Chapter 138: Holy Land Emerges

This time, other newly emerged sects also came to the Tianzun Dynasty to participate in the selection contest.

Those who attended the E'nan Disturbance back then were mostly sects relatively close to Jingcheng.

More distant ones, such as sects along the imperial borders, were numerous.

Sects like Huo Zong, Frost Sect, Shenfeng Sect, and Fengsha Tower all gathered in Jingcheng.

Their every single goal was the Empress and the resources.

At this moment, the Taichu Sacred Land was paying particular attention to Jixia Xuegong.

The status of the Taichu Sacred Land in the martial world was roughly equal to that of Jixia Xuegong.

But the Taichu Sacred Land rarely emerged into the world, being extremely mysterious.

At this moment, Xu Chen was walking through Jingcheng, and Bu Fengshuang sensed it.

"There are many people from the Taichu Sacred Land nearby, and sects like Huo Zong and Frost Sect are all subordinate to the Taichu Sacred Land."

"The Taichu Sacred Land is one of the Four Great Sacred Grounds; the Taichu Saint Son holds the same status and position as you."

"I heard he has reached Seventh Grade Perfection, but he is ten years older than you."

"His obsession with the Empress is not new—ten years ago, he openly declared he would marry her."

"Ten years of cultivation were all for today's selection contest, so he could enter the Imperial Dynasty and become a Yuan Jun."

Bu Fengshuang said.

Xu Chen nodded; he knew this, and it had nothing to do with his past life.

Back then, the Taichu Saint Son was targeting Ye Xuan, the protagonist.

This lifetime, he hasn't done much, and instead has consistently rejected the Empress. So he said: "It has nothing to do with me." Bu Fengshuang glanced at Xu Chen and said: "He heard the Empress personally invited you twice and gave you the Nine-Spirit Night Pearl—he's furious. This time, he plans to personally target you on the arena and make you lose all face." Xu Chen's lips twitched slightly—is this Taichu Saint Son insane?

You don't go after the main character, why bother him?

Damn it, I said not to get too close to the female lead, or trouble would pile up.

Look, trouble has come already.

He's bearing responsibilities he shouldn't have to bear.

He sighed: "Let him do whatever he wants. I might lose to others, but I absolutely cannot lose to him."

Bu Fengshuang nodded: "Indeed—if you fight, it represents the faces of Jixia Xuegong and the Taichu Sacred Land; you cannot afford to lose."

Xu Chen said: "Where did the Empress assign us to stay?" Huo Qilin grinned: "In the Imperial Palace—we're the only team assigned inside. The Empress said if you don't stay in the palace, you'll sleep on the streets, and she won't entertain you." Xu Chen: "…………" Numbed!

Although the treatment was prestigious, the hatred level was fully absorbed. He rubbed his temples: "Fine, I'll endure the inconvenience and move into the palace—can't let you all sleep on the streets."

Upon hearing this, everyone bared their teeth.

In the Empress's eyes, only the Young Palace Master matters!

Soon, the news that Jixia Xuegong's group entered the Imperial Palace alone spread like a storm through everyone's ears. "My god, I heard the Empress invited only Jixia Xuegong into the palace, while all other sects are in the relay stations?" "Relay stations? Relay what? My Beggar Sect came, and we're stuck in inns—the relay stations are already full." "I heard the Empress likes that Jixia Xuegong Young Palace Master—I didn't believe it before, but now I do." "Tsk, I heard the Taichu Saint Son is madly in love with the Empress—if they clash, won't they fight?" People chattered, curious beyond measure.

They all felt a good show was about to unfold. On the other side, in the relay station, a young, handsome white-robed man shattered his teacup upon hearing the news. His expression darkened: "Only Xu Chen went in?" A disciple of the Taichu Sacred Land nodded: "I saw it with my own eyes—Xu Chen went in." This man was none other than the Taichu Saint Son, Yang Hao.

His body faintly radiated Seventh Grade Perfection energy, and a faint hissing sound emanated from his body—as if something was hidden within.

Yang Hao coldly said: "Good. I'll remember this. Tomorrow, I'll be the first to cripple him." The disciples nodded, clasped their fists: "Saint Son's strength is formidable; defeating that insignificant Xu Chen is no challenge."

Yang Hao said coolly: "Keep probing. If Xu Chen dares to touch the Empress, kill him tonight."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the Taichu Sacred Land disciples vanished from the relay station room. Yang Hao's eyes brimmed with killing intent: "Xu Chen, how dare you violate my sacred boundary? You truly don't know the meaning of death!"

"Achoo!"

On the other side, Xu Chen had just moved into the Imperial Palace and sneezed. Then he saw dozens of palace maids lined up to welcome him, the air thick with floral fragrance.

Soon, the breathtakingly beautiful Empress herself emerged slowly, amid everyone's stunned gazes, to greet him.

Xu Chen grimaced: "Your Majesty, just assign me a room." Luo Shen smiled sweetly: "Why not come sit with me?"

