Translator: CinderTL
Clang! Clang! Clang!
At the center of the battlefield, Jiang Ye and Zhu Hua clashed fiercely.
Despite Zhu Hua's multiple fatal wounds, his monstrous vitality from the third breakthrough allowed him to stubbornly endure.
Of course, an ordinary third breakthrough powerhouse would have long fallen under Jiang Ye's relentless assault.
But Zhu Hua, a Fallen Star-level Genius with the potential to reach the ninth breakthrough, possessed extraordinary martial dao foundations and combat prowess.
Without these exceptional qualities, he would never have survived this long.
"Geniuses truly are hard to kill," Jiang Ye thought coldly, his long spear piercing forward relentlessly.
Boom! Boom! The spear struck like a rolling Great Sun, each strike capable of annihilating a newly advanced third breakthrough powerhouse.
Yet Zhu Hua barely managed to withstand each blow.
Jiang Ye wasn't particularly surprised.
His gaze swept over Zhu Hua's head.
Physique: Profound Physique (Upper A-tier)
Innate Talent: Dao Bone
This was Jiang Ye's first direct confrontation with a genius possessing an Upper A-tier profound physique!
His opponent's cultivation realm was even higher than his own.
If Zhu Hua hadn't underestimated Jiang Ye and failed to unleash his full strength from the start, allowing Jiang Ye to completely suppress him, Jiang Ye wouldn't have found this battle so easy.
In clashes between experts, the tide can turn in an instant.
Once suppressed, it becomes exceedingly difficult to regain the upper hand.
Clang! Clang!
The two warriors clashed fiercely.
Jiang Ye's spear strikes relentlessly shattered Zhu Hua's defenses, his spear shadows weaving a continuous barrage that inflicted terrifying wounds.
"Damn it!"
"How can I, a Fallen Star-level cultivator, be so utterly suppressed, unable to even activate my innate ability?" Zhu Hua raged inwardly.
If he had activated his Innate Domain earlier, he would never have been forced into such a passive position!
But innate abilities aren't activated at will.
They require a state of 'harmonizing with heaven and earth,' resonating with the cosmic forces.
An Innate Domain, at its core, is a Substantial Domain formed through this resonance with heaven and earth.
While this resonance isn't as complex as executing an ultimate move, it still requires time.
At the very least, one's physical condition must not be too compromised.
In Zhu Hua's case, being relentlessly suppressed by Jiang Ye and suffering a series of fatal wounds, it became nearly impossible to activate his Innate Domain.
"I must find an opportunity to activate my innate ability!" Zhu Hua's injuries were worsening rapidly.
He could already feel the threat of death looming.
Boom!
In an instant, the two clashed for dozens more exchanges. Zhu Hua's body was battered and torn, his injuries nearing their limit.
"Now!" Jiang Ye's eyes hardened.
Whoosh!
Wielding his long spear, he swept it horizontally once more, unleashing a massive, icy sun that crashed toward Zhu Hua.
Boom! This was an absolutely terrifying spear strike, brimming with peerless killing intent. The full power of the Cold Sun erupted without restraint.
"The opportunity!" Zhu Hua's eyes lit up as he allowed the Great Sun to slam into him.
Boom!
Zhu Hua's body was further ravaged, blood spurting from his wounds. Yet, using the terrifying shockwave, he was hurled back hundreds of meters.
This was the first time Zhu Hua had retreated from the battlefield.
He knew in his heart that this was his only chance.
"Innate Domain, activate!" Zhu Hua roared inwardly.
Buzz!
An invisible wave rippled outward. In the next instant, within the boundless sea of blood, towering, violet mountains materialized, majestic and vast.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Accompanied by earth-shattering bell chimes, the colossal purple mountains erupted with terrifying energy waves, bearing down on Jiang Ye.
"Innate Domain?" Jiang Ye's gaze turned icy.
Previously, facing such an assault, he would have had no choice but to meet it head-on.
But now?
"Go!" With a thought, the boundless sea of blood around him surged violently.
In an instant, it transformed into colossal tidal waves, crashing against the towering purple mountains.
Boom! The collision of their Innate Domains unleashed deafening roars, far more violent than their earlier clash.
Amidst this cataclysmic collision,
Whoosh! Zhu Hua transformed into a streak of Flowing Light, fleeing without looking back.
He unleashed the fastest speed of his life, astonishingly swift.
In a few blinks, he had already covered several thousand meters.
He's escaped!
Thank goodness my innate abilities aren't limited to one, Zhu Hua thought to himself. Besides Giant Mountainfall, I can also temporarily boost my speed by more than five times!
As a Fallen Star-level Genius, Zhu Hua was born with two innate abilities!
In the Fire Ember Civilization, this was not uncommon; some powerful Fallen Star-level Geniuses even possessed three innate abilities.
While Zhu Hua's innate abilities weren't the strongest, they were perfect for escape.
Five times his normal speed!
Whoosh!
In an instant, Zhu Hua had flown ten thousand meters away, completely distancing himself from the Thunder Sound Valley region.
