Chapter 419: Entering the Nine Sounds Realm

Chapter 419: Entering the Nine Sounds Realm



The Nine Sounds Tower was even more bustling than when Li Yuan had visited three days ago.

It was packed with people.

The Nine Sounds Tower was already one of the most luxurious places in the Capital City, and with the Nine Sounds True God taking on disciples, the Nine Sounds Realm naturally attracted a lot of attention. Whether it was those who came to enjoy themselves and join in the excitement, those eager to become disciples of the True God, or those who simply wanted to refine themselves by experiencing the Nine Sounds Realm, they all gathered here.

On top of that, the Nine Sounds Tower's intentional promotion further added to the hype.

In any case, for various reasons, each time the Nine Sounds Realm was held, it became a grand event in the Capital City.

"Everyone, please take your seats and be quiet," a voice instructed.

"Please refrain from making a ruckus and patiently await the opening of the Nine Sounds Realm," another voice requested.

"Please enter the single-person areas over here," various voices echoed across the plaza.

The Nine Sounds Tower occupied a vast area, and it was easy for them to set aside a region spanning several tens of kilometers specifically for the Nine Sounds Realm.

This area was right next to the Echoless Tower.

Although it was called a plaza, it was actually divided into several levels. The lowest level was filled with large round tables, most of which were already occupied. Some groups of three or five chatted animatedly, while others sat with their eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought.

As far as the eye could see, there were tens of thousands of round table areas, each filled with hundreds of thousands of people.

"Elder, when will the Nine Sounds Realm begin?" a woman in black battle armor asked.

At this table, there were six young men and women besides her, all wearing similar clothing, indicating they were from the same family. They all turned their attention to the middle-aged man in black armor seated at the head of the table.

Among the seven people at this table, the middle-aged man in black armor was a Demigod, while the other six were only Sky Soarer level.

"What's the rush?" The middle-aged man in black armor chuckled. "The Nine Sounds Realm is held punctually every year. Besides, just renting a table here costs ten Divine Crystals, and even the cheapest pot of 'Xuan Tea' is three Divine Crystals. It's worth taking your time and savoring the tea."

"Ten Divine Crystals for just this table?" The six Sky Soarer level individuals were secretly astonished, finally understanding the consumption level of the Divine Kingdom's top luxurious place.

On the Star Perception Continent, Divine Crystals served as the primary currency.

One Divine Crystal was worth approximately 1,000 Divine Stones.

These Sky Soarer level women, even the weakest among them, possessed mid-stage Sky Soarer strength, but their wealth likely amounted to only a few dozen Divine Stones.

In simple terms, a few days of spending here could easily bankrupt an average Sky Soarer.

"You've come all the way from your hometown, and it just so happens that the Nine Sounds Realm is about to begin. I thought I'd give you a glimpse of what it's like," the middle-aged man in black armor explained with a smile. "After all, starting tomorrow, you'll be trying to join the guard armies of various sects or Divine Beings. It'll be difficult to gather like this again."

In the Divine Kingdom, many so-called sects were established by several or dozens of Void Deities, and they would accept numerous disciples.

Many Divine families also had channels to recruit external geniuses.

Some of the more powerful ones would attempt to join the Black Abyss Guard, the military force established by the royal family, which boasted the strongest power.

In any case!

The Capital City was full of opportunities, and within the Abyss Kingdom, many young Sky Soarers with connections would come to the Capital City.

Of course, the Abyss Kingdom's top geniuses had their sights set on joining the Divine Flame Palace, but the difficulty was incredibly high.

The entire Abyss Kingdom boasted a million Demigods and billions of Sky Soarers, but the Divine Flame Palace's Sky Soarer members numbered only in the millions.

"Elder, aren't we going to try our luck in the Nine Sounds Realm?" another purple-robed youth couldn't help but ask. "I just heard that even Sky Soarers have a chance to pass through the third realm, and if we can successfully reach the fifth realm, we'll receive a reward that will make even Demigods envious."

"Even if we only pass the third realm, that achievement alone would be enough to join the Black Abyss Guard," the purple-robed youth said. "Elder, isn't this a great opportunity?"

The others also turned their attention to the middle-aged man in black armor.

