Translator: CinderTL
"Seeking death."
Seven hours and five minutes had passed.
Li Hentian's Divine Sense had already "punctually" transmitted from the Star Brilliance List.
"You're the first to rush to their death like this. Very well, I'll let you taste the true meaning of death!"
The next moment, Li Chunjun felt the space around him shift once more.
He had to admit, the Profound Yellow Ranking Spirit, Liu Yu, possessed formidable Mystical Powers.
Beings like Artifact Spirits and intelligent life forms, which were beneficial to Human cultivators, were rare but already formed a new race.
Human laws had designated this race, along with groups that could cultivate Heavenly Treasures and nurture top-tier materials, as protected species.
These beings combined the extraordinary with the ability to master Mystical Powers and profound techniques.
Li Chunjun estimated that while Liu Yu was merely the Profound Yellow Ranking Spirit, some of her abilities surpassed even Void Refining Great Powers.
For instance, even with his eighth-tier Blessed Land's array formation fully activated, she could effortlessly teleport him to this "arena space"—something no Void Refining cultivator could achieve.
As the space around Li Chunjun shifted, a terrifyingly dark Asura field materialized before him.
Countless corpses piled up like mountains, their aura of bloodlust and death washing over him.
Accompanied by the cries of night crows, an unknown mystery hung in the air, enough to shatter the courage of the fainthearted.
"I've reviewed your records. You were originally on the Star Glory List, poised to make a breakthrough, cultivate your Nascent Soul, and even defeat Qingxi to claim the tenth spot on the Star Brilliance List. That's why you grew so arrogant, looking down on everyone. But alas... the Star Brilliance List is not the same as the Star Glory List."
A Divine Sense descended from the Void.
A figure in a black robe floated in the air, holding a long banner.
"On the Star Glory List, the top three, or even the top ten, might be closely matched. But on the Star Brilliance List, I, who have cultivated the Sword Intent of Slaughter and Death, forged Mind Power, and comprehended 108 profound mysteries of the Dao of Death, stand alone! Even Primordial Spirit True Monarchs will bow before my Myriad Souls Banner!"
The Nascent Soul True Lord from the Heavenly Palace shook the banner in his hand.
Six Golden-Armored Divine Generals, each wielding a blade or axe and radiating an aura that rivaled that of a Primordial Spirit True Monarch, simultaneously materialized. Moreover, their power approached that of Six Tribulation True Monarchs.
"And you... are nothing but a clown!"
With a dismissive wave of his hand, the six Golden-Armored Divine Generals transformed into golden light, swirling with murderous intent. They resembled seasoned battlefield gods, steeped in countless battles and bloodshed, their killing intent surging as they charged directly at Li Chunjun.
Primordial Spirit True Monarchs were clearly a tier above Nascent Soul True Lords.
Even a Core Formation Sword Prodigy could claim to possess Nascent Soul-level combat power.
Yet even the most outstanding Nascent Soul Heavenly Prodigies on the Star Brilliance List dared not claim to be a match for a True Monarch.
Even Princess Qingxi, ranked among the top ten on the Star Brilliance List, might be able to kill a True Monarch below the Third Tribulation or repel a Six Tribulation True Monarch, but against a Nine Tribulation True Monarch, she would still be at a disadvantage.
Now, Li Hentian had summoned six Six Tribulation True Monarch-level Golden-Armored Divine Generals with a mere wave of his hand. Even a Nine Tribulation True Monarch would likely find this lineup a headache.
Almost simultaneously with the appearance of the six Golden-Armored Divine Generals, Li Hentian's Divine Sense erupted in full force.
Through a haze, Li Chunjun seemed to see countless figures writhing in agony, despair, and resentment. Hidden by Mind Power, they lunged at him with crazed ferocity, attempting to shake his mind.
Great Mystic Power: Seven Emotions Demonic Fiends!
One targets the heart, shattering the spirit.
The other brings slaughter, annihilating the body.
This Peerless Prodigy, ranked first on the Star Brilliance List, spoke with arrogant self-importance, showing contempt for all others.
Yet when he truly attacked, he unleashed his ultimate technique without reservation, pouring in every ounce of his strength.
Li Hentian had waited seven hours to accept Li Chunjun's challenge, just as Yu Die, the previous Star Glory List champion, had done, deliberately exhausting Li Chunjun's Divine Sense.
Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit!
How much more so in a life-or-death battle for the top spot on the Star Brilliance List?
Fortunately, Li Chunjun had never underestimated his opponent.
As he summoned the Six Golden Armor Divine Generals, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had already merged with the Scarlet Sky Sword. The power of Spatial Mysteries and the Broken Crystal were simultaneously activated, guided by Void Sword Intent. With a thunderous strike, he unleashed a force as if pushing through a collapsing wall of Void, slamming it directly into the Six Golden Armor Divine Generals.
Following closely behind came the Seven Emotions Demonic Fiend Great Divine Power...
In an instant, it stirred Li Chunjun's emotions, filling him with a desire to destroy the world—to burn himself and unleash all his inner energy in a cataclysmic explosion.
For anyone else, even if they could suppress this self-destructive urge immediately, the sudden surge of intense emotions would still disrupt their Divine Sense, creating openings in their attacks and diminishing their power tenfold.
But...
At the very moment his emotions surged, Li Chunjun's mind seemed to ascend to an unprecedented realm.
What did personal life and death matter?
Compared to the vast, boundless Cosmos, humanity was but a grain of sand in the ocean.
In this fleeting lifetime, one should dedicate their limited years to exploring the infinite Cosmos and pursuing the ultimate truth.
