Translator: CinderTL
Outer Perimeter of the Star Abyss.
Dongfang Yu and Chang Yue had been fleeing for nearly an hour, only slowing down once they were completely out of the Star Abyss.
The intense burning of their Qi had left them utterly exhausted in body, mind, and spirit.
Yet, they seemed oblivious to their fatigue, their faces alight with the joy of surviving a tribulation.
"That person... was Li Chunjun!?" Chang Yue asked, still shaken.
"It was him!" Dongfang Yu nodded emphatically. "I've reviewed his records countless times. I wouldn't mistake him. It was Li Chunjun!"
"That's terrifying." Chang Yue glanced back at the Star Abyss below. "They say he only advanced to Void Refining a few years ago. How could he have become so powerful? His combat prowess... it's not even inferior to those Venerables who have barely managed to condense their Dharma Aspects."
"To this day, many still fail to grasp the true terror of Li Chunjun. It's not his strength that's truly frightening, but his rate of growth! How long did it take him to go from Star Glory List First Rank to Cosmic Light List First Rank? Less than five years! And how long has it been since he achieved Void Refining until now, when he single-handedly annihilated three top-tier Void Refining cultivators? Still less than five years!"
Dongfang Yu couldn't help but shiver. "At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if he cultivates a Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation within ten years."
After all, Li Chunjun still hasn't advanced despite having such profound foundations...
It's clear he's aiming for a Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation.
As for a Supreme Dharma Aspect...
That involves deeper factors, almost entirely monopolized by Council-level and High Council-Level sects. It can't be achieved through mere cultivation.
The Chiyang Sword Sect simply doesn't have access to such secrets.
"Thank goodness we severed ties with the Chiyang Sword Sect of the Azure Star Minor Realm the moment we learned Li Chunjun had become the Star Brilliance First Rank. If we hadn't..."
Chang Yue shuddered at the thought of the consequences.
Dongfang Yu silently breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Li Chunjun didn't seem to recognize him.
After all...
He had been the one in charge of the Chiyang Sword Sect's Branch Sect back then.
After this incident, the Vice Hall Master in charge of the Branch Sect was punished. He pulled many strings and spent a vast amount of resources to escape with his life.
It was precisely because he had spent so much, nearly bankrupting himself, that he chose to venture into the Star Abyss, hoping to find some treasure.
But he never expected...
To encounter Li Chunjun again.
And this time, Li Chunjun had transformed from the Nascent Soul True Lord who once topped the Star Brilliance List to an unparalleled powerhouse beyond the reach of even Dongfang Yu, the Void Refining Heavenly Monarch who had once overseen the Branch Sect.
"Alright, report this to the sect," Dongfang Yu said. "Don't embellish the details or stir up trouble... The Chiyang Sword Sect is a small sect; we can't afford to weather too many storms."
Chang Yue nodded quickly.
As Void Refining elders of the sect, they understood perfectly well that the Chiyang Sword Sect's entry into the Immortal Alliance was entirely due to the Council-level Power behind them wanting to prop up a puppet to increase their influence in the affairs of the Profound Yellow Great World.
In reality, despite boasting four Supreme Sages, the Chiyang Sword Sect's number and quality of Supreme Sages paled in comparison to the Wu Ji Sect and the Taixu Sword Sect.
Void Refining cultivators are crucial figures in any major power.
Even the Wu Ji Sect, as a native force of the Profound Yellow Great World, boasts far more experts than other factions. Yet, they possess only around ten thousand Void Refining Heavenly Monarchs.
Don't be misled by this number.
As one of the few powers that once rivaled the Taixu Sword Sect in the Profound Yellow Great World, the Wu Ji Sect must project its influence across every Realm Region.
To truly secure a Realm Region and prevent its loss, at least one Void Refining cultivator is required.
But how many Realm Regions exist in the Profound Yellow Great World?
A mere ten thousand Void Refining cultivators are simply insufficient to cover them all.
Moreover, many critical positions also demand the presence of Void Refining cultivators. Such talent is in desperately short supply within the Wu Ji Sect.
In just one month, they've lost a Dharma Aspect cultivator and thirteen Void Refining cultivators. Now, three more Void Refining cultivators have fallen...
This level of attrition has sent shockwaves of fear through the Wu Ji Sect.
It was like ten thousand people dying in a city of ten million in a single month...
A catastrophe of earth-shattering proportions.
The shockwaves were immense, as one could imagine.
The Wu Ji Sect was furious!
Sect Master Yuan Taiji immediately issued orders to all Void Refining cultivators in the Star Abyss: the heinous murderer must pay the price.
The order even reached Primordial True Martial directly.
Every Council-level Power possessed seeds of Top-Tier Dharma Manifestations.
Heavenly Palace had seven or eight such individuals, including Luo Yao.
The Wu Ji Sect's foundation was slightly weaker than Heavenly Palace's, with only four Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation seeds. Among these four, Primordial True Martial was the most promising.
The reason this Void Refining cultivator had entered the Star Abyss was to gamble for the Star Spirit's inheritance.
Though the cost was high, for a power like the Wu Ji Sect, which hadn't completely become a puppet of the Heavenly Principles Sect but was in a precarious situation, taking such a risk was necessary to gain true autonomy.
Cultivating a Dao Unification expert.
Therefore, no opportunity for Dao Unification could be missed.
Even though the Starspirit Dao Venerable's inheritance carried risks far greater than its rewards, they still decided to take the gamble.
They were even willing to sacrifice Yuan Zhenwu, a top-tier Dharma Manifestation seed.
While Yuan Taiji issued a furious order for Li Chunjun's arrest, he also contacted the Heavenly Palace.
Others might not have known about Luo Yao's death, but the Wu Ji Sect, a local power, was fully aware.
