In the Wanqi clan’s estate.

After a few years, Wanqi Hong finally received the lord-grade Limit Divine Pill that the Wanqi clan obtained for him. It would help him stabilize his cultivation in the realm of an advanced Lord of Gods.

“With this divine pill, my cultivation base will be completely stable before the start of the Seven Mansions Feast. At that time, I might be able to defeat Duan Ling Tian!”

Before receiving the lord-grade Limit Divine Pill, Wanqi Hong did not stay idle. He had been cultivating even harder than before, spurred by Wanqi Jue’s death due to the choice he made.

Duan Ling Tian was only his secondary target. His primary target was Ye Chen Feng.

He did not know if anyone in the Wanqi clan would be capable of seeking revenge from Ye Chen Feng in the future, and he also did not plan to pin all of his hopes on the Wanqi clan. He could only rely on himself to avenge his great-great-grandfather. He knew he was still very far from being capable of doing so, but he did not despair.

“I must surpass Duan Ling Tian first. After becoming the strongest among the younger generation in and around Eastern Ridge Mansion, I’ll continue working hard to surpass Ye Chen Feng. Ye Chen Feng is a lot older than I am so it’d be difficult for me to catch up to him in 10,000 years. However, I remember he was not as strong as I am at my age.”

In short, Wanqi Hong worked hard like he never did before.

…

In the Green Province Mansion.

The Green Province Mansion was located adjacent to the Eastern Ridge Mansion. Their prodigies would also be participating in the Seven Mansions Feast.

In the Marionette Villa’s estate.

The Marionette Villa was one of the top three strongest forces in the Green Province Mansion. They had several intermediate Emperors of Gods and many other experts.

“Duan Ling Tian comprehended the Sword Dao? He defeated Wanqi Hong who had become an advanced Lord of Gods for 100 years when he had only become an intermediate Lord of Gods for two years?”

A young man, who had just come out from closed-door cultivation, wore a shocked expression on his face when he learned about this piece of news. Soon after, he smiled bitterly as he muttered to himself, “It seems like it’s almost impossible for me to surpass him during the Seven Mansions Feast. I can only strive to rank in the top ten…”

The young man sighed before he returned to his room to cultivate again.

The young man was none other than the former prodigy of the Tai Yi Sect, Ximen Long Xiang.

…

With the Seven Mansions Feast drawing closer, the prodigies from the five major forces in the Eastern Ridge Mansion and the other forces from the other six Mansions, such as the Green Province Mansion, were all cultivating diligently.

Not only was the Seven Mansions Feast important to them, but it was also important to the forces they belonged to. It was related to the Secret Holy Realm that opened once every 10,000 years.

…

In the Pure Yang Sect’s Cloud Peak faction.

Zhen Ping Fan came to look for Duan Ling Tian to ask him questions about the Sword Dao. At some point, Duan Ling Tian asked about the mysterious place related to the Seven Mansions Feast.

Since it was not a secret, Zhen Ping Fan said, “The Secret Holy Realm was jointly discovered by the top forces in the Seven Mansions in the past. After discovering it, they worked together to open it…”

“The Secret Holy Realm? So one has a chance of becoming an advanced Emperor of Gods in there?” Duan Ling Tian asked. Although he found the name tacky, he knew it must be a miraculous place considering it was a place that could help intermediate Emperors of Gods break through and become advanced Emperors of Gods.

“That’s right,” Zhen Ping Fan nodded and said, “In the Secret Holy Realm, there are fortuitous encounters that will help intermediate Emperors of Gods become advanced Emperors of Gods. Many advanced Emperors of Gods were born in the Secret Holy Realm since it was opened.”

Duan Ling Tian asked curiously, “What kind of place is the Secret Holy Realm? What is its origin? Was it left behind by a supreme powerhouse?”

Zhen Ping Fan shook his head and said, “Yes and no.”

Duan Ling Tian asked in confusion, “What do you mean? Please be more specific, Elder Zhen.”

Zhen Ping Fan nodded and said, “Let me give you a detailed explanation about the Secret Holy Realm. What do you know about supreme powerhouses and what do you think of them?”

