Translator: CinderTL
The Profound Yellow Great World!
One of the newest Great Worlds to be incorporated into the Human Territory, it borders the Great World of the Gods and was formerly ruled by the Taixu Sword Sect.
In recent years, with the intervention of forces like the Immortal Alliance, the Starry Sky Group, and the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild, the Taixu Sword Sect's absolute dominion over the Profound Yellow Great World gradually waned. The entire world entered an era of vibrant competition among various factions, flourishing far more than during its previous conflicts and wars.
This prosperity attracted the envy of countless Foreign Races.
Numerous powers, once hostile to the Profound Yellow Great World, now sought entry by any means possible, establishing trade guilds to exchange goods, absorb human culture, and refine their own evolutionary paths.
The Immortal God Race was just one such group.
On the periphery of the Profound Yellow Great World, a massive Star Gate specifically designated for Foreign Races opened, and a fleet of over a hundred warships emerged.
Chenguang, the Human Void Refining expert responsible for the Star Gate's security, glanced at the fleet before withdrawing his gaze.
The Immortal God Race.
A small clan that hadn't even reached Dao Unification wouldn't dare to act recklessly within Human Territory, not even if their lives depended on it.
The vast majority of the hundred-plus warships were guided toward the checkpoint by specialized Guiding Lights. There, they would undergo rigorous inspections by Human authorities. Only after confirming that the ships carried legitimate goods and resources, rather than hazardous materials, would they be officially permitted to enter Human Territory.
However, one particular warship caught the attention of Yi Xuan, the checkpoint supervisor, and Chenguang, a Human Void Refining expert stationed there.
"That warship... is it one of ours? The vessel number matches a War Commission ship stationed at Frigid Jade Fortress in the Azure Sea Domain. Xuan Mi's Golden Crow Battleship?"
"A massive Starquake devastated the Azure Sea Domain a few years ago, obliterating most of the Realm Region. Rumor has it the Divine Race was behind it. The Immortal Alliance and War Commission are considering retaliating by destroying the Great World of the Gods and exterminating the Divine Race. Could the Frigid Jade Fortress forces be here to present evidence of the Divine Race's crimes?"
"Wait! This Star Gate leads to the Immortal God Race's territory... How did the Golden Crow Battleship end up mixed up with them?"
Puzzled, the two Void Refining experts swiftly approached the Golden Crow Battleship.
At that moment, the Golden Crow Battleship surged forward from the formation.
On the Immortal God Race's side, Northern Peak High God, High God Ao Yang, and Dragon-Master High God—who were escorting the trade goods—mistook the two Void Refining experts for targeting them and promptly revealed themselves.
"Greetings, Celestial Sovereigns," the three High Gods said, bowing slightly. Despite being Eighth-Tier powerhouses themselves, they proactively greeted Yi Xuan and Chenguang, the two Void Refining experts.
"Honorable High Gods," Yi Xuan and Chenguang returned the courtesy with equal respect. "This is a routine inspection. Once cleared, you may proceed to the Profound Yellow Great World. The Profound Yellow Great World welcomes all friendly races for trade and cultural exchange."
Even if they disregarded the Third-Rank High Gods' status, their Eighth-Tier strength warranted cautious respect.
The three High Gods smiled.
Seeing the Golden Crow Battleship surge forward, Dragon-Master High God quickly explained, "This is a Void Refining expert from your esteemed race. He inadvertently fell into our Immortal God Race's territory during a Starquake and is now simply passing through our lands."
"A Starquake? A Void Refining expert?" Yi Xuan and Chenguang exchanged surprised glances.
The only recent Starquake had occurred in the Azure Sea Domain, but no Void Refining cultivator there had been reported as unfortunate enough to be caught in the void turbulence.
Especially given that this was the Golden Crow Battleship...
General Xuan Mi's flagship.
Although the Two Worlds Mountain Battlefield where General Xuan Mi had been stationed had been destroyed by the Starquake, his Frigid Jade Fortress had safely retreated to Canghai Realm's main star, where he remained, awaiting orders on whether to annihilate the Divine Race.
