On the Tian Du Continent, there existed a mysterious ancient path, hailed as the King's Ancient Path!
Regarding the origins of this King's Ancient Path, even the one hundred and eight kingdoms were unclear of its true history. It was likely that only the transcendent three great empires, the one great academy, and the mysterious Martial God Hall were truly qualified to know.
It could be said that this was a trial ancient path contending for the title of the strongest king. Only the most outstandingly talented sons and daughters of heaven were qualified to participate.
Back then, the unawakened "Ye Chen" was overflowing with talent, so astonishingly brilliant that at the mere age of thirteen, he had achieved the Xiantian realm. He was even exceptionally admitted as a student by the Earth-tier College of Tian Du Academy.
Similarly, the fourteen-year-old "Ye Chen" at that time was also granted the qualification to enter this mysterious King's Ancient Path for trials.
It was just a great pity. Although the "Ye Chen" of that time possessed outstanding talent, he had not yet fully matured. He encountered a formidable enemy, which resulted in his dantian being crippled, turning him completely into a waste, abandoned by the world.
It could be said that, having lived two lives, this incident had a profound impact on Ye Chen, difficult to forget.
Now, when the Thirteenth Prince mentioned the trial path, Ye Chen immediately thought of this mysterious King's Ancient Path.
But then he shook his head, dismissing the thought, because that King's Ancient Path was not something anyone could enter. Only the most outstanding young talents of the Tian Du Continent were qualified.
Although Tian Du Academy was powerful, it probably could not solely control this mysterious King's Ancient Path.
As Ye Chen thought, the Thirteenth Prince said, "This is not that trial path you participated in before. The King's Ancient Path is a trial path only the strongest geniuses are qualified to join. Although Tian Du Academy is powerful and peerless, able to look down upon the entire Tian Du Continent, it still cannot solely control such a King's Ancient Path."
"According to the information obtained, Tian Du Academy may have acquired a small divine world left behind from ancient times. This trial path will be conducted within this small divine world."
Ye Chen was solemn. The so-called small divine world was a realm opened by a true, heaven-reaching existence that stood above the Heavenly Gods. Because they possessed earth-shattering means beyond the imagination of ordinary people, capable of reaching the heavens and penetrating the earth, they were thus called deities.
Such deities were even more powerful than beings at the Heavenly God realm, surpassing them.
The so-called Heavenly God realm was merely a simplified term used by mortals for this cultivation stage, just like the Martial God realm. Strictly speaking, this realm was called the Transformation God realm. It was just that one could soar through the skies and possess the power to move mountains and shift seas, akin to the Heavenly Gods in myths and unofficial histories, hence the name Heavenly God.
Having been a Great Emperor in his previous life, Ye Chen naturally understood the significance of a small divine world even better than the Thirteenth Prince. He just hadn't expected Tian Du Academy to possess such means, actually controlling a small divine world.
Ye Chen asked, "Is this news accurate?"
The Thirteenth Prince smiled slightly, carrying a hint of pride. "Naturally, because this is internal information from my royal family. It can only be correct, not wrong."
Conducting the enrollment trials within a small divine world? That made things many times more interesting.
The corner of Ye Chen's mouth slowly curved into a faint arc. Suddenly, he felt some anticipation for this trial path.
Old Yan couldn't help but drift out. Naturally, the Thirteenth Prince couldn't see Old Yan's presence. He chuckled and said, "Little Chen, this old man sees you seem interested in this trial path."
"But this so-called small divine world dares to call itself a 'small world'? At most, it's just a small realm. If it's really like that, this Tian Du Academy's capabilities are not bad either, actually obtaining such a small realm. There must be quite a few rare treasures inside. Heh, although there probably won't be any peerless divine treasures, it should still be a rather interesting journey."
Just as Old Yan said, Ye Chen's greater interest actually lay in the various rare treasures within the small divine world.
The Thirteenth Prince smiled. "Ye Chen, let's cooperate then, walk together to the end."
Ye Chen raised a sword-like eyebrow. "You also want to participate in this trial path?"
"Naturally," the Thirteenth Prince said. "Why not? Tian Du Academy, as the highest-level cultivation academy on the entire Tian Du Continent, possesses cultivation resources so abundant that even Xia Feng Academy and the entire royal family cannot compare. Such an academy is a true cultivation holy land. I naturally also wish to enter Tian Du Academy for further study."
Ye Chen naturally understood. For a genius like the Thirteenth Prince, not to mention Xia Feng Academy, even the Xia Feng royal family likely couldn't provide truly sufficient cultivation resources. Only a cultivation holy land like Tian Du Academy might be his true place for cultivation.
"Now that you're out of seclusion, what's your next plan? Where are you going?"
Ye Chen thought for a moment. "Looking for someone. I had entrusted him with some matters before. I don't know if he has completed them. Now that cultivation is finished, I have time to look for him."
