Chapter 972: The Transformation of Ling Yuan, Gathering of Prodigies, Followers of the Chaotic Body

Formerly, Ling Yuan was also extremely noble and coldly elegant.

But she was not like this now, her tone devoid of any emotion whatsoever.

That feeling was as if a part of her heart had died completely.

And this change began with Jun Xiaoyao’s demise.

After Jun Xiaoyao died, the already aloof Ling Yuan became even more distant from all others.

In the past, Ling Yuan would sometimes even joke with Ru Ying.

Now, Ling Yuan devoted herself solely to cultivation and seclusion, living nearly cut off from the world.

“My Lady Di, after all these years, still unable to move on?” Ru Ying sighed inwardly.

Jun Xiaoyao had become a thing of the past.

Now, in the Immortal Realm, few still spoke of him.

Ru Ying felt Ling Yuan should also step out of her shadow and look forward.

Logically speaking, with Jun Xiaoyao’s death,

the one who benefited most should have been Ling Yuan.

As the Young Emperor of the Immortal Court and the Divine Son of the Jun Clan, they were naturally rivals.

Yet now, the one who should have been joyful, Ling Yuan, was the most heartbroken of all—truly lamentable.

Within the Divine Realm.

Immortal light enveloped the space, mist thick and boundless.

A peerlessly beautiful woman sat cross-legged within.

Her features exquisitely perfect, as if carved by heaven itself, her starlit eyes adorned with cold detachment.

Her skin fine as lamb’s fat jade, her slender form shimmering with immortal radiance.

Her expression radiated noble elegance and icy aloofness.

It was none other than Ling Yuan.

After the Divine Ruins, the Nine Heavens Immortal Academy opened.

She joined with a group of prodigies and received the Immortal-level legacy.

Three or four years passed.

Ling Yuan’s cultivation base successfully broke through to the Pre-Sovereign realm.

Coupled with her possession of the Throne of the Heavenly Emperor’s imprint and her status as Young Emperor of the Immortal Court,

Ling Yuan was now the undisputed leader among the younger generation of the Immortal Court.

As for the Ancient Emperor’s Son, though not weak, his reputation was tarnished, and his prestige had long fallen far behind Ling Yuan’s.

But only Ling Yuan herself knew,

what she had lost.

“It’s been so long…”

In Ling Yuan’s phoenix eyes, there seemed a hollow emptiness.

Her memories often blurred.

Images would surface in her mind: dancing for Jun Xiaoyao, strolling with him beneath the starry sky.

She had gradually lost clarity on whether she was Ling Yuan—or Tian Nü Yan.

Or perhaps, both.

After all, Tian Nü Yan had previously planted a hidden mechanism, burned her physical form, and returned her soul to Ling Yuan, merging the two.

Now, she was both Ling Yuan and Tian Nü Yan.

Precisely because of this, Jun Xiaoyao’s death struck Ling Yuan with such devastating force.

Ling Yuan raised her jade hand, holding a jade slip.

It contained a message from the Wa Huang Immortal Lineage.

“The Alien Realm: the Chaotic Body.”

Ling Yuan murmured softly, feeling listless.

Without Jun Xiaoyao, everything felt utterly meaningless.

…

As the Summoning Bell rang,

countless disciples of the Nine Heavens Immortal Academy surged like fish crossing a river, transforming into beams of light that converged toward the central plaza of the Immortal Island.

“I heard it was Elder Fu’s notice—wonder what he wants to announce.”

“Probably the Borderlands Training is about to begin.”

As more and more disciples arrived, many began whispering among themselves.

“The Borderlands Training is finally here? I’ve been waiting so long!”

A clear, commanding voice rang out.

In the distance, a colossal dragon shadow approached.

Standing within it was a woman of peerless beauty.

She wore a snow-white long gown, her long legs luminous and gleaming.

Her purple hair flowed like silk, smooth and glossy.