How could this be...?
Whoosh!
At that moment, two figures shot out from the battleship.
Zuo Cheng, the Frigid Jade Fortress adjutant, immediately bowed deeply to them. "Zuo Cheng, adjutant of the Frigid Jade Fortress, greets the two Celestial Sovereigns."
Chenguang remained silent.
With so many Primordial Spirit True Monarchs in the Profound Yellow Great World, he couldn't possibly remember them all.
Yi Xuan, however, immediately focused his gaze on Li Chunjun, a hint of astonishment in his eyes. "You... you're Li Chunjun?"
Li Chunjun?
Hearing the name, Chenguang also recalled something. "The unfortunate Star Brilliance First Rank champion who perished?"
"Fallen?" Li Chunjun was taken aback.
Yi Xuan glanced at him, quickly piecing things together. "Ah, that's right. As I recall, after achieving the Star Brilliance First Rank, you planned to return home in glory. You traveled from the Azure Sea Domain to Frigid Jade Fortress, and then back to your homeland—a Lesser Thousand World."
He nodded toward the Golden Crow Battleship. "This ship must have been lent to you by General Xuan Mi. Unfortunately, shortly after you departed, the Azure Sea Domain was struck by a Starquake, obliterating most of the region. You vanished without a trace, and your name soon disappeared from the Star Brilliance List. The world assumed you had perished."
"In just one year, you conquered both the Star Glory and Solar Radiance rankings, only to fall victim to a Starquake. Countless powers in the Profound Yellow Great World mourned this tragic end. Little did they know, you hadn't truly fallen..."
Chenguang looked at Li Chunjun with a hint of delight. "Judging by your demeanor, you've broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm, haven't you?"
Li Chunjun nodded. "I did encounter a Starquake and fell into the territory of the Immortal God Race. Fortunately, the Golden Crow Battleship allowed me to survive, and I soon after advanced to the Primordial Spirit Realm."
Primordial Spirit?
The Dragon-Master High God, High God Ao Yang, and Northern Peak High God, who had been listening to Li Chunjun's conversation with Yi Xuan and the others, exchanged astonished glances.
They had always assumed Li Chunjun was a Void Refining expert, but now it seemed...
That wasn't the case at all?
The Dragon-Master High God, in particular, wore an incredulous expression. He had personally tasked his subordinate, the Wind-Thunder True God, with probing Li Chunjun's abilities. His Mystical Powers were at least on par with those of a Void Refining cultivator, and his Mind Realm even seemed to have reached the Fourth Layer!
How could someone with such profound foundations not be a Void Refining expert?
"A Primordial Spirit, huh?" Yi Xuan and Chenguang remarked, finding it perfectly reasonable.
For the top-ranked powerhouse on the Star Brilliance List to break through to the Primordial Spirit Realm? That was practically effortless.
Judging by the lingering aura of Thunder Tribulation on Li Chunjun...
He must have weathered at least five or six tribulations already.
Considering Li Chunjun's encounter with the Starquake and his subsequent entrapment in the unknown territory of the Immortal God Race, it was understandable that he would immediately strive for the Primordial Spirit Realm to secure sufficient power for survival.
However...
The Primordial Spirit Realm was an exceptionally crucial stage.
Each Thunder Tribulation offered cultivators a direct confrontation with the profound mysteries of the Laws of Heaven and Earth. By accumulating a solid foundation during this phase, cultivators could treat each tribulation like checking their understanding against the cosmic answer key. If successful, they could comprehend dozens or even hundreds of Law Mysteries in a single tribulation.
Many exceptionally talented True Monarchs meticulously leveraged each Thunder Tribulation, ensuring they fully grasped their primary Law Mysteries by the Eighth or even Seventh Tribulation, leaving only the final one or two tribulations for refining and consolidation.
Yet Li Chunjun had only been stranded in that foreign realm for two years. In just two years, he had become a Sixth Tribulation True Monarch. How much foundation could he possibly have accumulated in such a short time?
