Translator: CinderTL
"How... how is this possible...?"
After a long silence, Xuan Zhu finally managed to stammer, his voice dry and stiff, as if he had only recently learned to speak.
"Sword Prodigy Li is not only on the Cosmic Light List, but he's ranked first! He's already conquered the Star Ranking and the Star Brilliance Ranking, and now he's taken the top spot on the Cosmic Light List too?! The Triple First-Rank Achievement?! And he accomplished all this in less than five years! This... this is an unprecedented triumph in the history of the Profound Yellow Three Rankings!"
At that moment, Wu Gang finally snapped out of his stupor. His eyes widened as he stared at Sword Prodigy Li's name at the top of the Cosmic Light List, as if witnessing a divine legend unfold before his very eyes.
"Less than five years... from first on the Star Ranking to first on the Cosmic Light List... How can such a prodigy even exist in this world?!"
Xu Yu once again felt her worldview and understanding of reality shatter.
As for Chu Ci, having regained his composure, he had lost all desire to speak, only a bitter smile lingering on his face.
How could the gap between people be so vast?!
The Star Brilliance List was already an unattainable goal for most cultivators. To even make the list would be an unparalleled honor, bringing glory to their ancestors and astonishing their sect. And to reach the Star Brilliance First Rank...
Yet Li Chunjun had not only conquered the Star Brilliance First Rank but had swiftly ascended to the Cosmic Light First Rank, achieving the legendary Triple First-Rank Achievement in record time.
Unimaginable.
Incomprehensible.
Even Chu Ci, a Void Refining disciple, the Heaven's Chosen in the eyes of countless ordinary cultivators, and a peerless genius whom countless contemporaries could only look up to in awe, couldn't fathom what kind of talent it would take to achieve such a legendary feat in less than five years.
Li Chunjun had completely transcended his understanding of what was possible.
It seemed his sole purpose in existence was to shatter everyone's preconceptions and illuminate the entire Great World.
As Xuan Zhu, Xu Yu, Wu Gang, Chu Ci, and the others reeled from the shock, Domain Lord Xihai of the Azure Sea Domain and General Xuan Mi noticed the dramatic shift in their expressions and glanced at the Cosmic Light List.
When they saw the name at the top, even these Void Refining experts couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment, "Good heavens! Li Chunjun has truly given us another monumental surprise! We thought it would be impressive enough if he made the list, but he's actually soared to first place?! The younger generation is truly formidable!"
"First place on the Cosmic Light List?! Li Chunjun?!"
The Void Refining experts from the Dragon Spring Sect and the Myriad Phenomena Sect immediately turned their attention to the list.
Upon seeing the name at the pinnacle, they were visibly stunned.
"He... actually achieved this?!"
"How is this possible?! He only reached the Star Brilliance First Rank a few years ago. How could he have climbed to the top of the Cosmic Light List—a battleground filled with meticulously crafted killing machines nurtured by countless Void Refining and even Dharma Manifestation experts—in such a short time?!"
Even General Xuan Mi, who truly understood Li Chunjun's capabilities, was stunned by the ranking, pausing for nearly a full breath.
"This Li Chunjun..." he muttered with a wry smile. "I thought highly of him and believed he could make the Cosmic Light List, but even my wildest expectations only saw him barely cracking the top ten. And here he is, taking first place!"
Unable to contain the surge of emotion, he exclaimed sincerely, "Such talent defies description! He's practically a demon!"
"A demon..." Domain Lord Xihai repeated the word thoughtfully, savoring its weight before nodding in profound agreement. His gaze involuntarily drifted toward the general of Frigid Jade Fortress. "Li Chunjun... is he truly just a native from a Lesser Thousand World? Could he be the descendant of some supreme being, or a Peerless Prodigy cultivated by a powerful figure for some grand experiment?"
Xuan Mi himself possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Li Chunjun's background.
Li Chunjun's entire journey of growth had been meticulously documented, showing no signs of intervention from any powerful figures.
Yet, seeing Li Chunjun's first-place ranking on the Cosmic Light List and hearing Domain Lord Xihai's question, General Xuan Mi couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt.
"It... shouldn't be, right?"
"Are you sure?"
"I..."
General Xuan Mi mentally reviewed everything he knew about Li Chunjun. "At least, that's what all my information suggests."
Domain Lord Xihai didn't press further, likely surmising that further questioning would yield little useful information.
"First place on the Cosmic Light List..." a Void Refining cultivator from the Dragon Spring Sect suddenly mused. "Lu Jiuyang, the previous number one, was Venerable Zhongyuan's chosen representative, wasn't he? That man is a Royal Sovereign of the Heavenly Palace! A pinnacle expert who has mastered the Dharma Aspect stage. Rumor has it he's been waiting to use the first-place reward from the Cosmic Light List to forge a Superior Dao Artifact capable of unleashing his full power. Now that Li Chunjun has taken his place..."
He trailed off, but everyone understood his meaning.
The Royal Sovereign of the Heavenly Palace was unlikely to take this lying down.
"Before Li Chunjun challenged the Cosmic Light List, I advised him to wait until he had sufficient backing," General Xuan Mi responded. "Now that he dares to aim for the top spot, it seems he's finally secured a powerful patron."
