354: Chapter 354 Red Hand Palace

Two days later, at Cuiwei Island, in the bamboo forest outside Tinglei Pavilion.

Ye Tian finished a round of cultivation. With a slight movement of his mind, his gaze shot toward the depths of the bamboo forest. "You've been peeping for a long time; shouldn't you show yourselves?"

The bamboo forest remained silent for a moment. Two auras fluctuated, and then two figures slowly emerged.

One possessed the aura of the Huahai Realm First Layer, while the other was at the True Martial Tenth Level Great Perfection. They were the two Guest Elders from the Red Hand Hall.

They had been ordered to come and "test the waters." If they could resolve the target easily, it would be a great achievement.

“Oh? You actually discovered us. As expected of the person who repelled Bei Minghong with a single finger,” the slightly taller assassin said with a hint of surprise.

“Hehe, the more it's like this, the more excited I get. I haven't killed a young Prodigy like you yet.”

As the voice fell, the two figures vanished from their spots. In the next instant, they appeared behind Ye Tian!

There was not a single sound or fluctuation of true essence, only killing intent.

One held a dull, light-absorbing Shadow Thorn, thrusting it directly toward Ye Tian's vital organs under his ribs.

The other used a poisonous claw to strike at the Dazhui acupoint at the back of Ye Tian's neck!

Ye Tian remained seated cross-legged, not even turning around.

He simply raised his right hand and drew a circle in front of him with his index finger.

A hazy gray Chaos halo emerged out of thin air, protecting his entire body.

“Poof!”

The Shadow Thorn pierced into the halo, its momentum slowing abruptly. The sinister true essence attached to it was actually dissolved by the Chaos halo!

The assassin holding the thorn’s pupils constricted. He felt a counter-shock force travel up his weapon, causing his blood and Qi to stagnate slightly.

The Bone-Corroding Poison Claw struck the halo with the same result!

The other assassin’s expression changed drastically. He retreated rapidly, looking at his aching fingers with horror in his eyes.

“What kind of body-protection Cultivation Technique is this?!”

Both were alarmed; this was completely inconsistent with the intelligence they had!

Weren't they told he relied on a shield? What was this eerie gray halo? It could actually neutralize both physical thrusts and poisonous true essence simultaneously?!

If a strike fails, retreat a thousand miles. Without hesitation, the two figures retreated explosively, intending to hide again.

“You think you can come and go as you please?” Ye Tian’s calm voice rang out. He still hadn't stood up, but simply flicked his finger toward the direction the two were retreating.

“Pop.”

Two strands of Chaos Sword Qi, thin as hair, instantly sank into the backs of the two assassins.

“Ugh!”

The two assassins groaned and fell from mid-air, staggering several steps before barely steadying themselves. Their faces instantly turned as white as paper.

They had no obvious external injuries, but the Sword Qi had dissolved upon entering their bodies, wildly racing through their Meridians and internal organs, frantically devouring their true essence! Even their Foundation began to shake!

“This... this is definitely no ordinary lightning essence!” the tall assassin said with a voice full of fear.

“The intelligence was wrong! Let's go!” The other made a prompt decision. Enduring the pain, he didn't dare look at Ye Tian again as they turned into two blurry gray shadows and fled the bamboo forest in a wretched state.

Ye Tian slowly withdrew his finger and did not pursue them.

Although these two were not his match, their Cultivation Techniques indeed had unique aspects. Moreover, he wasn't sure if there were more ambushes waiting!

“Red Hand Hall... Is it the Nangong Family, or the Beiming Family?” He whispered to himself, Chaos lightning flashing in his eyes. “It seems they all can't wait any longer.”

The next day, at Huangji Square, on the Decree Platform.

A grand imperial eunuch dressed in crimson robes stood atop the high platform, holding a bright yellow scroll. His voice, infused with true essence, spread across the square:

“By the grace of the Heavenly Dao, the Sovereign decrees: The Eight-Child Secret Realm trial is complete. Upon verification, there are a total of six hundred and forty-two qualified candidates who have advanced!”

As the sound waves subsided slightly, everyone held their breath.

“Two days from now, at the hour of Chen, the second round of the Supreme Ranking—‘Hundred Ships Competing, Arena Hegemony’—will begin at the Ancient Skyfall Battle Platform in the Imperial Capital!”

“The rules are as follows: All qualifiers will be drawn by the Kuitian Pavilion into batches to enter the one hundred independent ‘Arena Realms’ evolved within the Ancient Skyfall Battle Platform.

Each Arena Realm can accommodate a maximum of ten people. Those who enter will engage in a free-for-all battle. Only the last one standing in the arena can advance to the third round!

During the competition, there are no restrictions on Cultivation Techniques, treasures, or Spirit Beasts. Injury and defeat are permitted, but it is strictly forbidden to intentionally cripple someone's Dao Foundation or destroy their Divine Soul. Violators will be severely punished!

Those who realize they are no match can shout their surrender or crush their identity spirit pendant to be teleported out of the arena and considered eliminated.”

“Furthermore, the top-ranked individual from the first round’s points list is Ye Tian of the Liuli Xuan Sect!”

The eunuch paused, his gaze sweeping through the crowd below and lingering slightly on Ye Tian. “Due to his outstanding performance in the first round, he is specially permitted a bye and will go straight to the third round!

