Chapter 1110: That Divine Palace

Dongbo Xueying was inwardly startled as he sensed the sweeping ripple through the void.

“The range is enormous.”

This single sensation alone shocked him.

Even with his vast void-sensing range, this ripple felt boundless and endless. If the likes of ‘Xia Emperor’ or ‘Fan Ancestor’ were to descend in person, their mere presence might have instilled fear in him. Yet now, just a single, infinite ripple sweeping past was enough to terrify a Cosmic Deity like him?

“Could it be…?” A thought flashed through Dongbo Xueying’s mind, and his eyes lit up.

Without hesitation, he opened the door of his meditation chamber and left Feixue City, heading straight for the capital of Nanyun Nation to seek his master, the Nanyun Monarch.

—

**Xiafeng Ancient Nation, Cangdi City.**

A disheveled man with a divine sword strapped to his back materialized atop a mountain peak, gazing eastward. “Since I became a Great Venerable, has it finally awakened? I’ve waited so long.”

—

Elsewhere in Cangdi City, within a grand estate, a strange beast slumbering atop numerous emerald crystals suddenly opened its eyes. In the next moment, it transformed into a woman clad in green robes, smiling faintly as she looked into the distance. “The opportunity has finally arrived.”

—

Across the six great ancient nations—Xiafeng, Ancestral, Myriad Realms, Motian, Moonblossom, and Ice-Snow—powerful figures stirred with awareness.

Even in second and third-rate nations, many experts sensed the ripple.

“Hmm?” In a majestic, ancient city, a white-robed man sat upon a throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest as he glanced into the distance. “Only the outer city opens? How dull. I thought another great war between the ancient nations was about to erupt. Last time, those two old fools from the Ancestral Nation gave me quite the headache. I still owe them a proper ‘repayment.'”

He closed his eyes.

Beneath his throne, an endless torrent of water surged, within which countless miniature cities flickered, teeming with innumerable lives.

—

**Nanyun Capital.**

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty.”

As Dongbo Xueying traversed the imperial palace, the guards bowed respectfully at every step.

Nanyun Nation now had four great monarchs: Feixue Monarch, Chunyu Monarch, Tanpeng Monarch, and Tianyin Monarch. Among them, ‘Feixue Monarch’ Ying Shan Xueying was widely acknowledged as the foremost of the four. Rumors even claimed that his strength rivaled that of the rulers of second-rate nations like Wofeng and Huozhao.

Such was his current stature, and the Ying Shan Clan’s influence had risen accordingly.

Soon, Dongbo Xueying arrived at his master’s cultivation grounds.

By a deep pool, upon black grass, sat the Nanyun Monarch in his resplendent dark robes.

“Master,” Dongbo Xueying greeted.

“You sensed it?” the Nanyun Monarch asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Is it the legendary divine palace?”

The Nanyun Monarch confirmed, “Indeed. The Heartworld Divine Palace.”

Dongbo Xueying’s pupils contracted.

Named after the continent itself, the Heartworld Divine Palace was unique beyond measure.

Located deep beneath the ocean at the heart of the Black Prison Abyssal Sea, it was said to be the very core of the Heartworld Continent—the origin of all its chaos and wonders.

“Since the birth of the Heartworld Continent, every major conflict, including the First and Second Ancient Nation Wars, stemmed from it,” the Nanyun Monarch mused. “It has driven us all to obsession and madness.”

Dongbo Xueying’s blood burned with excitement.

The perfected techniques and treasures of the Heartworld Continent were beyond ordinary comprehension. Many artifacts allowed cultivators to transcend their tiers in battle. Even Cosmic Deities at the apex of power could wield such treasures to attain invincibility.

Yet, could such supreme artifacts truly be forged by mere Cosmic Deities?

No.

These treasures, coveted even by third-tier Cosmic Deities, were known as Supreme Artifacts—imbued with traces of the Supreme Dao’s principles. Only ‘Meta,’ the most transcendent figure of the Heartworld Continent, could craft them. Countless techniques and methods had been perfected through the legacy he left behind.

—

Supreme Artifacts, cultivation methods, and rare wonders—all were housed within the Heartworld Divine Palace.

“The Heartworld Divine Palace is divided into the inner and outer cities,” the Nanyun Monarch explained. “Usually, only the outer city opens. This time is no exception. But when the inner city opens… ha! Every invincible being, every third-tier Cosmic Deity, every hidden ancient monster, and every reincarnated terror will emerge and fight their way in. That is true horror.”

“When the inner city opens, treasures of unimaginable value appear. Some artifacts are so extraordinary that they spark wars among invincible beings. The First and Second Ancient Nation Wars erupted precisely because of such prizes.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded solemnly.

“Remember the Sourceworld Temple from the Three-Clan Conflict? It was originally one of the treasures from the Heartworld Divine Palace, seized by the three progenitors of the Xiafeng Ancient Nation during the Second Ancient Nation War,” the Nanyun Monarch continued. “And yet, during that war, the Sourceworld Temple wasn’t even among the top five most contested artifacts.”

Dongbo Xueying knew well that even invincible beings had perished in those conflicts.

“Historically, the inner city has opened fewer than ten times,” the Nanyun Monarch said.

“Whether inner or outer city, only thirty-nine may enter each time. When the inner city opens, the competition is frenzied. Invincible beings are guaranteed entry, but even third-tier Cosmic Deities and Great Venerables struggle. I was fortunate enough to enter once—only because of my multiple avatars and speed.”

“What about the outer city? Is there a way in?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

The outer city was enough for him.

While its treasures paled in comparison to the inner city’s, they still held the secrets of the ultimate path. Peak-tier artifacts occasionally appeared—treasures even invincible beings would covet.

“Even for the outer city, some invincible beings will enter,” the Nanyun Monarch said. “The six ancient nations have united to monopolize entry. Since it’s only the outer city, the hidden terrors of the Heartworld Continent won’t unite to challenge them. Thus, no one can defy the alliance.”

“You wish to enter?”

The Nanyun Monarch shook his head lightly. “It’s difficult. The weaker four ancient nations have few slots and reserve them for their own. The Myriad Realms and Xiafeng Ancient Nations have more, but invincible beings will claim most. The Xia Emperor, with his avatars, enters every time. Very few slots remain.”

“To my knowledge, the Xiafeng Ancient Nation has many clans beyond its three great families. The Xia Emperor usually reserves three or four slots for internal competition. As a high-ranking guest of the Fan Clan, you qualify. But those slots are contested by non-family Great Venerables, family Great Venerables who failed to secure slots, and other second-tier Cosmic Deities.”

“Xueying, my advice is to focus on cultivation,” the Nanyun Monarch said with a smile. “Your chances now are slim. Once you reach the second tier of Cosmic Deity and obtain a peak-tier artifact, securing a slot will be easier. You have time—no need to rush.”

No need to rush?

He couldn’t afford to wait. If he missed this chance, his homeland might be destroyed before the next opening.

“Can merits be exchanged for entry?” Dongbo Xueying pressed.

“No. That is beyond the scope of exchange,” the Nanyun Monarch replied firmly.