# Chapter 2166: Projection
Within the Snow Clan, endless ice and snow covered everything. At this moment, several old men stood together, strolling through the snow.
"How is that little fellow Zhetian's strength now?" An old man asked in a low voice.
"He's at the Venerable Lord realm now. There's no problem with him becoming an Emperor within two years." Someone beside him replied.
"Mm. Any abnormalities?" The old man continued asking.
"Nothing much. The little fellow was born with an aptitude for multiple abilities. In the future, he will likely achieve multi-attribute Law power. Before he turns eighteen, he should be able to step into the Emperor realm."
"Mm. Before Zhetian achieves the Emperor realm, don't let him enter the world, and don't instill any unnecessary matters into him. Let him maintain his pure-hearted cultivation mindset."
"Understood."
"And Linglong? Is she still unwilling to come out and move around more?"
"Mm. Linglong spends most of her time in seclusion. Occasionally she takes Zhetian out for training, and we always have someone following her to ensure nothing happens to her. Moreover, Linglong is also assaulting the Emperor realm."
"That's good. Don't put pressure on her. Has the Snow Mastiff returned yet?"
"Who knows where he's gone to cause trouble again." The person beside him shook his head with a wry smile.
"Let him be. If I remember correctly, this round of the Nine Heavens Gathering is about to begin. Let some of the young ones go and take a look." The old man said calmly. The person beside him nodded slightly.
......
In another space, above the clouds, there seemed to be a celestial immortal palace. A young man sat cross-legged on a cloud, resting with his eyes closed. Behind him, eighty-one ancient doors appeared, exuding a terrifying sealing aura.
Not far from him, a middle-aged man stood in the void, standing casually as if he were the master of that heaven and earth. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his calm eyes watched the cultivating young man without any ripple.
At that moment, the young man's eyes opened. Suddenly, the eighty-one ancient doors all merged together, nine times nine combining into one, becoming nine doors, and then merging again, directly integrating into his bloodline. A hint of a smile appeared in his clear eyes as he looked toward the middle-aged man in the distance and said, "Teacher."
"How many times have I told you? I am not your teacher, and I will not accept any disciples." The middle-aged man said calmly, causing the young man to rub his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, but he still smiled and said, "In my heart, you are my teacher. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to imagine that I would be where I am today."
"Whatever you wish. The Fate Temple is about to hold the Nine Heavens Gathering. If you have time, you can go and take a look." The middle-aged man said calmly, and then his body turned into fragmented light, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
The young man looked at the disappearing figure, a bitter smile on his lips. Although the other party had taught him so much, giving him abilities beyond mortal comprehension, he actually didn't even know who the other party was. He only knew that the other party's strength was terrifying, terrifying beyond his imagination, even making him dare not imagine it. He didn't even know whether the figure teaching him was the other party's true body.
"Nine Heavens Gathering." The young man murmured softly, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Then his figure flickered, and he strolled away from this place.
......
In Shen Xiao City, the Eastern Domain, at the Alchemy Gold Mountain, all the experts gathered together. Thirty experts stood side by side. These were the people who had obtained the qualification to participate in the Nine Heavens Gathering. Behind them were many others, all those who had obtained the qualification to enter the inner city of Shen Xiao City.
Ahead, an expert led the way. That person was an aged old man, seemingly advanced in years, with his eyes closed in rest, his body completely devoid of any aura. However, everyone knew that this person was definitely a heavyweight figure. He would lead these people into the inner city of Shen Xiao City to participate in the Nine Heavens Gathering.
"Are all the people gathered?" The old man still had his eyes closed as he asked faintly. Immediately, the person beside him spoke up: "All those who have obtained the qualification to participate have arrived. We can set off at any time."
"Mm." The old man nodded slightly. Then his eyes opened. At that moment, the crowd felt as if everyone's gaze was drawn to those eyes, as if they were bottomless pits. Casually sweeping over the crowd, it made everyone feel as if the other party was looking at them. Undoubtedly, this was an extremely terrifying figure.
"Since everyone is here, let's set off." The old man said calmly. Then he waved his hand. Instantly, the crowd felt enveloped by a mysterious force. Light flashed, and everyone's bodies rose from the ground, turning into streaks of light that disappeared together from this place, as if they had been teleported. However, the crowd understood that this was speed reaching a certain level, like performing a spatial teleportation. This speed was too fast, too terrifying.
