Chapter 1: Arrival in Holy City

  Sacred City, the stronghold of power for thousands of years, where the most precious treasures of the Star Continent are gathered, the most talented individuals, and the most powerful nobles. In the eyes of people from all four nations, the Sacred City has always been shrouded in a mysterious veil.

  The holy city is generally not open to outsiders, and only during the once-in-a-decade genius selection tournament will it widely invite guests from all over the world. However, these people have also undergone strict scrutiny by the Holy Temple, with their identities and abilities being thoroughly screened.

  The Holy City is located in the belly of the Qingyun Mountain Range, and the continuous rolling Qingyun Mountain Range is the second largest beast forest on the Star Continent after the Forest of Sunset.

  The Xuan beast that appears and disappears in the Qingyun mountain range, with the highest being at the middle stage of the Sacred Domain realm. Although it is not as mysterious and dangerous as the Luori Forest, the Qingyun mountain range has been transformed by the Holy Temple, with intricate mechanisms everywhere. Even in the midst of the forest, there are hidden corridors and secret passages, known to the world as the Qing Mountain Screen, and also a place where the Holy Temple disciples usually practice and capture Xuan beasts.

  At noon, the sun is just right.

  "Bang Bang——"

  "Clang Clang——"

  The sound of slaughter accompanied by the roar of a mysterious beast came from the dense forest with ancient trees that seemed to touch the sky.

  "Up——"

  A loud and sharp voice, like an eagle striking the sky, like a lion roaring in the dense forest.

  A massive body of three to four meters in height, with a golden brown color alternating all over its body, a snake-like curved neck, and a pair of wings on its back that are even wider than its body, powerful limbs running and jumping in the forest.

  "Ang——"

  Fierce fangs bared, looking up at the sky and letting out a long howl, eagle-like sharp claws swung out, wherever they passed, the surrounding embracing trees snapped open with a loud crack!

  This Xuan beast has the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, it is a very rare flying Xuan beast, mid-grade Sacred Realm Xuan beast, Lion Eagle King!

  "It's done, it has thoroughly provoked it, what to do now?" Several young people, both male and female, were surrounded by this Lion Eagle King Xuan beast, all over their bodies were covered in bruises, looking very disheveled.

  "Ah——"

  One of the handsome and elegant young men was swept away by the sharp claws of the Lion Griffin King, his entire body lifted off the ground, falling several feet away.

  "Big Brother!" The beautiful woman in red clothes, with a look of shock and worry, retracted the sharp sword in her hand, wanting to rush towards the fallen man, but was cut off by a pair of wings like copper walls and iron walls, and was also knocked to the ground.

  "This is going to be bad." Several young people secretly thought it was not good, this time something really bad was going to happen.

  "Sister, what should we do now?" Several young people were a bit flustered.

  "Return that egg to it quickly!" The fiery beauty gritted her teeth, although she was reluctant, but at this time, there was really no other way.

  "Older sister!" Several people looked somewhat unwilling, their faces flushing red with anxiety.

  "This is an egg of the Lion Eagle King, which means that without taming, one can get a Holy Domain Mystic Beast. It's not easy to get a Holy Domain Mystic Beast egg, and it's still the most precious flying type mystic beast, how can I give up easily."

  "Shi Jie, wait a bit longer, the Seven Elders should be around, I've already sent out a distress signal, just hold on for a little while" Several people were very unwilling, they had already gotten their hands on it, how could they be willing to hand it over!

  A few people went out to practice and fortunately found a lion eagle egg, but when they wanted to leave, they bumped into a mature lion eagle king. They really didn't know whether to cry or laugh. This is the most powerful demon beast that has appeared in the Qingyun Mountain Range, even if their master arrived, it's not certain that he could tame it.

