Translator: CinderTL
The Nine Immortal Sects.
When they first arrived at the Blue Star Minor Realm, there was no distinction of strength or weakness.
Under the Nine-Party Agreement, they brought roughly the same number of Core Formation Cultivators to develop Blue Star and established rules to prevent large-scale internal conflicts among the Nine Sects, lest the alien races take advantage.
However, during the initial purge of the Divine Race on Blue Star, the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy of the Taixu Sword Sect emerged with unparalleled cultivation, nearly wiping out the Divine Race forces, slaying numerous alien races, and seizing vast territories.
At its peak, 40% of the population and territory fell under the control of the Taixu Sword Sect.
This act of breaking the balance and monopolizing resources displeased the other eight sects, leading to widespread resistance.
Eventually, the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy returned to the Profound Yellow Great World. In recent years, the borders of the Taixu Sword Sect have been continuously eroded due to various frictions, and its population has sharply declined.
Situations where territories nominally belong to the Taixu Sword Sect but are actually controlled by the Zhou Tian Sect are not uncommon in the border regions.
Even the sudden "disappearance" of disciples stationed at the borders has occurred.
Of course, the Taixu Sword Sect retaliates each time, engaging in mutual damage.
As for who ultimately gains the upper hand...
The shrinking territory of the Taixu Sword Sect speaks volumes.
...
At this moment, in the capital of Star Province under the Zhou Tian Sect.
True Inheritor Dongfang Wu was communicating with the Elders stationed and patrolling various regions.
All resource points must have their formations reinforced, and key cities must have at least a fourth-tier grand formation as a foundation.
Although it might seem like an overreaction, all Elders and disciples diligently executed the plan without the slightest negligence.
"Everyone, do not complain! The Taixu Sword Sect has gained fortune and has cultivated another Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy. This prodigy was schemed against in the Chiyang Sword Sect and is now filled with anger. He will undoubtedly take action soon. By preparing now, we ensure we have more confidence to confront this Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy when the time comes."
Dongfang Wu was extremely patient.
"We understand, but since Li Chunjun was wronged in the Chiyang Sword Sect, shouldn't he seek revenge there first? It's unlikely he would target our Zhou Tian Sect so soon," responded a Core Formation Elder.
"That may be true, but it's always better to be prepared," Dongfang Wu said with a slightly grave expression. "It's better than being caught off guard if Li Chunjun does attack, leaving us without formations and forced to face him head-on."
The Elders in the room nodded in deep agreement.
At this point, a Core Formation Elder asked, "A prodigy like the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy shouldn't remain in our Lesser World. He should go to the Profound Yellow Great World to compete with the geniuses of other sects and the alien races. Staying in the Lesser World for too long would waste his talent. Do we know when the Taixu Sword Sect plans to transfer him?"
"After confirming a few months ago that Li Chunjun indeed possesses the strength of a Sword Prodigy, the various sects have been leveraging their connections with the upper sects to persuade the Taixu Sword Sect to transfer him. However, Huan Ming of the Taixu Sword Sect refused, citing that the Sword Prodigy has not yet formed a Golden Core and has not reached his peak," Dongfang Wu replied.
This statement caused a slight tension in the room.
"Not yet a Golden Core..."
Not yet a Golden Core, yet already possessing the combat strength of a Sword Prodigy!
If he were to advance further and achieve a Golden Core, how formidable would his combat power become?
Even among the "Philosophers," he would rank near the top, wouldn't he?
"Once Li Chunjun forms a Golden Core, wouldn't he be able to ascend the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List, which represents the fortune of the Profound Yellow?"
A Core Formation cultivator whispered softly.
Upon hearing this, even Dongfang Wu, a True Inheritor, couldn't help but narrow his eyes! Star Radiance! Sun Radiance! Cosmic Light! These were the most extraordinary rankings in the Profound Yellow Great World.
They were established by the Profound Yellow Supreme when he refined a treasure connected to the Dao rules of the Profound Yellow Great World.
From the name "Profound Yellow Supreme," it was clear that the Profound Yellow Great World was named after him.
This alone demonstrated the immense prestige of this Supreme Being.
The three rankings corresponded to the Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit realms! Anyone who could top these rankings would be blessed with the fortune of the Profound Yellow Great World and could even enter the palace left by the Dao Unification Supreme to obtain treasures.
The higher the ranking, the better the treasures.
However, this wasn't the main point. The key was...
Whether it was Star Radiance, Sun Radiance, or Cosmic Light, these rankings only included 108 spots!
But how many worlds were there in the Profound Yellow Great World, as well as the lesser worlds illuminated by its "Dao Essence"?
Countless!
Those who made it onto these rankings were without exception the most exceptional talents of their sects! Even though their Zhou Tian Sect, as a member of the colossal Immortal Alliance, could be considered a dominant force in the Profound Yellow Great World, if any of their disciples could make it onto any of the three rankings, they would receive generous rewards from the sect and be heavily nurtured.
Li Chunjun...
On the Star Radiance Ranking!?
"Impossible! Although Li Chunjun is formidable in combat, he is ultimately just a native from the Blue Star Minor Realm. No matter how high his talent is, how far could it really go?"
"Those Core Formation cultivators on the Star Radiance Ranking... they can't be treated as ordinary Core Formation cultivators. They are peculiar existences specially cultivated by the major sects to obtain the inheritance of the Profound Yellow Supreme. The resources invested in them by the sects are more than enough to cultivate not just one Core Formation cultivator, but even ten Primordial Spirit cultivators."