On her breathtaking face, noble purple-gold phoenix eyes surveyed all directions with pride.

It was none other than the transformed Long Yaoer.

“It’s Empress Long Yao!”

Seeing this woman, many prodigies’ eyes sparkled with awe.

Long Yaoer, once one of the Seven Rebellious Emperors.

Though due to Jun Xiaoyao, the Seven Rebellious Emperors’ reputation suffered,

the main blame fell on the Ancient Emperor’s Son.

The other six emperors faced little direct hostility.

These past few years, Long Yaoer had lived comfortably, thriving.

She had truly become Empress of the Great Void Ancient Dragon Clan, and also a heavenly prodigy meticulously nurtured by the Batizutang .

Without Jun Xiaoyao, Long Yaoer’s sky had cleared of dark clouds.

Previously, during the Saint Body vs. Tyrant Body conflict, Jun Xiaoyao had crushed Long Yaoer with his Dharma Body, nearly shattering her Dao heart.

Later, after awakening her Golden Ancient Dragon bloodline and transforming, she had sought revenge—only to be crushed again by Jun Xiaoyao.

It had been a dark period.

Now, with Jun Xiaoyao’s death, the darkness had lifted.

“Jun Xiaoyao, pity you’re already dead—if you were still alive, I’d truly like to fight you again, to finally erase the demon in my heart,” Long Yaoer whispered inwardly.

Having received the Immortal-level legacy, she too had broken through to the Pre-Sovereign realm.

But her only regret was never having personally defeated Jun Xiaoyao.

That had left a faint demon in her heart.

Long Yaoer believed she would never again have the chance to erase it.

At that moment, from another direction, a handsome man with flowing silver hair and a crane-feather cloak stepped through the air, hands clasped behind his back.

It was Yu Hua Wang—he too had broken through to the Pre-Sovereign realm.

As for Yu Yunshang, she was not seen; she had not come with Yu Hua Wang.

Yu Hua Wang’s expression was distant, tinged with melancholy.

Even after years, he could still faintly hear Jun Xiaoyao’s words:

“Friendship… is truly a luxury.”

Many times, Yu Hua Wang had asked himself: had he made a mistake?

Perhaps yes, perhaps no.

The only certainty was that there was no pill to undo regret.

As time passed, more and more prodigies gathered on the plaza.

Then, a group of men and women arrived from afar, their aura astonishing and drawing all eyes.

“Those people are… followers of the Jun Clan’s Divine Son!”

Seeing this group, many prodigies present wore expressions of reverence.

Though Jun Xiaoyao had died years ago,

his achievements in the Immortal Realm were indelible.

Had Jun Xiaoyao not sacrificed himself to seal the Divine Entity’s evil intent, the entire Divine Ruins World might have been destroyed.

If the Divine Ruins World had fallen, the Alien Realm could have marched in unimpeded.

The consequences were unimaginable.

Jun Xiaoyao had become a hero of the Immortal Realm.

Naturally, his followers were held in high esteem.

Looking out, Yi Yu, Yan Qingying, Wang Chuan, and Yong Jie Tian Nü were all present, each radiating formidable power.

Also present was Princess Long Ji, who had never formally become Jun Xiaoyao’s follower but stood in the same camp.

As the heir of the Nine-Fingered Holy Dragon Emperor, she naturally could join the Nine Heavens Immortal Academy.

In addition, there were several women: Yu Chanjuan, Yan Rumen, and Taiyin Yutu.

They all joined the Nine Heavens Immortal Academy.

These past few years, those around Jun Xiaoyao had been striving to cultivate.

They stubbornly believed Jun Xiaoyao had not perished and would surely return one day.

And just then.

A cold voice suddenly sounded.

“Yu Chanjuan, will you still not submit to the Lord of the Chaos Body?”

Several figures arrived.

Seeing those figures, Yu Chanjuan and the others fixed them with icy gazes.

“Followers of the Chaos Body…”