  The more powerful the Xuan Master, the more he wants a Xuan Beast partner that is even stronger than himself. But how can such a Xuan Beast be made to submit? And for some disciples of large families or factions who want to obtain a powerful Xuan Beast but lack the strength, there is still another way - find a young Xuan Beast and cultivate it from a young age!

  "Give it back!" The red-clothed beauty who was called "Shi Jie" by several people, had a very determined attitude. "It's too late now, there will be other opportunities in the future."

  The red-clothed beauty also showed some unwillingness in her eyes, but was obviously much calmer than the others. If they didn't hand it over immediately, they were afraid that they wouldn't be able to hold on until the masters arrived. The mid-tier Holy Domain's Xuan Beast had a fighting strength that was really too terrifying.

  "Ah——"

  The Griffin King spread its wings and soared into the air, diving towards the young man who had fallen to the ground. Its curved beak, like black iron castings, shone with a cold light in the bright sunlight.

  The young man fell to the ground, covered in bruises and scars, with no strength to fight back.

  "Second Master!" The crowd's exclamation rang out.

  "Big Brother!" The red-clad beauty's eyes widened in shock, and she turned to the person holding the Lion Dog egg, growling urgently, "Quickly!"

  Seeing this urgent situation, the person carrying the lion's egg didn't care about anything else and without hesitation, took out a five-colored egg the size of a watermelon and threw it fiercely into mid-air.

  "Arise—"

  The original intention was to attack the young man, Lion King, but he felt a familiar breath, and with a powerful flap of his wings, he created a whirlwind-like gust of wind, turned around and pounced on the five-colored eggs in mid-air.

  After taking a mouthful of five-colored eggs, a fierce light suddenly appeared in its beastly eyes, which were as big as a cow's.

  "Hurry up!"

  Taking advantage of this moment, the red-clothed woman jumped beside the young man and supported him as they were about to escape.

  "Arise—"

  Who would have thought that the Lion Eagle King, who had retrieved the Five-Colored Egg, never intended to let them off, raised his head and let out a loud, ear-piercing cry. At this moment, he no longer had any regard for anything, almost as if he was using all his strength, charging towards the two of them!

  "Be careful, elder sister!"

  On the other side, several young people lost their composure and turned pale.

  "Not good!" The icy wind behind suddenly burst, and the red-clothed beauty who had just turned around to look back let out a cry of surprise. Her black pupils suddenly constricted, as the Lion Eagle King had already pounced in front of her. The ferocious killing aura of the mysterious beast had trapped the two of them firmly, leaving no way for them to escape.

  The red-clothed woman and the young man she was supporting were both Ninth-Grade Tian Xuan. If they were to be hit by a mid-grade Sacred Domain's Xuan Beast, the Lion Eagle King, in a head-on collision, they would undoubtedly meet their demise on the spot!

  "Big Brother!" The several young men on the other side, frightened and at a loss, came rushing towards the two without thinking.

  The Lion Eagle tribe was already famous for its speed, let alone a Lion Eagle King that had reached the middle stage of the Sacred Realm. A distance of several meters was nothing to it, and with a flick of its sharp claws, there was no doubt that it could easily twist off the head of an ordinary saint.

  The red-clad beauty was powerless to resist and had even closed her eyes in despair.

  "Bang——"

  A sound, like a muffled thunderclap, as if a sharp hammer shattered the solidified air around.

  The red-clothed beauty clenched her teeth tightly, closed her eyes for a long time, but felt that the surroundings suddenly became quiet. She slowly opened her eyes to a slit, looked around in confusion, and moved unnaturally. Was she really okay?

  "What's going on?"

  Several young people who had rushed to their side stood there with their mouths agape, staring at the fallen and convulsing Simurgh King. They exchanged a glance, shook their heads in unison, and also didn't see clearly.

  The young man who was helped up by the red-clothed beauty took a deep breath before barely managing to prop himself up, pursing his somewhat dry lips as he looked around, "Could it be that Seventh Elder has arrived?"