"Opportunity? Don't be foolish," the middle-aged man in black armor shook his head. "Don't overestimate yourselves. Among the six of you, only Yu Ji has a slim chance of passing the third realm. The rest of you, if you dare to enter, will surely perish."

The six Sky Soarers were surprised and looked at the bald youth who had been silent all this time.

Yu Ji, in their hometown's county, was considered an exceptional talent.

Yet, according to the elder, he only had a slim chance of passing the third realm?

"Don't be so ambitious," the middle-aged man in black armor scolded. "I've been in the Capital City for many years, and those who can pass the fifth realm of the Nine Sounds Realm are all peerless geniuses. What you should do is keep your feet on the ground, face reality, and strive to join a power in the Capital City. That's the path to becoming a Demigod."

"Yes," the six Sky Soarers nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, a tremor rippled through the air, capturing the attention of countless people in the plaza, all of whom looked up into the sky.

"Elder, what's happening?" The purple-robed youth looked up.

"Purple-robed servants, led by the Nine Sounds Tower's master, a true big shot has arrived," the middle-aged man in black armor's eyes lit up with excitement. "Take a good look. I brought you here to show you what the top nobility of the Abyss Kingdom is like."

It wasn't just their table; countless people, from the tens of thousands at the lowest level to those at the mid-level floating tables, all looked up at the dozens of purple-robed servants flying out from the Echoless Tower.

Clad in purple robes, each with a remarkable appearance, they seemed like mere maids, but they were all Demi-Gods.

In addition to several dozen Demi-God maids, there were also hundreds of Flying Heaven-ranked maids, all standing respectfully on both sides, forming a pathway in the void that led to the peak Demi-God, the Lady of Echoless Tower.

Nine Sounds Tower was divided into nine sub-towers, each with its own lord, and one overall lord.

"To have the Lady of Echoless Tower greet us personally."

"Is it a royal family that has arrived?"

"It feels like more than that. Today, the Nine Sounds Realm is opening, and there are more than just one member from the royal families." Countless Sky Soarers and Demi-Gods whispered among themselves.

"They're here."

"It's the Black Dragon Warship, the royal family has arrived." Many recognized them,

With a thunderous roar, the massive Black Dragon Warship sliced through the clouds and slowly descended to the edge of the plaza's void, attracting the gazes of countless people below. Dozens of figures then flew out from the warship.

Leading them were a valiant silver-armored youth, a black-clad youth, and a silver-robed girl standing by his side.

The others who disembarked from the warship were all Demi-God guards, each with an incredibly powerful aura.

Swish!

The extraordinary Lady of Echoless Tower stepped forward, slightly bowing: "Greetings, Prince Jiang Shan and Sir Li Yuan."

"Greetings, Prince Jiang Shan and Sir Li Yuan." The dozens of Demi-God maids and hundreds of Flying Heaven maids all bowed respectfully, their pleasant voices echoing through the heavens.

"Hmm." Jiang Shan nodded coldly.

Then, he turned and smiled at Li Yuan: "Brother Li Yuan, let's go. I've arranged for a private room in the void, and Brother Bai Li is already waiting for us there."

"Okay." Li Yuan nodded.

In an instant, accompanied by the Lady of Echoless Tower, the three of them swiftly flew towards a small palace hall at the highest point in the void.

These small palace halls offered a panoramic view of the entire plaza, providing the best vantage point.

"Who are these people? A group of Demi-God guards!"

"Even the Lady of Echoless Tower came to greet them?"

"Even if a divine being were to come, I suspect this would be the standard reception protocol!"

"I've heard of Jiang Shan, the first Demi-God of the Divine Kingdom, but who's the other one?"

"That one, known as Sir Li Yuan, seems to be only Flying Heaven-ranked, yet he's on par with Jiang Shan, a Demi-God?" Among the millions in the plaza, everyone was whispering, filled with awe.

Li Yuan's achievements had only been known for three days and had spread primarily among the upper echelons of the capital. For most Flying Heaven-ranked individuals and ordinary Demi-Gods, his name was very unfamiliar.

Moreover, many people present had come from other parts of the Abyss Kingdom.

But from the reception of the Nine Sounds Tower, the name 'Li Yuan' had already been etched into the minds of countless people.

"First on the Flying Heaven Ranking."

