, it was just a small hill.

But according to legend...

This was the place where the ancestors of the Icefield Race had fallen.

The tombs of the Icefield Race’s ancestors were hidden within!

It was just that...

Whether or not this was true had never been proven.

After all.

Unless the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm appeared, even experts of the Human Emperor Realm who came here would be unable to find the location of Ancestor Mountain!

”Ancestor Mountain is just ahead. I’m afraid all the top experts of the Eastern Continent have gathered here by now!” Elder Yuan Zeng said, standing beside Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen nodded.

His Divine Thought Power had reached Fourth Grade Advanced, making his senses extremely sharp.

Through the perception of his Divine Thought, he could feel several incomparably powerful auras ahead, a few of which were even more formidable than Zifeng Tianhen’s.

And Zifeng Tianhen was the tenth-ranked expert on the Celestial Venerable List!

Yet there were beings stronger than him near Ancestor Mountain, which could only mean they were the other Overlords ranked among the top ten of the Celestial Venerable List!

”Hahaha, Zifeng Tianhen! As one of the masters of the Profound Celestial Ice Field, why are you so late!” a hearty voice boomed from high above, accompanied by the rumble of a colossal metal warship.

On the deck of the metal warship stood a middle-aged man with a large, bald head, bathed in a golden radiance.

”That’s Jie Yeluo, eleventh on the Celestial Venerable List and Sovereign of the Ten Thousand Buddha Ancient Country!” Yuan Zeng whispered.

Jiang Chen nodded to himself.

As he looked at the enormous warship, a flicker of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

The warship was actually a Celestial-tier Profound Weapon!

’A Celestial-tier Profound Weapon of this scale... the refining process alone must have taken centuries!’

”The Ancestral Land isn’t going to grow legs and run away. What’s the difference between being early or late?” Zifeng Tianhen said with a smile. His relationship with Jie Yeluo was somewhat confrontational. He added coolly, ”Jie Yeluo, have the people of your Ten Thousand Buddha Ancient Country devolved so much they’ve forgotten how to fly? To think you need to rely on a Suspended Flying Ship?”

”Hmph!”

Jie Yeluo snorted coldly and said indifferently, ”My Ten Thousand Buddha Ancient Country is vast and full of geniuses. We have no choice but to use this Floating Airship to travel. It’s not like you lot, who are already on the Profound Celestial Ice Field. Take your time. I shall be on my way!”

RUMBLE!

The Suspended Flying Ship glowed with profound Inscriptions all over its body, transforming into a Flowing Light that shot away and vanished from sight.

This was just a small interlude.

Jiang Chen and the others soon arrived at Ancestor Mountain as well.

The area around Ancestor Mountain was a sea of people. The various Ancient Countries and dynasties had each carved out their own camps, their divisions clear and distinct.

Zifeng Tianhen scanned the area, his gaze landing on an empty spot to the east of Ancestor Mountain. ”Let’s make camp here,” he said.

”Alright!”

The group followed close behind.

They soon reached the empty plot of land, and several elders of the Icefield Race began to set up the camp.

These few were all masters of the Secrets of Earth.

They positioned themselves at the four cardinal points, placed their hands on the ground simultaneously, and activated the power of the Secrets of Earth.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

The entire ground trembled, and then streams of earth and rock rose from below, transforming into a camp made of stone and soil.

”The Ancestral Land won’t officially open for a while yet. You all rest here for now. I’m going to meet with Bing Qianchi and the others,” Zifeng Tianhen said calmly before turning to leave.

Jiang Chen and the others then found a place to sit down.

Zifeng Jie, an outcast among the group, found a corner by himself. He leaned against a wall, hands clasped behind his head, his cold, venomous gaze occasionally sweeping over Jiang Chen and the others.

”Brother, what do you think Father went to see Bing Qianchi and the others for?” asked Purple Wind Frost, who could never stay quiet for long.

Zifeng Jun paused for a moment, then thought about it. ”He probably went to discuss the ancestor worship ceremony,” he said.

”Ancestor worship ceremony?”

Jiang Chen was taken aback.

Zifeng Jun nodded. ”The Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm is actually the Ancestral Land of our Profound Celestial Ice Field race. In the past, the Profound Celestial Ice Field was always covered in ice and snow, so we could never find the Ancestral Land to pay respects to our ancestors. Therefore, whenever the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm appears, our three great tribes join forces to hold an ancestor worship ceremony. Only after the ceremony is over are we allowed to enter the Ancestral Land!”

”So that’s how it is!”

Jiang Chen nodded, showing he understood.

Not until nightfall did Zifeng Tianhen return to the camp. His expression was grim. As soon as he entered, he looked toward Jiang Chen and Zhao Hongluan and said, ”Young friend Jiang Chen, come with me!”

Jiang Chen frowned but followed Zifeng Tianhen.

They entered an earthen hut.

Zifeng Tianhen looked at him with a complicated expression and said in a heavy voice, ”Young friend Jiang Chen, I previously promised to let you enter the Ancestral Land. But just now, when I was discussing the ancestor worship ceremony with Bing Qianchi and the others, they argued that too many people entering the Ancestral Land would cause irreparable damage. They proposed that aside from the experts led by masters on the Celestial Venerable List, no other outsiders should be allowed to enter the Ancestral Land. I argued with them for a long time, but they wouldn’t budge...”

Jiang Chen was stunned.

’He could actually understand the Icefield Race’s decision.’

’The Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm was their race’s Ancestral Land, so the opportunities within rightfully belonged to them. They were only forced to make concessions because those other dynasties had masters from the Celestial Venerable List backing them.’

’They wouldn’t hesitate to exclude anyone who lacked the backing of a master from the Celestial Venerable List.’

’Although Zifeng Tianhen wanted to help him, he also had to consider the bigger picture.’

His expression turned grim as he looked at Zifeng Tianhen. ”So you’re saying I can’t enter the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm?”

Zifeng Tianhen nodded, then shook his head. ”There is one other way to get in!”

”What way?”

Jiang Chen’s eyes widened as he asked anxiously.

A cold glint flashed in Zifeng Tianhen’s eyes. ”Our Icefield Race’s ancestors established a rule: only the strong may enter the Ancestral Land to pay respects. The Royal Family and the Ice King Race want to forbid outsiders, but the true tradition of our Icefield Race is to forbid the weak. So, during the ancestor worship ceremony, any outsider not backed by a master from the Celestial Venerable List can issue a challenge to an expert of a corresponding cultivation level on the Human Venerable List or Earth Venerable List. If you win, you take their spot and can enter the Ancestral Land!”

”I trust you understand what this means?”

Zifeng Tianhen stared at Jiang Chen, his gaze burning.

Jiang Chen was startled for a moment, then his expression cleared with understanding. A cold glint flashed through his eyes as he nodded. ”I know what I have to do.”