Translator: CinderTL
Taixu Sword Sect.
After several months, Li Chunjun returned to Flaming Phoenix Peak of the Taixu Sword Sect.
In the past, whenever he returned to Flaming Phoenix Peak, all the elders and disciples treated him with utmost respect, but their eyes were filled more with expectations for his future.
This time, however...
Those expectations had become reality.
And it was a reality that had multiplied manifold.
So much so that even the seasoned figures on Flaming Phoenix Peak, such as Jiang Yuliu, Jiang Renwang, and Jiang Xianzhi, treated him not only with excessive reverence but also with a fervent zeal in their eyes.
Li Chunjun even felt that if he gave the order, they would not hesitate to fight a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Li Chunjun, the renowned Sword Prodigy Li."
As soon as Li Chunjun arrived at his courtyard, Jiang Wanyu came over joyfully, scrutinizing him with a look of admiration.
"You've truly done well."
"It's all thanks to Senior Sister's guidance."
Li Chunjun smiled: "If it weren't for Senior Sister's pointers, I might not have been able to cultivate to this level."
"Nonsense, it's your extraordinary talent that allowed you to achieve such fame and accomplishments in such a short time."
Jiang Wanyu looked at him, feeling happy for him, but also with a hint of deeply concealed yet lingering melancholy: "You are even more outstanding than Senior Brother Jiang Lingyun."
Li Chunjun understood the reason for her melancholy.
She thought he would soon reach the Nascent Soul stage and leave for the main sect.
But...
Before the matters here were resolved, he clearly wouldn't leave so easily.
However, he didn't voice these thoughts.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, he entered his courtyard.
After consecutive battles, even though he had experienced a life-level upgrade and restored his condition, he still felt an indescribable sense of fatigue.
Upon returning to his courtyard, he rested for two full days.
Only after his spirit was completely restored did he become active again.
Two days of rest was long enough.
He couldn't afford to be lazy any longer.
During this time, the people of Flaming Phoenix Peak, who had learned of his achievements, naturally didn't disturb him.
Even when Jiang Yuqiu came by and found out that Li Chunjun was resting, she had someone activate the courtyard's protective formation for him.
Li Chunjun observed this, tidied himself up, and deactivated the formation.
At the same time, he reflected on his state over the past few days...
"So, even cultivators can feel tired."
He carefully pondered this sensation.
This fatigue seemed not just physical or mental.
It also stemmed from a weariness of the heart.
The heart...
He thought of the Heart Prayer Art that Xiao Yan Zhi possessed.
"The power of the heart can also be cultivated, and it is an even higher-level power than Spirit Refining."
Li Chunjun contemplated.
He found it somewhat surprising, yet it made sense.
A cultivator's Sword Intent and Divine Sense were closely related to their "mind and spirit."
In "mind and spirit," the "spirit" likely referred to mental and divine senses.
The "mind" was the power of the heart.
In cultivation, terms like "focusing the spirit" or "comprehending with the heart" often indirectly referred to this power.
But as for how to cultivate it specifically...
"Should I look through some books or ask Jiang Wanyu?"
Compared to Huan Ming and Jiang Yuqiu, Jiang Wanyu, who came from a distinguished background, clearly had access to more high-level information.
Just as Li Chunjun deactivated the courtyard's formation, a Divine Sense swept through the air.
"Has Chunjun rested well?"
"Peak Lord Jiang."
Li Chunjun responded: "I've fully recovered."
"Good. I'll inform the Sect Master, and we'll head to the Main Governance Peak."
"Alright."
Li Chunjun stepped out of his courtyard.
With a casual gesture, the Scarlet Sky Sword materialized in his hand.
Grasping the Flying Sword, Li Chunjun felt the Sword Qi within his body merge seamlessly with the sword itself. The Sword Qi surged skyward as he swiftly made his way toward the Main Governance Peak.
Although he and Jiang Yuqiu had arrived quickly, by the time they landed at the main hall of the peak, several Nascent Soul True Lords were already waiting there.
