Chapter 910: Meeting Some Old Friends

"The Gathering of Linjiang?"

Chen Fan looked toward the speaker.

"During ancient times, Linjiang City had another name. It got its new name after a local residence; a Heavenly Lord created a thousand-mile long river across the city. From then on, the city became a popular destination for young cultivators to visit and revere the Heavenly Lord's miracle. Over time, the spontaneous gathering became the annual gathering of Linjiang and it attracted talents from all over the Ten Major Heavenly Region," Wu Qinyan said.

She was wearing a flowing light green dress, which was cinched at the waist by an indigo silk belt to make her breathtaking curves stand out.

Standing beside her was Wu Baisu whose natural elegance was accentuated by her tall statue and slightly pointy chin. Her gaze was cold and aloof, like that of a moon goddess.

"Talents from the Ten Major Heavenly Regions?"

Chen Fan's interest was piqued.

Of all the Heavenly Regions, the Heavenly Region of Bare North was a far cry from the Ten Major Heavenly Region. Multiple Heavenly Lords presided over the Ten Major Heavenly Regions.

"Indeed. Luo Changshen from the Changshen Heavenly Region will attend the gathering as well. He ranked pretty high on the Longevity Roll."

Wu Baisu nodded.

Wu Baisu's pride and aloofness was tempered by admiration when she mentioned Luo Changshen's name.

"Well, he might, or he might not. Luo Changshen is elusive and the Beihang Region is in the middle of nowhere, so he might not show up."

Wu Baisu's words were laced with disappointment.

"I heard the name Longevity Roll many times. What is it? I knew that Wang Xuanlong is also on the roll. How does he compare with Luo Changshen?" Chen Fan said with a smirk.

"The Longevity Roll is published by the Tianshu Sect. It includes powerful Golden Core Cultivators under five hundred years old."

Wu Baisu gave Chen Fan a surprised glare. She thought Chen Fan must have known about the Longevity Roll.

"Not all Golden Core Cultivators can be enlisted on the roll. Two criteria must be met: one, it has to be a superior-grade Golden Core, second, the cultivator needs to have reached the late-stage of the Golden Core.

"The list has a hundred spots and those hundred cultivators are the most powerful among the young generation. Most of the hundred individuals are from the Heavenly Regions."

"However, some Heavenly Regions might not have any one on the list. The Beihuang Region is lucky enough to have Wang Xuanlong even though he's ranked at the bottom of the list."

Wu Baisu paused and heaved a sigh.

Chen Fan frowned.

He had never thought that Wang Xuanlong who was revered by many Ancestral Patriarchs had barely been ranked at the bottom of the list.

"What about Luo Changshen?"

"He ranked twenty-one on the roll. A real force to be reckoned with. He reached the late-stage Golden Core three hundred years ago. Even my family lord would not dare to mess with him."

A light came up in Wu Baisu's eyes.

Chen Fan shook his head after noticing Wu Baisu's infatuation for Luo Changshen. He then asked Shenxi's ranking on the roll.

"Goddess Shenxi?"

Wu Baisu was taken aback by the questions.

"Three years ago, Goddess Shenxi ranked thirty, close to Luo Changshen. However, I have heard rumors of her forming a divine grade Golden Core. That would put her in the top ten list, if not the top five," Wu Baisu said.

"Not even a Divine Grade Golden Core can make it to the top three? Do those top three cultivators have sacred grade golden cores?"

Chen Fan was shocked.

Cultivators with a Divine Grade Golden Core were as powerful as the Ancient Demon Prince. Any one of them would be seen as a mighty force anywhere in the universe. However, that was still not good enough to fill the top three spots on the Longevity Roll.

"Well, yes and no. A Divine Grade Golden Core is extremely rare and powerful. However, raw strength isn't the only thing the ranking considers. It also takes level of attainment, Dharma treasures, raw talents and Divine Powers into consideration."

Then, Lin Baikui suddenly mumbled under her breath, "I have heard that all three cultivators on the top three share the same experience of being hunted down by the Heavenly Lord."

Chen Fan was taken aback by the revelation.

He knew better than anyone about the terrifying power of a Heavenly Lord Essence Neonate. It was beyond people like Wu Baisu's wildest imagination.

The sky collapsed and the earth shattered. Time and space lost their meaning and order.