"Li Yuan is the new top-ranked on the Flying Heaven Ranking. They say he has incredible talent and defeated a Flying Heaven-ranked individual with a single move, someone with Demi-God-level strength." Among the few who knew of Li Yuan's achievements, some began to eagerly share his story with those around them.

Then, through second and third-hand accounts, Li Yuan's achievements quickly became exaggerated.

"They say Li Yuan has killed numerous Demi-Gods."

"Sir Li Yuan, the legend goes that the country's ruler believes he can become a True Deity and intends to bestow a royal woman upon him."

"I've heard that a divine family wants him to sire offspring, as the descendants of powerful individuals often possess even higher talent."

... This scene also stirred up many people.

"Grandmaster." The purple-robed youth's eyes were filled with envy: "Is Sir Li Yuan really that amazing? Can he compare to Jiang Shan, a Demi-God?"

The others also looked curiously at the black-armored middle-aged man.

Jiang Shan's name was renowned throughout the Abyss Kingdom, known as an almost invincible Demi-God. These Flying Heaven-ranked men and women had naturally heard of him.

"Prince Jiang Shan is very powerful."

"But as you know, I'm under the command of the Prince of the Ocean." The black-armored middle-aged man sighed: "Yesterday, I happened to hear the Crown Prince mention that Li Yuan has incredible talent, even surpassing that of Prince Jiang Shan... The Crown Prince said that perhaps hundreds or thousands of years from now, Sir Li Yuan could establish his own divine kingdom."

"Establish a divine kingdom?" This group of Flying Heaven-ranked men and women were thoroughly shocked.

...

Inside the small palace hall, in addition to the familiar figures of Bai Li and Yan Long, several royal princes were present, all Demi-God-ranked and incredibly powerful.

"Congratulations, Brother Li Yuan."

"Being at the top of the Flying Heaven Ranking is well-deserved."

"That Leng Yan has long been asking for it." These royal princes were extremely polite to each of them.

"This is the son of the Prince of the Ocean, 'Jiang Jun'."

"This is..." Jiang Shan introduced them one by one, and Li Yuan responded politely.

These royal princes were all observing Li Yuan, aware of his exceptional talent and limitless potential. They naturally wouldn't treat him lightly.

In fact, their primary purpose for coming to Jiang Shan's palace hall today was to meet Li Yuan.

"How much longer until the Nine Sounds Realm opens?" Li Yuan asked.

"It's almost time, just one more quarter of an hour," Jiang Shan replied. "It won't be delayed, nor will it open early. It's the same every year."

As they were conversing, suddenly, laughter could be heard from outside.

"Prince Jiang Shan, I wonder if you'd welcome me." A deep voice resounded, and a tall, gold-armored youth strode in, his aura overwhelmingly domineering.

As he entered, the entire palace hall fell silent.

"Wu Beihong!" Jiang Shan stood up, his aura bursting forth as his smile faded. He shouted, "Get out!"

"You're kicking me out right after I arrived?" The golden-armored youth scoffed, his aura equally powerful.

Two Demi-Gods clashed, each with their own formidable presence. One exuded innate nobility, while the other's aura was overwhelmingly domineering, neither giving way to the other.

"Wu Beihong?" Li Yuan already knew who his opponent was.

The second-ranked Demi-God on the Abyss Kingdom's Demigod Ranking, a Seven-Star Meridian Demi-God with Void Deity-level strength, and a descendant of the 'Gou Mu True Deity'.

The Gou Mu True Deity, whose original surname was 'Wu'.

The Wu Clan, a top-tier clan in the Abyss Kingdom, second only to the royal family.

"Brother Xu Yuan, congratulations on topping the Flight Heaven Ranking. Even my ancestor has high praise for you." Wu Beihong was surprisingly polite to Li Yuan, "Would you care to join me in my hall?"

"Wu Beihong!" Seeing the other party trying to poach right in front of him, Jiang Shan's face darkened, "This is my hall. Get out!"

"I didn't eat your food, why are you so concerned?" Wu Beihong sneered, "The heir to the Fog Mountain King can't even handle this? It's a shame the Fog Mountain King was a hero in his time, but his son is a good-for-nothing."

