Chapter 949: See You in the Eight Wastelands Realm
"Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor, recruiting their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples!" Hou Qinglin's words caused Yu Xiao's expression to stiffen. Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were finally going to recruit Martial Emperor's Disciples as well!
The vast Nine Heavens Continent, with Holy City Central Continent as its pinnacle, was bordered by lands known as the Eight Wastelands Ten Domains and the Nine Abyss Twelve Kingdoms. The Eight Wastelands referred to the Eight Wastelands Realm, meaning the eight directions of heaven and earth. The Eight Wastelands Realm was boundless and endless, containing ten domains, each vast and immeasurable, far larger than the Qian Domain. Within it, sects stood in abundance, danger zones were countless, and empires rose and fell in competition, vying for supremacy over the Eight Wastelands.
The Nine Abyss referred to the Nine Abyss Realm, a mysterious and perilous region. People used the term "Nine Abyss Hell" to describe the Nine Abyss, giving an idea of just how terrifying a place it was.
The vast Nine Abyss Realm was surrounded by twelve great empires. These twelve empires were, without a doubt, all top-grade empires, and moreover, they possessed terrifyingly formidable strength. After all, even within the ten domains of the Eight Wastelands Realm, there were countless empires, including some top-grade ones, but they could not compare to the twelve kingdoms encircling the Nine Abyss Realm.
The terms "Eight Wastelands Ten Domains" and "Nine Abyss Twelve Kingdoms" originated from this. The Eight Wastelands and the Nine Abyss referred to the Eight Wastelands Realm and the Nine Abyss Realm.
Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were two supreme experts who had risen from the Northern Wasteland of the Eight Wastelands Realm several hundred years ago. The two were close friends, both possessing terrifying strength, and thus enjoyed great renown in the Eight Wastelands Realm. After all, it was extremely rare for emperors to maintain such a deep friendship as Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor.
Additionally, another reason for Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor's fame was that, unlike many emperors, they had not recruited Martial Emperor's Disciples when they first became famous. Instead, they had only taken in a group of personal disciples as their trusted confidants. Those individuals had now become highly renowned and dominated their respective regions. For example, the Azure Forest Reincarnation Sword, Hou Qinglin!
The disciples trained by Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were all exceptionally talented, admired by countless people who wished to become their students. Yet Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor had never formally recruited Martial Emperor's Disciples.
And now, Hou Qinglin personally delivered the imperial decree to the Qian Domain, announcing that Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were recruiting their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples. This was why Yu Xiao was so shocked.
The first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples would obviously hold a very special status in the future, likely second only to personal disciples. Therefore, throughout history in the Eight Wastelands Realm, whenever an emperor recruited their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples, it stirred up a storm, with countless people rushing to seize the opportunity. If successful, it meant a great chance of receiving guidance from an emperor in the future and achieving great success.
"Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor recruiting their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples... the Eight Wastelands Realm must be in chaos by now. Another grand ceremony is upon us," Yu Xiao murmured to himself. This time, two emperors were recruiting disciples simultaneously.
However, what Yu Xiao didn't understand was why Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor had sent Hou Qinglin to the Qian Domain. The Eight Wastelands Realm was already vast enough, filled with powerful experts and gathered geniuses. If Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor raised their arms and called out, they would surely receive a massive response. So what was Hou Qinglin doing coming to the Qian Domain?
Could it be that Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor wanted to unearth extraordinary talents from among the common crowd?
Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor had always acted uniquely, and Yu Xiao had to admit that this possibility existed and was not small. Otherwise, there was no explanation for why Hou Qinglin had come to the Qian Domain and even bothered to attend the Ten Thousand Sects Assembly.
Hou Qinglin's words not only shook Yu Xiao's mind but also stirred the hearts of the crowd, especially the young people.
Although most of them didn't understand the significance of being a Martial Emperor's Disciple, seeing the prestige of Tianlin Gongzi and the others, as well as the immense respect they commanded, they could easily imagine that the status of a Martial Emperor's Disciple was countless times higher than their current positions. Even figures like the Carefree Sect Leader had to accompany Tianlin Gongzi and the others, while they themselves could be summoned or dismissed at will by the Carefree Sect Leader.
That was the gap. Moreover, Martial Emperor's Disciples were disciples of an emperor.
An emperor, lofty and exalted, a supreme expert dwelling in the clouds. They had never dreamed that one day they might see an emperor, let alone become a Martial Emperor's Disciple.
The four words "Martial Emperor's Disciple" held immense allure. Their thoughts were even pulled away from the matters of Heavenly Lake, completely consumed by the idea of becoming Martial Emperor's Disciples.