The Nascent Soul Cultivators were the closest to the most fundamental principle on which the universe was built. Their power was based on that principle; they could shatter any Golden Core Cultivator regardless of their store of power.

Chen Fan's Deity Wheel might not be able to withstand such an attack.

During a real fight, Chen Fan would not last a second without using the Xuan Wu True Form.

"I had never expected to find such powerful cultivators on Planet Tianhuang. I think I have underestimated this world."

Chen Fan shook his head.

In the end, although Chen Fan agreed to attend the gathering, he refused to go with the two girls. Instead, he traveled with an old servant in order to avoid attention.

The gathering would be held at the Ancient Deity Plateau. That was the place where the unnamed Heavenly Lord had created the mighty river.

Although the gathering had not started, the area around the Ancient Deity Plateau was already packed with young cultivators.

Some of them were from the thirteen states of the Beihuang Region, and some were from other Heavenly Regions. Most of them were Golden Core Cultivators.

Chen Fan was at the early-stage of the Golden Core, so no one had paid much attention to him.

"That is Hu Xiao from the Hu family. I heard that he is almost at the late-stage of the Golden Core. Behind him is Violet Moon Fairy. They make such a cute couple!"

"The Wu Sisters are here as well. I heard that Wu Baisu has just made it to the Longevity Roll."

"There comes Wang Xuanfeng."

Many elite young cultivators had arrived.

Hu Xiao, Wu Baisu, Wang Xuanfeng, Nin Haichao and Feng Yuqiu. All the top talents of the Beihuang Region had gathered there. Even the weakest one among them had reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core.

They sauntered straight into the Ancient Deity Plateau as soon as they arrived, leaving countless pairs of jealous eyes behind them.

Walking alongside them were many other young cultivators from other regions who were as powerful as Hu Xiao and Wang Xuanfeng.

"I hope I can join them one day," someone exclaimed.

"Haha, you?" someone else said derisively, "You need to at least have a Golden Core to be able to stand on that plateau while being bombarded by the remains of the Heavenly Lord's energy."

Among many talents in the Beihuang Region, only a handful had formed a Golden Core in the past century. Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivators were even rarer.

"Master, the Ancient Deity Plateau is where the Heavenly Lord reached nirvana. Those who can stand on it would quickly rise to fame. Those who climb the plateau without enough strength or help would fall very quickly," Zhao Juexian explained.

Chen Fan looked up and saw how a few Golden Core Cultivators who forcefully entered the plateau had been struck by lightning and fallen to the ground.

By the end, only a hundred individuals had reached the top.

Chen Fan was about to tell Zhao Juexian to get ready for the climb, when he heard someone call out his name.

"Senior Chen!"

Chen Fan looked back and saw an old friend: Yun Yier. She stood not far from him, eyes wide due to the pleasant surprise. Standing beside her was Lin Wuhua, looking as aloof as ever. They were both accompanied by Mu Hongti.

"What are you doing here?" Chen Fan asked.

The Zeihan Region was far from Beihuang Region and it would take a Connate Cultivator a few months to cover the distance, not to mention the perils along the road. Chen Fan had thought that he would never see those three again.

Compared to six month before, their level of attainment had increased by leaps and bounds.

"Ever since you left the Beihan Region, our master advised us to travel more so that we could broaden our view," Lin Wuhua said with a bow.

The Xuanming Witch had learned to temper her arrogance with respect.

Chen Fan agreed with the advice they had been given. A Golden Core Cultivator was a rare sight in the Beihuang Region but it was everywhere in the Zeihan Region, so much so that attaining a Golden Core was the prerequisite to enter the Ancient Deity Plateau.

The gap between the two regions was huge.

Only

"Indeed, Senior Chen. We have seen so many powerful men and women along our journey. We thought Manggu and Zhao Duluo in my home town were mighty warriors, but anyone in Zeihan Region is every bit as powerful as them. We got into some trouble recently, so we are lucky to see you right now," Yun Yier said.

The three had been overwhelmed by the things they saw and the people they met. They were quiet if not uncomfortable as if they were country girls who had arrived at a metropolis for the first time.

"What trouble?' Chen Fan asked.

Suddenly, a loud and jarring voice was heard.

"Hey, you three! Didn't you tell me that you can reach the top of the plateau? What are you waiting for? A drumroll?"

Chen Fan looked toward the speaker.

He saw an attractive girl surrounded by her entourage walking over to him. She held her chin up and her eyes were filled with disdain.