Yun Jin's actions made her intentions crystal clear—she was preparing to lead Wushuang Sect to challenge the ranks of the Super Sects.
A sect that had been founded for only two short months, now daring to impact the highest threshold of power? To most, this was sheer madness.
But their Sect Master was no ordinary figure. She was the reincarnation of a divine being. Tell her disciples—was there a single thing she had done that wasn't utterly inconceivable?
The disciples did not resist. Instead, they threw themselves into cultivation with blazing fervor. Those with even the slimmest chance of a breakthrough were already attempting to seize it.
The sect now stood on the brink. All that remained was that last, elusive step to meet the minimum requirements of a Super Sect. As long as they reached it before the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave began, Wushuang Sect would be eligible to compete for one of those coveted places.
Since their Sect Master had voiced her ambition, how could they not give everything they had?
The cultivation atmosphere across Wushuang Sect surged to unprecedented heights.
Three days before the conclave began, a Tribulation-stage cultivator from the Imperial clans endured his thunder tribulation and ascended into Mahayana. He became the sect's tenth Mahayana cultivator.
The requirement for Mahayana was met.
Two days before the conclave, two peak Divine Transformation disciples broke through simultaneously, filling not only the quota for Unity cultivators but even exceeding it by one.
At last, Wushuang Sect had reached the baseline of a Super Sect.
On the eve of the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave, Qingxiao Pavilion issued its command, requiring every sect to submit their official disciple rosters.
Yun Jin sent in the newest list without hesitation.
-
In Qingxiao Pavilion
Lin Xiao's mood had been sour these days.
That woman Yun Jin was his nemesis. Every time he plotted against her, no matter how flawless his plans seemed, she would overturn them with almost absurd ease.
If she had been outmaneuvering him with meticulous schemes or peerless wit, he might have accepted the humiliation. But Yun Jin's victories came through raw, overwhelming force—and her monstrous, impossible pace of advancement.
How could reason even exist in the face of that?
When the rosters from subordinate sects were submitted, Lin Xiao instinctively picked out Wushuang Sect's.
One glance, and his expression shifted in surprise. The roster contained only the simplest cultivation records. Yet, whether by coincidence or intent, it revealed something shocking.
Wushuang Sect… had faintly reached the threshold of a Super Sect.
Lin Xiao's gaze flickered sharply.
An elder at his side also peered at the roster, then muttered, "When Wushuang Sect was founded, it was already an upper-grade sect. They've been gathering more and more people, and now they've reached the minimum requirements of a Super Sect. Still, it's only the bare minimum. To truly ascend to Super Sect status is beyond their reach."
And it was true.
Reaching the qualifications did not mean becoming a Super Sect. It merely granted the right to compete. Among all sects meeting the standard, only ten would be chosen. The rest would remain upper-grade. And those ten seats had been occupied for centuries by the entrenched, ancient Super Sects.
For Wushuang Sect to dream of claiming one was nothing but delusion.
Lin Xiao let out a regretful sigh. "I almost wish Yun Jin would be bold enough to enter the competition. Then the ten Super Sects would naturally put her in her place."
But she was arrogant, not foolish. Surely she wouldn't go that far. Which meant he would have to find another way to deal with her.
Just then, his expression tightened. He felt a pull within his Primordial Soul. In the next breath, his spirit left his body and entered a blank void. There, the soul-projections of the other three Holy Land leaders had already gathered.
"The Conclave approaches," Ji Wusi said evenly. "It is time to open Sky City."
The others nodded.
The origins of Sky City were shrouded in mystery.
Thousands of years ago, the corpse of an immortal had fallen from the heavens. From its remnants, the four Holy Lands had each obtained one of the Four Great Immortal Artifacts, establishing their foundations. Over a thousand years ago, a ruined city had also descended from the void. Hidden in spatial folds, it came to be known as Sky City.
Guided by fate, the leaders of the Four Holy Lands discovered that Sky City could be summoned once every five years. Only by using the power of their four Immortal Artifact together could it be drawn into the world.
It was clear Sky City was deeply connected to that fallen immortal.
