Chapter 16: The Dantian’s Cosmos and the Grand Competition’s Arrival

She closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.

“A Dantian transformed into a realm?!”

Xian Yuan observed the profound transformation within her Dantian. What was once merely her Dantian had now become a cosmos, countless stars scattered throughout its expanse. At its very heart, a towering tree reached towards an unseen sky, beneath which a smaller, childlike version of Xian Yuan sat playing.

‘What exactly is happening?’

Xian Yuan found herself utterly bewildered, for this phenomenon was unlike anything she had ever witnessed. Typically, such visions were mere phantoms, yet this world within her Dantian felt undeniably real, and with it, her cultivation had fully returned.

Despite having undergone a genuine metamorphosis, Xian Yuan felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation. After all, she barely understood her own Miracle Law power, leaving her emotions to swing wildly like a rollercoaster.

Having just achieved this breakthrough, she knew she needed to stabilize her realm, lest it hinder her future cultivation.

Yet, for now, the most crucial task was to familiarize herself with this new self, for there remained much she did not comprehend about this Dantian realm.

Consequently, Xian Yuan sat cross-legged upon her bed, diligently circulating the 《Miracle Incantation》. She absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy of the heavens and earth at a rapid pace, all while diligently consolidating the foundations of her cultivation within.

****

Days swiftly passed.

One morning, He Xiaomeng arrived outside Xian Yuan’s chamber door.

“Knock, knock,” sounded the gentle rapping. Xian Yuan slowly opened her eyes, ceased her cultivation, and descended from her bed to open the door.

“What is it?”

Xian Yuan’s spirits were noticeably low. During her sleepless nights spent familiarizing herself with her newfound power, she had discovered a critical flaw: her Immortal Infant could not be summoned to aid her in battle, effectively leaving her a combatant short!

‘My heart aches!’

Xian Yuan could only accept this reality, utterly powerless to change it.

“Senior Sister, today is the Grand Competition! You haven’t over-cultivated, have you?”

“Oh, right!”

Xian Yuan slapped her forehead, only just remembering the Grand Competition. She hastily re-entered her room, retrieved a spatial ring, and put it on.

“Senior Sister, what are you getting?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

Xian Yuan’s gaze flickered with a hint of panic; this item was, naturally, a secret known only to the heavens, the earth, and herself.

He Xiaomeng, harboring little suspicion, then said, “Let’s go. Senior Sister and the others are already waiting for us.”

“Mm, alright,” Xian Yuan replied.

The two then departed from the room.

Xian Yuan and He Xiaomeng arrived at the grand central plaza of East Heart Island.

The plaza was already teeming with disciples, while the various pavilion masters and high-ranking officials from the major Eastern Sea factions had also arrived, poised to welcome the participants of the Grand Competition.

“Wow!”

Suddenly, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the plaza.

The high-ranking officials also turned towards the source of the sound, their gazes falling upon a man and a woman who had just stepped onto the plaza.

The man possessed a towering, robust physique and an undeniably handsome countenance.

The woman, clad in white, had a delicate and ethereal beauty that was utterly captivating.

“Who are those two?”

“Could they be disciples of some high-ranking elder again?”

The onlookers murmured amongst themselves.

Yet, they could not ascertain the identities of the pair.

“It’s Lin Feng and Li Mengyue! To think they’d come to participate in the Eastern Sea Grand Competition! What a surprise!”

“Indeed! I heard Li Mengyue had been pursuing Lin Feng lately, and who would’ve thought she actually succeeded!”

“They say Lin Feng is the youngest Heavenly Immortal realm expert in our Eastern Sea region!”

“More than that, Lin Feng is the Saint Son of Rising Cloud Island, and Li Mengyue is the niece of the Southern Family, one of the three great Eastern Sea aristocratic families…”

Numerous cultivators gazed at Lin Feng and Li Mengyue, whispering amongst themselves.

Lin Feng paid no heed to the crowd’s chatter, drawing Li Mengyue with him towards the arena on East Heart Island.

Li Mengyue’s face was faintly flushed, and she kept her head lowered, allowing Lin Feng to lead her to the front of the plaza.

Meanwhile, in another part of the sky, a magnificent imperial carriage, drawn by nine cranes, materialized before everyone’s eyes.

The imperial carriage, encased in golden nanmu, radiated a dazzling brilliance. Seated within was a woman of unparalleled elegance and grace. Her figure was slender and captivating, her face enchanting, and her skin as smooth as snow. Her lustrous black hair cascaded casually over her shoulders, reaching her waist. Her eyes, as clear and bright as autumn waters, held a penetrating depth, while her exquisite face, sculpted with sharp, distinct features, was both perfect and coldly alluring.

An aura of profound chill emanated from her, making her resemble nothing less than a noble and aloof goddess.

Her name was Murong Fier, the beloved only daughter of Murong Lan.

Though Murong Fier appeared as cold as ice on the surface, a different side resided within her heart.

“That’s the Murong Family!”

Many recognized the Murong Family, for they were one of the three ancient families of the Eastern Sea.

Moreover, they held the undisputed top rank.

Apart from the Murong Family, the other two great aristocratic families of the Eastern Sea were the Southern Family and the Ouyang Family.

Previously, during the Hundred Sect Grand Competition held by the Eastern Sea Hundred Sect Alliance, the Murong Family had dispatched a disciple to participate.

And that woman’s name was Murong Fier.