Translator: CinderTL
Only those with Nascent Soul-level combat strength could qualify as challengers for the Star Glory List.
Under normal circumstances, one would need to be at least at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul to secure a spot on the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List.
Li Chunjun's combat strength was essentially on par with a late-stage Nascent Soul Great True Lord. Not only could he ascend the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List, but he also had a strong chance of securing a position on it.
The only question was where he would rank.
The top ten individuals on the list received treasures that even True Lords coveted but could not obtain. It was clear that the forces behind them would spare no effort in investing resources to protect these interests.
Spirit Treasures at their disposal? Void Refining teachings? Monsters who had emerged victorious from competitions involving hundreds of billions, trillions, or even quadrillions of Core Formation cultivators—their cultivation was so formidable that even Great True Lords like Xi Yan, Yu Kun, and Li Ding would likely be no match for them.
It was possible that their strength was on par with someone like Qi Qian Yu.
For Li Chunjun to face such opponents, he would either need to master the three Mystical Powers of Great Dark Heaven, Void Flicker, and Grand Ruins Sword Intent, or elevate his life level to 30, relying on a foundation far superior to that of Core Formation cultivators to break through with sheer force.
...
As time passed.
With the issuance of the Star Sword Master Decree, the Sky Sword Sect and Thunderclap Sect aside, the Piao Miao Sect and Fu Hai Sect were the first to declare their intention not to oppose the Taixu Sword Sect.
The two sects immediately relinquished the territories of the Taixu Sword Sect they had occupied over the past few decades, retreating hundreds of miles to demonstrate their sincerity in not opposing the Taixu Sword Sect.
The Xian Tian Sect and Zhou Tian Sect followed suit.
Although both sects had suffered heavy losses at the hands of Li Chunjun, losing numerous Core Formation cultivators and even a Nascent Soul cultivator each, these sects dared not entertain any thoughts of retaliation.
Not only did they, like the Piao Miao Sect and Fu Hai Sect, return the territories they had occupied from the Taixu Sword Sect, but they also sent envoys to the Taixu Sword Sect with gifts, expressing their apologies and hoping to turn hostility into friendship with the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
In this environment, the surrounding conditions of the Taixu Sword Sect visibly improved.
The dark clouds of war that had loomed over Blue Star quickly dissipated, bringing relief to countless low-level cultivators, Core Formation cultivators, and even Nascent Soul True Lords.
A war among the Nine Sects, once ignited, would not only claim the lives of Qi Refining cultivators but also cause Core Formation cultivators to fall by the hundreds.
Even Nascent Soul True Lords would not escape unscathed, with dozens likely perishing before the conflict would end.
A single grain of sand from the era could become a mountain on an individual's shoulders.
No one wished to witness the most terrifying outcome.
Although conflicts between the Taixu Sword Sect, the Chiyang Sword Sect, and even the Wu Ji Sect were still inevitable, the intensity of the war had been reduced from a Nine Sects conflict to a three-sect confrontation, allowing most sects to remain on the sidelines.
In this situation, Qi Refining, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul cultivators who had avoided the war naturally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though they had narrowly escaped death.
As time went on, the Taixu Sword Sect seemed to confirm that the Piao Miao Sect, Fu Hai Sect, Zhou Tian Sect, and Xian Tian Sect had truly withdrawn to their own territories and would not join the Wu Ji Sect and Chiyang Sword Sect in a life-and-death struggle against them. The Taixu Sword Sect then began to take action.
A large number of Core Formation cultivators were deployed to Shangzhou.
Even five Nascent Soul cultivators were stationed in the capital of Shangzhou.
The five Nascent Soul cultivators of the Taixu Sword Sect could easily be considered equivalent to ten Nascent Soul cultivators, representing nearly half the combat strength of the Chiyang Sword Sect.
They gathered in Shangzhou, and the purpose behind it, along with the immense pressure it brought upon the Chiyang Sword Sect, was evident.
Not just Shangzhou.
In Nanzhou, which directly bordered the Wu Ji Sect, the number of Core Formation cultivators exceeded a hundred, and the Nascent Soul True Lords reached six.
The scale was even larger than Shangzhou.
They were in a menacing posture.
However, the Wu Ji Sect and the Taixu Sword Sect had long-standing grievances, and they would never miss any opportunity to cause trouble for the Taixu Sword Sect.