"I'm merely here to invite Brother Xu Yuan. Whether he accepts or not, why should you interfere? Brother Xu Yuan isn't your servant," Wu Beihong continued.

"You!" Jiang Shan's eyes turned cold.

Wu Beihong revealed a brazen smile.

"Demi-God Wu Beihong, today is a banquet hosted by Prince Jiang Shan in my honor. Aside from entering the Nine Sounds Realm later, I won't leave this hall." Li Yuan spoke up, "Please return."

"Alright."

"Then, after the Nine Sounds Realm is over, I'll visit Brother Xu Yuan again." Wu Beihong maintained his politeness, "I'm always sincere with my friends, unlike Jiang Shan, who is all pretense and hypocrisy, acting like a noble."

Immediately, Wu Beihong cupped his hands in respect towards Li Yuan and left, entering another small hall not far away.

"Hmph!" Jiang Shan coldly humphed, his heart filled with anger.

"Brother Xu Yuan, my apologies. I lost my composure," Jiang Shan sat down, his face returning to normal, "I don't intend to stop you from making friends... but this Wu Beihong is indeed a petty man."

"Brother Jiang Shan, do you have a big conflict with Wu Beihong?" Li Yuan asked.

"

"Betrayed?" Li Yuan was surprised.

"Yes," Jiang Shan nodded, "It was over a treasure... This Wu Beihong, while appearing bold and heroic, is actually jealous and dark-hearted. I'm not the only one he's harmed; he's a true petty man."

"I never would have thought."

"Today, this guy ruined my mood," Jiang Shan shook his head, "I had no evidence back then, and his strength and background are indeed impressive... We've been at odds, but neither of us can do much about the other."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

The two of them, one ranked first and the other second on the Demigod Ranking, were estimated to be very close in strength.

In terms of background... While the Gou Mu True Deity' might not be as strong as the 'Jiang Yuan True Deity', he had a favor owed by the latter.

Moreover, Li Yuan had witnessed the temperament of the Jiang Yuan True Deity in the Abyss Demon Blood Cavern.

As long as Jiang Shan remained alive, any experience he went through would likely be seen as a tempering process for him.

Time passed.

M

"Even top geniuses at the Flight Heaven level usually don't have strong soul wills, so many people won't enter for safety reasons," Jiang Shan explained, "But Demi-Gods have a higher chance of perishing... Li Yuan understood.

"

"Of course," Li Yuan smiled, "I have some confidence in my soul will."

"Yes, Xu Yuan's soul will is very strong, probably at the Demi-God level. He might even reach the sixth or seventh realm of the Nine Sounds Realm," Jiang Shan said.

...

Inside another small hall.

"Damn it."

"I can fight with Jiang Shan, even though he's from the royal family, the king treats us equally." Wu Beihong sighed, "But this Xu Yuan, how is he so close to Jiang Shan?"

"The teacher said that Xu Yuan has a high chance of becoming a True Deity in the future."

"We must win him over."

"Even if we can't win him over, we should ensure he doesn't help Jiang Shan." Wu Beihong contemplated.

Resources were limited, and they were often fought over for treasures and cultivation resources, or even due to personal grudges. The Abyss Kingdom's divine beings rarely intervened in such matters.

...

After waiting a little longer, a burst of light suddenly appeared in the void above the Nine Sounds Pagoda, followed by the appearance of a slightly illusory, towering treasure.

The treasure was nine stories high, its entire body golden, and its radiant light illuminated the heavens and earth, even surpassing the brilliance of the Nine-Colored Pagoda.

As the treasure appeared, a vast and hazy pressure spread, causing the entire world to seem tranquil.

"The Nine Sounds Pagoda!"

"Legend has it that the Nine Sounds Pagoda is a powerful treasure, containing nine layers of worlds within."

Below, countless Flying Heaven Half-Gods looked up in awe, including Jiang Shan and Bai Li Teng, who were equally captivated.

True Deity artifacts were beyond the reach of even exceptional geniuses like Jiang Shan.

Even the most ordinary True Deity artifacts were valued at over 100,000 Divine Crystals.

Slightly more powerful True Deity artifacts would cost millions of Divine Crystals and upwards... The value of this Nine Sounds Pagoda was beyond the estimation of these Half-Gods.