The remaining six hundred and forty-one people will enter in batches according to the draw results!”

After the decree was read, the square fell silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar!

“A free-for-all! Ten to one! That's too cruel!”

“No restrictions on methods, injuries and defeat allowed... this is almost a life-and-death struggle!”

“Ye Tian gets a bye? Tsk, it's a privilege, but it's also like being roasted on a fire!”

“One hundred Arena Realms proceeding simultaneously. Kuitian Pavilion has such grand resources! This Ancient Skyfall Battle Platform is truly a wonder left from ancient times!”

Discussions broke out. Some envied Ye Tian's bye, while others felt he had become an even bigger target. More people began to nervously calculate which opponents they might encounter and how to survive that cruel ten-person melee until the end.

Atop the high platform, Prince Rong's figure appeared at some point. Standing with his hands behind his back, his deep gaze looked down upon the scenes of sentient life below; no one could guess his thoughts.

In the crowd, Nangong Yang and the two Red Hand Hall Guest Elders, whose faces were still somewhat pale, exchanged a subtle look, both seeing the killing intent in each other's eyes.

A free-for-all Arena Realm was the perfect place to create an "accident"!

Not far away, Bei Minghong stood alone, his silver-gray eyes still cold, his thoughts unknown.

Li Xuanxiao of the Heavenly Sword Sect held his long sword, his Sword Intent faintly rising. The Ghost Girl of the Xuanming Way seemed to curl her lips under her veil in an interested arc.

Tang Yun stood in the Liuli Xuan Sect Disciple ranks. Listening to the discussions of his fellow Disciples, he lowered his head, his fists slightly clenched in his sleeves. The temptation of the "thunderclap awl" swirled in his mind, but thinking of the terrifying strength Ye Tian had shown in the Secret Realm made him feel hesitant and wary.

He was just unconvinced and a bit jealous, but if he were really to assist outsiders in harming a fellow Disciple... he struggled internally.

Ye Tian looked up at the looming, massive phantom of the Ancient Skyfall Battle Platform above the Imperial Capital.

It was a mysterious arena relic, pitch-black and covered in battle scars, as if it had fallen from beyond the heavens. Rumor had it that it contained the Law of Space and could evolve into thousands of small worlds. It was one of the Great Yan Imperial Family's supreme treasures for suppressing the national fortune.

“Hundred Ships Competing, Arena Hegemony...” he repeated softly. Deep in his eyes, Chaos-colored lightning slowly flowed. Beneath the calm was a gradually boiling Battle Intent.

The five-day period passed in a flash.

During these five days, the top of the Eight-Child Secret Realm points list, the ownership of the Thunder Emperor Legacy, the blood feud of the Nangong Family, the silence of the Beiming Family, and Ye Tian's bye... all topics pointed toward the same place.

That Ancient Skyfall Battle Platform suspended ten thousand feet high above the Imperial Capital.

Cuiwei Island, Tinglei Pavilion.

Ye Tian stood at the edge of the cliff. He had just finished a round of comprehension regarding the Chaos Thunder Emperor Sword Scripture.

Five days of quiet cultivation, while not enough for another Breakthrough in his cultivation level, had deepened his understanding by a few points.

“Junior Brother Ye, the time is approaching.”

Feng Xuan’s voice came from behind. He still had that gentle appearance, but there was a bit more gravity in his eyes. “Elder Qinglan and Elder Xing Tiexin have already headed to the Imperial City's viewing platform. It's time for us to depart.”

Ye Tian turned around and nodded. His gaze swept over Feng Xuan and then toward the Liuli Xuan Sect Disciples who were gathering one after another behind him.

Yu Miaoqing’s expression was cold, Pei Tieshan’s aura was heavy, and Shui Qingdie stood lazily.

Tang Yun stood a bit further back, his expression tight. He quickly looked away when his gaze met Ye Tian's. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't speak.

Other Inner Sect Disciples like Leng Feng, Lei Zhen, Luo Qiushui, and Liu Ruyan were also present, most appearing excited yet nervous.

“Although we don't need to take the field for this observation, it is still a good opportunity to understand the strength of all parties and discern potential opponents.”

Feng Xuan said to everyone, “Especially for Junior Brother Ye. Although you have a bye, you are already the target of public criticism. You need to be even more careful.”

“Senior Brother is absolutely right,” Ye Tian replied, his gaze calmly sweeping over everyone. “Let's go.”

Everyone boarded the small dedicated Cloud Platform of the Liuli Xuan Sect station and ascended toward the center of the Imperial Capital, in the direction of the towering Imperial City.

Along the way, countless streaks of light could be seen converging from all directions toward the same place. They were all Cultivators and forces heading to watch or participate in the battle.

In the sky, the outline of the Ancient Skyfall Battle Platform became increasingly clear. It was not a regular shape, but more like a giant fragment of a meteorite.

On the surface of the battle platform, countless complex patterns could be faintly seen flickering. Those were ancient array patterns that maintained its internal spatial stability.

The Cloud Platform landed at the edge of a massive viewing platform suspended in mid-air on the outskirts of the Imperial City.

The place was already a sea of people, divided into countless areas for the major forces, Sects, and families to observe. The Liuli Xuan Sect's position was in the middle section toward the west.

As soon as Ye Tian and the others took their seats, they felt countless gazes projecting toward them, with whispering voices especially focused on Ye Tian.