Translator: CinderTL
The strongest in the Cosmos.
Li Chunjun remained silent.
He had already reached the pinnacle of the universe.
The ultimate limit and end point for all cultivators of the Human Race.
But the strongest...
Was not an Immortal.
Not a True Immortal.
And certainly not capable of reversing time and space to revive the dead.
"The War Commission can be understood as the military. The chairman oversees various departments led by the commissioners. The War Conquest Hall is the largest among them, and the Sword Bearer Legion under the War Conquest Hall is the most crucial. The safety of all Realm Regions within the Human Race's territory rests on the Sword Bearer Legion!"
True Monarch Huang Tian continued his introduction.
As he spoke, Li Chunjun gradually gained a better understanding of the Sword Bearer Legion.
It was somewhat like a special operations force.
Wherever there was trouble, they were deployed to provide support.
The Sword Bearer Legion faced intense combat, but the rewards and benefits they received were equally astonishing.
However, great rewards often came with great risks.
The casualty rate within the Sword Bearer Legion was not insignificant.
That was why True Monarch Huang Tian and the others hadn't been overly impressed when Li Chunjun topped the Star Glory List.
The Star Glory List merely showcased a cultivator's potential, signaling that this individual possessed exceptional talent and was worth cultivating.
Joining a major power immediately would guarantee a promising future.
But if this person became arrogant and looked down on everyone...
Being first on the Star Glory List doesn't guarantee a place on the Star Brilliance List.
"A prodigy in youth may not shine in maturity."
Therefore, the Sword Bearer Legion, with its generous benefits, still had some confidence in recruiting Li Chunjun.
But when he made it onto the Star Brilliance List and reached the top spot, his potential soared to a new level.
As long as he didn't meet an untimely end, he had a high chance of reaching Void Refining, thanks to the resources provided by the Star Brilliance List.
While external support was crucial, it had gradually shifted from providing resources to offering a safe cultivation environment.
Could the Sword Bearer Legion provide such an environment?
Clearly not.
If Li Chunjun hadn't expressed interest in joining the Sword Bearer Legion, True Monarch Huang Tian wouldn't have been so brazen as to follow him.
After outlining the benefits and perks, True Monarch Huang Tian revealed his trump card: "In theory, every Sword Bearer in the Sword Bearer Legion is required to complete a mission periodically, and may even be forcibly assigned tasks!"
He continued solemnly, "But if Sword Prodigy Li joins the Sword Bearer Legion, for your safety, we can promise never to force you to accept missions. You won't be required to complete a mission every set period. You can choose your own tasks and battle locations."
"Oh?"
Li Chunjun smiled. "Aren't you worried I'll just slack off?"
"We trust Sword Prodigy Li's character."
True Monarch Huang Tian spoke solemnly: "A Stellar Radiance Prodigy, who clearly had the ability to earn more Merit Points, chose to yield the precious opportunity to his comrades out of loyalty and camaraderie, ensuring that everyone who followed him would return laden with rewards... Such character deserves our trust."
Li Chunjun quickly understood what he meant.
During the Battle of Continent 6 on the Two Worlds Mountain Battlefield, he had still taken action, but he had mostly just shattered the Divine Spirits, allowing his companions to pursue and finish them off.
To outsiders, this seemed like he was looking out for his comrades, willingly giving up Merit Points.
But in reality...
Li Chunjun's experience bar was nearly full at the time.
He was stuck at level 30, and killing more Divine Spirits would have caused his experience to overflow, leveling him up to 31 and missing his chance for sudden enlightenment.
However, he didn't explain.
He simply said, "No mandatory task assignments... I like this arrangement."
"Then Sword Prodigy Li, you..."
True Monarch Huang Tian was both surprised and delighted.
"Once I return from the Blue Star Minor Realm, I will join you at the War Commission's office in the Profound Yellow Great World." Li Chunjun nodded slightly.
Instantly, True Monarch Huang Tian and Zuo Cheng, who was accompanying him, both broke into smiles.
"It seems we'll be fighting alongside Sword Prodigy Li before long."
"Haha, Sword Prodigy Li is currently ranked first on the Profound Yellow Star Brilliance List. His combat strength is likely on par with a Nine Tribulation True Monarch. Once he updates his military rank, he'll reach Cosmic Light Level 3. Further promotions to Cosmic Light Level 4 and 5 won't be a problem. Who knows, we might all end up serving under Sword Prodigy Li in the future."
The two men laughed, the atmosphere in the room becoming quite convivial.
As a Seventh-Rank silicon-based lifeform transformed into a spaceship, the Golden Crow Battleship's speed surpassed even that of Void Warships.
On the second day after the battleship's departure, the Blue Star Minor Realm was already within sight.
Having received advance notice, Su Fang, Chang Feng, and a group of Primordial Spirit True Monarchs were waiting outside the sealed Blue Star Minor Realm.
Though each of them was a True Monarch, holding key positions in various crucial departments, not a single one of them showed the slightest resentment at having to greet Li Chunjun, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator.
On the one hand, while Li Chunjun was only at the Nascent Soul stage, his position as number one on the Star Brilliance List meant his combat strength often rivaled that of a Nine Tribulation True Monarch.
On the other hand, being number one on the Star Brilliance List indicated immense potential, with Void Refining within reach.
Welcoming a future Void Refining cultivator was hardly a shameful act.
But more importantly...
He was number one on the Star Brilliance List!
The top cultivator among countless Nascent Soul True Lords from Lesser Chiliocosms, Realm Regions, and even the Profound Yellow Great World—such a rare honor!
Even a brief meeting with Li Chunjun would become a source of endless bragging material for these True Lords.
Under such circumstances, when the Golden Crow Battleship officially arrived outside the Blue Star Minor Realm, it was immediately met with their fervent enthusiasm.
