Chapter 103: The Blood of the Ancient Gods!
The cultivation missions were specially set up by humanity's five great powers for Universe-level members. Each person could accept at most ten such missions every 100 years.
Moreover, to prevent these Universe-level geniuses from becoming overly obsessed with these cultivation tasks, each individual also had an overall quota.
As a member of the Primal Secret Realm, Jiang Zhe could take on up to three desperate-level missions and fifteen dangerous-level missions.
So he needed to plan carefully and pick those cultivation worlds that might hide valuable secrets.
The Ruined Ancient God Palace
In an alternate timeline, Luo Feng had already explored the Ruined Ancient God Palace. His Mosha Clan clone infiltrated that perilous place, seized a fragment of the Zichen Bailuo Leaf (an F-grade item worth two million Hunyuan units), and fled in haste.
Jiang Zhe thought that if he could gain something similar, it would be perfect to feed Orianna and help accelerate her growth during the World Lord stage.
The briefing
The detailed introduction to the Ruined Ancient God Palace deeply intrigued Jiang Zhe.
It lay within the Primal Secret Realm itself — originally a vast floating continent born from the Secret Realm, also known as the Ancient God World.
The indigenous people there were much like humans and had strong spiritual force talents, calling themselves the Ancient God Clan.
Long ago, a catastrophic war shattered the Ancient God World, leaving behind what was now called the Ruined Ancient God Palace.
Countless continental fragments clustered together to form a unique indigenous world roughly the size of a solar system, shaped like a funnel or vortex.
The upper region was about 1 light-year in diameter.
It stretched 1 light-year deep (around 9 trillion kilometers).
At the bottom was a single massive continent, about 10 million kilometers wide, once the core of the Ancient God World. Over a hundred ancient god palaces dotted its surface, hence the name Ruined Ancient God Palace.
Mission precautions
"Notice:
The outer region of the Ruined Ancient God Palace harbors extreme hostility toward outsiders.
The core region will unleash immortal-level forces to hunt intruders down because of their alien aura. If you're not confident, curb your greed and don't go deeper.
The indigenous Ancient God Clan primarily cultivates spiritual force; it's not recommended for martial artists to explore too deeply.
To take on this mission, you may not bring any technology-based items. Force weapons and spiritual force weapons must be selected from an approved list provided by the monitoring team. Personal equipment is not allowed.
Your appearance must match that of an ordinary Ancient God Clan member.
If you look too unusual, you must alter your appearance and body shape to fit typical Ancient God standards.
Entrants must master the Ancient God language."
Jiang Zhe carefully examined the two illustrated guides attached.
One detailed 209 sub-branches of the Ancient God Clan, with images.
The other was a catalog of commonly used spiritual force and original force weapons.
Although the Ancient God Clan specialized in spiritual force cultivation, genetic origin energy was mandatory for all life forms. Many still followed martial cultivation paths, but few became top-tier powerhouses.
Jiang Zhe quickly chose a sub-branch for his disguise: the Martial God Clan.
Martial God Clan members averaged 2 meters tall, had athletic builds and bronze skin. Apart from that, they looked almost identical to humans.
They produced more martial artists, ranked in the bottom 50 out of the 209 branches, and mostly lived in tribal settlements outside the outer region—exactly where Jiang Zhe was heading, making it even easier to blend in.
He then selected spiritual force and original force weapons from the second guide.
A clever workaround
Technically, attached metal or plant lifeforms weren't allowed inside.
But Orianna was different — with her Master of Matter talent, she could flawlessly mimic any armor found in the Ancient God World.
She could even simulate skin and look like a true Ancient God Clan native.
So there was no issue.
The cultivation mission
Ruined Ancient God Palace mission objectives:
Obtain the Thirty Royal City Hero Badge for 10,000 points.
In 565 days, use that badge to participate in the Ancient God Clan's once-in-a-millennium Holy City Grand Festival, gain the right to drink the Blood of the Ancient Gods, and earn the title Child of the Ancient Gods for 100,000 points (this was a time-limited task that could be skipped).
Completing either would count as successfully finishing the cultivation mission.
"Beep!
Please confirm acceptance of the 'Ruined Ancient God Palace' mission."
"Mission accepted."
"Please specify your departure time. The Virtual Universe Company will arrange a spacecraft to take you to the Ancient God World."