Duan Ling Tian’s eyes lit up as he said straightforwardly, “I don’t know much about them. I only know they’re the most powerful beings in all the realms. Moreover, the 18 Realms of Gods are all created by 18 supreme powerhouses. There are also other supreme powerhouses, but they’re not as strong as the 18 supreme powerhouses who created the 18 Realms of Gods.”

Zhen Ping Fan nodded and said with a smile, “It’s good enough that you know these things.” Then, he continued to say, “Due to the rules, there can only be 18 Realms of Gods at a time. Unless one of the existing 18 Realms of Gods is destroyed by another supreme powerhouse, it’s impossible to create another Realm of Gods. When a Realm of Gods is destroyed, every living thing in the Realm of Gods will perish and turn into ashes. That Realm of Gods will be no different from a wasteland as its shattered pieces drift in the turbulent space. Do you know these things?”

“I’ve heard about it.” Duan Ling Tian nodded.

With this, Zhen Ping Fan continued to say, “After killing a supreme powerhouse and the Realm of Gods he or she created, the killer won’t be able to plunder the destroyed Realm of Gods for resources. However, the killer, also a supreme powerhouse, can use a fragment of the Realm of Gods and mold it into a small independent realm with their energy. Since the small independent realm is a fragment of a Realm of Gods, it’s naturally unlike ordinary independent realms. It has absorbed all kinds of essences, after all. The killer will usually set up all kinds of Formations in there. All in all, it’ll be turned into a holy land for cultivation. This independent realm will then be thrown into the killer’s newly created Realm of Gods, waiting to be discovered.”

After Zhen Ping Fan finished speaking, he only looked at Duan Ling Tian with a smile.

Duan Ling Tian did not know this so he was rather surprised. “Elder Zhen… You’re saying that the Secret Holy Realm the top forces in the Seven Mansions is actually a fragment of a destroyed Realm of Gods that was molded by the supreme powerhouse who created the Profound Energy Land?”

Zhen Ping Fan said, “Yes. The Secret Holy Realm is precisely a fragment of the Realm of Gods. Like I said, the supreme powerhouse will also set up Formations in there so that resources in there will regenerate after they’re exhausted. As for whether there’s a limit to the regeneration, no one knows for the time being. However, I think it’s likely that there’s a limit. Since the Secret Holy Realm was found relatively recently, it has not shown signs of exhaustion yet. It’s said that it’ll take almost 10,000 years to completely regenerate so the top forces in the Seven Mansions, including our Eastern Ridge Mansion, agreed to only enter the Secret Holy Realm once every 10,000 years. The number of people who can enter is also limited. After many years of trial and error, we discovered it’s best that only 24 people enter at a time. If only 23 people enter, the surplus of resources will go to waste; if 25 people enter, there won’t be enough resources. In the beginning, the twenty four places were divided among the strongest powerhouses in the Seven Mansions through rounds of battles. However, that didn’t last. After all, those who entered previously and became advanced Emperor of Gods would naturally be able to help those from their forces enter again due to the increase in strength. As such, the others would not have a chance to enter the place. For this reason, the majority of the forces changed the rule. To be fair, only those below the age of 10,000 can compete to determine who gets to enter the Secret Holy Realm. This also helps with the cultivation of the younger generation. Due to the meticulous cultivation from their respective forces, many young prodigies later became advanced Emperors of Gods without needing to enter the Secret Holy Realm.”

Duan Ling Tian finally understood why the younger generation was competing for the intermediate Emperors of Gods to enter the Secret Holy Land. As it turned out, it was to prevent advanced Emperors of Gods from gaining an advantage, slowly monopolizing the Secret Holy Realm. After all, those from the other forces who failed to break through would definitely be at a disadvantage.

‘The person who ranks first will be given four slots. The second and third place respectively will be given three slots each. From the fourth to the tenth place, they’ll be given two slots each…’

After thinking about this, a question appeared in Duan Ling Tian’s mind. He asked, “Elder Zhen, what happens if two or more prodigies from the same force rank in the top ten? What if the slots they won exceed the number of intermediate Emperors of Gods in their force? Will the slots be given to the rudimentary Emperors of Gods in their force?”

Zhen Ping Fan nodded. “It depends. What you said is possible. However, it’s a waste to give such a chance to a rudimentary Emperor of Gods. Some choose to give the slots away, and some even put it up for auction.”