Chapter 244: The Spirit Realm Gate Opens, and the Jade Order Holders May Enter

Chapter 244: The Spirit Realm Gate Opens, and the Jade Order Holders May Enter

In the royal palace of Zhenguo, the emperor of Zhenguo led a group of powerful royals and several high-ranking officials, all kneeling on the ground. Before them were two figures seated in chairs.

One was a man, and the other, a woman.

The man had a fair complexion and a long white beard, exuding an air of authority even without trying. He was clad in a purple robe.

The woman, on the other hand, was a beautiful lady in a pale green dress, her hair styled in a bun. Her expression was indifferent, and she rarely smiled.

"The gate to the Spirit Realm is open. Send a message to the Inner Realm—those who hold the Jade Orders may enter the Spirit Realm and proceed to the sects and noble families to which their orders belong. Zhenguo is responsible for escorting the holders of the Jade Orders to their respective powers," the man instructed in a calm voice.

"Yes!" came the reply.

Emperor Zheng and the others were taken aback. According to the original plan, it was not yet time to open the gate to the Spirit Realm and allow those with the Jade Orders to enter.

Why was it earlier than expected?

It was because the gate to the Spirit Realm had already been opened.

At the thought of this possibility, Emperor Zheng broke into a cold sweat and knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, the gate to the Spirit Realm has been opened. People from the Water Star Palace have entered the Inner Realm."

The man glanced at him indifferently and said, "Just follow the rules; there's no need to report this."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Emperor Zheng replied, heaving a sigh of relief.

Following the rules meant that warriors from the sects and noble families could open the gate to the Spirit Realm and enter the Inner Realm, and they should be allowed to pass without hindrance.

Emperor Zheng and the others bowed and withdrew, beginning the task of selecting personnel to manage the opening of the Spirit Realm Gate and escort the Jade Order holders as they entered the Spirit Realm.

This was the first time in nearly ten thousand years that the Spirit Realm Gate had been truly opened, allowing warriors with the Jade Orders from the Inner Realm to enter the Spirit Realm and proceed to their respective powers. There was no room for carelessness.

The sole task of the Zhenguo royalty was to ensure the safe passage of these Jade Order holders. Should they fail in this duty, it would mean the end of Zhenguo.

Of course, as long as they fulfilled their responsibilities, they would not be punished if an attack on a Jade Order holder occurred and Zhenguo was unable to provide protection. The superpower sects would naturally pursue and hold accountable those responsible for the attack.

However, if Zhenguo was found to be negligent or intentionally lax in their duties, they would be guilty of a grave crime!

According to past practices, important Jade Order holders would usually be escorted by their respective powers, rendering Zhenguo's involvement unnecessary.

However, the situation was different now, and it was unknown whether there were any Jade Order holders in the Inner Realm.

"Ya'rong, I didn't expect Tai Miao Mountain to send you here. How is your revered master, Elder Chen Xian, doing?" The man turned to the beautiful woman and asked.

"Qing Wang, you are too kind. My master is doing well," Ya'rong replied calmly.

Qing Wang—a powerful figure who had risen to prominence within the royal family of the Great Zhou Kingdom over the past hundred years. Despite his advanced age of over a hundred years, he was already a formidable warrior in the late stages of the God Refining realm.

It was all but certain that he would eventually reach the pinnacle of the God Refining realm.

Xiang Qing seemed accustomed to Ya'rong's indifferent attitude and continued, "When your revered master entered the Inner Realm and slew the Demon Lord of the Blood Demon Sect, did she completely eradicate the Blood Demon?"

"The Blood Demon is dead. My master buried him herself," Ya'rong replied.

"The Blood Demon is cunning and has risen three times from defeat. Although your master is incredibly powerful, and the Blood Demon was weakened, I still worry about the connection between them..." Xiang Qing said, deep in thought.

"Be quiet!" Ya'rong suddenly interrupted, her expression turning cold.

