The East Sea, originally called Dongzhou.

It's called the East Sea only because it's adjacent to the sea. It is the largest state in the world and the most concentrated place for martial artists in the Central Plains.

The number of top forces here far exceeds that of other states.

The resources are also the most abundant in the Central Plains, and some enthusiasts even call the East Sea the holy land of martial arts.

The area where Martial Emperor City is located is the center of the East Sea. Because it is adjacent to the sea, barbarians from Dongying and other islands basically enter the Central Plains through the East Sea first.

Chen Yuan and his party arrived in the East Sea after several days. For a time, they couldn't help but be surprised by the prevailing martial spirit here. Not only are there many forces,

There are also many rogue cultivators.

In Qingzhou, a force with a Dan Realm Grandmaster is called a first-class force, which can easily dominate a prefecture, and even the local government must treat it with caution.

But it is different here. There are several first-class forces in one prefecture. Ordinary forces at the Tongxuan Realm are even called insignificant small forces in the East Sea.

The larger the base of martial artists, the more martial arts geniuses will be born. Nearly ten of the top fifty are from the East Sea.

In places where martial artists are prevalent, the imperial court's control will weaken. The East Sea is not very far from Central State, but the control is insufficient. Most martial artists have unruly personalities.

How could they be willing to submit to the imperial court?

As they traveled, Chen Yuan deeply felt the difference between the East Sea and other states. Of course, it may also be because the Ascension War is about to begin,

Causing martial artists from other states to flock here, creating such a lively scene.

Zhang Xuan and Shangguan Yu can also be considered well-informed, but when they arrived at Martial Emperor City in the East Sea, they couldn't help but be shocked. At this moment, what was presented in front of them was an extremely magnificent giant city.

When Chen Yuan saw Qingzhou City, he was surprised by it, but compared with Martial Emperor City, it was simply a small thing.

Looking from a distance, they were as small as ants under Martial Emperor City.

Martial Emperor City is built on a mountain, stretching endlessly. You can't see the end at a glance. The city walls are hundreds of feet high, with ancient and mysterious array patterns engraved on them.

Mysterious, magnificent, and huge, these were Chen Yuan and his party's first impressions.

Flocks of cranes circled over Martial Emperor City, and under the shroud of white mist, this place really looked like a fairyland.

"It truly deserves to be called the number one city in the world!"

Shangguan Yu couldn't help but sigh.

Yes, Martial Emperor City in the East Sea is also known as the number one city in the world, even surpassing the imperial city of Central State, the center of the world. Among them, Martial Emperor City is one of the Ten Immortal Sects.

Even if it is not the number one Immortal Sect in the world, no one dares to underestimate this place.

The Ten Immortal Sects are distinct and almost dominate a state. No other Immortal Sects in the East Sea dare to provoke it. It has been established as a city for nearly a thousand years.

Chen Yuan's eyes flickered with a gleam of ambition. A true man should be like this, and only by possessing such an immortal city can one truly dominate a region.

According to the information Chen Yuan and the others learned along the way, it is said that every cave dwelling in Invincible City is extremely expensive and hard to come by.

Owning this place not only brings power and status, but also allows one to gather massive resources.

This place is also the resource transfer center for the surrounding states. Overseas martial artists who want to enter the Central Plains choose Martial Emperor City first, and Central Plains martial artists who want to go to sea must also pass through this place.

It can be described as a surging flow of people.

"Let's go, enter the city!"

Chen Yuan said in a deep voice.

Zhang Xuan and the Shangguan siblings naturally obeyed, and stepped into Martial Emperor City with the crowd. There were many auras of Tongxuan Realm experts around them, and even several Grandmaster Realm powerhouses.

The huge city gate was dozens of feet high, with a lifelike dragon sculpture on it. Two dragon whiskers hung down, as if they were alive. Zhang Xuan stared at it:

"This dragon is sculpted just like the real thing."

Chen Yuan smiled and was about to say something when suddenly the Huangtu Saber behind him buzzed, conveying a sense of awareness. Chen Yuan was startled and looked up abruptly.

The information conveyed by the dragon soul in the Huangtu Saber was that there was dragon breath on this dragon!

Could it be real?