  Upon hearing this, several people's eyes revealed a surprised and delighted smile, followed by confusion. The Seventh Elder's strength is at the fifth stage of the Saint Realm, it shouldn't be so formidable, right? He hasn't even shown up in person, yet he severely injured the Lion Eagle King, who is a mid-stage Saint Realm expert.

  "Ah——"

  Several people's smiles had not yet reached their eyes when the fallen Lion Eagle King suddenly sprang up without warning, whipping up a fierce gust of wind that left several people stumbling.

  "Not good, quick flash!" Several people suddenly showed a look of surprise, but what made them even more shocked was that the Lion Eagle King quickly flew past them and escaped into the distance.

  Want to run?

  A crisp sound, hard to distinguish between male and female, echoed faintly in the dense thicket.

  "Whoosh——"

  A dark shadow flashed through the emerald forest, leaving a dark afterimage in the air as it shot towards the Lion Eagle King that had just taken to the skies, its speed several times faster than even this flying beast.

  "Bang——"

  Another dull thud, the fleeing Lion Hawk King plummeted from high altitude, a slender and majestic figure followed closely behind, raising its foot to step on its back!

  "Bang——"

  "Want to run?" The black knee-high boots trampled on the lion-like head of Wang Pangda, which was similar to an iron eagle, and it actually sank deeply into the mud.

  A black figure raised its head, and only then did a row of people see his appearance clearly, and they couldn't help but pause for a moment, forgetting to think.

  The person in front of him was a young man with a slender body, wearing a simple black robe, with a handsome and elegant face that exuded an air of cold arrogance, which left several people staring blankly for a moment. In this world, there is actually such a handsome young master.

  "Bring it on, barely enough." The black-clad youth slightly lowered his clear eyes, roughly sizing up the Lion Hawk King he had trampled underfoot. His red lips curled into a somewhat disdainful expression.

  The words of the black-robed youth almost choked to death several people on the other side, this is a middle-grade sacred beast, the master of the sky, the Lion Eagle King, and for her, it's barely enough?

  However, after they thought about it carefully, several people simultaneously showed a look of horror, as if they had seen a ghost.

  The black-clothed youth before him was only seventeen or eighteen years old, yet he had actually crushed the Lion Eagle King with one kick! What kind of strength did he possess? Mid-tier Saint? High-tier Saint?

  They didn't see it wrong?

  It's broad daylight, and yet I've seen a ghost!

  The beauty in red clothes had an unclear expression in her eyes, thinking for a long time before slowly walking forward. Her face showed unnatural blushes as she said with joined hands: "Thank you, young master, for lending a helping hand."

  "I didn't think of saving you guys" The cold words from the black-robed youth made the red-clothed beauty's body stiffen, and the smile on her face seemed somewhat forced.

  "You're thinking too much, I just took a liking to it." The black-clad youth clapped his hands, turned around, and crossed his arms over his chest, with an ambiguous smile that was identical to Ling Wusuo's. In fact, this black-robed youth was actually her herself.

  "You—" Several young men heard, although dissatisfied with her direct and cold tone, after tightly pursing their lips, they didn't say anything. After all, she had truly saved their lives.

  Ling Wushuang's expression changed slightly, and he curled up the corner of his mouth, drawing out a mysterious arc. He ignored the few people behind him, turned around, and stroked the wing of the lion eagle king with his slender fingers, patting it gently. "Follow me, or become a pot of soup immediately. Choose one."

  They didn't know each other, she really hadn't thought of saving these people, but just wanted this rare flying beast, let alone, those who can walk freely in the Qingyun Mountains are mostly saints.

  The youth in front of him said softly to the majestic lion eagle king, "Turn into a pot of soup." Several people shuddered at the same time, and their spines felt a bit chilly.

  The Lion Hawk King was stroked by Ling Wu's gentle fingers, causing his entire body to tremble. In the beastly eyes as big as a cow's, human-like fear and struggle flashed by. Under Ling Wu's threatening caress, he couldn't hold on for even ten seconds before pitifully nodding his massive head.

