204: An Age Without Saints (Part 3)

Five years passed in a flash.

Gu Yun was now six years old.

Inside the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace, he wore a simple white robe, sitting cross-legged on a patch of lush green grass.

Before him was a clear pond.

He wasn't deliberately Cultivating; he merely extended a tender, pale finger and gently tapped the water's surface.

The pond water didn't ripple.

Yet, the water seemed to gain life, automatically gathering, rising, and condensing.

In an instant, a three-foot-long sword, composed entirely of water, floated in mid-air.

The sword body was crystal clear, so much so that one could even see fish playing within it.

But from its tip emanated a sharp edge capable of distorting space.

Spirit King Realm.

At just six years old, he had already entered the last Realm of the Mortal Dao.

Even more terrifying, every movement he made was imbued with profound Dao rhyme.

This was the Primordial Chaos Sacred Body, coupled with the unparalleled Comprehension Ability of the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.

For him, Cultivation was as easy as turning over his hand.

The Primordial Chaos Sacred Body is an Innate dao seed. With this Physique, Cultivating any Grand Dao is like a fish in water, not to mention the added boost of the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.

Yet, Gu Yun had a particular fondness for the Dao of the Sword, as if he had an inexplicable, profound bond with it.

Just then, the figure of Family Head Gu Tianxing appeared outside the Heavenly Palace.

"Yun'er."

Hearing this, Gu Yun's mind stirred.

The water sword silently disintegrated, returning to the pond as if it had never existed.

He stood up and looked at his father.

"Father."

Gu Tianxing looked at his son, his expression one of relief and pride.

In six years, Gu Yun's performance had exceeded everyone's imagination.

He spoke calmly.

"In the Eastern Region, a Secret Realm is about to open."

"Most Ancient Saint Clans will send people there."

...Gu Family Deliberation Hall.

News of a great Secret Realm appearing in the Central State Eastern Region had long spread among the various Immortal forces.

At this moment, all the core Elders of the Gu Family were gathered.

"Family Head, this 'Falling Star Mystic Realm' is no small matter. It is said to be a fragment struck down from the depths of the Ancient Starry Road by a Supreme Grandmaster in the last Great Era."

An Elder spoke first, his expression solemn.

"Indeed, this Secret Realm has opened several times, and its rules are already clear. Its most special aspect is that it will impose a Law, forcibly suppressing the cultivation of all entrants to the Spirit King Realm."

Another Elder added.

"Suppressed to the Spirit King Realm? Doesn't that mean that regardless of whether they are Divine Emperors or Heavenly Gods, once inside, they are no different from us juniors?"

A young generation clansman expressed confusion.

"No, completely different."

Gu Tianxing personally explained.

"Cultivation can be suppressed, but the comprehension of the Grand Dao, the understanding of Laws, and the battle instinct honed through countless trials cannot be suppressed."

"More importantly, this Secret Realm tests a Cultivator's 'Extreme Power' in the Spirit King Realm!"

Extreme Realm!

What is the Extreme Realm?

Since ancient times, those who could reach the ultimate in a certain Realm and break through conventional barriers were considered to have reached the Extreme Realm.

Those who could reach the Extreme Realm were all peerless prodigies who dominated their era.

And those who could break through the Extreme Realm were even qualified to leave their names in the annals of history.

The Spirit King Realm is the final hurdle in Mortal Dao Cultivation.

Breaking through the Spirit King Realm and advancing to the Earth Spirit Realm causes a transformation in one's life essence.

Therefore, some Grandmasters have asserted that the Foundation and Extreme Power of the Spirit King Realm are crucial for one's future Dao path.

As everyone was discussing, a vast ancient pressure descended upon the main hall.

It was an existence even older than the previous Ancient Ancestor, one who had been sleeping in the Forbidden Ground—a true Saint.

"The rules of this Secret Realm are extremely similar to a Legacy site on the Seventh Ancient Star of the Ancient Starry Road."

The Old Ancestor's voice directly resonated in everyone's Sea of Consciousness.

"This Old One was fortunate enough to enter that Legacy site back then."

At these words, the hall fell silent.

Everyone respectfully listened to the secret anecdote from this living fossil.

"Within that Legacy site stood stone tablets. Only invincible Prodigies who had walked far in the Extreme Realm and gained the recognition of heaven and earth were qualified to carve their names upon them."

The Old Ancestor's tone carried a hint of recollection and emotion.

"Back then, my cultivation was shallow; I didn't even have the qualifications to approach the stone tablets, let alone carve my name."

"I only vaguely saw a few words carved on the stone tablet closest to me."

In the hall, everyone listened intently.

Gu Yun stood beside his father, his pure eyes also looking in the direction from which the voice came.

The Old Ancestor's voice paused, as if recalling that name.

"Xunyun Sword, Chen."

The moment the character "Chen" fell.

Gu Yun's usually calm state of mind, for no reason, rippled ever so slightly.

It was as if an incredibly important name had been gently touched.

But he himself couldn't fully understand where this unusual feeling came from.

The Old Ancestor did not notice Gu Yun's anomaly and continued.

"The one who left his name should be an existence who contended with me in the same era. As for whether the sole 'Heavenly Mandate' at the end of the Ancient Starry Road was seized by this person, that remains unknown."

"And our Central State's Falling Star Mystic Realm, also being related to the Extreme Realm trial, is believed by many to be a replica of that Legacy stone tablet on the Seventh Ancient Star, or even..."

"It is rumored that a mysterious stone tablet, lost from the Final Ancient Star, might be hidden within it!"

This news caused a huge stir in everyone's hearts.

A stone tablet flowing out from the end of the Ancient Starry Road!

What did that mean?

It might contain a trace of the true 'Heavenly Mandate' secret!

"Therefore, Yun'er must go to this Secret Realm."

The Old Ancestor's will directly targeted Gu Yun.

"He possesses the Primordial Chaos Sacred Body, naturally close to the Dao. He should go to such a stage, contend with various Prodigies, and establish his invincible Dao Foundation!"

"But Yun'er is still young, how can he contend..."

"No need for further words. Just send our clan's top Prodigies to protect Yun'er on his Dao path."

"We respectfully obey Old Ancestor's decree!"

Gu Tianxing bowed and accepted the order without hesitation.

He also believed that his son should go and experience some real challenges.

The news quickly spread.

Central State was completely abuzz.

The Immortal Ancient Saint Clan, the Ji Family, it was rumored that their Divine Maiden possessed an Innate sacred bone, a drop of her blood could evolve myriad Laws, and she had already been designated to go.

The Longevity Wang Family's Qilin Son was said to possess a pair of Dharma Eyes that could see through illusions, and he was also ready to depart.

Countless ancient forces hidden behind the scenes had sent their strongest young Prodigies of this generation.

A grand event, gathering the Peak combat power of Central State's younger generation, was about to begin.

Everyone's target was the Falling Star Mystic Realm.

Cloud Top Heavenly Palace.

Gu Tianxing personally adjusted Gu Yun's robes.

He didn't say many encouraging words, just calmly looked at his son.

"Yun'er, remember, you are the Dao Son of the Gu Family."

"Once there, just do as you please. If the sky falls, your father and the entire Family will support you."

"If you don't want to go, then tell your father, and your father will plead with the Ancient Ancestor for you."

Gu Yun nodded.

He looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the dome of the Heavenly Palace, looking towards the eastern horizon.

In that direction, something seemed to be calling to him in the unseen world.

It was a sense of familiarity he couldn't describe.

"Father, I want to go there and see."