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, retracted his gaze, and said nothing more. Whether this demon dragon was real or not, it was definitely not an ordinary thing.

Someone nearby seemed to have heard Zhang Xuan's murmur and echoed:

"This is the East Gate. If you brothers go to the other city gates, you will see the other three mythical beasts."

"What mythical beasts?" Shangguan Hong became interested.

"The West Gate is carved with a White Tiger, the South Gate is carved with a Vermilion Bird, and the North Gate is a Black Tortoise. These four mythical beast sculptures are also a unique feature of Martial Emperor City.

Those who see it for the first time are all shocked by it."

"Who carved them?"

"This is not very clear. It is said that they were also created by skilled craftsmen from all over the world. They are also array eyes. It is rumored..." The man looked around and lowered his voice:

"It is rumored that these four mythical beasts can be combined into an earth-shattering array. When the Ascension Tower first assessed the Ascension Rankings, a powerhouse came to stop it,

But he couldn't even enter the city gate...."

The man spoke mysteriously, and many Jianghu martial artists who had just arrived in Martial Emperor City couldn't help but stop to listen.

"Thank you."

Zhang Xuan cupped his hands and said.

They had never heard of these rumors. Chen Yuan and the others had only heard that an unparalleled powerhouse had descended here to prevent the Ascension Rankings, but the final battle never took place.

This also laid the foundation for the prestige of Martial Emperor City.

Chen Yuan and the others continued to walk forward. Dozens of guards in black heavy armor patrolled like sculptures, examining everyone. The aura emanating from them was a bit strange.

It was different from martial artists, but the aura was not weak. According to Chen Yuan's estimation, they could probably even withstand Tongxuan Realm experts.

Background....

The background of Martial Emperor City was felt by the group just upon entering the city.

According to Zhang Xuan's introduction, even the imperial city of Central State did not have such a scene. Experts of this level were used as gatekeepers. However, the group also noticed some anomalies.

A large part of that powerful aura came from the heavy armor they wore.

Array Pattern Secret Armor!

This broadened Chen Yuan's horizons a bit.

Entering the city, the first thing that caught their eyes was the wide streets, flanked by shops selling all kinds of things. However, few dared to make noise, because noise was prohibited here.

What they felt most deeply was the rich Heaven and Earth Essence Qi in the city, which was much higher than outside the city. According to what they had learned, the deeper they went into the city, the more abundant the Essence Qi became.

This was because a huge Essence-Gathering Array was engraved in Martial Emperor City. Of course, if it were just that, it would not have been possible to achieve such an effect.

The real secret was that there was a vast Yuan Crystal mine in Martial Emperor City.

As everyone knows, Yuan Crystals are transformed and compressed from Heaven and Earth Essence Qi through arrays, but there are exceptions. That is, after a long period of transformation, a mine will gradually form in a place with abundant Essence Qi.

There was one in Martial Emperor City, and everyone in the world knew about it.

But knowing was knowing, and no one dared to take action to seize it.

Unless they were tired of living.

In fact, not only Martial Emperor City, but which of the Ten Immortal Sects didn't have a Yuan Crystal mine? But they were able to guard it. If Chen Yuan had a Yuan Crystal mine in his hands now, he wouldn't have the ability to guard it.

A common man is not guilty, but possessing jade brings about guilt!

If he really had this thing in his hands, let alone the Huayang Realm expert, even the peerless Zhenjun experts in the Jianghu and the imperial court would not be able to resist taking action. He was very clear about this.

The crowd stopped and looked at the ethereal mountain in front of them. That was the center of Martial Emperor City, and also the location of the City Lord's Mansion.

After a short stay, the group began to look around and headed towards that immortal mountain. They didn't need to look for an inn. As long as they had the Ascension Token in their hands, they could stay in the main building of the Ascension Tower. This was also a well-known fact.

Martial Emperor City was very large, full of legends!

Here, Chen Yuan and his party not only saw overseas barbarians, but also those red-haired barbarians from the Western Regions. Obviously, they were all attracted by the Ascension War.

The essence of the Central Plains was indeed well-deserved. Many rare things could be seen here.

They did not choose to fly. There were rules in Martial Emperor City that those below the Huayang Realm could not fly, and no one was allowed to fight in the city except on specially set-up arenas.

