# Chapter 1111: Discussing the Geniuses of the Eight Wastelands
The City of Fate was located in the central region of the Eight Wastelands, closer to the Southern Wasteland, while Heavenly Terrace's location, Heavenly Realm City, was situated in the northern part of the Eight Wastelands. Lin Feng, traveling from the Southern Wasteland to the central region, would be much faster.
In one month's time, Lin Feng had already reached the outer territories of the City of Fate. The central region's eight cities surrounded the City of Fate, each possessing an extremely ancient history. Moreover, every single city had a Martial Emperor stationed within it.
Throughout the vast and boundless Eight Wastelands, the known Martial Emperors numbered only a few dozen. Yet, among the four ancient cities encircling the City of Fate alone, there were four Martial Emperors. One could see how great the proportion was. To put it in perspective, the vast Northern Wasteland, with its endless living beings, only had two Martial Emperors atop Heavenly Terrace—Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor, who shared the closest bond. Other regions were similar; within territories containing hundreds or thousands of cities or nations, there was only a single Martial Emperor.
At this moment, Lin Feng had arrived at Sword City, one of the four cities. It was called Sword City solely to commemorate one person: Skyless Sword Emperor. This peerless sword cultivator, who had roamed the Eight Wastelands five thousand years ago, had set out from this very city. He had fought alone against the various powerful figures of the Eight Wastelands, ultimately proving his Dao and becoming an Emperor. Five hundred years later, the name of Skyless Sword Emperor rose in the Holy City. Another five hundred years passed, and Skyless Sword Emperor vanished from the continent without a trace.
From then on, this city was renamed Sword City, and the descendants of Skyless Sword Emperor resided within this castle. Although no Martial Emperor had emerged among them, no one ever dared to underestimate them. It was said that Skyless Sword Emperor had returned home once before his disappearance. Many rumors claimed that he had left behind a world-shaking sword scripture within his family. This had once caused turmoil across the Eight Wastelands, with many people venturing into the Skyless Sword Emperor's family home to spy on his relics. However, anyone who set foot inside could never come out again. There were even rumors that a Martial Emperor had secretly made a move but had returned empty-handed, suffering a great loss. From then on, no one dared to covet the possessions of Skyless Sword Emperor's descendants.
Thus, countless years later, many still regarded the descendants of Skyless Sword Emperor with reverence and awe.
Lin Feng sat in a tavern, listening to the crowd's lofty discussions, absorbing information that might be useful to him. Although there was still some time before the City of Fate opened, Sword City, one of the vast four ancient cities, already had an impending storm brewing. People came and went frequently. Even in this single tavern, there were many travelers like him, weary from their journeys, clearly having come from thousands of miles away.
"The City of Fate is opening once again. I wonder if this will be another great era. I truly look forward to it," someone remarked with emotion.
"Who doesn't look forward to the arrival of a great era? In an age where only a few individuals prove their Dao and become Emperors, it's far too lonely. Only when exceptionally talented figures emerge in the same generation, all possessing the opportunity to prove their Dao and become Emperors, or even bearing the bearing of a Great Emperor—only then can geniuses contend, countless people rise, and the bones of countless geniuses be trampled by those even more talented. In the end, the most outstanding ones prove their Dao together, and the Emperors vie for supremacy over the world. That is a true great era!"
"Whether it will be a great era, we don't know yet. Everything depends on the Prophet's prophecy. However, I've heard that the old Emperor of the Undying Heavenly Palace has lived for countless years and is finally approaching his end. But before his end, he has actually found a successor. I wonder who it could be. An old Emperor nearing his end, finding a successor in his twilight years—he will likely pour everything he has into teaching his successor. His successor is truly fortunate."
"Not only has the old Emperor of the Undying Heavenly Palace found a successor, I've also heard that the Watcher is about to appear. The Watcher is born with an Emperor and ends with an Emperor. If he chooses correctly, he will also become an Emperor together with the one he watches over. The City of Fate is a place every Watcher must visit. He must listen to the Prophet's prophecy and then determine who he needs to watch over. I wonder who will gain the Watcher's favor and prove their Dao together!"
"I've heard that too. But there is not just one Watcher. Who will become the ultimate Watcher depends on their choice."
Many people were discussing the current prosperous era, while many others listened quietly. A tavern was always the easiest place to obtain information. Thus, wherever Lin Feng went, he had a habit of drinking in taverns and learning information useful to him.
"The Prophet is opening the City of Fate once again, and the Watcher will also appear. The Emperor of Assassins has been cultivating killers all along. I wonder if the Cursed One and other terrifying existences will appear in this era."
