Chapter 3168: Are you also here to challenge Hong Zun?

The old man had already devised his plan; he was just waiting for everything to be ready before entering the city.

But who would have thought that at this critical moment, those six idiots would stir up such a commotion—aren't you causing harm?

"Damn it, we can't stay here long."

With so many formations' light shooting up to the heavens, even a blind guard in the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens would see it; for now we can only retreat and wait for another opportunity.

For a moment, the old man felt this task would be better done alone—the other six not only couldn't help, they'd only drag him down.

He immediately wanted to leave, but someone was faster.

Before the old man could act, the two guards who had come out of the city earlier rushed over, their leader shouting loudly.

"Halt, who are you?"

"Oh no."

In the blink of an eye, the two guards blocked the old man's path, giving him no chance to escape.

After getting a clear look at the old man, one of the guards then spoke.

"A Spirit Race person?"

The Spirit Race also exists beyond the heavens, but they are merely a later‑acquired race; since the Human Race ascended to an innate race and the Immortal Realm transformed, outsiders coming to the Human Race Immortal Realm are actually not few.

These outsiders have various motives—some seek treasures among the Human Race, such as magic artifacts, talismans, and formation disks.

Others are simply visiting friends or traveling for leisure.

For most outsiders, the Human Race does not reject them; as long as they harbor no ulterior motive or pose no danger, after inspection they may enter the Immortal Realm.

Of course, they must also obey the Human Race's rules, or they might not be able to return.

Thus the two guards immediately recognized the old man as a Spirit Race member, prompting their question.

Hearing this, the old man went along with it, nodding repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Was that formation just now your doing?"

"No, I haven't seen any formation at all."

"Are you a sword cultivator?"

One of the guards then glanced at the old man's waist‑borne long sword, which he had originally used to disguise his identity.

After all, sword cultivators are not rare among the Human Race, and wearing a sword makes a good disguise.

Faced with the questioning, he naturally kept nodding, indicating he was a sword cultivator.

Seeing this, the two guards exchanged a glance, their eyes showing a hint of something else—another challenger had arrived.

However, the two were on duty and had no time to waste words with the old man; one of them threw out a sentence.

"Since you've come to challenge Senior Hong Zun, go right in—later someone will escort you to the Dao One Immortal Sect."

Having said that, the two hurried toward the place where the formation fluctuations were occurring.

Watching the two guards' retreating backs, the old man frowned slightly—had he mistaken the person?

From their words it was not hard to hear that they seemed to have taken him for an outsider come to challenge whatever this Hong Zun is.

"Who is this Hong Zun? But this does make a good excuse to enter the city."

From their tone, it seems not a few outsiders have recently come to challenge this Hong Zun; the city guards are already used to it.

Most importantly, it seems someone is specially sending them into the Immortal Realm, which would obviously be safer.

As for how to get out after entering the Immortal Realm, that's not a problem at all.

It's just a sparring match—losing on purpose is fine; besides, the Beyond the Heavens Human Race is also an innate race, so Hong Zun being able to draw so many outsider powerhouses to challenge him surely means he's no ordinary figure.

He knows his own strength well enough; he estimates he won't be a match when the time comes.

As for winning or losing, the old man naturally doesn't care; losing is no big deal.

By then he still wants to use the excuse to tour the Human Race Immortal Realm, which won't raise suspicion.

The more he thought about it, the clearer it became—he hadn't expected to turn misfortune into fortune, learning such a crucial piece of information.

He glanced at the spot where those six idiots were and curled his lip.

"A bunch of useless trash—I'll go ahead first."

Having said that, the old man simply didn't conceal his identity and flew straight toward the Immortal City Beyond the Heavens.

Given the circumstances, rather than straining to disguise himself as a Human Race member, it would be better to enter openly and declare he'd come to challenge Senior Hong Zun.

Soon he arrived at the city gate, where quite a few people were still watching the excitement—after all, the formations were being triggered one after another, which was truly outrageous.

In the crowd, besides Human Race cultivators, there were also many outsider cultivators.

Some were exiting, some entering; the old man didn't go to watch the spectacle but followed the crowd intending to enter the city.

Not long after, it was his turn; the guard in charge of inspection glanced at him and calmly said.

"Spirit Race? What brings you to the Human Race?"

"I have come to challenge Senior Hong Zun."

Having long prepared his excuse, the old man immediately replied; the guard felt nothing strange about it.

After all, not encountering seven or eight outsiders coming to challenge Hong Zun in a day would be the strange thing.

Who made him the Human Race's foremost Sword Immortal? No one knows how his fame spread, but it has drawn many outsider powerhouses to challenge him.

They all want to witness the sword technique of the Human Race's foremost Sword Immortal.

For this, their orders were to not obstruct, conduct normal checks, and release anyone without issue.

Even later, with the crowds swelling, the Heavenly Palace arranged immortal vessels specifically to send people to the Dao One Immortal Sect.

Within the Human Race, many people naturally could see there was something going on—probably that old fellow Hong Zun was hiding some ill intent.

Thus, hearing the old man's words, the guard also found nothing odd; after a routine inquiry, finding nothing suspicious, he let him through.

However, since you've come to challenge Hong Zun, you naturally can enjoy the Heavenly Palace's benefits.

He was directly taken to a mansion in the city, waiting for the immortal vessel to send him to Dao One Immortal Sect, so he wouldn't have to rush on his own.

The old man naturally didn't need these benefits, but it was also not convenient for him to leave alone right now.

After all, his excuse was to challenge Hong Zun; he hasn't challenged him yet, and leaving alone would inevitably draw suspicion.

So it's still best to go challenge him first, then look for an opportunity to slip away.

And when the old man was brought to this mansion, three foreign tribe sword cultivators were already waiting here.

The three saw the old man, each merely gave a simple nod, considered a greeting, then they closed their eyes and resumed breathing exercises.

Everyone was unacquainted, so the old man naturally wouldn't step forward to start a conversation.

Often, the more one speaks, the more mistakes are made; just like now, not disturbing each other is best, and it's also what the old man likes most.

The four each practiced breathing exercises and rested in the hall; after about a Shíchén, a Heavenly Palace strong person walked in, glanced over everyone, and said with a smile.

"Let's go, four of you, the time has come."

"Thank you, fellow Daoist."

"No problem."

Immediately, the four boarded the immortal vessel; the old man behaved normally the whole way, arousing no suspicion and exchanging no idle talk with others.

After boarding the immortal vessel, he went into a room and paid no attention to outside affairs.

The immortal vessel slowly rose into the sky, passed through a spatial channel into the Immortal Realm, and hurried all the way toward Dao One Immortal Sect.