Xiang Qing sighed and said, "You don't have to be angry. You should know that my grandfather, the previous Qing Wang, died at the hands of the Blood Demon in the Inner Realm.

"My father was mediocre and couldn't inherit the title of Qing Wang. I, too, had to go through great hardships to become the Qing Wang. The Blood Demon is my sworn enemy.

"While I trust your master, the Blood Demon is extremely cunning, and I fear your master may show mercy."

Ya'rong looked at him coldly and said, "My master has long abandoned love and hate. By slaying the Blood Demon, she severed earthly bonds and broke through mental barriers, transcending all shackles..."

Xiang Qing's expression changed as he looked at Ya'rong in surprise. He took a deep breath and asked, "Has your master already taken that step?"

Ya'rong turned her head away and no longer paid attention to him.

In the Spirit Realm Gate, two guardians were startled by the arrival of Emperor Zheng, who rarely visited this place. They hurriedly bowed and greeted him, "Your Majesty!"

They wondered if the emperor's visit meant that the young man was indeed the Blood Demon, and the emperor had come to hold them accountable. Their hearts pounded with fear.

"Open the Spirit Realm Gate," Emperor Zheng ordered in a deep voice. "Send a message to the Inner Realm—holders of the Jade Orders may enter the Spirit Realm for a period of one month."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The two guardians heaved a sigh of relief.

However, they were puzzled as to why the opening of the Spirit Realm Gate had been brought forward.

This time, the Spirit Realm Gate was not just opened a crack but fully opened.

At the same time, an elder who had been following Emperor Zheng stepped through the gate and entered the Inner Realm.

...

A thunderous rumble shook the land of Cangbei, and the radiance illuminated the sky. The powerful warriors of Tianbao Pavilion were instantly alerted.

They stood atop the mountain, gazing toward the location of the Spirit Realm Gate.

"Is this... the full opening of the Spirit Realm Gate?" the man with the purple crown asked in shock.

After a while, a huge gate, shimmering with waves of light, stood tall between heaven and earth.

Dense spiritual energy poured into the Inner Realm from the gate, causing the spiritual energy concentration within a hundred-mile radius of the gate to double instantly.

Even the heavens and the earth within this hundred-mile radius became more vibrant and active.

An elder stepped out from the Spirit Realm Gate, his brow furrowed as he seemed displeased with the thin spiritual energy of the Inner Realm. He looked up at the location of Tianbao Pavilion.

With a single step, he arrived at the peak of Tianbao Pavilion.

The man with the purple crown was so shocked that his heart and liver trembled. He immediately knelt on the ground and said, "We pay our respects to you, Venerable!"

The rest of the Tianbao Pavilion warriors quickly followed suit, kneeling and bowing deeply. They dared not raise their heads, fearing that they might offend this powerful figure behind Tianbao Pavilion and bring disaster upon themselves.

The elder looked down at the man with the purple crown and said indifferently, "Send a message throughout the Inner Realm—those who hold the Jade Orders may enter the Spirit Realm for a period of one month."

"Yes, Venerable!" The man with the purple crown replied respectfully, his heart pounding.

He was stunned by the sudden opening of the Spirit Realm Gate, allowing the Jade Order holders to enter.

What exactly was the Jade Order?

At this moment, the man with the purple crown realized that he might have missed out on some crucial information. He wondered if his situation would have been different had he possessed a Jade Order.

After delivering the message, the elder seemed displeased with the thin spiritual energy of the Inner Realm and turned to leave through the Spirit Realm Gate.

Only after the elder had departed did the man with the purple crown and the others dare to get up. They quickly used Tianbao Pavilion's channels to spread the message throughout the Inner Realm.

As for the meaning of the Jade Order, those who understood would naturally understand.

...

On Canglan Island, Meng Chong was about to break through to the next level.

Just then, two figures appeared outside the island—two breathtakingly beautiful women.

"Young Master Xu," Yun Miaomiao said with a smile as she looked at Xu Yan.

"Miss Yun, what brings you here?" Xu Yan asked directly, as was his usual style.