Xihai and the two Void Refining Ancestors listening felt a slight relief. They had mentally prepared to support Li Chunjun, but their willingness depended on whether his actions threatened the interests of Void Refining experts. Confronting a Law Manifestation powerhouse—especially one with extensive connections and a formidable background—would genuinely make them uneasy.
Xihai, after some contemplation, seemed to have reached a decision.
"I am a Void Refining cultivator from the Eternal Light Hall," he declared, turning to Xuan Mi. "While our hall can't compare to the Heavenly Palace, my Master is also a Law Manifestation expert. General, please inform Sword Prodigy Li that if he's willing to join our Eternal Light Hall, we will offer him the highest level of cultivation resources. Moreover, even if Venerable Zhongyuan dares to seek retribution, our hall will bear the full weight of it."
Xuan Mi's eyes lit up.
Though the Eternal Light Hall's standing within the Immortal Alliance fell short of the Heavenly Palace's, its investment in the Profound Yellow Great World far surpassed that of the Heavenly Palace.
With Sages stationed at strategic locations and dozens of Law Manifestation experts patrolling vital resource points like the Profound Yellow Vast Land, the Eternal Light Hall's formidable force was more than capable of withstanding pressure from the Heavenly Palace.
"I'll inform Sword Prodigy Li immediately," Xuan Mi said.
He knew that Li Chunjun's potential far surpassed simply topping the Star and Solar Radiance Rankings. In just five short years, he had consecutively claimed the top spot on all three Profound Yellow Rankings: Star, Solar Radiance, and Cosmic Light.
Over the coming period, numerous powers would likely reignite their recruitment efforts for him.
Compared to these factions, especially native giants like the Taixu Sword Sect, Wu Ji Sect, Profound Yellow Sect, Chiyang Sword Sect, and Xian Tian Sect, the Eternal Light Hall held no significant advantage.
This realization brought Xuan Mi a measure of relief. "A prodigy like Li Chunjun is practically destined for Void Refining, and even that might not be his limit. Given this, countless factions would willingly step forward to protect him. If Zhong Yuan were rational and magnanimous, he wouldn't obsess over this matter, lest he needlessly make an enemy of a future powerhouse."
The situation outside unfolded almost exactly as Xuan Mi had predicted.
When Li Chunjun suddenly vanished from the top of the Star Brilliance First Rank, followed by news of a Starquake in the Azure Sea Domain, many lamented the apparent demise of this Heavenly Prodigy.
However, history showed that less than half of those who rose to prominence as geniuses ever reached their full potential. While Li Chunjun's fall as a Void Refining seed was regrettable, such occurrences were common enough that the public had grown accustomed to them.
Yet, his disappearance from the Star Brilliance List had been too recent for the fervor surrounding him to fade. Coupled with his previous achievement of topping the Star Ranking, which made him inherently more newsworthy than previous Star Brilliance First Rank holders, discussions about him continued unabated.
Against this backdrop, his reappearance—this time as the top-ranked individual on the Cosmic Light List—ignited renewed enthusiasm from all the factions that had previously shown interest in him. Countless individuals frantically searched for his whereabouts, waving stacks of Spirit Crystals to entice him into joining their organizations. Multiple major powers even dispatched Void Refining Ancestors to publicly extend invitations.
Among them, the Celestial Qin Dynasty exerted the most significant effort. This Council-level power within the Immortal Alliance publicly declared its willingness to offer Li Chunjun a 14th-grade cultivation package, the highest level of cultivation resources, to secure his membership.
The Celestial Qin Dynasty was even willing to offer a princess in marriage, forging a harmonious union and uniting their families.
The most significant difference between a 13th-tier and 14th-tier cultivation standard lies in the realm of Dharmic Manifestations.
No matter how lavishly a 13th-tier standard is described, it only supports cultivation up to the Void Refining stage. At best, the cultivation resources offered might be considered precious for a Void Refining cultivator.
But the 14th-tier standard...
That included a Dharmic Manifestation.
The resources required for a Void Refining cultivator to forge a Dharmic Manifestation are astronomically vast.
While the breakthrough between Void Refining and Dharmic Manifestation isn't a life-or-death bottleneck—requiring only sufficient comprehension, mastery of the Law Mysteries, and advancement in the Mind Realm—in reality, fewer than one in ten peak Void Refining cultivators with a Mind Realm above the fourth tier manage to achieve it. This is because the cost of forging a Dharmic Manifestation is simply too high, far beyond what ordinary Void Refining cultivators can afford.
Even those who have successfully forged a Dharmic Manifestation often had to borrow extensively, scraping together funds from every corner, just to take that final step. Afterward, they likely spend the majority of their lives repaying the debts incurred during its creation.
The 14th-tier standard included assistance in forging a Dharmic Manifestation...
This single provision unequivocally demonstrated the Celestial Qin Dynasty's astonishing sincerity in their efforts to win him over.
Li Chunjun remained blissfully unaware of the commotion brewing outside.
He was currently devoting all his time and energy to comprehending the Profound Yellow Vast Land and the Shattered Void Technique, immersing himself in their mysteries.
During this period, the Profound Yellow Sect sent representatives to his mountain peak, each more prestigious than the last, seeking an audience with him. Three days prior, even the Sect Master himself had personally visited.
However, Li Chunjun remained secluded, refusing to see anyone.
Lost in this complete immersion, shutting out the world around him, a month passed in the blink of an eye.
(End of the Chapter)
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