"Very likely. The Holy Maiden of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace possesses an Immortal Spirit Body, while the one on Perching Phoenix Mountain is said to have an ancient Phoenix Body. The little monk of Thunder Sound Temple is even more legendary—some say he is a reincarnation of Buddha. I have a faint feeling that the opening of the City of Fate this time will truly prophesy the arrival of a great era."
Seeing that the people around them were all listening intently to their conversation, the group at that table became more spirited. They revealed everything they knew, feeling especially proud.
"You friends seem to know quite a lot. Then tell us, when the City of Fate opens this time, who will be able to overpower the other geniuses and become the truly exceptional one?" someone asked the speakers.
The group took a drink of wine, their faces full of smiles. "It's hard to say. Just the geniuses we know of are countless, let alone those we don't know. Take a few people everyone knows, for example: Yuan Fei, the grandson of the Great Ape Emperor, whose Seventy-Two Style Great Derivative Staff Technique is infinitely powerful and destroys everything; Sword Wubei, descendant of Skyless Sword Emperor, whose sword techniques are unparalleled; Xue Biyao, the Holy Maiden of the Sky Dome Immortal Palace with an Immortal Spirit Body, whose beauty is world-shaking and who can summon Immortal Spirit Soil. Tell me, who can clearly say who is stronger and who is weaker among these people?"
The crowd smiled wryly and fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. Indeed, the vast and boundless Eight Wastelands had countless geniuses, and the geniuses of this era all seemed exceptionally talented, making many feel a sense of desolation. But there were also many whose blood burned with excitement. A great era was arriving, geniuses would contend—this was an era of passion.
"The geniuses of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress—have you ignored them?" At this moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out in the quiet tavern, causing the crowd to freeze. Their gazes turned to a table where a group of people sat. These people had sturdy bones, eyes like demons, and a faint dragon aura about them. They should be experts from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress.
"Has the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress also produced a peerless genius who can contend with those you just mentioned? We truly don't know about that!" the people who had been speaking earlier replied.
"Hmph!" The people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress snorted coldly. "The Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress has countless geniuses. Gu Xiao, at a young age, has already broken through to the Eighth Layer of Heavenly Martial Realm and can defeat those at the Ninth Layer. That's not all. The Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress now has a world-shaking Heavenly Dragon Divine Body born within it. He will surely leave all other geniuses in the dust."
"Heavenly Dragon Divine Body?" The crowd was startled. They knew this was an exaggerated claim. The so-called Heavenly Dragon Divine Body undoubtedly referred to the Heavenly Dragon Demon Body. Those with this constitution were extremely terrifying. They resonated with the demon dragons of the demon realm's royal clan, possessing terrifying talent. The Heavenly Dragon Demon Body was on par with the ancient Phoenix Body of that beauty on Perching Phoenix Mountain, both possessing extraordinary power.
"I didn't expect the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress to have produced a Heavenly Dragon Demon Body. That was my ignorance. If that's the case, then the Heavenly Dragon Demon Body can naturally be counted among the geniuses, possessing the qualifications to contend," the speaker said with a faint smile, not wanting to offend the people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress. The group from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress was finally satisfied.
"Of course. Our Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress has never lacked geniuses. How laughable that in Heavenly Realm City, there's a bunch of people who overestimate themselves and are also rushing toward the City of Fate. They're just asking for death."
The people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress sneered repeatedly. The crowd immediately understood. The people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress were clearly referring to something—they were targeting Heavenly Terrace in Heavenly Realm City. It hadn't been long since Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor had recruited their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples. They hadn't undergone much refinement yet. Compared to other forces, they were indeed not qualified enough.
Everyone had heard about the previous conflict between Heavenly Terrace and the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress. Clearly, the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress held a grudge. Mu Chen and Hou Qinglin had slapped their faces.
"You can't say that. In the last opening of the City of Fate, Hou Qinglin of Heavenly Terrace received the Prophet's prophecy: as long as he doesn't die, he will prove his Dao and become an Emperor within fifty years. Such a young Martial Emperor will shake the Eight Wastelands. As for the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress in the last session, no one received the Prophet's favor. Therefore, even if Heavenly Terrace is weaker this time and the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress has someone with a world-shaking constitution, in the end, the next Emperor of Heavenly Terrace will appear before that of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress!"
At this moment, a faint voice rang out, directly opposing what the people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress had said. The crowd froze. Someone was actually daring to contradict the people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress.
And at this moment, the faces of the people from the Heavenly Dragon Divine Fortress immediately turned cold!