  Ling Wushuang heavily patted once more and coldly spat out two words, "Very good".

  Having a flying beast would be much more convenient. In Holy City, if she used her Flame Wings, it would be too easy for people to recognize her.

  A group of people saw a lion, and it was so easily domesticated that they couldn't help but feel envious, and some even drooled with desire.

  Ling Wushuang squeezed out a drop of essence blood, which shot into the skull of the Lion Eagle King. The red light flashed and disappeared in an instant. At this moment, under the astonished gaze of everyone, the fur on the body of the Lion Eagle King, which had been damaged by Ling Wushuang, grew back quickly, and its aura also recovered to its original state in the blink of an eye.

  Feeling this situation, a humanized joy appeared in the giant beast eyes of the Lion Griffin King.

  Ling Wushuang's red lips curled up slightly as she flipped over with a nimble motion, landing on the spacious back of the Lion Eagle King.

  The woman in red saw this, quickly stepped forward a few steps, and hastily said: "This young master, thank you for your help today. My name is Caiyi, I am the eldest disciple of the Seventh Elder of the Holy Hall. If there's anything I can help you with in the future, just let me know."

  Whether he did it intentionally or not, his life-saving favor is not trivial.

  "Disciple of the Seven Elders of the Sacred Hall?" Ling Wu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he didn't linger and instead patted the Lion Eagle King's head as he prepared to leave.

  The young man beside Cai Yi nodded in agreement, covering his still somewhat suffocated chest, and spoke in a calm tone: "I suppose this young master is here to attend the Holy City Conference?" After a slight pause, he continued: "I am Bai Lian, the second disciple of the Great Elder. Thank you for lending a hand this time. If there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate."

  "Are you a disciple of the Great Elder of the Holy Temple?" Ling Wu's calm and collected face finally showed a hint of surprise.

  It was just that when Bai Lian saw the youth who had been expressionless from start to finish, after hearing his words, his expression seemed to relax slightly, and his attitude towards him suddenly became much friendlier, leaving everyone somewhat perplexed.

  He certainly wouldn't think that this was the reason he knew they were Temple disciples, because such an obvious thing, this young man must have anticipated long ago.

  "The Disciple of the Fire Saint" Ling Wu's eyebrows slightly rose, and then suddenly smiled, "Do you know Ji Yunyang?"

  "Big Brother!?" Bai Lian was stunned for a moment, then a joyful expression immediately appeared on his handsome face, and he hastily asked: "Sir, do you know Big Brother? How is he doing now?"

  After Shixiong returned to Donglin, he never came back. It is said that he has been expelled from the Holy Temple by the Holy Master. He was very worried and didn't know what situation his Shixiong was in now. Now even his Shifu had left the Holy Temple and hadn't come back, which made him a bit shaken.

  "Who?" Ling Wu Xiang raised an eyebrow and smiled, "It couldn't be any better."

  All day mixed eating mixture, and always thinking of her treasure being deceived, can't be good?

  "That's good." Bai Lian seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

  Cai Yi saw Ling Wu Shuang's handsome and cold face, revealing a hint of friendly smile, feeling relieved in her heart, she awkwardly turned her head away, this young man should be Senior Brother's friend.

  "May I ask where this young master is from? And you and the eldest senior brother..." Cai Yi asked, then seemed to feel a bit too bold, and awkwardly stopped.

  But she had already reached the 9th rank of Tian Xuan, yet she couldn't see through the strength of the person in front of her. With a casual wave of her hand, she could annihilate a Sacred Domain's Tian Xuan beast. Since when did the world have such a genius? How come she hadn't heard of it before?