Anyone who violated this would be arrested by the city's guards.

It could be said that Martial Emperor City bullied the weak and feared the strong, but most martial artists had no choice.

After about half an hour, the group toured a part of Martial Emperor City, broadened their horizons, and then headed straight for the immortal mountain. The main building of the Ascension Tower was located halfway up the immortal mountain.

The main building of the Ascension Tower was also built extraordinarily, surrounded by immortal mist, and was a total of nine stories high, representing the meaning of nine-nine supreme.

After the Ascension Tower guards at the door announced their names, it immediately caused a small commotion. Many people's eyes turned to Chen Yuan and his party.

"It's Chen Yuan!"

"The first on the Hidden Dragon List, the Demon Saber Chen Yuan is here!"

"He's not slow. I just saw Gu He and Fairy Yu Qingyan enter the Ascension Tower."

"Bai Changqing seems to be here too."

"That Northern Liang Prince Wei Wuque is also here."

"Who are the people around Chen Yuan?"

Someone whispered, causing the faces of Zhang Xuan and Shangguan Yu to twitch.

With their cultivation, they could easily hear any sound within a hundred meters, even whispers. They secretly said in their hearts that it was true.

Walking with Chen Yuan, the first on the Hidden Dragon List, there was indeed no glory to be had.

"The one on the left is Zhang Xuan, the Patrol Envoy of Nanling Prefecture. His father is one of the four great envoys of the imperial court. The other two are the direct descendants of the Shangguan clan, Shangguan Yu and Shangguan Hong."

"It's them?"

A small commotion erupted on the first floor of the Ascension Tower, and most of this commotion was directed at Chen Yuan, because his experience was too legendary.

In the Jianghu, he was even a legendary figure.

The guards of the Ascension Tower dared not be negligent and hurriedly bowed:

"Greetings, Envoy Chen, Envoy Zhang, Shangguan...."

"Where do we reside?" Chen Yuan looked around at the surrounding people. Under his sharp gaze, everyone immediately lowered their heads.

"Please wait a moment, everyone."

Then, the guard leader ordered several guards beside him to go and report.

After a short while, three branch tower masters of the Ascension Tower came to welcome them. Among them was Ye Chenbai. They would all be recalled during the Ascension War.

Of course, this was limited to those tower masters who could invite the top fifty on the Hidden Dragon List.

The three tower masters, led by Ye Chenbai, formed a position of mutual support. There was no other way, their status depended entirely on their ability. Ye Chenbai's ability to invite Chen Yuan, the first on the Hidden Dragon List, proved that he had the strength.

"Brother Chen, it's been several months since we last met. Brother Chen's cultivation is even better than before!" Before Ye Chenbai got close, his hearty laughter reached everyone's ears.

"Brother Ye."

Chen Yuan cupped his hands. They were friends, so he naturally had to return the courtesy.

"This is..." Chen Yuan was about to introduce him when Ye Chenbai laughed and said:

"Brother Chen, don't forget what I do."

"That's right."

The Ascension Tower was originally the number one intelligence organization in the world. Although he was just a branch tower master, his information channels were also very extensive. Naturally, he recognized Shangguan Yu.

"Brother Zhang, long time no see."

"Brother Ye."

"I believe this must be the famous Brother Shangguan Yu, right?" Ye Chenbai turned his gaze to him.

"I have long heard Brother Chen mention Brother Ye. Meeting you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

After some polite greetings, the attitudes of the group instantly became warm.

Leaving the other two Ninggang Realm branch tower masters unable to get a word in edgewise.

They stood respectfully to the side. Apart from their status as branch tower masters of the Ascension Tower, just the fact that Ye Chenbai's surname was Ye made his status much higher than theirs.

"Brother Chen, let's not stay here. Why don't we go to the top floor for a look? The scenery there is also quite extraordinary."

"Since we're in Brother Ye's territory, naturally Brother Ye will be in charge."

"Please."

"Please."

During Ye Chenbai's introduction, the group also learned something about the people here. Like those Hidden Dragon List talents who had arrived early, most of them were currently on the top floor enjoying the scenery.

This was a major feature of the Ascension War, opening the top floor for the world's talents to overlook the entire city.

