The voice was as gentle and sweet-sounding as a spring stream, easing the mind as it drifted away.

A maiden with a graceful figure and an ice-cold demeanor had appeared at the door to the ninth floor of the Four Seasons Pavilion without anyone knowing.

Even if she was wearing only a plain dress and a simple wooden hairpin in her silky black hair, her fair and beautiful face still stood out.

She looked around seventeen or eighteen years old, but she was a natural beauty. Her brows were dark and straight, and her eyes were crystal clear and sparkled like jewels. She exuded an ethereal beauty.

Immediately, all the peerless geniuses stood up to bow and show their respects.

Ji Xingyao!

She was the current saintess of the Unsolved Mystery Sword Sect, the number one sect in the West Infinity World, and the leading figure of the younger generation. Her dazzling title could amaze the world.

In ordinary cultivators’ eyes, Ji Xingyao was no different to a fairy from the legends given her transcendent status.

However, the peerless figures present stood up to greet her not out of fear or awe, but out of politeness and respect.

Regardless, it was an acknowledgement of her identity.

“Everyone, please take a seat.”

As Ji Xingyao walked into the hall, she looked like a swaying lotus flower. Her legs were slender and straight, and her waist was shapely. Even a plain dress couldn’t cover her perfect curves.

Everyone was in awe of her beauty. Her skin was smooth and crystal clear like jade, and her demeanor was cold as ice. Like a fairy descending from the sky, even a glimpse of her from afar was enough to take anyone’s breath away.

Many of the peerless figures present couldn’t help marveling in their hearts, Ji Xingyao is indeed worthy of being a successor of Unsolved Mystery Sword Alms. She is not only stunning but also exceptionally talented.

Many people almost failed to notice that behind Ji Xingyao was an old woman with silver hair.

“No wonder Senior Brother Yu Lingkong would be so earnest to cross a world and trek across thousands of mountains and rivers to meet the successor of the Unsolved Mystery Sword Alms whom he has never met before. She far transcends the others in beauty and background!” a successor of the Longevity Land exclaimed.

The others felt the same.

However, although they were whispering, Ji Xingyao still heard every single word. Her brows furrowed imperceptibly especially when she heard the name Yu Lingkong.

“Are you all curious why the successor from the Great Zen Temple of a Hidden Holy Land suddenly appeared here?”

Ji Xingyao casually took a seat, seeming cold and detached. Her voice which was clear as the sounds of nature immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Everyone quivered and woke up completely.

Hidden Holy Land!

This was a term that referred to mysterious places detached from the world and not known to the world.

Among the four worlds of the Ancient Wasteland Domain, there were only around five known Hidden Holy Lands, but all of them were extremely mysterious and isolated from the world. They each comprised of sects and ancient clans with an incredibly long history and traditions.

Or perhaps, some Hidden Holy Lands might still be retaining the style and inheritance of ancient times!

For example, the Great Zen Temple was located in a Hidden Holy Land called the Little Western Heaven in the North Dipper World. It was a mysterious Buddhist sect that was steeped in such history and tradition that it could cast every other ancient sect in the world into the shade!

The young monk was from the Great Zen Temple in the Little Western Heaven!

“It’s very simple. The great age is nearing, and some ancient sects in the Hidden Holy Land that are isolated from the world are also beginning to make arrangements to seek good blessings and opportunities in the battle of the great age.”

Ji Xingyao muttered to herself, “The young monk is a successor of the Great Zen Temple and is an outstanding figure of superb talent. He has the Dharma name Xing Zhenzi and he possesses the innate talent of Buddha Bone Lotus Heart. His strength is unfathomable compared to his peers.”

Everyone’s expression changed.

Ji Xingyao was a leading figure of the younger generation in the West Infinity World and was a well-deserved peerless genius. If she praised Xing Zhenzi as unfathomable, then there was no doubt that he was also an exceptional talent!

“Would Xing Zhenzi also participate in the Dao Lantern Festival?” someone asked, which piqued the interest of the other geniuses.

Moments ago, Demon God Lin had made a strong appearance and performed an earth-shaking melee.

Now, another peerless figure had appeared from the Little Western Heaven’s Great Zen Temple. Who wouldn’t be curious?

“He won’t.”

Ji Xingyao answered, “As far as I know, Xing Zhenzi came here just to take a look at the young generation of geniuses in the West Infinity World. He is not interested in the Dao Lantern Festival at all.”

After a pause, her bright star-like eyes glowed brightly, and her voice turned a little strange, “However, I heard that Xing Zhenzi is interested in the Genius Gold Rankings that will be released in the Ancient Wasteland Domain in one year!”

Everyone’s heart fluttered and bombarded Ji Xingyao with questions.

Ji Xingyao didn’t hide anything from them. “There’s very little that I know. I’ve only read a little about the Genius Gold Rankings from the ancient books of the sect...”

It turned out that the Genius Gold Rankings have existed since the ancient era.

