Translator: CinderTL
Yu Die personally leaned towards the theory that Li Chunjun was already dead.
She believed he had been personally killed by a hidden True Monarch of a Foreign Race.
Such incidents weren't unheard of.
The Profound Yellow Three Rankings, while offering rich rewards to those listed, also made them prime targets for assassination by Foreign Races.
After all, making the list signified exceptional talent. Combined with the abundant resources bestowed by the Profound Yellow List, each ranked individual was a promising seed for Void Refining Great Power.
The Foreign Races naturally sought to eliminate these threats in their infancy.
Especially since the Profound Yellow Great World had only recently been incorporated into the Human Race's system, essentially a newly opened territory teeming with Divine Races, Demonic Races, and numerous other Foreign Races.
Who knew how many Foreign Races were secretly lurking, waiting for an opportunity to strike?
It was perfectly normal for someone to be killed by a Foreign Race due to a moment of carelessness.
In contrast, the possibility of Li Chunjun having advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm was highly unlikely.
Having finally reached the top of the Star Glory List, he would surely have remained there for decades, accumulating Nascent Soul Realm foundations and leveraging his position to amass sufficient resources.
This was the path she and many others on the Profound Yellow List had followed.
Otherwise, reaching the Nascent Soul Realm and falling off the Star Glory List would leave him with far fewer resources than he had during his Golden Core stage. Wouldn't that be a net loss?
"We've found out the truth about Li Chunjun," the Green-Skirt Maiden said quickly. "Though he claims to be from the Taixu Sword Sect, he was never actually registered as a disciple."
"Not registered?" Yu Die paused, slightly stunned. "When did the Taixu Sword Sect's admission standards become so high? They wouldn't even accept the number one on the Star Glory List?"
"It's not that simple. Li Chunjun hails from a Lesser Thousand World under the Azure Sea Domain. He was the Sword Prodigy of the Taixu Sword Sect's branch sect in that Lesser Thousand World. However, when his identity was reported, he was treated with disdain, which seems to have offended him. As a result, he chose to focus on climbing the Star Glory List first, planning to leverage his position on the list to negotiate a better deal later."
"A Lesser Thousand World under the Azure Sea Domain? Not even from the domain's main star?" Yu Die's expression darkened. "I lost to a Core Formation Cultivator from a Lesser Thousand World?"
"Li Chunjun's fame didn't come from the Taixu Sword Sect in his Lesser Thousand World. It was earned on the Myriad Races Supremacy Battlefield."
The Green-Skirt Maiden explained, "Though he performed exceptionally well in the Lesser Thousand World, he likely only qualified for the Star Glory List challenge. However, he was in a precarious situation at the time, having offended many people, and the Taixu Sword Sect's Branch Sect couldn't protect him. That's why he chose to risk participating in the Battle of Two Realms Mountain, which erupted in the Azure Sea Domain back then. It was on that battlefield that he soared to fame."
"The battlefield..." Yu Die's expression softened slightly.
Battlefields were always the crucible where people were forged.
They were fraught with peril, where one either survived or died.
Li Chunjun's ability to break through the battlefield's encirclement and ultimately reach the Star Glory List, surpassing her to become the Child of the Stars, was somewhat better than if he had come from the Lesser Thousand World.
Yet, losing to such a Core Formation cultivator... still humiliated her.
Five months ago, when the Council-level Powers who supported her inquired about her loss of the Star Glory List's top spot, she had blamed the Taixu Sword Sect.
But now, his background...
was indeed connected to the Taixu Sword Sect, though not significantly.
"Have you located his current whereabouts?" Yu Die pressed. "Is he dead or has he broken through?"
"We have some leads, but nothing confirmed yet," the Green-Skirt Maiden said, quickly adding, "The Profound Yellow Great World is simply too vast for anyone below the Void Refining realm, especially those without Void Warships."
Yu Die frowned, about to say something, when her Message Jade Talisman vibrated slightly.
"It's Princess Qingxi," she murmured, her heart-mind tightening.