What would happen if they became Martial Emperor's Disciples? When they returned to the Qian Domain, wouldn't the people they once looked up to have to bow and scrape before them? That would be true prestige, a life worth living.
Hou Qinglin's words were directed toward Heavenly Lake, so the people there naturally heard them clearly.
The crowd on the Seven Great Snow Peaks also felt their hearts tremble. Two emperors recruiting Martial Emperor's Disciples—this was incredibly tempting. Such an opportunity was rare even in the Eight Wastelands Realm, let alone being among the first batch.
The three venerables on Tian Xuan Peak and Old Man Tian Ji turned their gazes in an instant, fixing them directly on Lin Feng, who was still standing at the gathering point of the Seven Stars.
When Hou Qinglin uttered the words "Martial Emperor's Disciple," the first person they thought of was Lin Feng!
Everyone knew Lin Feng's terrifying talent. He had looked down on Tianlin Gongzi and the other Martial Emperor's Disciples, defeating them despite being at a lower cultivation level. If Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor didn't impose strength restrictions on their recruitment, Lin Feng would definitely have a chance—and a significant one at that.
Feeling the eyes of the crowd on him, Lin Feng's gaze sharpened slightly, and a ripple stirred within his heart.
He would eventually leave the Qian Domain—there was no doubt about that. To pursue higher realms and one day soar above the Nine Heavens Continent, he had to go to stronger regions with a broader stage. It was only a matter of time. And now, with this opportunity presenting itself, all his teachers seemed to have thought of him.
"May I ask if Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor have any strength restrictions for recruiting Martial Emperor's Disciples?" Snow Venerable looked toward the area outside Heavenly Lake and asked in a clear voice.
"As long as one has reached the Heavenly Martial Realm, whether they are a Heavenly Martial cultivator or a venerable, they have a chance. There is even no age limit, as long as you possess exceptional talent!" Hou Qinglin's next words stirred even greater excitement in the crowd. No age limit meant that everyone above the Heavenly Martial Realm had an opportunity.
"Of course, one thing: those with weak talent should have self-awareness. If they travel a great distance to the Eight Wastelands Realm only to be rejected with a single word, they should not harbor resentment," Hou Qinglin added, as if pouring cold water on the crowd's enthusiasm. Indeed, there were countless Heavenly Martial cultivators, probably too many to count. Becoming a Martial Emperor's Disciple was not so easy, even without an age limit. Those who went should know their own limits.
"Thank you!" Snow Venerable nodded slightly and glanced at Lin Feng again, almost involuntarily. Lin Feng sighed inwardly, deeply moved. With his talent, staying at Heavenly Lake would surely lead to great achievements. Yet, for the sake of his future, his teacher was actually considering letting him leave Heavenly Lake and head to the Eight Wastelands Realm.
"Alright, Yu Xiao. My mission is complete. Come with me and leave the Qian Domain." Hou Qinglin's gaze fell back on Yu Xiao as he spoke indifferently.
Yu Xiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded. If he didn't leave, he would have to face Hou Qinglin's sword. He had no choice. Given Hou Qinglin's personality, he would surely follow through on his words.
Hou Qinglin turned and soared into the air. Yu Xiao glanced at the crowd and said, "Take care of yourselves."
With that, his body followed Hou Qinglin into the sky. This made many people reflect on the deterrent power of strength. When Yu Xiao first stepped onto the Ten Thousand Sects Assembly, he had been dazzling, radiant, and domineering. But with Hou Qinglin's arrival, Yu Xiao's brilliance had been completely extinguished, utterly suppressed. He no longer even had the confidence to speak. Now, when Hou Qinglin ordered him to leave, he dared not refuse.
"We'll meet in the Eight Wastelands Realm!"
Hou Qinglin's figure disappeared, but a rolling voice descended from the sky, covering Heavenly Lake.
We'll meet in the Eight Wastelands Realm!
The crowd's expressions froze. Hou Qinglin's parting words were highly ambiguous. Were they directed at everyone, or at a specific person?
Moreover, there was still an unresolved doubt in their minds: why had Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor come to the Qian Domain to recruit Martial Emperor's Disciples? This had never happened before.
If they said Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor didn't want to miss out on geniuses, that was understandable. But when Hou Qinglin first entered the Qian Domain, during the Ten Thousand Sects Assembly, there were even more people there. Why hadn't he announced it then? Why wait until now, when everyone had gathered at Heavenly Lake, to declare that Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor were recruiting Martial Emperor's Disciples?
All of this remained a mystery, one they could not unravel!