Translator: CinderTL
Taixu Sword Sect.
On Flaming Phoenix Peak, Li Chunjun returned to his courtyard, quietly waiting for the situation to unfold.
He was also waiting for the right opportunity to arrive.
At this moment, some documents were laid out before him.
Documents about the Profound Yellow Great World.
These materials originally had a high level of confidentiality within the Taixu Sword Sect. However, as Li Chunjun planned to venture into the Profound Yellow Great World to challenge the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List, many of these documents were sent to him, allowing him to gain a deeper understanding of the Profound Yellow Great World.
"Originally, I thought that the Blue Star Minor Realm, in terms of the knowledge I understand, was equivalent to a star system, and the Profound Yellow Great World was equivalent to a galaxy... But now, it seems I oversimplified it," Li Chunjun said.
Between the Lesser World and the Great World, there is another unit called the Realm Region.
Commonly referred to as the Middle Thousand World.
However, since travel between the Lesser Chiliocosm and the Middle Thousand World is free and unrestricted, with no barriers, the official documents refer to it as the Realm Region.
Such a region can be considered a galaxy.
As for the Great World...
In a sense, it can be viewed as a traversable universe.
The only difference is that the concepts of the universe, star systems, and galaxies are broken here.
Due to the existence of the "Great Path Network," there are no vast star rivers forming insurmountable chasms between the Lesser World, Realm Region, and Great World.
The three are almost like a single entity.
Today, you might be in the Lesser World, tomorrow you could cross a Star Gate and enter the Realm Region, and the day after, you could pass through another Star Gate and return to the Profound Yellow Great World.
The entire starry sky, centered around the Profound Yellow Great World, is divided into countless Realm Regions, each containing innumerable Lesser Worlds.
Yes, innumerable.
Even a dominant force like the Taixu Sword Sect in the Profound Yellow Great World does not know exactly how many Lesser Chiliocosms exist within the scope of the "Great Path Network" of the Profound Yellow Great World.
It's like how people find it difficult to determine exactly how many stars there are in the observable universe.
Although most of these Lesser Worlds hold little value.
Over ninety percent of them don't even have decent cultivators—like Blue Star.
But in terms of sheer numbers, the Lesser Worlds are indeed astonishing.
"So, each Lesser World is categorized into three levels based on its development potential and status: ordinary, superior, and top-tier... Blue Star Minor Realm was originally just an ordinary Lesser World, where even Nascent Souls or Primordial Spirits wouldn't linger for long. But due to the 'earthquake,' its environment changed, making it a strategic location for constructing Star Gates, thus elevating it to a superior world," Li Chunjun read from the document.
He then continued, "The standard for a superior Lesser World... a permanent population of at least three-digit True Lords and no less than one Primordial Spirit!"
This alone highlights the value of the Blue Star Minor Realm.
As for top-tier Lesser Worlds, they are home to at least two-digit True Lords.
Beyond that are the Realm Regions.
Like certain small nodes in a vast network.
Or major transportation hubs.
These places serve as centers, dividing the Realm Regions.
A single Realm Region often encompasses hundreds of millions of Lesser Worlds.
Hundreds of millions! And that's excluding those Lesser Worlds with little to no development value.
"Blue Star is a superior Lesser World, and theoretically, out of thousands of such worlds, it's rare to cultivate even one 'Prodigy'-level genius. The previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy of the Taixu Sword Sect was not from Blue Star," Li Chunjun flipped through the documents.
He had read the records of the previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
This Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator had suffered a crushing defeat in a fierce competition with another Sword Prodigy within the Taixu Sword Sect, sustaining unprecedented injuries. In a manner of "self-exile," he avoided the intense rivalry of the Taixu Sword Sect and came to Blue Star.
As a result, during a life-and-death struggle against the Evil God's Chosen, he unearthed a deeper layer of his Flaming Phoenix Bloodline. Not only did he fully recover from his injuries through a Nirvana Rebirth, but his swordsmanship and Sword Intent also advanced further, elevating him to the status of Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
"In the Taixu Sword Sect, 'Prodigy'-level geniuses are given key cultivation resources. However, unlike the Taixu Sword Sect on Blue Star, where the entire sect often provides full protection, these precious resources still require them to fight and compete for themselves. The mortality rate is not low... Only after surpassing this level can one become a 'Chief Master'-level genius."
Take Li Chunjun, for example, who hails from the Flaming Phoenix lineage. If he can surpass other 'Prodigy'-level talents, he can become the Chief Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
However, the Chief Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy is still not the highest achievement for 'Prodigy'-level geniuses.
In the Profound Yellow Great World, the highest achievement naturally belongs to the "Child of the Stars" who can ascend the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List.
Layer by layer, the selection is rigorous.
After just a brief glance, Li Chunjun realized how incredibly difficult it truly is to climb the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List.
His competitors are not in the hundreds or thousands.
They are counted in the billions!
Tens of billions, hundreds of billions, trillions, and even tens of trillions!
"The vastness of the Great World is truly immense."
Li Chunjun sighed sincerely.
At this moment, he faintly understood the difference between ascending the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List and firmly holding a position on it.
When one reaches Core Formation and is capable of ascending the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List, each individual has already reached a level of strength where there is no room for further improvement.
Their Qi, Mystical Powers, Divine Sense, Mystic Treasures, and Secret Arts are all perfected, far surpassing the standards of their peers.
In such a state of "completeness" in every aspect, even a momentary fluctuation in condition could cause them to fall off the list.
Those who can firmly hold their position on the list are likely a whole level stronger than those who merely ascend it.