Such speed was beyond the reach of even some third breakthrough powerhouses, let alone those at the second breakthrough.
My injuries are severe. I need to find a place to recover properly, Zhu Hua thought grimly. Once I'm fully healed, if I encounter that person again, I will kill him!
His defeat today was entirely due to his failure to activate his Innate Domain in time.
Otherwise, he would never have been so thoroughly suppressed!
Zhu Hua felt utterly humiliated, his heart burning with murderous intent.
The humiliation I've suffered today will be repaid a hundredfold in the future! Zhu Hua's eyes glinted with venomous resentment.
But just as he swore this vengeful oath in his heart...
Suddenly!
Whoosh!
A golden ray of light, silent and swift, streaked across ten thousand meters of sky.
Thwack! It pierced Zhu Hua's skull in an instant.
Blood splattered.
Driven by inertia, Zhu Hua's body surged forward several hundred meters before collapsing slowly to the ground.
His eyes remained wide open, filled with disbelief.
How is this possible?
It's archery.
The thought flashed through his mind before he sank into eternal darkness.
Thud. Zhu Hua's neck lolled to the side as his life aura rapidly faded.
Even a third breakthrough powerhouse like him, a Fallen Star-level Genius, was doomed to die instantly when struck through the head—a vital point.
Zhu Hua... is dead?!
How can this be?
He was a Fallen Star-level Genius!
That Blue Star genius... not only masters spearmanship but also possesses a terrifying archery technique?! Yun Hong, Feiying, and the others were shaken to their core, their hearts pounding with dread.
Yun Hong, in particular, stared wide-eyed, his legs trembling.
How could that Blue Star genius be this strong?
"Incredible!"
"He actually did it!"
"Who is this guy? I've never heard of him before." Su Haiyue, Lin Qing, and the others were ecstatic at the sight.
At the same time, they were utterly perplexed.
Who exactly was this handsome young man from Blue Star?
With such overwhelming combat prowess, he should have been a legend among the ten great schools!
Yet none of them had ever heard of him.
On the battlefield nearby, Jiang Ye retracted the Falling Star Bow, his expression indifferent as he watched Zhu Hua flee.
Trying to escape?
He wouldn't allow it.
Still, he had to admit he was surprised by how quickly Zhu Hua had covered ten thousand meters in an instant.
Fortunately, Jiang Ye still had the Star-Piercing Arrow Technique as his trump card.
Whether it was ten thousand meters, a hundred thousand, or even a million, he would still kill without hesitation.
The Star-Piercing Arrow Technique was renowned for its extraordinary range and devastating power.
[Foreign race killed +1]
A system notification flashed silently across his vision.
"Now," Jiang Ye said, his icy gaze sweeping over Yun Hong and the others.
"It's time to deal with these people."
This time, Jiang Ye had no intention of letting the foreign race escape.
Boom!
Jiang Ye's entire body erupted in brilliant starlight, transforming into a Flowing Light that shot toward Yun Hong, Feiying, and the others with explosive force.
"Kill!"
"Kill!!" Su Haiyue, Lin Qing, and the others unleashed their full power, coordinating with Jiang Ye to strike at the remaining geniuses of the Fire Ember Civilization.
The battle erupted anew!
This time, the fight was far less grueling than before.
After all, their strongest member, Zhu Hua, had already fallen.
Jiang Ye alone could sweep through the remaining six.
And with the assistance of a powerhouse like Su Haiyue, victory was assured.
Within minutes:
Thwack! Jiang Ye's long spear struck with lightning speed, piercing Yun Hong's skull.
"So... I still end up dying by his hand," Yun Hong muttered, his eyes fixed on Jiang Ye, burning with resentment.
Pfft!
Jiang Ye yanked his spear free, stellar energy surging through it. The enemy's head exploded instantly.
Yun Hong, the Dharma Manifestation-level genius of the Fire Ember Civilization, had once escaped death at Jiang Ye's hands.
Now, he had finally fallen to Jiang Ye's spear.
"It's over," Jiang Ye said, surveying the battlefield around him.
Xu Haiyue, Lin Qing, and the other Blue Star geniuses had also defeated their opponents, their faces glowing with the relief of surviving a near-death experience.
As Jiang Ye killed the last enemy, they all turned to look at him simultaneously.
But before anyone could speak, Jiang Ye quickly said, "Other foreign race powerhouses are converging here. We need to leave now." He transformed into a streak of Flowing Light and shot out of Thunder Sound Valley.
Xu Haiyue, Lin Qing, and the others paled at his words.
They realized he was right.
Over a hundred foreign race powerhouses remained in Thunder Sound Valley.
Zhu Hua, Yun Hong, and the others they had fought were just a small fraction of them.
Their recent battles had likely drawn the attention of other foreign race powerhouses.
"We can't stay in Thunder Sound Valley any longer."
"Let's go!" Su Haiyue declared without hesitation, soaring into the sky.
"Sister Haiyue!"
"Are we giving up on the opportunities in Thunder Sound Valley?" Lin Qing and the others called out as they chased after her.