The Celestial Qin Dynasty had only recently integrated the Profound Yellow Great World into the Immortal Alliance system. Only about a hundred powers had established Branch Sects there, and only a handful were Council-level Powers.
The Celestial Qin Dynasty was one of them.
And the Marquis of Pingxi's Estate, from which Yu Die hailed, was a powerful faction within the dynasty. The Marquis himself was a Great Power at the Void Refining Realm.
Normally, her status was a tier below Princess Qingxi's. However, after arriving in the Profound Yellow Great World, where they were both members of the Celestial Qin Dynasty, and after Yu Die had risen to the top of the Star Glory List, the princess had begun to take notice of her, and they had formed a connection.
Now, seeing Princess Qingxi contacting her first, Yu Die immediately retrieved her Spirit Treasure Jade Talisman.
Hua Guang shimmered.
The image of Princess Qingxi materialized—a figure in battle armor with a long ponytail, radiating an air of heroic elegance.
"Princess."
Yu Die immediately bowed in greeting.
Princess Qingxi nodded slightly and cut straight to the point. "Yu Die, have you ever fought Li Chunjun?"
Yu Die was taken aback, unsure why the princess would ask about Li Chunjun.
But she quickly replied, "Yes. It was because of him that I fell from the top spot on the Star Glory List..."
She added hastily, "But he's clearly suffered an accident now. The top spot on the Star Glory List has been restored to me."
Princess Qingxi's expression shifted slightly as she listened. After a long moment, she finally said, "Give me a copy of your memory image from your fight with Li Chunjun."
"This..."
Yu Die hesitated.
Such images, extracted from memory, involved personal privacy.
As the number one on the Star Glory List, backed by the Marquis of Pingxi's Estate, even the Su Family, Fang Family, and Shan Clan—the powers supporting her—wouldn't dare force her to hand it over.
But Princess Qingxi had spoken...
In a moment, Yu Die had made her decision.
"I'll condense it right away," she replied decisively.
Princess Qingxi, ranked tenth on the Star Brilliance List, was a promising seed for future Void Refining cultivation. Her prestige within the Celestial Qin Dynasty rivaled that of the princes and princesses.
The only reason her status was merely equal to theirs was because the Celestial Qin Dynasty's Great Camp wasn't located in the Profound Yellow Great World.
Otherwise, given the weight of the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List, her treatment within the Celestial Qin Dynasty would undoubtedly have been elevated further, and even an exception to grant her the title of princess would not have been difficult.
Soon, Yu Die had condensed her memories of the battle with Li Chunjun and transmitted them to Princess Qingxi.
The princess eagerly received the memory image and began to examine it.
Within minutes, disbelief flashed in her eyes.
"He's improved so much! Such talent... how is this possible!?"
After her initial shock, she immediately turned to someone behind her and ordered, "Send someone immediately to the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's Blessed Land Management Department on Canghai Mountain. Spare no expense to invite him to join our Celestial Qin Dynasty!"
Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land was the highest praise for a Cultivator's Immortal Abode.
At the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild, both the Grotto-Heaven Management Department and the Blessed Land Management Department are responsible for renting out Immortal Abodes, graded from one to nine stars.
The Grotto-Heaven Management Department typically rents out Immortal Abodes suitable for Void Refining cultivators, while the Blessed Land Management Department caters to Great Spirit Refinement Cultivators.
After issuing her orders, Princess Qingxi seemed to feel this wasn't enough to convey her seriousness.
She immediately spoke again: "Have a Void Flying Ship prepared. I will personally lead a team to Canghai Mountain!"
Yu Die, standing nearby, was somewhat bewildered.
"Li Chunjun is at Canghai Mountain? And he rented a Blessed Land-grade Cultivation Abode from the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild there?"
Meanwhile, Princess Qingxi, already preparing to set out herself, nodded at Yu Die. "We'll talk more later."
With that, she prepared to end the communication.
But as she was about to disconnect, she seemed to remember something and added, "Although you've reclaimed the top spot on the Star Glory List, you shouldn't always focus solely on it. When you have time, take a look at the Solar Radiance List as well."