After some time, when the crowd's bodies stopped again, they found themselves standing in a place surrounded by dead ends on all sides. In front of them was a gate, a hundred zhang high, majestic and grand. The carvings on it were lifelike: the Eastern Divine Dragon, the Southern Vermilion Bird... they seemed alive, wriggling on the brilliant gate.
"Is this the gate leading to the inner city of Shen Xiao City? What is on the other side of the gate?" Lin Feng looked at the gate in front of him. This gate seemed to separate two worlds. Why were the twelve domains of Shen Xiao City only the outer city? What was the inner city of Shen Xiao City? Why were the inner and outer not connected?
"Whoosh." A fierce wind arose. The crowd turned their gaze and saw a group of figures in black robes arriving. Those were the people led by the Demon Sect. The Eastern Domain had four major powers, and each power had the qualification to recommend candidates. Soon, besides the Demon Sect, the other two major powers, the Martial Saint Tower and the Nether Soul Hall, had also arrived.
Lin Feng also saw some familiar faces. They were in other camps and would all enter the inner city of Shen Xiao City, stepping onto the stage of the Nine Heavens Gathering.
"Is everyone in position?" At this moment, an expert from the Martial Saint Tower said calmly. The leading figures nodded one after another. Then that person spoke again: "Summon the Wheel of Fate."
The four of them nodded in succession. Then they stepped forward, and suddenly, brilliant light burst from their eyes. The giant gate shone with resplendent radiance, and a terrifying light shot straight into the sky, as if turning into a beam of light connecting heaven and earth.
At this moment, the people of the twelve domains of Shen Xiao City all raised their heads, looking toward the center of Shen Xiao City. Their hearts pounded violently. What did they see? They saw twelve beams of light shooting straight into the sky, as if tearing open the heavens. Those beams of light seemed eternal, never to be extinguished.
"The inner city of Shen Xiao City has opened." A voice echoed in the hearts of the crowd. They knew that the Nine Heavens Gathering was about to truly begin.
The moment the twelve beams of light lit up outside, the twelve gates corresponding to the twelve domains all opened. The crowd's gaze immediately looked inside, but they seemed to see only an endless expanse of open ground.
The four experts slowly turned around, looking at the crowd, and spoke: "After stepping inside, everyone must strictly abide by the rules. Violators will be executed. Understand?"
"Yes." Everyone nodded in succession. The expressions of the four experts were especially solemn. Then the four of them exchanged glances, nodded slightly to each other, turned around, and stepped into the gate. At the same time, they spoke: "Follow us in."
"Huff..." Many people let out a long breath and stepped forward. They all wanted to see what secrets the inner city of Shen Xiao City held.
However, when they stepped through that gate, they finally saw clearly the inner city of Shen Xiao City. Was this really an inner city?
Why did they only see a platform, endless, vast beyond measure? Although this platform seemed to be a straight line, if one looked carefully, they would find that it was actually a circular platform. It was just that because the platform was too vast and expansive, the small section in front of the crowd almost felt like it had no curve.
"Let's go. We're going up." The four people in front led the way, stepping out toward the platform. The crowd followed one after another. After a moment, they climbed the steps and ascended the platform. No one spoke. The four leading experts didn't say anything either, just waiting quietly.
After some time, when the beams of light in the sky scattered down, the entire platform seemed to be lit up. Brilliant light enveloped every corner. In the void, a terrifying storm appeared, as if the heavens were churning. Then, the entire platform began to rotate, slowly rising, ascending into the void.
"What's happening?" Lin Feng and the others' hearts trembled slightly. Ascending. They felt their bodies ascending, rising together with the platform.
Moreover, they didn't even know where they were, nor where they were going.
However, the people of Shen Xiao City became completely excited. They saw it. The centennial grand event once again appeared before their eyes. They saw the experts of the twelve domains rising into the air. That enormous platform seemed to have turned into a world, clearly imprinted before their eyes, as if at the ends of the earth, yet also as if right in front of them. Everyone could become a spectator, just unable to truly be there and watch up close.
The people standing on the platform felt as if the platform had become smaller. Because they could now see the figures on the opposite side. The twelve domains seemed to stand in twelve directions, each direction having a vast army. Of course, they understood that those truly qualified to participate in the battle numbered only a little over a thousand.
Even so, the rising platform did not stop. No one knew where they were going. But for the people of Shen Xiao City, it seemed as if they hadn't moved at all.