"It must be something important," Yun Miaomiao replied.

As Yun Miaomiao spoke with Xu Yan, Wushuang, the Great Grandmaster, kept glancing at Li Xuan, Xu Yan's master. She was surprised to see how young and handsome he looked.

How embarrassing!

"What's this about a major event?"

Xu Yan paid no heed to Wushuang's subtle attempts at flirtation. With his master's level of cultivation, such a minor charm would hardly even register.

Li Xuan, indeed, did not give Wushuang a second glance. Instead, he glanced upward, and when Wushuang leaned forward to ask a question, whether intentionally or not, he caught a glimpse of her snowy white profile.

"Majestic and graceful, as smooth as jade!" he exclaimed inwardly.

Yet, his expression remained calm and unaffected, unmoved by her beauty.

In a calm tone, he said, "Charm can be considered a technique to attack the heart, disrupting one's mental state and will... When used skillfully, it can be effective against enemies, but when used indiscriminately, it leads to one's downfall."

Wushuang's face turned crimson, and she replied awkwardly, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

However, she had thick skin, and she was very curious about Li Xuan, Xu Yan's master. So, she seized the opportunity to stand next to Li Xuan, pouring him tea as she asked respectfully, "Senior is a wise and accomplished person. Please, share some more of your insights."

Yun Miaomiao glanced at her master a few times before turning her attention elsewhere, hoping that her master would know where to draw the line.

With a solemn expression, she turned to Xu Yan and said, "The Spirit Realm Gate has opened."

"The Spirit Realm Gate has been open for a while; I'm aware of that," Xu Yan replied nonchalantly.

After all, he had already been to the Spirit Realm and returned.

"This time, it's fully open, and a message has been sent throughout the Inner Realm. Anyone holding a Jade Order can enter the Spirit Realm for a period of one month!" Yun Miaomiao added gravely.

"I see!" Xu Yan exclaimed, understanding dawning on him. He thought of Du Yuying and wondered if she would be entering the Spirit Realm now that the gate was open. "Miss Du holds a Tai Miao Jade Order, and the Tai Miao Sect is one of the Superordinate Sects."

During his time in the Spirit Realm, Xu Yan had learned some basic information about the Superordinate Sects.

The Tai Miao Sect was indeed one of them.

And Du Yuying, with her heavenly bloodline originating from a powerful member of the Tai Miao Sect, would likely hold a significant position there.

"Are you interested in obtaining a Jade Order, Miss Yun?" Xu Yan asked.

Yun Miaomiao had helped him temper his mental state, and he had a few Jade Orders in his possession. If she needed one, he could give her one to repay her for her assistance.

"I already have a Jade Order," Yun Miaomiao replied, shaking her head. She had a hint of anticipation in her eyes as she asked, "Xu Yan, are you planning to enter the Spirit Realm? Why don't you come with me?"

Xu Yan was about to politely refuse when he suddenly looked up and saw two figures approaching the island.

Du Yuying and Cuidi.

"Xu Yan!" Du Yuying smiled gracefully.

"Xu Yan!" Cuidi called out, her jade-like face flushing as she greeted him sweetly.

Yun Miaomiao furrowed her brows slightly as she looked at Du Yuying, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

In the time they hadn't seen each other, Du Yuying's demeanor had changed significantly, and she now exuded a combination of elegance and beauty.

"Miss Du, are you here because of the opening of the Spirit Realm Gate as well?" Yun Miaomiao asked, narrowing her eyes.

"And you, Miss Yun?" Du Yuying replied with a light laugh.

Xu Yan glanced at the two women, deep in thought, and said, "Both of you are planning to enter the Spirit Realm, and the hierarchy there is strict. As we are all from the Inner Realm, it would be beneficial for us to help each other establish ourselves in the Spirit Realm!"

Although both women held Jade Orders, they were still from the Inner Realm.

Even with Du Yuying's Tai Miao Jade Order, she might not face discrimination outside the Tai Miao Sect, but within the sect, her status could be less certain.