The person he wanted to find was naturally Li Yun. Previously, he had entrusted Li Yun to collect the medicinal ingredients for refining the "Spirit Refining Pill" in the royal capital. However, having just arrived in the royal capital, he had been preoccupied with coming to the Gravity Pagoda for cultivation and had somewhat forgotten about Li Yun's matter.
"Since that's the case, I won't disturb you further. But if you encounter any trouble, just hold this token. I think in the entire royal capital, there shouldn't be many people who wouldn't give face to me, the Thirteenth Prince."
The Thirteenth Prince handed a golden token to Ye Chen. It was only the size of an infant's palm. On the front was engraved a majestic, soaring heavenly dragon. On the back were the characters "Thirteen," representing the Thirteenth Prince's identity.
Ye Chen didn't stand on ceremony either. Since he had made friends with the Thirteenth Prince, between friends, one shouldn't be overly formal. He casually took the golden token, smiling rarely. "Don't worry, I'll use it."
The Thirteenth Prince smiled understandingly. Only at this moment did he truly feel that he and Ye Chen had become friends. This feeling was good because he knew Ye Chen was definitely no ordinary person. A golden koi is not a creature of the pond; encountering wind and rain, it transforms into a dragon.
Sooner or later, this youth Ye Chen would surely become a true dragon soaring through the Nine Heavens.
The two parted ways then. Before leaving, the Thirteenth Prince also urged Ye Chen to visit him in the palace when he had time. Holding this token also granted the privilege to enter the royal palace.
Xia Feng Academy was very large. Ye Chen walked around for a while before finally exiting the academy. At the main gate, the four guards, upon seeing it was actually Ye Chen, immediately cast looks of reverence.
The royal capital was vast, bustling and lively, with numerous prosperous districts. Inns, workshops, gambling dens, and shops were countless. The streets were crowded with people, a constant stream of traffic, fully displaying the prosperity befitting a royal capital.
Although Ye Chen had spent some time in Xia Feng Academy before, he wasn't very familiar with the royal capital. He beckoned a carriage driver over. The driver approached respectfully and said, "Sir, you are a student of Xia Feng Academy, right? As long as you are a student of the academy, taking our carriages to any destination grants a half-price discount."
Ye Chen hadn't expected students of Xia Feng Academy to receive such benefits. But upon further thought, it made sense. Xia Feng Academy, as the gathering place for talents of Xia Feng Kingdom, was highly valued by the royal family, hoping to cultivate true powerhouses who would belong to the royal family. Naturally, corresponding policy benefits were indispensable.
It could be said that in the entire royal capital, as long as one was a member of Xia Feng Academy, they could receive corresponding discounts.
After Ye Chen took out his Yellow-tier Academy token, the carriage driver confirmed he was a student and chuckled. "Yellow-tier Academy gets a half-price discount. If you were from the Mysterious-tier Academy, it would be forty percent off. Earth-tier College gets thirty percent off. Heaven-tier Academy students—free."
The higher the academy tier, the greater the discount. Heaven-tier Academy was even free. However, after some thought, Ye Chen understood. Although pulling carriages like this seemed to incur great losses, the royal family would surely compensate these people. Otherwise, these carriage drivers would absolutely not offer such discounts, even operating at a loss.
After stating a destination, the carriage driver whipped the horse, heading along the main road.
Being a native of the royal capital, the carriage driver didn't drive the horse on the densely crowded main avenues. Instead, he turned and traveled along some rarely-trodden alleyways.
In less than half an hour, they arrived before a grand, luxurious palace-like pavilion in the southern district. A huge plaque hung above, bearing three golden characters written in a vigorous, flowing style—Dan Xin Palace.
This was precisely Ye Chen's destination. Back then, Li Yun had told him that if he ever had time to come to the royal capital, he could come to Dan Xin Palace to find him. Dan Xin Palace was the main gathering place for alchemists in the royal capital. It had the most favorable alchemy environment. Almost every alchemist conducted their alchemy here.
The alchemy palace buildings stretched continuously, forming a complex. Red bricks and green tiles, carved railings and jade ornaments, it was extremely luxurious. Even in the royal capital where land was worth its weight in gold, it occupied a considerable area, like a small-scale royal palace.
The gates of Dan Xin Palace were wide open. Many people were coming and going, all seeking alchemists to refine pills for them. Among them were no shortage of important figures, either wealthy or noble. Here, they all set aside their arrogance.
Because compared to these people, alchemists were even more arrogant and even more not to be offended. No one dared to act recklessly here.
Ye Chen entered Dan Xin Palace and arrived in the resplendent, golden-hued main hall. At this moment, a young, beautiful woman walked over. She wore only a form-fitting, appropriate dress that outlined her curvaceous and graceful figure. She was a receptionist of Dan Xin Palace, wearing a professional smile, her attitude gentle as she inquired, "May I ask, sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
"I want to find Li Yun. Have him come out to see me," Ye Chen said. But the words he spoke caused the receptionist's eyes to widen in shock, dumbfounded.