This was akin to carelessly squandering multiple precious opportunities to directly confront the Laws of Heaven and Earth.
As the two Void Refining experts pondered this, they couldn't help but sigh with regret.
Life rarely goes as planned; disappointment lurks around every corner.
Who could guarantee a smooth and effortless journey through life?
Li Chunjun, who had topped both the Star Glory and Solar Radiance Lists, would have normally joined a major power. Under their meticulous cultivation, he could have striven for the top spot on the Cosmic Light List in a few centuries, making the Grand Triad more than just a distant dream.
But now...
Due to an unforeseen disaster, he was stranded in a foreign realm and forced to undergo his tribulation prematurely, missing invaluable opportunities to comprehend the profound mysteries of the Laws of Heaven and Earth.
Looking to the future...
Climbing onto the Cosmic Light List might still be within reach.
However, reaching the top, or even breaking into the top ten, seemed increasingly unlikely.
Without reaching the top ten, securing truly valuable Dao Resonance-grade treasures would be nearly impossible.
The path to Void Refining...
Who knew how long that ordeal would last?
While his future success in reaching Void Refining remained highly probable, he would never again shine as brightly as he had before.
"After some basic assessments, let's proceed," Chenguang announced.
Yi Xuan transmitted his Divine Sense to Li Jian: "Sword Prodigy Li, I am an Elder of the Profound Yellow Sect. Moreover, the Yi Clan possesses its own peak within the Profound Yellow Grotto-Heaven. Naturally, we should foster closer ties."
Yi Xuan recognized Li Chunjun immediately, having extensively studied his profile due to Li's prominence in the Profound Yellow Grotto-Heaven.
"If Sword Prodigy Li is willing, the Profound Yellow Sect would be honored to invite you to join, offering you Tier 12 cultivation benefits."
"Tier 12?" Li Chunjun glanced at Yi Xuan, puzzled.
The Profound Yellow Sect, Taixu Sword Sect, and Celestial Qin Dynasty had all previously offered him Tier 12 cultivation benefits when trying to recruit him. This level roughly corresponded to the mid-stage of Void Refining.
Why was Yi Xuan reiterating the "Tier 12" offer now? What was the point?
Having no intention of joining the Profound Yellow Sect, Li Chunjun gave a slight nod and politely declined, "I will certainly consider it carefully."
Yi Xuan said nothing more, waving his hand dismissively.
Li Chunjun then turned to the High Gods of the Immortal God Race who had escorted him. "Thank you all for your escort. Now that we have reached Human Territory, I must take my leave."
With that, he boarded the Golden Crow Battleship and headed toward the checkpoint.
As they watched Li Chunjun's departing figure, Northern Peak High God, High God Ao Yang, and Dragon-Master High God exchanged awkward glances.
Li Chunjun...
was merely a Primordial Spirit?
These Third-Rank High Gods, equivalent to top Eighth-Tier experts, couldn't even distinguish between a Primordial Spirit and a Void Refining cultivator. Throughout their journey, they had treated Li Chunjun and his group with utmost courtesy.
While this was partly due to their fear of offending the Human Race, the thought of how they had been misled still left the three High Gods feeling rather embarrassed.
After a long silence, the reluctant Dragon-Master High God pressed again, "Your Excellencies, that Heavenly Monarch Li... he's truly not a Human Void Refining cultivator?"
"Perhaps he'll reach the Void Refinement Realm in a few centuries, but for now, he's undoubtedly at the level of a Primordial Spirit True Monarch," Chenguang explained.
He realized that if Li Chunjun maintained his Primordial Spirit status, it would be difficult for him to return safely to Human Territory from the Immortal God Race's lands. Therefore, masquerading as a Void Refining cultivator made perfect sense.
As for how a Fifth-Tier Primordial Spirit cultivator could deceive the perception of these Eighth-Tier Foreign Races...
Hmph, these Foreign Races rely solely on innate talent and instinct. How could they possibly comprehend the profound subtleties of Human cultivation methods?
(End of the Chapter)
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