Moreover, this strength is not just in terms of Qi, Mystical Powers, or Mystic Treasures, but rather a difference in innate talent.
It is a chasm that ordinary geniuses, no matter how hard they try, cannot cross.
Li Chunjun pondered for a long time.
Finally, he turned his attention to another stage.
Then, he set up a Magic Array, using a special method to induce a certain profound resonance.
Next, he would wait for a response from the other side.
"Junior Brother."
At this moment, a voice called out to him.
Li Chunjun glanced over, stood up, and exited the cultivation chamber.
As he activated the array enveloping the courtyard, Jiang Wanyu appeared within his Divine Sense.
Her long dress fluttered gracefully, and her beauty remained as serene as ever. Li Chunjun's Divine Sense lingered on her for a moment before he guided her into the courtyard.
At this time, Jiang Wanyu's face carried a trace of concern: "Junior Brother, are you planning to challenge the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List?"
"I have that thought, but I'll need to assess the situation first."
Li Chunjun replied.
"With Junior Brother's strength, there is indeed hope of ascending the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List..."
Jiang Wanyu looked at him: "But, the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List represents an astonishing amount of benefits. Every ten years, those on the list receive an extremely generous reward from the Profound Yellow List. Even those at the bottom of the list receive rewards worth no less than a hundred Spirit Crystals. Therefore, to protect these benefits, everyone on the list will deal with challengers in the most ruthless manner to deter those who choose to challenge them."
Li Chunjun already knew that any Core Formation Cultivator who entered the Profound Yellow Great World and demonstrated Nascent Soul-level combat power would be sensed by the Star Brilliance List of the Profound Yellow List and granted the qualification to challenge.
There were no restrictions on whom the challengers could choose to challenge.
Whether it was the 108th person or the first, they could choose freely.
Thus, to avoid being constantly targeted, those on the list naturally treated challengers with the utmost cruelty.
Those who failed in their challenges almost always met a certain death.
However...
"Those at the bottom receive a hundred Spirit Crystals every ten years?"
Li Chunjun asked.
"It's treasures worth a hundred Spirit Crystals!"
Jiang Wanyu said: "If you exchange them for things others urgently need, the final profit could easily reach one hundred twenty, or even one hundred thirty Spirit Crystals."
One hundred twenty, one hundred thirty...
"If I remember correctly, the average Nascent Soul cultivator's wealth is only around a hundred Spirit Crystals."
Li Chunjun said.
"Correct."
Jiang Wanyu nodded: "Even those at the bottom can earn the equivalent of a Nascent Soul cultivator's entire wealth in ten years. If you can make it into the top ten, the final rewards would be enough to make any True Lord envious."
She then added: "Especially for some rare resources, True Lords don't even have access to purchase channels... That's why there's a saying that some True Lords rely on the Star Brilliance List's Core Formation cultivators."
Spirit Crystals are excellent for replenishing mental and Qi energy, and they are also the universal currency in the Spirit Refinement Great Realm.
Although they don't replenish instantly and aren't very effective in combat, they are considered treasures for daily cultivation of Mystical Powers and Arcane Arts.
How do Mystical Powers and Arcane Arts improve? Besides talent and comprehension, the most crucial factor is practice! Practice makes perfect!
Even if one's aptitude is dull, practicing ten times might only be equivalent to a genius practicing once. But as long as one practices enough, mastering a Mystical Power tens of thousands, millions, or even billions of times can still lead to perfection.
Why do ordinary people progress slowly in cultivating Mystical Powers and Arcane Arts? It's because using them consumes Qi, and Qi recovery takes a lot of time.
But with the aid of Spirit Crystals, the time for Qi recovery is greatly reduced, allowing for rapid progress in cultivating Mystical Powers and Arcane Arts.
For example, it would take Li Chunjun five or six years to master the Grand Ruins Sword Intent.
But with an unlimited supply of Spirit Crystals, this time could be shortened to five or six months.
"Junior Brother, the competition on the Star Brilliance List is too intense..."
Jiang Wanyu's eyes flickered as she looked at Li Chunjun: "Everyone hopes you can make it onto the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List because it would bring immense benefits to the entire Taixu Sword Sect... But, I sincerely hope you can think carefully and stay true to yourself, not being swayed by others' attitudes."
"Mm, thank you for the reminder."
Li Chunjun sensed her gaze but didn't look at her: "I will consider it carefully."
Jiang Wanyu looked at Li Chunjun, who responded politely, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start.
She even felt somewhat lost.
It seemed...
Ever since Junior Brother became the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, their relationship had not been as close as it was when they first ascended the mountain.
At this moment, Li Chunjun suddenly asked, "Senior Sister, do you have any wishes?"
"Wishes?"
"Or perhaps, any life goals?"
Li Chunjun said.
"Wishes, goals..."
Jiang Wanyu gathered her thoughts and pondered seriously.
Upon reflection, she suddenly realized that she seemed...
to have no goals.
No! It wasn't that she had no goals at all, but rather...
this goal was nothing more than an unattainable dream.
For a moment, she couldn't help but shake her head.
"Nothing..."
"So you do have one?"
Li Chunjun smiled and asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing..."
Jiang Wanyu shook her head again.
"Tell me, everyone should have a goal."
Li Chunjun said.
"I..."
Jiang Wanyu opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I... probably hope that one day I can achieve something in my cultivation, become outstanding... more outstanding than them..."
She paused.
And Li Chunjun knew who she was referring to by "them."
"At that time, I want to stand in front of them and ask them... if they..."
She stopped here and shook her head again, "Forget it, I won't say anymore."
Li Chunjun didn't ask further.
He simply replied,
"I understand."
(End of the Chapter)
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