They had come to compete for the Thunder Essence Spirit Nectar.
But now?
Forget the Thunder Essence Spirit Nectar—they hadn't even managed to secure a Low B-tier Opportunity.
"What do we do now?" Su Haiyue sighed. "After killing so many Fire Ember Civilization powerhouses, those foreign races will definitely target us."
"Let's hurry and catch up with that man first."
"He didn't get any opportunities either," Su Haiyue said, her eyes gleaming. "With his strength, he could have easily claimed that Upper B-Tier Opportunity if he hadn't saved us. I must thank him properly."
Whoosh!
Su Haiyue, encased in sea-blue battle armor, transformed into a streak of Flowing Light and shot after Jiang Ye.
Seeing this, Lin Qing and the others sighed helplessly and followed suit.
Whoosh!
Jiang Ye flew at breakneck speed, covering over ten miles in just half a minute, completely distancing himself from the Thunder Sound Valley region.
Ahead, a crimson-purple valley came into view.
Whoosh!
Jiang Ye gradually slowed down, landing on a massive boulder atop a mountain peak.
He turned to look back.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Several streaks of Flowing Light streaked across the sky, rapidly closing in on his position.
A moment later, the streaks of flowing light transformed into several young women, landing before Jiang Ye.
It was Su Haiyue, Lin Qing, and the other two survivors.
"Friend," Su Haiyue stepped forward, "thank you for saving our lives! I am Su Haiyue from Starry Sky University. I will never forget this debt and will repay you in the future."
As she spoke, she pressed a button on the gauntlet of her battle armor.
Click!
A mechanism sprang open, revealing a crimson fruit.
"This is the only Low B-tier Opportunity I have left. Please accept it as a token of my gratitude," Su Haiyue said sincerely.
Jiang Ye nodded slightly and reached out to take the fruit.
He had indeed saved their lives, so he felt no hesitation in accepting their gift.
"I'm Lin Qing from Starry Sky University. I'll repay this debt a hundredfold in the future!"
"I'm Zhang Yu. Thank you for saving my life."
"I'm..." The others chimed in, each expressing their heartfelt gratitude to Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye nodded to each of them in turn. "White Dragon University, Jiang Ye."
"Jiang Ye?" A flicker of confusion crossed Su Haiyue's eyes.
As an Upper A-tier student at Starry Sky University, she had heard of most of the contemporary geniuses from White Dragon University.
But Jiang Ye? She had never heard that name before.
Lin Qing and the others wore equally puzzled expressions.
"Jiang Ye," Lin Qing couldn't help but ask, "your cultivation realm... it doesn't seem like you've reached the third breakthrough yet?"
"That's right," Jiang Ye nodded. "I'm still a bit short."
"What?!"
The girls were stunned.
To defeat a foreign race Heavenly Pride of Su Haiyue's caliber while only approaching the third breakthrough?
And to completely dominate the entire fight!
Did this mean Jiang Ye could easily crush Su Haiyue in a direct confrontation?
"Jiang Ye," Su Haiyue couldn't resist asking, "do you possess Transcendent Aptitude?"
"Transcendent?" Jiang Ye shook his head with a smile, offering no further explanation. "Ladies, I have urgent matters to attend to. Farewell."
"Until we meet again."
He smiled faintly at Su Haiyue, and before she could respond, he transformed into a streak of Flowing Light and soared into the distance.
"That guy!"
"Why did he leave so abruptly?" Lin Qing couldn't help but remark.
"He probably had something urgent to attend to," Su Haiyue murmured, watching Jiang Ye's retreating figure, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a strange light.
He had crossed realms to defeat a Heavenly Pride of her own level, and with absolute dominance. Such extraordinary prowess left an indelible impression on Su Haiyue.
"Could he really not be transcendent?" Su Haiyue mused, recalling his handsome face. "Could White Dragon University be about to produce another invincible dao bone?"
Whoosh!
A streak of Flowing Light streaked across the sky.
Jiang Ye flew at full speed, maintaining his Swift Step for over ten minutes before gradually slowing down. He found a secluded mountain cave and dove inside.
He was now hundreds of kilometers away from where he had parted ways with Su Haiyue and the others.
"No one within a hundred-kilometer radius," Jiang Ye thought to himself. "I can refine it here."
Why had he been in such a hurry to leave?
The answer lay within his body: the Thunder Essence Spirit Nectar.
After consuming the nectar, its immense spiritual energy had been entirely stored within him, saturating every cell. Spiritual substances possess spiritual essence, causing them to constantly circulate within the body. The spiritual essence contained in Upper B-Tier Opportunity substances is particularly potent, almost indistinguishable from true life.
Now, Jiang Ye felt a searing, swelling sensation throughout his body, causing him extreme discomfort.
"Begin refining," he thought, closing his eyes with a hint of anticipation. "Will this finally allow me to break through the third breakthrough threshold?"
Swish!
Within his body, the vast spiritual substance began to flow slowly. Jiang Ye's life level started to ascend at an astonishing rate.
(End of the Chapter)
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