"You're absolutely right, Xu Yan!" Du Yuying agreed readily.

Yun Miaomiao was taken aback for a moment, as if she had just realized something, and then she smiled, "Miaomiao will follow your lead, Xu Yan."

Cuidi glared at Yun Miaomiao, clearly displeased.

Li Xuan, who had been guiding Wushuang, paused to observe Xu Yan and the two women with a hint of curiosity. Inwardly, he marveled at the capabilities of his disciple.

"Senior, now that the Spirit Realm Gate is open and Jade Order holders can enter, what are your thoughts on this?" Wushuang asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Whether it's the Inner Realm or the Spirit Realm, it's just a corner of the world. I don't have any particular thoughts," Li Xuan replied calmly.

Wushuang was stunned. The Inner Realm and the Spirit Realm were just corners of the world to him? She felt a sense of awe as she realized that the Spirit Realm was probably just another remote land in Li Xuan's eyes.

News of the opening of the Spirit Realm Gate and the fact that Jade Order holders could enter had spread throughout the Great Desolation. Many in the major powers were curious about what exactly the Jade Orders were.

Some forces were doing their utmost to obtain Jade Orders and gather information related to them.

Meanwhile, those who possessed Jade Orders remained tight-lipped.

In the Great Desolation Martial Arts Academy, Bai Yunkong frowned.

"According to our calculations, it shouldn't be open yet," he said.

"It seems they're ahead of schedule. Do we have any Jade Orders in the academy?" Pang Yu asked.

Bai Yunkong waved his hand, and three Jade Orders appeared in his palm.

"Let's give them to Xu Yan and Meng Chong. We should also choose one more person," Pang Yu suggested after a moment's thought.

"Xu Yan and Meng Chong probably don't need them," Bai Yunkong sighed. Finally, he put away the Jade Orders and said, "The Seven Stars Academy is a thing of the past, and the Jade Orders are useless now.

"Moreover, we don't know what the situation is like in the Spirit Realm."

Pang Yu fell silent.

They still didn't know if there was a force in the Spirit Realm that was connected to the Seven Stars Academy, and the fate of the academy's ancestor was also unknown.

The last time someone had come from the Spirit Realm, they had revealed that the academy's affiliated force in the Spirit Realm was not faring well.

"Xu Yan has gone to the Spirit Realm. I wonder when he'll return. If he comes back, we can ask him about the existence of the academy's affiliated force in the Spirit Realm," Bai Yunkong said gravely.

"Meng Chong should be going to the Spirit Realm soon. Let's ask him when we see him," Pang Yu suggested.

"Alright!" Bai Yunkong nodded, and the two set off for Canglan Island.

In the land of Cangbei, martial artists appeared one after another, all making their way toward the Spirit Realm Gate.

Even without a Jade Order, this was an opportunity to enter the Spirit Realm.

None of them had switched to practicing the Great Desolation Martial Arts, and they wondered if it truly offered a better future. Even if it was more powerful, would it be better to go to the Spirit Realm for cultivation?

"Do you have a Jade Order?" asked one of the two guardians standing at the Spirit Realm Gate, addressing the crowd of martial artists.

"No!" came the reply from the crowd.

"Can't we enter without a Jade Order?" someone asked, their boldness bolstered by their numbers.

"Those without Jade Orders may not enter!" The guardian's voice boomed with heavenly might, striking fear into the hearts of the crowd.

"Disperse! If you gather here again to cause trouble, you will be killed without mercy!" the other guardian warned coldly.

In that instant, those who had hoped to enter the Spirit Realm paled, feeling as if their spiritual consciousness was being crushed by a mountain. Their bodies stiffened under the weight of the guardians' authority.

Such was the might of Martial Heaven Realm experts!

"I don't want to start a killing spree because of the opening of the Spirit Realm Gate. If you insist on being obstinate, don't blame me for showing no mercy!" one of the guardians said coldly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end