In the barren land, a group of young people and one middle aged uncle was walking.

It was exactly Hong Chi's group. They went out of the forest and travelled into this barren land. Along the way, they encountered monsters which Hong Chi quickly disposed.

Everyone was amazed at his swordsmanship. Specially the Core Formation expert, Ling Mei's uncle.

'That's a sword intent!'

He knows only few people who were able to comprehend a sword intent. They were all people with high status.

With Hong Chi leading the front, they were able to cleave their way in the vast wasteland.

While they were walking, they saw a sandstorm ahead, covering their vision. The wind was fierce, causing dust to spread around.

During the way here, they had found ruins and treasures, but they had yet to find something valuable. Most of them were common artifacts and the only value they have is their oldness.

Hong Chi became the de facto leader of the group as he is the strongest. Just as he decided to turn away, he noticed Ling Mei squinting her eyes to the sky.

"What are you looking at, Mei'er?" Uncle Ling also looked up but he only saw a huge shadow.

'Shadow?' Uncle Ling looked again with qi enhanced eyes and saw the form of the shadow. He was astonished.

"That's a floating island." Hong Chi said.

Xiao Tian said. "But we hadn't seen it when we were far and the sky was clear."

Uncle Ling pointed at the sandstorm and said. "That sandstorm is probably the Core of a concealment formation. We had unknowingly entered and thus we are able to see the island. This Formation only works from outside."

Ling Mi said. "What shall we do now?"

"I will go." Hong Chi won't let this opportunity pass. He was eager to explore, and that's why he left the village in the first place. As for cautiousness? He had never felt the need to worry about such trivial matter. Ever since he was born, he had never encountered danger and had never lost in a fight. Be it bandits or clan elders or a white plated organism.

Uncle Ling said. "Ling Mei, you decide. I was only sent here to protect you. But I don't recommend that you go there."

Uncle Ling saw small shadows flying around the island. They were large predatory birds that would render a Foundation Establishment expert helpless, and could corner a Core Formation if one was careless and got surrounded.

While they were discussing, Hong Chi already shot towards the sky. Xiao Tian revealed a look of determination and followed after him riding an artifact. If he wasn't willing to take a risk, then going to the Mystic Realm was vain.

Ling Mei didn't say anything and followed them too with Uncle Ling dying by her side.

Seeing a monstrous presence approaching them, the large birds were frightened and they scattered with great speed.

Hong Chi's group safely landed on the floating island. Grass grew on top of island and before them was a large palace.

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Currently, they stood before its gates. The gates were opened as if welcoming them.

Hong Chi entered without hesistation, looking curiously around. The gates as well as everything around didn't seem to be well maintained as dust covered them. The courtyard of the palace had weeds and shrubs, giving it a messy appearance.

After walking pass the gate, they stood in front of two imposing doors. Hong Chi gave a push and the door opened while blowing dust. Inside was dark and full of stale air. Hong Chi raised the magic lamp which light up after injecting qi. The light revealed the floor made of mirror like materials as well as the webs hanging all over the place.

The group did not speak as they advanced further and under the light of the lamp, Hong Chi saw steps ascending up. He raised his lamp to reveal what was on the top. When the light bring to notice a high chair and an old skeleton covered in dust and webs, Ling Mei and the others let out gasp but calmed down as soon as they confirmed that it doesn't move.

Hong Chi climbed the steps bravely until he arrived before the chair where the skeleton sat. Hong Chi examined the remains carefully before reaching out his hands and tugged a necklace hanging on the skeleton's neck. Although the tug was gentle, the skeleton was very old and fragile, thus the neck was broken and the skull dropped on its thigh.

While he was inspecting the corpse, the group had scattered to examine the place. Cultivators could see faintly in the dark so they don't need the lamp to move around freely. Hong Chi only took up the lamp because he felt it suits the atmosphere.

"What is this?" Xiao Tian's voice was heard through the darkness and everyone turned their heads to his direction. They clambered around Xiao Tian and inspected a peculiar dent on the wall. They tried pushing their hands on the dent, injecting qi and even attacking it with their techniques but to no avail. Hong Chi walked to the dent and noticed its familiar shape. He looked at the pendant in his hands, and then at the dent.

Without hesitation, Hong Chi inserted the pendant on the small dent. The pendant fit in nicely and then the entire place began to vibrate with a hum, and it the vibration could clearly be felt spreading out from the pendant. The pendant glowed and its light flowed on the mysterious markings on the walls, lighting up the whole place for a moment.

The wall in front of them suddenly split up into two, revealing a passage within.

"Welcome fellow practitioner of the Dao. I welcome you to my domain, the Sky King Palace." A voice was heard seeming to come from every corners.

Xiao Tian said. "Senior, please show yourself!"

The voice ignored Xiao Tian and went on. "As you enter this passage, you will face many trials. Once you have triumphed over them, you will obtain my inheritance. Good luck to you, fellow practitioner. May your journey be filled with difficulties and may your luck be sufficient to overcome them all."

After saying this, the voice was heard no more. Hong Chi went ahead and entered the passage. It was just a normal stone passage. But he saw a wide chamber ahead of him.

Ling Mei said. "This is amazing."

The chamber was flanked by giant statues possessing massive aura. The auras burdened their body and mind, every step they took was akin to lifting a giant rock with their feet.

"Is this e trial?" Uncle Ling said. "This is too easy."

"That's not it I think." Hong Chi said then he pointed at one of the statues. The one sitting with legs crossed ahead of them. This statue emits a magical aura, wisp of flames and multi colored light swirls around it in circle.

The group cautiously approached it. When they were near enough, a thought appeared in their minds. They instantly knew what to do.

"Place your hands on the statue."

Following the instructions, four of them simultaneously placed their hands on the statue. The eyes of the statue shone in azure blue. Hong Chi felt his body turn numb and his consciousness was sucked inside the statue. Since he hadn't felt danger, he didn't resist and allowed himself to be absorbed.

The same feeling was experienced by the other three.

In the empty chamber, the bodies of the four went listless. Their eyes were closed before suddenly dropping into lotus position.

As for their minds, they saw that they had entered into another place.

The structure had no ceilings, and the floor was made of bricks. Around him were step like seats but there were no spectators.

Hong Chi looked around him but didn't see his companions. It seems like they were separated into individual places.

There came a rumbling sound in front of him. The ground in front of him sank and a transformers into a pool of sand. A creature rose up from this spot. It shook the sands from its body, revealing a metallic luster. The creature soon traveled itself fully, a lean, slender humanoid figure, covered in smooth and slender armor. There were no sharp edges nor spikes in its armor, making it look elegant.

Looking at this creature, Hong Chi was alarmed. Even more so when a sharp blade extended from one of its arms.

Hong Chi immediately went into a stance.