Chapter 187

Pure and brilliant, vast and majestic.

A single thread of red light slashed through the azure expanse of sun and moon, severing yin and yang, dissolving eternal night with the dawn's radiance.

Only a single thread, yet containing the boundless vastness of the Grand Void, the infinite expanse of the cosmos.

This was a sword strike beyond his comprehension! Chen Yuanlin felt his thoughts freezing in that instant—the agony in his soul vanished, Jin Guang dimmed, and purple flame dispersed.

His spirit calmed in that instant, and he simply stared, memories of countless nights of effort flashing through his mind.

Since he first walked the cultivation path and began Qi Condensation, he had discovered he advanced far faster than others.

Then Foundation Establishment, Jin Dan, Nascent Soul…

He left countless others far behind.

Those envious, hopeful, reverent gazes.

Until the day he became the youngest Soul Transformation Stage cultivator in history.

Those gazes grew even more fervent.

He cherished them.

But behind those gazes—

How many times had he rushed his advancement, settling for "close enough," when he still had room to grow? Weakness in Divine Void energy…

A bitter taste rose in his heart; he never imagined he'd one day earn such an evaluation.

And yet… it was the truth!

Divine Creation Foundation, Immortal Jin Dan—but since Nascent Soul, his progress in the Spirit Transformation Realm had grown ever slower…

Ah~ Now he saw it: how foolish he had been.

His thoughts stirred—the red light was already before his eyes.

Facing that sword that had cleaved the azure heavens, Chen Yuanlin stood motionless until a piercing pain struck his third eye, blood trickled down, staining the ground before him.

"How?"

Hearing this, Chen Yuanlin froze, finally returning to himself.

All before him had vanished; only the sword-wielding figure stood before him, silently watching.

"…"

Chen Yuanlin turned to face the Cloud Platform, bowed deeply: "Now I understand my past mistake—thank you, Elder, for your guidance."

The Heavenly Prodigy List? Merely empty fame. If one chases such glory and rushes advancement, neglecting one's foundation, that is true folly.

The cultivation path is long…

If he truly wished to catch up to the footsteps of the First Chairman, he must abandon his foolish attachment to reputation.

"Good that you understand."

The sword-wielding figure nodded slightly, dissolving into a streak of swordlight.

Seeing this, Chen Yuanlin hurriedly asked: "May I ask, Elder, what is the name of that sword strike?"

That sword strike had brought every moment of his past vividly to life, as if replaying his entire life—such a mysterious sword, he could not help but be curious.

"That sword is called the Turning Lantern."

Chen Yuanlin: "…"

To be fair, though strange, it was fitting.

…

…

Upon the Cloud Platform, the Chairman stared blankly at the arena, murmuring a few words.

"The Grand Void Sword Scripture…"

No mistake!

The intent of that sword strike could only be the Supreme Legacy of the Xiang Jianzong—the Grand Void Sword Scripture! This legendary scripture, created by the Supreme Xiang Jianzong, was not only difficult to learn and master, but carried extreme risk—even among the Xiang Jianzong's young generation, only a handful had mastered it.

And the figure formed from that swordlight had wielded the scripture to such a degree…

He suddenly turned to Xu Xing.

Could this young man be a direct disciple of some Sword Lord of the Xiang Jianzong? "Xiang Jianzong…"

At this thought, a flicker of nostalgia passed through his eyes.

The Xiang Jianzong—also a memory to him.

As a child, his happiest moments were sitting on the big rock at the village entrance, listening to that master recount the legends of the Xiang Jianzong.

Until he grew up, and by chance entered cultivation, his cultivation deepened further.

But he carelessly offended a vile old demon sect elder.

While fleeing and hiding, he secretly vowed that once his cultivation grew stronger, he would kill that old demon.

But during that time, the "Tai Xuan Blood Calamity" occurred.

And then… there was no "then."

He was never given the chance to "never underestimate the poor youth"—the old demon died in that blood calamity.

Later, he joined the Ten Thousand Methods Dao Sect, then followed it into the Orthodox Alliance, and now he was Chairman of the Supreme Council. "If only I could meet the Xiang Jianzong once…"

Thoughts flashed through his mind—in the outside world, only an instant had passed.

He looked at Xu Xing, as before.

"Thank you, young friend, for your guidance. The Alliance will send resources shortly."

Though not like that puppet.

Still, payment for the service must be given—why else would anyone guide your juniors? And just now, this young Xiang Jianzong friend's guidance was truly valuable.

At this critical moment, the Alliance must not lose its dignity! Young friend…

With the chairman's words, the scene fell silent at once; the expression on the man beside him turned peculiar, as if he wanted to speak but held back.

But this matter wasn't easy to explain—Ming Yu cautiously glanced at Xu Xing; only when she saw his calm expression did she exhale in relief.

"A mere trifle, you're too kind."

emm……

"Little friend"? How many years had it been since someone called him that?

The last time… it must have been when he traveled the Central Continent with his master, crafting his cultivation method.

Xiang Yuanjun couldn't help but smile: "Brother Dao, how does it feel to be called that?"

"Fine. Quite amusing, actually."

Xu Xing didn't care much.

Yet across the screen of his phone before him, a stream of comments scrolled by.

Ba Zun: "Little friend? Hahaha! Brother Dao must be stunned hearing that word!"

Dan Zu: "After decades of arduous cultivation, achieving Immortalhood and taking half a step beyond the end of the Immortal Path, all you earn is the title 'Little friend'!"

Dan Zu: "Terrifying!"

Qi Zun: "Terrifying!"

Hong Zun: "Terrifying!"

Master Mei Zu: "Terrifying!"

Master Mei Zu: "But if Brother Dao is called 'Little friend,' then according to the divisions of 'Senior Realm,' 'Peer Realm,' 'Little Friend Realm,' and 'Ant Realm'… what are we?"

Master Mei Zu: "Are we ants?"

Dan Zu: "…"

Dan Zu: "Enough!"

Dan Zu: "We're just group members—you've overstepped!"

Dan Zu: "/You will suffer bloodshed today"

Master Mei Zu: "Look look, I'm not the only one stealing pictures!"

Master Mei Zu: "/pointing with finger"

Master Mei Zu: "@Xiang Yuanjun"

Xiang Yuanjun: "…"

Two more minutes passed.

Master Mei Zu: "Where's Master Jianzun? /confused"

Master Mei Zu: "She didn't say a word during this commotion? /confused yellow duck"

Master Mei Zu: "Or did she leave the group? /fireworks"

Seeing this, Xu Xing explained to Bie Xuening.

"My disciple was attacked by Xuan on the Starfield Battlefield; my sister is now tending to her injuries."

Master Mei Zu: "No wonder, no wonder /honest"

Master Jianzun: "I won't leave the group even if you die!"

This message was likely Bie Xuening's reply, snatched between moments.

…………

A while later, only a few Golden Core Stage contestants remained on the arena, along with Chen Yuanlin, who was meditating.

Qi Condensation Stage…

Honestly, there's nothing to watch at this level, so it wasn't even included.

Foundation Establishment Stage was swept clean by Meng Xuan, so it ended early.

As for Nascent Soul Stage, it was simply because too few qualified—even with the age limit raised to thirty, there were still too few eligible.

A martial exhibition must select the best of the best.

Would you bring in weak Nascent Soul cultivators just to amuse the observers from the Qidaxian Sect?

Second update, request subscription.

As for bonus updates… I'm clumsy with typing, so I rarely consider them.

I'll add one more update when we hit a thousand monthly votes. (End of chapter)