As for their residences, they were on the fifth and eighth floors of the Ascension Tower.

The floor they lived on depended on their respective rankings on the Hidden Dragon List. Like Chen Yuan, he would definitely get the best room in the Ascension Tower, while Shangguan Yu would be second,

And then there was Zhang Xuan.

As for Shangguan Hong, as an accompanying person, she should not be able to stay in the Ascension Tower, but with Ye Chenbai around, these were not big deals.

The group flew to the top floor and saw more than thirty figures at a glance, standing together in twos and threes, or looking at the bustling Martial Emperor City below with their hands behind their backs.

Most of their gazes gathered on the group, bringing a huge pressure.

Chen Yuan looked around and snorted lightly. His aura suddenly erupted, resisting the pressure of dozens of people with one person, not falling behind at all.

"It's Chen Yuan!"

"Demon Saber!"

Someone exclaimed, revealing his origin, causing many people to breathe a sigh of relief. Only a monstrous genius like Chen Yuan could fight against the crowd alone, which was not surprising.

The originally noisy crowd quickly turned silent with Chen Yuan's appearance. Those figures, whether curious, respectful, or full of fighting spirit, all focused their gazes on Chen Yuan.

Lifting his foot, Chen Yuan walked calmly forward. A Hidden Dragon List talent closest to him swallowed and, feeling the strong pressure from Chen Yuan, cupped his hands and said:

"Zhu Zong of the Qingxuan Sect, greetings, Brother Chen."

Chen Yuan turned his gaze and stared at Zhu Zong, nodding slightly.

Where there was one, there was a second. As Chen Yuan walked forward, figures began to cup their hands and clasp their fists:

"Cao Kun of Bingzhou, greetings, Brother Chen."

"Gongsun Long of Youzhou, greetings, Brother Chen."

"Chu Yuncong of the Chu family in Yunzhou, greetings, Brother Chen."

"Zhongzhou...."

Figures rose and fell, and most of the people present expressed their respect for Chen Yuan. Even though Chen Yuan was an official of the imperial court, he was also the real Hidden Dragon List number one.

He reached the top through battles.

He reached the top by killing two Grandmasters in a row.

No one present could achieve such a record. Was it not worth respecting? Moreover, they also wanted to make a good impression.

As everyone knew, the Demon Saber Chen Yuan had always been bloodthirsty and cruel. If they met in the Ascension War, they might be able to save their lives because of this one sentence.

Chen Yuan responded to all the martial artists who showed goodwill with a smile, without being arrogant. As for those who did not take the initiative to greet him, he would not pay attention to them and would pass them by directly.

Ye Chenbai, Zhang Xuan, and Shangguan Yu behind him seemed to have become foils.

Witnessing Chen Yuan's overwhelming power, they couldn't help but be shocked.

"Yu Qingyan of the Goddess Palace, greetings, Brother Chen."

When he walked to Yu Qingyan's side, she took the initiative to greet him. Chen Yuan stopped and looked at her, speaking for the first time:

"Fairy Yu's demeanor is even more outstanding than before."

Not to mention that Yu Qingyan was Li Suqing's disciple, just because Chen Yanshu had received much care from her, Chen Yuan would not rudely just nod. However, Chen Yuan's opening immediately made everyone's eyes suddenly focus on him and another man in black.

Their eyes were full of meaning, as if they wanted to watch a good show.

That person was none other than Gu He of the Gu family, one of the five surnames and seven clans. He had been pursuing Yu Qingyan all along, and had been guarding Yu Qingyan's side since he ascended to the top floor.

If anyone else wanted to go up and greet the long-famous Fairy Yu, they would be glared at by him, which had long been unbearable.

Most of them were no match for Gu He and were somewhat afraid of him, but that did not mean that Chen Yuan was afraid of him. They even wanted to see Chen Yuan teach Gu He a lesson.

"Brother Chen is too kind."

Yu Qingyan smiled.

The two chatted for a few words, completely ignoring Gu He on the side, causing his face to turn green and white. He hurriedly interjected and cupped his hands:

"Brother Chen, I am Gu He."

Chen Yuan turned his head and stared at him, opening his Heavenly Eye, and a faint blue light flashed in his eyes.