Translator: CinderTL
Chenguang noticed the unusual expressions on the faces of the three High Gods of the Immortal God Race.
Out of protectiveness for his own race's prodigy, he added, "Gentlemen, while Sword Prodigy Li may have concealed aspects of his cultivation, he is undoubtedly a Heavenly Prodigy of our Human Race. A brief investigation into his achievements will confirm this. Please don't take this matter to heart."
"Not at all, not at all," the three High Gods hastily waved their hands.
"Sword Prodigy Li must have his reasons. We fully understand."
"It's our honor to have met such a Human prodigy in his humble beginnings."
Chenguang and Yi Xuan nodded in response.
With that, the two Void Refining cultivators departed.
The three High Gods exchanged glances, ultimately finding nothing to say.
After all, he was a Heavenly Prodigy of the Human Race. How could they possibly seek retribution?
Whose fault was it anyway?
They could only blame their own poor judgment.
"As far as I know," High God Ao Yang remarked, "the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List and the Solar Radiance List carry considerable weight in the Profound Yellow Great World. Sword Prodigy Li's first-place ranking on the Solar Radiance List means his future advancement to Void Refining is merely a matter of time. By warmly welcoming a future Void Refining expert from the Human Race, we demonstrate the goodwill and amity of our Immortal God Race."
High Gods Dragon-Master and Northern Peak nodded in agreement.
At this point, self-consolation was their only recourse.
As members of the Human Race, Li Chunjun and his group naturally faced less stringent inspections than those applied to the Immortal God Race. Within a single day, the Golden Crow Battleship had successfully passed through the checkpoint and been cleared for passage.
Shortly after crossing the checkpoint, they encountered another Star Gate, a direct conduit to the heart of the Profound Yellow Great World. Numerous other Star Gates clustered nearby, each connecting to different Realm Regions.
However, Li Chunjun had no intention of exploring these other realms, nor even glancing back at the Azure Sea Domain. His sole focus remained the Profound Yellow Great World.
Just as they cleared the checkpoint, Zuo Cheng successfully established contact with Xuan Mi, the commanding general of the Frigid Jade Fortress. As the Golden Crow Battleship soared toward the Profound Yellow Great World, Zuo Cheng projected his Divine Sense into the False God Realm, reuniting with the general.
"Welcome back," Xuan Mi, a Void Refining expert, greeted Li Chunjun curtly, relieved to see him unharmed. "What's the situation on your end?"
Li Chunjun held nothing back, swiftly recounting their experiences and current circumstances.
When Li Chunjun mentioned their descent into a land swarming with Heart Demons, his hunt of over a hundred of them in the Azure Star Minor Realm, and his subsequent cleansing of the realm, the Void Refining expert couldn't help but interrupt. "Wait! Wait a moment!"
His eyes burned with intense scrutiny as he fixed his gaze on Li Chunjun. "I'm not surprised you reached the top of the Star Brilliance First Rank and mastered Mind Power. After all, Li Hentian himself secured his position as the undisputed Solar Radiance First Rank champion precisely because of his mastery of Mind Power. But... cleansed over a hundred Heart Demons?! What exactly do you mean by 'cleansed over a hundred Heart Demons'?!"
Li Chunjun paused, considering his words. "General, you find the idea of cleansing over a hundred Heart Demons unbelievable because you think even someone with Mind Power couldn't achieve such a feat... But I've already defeated Li Hentian, who wields Mind Power. Isn't it possible... my Mind Realm goes beyond the first stage?"
Even Xuan Mi, the Void Refining expert, couldn't help but feel his pupils constrict. "The second stage?! But back then... you were only at the Nascent Soul Realm!"
Meanwhile, Zuo Cheng, who had spent the past two years with Li Chunjun and witnessed countless miracles he had performed, had grown somewhat numb to such things. He no longer reacted dramatically to "minor" events.
At that moment, Xuan Mi suddenly realized something. "You purged over a hundred Heart Demons, and Heart Demons are the ultimate resource for tempering the mind. Does that mean your Mind Realm... has surpassed the Second Stage?"
Li Chunjun nodded.
"Hiss!" Xuan Mi gasped, drawing in a sharp breath.
The top-ranked cultivator on the Star Brilliance List was practically guaranteed to become a Void Refining seed in the future.
But...
This process typically required centuries, or at least a century of cultivation, to bear fruit.
How long had Li Chunjun been at it?
In just a few years, his Mind Realm had already reached the standard required to attempt Void Refining?
"Wait!" Xuan Mi's expression suddenly turned grave. "While refining Heart Demons can rapidly advance one's Mind Realm, it also carries a high risk of Mind Contamination..."
"I believe General Xuan Mi is aware that I possess the Flaming Phoenix Bloodline," Li Chunjun said with a faint smile. "The Nirvana Rebirth of this bloodline not only completely restores one's physical condition but also effectively purifies Mind Contamination. And I... have delved quite deeply into harnessing its power."
"The Flaming Phoenix Bloodline!" Xuan Mi exclaimed, realization dawning on his face. He had long revered this Innate Divine Being's bloodline. While he couldn't confirm its ability to purify Mind Contamination, the fact that Nirvana Rebirth could completely restore one's physical condition was undeniable.
Humans were, after all, holistic beings. With one's Essence, Qi, and Spirit restored to their peak, any Mind Contamination could likely be effectively suppressed.
"Looks like you've turned disaster into fortune this time," General Xuan Mi remarked. "But such fortune is reserved for those with the Flaming Phoenix Bloodline. For anyone else, it would have been a catastrophe."
Li Chunjun nodded. "What's the situation in the Azure Sea Domain?" he asked.