The growth of his Divine Sense had made his control over the Flying Sword even more effortless.
His Sword Flight speed had already reached three times the speed of sound, but such speed was nothing remarkable among Nascent Soul True Lords.
"Hahaha, our Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy has arrived!"
Upon seeing Li Chunjun, Bai Lian was the first to burst into laughter.
"Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy? It won't be long before he's called the Child of the Stars!"
You Long's face was also filled with a smile, brimming with anticipation.
"Child of the Stars..."
Huan Ming murmured the term, but he did not continue the topic.
How difficult it was to ascend the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List and become a Child of the Stars!
Within the vast network of the Dao in the Profound Yellow Great World, there were countless Lesser Worlds, not to mention the Profound Yellow Great World itself.
Even though Li Chunjun possessed the combat strength of a Nascent Soul, the hope of competing with those peerless geniuses nurtured by the resources of an entire world for one of the 108 spots was still exceedingly slim. However, this thought remained in his mind, and he naturally did not voice it to dampen the mood.
"Haha, since Sword Prodigy Chunjun is here, let's discuss the matter at hand."
Huan Ming spoke up: "The Star Gate is nearing completion, and before that, the Sun Worshipping Sect will undoubtedly not sit idly by. They will launch a highly intense attack to destroy the Star Gate. The main sect has ordered us to maintain stability at all costs."
He glanced at Li Chunjun with a hint of apology: "Therefore, with the Four Symbols True Lord dead and the Zhou Tian Sect already offering compensation, it is certain that the higher-ups will not permit us to wage war against the Zhou Tian Sect..."
Not permitted.
Li Chunjun's expression remained largely unchanged.
He had never held much hope that the Taixu Sword Sect would seek revenge on the Zhou Tian Sect for him.
If they had truly been willing to go to war, they would have done so when the Chiyang Sword Sect used the Bloodline Curse to ambush him. Why wait until now?
In the end, this was merely a branch sect.
While they had autonomy in minor matters, something as significant as declaring war on another sect required approval from the main sect.
And the main sect...
was solely focused on the interests of the Star Gate.
Their attitude toward disputes below was clearly one of muddling through.
"Let's leave it at that for now."
Li Chunjun said.
Seeing that Li Chunjun had chosen to prioritize the greater good and not dwell on the matter, Huan Ming, You Long, and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Immediately after, the Sect Master spoke again: "The Zhou Tian Sect has crossed a line. Even though the Four Symbols True Lord is dead, it does not mean this matter can be swept under the rug. Compensation is absolutely necessary."
He spoke solemnly: "After some negotiation, the Zhou Tian Sect has agreed to compensate Sword Prodigy Chunjun with one Myriad Spirits Divine Light, one Nethersea Dark Crystal, and the cession of the Star Province to the Taixu Sword Sect."
After finishing, he looked at Li Chunjun: "See if there are any other demands you would like to raise."
Myriad Spirits Divine Light.
Such a treasure, invaluable to Core Formation cultivators, needed no further explanation.
With this divine light, his cultivation would undoubtedly advance further, and achieving the Golden Core within a few months would be within reach.
The Nethersea Dark Crystal, on the other hand, was something Li Chunjun had specifically requested—a fifth-tier material capable of enhancing the durability of his Lifebound Flying Sword.
Previously, Li Chunjun had already applied to the Taixu Sword Sect, but the sect couldn't produce it at the time. Unexpectedly, he managed to obtain it from the Zhou Tian Sect.
As for Star Province...
He didn't intend to interfere too much.
"That's it," Li Chunjun said.
Since Huan Ming had mentioned these compensations, it proved that this was basically the maximum value that could be negotiated.
He didn't need to push others too hard.
"Since Sword Prodigy Chunjun has no objections, I will have the Zhou Tian Sect send the items over," Huan Ming said.
"The Myriad Spirits Divine Light and the Nethersea Dark Crystal should be sent as soon as possible. As for the territory of Star Province, the sect can handle it as they see fit," Li Chunjun added.