An outsider might have thought Li Chunjun was visiting the Blue Star Minor Realm for the first time, judging by the warm reception from the local Cultivators.
After some pleasantries, Chang Feng and Su Fang led Li Chunjun toward the interior of the Blue Star Minor Realm.
As they approached the realm's core, a dozen figures hurried toward them.
Leading the group were Zhao Yu Pan, Dong Xuan, and Liu Feng.
"Sword Prodigy Li," they greeted him respectfully, though with a hint of restraint.
Their gazes toward Li Chunjun were no longer casual.
At the Two Worlds Mountain Battlefield, Li Chunjun had demonstrated the potential to reach the Star Brilliance List, but that was merely a possibility. Whether he could actually climb the list, or even qualify for a challenge, remained uncertain.
But now...
In the past two years, Li Chunjun had not only made it onto the Star Brilliance List but had also claimed the top spot!
Such an achievement was enough to make even these Nascent Soul True Lords dizzy with awe.
Wielding the prestige of being number one on the Star Brilliance List, if Li Chunjun were to recruit followers, not only Nascent Soul True Lords but even Primordial Spirit True Monarchs would eagerly offer their service.
These Nascent Soul cultivators...
They're completely inadequate.
Too far beneath him.
Yet Li Chunjun's tone and demeanor remained unchanged from when they met at Two Realms Mountain.
"You've arrived," he said.
"Y-yes... we've arrived..." Zhao Yu Pan stammered.
"Since you're here, it means you've made your decision. From now on, you'll serve me." Li Chunjun spoke calmly. "As the number one on the Star Brilliance List, I may seem glorious, but countless dangers lurk behind the facade. You must be prepared to be implicated in my affairs, even to be annihilated by the aftershocks of a Primordial Spirit duel."
Seeing Li Chunjun still willing to accept them, the dozen or so cultivators couldn't help but reveal expressions of joy.
In the next moment, Zhao Yu Pan declared loudly, "We are honored to be taken in by Sword Prodigy Li. We pledge to serve Sword Prodigy Li with our lives, without hesitation."
"We will follow Sword Prodigy Li's every command, even unto death!" the others echoed.
"Let's go," Li Chunjun nodded to them.
Beside him, Su Fang and True Monarch Huang Tian watched this scene without surprise.
For the number one on the Star Brilliance List to recruit followers, it was hardly a difficult task.
The only thing that might seem odd was the quality of the followers.
Nascent Soul cultivators.
That was rather lacking.
"How is the Blue Star Minor Realm?"
Li Chunjun asked Su Fang, "Have we finished investigating the matter?"
"We've thoroughly investigated the case," Su Fang replied. "Both the Wu Ji Sect and the Chiyang Sword Sect were involved in colluding with the Foreign Race to harm our Human Race's Heavenly Prodigies. The Chiyang Sword Sect was the executor, while the Wu Ji Sect was the instigator."
True Monarch Huang Tian, standing nearby, added, "We've just received news that the Chiyang Sword Sect's Main Sect has severed ties with this branch."
Su Fang was surprised, then chuckled. "Those people in the Chiyang Sword Sect's Branch Sect must have been waiting for the Main Sect to reach out and save them. Now, their hopes are completely shattered."
"The Chiyang Sword Sect made a wise decision," Chang Feng agreed. "They're not foolish enough to offend a future Void Refining cultivator for the sake of a Branch Sect with a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators and a few hundred Core Formation cultivators."
Zuo Cheng added, "Although they joined the Immortal Alliance, they no longer have a Dao Unification cultivator to anchor them. They only secured their Immortal Alliance seat because they pledged allegiance early, before the alliance entered the Profound Yellow Great World."
Li Chunjun nodded. He already knew the true nature of the Nine Immortal Sects from Yuan Xiao.
Except for the Taixu Sword Sect and the Wu Ji Sect, which still maintained their original traditions, the other sects had long been dismantled and reorganized.
The Chiyang Sword Sect, for example, was nominally the Chiyang Sword Sect, but in reality, it was more like a branch sect acting as a proxy for a council-level sect in the Profound Yellow Great World. Calling it a subordinate branch sect wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Li Chunjun hadn't changed his course only because his vote in the Immortal Alliance still held some weight.
"So, what about the Wu Ji Sect?" he asked.
"They're likely still observing," True Monarch Huang Tian replied. "My latest intelligence indicates that a group has followed you from the Profound Yellow Great World to Frigid Jade Fortress, but no one from the Wu Ji Sect is among them. This suggests they might be leaving the Wu Ji Sect here to your discretion, Sword Prodigy."
"In that case, it's no longer important," Li Chunjun said.
Su Fang, standing nearby, overheard that both the Chiyang Sword Sect and the Wu Ji Sect's Main Sect had already backed down. He chuckled and asked, "Sword Prodigy Li, shall we judge the Chiyang Sword Sect first or the Wu Ji Sect?"
"Let's return to the Taixu Sword Sect first," Li Chunjun replied.
The Taixu Sword Sect?
The others exchanged glances, a hint of surprise in their eyes.
Some realized that Li Chunjun, the Sword Prodigy of the Taixu Sword Sect's Main Sect in the Profound Yellow Great World, didn't hold the sect in high regard. However, the Taixu Sword Sect's Branch Sect in the Blue Star Minor Realm still held some weight in his heart.
True Monarch Huang Tian inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed their efforts to seal off the Blue Star Minor Realm had been worthwhile. Otherwise, if the people of the Blue Star Minor Realm had managed to contact the Taixu Sword Sect's Main Sect and persuade Li Chunjun, he might have truly been swayed to join the Taixu Sword Sect.
The Golden Crow Battleship moved with incredible speed, instantly arriving above the Taixu Sword Sect.
(End of the Chapter)
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