.
.
The colossal stone gate continued to rise.
Rumble...
Ancient runes awakened one after another, illuminating the entire mountain.
An oppressive aura swept across the Hidden Spirit Cave.
Several imperial guards instinctively took a step back.
Even Elena unconsciously rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"This pressure..."
"...it's at least from a Saint Realm expert."
Arcturus immediately corrected her through Lucien.
"No."
"Much stronger."
"Whoever built this place was at least a Divine King."
Lucien's expression remained calm.
So...
The first great opportunity of this era had finally appeared.
Suddenly, blood-red words appeared on the ancient gate.
Only cultivators under the age of twenty-five may enter.
Maximum entrants: Three.
As soon as the words faded...
The gate slowly opened.
Beyond it was nothing but endless darkness.
A cold wind carrying the scent of ancient times rushed outward.
The imperial guards lowered their heads.
"Your Highness."
"It may be a trap."
Lucien smiled.
"If cultivators feared danger..."
"They would never become immortals."
At that moment—
Dozens of powerful auras descended from the sky.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Within seconds, elders and geniuses from nearby sects arrived outside the cave.
Among them were disciples of the Moonlight Sacred Land.
The leader was an elderly woman with snow-white hair.
Her gaze immediately landed on Sylvia.
"You're safe."
Sylvia bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Third Elder."
The old woman nodded before turning toward Lucien.
Her eyes carried caution.
"The Noctis Crown Prince..."
Even she dared not underestimate him.
The reputation of House Noctis was enough to make every great power think twice.
Lucien acknowledged her with a slight nod.
Neither arrogance nor excessive politeness.
Simply confidence.
Another group soon arrived.
They wore crimson robes embroidered with golden suns.
"The Blazing Sun Sect..."
Elena whispered.
Leading them was a young man with fiery red hair and an arrogant expression.
The moment he saw Sylvia, his eyes brightened.
Then...
He noticed Lucien standing beside her.
His expression darkened.
"So."
"The famous Crown Prince also covets beauties."
Several people frowned.
Insulting the Crown Prince publicly?
This fool had a death wish.
Lucien merely looked at him.
"What is your name?"
The young man proudly lifted his chin.
"Zhao Feng."
"Direct Disciple of the Blazing Sun Sect."
Lucien nodded.
"I'll remember it."
That was all.
Yet Zhao Feng suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
For some reason...
He regretted speaking.
Just then, the system activated.
Ding!
New Mission
Palace of the Forgotten Sovereign
Objectives:
Obtain the Sovereign's inheritance.
Discover the truth behind the palace.
Prevent the Hero from obtaining the Sovereign's Core.
Special Reward: ???
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"Prevent?"
Not kill.
Prevent.
Interesting.
That meant even the system acknowledged the protagonist's plot armor.
The ancient gate emitted another wave of light.
Three beams descended.
One landed on Lucien.
One on Sylvia.
The last...
On Lin Tian.
The gate had made its choice.
Only those three could enter.
The surrounding geniuses erupted in outrage.
"Why them?"
"I have a Heavenly Spirit Root!"
"I should've been chosen!"
No matter how loudly they protested...
The beams never changed.
Sylvia looked toward Lucien.
"It seems..."
"We'll have to work together."
Lucien glanced at Lin Tian.
The young hero remained vigilant, saying nothing.
Lucien gave a faint smile.
"Temporary allies."
Lin Tian hesitated before nodding once.
The inheritance came first.
Any conflict could wait.
The three stepped toward the gate.
The instant they crossed the threshold...
The world around them shattered like glass.
The cave...
The elders...
The guards...
Everything disappeared.
When Lucien opened his eyes again, he found himself standing beneath a sky of countless floating stars.
Ancient palaces drifted in the heavens.
Rivers flowed upward into the clouds.
Broken swords, giant skeletons, and ruined temples stretched to the horizon.
It looked less like a secret realm...
And more like the remains of a forgotten civilization.
A deep, ancient voice echoed through the world.
"Welcome..."
"...to the Palace of the Forgotten Sovereign."
"Those who seek my inheritance..."
"...must first survive."
The stars above suddenly turned crimson.
From every direction...
Thousands of stone warriors slowly opened their eyes.
Each one carried the aura of the Foundation Core Realm.
Lucien calmly drew the Void Emperor Sword.
A smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"The trial begins."
Far away, hidden behind the crimson sky, a pair of golden eyes silently watched the three young cultivators.
The owner of those eyes smiled.
After waiting for ten thousand years...
The first players had finally arrived.