Huan Ming pondered for a moment, considering that territorial benefits are long-term, while for a prodigious talent like Sword Prodigy Chunjun, short-term gains would be more beneficial.
He didn't refuse: "Then the sect will accept it. We can take this opportunity to see if we can upgrade your Superior Core Formation Pill to a Supreme Core Formation Pill."
The Core Formation Pill.
For sword cultivators, refining the sword into a core is extremely risky.
But the Nascent Soul with mystical powers doesn't pose much danger.
Upgrading a Superior Core Formation Pill to a Supreme Core Formation Pill is like adding icing on the cake.
However, having such a pill is always better than not having one.
Li Chunjun nodded slightly.
At this moment, he seemed to notice Lei Yuan subtly signaling Huan Ming.
After this topic ended, Huan Ming appropriately moved on to another subject: "Sword Prodigy Chunjun, you already possess Nascent Soul-level combat power at the True Core Realm. If you advance further, wouldn't it be easy for you to defeat and kill a Nascent Soul cultivator head-on?"
"Nascent Soul True Lords possess vast mystical powers. How it would turn out can only be known after a fight," Li Chunjun replied.
He wouldn't become arrogant just because he had killed a Four Symbols True Lord.
Among the two great mystical powers mastered by the Four Symbols True Lord, the Light Reversal is considered a superior power, while Mountain Suppression is an ordinary one.
Such a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator's deterrence is not as strong as those early-stage Nascent Souls who have cultivated top-tier offensive mystical powers.
He ranks in the upper-middle tier among the Eight Great Immortal Sects...
Simply because there are too few Nascent Souls in the Eight Great Immortal Sects who have cultivated top-tier mystical powers.
"Haha, Sword Prodigy Li, you are too modest," Lei Yuan praised with a laugh. "Not to mention that you killed the Four Symbols True Lord, just the fact that you could single-handedly defeat a hundred Core Formation cultivators at the True Core Realm is a solid achievement. If you advance further and form a Golden Core, it would be no exaggeration to say you could rival a Nascent Soul."
Li Chunjun glanced at this Peak Lord and turned his gaze to Huan Ming in confusion: "Sect Master and the Peak Lords, feel free to speak your minds."
Huan Ming, Lei Yuan, You Long, Bai Lian, Jiang Yuqiu, and others exchanged glances.
Finally, Huan Ming spoke: "Sword Prodigy Chunjun, you probably don't have a deep understanding of the Taixu Sword Sect and the Profound Yellow Great World, do you?"
Li Chunjun nodded.
He had obtained some information about the Profound Yellow Great World from Jiang Wanyu, but compared to the vastness of the Profound Yellow Great World, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
After all...
The Profound Yellow Great World is immense.
"The Profound Yellow Great World is a place where talents emerge in abundance, and strong cultivators are as numerous as the clouds. Over countless years, countless peerless prodigies have risen to prominence, leaving their profound marks on the Profound Yellow Great World. And these renowned cultivators, before achieving true fame and success, more than half of them had already made a name for themselves."
Huan Ming paused for a moment before continuing, "What brought immense fame to these peerless geniuses at that time was a list established by one of the most ancient and greatest existences in the Profound Yellow Great World—the Profound Yellow Supreme. This list is revered by the world as the Profound Yellow List."
Li Chunjun listened patiently.
"The Profound Yellow List consists of three sub-lists: the Star Glory List, which evaluates those at the Core Formation stage; the Star Brilliance List, which evaluates those at the Nascent Soul stage; and the Cosmic Light List, which evaluates those at the Primordial Spirit stage."
Huan Ming's tone grew slightly more emphatic as he spoke, "If becoming a 'Philosopher'-level genius means that, as long as one does not perish prematurely, one can be considered to have the Primordial Spirit within reach, then... every single one of those peerless geniuses who firmly occupy the Star Glory List can already be regarded as future Void Refining Great Powers!"
(End of the Chapter)
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