"The Main Star and the Lesser Thousand Worlds protected by Void Refining experts remain safe. Similarly, the Lesser Thousand Worlds outside the Starquake Belt are also secure. However, tens of millions of Lesser Thousand Worlds have been destroyed by this Starquake."
General Xuan Mi spoke gravely, "We have confirmed that the Divine Race orchestrated this Starquake. Their actions have enraged both the Immortal Alliance and the War Commission, and they are currently discussing a full-scale war to completely eradicate this vile race."
"Understood," Li Chunjun replied.
"Furthermore, some representatives from factions that previously sought to recruit you were delayed in leaving the Main Star and narrowly escaped the disaster. Would you like to reconnect with them?"
"There's no rush," Li Chunjun said.
"Hmm?" General Xuan Mi seemed to piece something together. "What are your plans moving forward?"
"Although we've returned to Human Territory, many of our people are still trapped in the Land of Buried Demons. To expedite their rescue, I need a Cave Heaven Supreme Treasure. Therefore, I intend to immediately challenge the Cosmic Light List!"
Li Chunjun explained, "If I can secure the top rank on the Cosmic Light List, exchanging it for a Superior Dao Artifact should be straightforward."
"The Cosmic Light List!"
General Xuan Mi nodded.
"Only those who make the Cosmic Light List truly carry weight."
However, his expression turned serious at the mention of the list. "The Cosmic Light List is different from the Star Brilliance List. You've likely heard how its rigid rules have corrupted it. True entrants may not be Peerless Prodigies, but their combat prowess is, without exception, the pinnacle of perfection."
"I know," Li Chunjun replied with a slight nod. "To secure a spot on the list and claim the Dao-infused materials and Dao Artifacts left behind by the Profound Yellow Supreme, some Void Refining and even Dharma Manifestation Venerables will specifically seek out exceptionally talented members of Foreign Races, grant them Human Race status, bestow upon them Primordial Spirit Techniques, and mold them into killing machines solely for the purpose of climbing the ranks!"
The Human Race possesses its own share of talent.
Yet compared to certain Foreign Races, the difference is vast.
The Sixth-Rank realm was originally intended for a handful of exceptional humans and unique lifeforms.
Long ago, this realm didn't even exist within the Human Race.
"Are you confident?"
"This Starquake," Li Chunjun replied, "forced me to confront the terrifying cataclysm of a collapsing Starfield head-on, granting me profound insights into the laws of Destruction and the Void. It also allowed me to further refine my Sword Force."
"Sword Force?!" General Xuan Mi exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically. "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
He repeated the praise three times. "Sword Force—a Void Refining technique! Combine your Triple Mind Realm with Sword Force and the power of your Flaming Phoenix Bloodline... you might actually have a shot at topping the Cosmic Light List!"
After a pause, he cautioned, "However, when challenging for the top spot on the Cosmic Light List, you must be especially vigilant. The stakes among the top ten are immense, and desperate rivals might resort to extreme measures. To ensure your safety, it's best to join a major power and secure a trustworthy backer as soon as possible."
Li Chunjun nodded.
The top ten on the Cosmic Light List guaranteed access to Dao-infused materials.
First place could even secure a Dao Artifact.
And Dao Artifacts...
This treasure wasn't just precious to a Void Refining Heavenly Monarch; even a Dharma Manifestation Venerable would consider it highly valuable.
After all, the gap between Void Refining, Dharma Manifestation, and Supreme Sage was not absolute. It was not uncommon to see Void Refining cultivators defeating Dharma Manifestation Venerables, or Dharma Manifestation Venerables overcoming Supreme Sages during this stage.
Similarly, cultivators in all three realms used Dao Artifacts. Void Refining cultivators might wield Quasi-Dao Artifacts, standard Dao Artifacts, or Superior Dao Artifacts. Dharma Manifestation Venerables might use Dao Artifacts, Superior Dao Artifacts, or Top-Tier Dao Artifacts. Supreme Sages might employ Superior Dao Artifacts, Top-Tier Dao Artifacts, or Quasi-Immortal Artifacts.
The fact that even Dharma Manifestation Venerables from weaker backgrounds often relied on standard Dao Artifacts underscored the significance of topping the Cosmic Light List. Li Chunjun, as a Nominal Disciple of the Profound Yellow Supreme, had a substantial chance of exchanging his reward for a Superior Cave Heaven Supreme Treasure—equivalent to a Superior Dao Artifact. Such treasures were typically reserved for seasoned Dharma Manifestation Venerables.
To avoid inciting the envy and resentment of others, the best course of action was clear...
...to immediately advance to Void Refining!
And to condense his Dharma Manifestation as quickly as possible!
"I have a plan," he thought.
"We've arrived in the Profound Yellow Great World," Li Chunjun announced. "I'll settle the crew of the Golden Crow Battleship and then prepare to challenge the Cosmic Light List."
He added, "I'll need to borrow the Golden Crow Battleship from General Xuan Mi again."
"No problem at all. Use it as you please," Xuan Mi replied with a dismissive wave of his hand.
He glanced at Li Chunjun, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Honestly, a Cave Heaven Supreme Treasure might not be all that useful to you. Trading the first rank on the Cosmic Light List for such a treasure seems like a poor bargain. I think you should consider borrowing one instead..."
"Borrow?" Li Chunjun shook his head. "Who would willingly lend you such a precious treasure? And who would trust you with it?"
Xuan Mi considered this and realized Li Chunjun was right. Borrowing money or objects had always been incredibly difficult.
As the exchange in the False God Realm concluded, Li Chunjun formally entered the territory of the Profound Yellow Great World. Upon crossing the border, the Cave Heaven Key he carried finally reacted.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (MI) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c380. [+4k]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.