And so, every five years, the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave was held within Sky City.
The city itself was unfathomable. Even after centuries, the four sects had barely explored a fraction of it. But what they had found already proved beyond doubt: Sky City contained boundless opportunities for cultivation.
Thus, each conclave was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, a grand occasion every cultivator yearned for.
"Time approaches. Make your preparations," Lin Xiao said.
The four exchanged nods, then withdrew their souls.
Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes in thought before striding into a secret chamber.
There lay Qingxiao Pavilion's Immortal Artifact: the Earth Ruler.
Elsewhere, the Sect Master of Xuandan Gate approached the grand plaza, where their Immortal Artifact, the Azure Genesis Cauldron, awaited.
The Sect Master of the Beastmaster Sect lifted a small beast-head token, the Immortal Artifact known as the Myriad Beasts Command.
And from Kunlun Sword Sect, Ji Wusi drew a gleaming blade—the Soaring Cloud Sword.
The Four Great Immortal Artifacts stirred.
The Earth Ruler.
The Azure Genesis Cauldron.
The Myriad Beasts Command.
The Soaring Cloud Sword.
All activated at once.
Four beams of light erupted from the four corners of the world, piercing the skies.
From the back of Shan Dian, Yun Jin lifted her gaze. A moment ago, the skies had been clear. Now, the heavens darkened under a crushing weight.
The void rippled, and a titanic city began to emerge.
To call it a city was an understatement. Its sheer size was terrifying, spanning perhaps half of the entire small world. Such a colossal landmass, simply crashing from the heavens? And linked to an immortal's corpse at that?
The secrets of that bygone era must have been vast indeed.
But Yun Jin only let the thought flicker briefly.
Her focus was simple: claim a Super Sect seat.
The deeper mysteries could wait. One day, she would uncover them all.
The beams of light twisted into four chains, slowly dragging the city into the world. For the next three years, the heavens of this small world would be dominated by that vast, hovering city. Three years later, it would return to the void. And five years after that, it would emerge again.
To the cultivators of this realm, it was almost routine by now. They looked up, sighed with awe, then went back to their daily lives.
But among the sect disciples, tension surged.
With Sky City's emergence, the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave was about to begin. For the next three years, registered disciples would be free to enter and leave Sky City as they wished.
Across countless conclaves, stories abounded.
Some disciples had risen to glory overnight within Sky City, seizing immortal opportunities. Others had vanished without a trace, swallowed by its perils.
Sky City teemed with savage beasts. Rumors claimed that immortal-beast-level creatures had once lived there. The Four Holy Lands themselves had unearthed immortal beast corpses.
Though, curiously, like the immortal's body, they had all perished. Only lesser but still terrifying beasts continued to breed within. It was even said those beasts had their own king—one whose power rivaled even Ji Wusi. Should any disciple provoke such a being, death would be their only fate.
At last, the city stabilized.
Four colossal phantoms appeared in the heavens. The leaders of the Four Holy Lands spoke in voices that thundered across the world.
"Sky City is open. For the next three years, all registered sect disciples may freely enter. But beware. Danger lurks in every shadow. The Four Holy Lands have established four main cities within. Do not stray lightly. If you venture beyond and fall, you have only yourselves to blame."
The phantoms faded.
In the skies, countless golden gates unfolded. Through these portals, disciples of every sect could cross freely between the outside world and Sky City.
===
1. 地尺 (Dì Chǐ)
Literal Meaning: "Earth" (地) + "Ruler" or "Scale" (尺).
2. 青母鼎 (Qīng Mǔ Dǐng)
Literal Meaning: "Green/Blue" (青) + "Mother" (母) + "Ding Cauldron" (鼎). 青 can mean green, blue, or young. 母 implies source, origin, or mother.
3. 万兽令 (Wàn Shòu Lìng)
Literal Meaning: "Ten Thousand" (万) + "Beasts" (兽) + "Command Tally" (令).
4. 行云剑 (Xíng Yún Jiàn)
Literal Meaning: "Traverse" or "Move" (行) + "Cloud" (云) + "Sword" (剑).