"The three rankings... even the previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy didn't qualify to be on the list. The only one from the Taixu Sword Sect who made it onto the rankings was the Grand Void Sword Prodigy, Ming Yuesheng, right? And he was on the Sun Radiance Ranking! The treatment he received in the Taixu Sword Sect was directly comparable to that of a Void Refining Great Power!"
"The Star Radiance Ranking... is not something we can aspire to! The so-called geniuses of Blue Star? They haven't even reached the threshold to meet the figures on the Star Radiance Ranking. As for Li Chunjun... at best, he can only be said to have barely qualified." The Core Formation cultivator in the room shook his head.
Seeing that the topic seemed to be veering off course, Dongfang Wu quickly smiled and said, "There's no need to mythologize them! At the end of the day, they are just Core Formation cultivators like us. Perhaps their Mystical Powers are impressive, or their Sword Intent is astonishing, but if their heads are cut off, they will still die. Under the attack of fourth or even fifth-grade Talismans, everyone is equal. No one is nobler than anyone else!"
Hearing Dongfang Wu's words, the others seemed to snap out of their daze.
Just as one of the Core Formation cultivators was about to say something, someone suddenly stood up: "True Inheritor Dongfang, urgent news from Great Shang... Shang Province! Not long ago, Li Chunjun of the Taixu Sword Sect led twenty sword lights and departed through the air. He has now entered the territory of the Northeast Province, and it seems... he is heading straight for our Zhou Tian Sect!"
"Us!?"
Dongfang Wu's expression changed: "Why is he targeting us first!?"
"Li Chunjun has come out of seclusion!? Why isn't he going after the Chiyang Sword Sect? Why is he targeting our Star Province?"
"Li Chunjun, has he gone mad!?"
The others were also somewhat panicked.
A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
The shadow cast by the previous Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy had not yet completely dissipated. Li Chunjun, inheriting his formidable reputation, had demonstrated strength no less than his predecessor in the battle to conquer the capital of Great Shang just a few months ago, naturally making all Core Formation cultivators wary of him.
Now, hearing that Li Chunjun was leading his forces towards Star Province, these Core Formation cultivators couldn't help but panic.
"Calm down! Don't panic, don't get flustered!"
Dongfang Wu shouted loudly: "I just said, no matter how powerful Li Chunjun is, he is still just a Core Formation cultivator like us. He can die if hit by fourth or fifth-grade talismans, and he can also die if trapped in a fourth-grade array. Moreover, he only has twenty people with him, but in Star Province, we have a total of eighty-eight Core Formation cultivators stationed here!"
After speaking, he immediately ordered: "Abandon several border fortress cities and resource points, everyone gather towards the capital of Star Province!"
This True Inheritor Disciple's eyes flashed with a cold light: "I don't believe he can break through the Six Harmonies Linked Array of our Star Province capital as easily as he did with the Great Shang capital!"
With the orders from this True Inheritor Disciple, the Core Formation Elders seemed to find a backbone and quickly calmed down.
And they quickly got busy.
At this moment, a Core Formation cultivator also presented a piece of news: "True Inheritor, the Taixu Sword Sect in the northeast has issued a statement, saying that a disciple has disappeared within our territory and demanding that we hand over that disciple..."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
This Core Formation cultivator nodded: "But that person has already been soul-refined to death."
Dongfang Wu frowned, then said: "It's just an excuse. Whether we hand over the person or not, we still have to fight this Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy!"
He waved his hand: "Go, prepare for battle. Calculate the distance... at most two hours, they will arrive at our Star Province! We must gather our forces as quickly as possible!"
"Yes!"
...
Star Province!
At the peak of a mountain range less than five hundred miles from the capital.
Li Chunjun stood calmly.
Beside him was Zhou Yuechen, who was skilled in Sword Flight.
Among the many Core Formation cultivators of Shang Province, only Zhou Yuechen could barely keep up with his Sword Flight speed.
In fact, before Jun Zhou and Jiang Yuxue left the capital of Shang Province with twenty Core Formation cultivators, he and Zhou Yuechen had already flown at full speed towards Star Province of Zhou Tian Sect.
Because the two of them deliberately concealed their auras and hid their tracks, and everyone's attention was drawn to Jiang Yuxue, Jun Zhou, and others, Zhou Tian Sect had not yet detected their presence.
And their location...
"The key cities and resource points of Star Province are all in the north. Among the eighty or ninety Core Formation cultivators stationed in Star Province, more than thirty are in the capital, more than thirty are responsible for the major towns and resource points in the north, and the remaining twenty or so are in the other two directions."
Zhou Yuechen said: "Dongfang Wu is a cautious person. When he learns that we are targeting Star Province, he will surely concentrate his forces in the capital to fight us. At that time, the more than thirty Core Formation cultivators in the north will return, and our location is the best place to intercept and kill the more than thirty Core Formation cultivators coming from the north."
"Mm."
Li Chunjun responded.
Other sects were very aware of the movements of Taixu Sword Sect, and Taixu Sword Sect also had a good grasp of the distribution of forces of other sects.
Therefore, when Dongfang Wu, the True Inheritor of the Zhou Tian Sect in Star Province, ordered the concentration of forces to defend the capital, Li Chunjun had already taken the initiative and was waiting for them on their inevitable path.
Of course, they could choose not to return to the capital and hold their ground, but doing so would only provide Li Chunjun with the opportunity to defeat them one by one.
This was an open strategy!
The Zhou Tian Sect had no way to resist it.
"The first group has arrived!"
At this moment, Li Chunjun seemed to sense something.
"Prepare to assess the battlefield."
He instructed Zhou Yuechen, then soared into the air on his sword, heading straight for a group of six people still a hundred miles away.
(End of the Chapter)
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