Chapter Sixty-Eight: Heavenly Barrier! (Third Update)

"This teleportation is taking so long!" Zhou Zui exclaimed within the spatial corridor, surrounded by shimmering runes alongside the others. He had used teleportation arrays before, but they had always been over in the blink of an eye; never had he experienced such a prolonged transfer.

"Teleporting across state-level distances naturally takes more time," Zhou Ying replied, his face perpetually adorned with a lazy smile. Atop his shoulder perched an obsidian jade qilin, resembling a lump of coal.

In this world, the Nine States were not merely nine landmasses scattered across the sea. Instead, they were nine supercontinents floating in the void, so traversing the distance between them required considerable time.

Moments later, the runes enveloping them suddenly shone with dazzling brilliance. Zhou Tian half-closed his eyes to shield himself from the glare.

Boom!

The group emerged from the spatial passage, momentarily stunned.

"That is..." Zhou Xunchuan’s radiant eyes fixed ahead, dazed.

Zhou Tian too was astonished, never expecting such a scene.

Before them, in the void, stood a magnificent colossal city, awe-inspiring and grand. The cries of dragons and phoenixes echoed, stretching beneath the stars and moon, eternal and unyielding. Its vastness imparted an ancient, boundless aura, with immortal energies flowing through its walls.

"A city beneath the void..." Zhang Yi murmured, somewhat lost. Even he, worldly and knowledgeable, was spellbound by the sight.

It was monumental—not resting on any foundation but suspended directly in the cosmic starry sky, bathed in starlight. Its scale was immense; the city walls rose like primordial mountain ranges, tens of thousands of feet high and stretching endlessly. The towers were lofty and imposing. A pair of heavy, pitch-black gates stood half-closed, forged from unknown divine metals, still stained with divine blood. Faint spectral figures roared upon them, as if capable of repelling armies and ancient gods alike.

Moonlight poured down, starlight cascaded like waterfalls, and silver rivers hung in the sky, lending the city a mysterious and majestic air—a place fit for divinity.

In the surrounding void, wild beasts roared and strange birds circled. Some were as massive as mountains, others with wings shadowing the heavens, each dominating its territory—all ancient, exotic species.

Majestic dragons, divine deer with violet wings crackling with lightning, and ancient birds feasting on azure dragons—all served as mounts for invincible warriors.

Zhou Tian’s gaze flickered, sensing the city’s aged grandeur and formidable presence. It felt as if it had existed since time immemorial, enduring as long as heaven and earth.

Yet even more astonishing was the colossal landmass ahead of the city—so vast its shape could not be fully described. Only one side was visible, shrouded in endless, pitch-black storms—the most violent spatial turbulences capable of shredding anything.

Compared to this land, the ancient city seemed small.

Everyone was shaken, even Zhou Ying and his companions who had visited several times before.

"Every time I see it, I’m overwhelmed..." Wei Chuan whispered, his gaze vacant as two small fangs slipped from his lips.

A pillar of light shot from the city, connecting with the golden runes surrounding them, drawing them toward the city.

"Can’t we teleport directly inside?" Zhou Tian asked, puzzled. If there was a teleportation array, why not enter the city directly instead of all this complexity?

"This city is called Sky Gate," Zhou Ying explained. "It was built during the ancient siege of the Divine Realm by the Eight Worlds, constructed jointly by the Eight States. The divine materials used are countless, and it is inscribed with three arrays of the highest celestial rank, not to mention countless lesser formations. Among the three celestial arrays, one is dedicated to sealing the surrounding space, time, and all laws that could be exploited for clandestine entry."

"These arrays are interlocked, and after defeating the Divine Realm, dismantling them would be more trouble than it’s worth. So, no teleportation arrays can be constructed within Sky Gate. Access is only possible by this method." Zhou Ying continued, offering a brief history of the great city ahead.

As they drew closer, more details emerged. Sky Gate was built from gray-brown megaliths, exuding a primordial aura—majestic and intimidating. The walls were covered with enormous sword and axe marks, their fierce energies lingering through the ages, deterring any who approached. Soldiers guarded the battlements.

There weren’t many soldiers, but each wore cold, metallic armor and wielded spears that cracked the sky and halberds that cleaved the void. They stood like celestial warriors, watching all who passed.

These were veterans of a hundred battles, once conquerors of the heavens, exuding a murderous presence that split the sky. Now, they guarded this realm, discouraging any reckless intrusion.

They watched as tiny black dots moved in and out of the spatial storms on the continent’s edge. Upon closer inspection, these were ships with sails unfurled, navigating the void’s tempests.

At Sky Gate’s entrance, people disembarked from ships, entering the city with joy, while others, faces set with determination, boarded divine vessels to plunge into the void storm.

The city itself was enormous, with broad streets flanked by ancient trees and thriving foliage. Many buildings lined the thoroughfares: potion shops, weapon stores, taverns, inns, gambling dens. It was a city built for habitation—though suspended in the void, it was separated from the true vacuum of the heavens, and many residents lived within.

It was a vibrant metropolis. Children raced through its avenues, which bustled with activity; crowds thronged the streets, shoulder to shoulder.

Some glanced up, following the column of light, spotting the newcomers and discussing them with astonished expressions.

"Why are there so many people here?" Zhou Tian remarked, perplexed. This was nothing like he had anticipated.

"The Forsaken Divine Land is a treasure trove," Wu Hong grunted, his physique as imposing and wild as a frontier lord’s. "Though the Eight Worlds nearly destroyed it in ancient times, countless secret troves still remain, attracting endless seekers. After the ancient war ended, the Eight States opened Sky Gate as a base before the Forsaken Divine Land, collecting fees to maintain its operations. After all, it’s jointly controlled by the eight great powers, and even just activating one celestial array consumes vast resources—no one wants to bear that alone."

Sky Gate was now the mightiest fortress of war, and no single power would trust another to control it outright, so it remained under joint stewardship.

"I see..." Zhou Tian nodded in understanding. The Forsaken Divine Land was a realm of mystery and unknowns, filled with countless secrets, spawning the flourishing scene at Sky Gate today.

The pillar of light drew ever closer to Sky Gate. The Tian Qin faction was stationed in the southeast, where a cluster of ancient palaces stood in grandeur—once the domain of the ancient Fuyu Realm, now inherited by Tian Qin.

Buzz!

The pillar of light descended into the central palace.

(Sorry about yesterday; something came up so I could only update one chapter. I’ll make up for it today.)