In this state of mind, the heartfire and emotions ignited by the Seven Emotions Demonic Fiend Great Divine Power were effortlessly calmed, returning to rationality.
The Void Heaven Strike he unleashed remained completely unaffected.
In fact, under this state of absolute rationality, his Divine Sense—already slightly superior to Li Hentian's—propelled the strike with even greater stability and precision.
As the power of space surged, the six Golden-Armored Divine Generals were like ferocious beasts or Tyrannosaurus Rexes caught in a mudslide.
No matter how intense their killing intent or how overwhelming their murderous aura, they were powerless against this natural disaster that felt like a mountain collapsing. They were swept away and flung into the air.
"Mind Power!?"
The moment his Seven Emotions Demonic Fiend Great Divine Power failed, Li Hentian realized what was happening. His pupils contracted violently.
The person before him was also a Nascent Soul cultivator who had mastered Mind Power.
His Spirit Treasures and Mystical Powers weren't significantly superior to those of the other top ten competitors. His ability to claim the top spot on the Star Brilliance List and enter the first stage of Mind Power was the key to his success!
Normally, he was the one using Mind Power to conceal his Mystical Powers and launch sudden attacks. But now, the tables had turned. He had encountered a Nascent Soul True Lord who had also comprehended Mind Power!
No wonder this opponent had dared to challenge him, even though Li Hentian had been leading the pack.
"And... his Divine Sense... is actually stronger than mine!?"
Before Li Hentian could react, an unprecedented sense of dread exploded in his mind.
"Not good!"
Though he didn't know where the danger came from, Li Hentian trusted the warning from his mind. A Spirit Treasure on his body flashed, enveloping him and instantly teleporting him hundreds of meters away.
Almost as soon as he vanished, the Scarlet Sky Sword, its sharpness tearing through the Void, whistled through the air.
The Sword Qi that pierced the Void left no trace behind, but its soul-cutting sharpness sent a chill down Li Hentian's spine!
"When?!"
When had this Flying Sword appeared!?
Had his evasion been even a moment slower, he would have been struck by this sword!
A Sword Cultivator's Lifebound Flying Sword—there was no need to guess how devastating its power would be!
Even his top-tier protective spiritual treasure might not have been able to withstand it.
"Hmm?"
On the other side, Li Chunjun was surprised.
He dodged it.
His strike, which had shattered the Void with the Great Void Destruction Sword Intent, had been evaded by Li Hentian.
This alone showed the difference between Princess Qingxi and the number one ranked cultivator on the Star Brilliance List.
When he had fought Princess Qingxi, he had secured victory the moment he unleashed the Great Void Destruction Sword Intent.
"Mind Power?"
Li Chunjun's heart stirred.
The next moment, the Scarlet Sky Sword, having missed its mark, returned to his body.
The Heavenly Heart Eternal Method circulated.
As his Mind Power spread, the Scarlet Sky Sword, replenished with Sword Qi, thrust out once more.
Destruction Sword Intent and Void Sword Intent erupted simultaneously.
The space within a radius of dozens of miles seemed to compress layer by layer, shrinking from dozens of miles to a few miles, then to a few hundred meters.
The laws of nature triggered in that instant even manifested as visible distortions in space.
After reaching a critical point, this compressed and condensed space shattered with a thunderous roar, like a storm of destruction sweeping toward Li Hentian.
Fast!
His formidable Divine Sense and unparalleled foundation allowed him to launch a second Great Void Heaven Divine Art almost without pause after the first strike.
He moved so quickly that Li Hentian had no time to prepare a new offensive.
As the spatial ruins rolled forward, the Scarlet Sky Sword, which had propelled them, vanished once more.
Just as Li Hentian commanded the Six Great Divine Generals to form a Battle Formation and launch a simultaneous attack, like Mount Tai crushing down, to directly confront the approaching spatial ruins, the Scarlet Sky Sword, riding the shattered Void, had already reached the Heavenly Palace True Immortal's side.
This time...
His Mind Power offered no warning.
It was as if the Scarlet Sky Sword had become part of the very fabric of heaven and earth.
Like the wind, like air, like gravity.
No matter how sharp his mind's warning, he couldn't have prepared for such natural phenomena.
Brilliant light erupted!
Li Hentian, who was currently controlling the Six Great Divine Generals to assault the spatial ruins, felt his protective spiritual treasure suddenly activated by its Artifact Spirit.
In the next moment, violent tremors and deafening roars erupted wildly, violently battering his body.
Furious Sword Qi and a crushing torrent of Void surged forward, ruthlessly tearing through his protective Mystic Treasure, poised to shred his very form.
This sudden shift sent a shockwave through the Star Brilliance List's top-ranked cultivator.
"Impossible!"
His mind's warning had failed!?
Such a situation could only mean one thing!
His opponent's mastery of Mind Power...
...surpassed his own!
Through even more refined and profound Mind Power, they had deceived his mental perception!
"Boom!"
Whether Li Hentian could accept this devastating blow or not, his already dimming and collapsing protective spiritual treasure left him no room for hesitation.
"I concede!"
He reluctantly activated his Divine Sense.
The next moment, sensing this, the power of the Profound Yellow List surged forth, enveloping his form in spatial energy and vanishing him from this temporary battlefield.
As Li Hentian conceded and withdrew from the space, his name and Divine Sense fluctuations rapidly vanished from the peak representing the Star Brilliance List.
Li Chunjun, who had previously held the tenth position, suddenly surged forward, instantly claiming the summit.
(End of the Chapter)
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