The swordsman Wu Chen, the Devil-Eyed Waterman, Miao Shan, Liu Wei, the Giant, and the rest of the cultivators were left dumbfounded staring at the five Martial Trees that were as bright as golden stars floating in the air!

Five Martial Trees?

Qin Nan had five Martial Trees?

That didn’t make sense according to the rules of cultivation. Were you saying that he had surpassed the rules?

Qin Nan wore a calm smile.

The Martial Serendipity Pavilion and the Heaven-Shattering Martial Monarch had once reminded him that the entire Canglan Continent would be startled once the secret about him surpassing the rules of cultivation was exposed, thus placing in grave danger.

However, it would no longer be a concern now that the Monarch Horoscope Contest had begun.

Once he secured a Monarch Horoscope and achieved the Martial Monarch Realm, he would rise as an authority of the Canglan Continent, thus allowing him to protect himself.

At that instant, only a few dozen breaths were left from reaching the fifth hour!

“Surpassing the rules of cultivation, I never thought the legend that my master once told me is actually real. I guess I’ve been watching the sky from the bottom of a well.” The swordsman mumbled before he flew into the distance.

His Martial Heart had been extremely impacted, thus preventing him from fighting any further.

The other cultivators slowly collected their thoughts, but the astonishment in their eyes showed no sign of dissipating.

Qin Nan had lost his cultivation?

Qin Nan was only ranked in the eight hundreds?

How ridiculous!

This Qin Nan was no doubt the real peerless genius. Even Shi Qingfan, Sorceress Qian Qian, and Sage Chen Zilai were unable to surpass the rules of cultivation!

“His saber...”

A knowledgeable rogue cultivator suddenly took a deep breath.

He finally realized that the saber Qin Nan was holding was exactly the same as the saber that existed in the legends!

“Five hours have passed. Qin Nan will proceed to the second stage. Please step through the golden door.” At that instant, a loud ancient voice echoed in the space.

Qin Nan immediately withdrew his aura upon hearing this.

He had done an impressive job in the first stage, as he had managed to advance without wasting too much of his energy.

“Xiao Hong, return to the Sumeru Ring with the others.”

Qin Nan lowered his head and said to Skeleton Xiao Hong, the two hounds, and one mouse.

To his surprise, as he finished speaking, the ancient voice appeared once again, “A golden lock is only enough for one person to advance. You will lose your right to enter if you break the rules.”

“Only one person?”

Qin Nan was startled.

He was aware that the strength of Skeleton Xiao Hong, the two hounds, and one mouse was not too outstanding compared to the participants in the space. They would only stand a chance by working together. However, once they were separated, they would be in serious trouble.

“Master, you go ahead. We’re satisfied enough to take part in the first stage.”

Skeleton Xiao Hong transmitted her voice.

“Bark bark!”

The two hounds and one mouse did not seem disappointed, but quite the opposite as a matter of fact.

They were not interested in securing a Monarch Horoscope. It was rewarding enough if they were able to absorb the monarch Qi in the first stage.

Qin Nan remained silent.

Be it Skeleton Xiao Hong, or the two hounds and one mouse, each was part of his crew. If he were to advance and leave them behind, wouldn’t that make him the same as an ungrateful brute?

“Master, don’t overthink it. We never had the chance to secure a Monarch Horoscope, thus it would be meaningless for us to proceed to the second stage. If master feels sorry for us, then promise me. After securing the Monarch Horoscope, you will continue to bring us along as you conquer the world. How’s that?” Skeleton Xiao Hong said as if she were able to read Qin Nan’s mind.

Qin Nan’s heart shuddered upon hearing this, who nodded after hesitating for a moment.

“Sure!”

Qin Nan clenched his teeth and flew toward the golden door high up in the sky.

He had made up his mind.

Regardless of the final outcome, he would surely continue on his path of cultivation by bringing them along to witness the glory of the Canglan Continent together.

The cultivators stared at Qin Nan’s back.

Skeleton Xiao Hong, the two hounds, and one mouse raised their heads staring at Qin Nan’s back too. A while later, they let out a chuckle as they returned to the mountain range to continue searching for forbidden areas. Their aim was to let the skeletons absorb more monarch Qi so that they could rebuild their flesh and recover their memories.

……

……

A while later, Qin Nan sensed his figure being teleported to another unfamiliar place. He opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings.

It was a thirty zhang wide room filled with a great presence of monarch Qi, decorated with a futon, a manual, a jar of wine, and a wooden table.

“Mm?”

Qin Nan frowned as he tried to unleash his left eye, which caused his face to be filled with astonishment, as it turned out that the room was able to restrict his eye-technique. He rose up from the ground and attacked the door with his progenitor force, but it remained firm and sturdy.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Nan slowly drew out the Heaven-Shattering Saber.

He was eager to see if the room was able to resist the power of his saber.

“Cough cough, Qin Nan, the door will open itself in two days. Please don’t attack it with your saber.”

A voice filled with a hint of speechlessness could be heard coming from above, who turned out to be the Monarch Envoy in charge of the second stage.

Normally, the Monarch Envoy in this stage would not speak, but it was left with no choice when it saw Qin Nan drawing the saber out.

“I see.”

Qin Nan nodded as he withdrew the Heaven-Shattering Saber with doubts in his mind. Why would they be placed inside a room like this in the second stage? Were they asking them to absorb the monarch Qi in the room?

Just absorbing the monarch Qi didn’t really make any sense.

“Forget it.”

Qin Nan shook his head to get rid of his thoughts before he sat down with his legs crossed.

Time gradually passed. Two days later, a squeak could be heard in the mysterious room as the door was slowly opened.

Qin Nan’s eyes sprang open as he proceeded to the door.

After stepping out from the door, he immediately saw a white dojo ahead, which had a light beam at its center. As he walked further ahead, the mysterious room behind him suddenly disappeared.

“Amitabha, Qin Nan, we’ve met again.”

A voice appeared.

Qin Nan turned his head around and saw a monk not far from where he was standing. He was none other than the third-ranked genius on the Monarch Ranking, Sage Chen Zilai.

Qin Nan squinted.

Could the second stage be a duel with Sage Chen Zilai?

“Qin Nan? Why are you here? And you...you’re Sage Chen Zilai?”

The voice of a woman could be heard from the other side.

A tall, attractive woman was standing at the opposite side. Her initially prideful look was replaced with a hint of fear.

Obviously, she had misunderstood it to be a duel with Chen Zilai.

Qin Nan frowned slightly.

He did remember the woman, whose name was Yu Qingtong, a disciple of the Misty Immortal Sect. Previously at the half-God tomb she had been escorted there by Shi Qingfan himself, thus highlighting her extraordinary identity.

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