  Ling Wu's eyebrows slightly raised, and the cold air around her body dissipated a lot. Between her eyebrows, there was a hint of laziness and elegance. After thinking for a moment, she opened her mouth and said: "My name is Jun Ling, I'm a good friend of Ji Yunyang. This time at the Holy City Conference, I came to join in the fun and broaden my horizons."

  In the Holy Hall, not everyone has the same temperament. According to Ji Yunyang, his master, who is also the Great Elder Huo Shengyi, is a straightforward and upright person who does not mix with others. He did not acknowledge the Saint Master and disagreed with the way most people in the Holy Hall handled things. After Ji Yunyang returned to Donglin, he also left the Holy Hall and lost contact.

  "Jun Ling..." Cai Yi furrowed her eyebrows and muttered a sentence, indeed she had never heard of such a person.

  "Since you are a friend of my senior brother, then you are also a friend of mine, Bai Lan. If you don't mind, Young Master Ling, we can head to the Holy City together." Bai Lan was a refined and elegant man with a friendly smile on his face, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

  "Right!" Cai Yi was also very enthusiastic, "The Holy City is still some distance away from here. The terrain of the Qingyun Mountains is very complex, and if you're not careful, you'll fall into some miasma swamps, which will delay a lot of time. Why don't you travel with us?"

  Cai Yi was filled with passion, but also some doubts. If he was attending the Sacred City Conference, why didn't he follow the elder who brought the way? However, after thinking about it for a moment, Cai Yi shook his head. With his ability to easily kill the sacred beasts of the Holy Domain, the dangers of the Qingyun Mountains should be nothing to him.

  Ling Wushuang smiled lightly and nodded, "Good"

  Although Ji Yuyang told her a lot about the Holy City and had a route map drawn by him in her hand, following them along the way would likely avoid many troubles.

  The Lion Griffin King spread its wings, over one zhang wide, and on its broad back, it carried four or five people with ease. In order to reach the Holy City more quickly and conveniently, Bai Lian and Cai Yi stepped onto the back of the Lion Griffin King, which had only recently been severely injured by them.

  The Lion Hawk King is known as the fastest and most agile existence among the flying Xuan beasts, soaring high in the sky, shuttling through the mountains and valleys at an extremely fast speed. Under the guidance of Bai Leng and others, it arrived at the Holy City after two or three hours!

  Ling Wushuang stood on the back of the Lion Eagle King, looking down with his brow furrowed. Amidst the surrounding mountains, a large complex of buildings sprawled out, with structures of varying heights, arranged in a harmonious and scattered manner. The sight that unfolded before him was at least ten times larger than the Eastern Capital City.

  What is referred to as a holy city is not simply a palace or building, but a truly self-sufficient city with everything one needs, whether it be something that can be found in the outside world or not. Even if it were isolated from the world for thousands of years, it would still be able to provide for itself.

  Bai Lian raised her eyes to gaze at the city pool in front of her, and said to the person beside her: "Jun Ling, let's go down. Except for some elders, it is not allowed to ride flying beasts into the sacred city."

  The iron law of the Holy Temple states that unauthorized riding of flying Xuan beasts and entering the Holy City without identity verification will result in immediate execution upon discovery!

  Ling Wushuang raised an eyebrow, "Is there such a rule?"

  "Look quickly, it's a golden eagle!"

  In mid-air, a mysterious creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, bringing with it a fierce gust of wind, like a mountain range, descended upon the people on the ground, causing the crowd waiting in line outside the Holy City to turn their heads in alarm.

  "It's actually a mid-tier Sacred Domain-level Lion Eagle King, it must be one of the elders from the Holy Temple who has arrived"

  Everyone was talking in hushed tones and discussing it eagerly.

  The sacred domain's mysterious beast, even for the Sacred Temple, is extremely rare. Moreover, it's a flying creature that's rarely seen. For outsiders, witnessing this scene is almost as rare as seeing the Sacred Lord himself.

  Several guards who were guarding the city gate saw this situation and hurriedly went to welcome them.