Facing the Taixu Sword Sect's troops at their doorstep, they also dispatched a large number of Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators to confront them head-on.
Leading them was the Sword God Zhuo Yu, who had mastered top-tier Mystical Powers.
A young prodigy who had just entered the mid-stage of Nascent Soul but already possessed the combat strength of a Great True Lord.
It was foreseeable that when the Taixu Sword Sect truly moved against the Chiyang Sword Sect, the Wu Ji Sect would not stand idly by.
...
In the illusionary realm of the Wu Ji Sect.
Zhan Chiyang's expression visibly turned grave.
"I have a premonition that within the next month or two, the Taixu Sword Sect will make their move."
"Rest assured, the Wu Ji Sect will spare no effort to assist you in this assassination!"
True Lord Mo Bai said, "When the time comes, not only will Xi Yan bring the Primordial Limitless Diagram, but our Wu Ji Sect's Sword Saint Sword Saint Yi will also accompany him!"
"Sword Saint Yi!?"
Zhan Chiyang's eyes immediately lit up with joy.
Sword Saint Yi! He was the Sword Prodigy of the Wu Ji lineage within the Wu Ji Sect!
After achieving Nascent Soul, his potential slightly waned, and unable to bear the sudden shift in the main sect's warmth and coldness, he followed to the Blue Star Minor Realm.
Although he no longer held the title of Wu Ji Sword Prodigy, his strength was in no way inferior to Qi Qian Yu, the top expert of the Taixu Sword Sect who was on the verge of achieving Primordial Spirit.
In fact, the reason the Wu Ji Sect's Blue Star lineage could stand toe-to-toe with the Taixu Sword Sect despite lacking numerical superiority was largely due to the contributions of this Wu Ji Sword Saint.
If one were to rank among the one or two hundred True Lords in the Blue Star Minor Realm, both he and Qi Qian Yu would undoubtedly be strong contenders for the top spot.
"If Sword Saint Yi is willing to take action, with the advantages of our Chiyang Sword Sect's formations, we can ensure that the Taixu Sword Sect's people will not return alive."
Zhan Chiyang declared confidently.
"Not the Taixu Sword Sect, but Li Chunjun."
True Lord Mo Bai said solemnly, "You need to distinguish the primary target."
Zhan Chiyang nodded slightly upon hearing this, "Understood."
Compared to other sects that might fear Li Chunjun's talent and potential, the Wu Ji Sect truly wished for nothing more than to kill Li Chunjun. After all, for the Fu Hai Sect, Piao Miao Sect, Xian Tian Sect, Zhou Tian Sect, and other forces, while they had conflicting interests with the Taixu Sword Sect in the Blue Star Minor Realm, outside this Lesser World, they were all part of the Immortal Alliance and engaged in various forms of cooperation.
At the time when Li Chunjun killed the Four Symbols True Lord and True Lord Ge Li, the Void Refining Great Powers of the Taixu Sword Sect's main sect might have been having tea with those of the Zhou Tian Sect and Xian Tian Sect.
In another Lesser World, the Nascent Soul and Core Formation disciples of these three sects fought side by side, never abandoning each other, enacting scenes of loyalty and righteousness in their tragic songs.
But the Wu Ji Sect and the Taixu Sword Sect...
Their enmity was truly deep-rooted.
Even if they smiled on the surface for the sake of the Immortal Alliance, they would immediately order their disciples behind the scenes—seize any opportunity to kill them.
Therefore...
When the Taixu Sword Sect produced a Star Sword Prodigy with the potential to ascend the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List, the Wu Ji Sect's upper echelons would undoubtedly seek every means to strangle this potentially Void Refining peerless genius in the cradle.
Thus, Zhan Chiyang did not doubt True Lord Mo Bai's stance.
"I'm currently having people set up the formation. As long as they dare to step onto my Chiyang Mountain Range, even if Li Chunjun possesses a Minor Teleportation Talisman, he will absolutely be unable to escape the encirclement of my Chiyang Sword Sect."
This was guaranteed by the Sect Master of Chiyang Sword Sect.
"Good, I'll be waiting for the good news from Chiyang Sword Sect," Mo Bai True Master said with a smile.
The two sides exchanged a few more words before Zhan Chiyang took his leave.
Once Zhan Chiyang departed, Mo Bai's Divine Sense also withdrew from the treasure, returning to the main hall of the Sect Master.