"The Solar Radiance List?" Yu Die was stunned.
Then, she secretly rejoiced. Could the princess be implying she had the potential to reach the Solar Radiance List?
It would likely be after she achieved Nascent Soul cultivation and spent some time refining her cultivation.
Her current cultivation level was slightly short of the "Prodigy" tier within the Nascent Soul Realm. However, once she reached that realm, she was sure to become one of the top Prodigies. With further cultivation, even challenging the Star Brilliance List wouldn't be a distant dream.
Lost in thought, she followed the princess's guidance and happily entered the False God Realm. There, she opened the Star Brilliance List, intending to consider which unfortunate soul she would challenge first after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.
The Star Brilliance List typically displayed rankings from top to bottom.
At the very top stood Li Hentian.
This Nascent Soul Realm cultivator had perfected both the Sword Intents of Slaughter and Death, comprehended Mind Power, mastered the Great Mystic Power of the Seven Emotions Demonic Fiends, and possessed an incredibly deep understanding of the Dao of Death. Rumor had it that he had grasped 108 profound mysteries, making him a Peerless Prodigy.
The second-ranked cultivator was a step behind him. In fact, they, along with the next dozen or so cultivators, were all roughly on the same level. The difference often wasn't about strength but rather equipment, current condition, and performance.
Yu Die scanned the list, but her gaze quickly settled on the tenth-ranked cultivator, a hint of envy flickering in her eyes.
"If I could ever reach tenth on the Star Brilliance List, I'd be immediately named the heir to the Marquis's estate..."
Yu Die's thoughts raced.
But after only a moment, she realized something was amiss.
What did she see?
Li Chunjun!?
For a moment, Yu Die thought she was hallucinating.
"Li Chunjun!?"
After taking a closer look and sensing the familiar fluctuations of Divine Sense associated with that name, the Heaven's Chosen who had just reclaimed the top spot on the Star Glory List couldn't help but let out a suppressed scream.
"This can't be!"
She stared at the list in disbelief.
The Star Brilliance List!
This was the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List!
Li Chunjun was no longer on the Profound Yellow Star Glory List. Instead, he had ascended to the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List!?
And he had already reached tenth place on the Star Brilliance List!?
Overwhelming Princess Qingxi, who in Yu Die's eyes had always been the ultimate goal she would spend her entire life striving to surpass!?
"How could this happen!?"
Yu Die's entire body trembled slightly. "Just... just a few months ago, we were competing on the same stage. How could he have reached the Star Brilliance List in just a few months?"
The Heavenly Prodigy from the Marquis of Pingxi's Estate stared wide-eyed at the name "Li Chunjun," a sense of the world's absurdity washing over her.
She had once dreamed that if she made a breakthrough in her cultivation and closed the gap between them, she would finally avenge her humiliation and rightfully claim the top spot from Li Chunjun.
But now...
That battle for the top spot on the Star Glory List had been the closest she would ever get to him.
The astonishing tenth-place ranking on the Star Brilliance List had already left her far behind, like a lone rider disappearing over the horizon.
She could no longer even see his shadow.
The changes on the Star Brilliance List drew the attention of countless people.
Compared to the Star Glory List, this ranking carried far more weight.
Especially since the Cosmic Light List was dominated by those relying on their backgrounds, equipment, and Forbidden Arts, making it difficult to truly gauge a cultivator's innate talent, the Star Brilliance List naturally attracted a larger audience.
The sudden appearance of "Li Chunjun" in the top ten sparked widespread discussion.
Meanwhile, Chu Ci, Xu Yu, Xuan Zhu, Zhao Yu Pan, and Wu Gang were still struggling to process the news even after several hours.
To them, the Heaven's Chosen on the Star Brilliance List were like global superstars. While any news about them could cause a sensation in the False God Realm, ordinary cultivators like them often received such information with a delay, making it impossible to stay informed in real time.
In this state of unawareness, seven hours slipped by in the blink of an eye.
(End of the Chapter)
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