Chapter 908

'Pfft…'

He Pingsheng waved his hand and opened a vortex in the void.

After some discussion, the two decided to travel to the Western Extreme Continent a year earlier than planned.

When he was at the Void Refinement realm, He Pingsheng could only open a spatial passage by tearing the void once every few days; now that his cultivation had reached Body Integration, there was no such limitation.

He could open it anytime, anywhere.

The two stepped into the vortex!

The next moment, they stepped out from within the vortex.

A peculiar, scorching heat washed over them.

He Pingsheng looked around.

Behind them lay snow-capped mountains.

Before the snow mountains stretched a lush, primeval forest, with rolling hills piled one upon another.

Before He Pingsheng stood a vast golden city.

From afar, the city's countless buildings were adorned with golden rooftops, radiating brilliant golden light.

'That must be Jin Ku City!' He Pingsheng nodded toward the golden city.

'Mm,' the Tianwei Empress said. 'Let's go take a look—we must pay our respects to the Jin Ku clan first!'

He Pingsheng asked: 'What kind of beings are the Jin Ku clan? Are they one of the Nine Heavenly Clans?'

'No,' the Tianwei Empress shook her head. 'The Jin Ku clan is not one of the Nine Heavenly Clans, nor one of the Four Divine Clans—but their presence is not to be underestimated!'

'Jin Ku is a later name, given because their ancestor, Jin Ku the Patriarch, became so renowned that his disciples named their clan after his Dao title.'

'But in truth, the Jin Ku clan are a species of beast known as 【Zheng】.'

'Zheng?' He Pingsheng looked curious.

Tianwei said: 'Yes—its full name is 【Tai Pan Chi Tian Zheng】.'

'Previously, they were called the Tai Pan clan.'

'The Tai Pan Chi Tian Zheng possess an extremely potent bloodline, blessed by heaven, and are born with venom—they are not to be trifled with.'

'Let's go!'

'We'll talk more when we get there!'

The two transformed into streaks of light and flew straight to the city gate; after learning the location of the Tai Pan clan's residence, they instantly teleported to the entrance of the Jin Ku clan's domain.

The Jin Ku clan's domain was equivalent to the imperial palace of Jin Ku City.

Two Body Integration cultivators guarded the palace gate.

Of course, it was never customary to station Body Integration cultivators as gatekeepers—that would be extravagant; likely, they were placed there due to the imminent opening of the Jin Ku Immortal Ruins, to lend prestige to the occasion.

'Two elders!' One of the men stepped forward and bowed to Tianwei and He Pingsheng. 'Have you come to participate in the Jin Ku Immortal Ruins event?'

Tianwei nodded. 'Indeed.'

'Good!' the man said. 'Please present your Jin Ku Tokens.'

He Pingsheng and Tianwei each produced their golden tokens, which the guard examined at length.

'All clear!' the gatekeeper said. 'Please follow me.'

'The opening site of the Jin Ku Immortal Ruins is not on our Jin Ku family grounds!'

'When all participants have gathered, someone will guide you to the opening site.'

Then, He Pingsheng and the Tianwei Empress followed the gatekeeper through winding corridors of the imperial palace until they reached a grand hall.

Inside the hall were over a dozen seats.

Five or six Great Mahayana Emperor-level beast emperors already waited on them.

Upon seeing He Pingsheng and Tianwei enter, they all showed expressions of surprise.

After all, He Pingsheng's cultivation was only Body Integration.

'Once twelve people have gathered, someone will take you to the Ten Thousand Stele Forest!' the gatekeeper said. 'Elders, please wait a few more days.'

With that, the gatekeeper left.

He Pingsheng nodded, and the two found empty seats and sat down.

The Jin Ku Immortal Ruins would not open for another full year, so those who arrived early did not all come at once—some came a year ahead, others months ahead, some only on the day of opening.

Thus, the Jin Ku clan could not receive guests daily.

They simply waited until enough had gathered.

Whenever a group reached sufficient numbers, they were taken to the Ten Thousand Stele Forest.

As for what the Ten Thousand Stele Forest was, He Pingsheng had no idea.

'Greetings, both of you!' A woman in blue Dao robes bowed to He Pingsheng and the Tianwei Empress. 'You're human too?'

He Pingsheng said nothing.

The Tianwei Empress nodded. 'Yes.'

'Wonderful! I'm human too!' the woman said. 'My Dao title is Zhishu; I come from the Xuanbing Continent.'

'May I ask which continent you hail from?'

Tianwei said: 'I am Tianwei; we come from the Lei Huang Continent.'

Though both were human, Tianwei showed no particular warmth—only a slight bow and a brief mention of their origin.

'The Lei Huang Continent is wonderful!' Zhishu Xianzi said with envy. 'I've heard that among the five continents, only your Lei Huang Continent offers humans a decent life!'

'Alas… on the Xuanbing Continent, we're better off dead!'

'Human territory has been steadily squeezed—now we've lost even a single domain!'

Hearing this, He Pingsheng was stunned.

Were humans on the Xuanbing Continent worse off than those on the Tianhuo Continent?

'Young friend!' Zhishu Xianzi looked at He Pingsheng. 'Your cultivation is only Body Integration eighth layer—are you also entering the Jin Ku Immortal Ruins?'

He Pingsheng nodded solemnly. 'Yes, Elder. I wish to see if I can gain some opportunity.'

'Sigh…' Zhishu shook her head. 'The place is riddled with poison—carelessness means death. Countless Great Mahayana Emperors have perished over the years. If you enter, you must be extremely cautious!'

'The dangers there come not only from the poisons themselves, but also…'

'Heh…'

'You understand, don't you?'

As she spoke, Zhishu's gaze swept over the others.

She dared not speak plainly.

For among them were Divine Clan members.

He Pingsheng spotted a man in green robes—a Dragon Clan Great Mahayana.

Though only at Great Mahayana second layer.

Among the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans, the Dragon Clan was strongest, the Phoenix second, and the Qilin weakest.

'Hmph…'

The green-robed Dragon sneered, glancing over. 'In the cultivation world, the strong prey on the weak—do you think weakness gives you the right?'

'Humans fare poorly across the continents not because of others!'

'It's your own fault!'

'If you were truly strong, you'd overpower the Nine Heavenly Clans and Four Divine Clans!'

'Blaming our Four Divine Clans here? You're being petty, friend.'

Zhishu Xianzi dared not respond to the Dragon.

Tianwei said nothing.

He Pingsheng didn't bother replying.

Of course, as Great Mahayana Emperors, the Dragon cultivator wouldn't press the matter; seeing the three remain silent, he fell quiet.

After another seven or eight days, the number of cultivators in the hall rose to over twenty, and finally, the Jin Ku clan's Great Mahayana Emperors appeared.