A dazzling burst of light shimmered outside the ancient passageway, startling awake some Deity Transformation experts in the vicinity. "It's happening," they murmured. "The ancient passageway is lit again. Has someone from the Ancient Continent ascended to godhood?"

Becoming a god in the Ancient Continent was no small feat. "Could it be an offspring or a disciple of a True Monarch?" they speculated. The Ancient Continent, with its profound heritage, was known to be the birthplace of many True Monarchs and even True Immortals.

At that moment, Deity Transformation and Nascent Soul cultivators perked up, their gazes fixed on the massive portal. With a swoosh, a figure stepped out from the portal - Lin Fei. He instantly surveyed his surroundings, feeling numerous gazes upon him, their intentions unknown.

Without a second thought, Lin Fei unleashed the power of hundreds of particle worlds within him, coupled with the force of the Laws. His terrifying aura swept out like a tsunami, engulfing all directions.

The Deity Transformations, stationed outside the portal, felt a shiver in their spines, recognizing the immense power. This godly figure from the Ancient Continent was not to be trifled with. His aura was not merely that of a Deity Transformation but of Martial Gods. But how, when the Ancient Continent hadn't produced a Martial God in many years?

"Stop, fellow daoist!" called an elder's voice. "We are from the Ancient Covenant, guardians of this inter-realm passageway. We mean no harm."

Lin Fei furrowed his brow but ceased his show of force. The crowd heaved a sigh of relief, having been nearly suffocated by his overwhelming presence. If he were indeed a Martial God, he would be among the most formidable, with unimaginable potential.

"The Ancient Covenant?" Lin Fei pondered. He had heard of this name from Taotie. The Ancient Covenant said to control the passageway between the Divine Realm and the Ancient Continent, was one of the top forces in the Divine Realm, founded by powerhouses from the Ancient Continent itself, with even True Immortals and Martial Ancestors at its helm. Their dominance and strength were renowned. It was due to the Ancient Covenant's control that Taotie had to resort to stealth to travel to the Ancient Continent.

"How should I address you, Daoist friend?" asked an elder, seemingly a Deity Transformation avatar, approaching Lin Fei with a smile.

"Lin Fei."

"Daoist Lin, you must be a Martial God, right?"

"I have just ascended to godhood."

"That is truly rare. The emergence of Deity Transformations in the Ancient Continent is not unusual, but the appearance of Martial Gods is indeed a rarity. Judging by your demeanor, Daoist Lin, it seems you have yet to traverse the Thunder Tribulation. With such a formidable presence without having crossed it, your future potential is boundless. You might even attain the rank of a True Monarch!"

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"True Monarch?" Lin Fei heard this term for the first time.

"A True Monarch refers to a Void realm powerhouse. Specifically, it denotes those who have transformed the void. In martial arts, a Great Martial God is also known as a True Monarch."

Lin Fei understood. It was simply a title. Reaching the "Void Realm" conferred the title of "True Monarch." The Martial Gods who shattered the void or the Great Martial Gods were also True Monarchs.

"Having just arrived from the Ancient Continent, I am still unfamiliar with many things and need to get my bearings..."

"Of course," the elder responded. "However, our Ancient Covenant is a power of the Ancient Continent. If you are willing to join the Ancient Covenant, it would be most beneficial. Moreover, there are certain perks within the Ancient Covenant that allow for a return to the Ancient Continent."

"Perks?"

"Yes. As you must know, once in the Divine Realm, it is difficult to return to the smaller worlds. This is a rule set by the major powers. However, with the payment of sufficient treasures or a price, one can travel back to the Ancient Continent. Within our Ancient Covenant, the required treasures or price to pay is significantly lesser."

Lin Fei understood. Taotie, most likely, was not a member of the Ancient Covenant or could not afford the required treasures or price. Or perhaps, the cost was not proportional to the benefits, leaving "smuggling" as the only option. But Taotie's knowledge of such methods, or the loopholes in the Ancient Covenant, was quite extraordinary.

This Deity Transformation expert was named Daoist Qinglan. After being arranged accommodation in an inn by Daoist Qinglan within the Ancient Covenant, Lin Fei left.

Outside the Ancient Covenant lay the prosperous Ancient City. Even as a non-member of the Ancient Covenant, Lin Fei was free to enter and exit the Ancient City but could not approach the inter-realm passageway anymore. Lin Fei then strolled around the Ancient City.

The Ancient City was vast, its limits extending beyond the horizon. The flight was prohibited within the city, which was not solely inhabited by Deity Transformations, Martial Gods, or divine beings.

In fact, the majority were Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Martial Sovereign, and Martial King cultivators, making it significantly stronger overall than the Ancient Continent but not overrun with godly beings. Even in the Divine Realm, divine beings remained prestigious and revered, commanding respect and status wherever they went.

Lin Fei settled into his room at the inn and summoned Taotie.

"Taotie, you're not a member of the Ancient Covenant, are you?" he asked coolly. "If I were to hand you over to them, what reward might I receive?"

Lin Fei had already gleaned that the Ancient Covenant had zero tolerance for breaches in the inter-realm passageway. Anyone caught exploiting such a loophole, especially through smuggling, would face severe punishment.

Taotie shrugged and replied with a bitter smile, "I knew it would come to this. You human cultivators are always so cunning. If you had wanted to hand me over to the Ancient Covenant, you would've done so already. Your delay suggests you're seeking a trade. So, what do you want in exchange for sparing my avatar?"

Despite not being the brightest, Taotie was far from foolish. Lin Fei's decision not to surrender him to the Ancient Covenant indicated a desire for something in return. To preserve his avatar, Taotie was prepared to make a significant sacrifice, albeit reluctantly.

"Kun is a member of the Ancient Covenant, right?" Lin Fei asked casually.

"Kun? That old creature is ancient and very close to the True Monarch level. Even with your strength, you won't stand a chance against him without surviving several Thunder Tribulations," Taotie replied. "Haven't you felt something different since arriving in the Divine Realm? The laws of the Ancient Continent are flawed compared to those here."

"The Laws..." Lin Fei pondered. He hadn't considered them until now, but the mention triggered a reaction. Suddenly, he felt a strong attraction, as if the void itself was calling to him, stirring his own world's Laws.