After the Sect Master personally approached several Venerables from the Heavenly Palace's Council of Elders responsible for various matters, a covert order was soon issued from the Heavenly Palace: Heavenly Palace Void Refining experts would collaborate with the Wu Ji Sect to capture and kill Li Chunjun.
Of course, these orders were issued in secret.
In an environment like the Star Abyss, where resources were fiercely contested, life-and-death struggles were inevitable.
Even though the Human Race had a rule against Void Refining experts killing each other without cause, these council-level powers always found ways to circumvent the regulations.
Thus, the situation within the Star Abyss gradually became turbulent due to Li Chunjun's actions.
Li Chunjun received the news from the Profound Yellow Sect the day after he annihilated the Wu Ji Sect's three Void Refining cultivators.
He wasn't surprised in the slightest.
"According to our information, the Wu Ji Sect and the Heavenly Palace have a considerable number of Void Refining cultivators stationed in the Star Abyss. They've even dispatched several elite Void Refining teams specializing in coordinated attacks and close-quarters combat to reinforce the area," Huang Daozhen said gravely, his face reflected in a Dao Artifact-grade mirror. "To ensure safety, the Profound Yellow Sect will also send personnel into the Star Abyss. We will not allow the Heavenly Palace and the Wu Ji Sect to succeed in their schemes!"
"The Star Abyss is the battlefield I chose to confront the Wu Ji Sect and the Heavenly Palace," Li Chunjun replied calmly. "However, it's fine for the Profound Yellow Sect to send people in. They can help me monitor the movements of the Heavenly Palace and the Wu Ji Sect's Void Refining cultivators."
His voice took on a chilling edge as he continued, "Since they've already secretly ordered my assassination, I won't sit idly by."
"The battlefield..." Huang Daozhen murmured, momentarily lost in thought, as he listened to Li Chunjun's words.
He had heard Li Chunjun mention before that he intended to cultivate in the Star Abyss to gather materials for forging his Dharma Manifestation and accumulate the necessary foundation for the Dharma Manifestation Realm.
Initially, he had assumed these materials and foundation would come from the Star Abyss's guardians.
But now it seemed...
These resources for advancement referred to the Void Refining cultivators of the Heavenly Palace and the Wu Ji Sect!
"This..."
For a moment, Huang Daozhen didn't know what to say.
He finally understood the weight behind Li Chunjun's words: "Are you prepared for the possibility that this could lead to the Profound Yellow Sect's utter destruction?"
This Supreme Elder Li...
His actions were truly audacious!
Now that things had come to this, further discussion was pointless.
The only thing Huang Daozhen could do was focus on logistics, ensuring more available Void Refining cultivators entered the Star Abyss. He would do his utmost to protect Li Chunjun's safety while providing him with intelligence on the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect's Void Refining cultivators.
"No matter what, Supreme Elder Li, please be extremely careful. As long as the mountain remains green, there's no need to fear a lack of firewood. We firmly believe that with your talent, as long as you remain cautious and avoid premature demise, you'll not only achieve Supreme Sagehood in the future but even have a strong chance of reaching Dao Unification!"
"I have a plan."
"Among our Profound Yellow Sect, sixteen members are currently adventuring in the Star Abyss. Their leader, Lan Jing, has accumulated 18,000 years of Qi! I'll have her contact you immediately to await your orders."
"Very well."
Li Chunjun didn't refuse.
After ending the communication, he sensed the Scarlet Sky Sword and Dharma Manifestation Armament within him...
His heart settled.
"At my current strength, I can't claim to be invincible in the Void Refining realm, but I'm definitely among the strongest. Especially..."
He glanced at the experience points displayed on the Human Emperor Banner.
Void Refining cultivators who ventured out to adventure wouldn't be weak.
At the very least, they would be veterans like Hong Qianjue and Xuan Mi—near the top tier of Void Refining cultivators.
In fact, top-tier Void Refining cultivators were the norm.
As for those exceptional peak Void Refining cultivators who exceeded the norm, each was a Heavenly Prodigy with the potential to achieve a Top-Tier Dharma Manifestation. They were a rare breed.
On average, each Void Refining cultivator had at least 10,000 experience points.
In other words, with just forty more Void Refining cultivators, his Life Level would reach 38.
By then...
He would truly be invincible in the Star Abyss.
At this moment, the Dao Artifact resembling a precious mirror on Li Chunjun's body released another surge of mental power.
As he unfurled the artifact, a woman with a valiant and spirited aura, reminiscent of a battlefield general, materialized within.
"Lan Jing, Elder of the Profound Yellow Sect, greets Supreme Elder Li," the woman said, offering a slight bow.
While the bow wasn't forced, it lacked genuine respect.
Li Chunjun remained unfazed and asked, "Do you know what's happening?"
"The Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect have joined forces to harm Supreme Elder Li," Lan Jing replied curtly. "I have six people with me, and I've contacted several others, awaiting your orders. Please, Supreme Elder, issue your commands freely."
"Since the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect intend to strike at me, I won't sit idly by," Li Chunjun declared. "Thoroughly search for any Void Refining cultivators from the Heavenly Palace or Wu Ji Sect. Report any findings to me immediately."
"Is the sect... really going to war with the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect?" Lan Jing frowned.
"Casualties in the Star Abyss are inevitable, aren't they?"
Li Chunjun said calmly, "We can't allow Void Refining cultivators from other sects to die in the Star Abyss while those from the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect escape unscathed."
Lan Jing recalled the Star Abyss's unique rules...
After a moment, she replied, "I haven't detected any Heavenly Palace Void Refining cultivators yet... But three hours ago, we encountered a team from the Wu Ji Sect."
(End of the Chapter)
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