"Brother, don't be deceived. This Nine Sounds Pagoda is not as good as the Ancient God Palace," said Gu You, her voice echoing in Li Yuan's mind. "But it is manipulated by a True Deity, and its power is fully revealed."

"Hmm," Li Yuan responded with a nod.

---

"The Nine Sounds Realm is officially open," a majestic voice reverberated through the heavens and earth. "Remember, the Nine Sounds Realm is perilous. If you wish to venture in, you must be cautious, again and again."

"The rules are as follows: Flying Heaven Rankers who pass the fifth layer will receive a gift from the Nine Sounds Tower. Passing the sixth layer grants the qualification to meet the Nine Sounds True Deity."

"Demi-God Level... Passing the ninth layer grants the opportunity to meet the Nine Sounds True Deity."

"The duration is three days." The majestic voice quickly dissipated.

Boom~ In the void, the thousand-foot-tall pagoda opened its four entrances at the base simultaneously. Inside, misty fog obscured the view, and the realm was vast and hazy. Countless figures rushed in through the entrances, soaring into the pagoda.

Immediately, the pagoda's body glowed, revealing countless tiny lights on its surface. Some lights represented Flying Heaven Rankers, while others indicated Demi-Gods.

"Those lights represent the tower challengers," Jiang Xuan explained to Li Yuan. "By observing these lights, we can roughly determine which realm they've reached... If a light goes out, it signifies their fall."

"Red lights represent Flying Heaven Rankers."

"Purple lights represent Demi-Gods."

Li Yuan now understood all the rules of the Nine Sounds Realm.

Time passed.

In just a moment, many lights had already reached the second and even the third realms... But not without casualties, as several lights went out in the second realm.

"They fell?" Li Yuan was secretly astonished.

The rules of the Nine Sounds Realm had been announced earlier, and those who dared to venture in were expected to have a certain level of confidence.

Unexpectedly, so many had perished.

"So quickly, so many have died?"

"The Nine Sounds Realm is indeed dangerous."

"Those who died were reckless, hoping for a lucky break to be accepted as disciples of a True Deity. But they didn't consider that the Nine Sounds Realm has been set up for a long time. How could there be any flaws?" Countless onlookers observed, most of them just there for the spectacle.

Those who truly dared to challenge were destined to be a minority.

Soon, more challengers began to act, and the total number of challengers quickly surpassed a thousand. Many perished in the second and third realms... But most challengers managed to pass the third realm.

After a while.

Pain.

Constantly, challengers began to emerge from various exits of the pagoda.

“To survive, one must reach at least the third layer.” Li Yuan explained, “Most Flying Heaven Rankers emerge from the third layer, while Demi-Gods tend to exit from the fourth and fifth layers.”

“Demi-Gods, though rare, have also fallen.”

However.

Even after so long, only a few Demi-Gods managed to pass the seventh layer.

The eighth layer? Not a single one.

“Demi-Gods, being inherently stronger than Flying Heaven Rankers, find it much easier to challenge the pagoda,” Jiang Xuan commented. “But with thousands attempting, not a single one has earned a gift.”

“Forget about reaching the standard to be accepted as a disciple of the Nine Sounds True Deity.”

The crowd couldn't help but agree; the criteria for accepting disciples were indeed extremely high.

“Brother Xu Yuan, Bai Li, let's not wait any longer,” Jiang Shan suggested with a smile. “We've enjoyed the show enough; now it's our turn.”

“Let's give it a try.”

“Consider it a test of our soul's will.” Bai Li Teng and Jiang Jun also stood, determined to give it a shot.

“Alright,” Li Yuan nodded, also pondering how far he could go.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The seven of them instantly flew towards the Nine Sounds Pagoda.

“It's Jiang Shan and the renowned Xu Yuan, first on the Flight Heaven Ranking.”

“And Bai Li Teng! Are they all starting their challenge?” This scene instantly attracted countless onlookers.

After such a long wait, those still inside the pagoda were few. But not a single one had achieved anything remarkable, leaving the spectators disappointed.

Now, the first on the Demi-God Ranking and the first on the Flight Heaven Ranking, challenging together. I wonder which realm they'll reach?”

“Can they meet the standard to be accepted by the Nine Sounds True Deity? This has everyone curious.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end