Bu Fengshuang raised her eyes: "Your Majesty, the Palace Master said he's arriving soon." Luo Shen gritted her teeth: "Hmph! I only care about Xu Chen—let Shangguan Palace Master enter the palace." Xu Chen didn't bother chatting with Luo Shen: "Your Majesty, I'm leaving." He said, then departed with Bu Fengshuang and the others, leaving the Empress gazing after him with a pained look. Ye Xuan remained silent, following behind Xu Chen.

The Empress, seeing Ye Xuan, coldly asked: "Why did you step in with your left foot?" Ye Xuan: "????" I just… do you have a rule in your palace that you must enter with your right foot? The head eunuch immediately understood and stared sternly at Ye Xuan: "Everyone entering the Imperial Palace must step in with the right foot first."

You violated palace protocol; by law, you deserve fifty lashes. Your Majesty, is that correct?" The Empress said coolly: "It's a hundred lashes, you clumsy servant, what kind of memory do you have?" The head eunuch grimaced: "Yes yes, I misremembered, Your Majesty is right." Ye Xuan's lips twitched violently; he gritted his teeth: "Xu Chen stepped in with his left foot too!" He couldn't take it anymore—this was too outrageous! The Empress asked those around: "Did Xu Chen step in with his left foot or right foot?" All palace maids answered in unison: "Your Majesty, it was the right foot." Ye Xuan: "…………" What the hell! Are your eyes all blind?! The Empress coldly said: "Trying to frame Xu Chen? Punishment doubled—two hundred lashes. If you resist, you'll be expelled from the palace immediately and barred from the selection contest." Ye Xuan's face turned black—this Empress was outrageously biased!

The most insane thing was—he hadn't even said a word, and now he was going to get two hundred lashes. Is there any law left?!

Ye Xuan gritted his teeth—this damn woman, rejected by Xu Chen, was taking it out on him. Damn it, so damn unfair. "Hmph!"

With that, the Empress coldly snorted and swept her sleeve away. Before leaving, she pouted slightly, her eyes carrying a hint of grievance.

Xu Chen didn't even pay attention to me—how heartbroken.

But it's fine—I'll help you win the contest, and then you'll still be my Yuan Jun. Thinking this, she no longer cared, walking straight back to her quarters. Xu Chen watched Ye Xuan being dragged away, his screams echoing, and a flicker of sympathy passed through his eyes. Even stepping in with the left foot gets punished—how tragic!

Thinking this, Xu Chen was led by palace maids to his quarters.

He found his quarters were vast and dazzling, adorned with countless night pearls, Spirit Stones arranged in orderly rows, surrounded by a Nine Grade Spirit Gathering Array. A continuous torrent of Spiritual Qi surged into his body like waves. Instantly, the room was filled with misty Spiritual Qi, so dense it had condensed into liquid. Xu Chen rubbed his forehead—this Empress really…

Bu Fengshuang nodded: "If you cultivate in this room for half a month, you'll surely break through to Seventh Grade Late Stage." Xu Chen replied: "No need for half a month—ten days at most. This Spiritual Qi is too thick."

"Sss!"

Saying this, Xu Chen immediately sat cross-legged and began cultivating. In this environment, he didn't want to waste a single moment.

He activated the Immortal Indestructible Art and began frantically absorbing the Spiritual Qi. At the same time, Xu Chen was also practicing a self-created Heaven-Rank Technique: Phantom Heavenly Wind Hand. This technique requires Seventh Grade Realm and Seventh Grade physical body to cultivate; in his past life, he had already mastered it thoroughly.

So now, he only needed to recall and refresh his memory.

The technique's effect: no weapon needed—when striking, it generates phantom limbs and hurricane-force winds. The phantoms confuse enemies about what's real; the winds inflict damage. Without a Seventh Grade physical body, the winds would harm the user—that's why the Seventh Grade physical body is required. The phantoms can reach a maximum of nine, maximizing deception. But generally, Xu Chen doesn't need nine. Usually, three or four phantoms are enough to knock enemies flying.

When striking, speed is extreme, power is fierce, combining speed, accuracy, and brutality. "Swoosh!"

"Swoosh!"

"Swoosh!"

In less than half a minute, ten hands appeared before Xu Chen—like a thousand-armed Guanyin, dazzling the eyes.

Yet the sheer force, the ferocity of the hurricane winds, already shook the space, faintly threatening to collapse.

A quarter-hour later, Xu Chen had completely recalled the moves, his strikes now second nature.

Time passed in a flash until the next day.

Xu Chen absorbed the dense Spiritual Qi for an entire day. The mist of Spiritual Qi within the room had been entirely consumed by him. Faintly, Xu Chen even brushed against the aura of the Seventh Grade Late Stage. He stretched and said, "Let's go; it's time to compete."

He had a premonition that today's selection tournament would be extremely lively. PS: Five chapters!!!