Jiang Zhe's thoughts
He stroked his chin, mulling over the details.
"There are six dangerous-level missions in the Primal Secret Realm. Luo Feng spent three years and six months completing them, gaining 95,000 points… Looks like he just had bad luck and missed the secrets hidden in the Ancient God World."
"Interesting — 100,000 points? That means the secrets here might rival the Blood Luo World."
Expecting that the Blood of the Ancient Gods was bound to be some extraordinary treasure, Jiang Zhe grew even more intrigued.
Departure
Three days later, after mastering the Ancient God language, Jiang Zhe set out.
Bermington piloted the ship that carried him out of the Wuchen Spacetime, urging him to stay cautious. He watched Jiang Zhe board the Virtual Universe Company's transport vessel, then left only after it entered subspace.
In subspace
Inside the dark universe, a sword-shaped ship sped along at dozens of times light speed.
"Your Highness, we're on our way to the Ancient God World. The ship will maintain 30 times light speed and should arrive in about 34 hours."
A bald man in white robes, with a palm-sized tattoo on the right side of his neck and a warmly infectious smile, reported to Jiang Zhe. Then he asked:
"Would you like to rest first, or shall I brief you more on the Ancient God World?"
Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow. More insider info?
"Go ahead. Tell me about the Ancient God World."
"Of course, Your Highness."
The bald man manipulated the ship's AI, and a holographic screen appeared, showing a vortex-like star field made of countless continental fragments. It was divided into four colored zones — green, yellow, red, and blood red.
Even a continent the size of Earth's circumference (40,000 km) was too small to show up clearly here. It was obvious that the complete Ancient God World was no less impressive than the Blood Luo World.
Jiang Zhe couldn't help but wonder — the human race failed to destroy the Blood Luo World even after slaughtering the Golden Beast God. What calamity, then, had shattered this Ancient God World?
The guide explains
The bald man pointed to the image and began explaining.
Green zone: Occupies three-fifths of the Ancient God World's land, but resources are scarce and universe energy is thin. Just stepping into the Universe level makes you one of the strongest there. Jiang Zhe's mission had nothing to do with the green zone, so he was advised not to waste time there.
Yellow zone: The outer region where Jiang Zhe would carry out his mission. It was home to the Ancient God Clan's powerful inhabitants.
This zone contained 44 Sacred Cities, each covering billions of kilometers and ruled by immortal beings.
There were also 8,000 Royal Cities, each spanning tens of millions to over a hundred million kilometers, ruled by World Lords.
Red zone: Known as the Pilgrimage Path, filled with countless treasures. But even World Lords faced near-certain death there. Neither of Jiang Zhe's tasks involved this region, so he was urged to avoid reckless exploration.
Blood-red zone: The core of the Ruined Ancient God Palace — even immortal powerhouses risked death venturing inside.
Jiang Zhe grows wary
As he listened, Jiang Zhe sensed that this helpful attendant was a little too well-informed. It was almost like how, before Luo Feng entered the Blood Luo World, someone conveniently told him that Blood Luo Crystals were vital and he should take them to the ancient ruins to fuse with the evil aura.
Still, the bald man didn't overstep. He merely pointed out dangers, recommended optimal regions for Jiang Zhe's mission, and discreetly suggested escape routes.
Arrival
Thirty-some hours flew by. Jiang Zhe felt the ship slow as it exited subspace, waking him from his meditation on the Nine Refine Fist.
"Yorsen, have we arrived?"
"Please wait a moment, Your Highness. We're just picking up some supplies for you. In about an hour, we'll reach the target location."
A moment later, the external view activated. Jiang Zhe saw a fish-shaped ship waiting outside.
The bald man flew out, completed a handover with two similarly robed staff, and returned with a world ring for Jiang Zhe.
Inside were a wooden spear, nine large stone beads, a set of dark purple hardwood armor, and an old, battered ship — all the equipment Jiang Zhe was permitted to bring into the Ancient God World.
Off on his own
An hour later, the sword-shaped vessel reentered subspace.
"Your Highness, this is where we part ways," said the bald man.
"Fly the ship inside your world ring. After about a month's journey, you'll reach a satellite city of Bear King City. There, you'll need to secure legal status and the right to enter the Royal City before your mission officially begins.
Safe travels, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Yorsen."
Waving goodbye, Jiang Zhe piloted his rickety little craft toward destiny.
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