The list only had one hundred rankings and only the most powerful peerless geniuses in the world could make it onto the list!

“Rumor has it that in ancient times, in order to compete for a position on the Genius Gold Rankings, the geniuses of the younger generation from all over the world would duel against one another and stir up storms.” Ji Xingyao’s pace and words, coupled with her pleasant and clear tone of voice captivated the audience.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that as long as your name can appear on the Genius Gold Rankings, you can be regarded as one of the most dazzling genius figures in an era!”

There was utter silence in the hall, but everyone’s blood was bubbling with emotions after learning about the origin of the Genius Gold Rankings.

In ancient times, geniuses were as many as the stars in the sky. There were born saints, exceptional geniuses, natural talents, and descendants of divine beings with powerful bloodlines...

Imaginably, among the genius figures back then, those able to make it onto the Genius Gold Rankings had to possess heaven-defying strength and ability!

“It isn’t just a symbol of status and strength, but also indicative of their potential in becoming a Life Death Stage King or Absolute Apex King.”

Ji Xingyao changed the subject, and her clear eyes shone with a strange brilliance. “The absolute apex king path is incomparably ethereal, mysterious, and almost unreal, like it only exists in legends. But according to ancient rumors, anyone ranked on the Genius Gold Rankings has the hope and potential to forge the absolute apex king path.”

Those words caused an uproar, and many peerless figures fought to maintain their calm while various expressions rapidly flitted across their eyes.

There turned out to be such a rumor!

It was astonishing that the Genius Gold Rankings would be linked with the legendary and invincible absolute apex king path.

“Everyone, after boundless years, the Genius Gold Rankings will reappear in the world. This undoubtedly means that the great age is truly coming. As fellow cultivators, I hope that there will be more people from our West Infinity World who make it onto this list,” Ji Xingyao remarked. Her expression was ever so calm but with a hint of sacredness.

At that moment, she displayed the elegance and demeanor of the saintess of the number one sect in the West Infinity World.

Immediately, everyone was stirred up and kept this firmly in mind.

“Of course, what we have to do right now is prepare for the Dao Lantern Festival that is about to kick off.”

Ji Xingyao seemed to have the ability to influence the audience, as with just a few words, she captivated everyone’s attention once again.

“The lantern festival will be very different from those in the past. It will be much more grand since there are bound to be many unexpected and powerful people participating in it.”

“This also means that the competition to win great fortune and blessings at the Dao Lantern Festival will be much more intense!”

Before her voice faded, there was a sudden burst of applause, and a handsome young man in a green robe adorned with a jade belt confidently strode into the ninth floor of the Four Seasons Pavilion.

“Miss Ji is right, the great age is coming and all the heroes under the heavens will inevitably compete against each other. Anyone who wants to stand out and rise above the others will have to be more ruthless and more savage than before. Only a handful of people can make it to the top, while the rest will be eliminated and become stepping stones for them.”

The young man’s voice was as gentle as jade, as clear as a bell, and had a unique charm.

His appearance was equally as outstanding with his sharp eyebrows and dazzling eyes, fair skin and smooth black hair cascading down his back. His noble and handsome appearance immediately drew the attention of the audience.

Bai Lingxi and the other Longevity Land successors rose to their feet and bowed, “Paying our respects to Senior Brother Yu!”

Unquestionably, the young man was a respected figure from the Longevity Land. He was a peerless genius who possessed extraordinary talents since he was a child——Yu Lingkong!

He was indeed an impeccable character. He had a superb background, outstanding talent, unrivaled elegance and a prestigious identity.

The Yu Clan that he belonged to had been standing since ancient times and was considered an illustrious behemoth clan in the South Wonder World. It even had a true Saint watching over it.

Moreover, he trained in the Longevity Land. It could be said that most of the geniuses in the world couldn’t compare to him in terms of identity and background.

He was like the proud son of heaven. It was hard for people to hate him even if there was a huge gap between him and the rest of the world.

Everyone’s expression tensed up, and many surveyed him with a glance of awe and astonishment. Even though they were all peerless figures, they still felt tremendous pressure when they faced an outstanding character with incomparable luck, background, and talent like Yu Lingkong.

Only Ji Xingyao wrinkled her brows as if she didn’t welcome Yu Lingkong’s sudden interruption, but she also didn’t show any disgust either. Her attitude could only barely be called lukewarm, neither hostile nor friendly.

Yu Lingkong didn’t seem to notice as he smiled and went straight over to sit down next to Ji Xingyao. “Unfortunately, I came too late. I heard that Demon God Lin set off an earthshaking melee. It’s a pity that I missed it.”

Demon God Lin!

No one noticed, but the name lifted an uncontrollable wave high in Ji Xingyao’s heart, and an imperceptible look of resentment flickered across her stunning face.

Additionally, Ji Xingyao became more and more displeased with Yu Lingkong for mentioning Demon God Lin...