Here, True Lord Xi Yan was already waiting.
"Are we going over now?" the Great True Lord asked.
"We just need to wait for the Nascent Soul-level battle to fully unleash its Mystical Powers to conceal the descending Qi. At that time, the Apex Realm cultivators specifically arranged by the main sect will arrive," Mo Bai nodded slightly. "If it weren't for Li Chunjun showing astonishing potential, we wouldn't have been able to apply for such an extreme Apex Realm presence."
"Descending the realm…"
It had long been agreed among the Nine Sects that summoning 'reinforcements' from outside the Blue Star Minor Realm was strictly prohibited to avoid upsetting the balance of power.
It could only be done secretly, and once discovered, the consequences would be extremely severe.
"If we rely on the Chiyang Sword Sect's battle Qi for concealment, it might be a bit too late," Xi Yan said.
"That's why I sent Yi Jiansheng to infiltrate Chiyang Sword Sect," Mo Bai replied with a smile. "I will have the Hidden Pawn from Taixu Sword Sect relay this information back. Tell me, if Taixu Sword Sect learns that we are internally weak, will they not first launch a surprise attack on our borders and capture Zhuo Yu and the other six in one fell swoop?"
"This…"
Xi Yan's heart sank: "The cost would be too great!"
"To accomplish something, how can there be no cost?" Mo Bai sighed. "However, given Taixu Sword Sect's emphasis on Li Chunjun, they will likely concentrate their forces to eliminate Chiyang Sword Sect first, and may not fall for it."
Xi Yan nodded: "So, that Apex Realm presence is merely a second line of insurance."
"Indeed. For someone like Li Chunjun, who, once grown, could at least become a top True Lord, or even a 'Celestial Sovereign,' it is not excessive to suppress such a prodigy with all our might."
Mo Bai's expression turned grave: "Otherwise, once Li Chunjun truly matures, the losses faced by our Wu Ji Sect will not just be ten or eight Nascent Souls; the sacrifices of dozens, even hundreds of True Lords may not be enough to eradicate the invincible reputation of this Child of the Stars!"
Upon hearing this, Xi Yan also wore a solemn expression.
To eliminate such a genius, if it weren't for the fear of causing too much commotion and being punished by the Immortal Alliance, deploying True Lord-level combat power would not be excessive.
The Sect Master decisively applied to the main sect for an Apex Realm presence, which, while belonging to the Nascent Soul realm, possesses lethality that exceeds that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators. This truly is the best way to eliminate Li Chunjun, the future Star Sword Prodigy.
No wonder Mo Bai could become the Sect Master.
He considered everything comprehensively and acted decisively.
Having such a Sect Master in their Wu Ji Sect was indeed a blessing.
"Taixu Sword Sect hasn't rushed to send Li Chunjun away, have they?" Xi Yan asked.
"I reported to Master and used a Hidden Pawn. The management hall of Taixu Sword Sect's main sect was interfered with by the Hidden Pawn, and they simply do not believe that a place like the Blue Star Minor Realm could give birth to a prodigy of Star Sword Prodigy caliber."
Mo Bai smiled and said, "Huan Ming specifically sent a message to his master, Xuan You Zhenjun. However, that True Lord only plans to have Huan Ming bring Li Chunjun back to the main sect after the Star Gate is completed. He has no intention of expending any effort to open a passage and bring him over now."
Upon hearing this, Xi Yan couldn't help but laugh as well. "If it were me, I would never believe that a true dragon could emerge from a small pond. It simply doesn't align with the laws of nature."
"Huan Ming will likely use other methods to send Li Chunjun back to the main sect as quickly as possible. But given his limited capabilities, this process will take at least a year or more. So, we still have plenty of time to arrange the perfect assassination plan for this Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy!"
Mo Bai was about to say more when, at that very moment, a wave of energy that shook the heavens and earth suddenly spread out.
"This kind of fluctuation..."
"How could this be!?"
After sensing it for just a moment, both Mo Bai and Xi Yan's expressions changed simultaneously.
Soon, their suspicions were confirmed.
A Nascent Soul True Lord's Divine Sense swept over immediately: "Sect Master! A descent! The monitoring array shows that an Immortal Alliance force with permission has descended upon the Blue Star Minor Realm!"
(End of the Chapter)
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