Translator: CinderTL
In previous competitions like the Twenty-Five School Genius Cup and the Ten Schools League, his teachers had always set ranking targets for him. But this time? Qiu Cang hadn't mentioned any.
"Being able to participate in the Great Stellar War is already an extraordinary achievement," Qiu Cang said solemnly. "I have no further demands of you. I'll leave you with just one phrase."
"A hundred cosmic refinements forged in fire, today your blade shines bright."
"Hidden scales in the abyss, now soar to the starry sky!"
Soon after, Qiu Cang gracefully departed.
Jiang Ye remained alone in the training hall, beginning his final push for the Great Stellar War, which was just days away.
Though he was confident in his current strength, he remembered Qiu Cang's words:
Even at the last moment before drawing your sword, you must sharpen it to its utmost. Only then can you soar to new heights when the blade is finally revealed.
High above, Qiu Cang stood in the sky, facing a man in a white whale-patterned robe—Principal Bai Jing of White Dragon University, also known as White Whale.
"Old Qiu, you seem remarkably confident in Jiang Ye," Bai Jing chuckled, having overheard their conversation.
"Confidence is essential," Qiu Cang replied with a smile. "Who knows? He might just pull it off."
"You're incorrigible," Bai Jing said, shaking his head with amusement. "Do you really believe Jiang Ye has a chance at winning? In the history of the Great Stellar War, no genius without Transcendent Aptitude has ever claimed the championship."
"That may be true," Qiu Cang countered with a smile, "but Jiang Ye has already performed countless miracles, hasn't he?"
"What if he were to face Chu Jingye?" Bai Jing asked.
Qiu Cang suddenly fell silent.
Ah, Chu Jingye.
He had witnessed Chu Jingye's performance in the previous Great Stellar War.
Back then, Chu Jingye was only at the fifth breakthrough, yet he had risen above countless sixth and seventh breakthrough powerhouses to become the undisputed champion of that year.
To this day, no one disputed his victory.
Chu Jingye himself was a miracle.
No matter how strong Jiang Ye might be, what chance did he stand against such a terrifying opponent?
Very slim.
"Let's not even talk about Chu Jingye," Bai Jing sighed. "This year's peak seventh breakthrough experts are no pushovers either."
"They've spent years refining their power at the peak of the seventh breakthrough, their understanding of the world rivaling that of transcendent beings."
"These are all formidable adversaries."
"If Jiang Ye encounters them in the chaotic early stages, he'll be in serious trouble," Bai Jing said, shaking his head in dismay.
Qiu Cang shook his head slightly.
"Right and wrong..."
"We'll know the truth when the Great Stellar War arrives," Qiu Cang said slowly. "More than what you've mentioned, I'm far more interested in the outcome of Jiang Ye's battle against Zhou Xingkong."
"Hmm," Bai Jing nodded slightly.
Zhou Xingkong!
Another student from White Dragon University.
As the principal of White Dragon University, Bai Jing saw no difference between Jiang Ye and Zhou Xingkong's victory or defeat.
But for Qiu Cang, the stakes were far higher.
If Jiang Ye were to be defeated by Zhou Xingkong, Qiu Cang would be deeply disappointed.
"Let's not dwell on that," Qiu Cang said abruptly. "Principal, what brings you back so suddenly? Has the Shadow Calamity in Dongshan Province subsided?"
Principal Bai Jing had previously gone to Dongshan Province as reinforcement.
"Indeed," Bai Jing nodded. "The situation in Dongshan Province began to ease half a month ago."
"Shadow Clan members at the ninth breakthrough level or higher have been appearing less frequently."
"Only now have I had a chance to catch my breath." A hint of fatigue lingered in Bai Jing's eyes.
Months of relentless combat had taken a toll even on him.
Qiu Cang's eyes lit up slightly.
This is good news.
Could it mean the Shadow Clan was finally preparing to ease their offensive?
"It's not just Dongshan Province," Bai Jing continued. "In other regions across the Forty Provinces of the Federation, Shadow Calamities at tier 7 and above have also seen varying degrees of improvement. However, I've heard the situation in Xishan Province is deteriorating rapidly."
"Xishan Province?" Qiu Cang's expression darkened.
"We suspect that all Shadow Clan members above the ninth breakthrough have converged on Xishan Province," Bai Jing continued. "That's why the situation there is so dire."
As he spoke, a hint of puzzlement flickered across Bai Jing's face.
"Old Qiu," he asked, "has something happened in Xishan Province?"
Having just returned from the Shadow Clan Nest in Dongshan Province, Bai Jing was unaware of the latest developments on Blue Star.
"Recently, Xishan Province was struck by a 7.9-magnitude Shadow Calamity," Qiu Cang replied. "The Chen Family Patriarch stormed into the Shadow Clan Nest there."
"I see," Bai Jing said, understanding dawning on his face.
In the Shadow Clan World, while each Shadow Clan Nest operated independently, they were interconnected by subterranean passages.
If one Nest came under attack, the others would immediately dispatch reinforcements. This was why Shadow Clan Nests were so difficult to breach.
"The Chen Family's demigod ancestor, you mean?" Bai Jing exclaimed. "To single-handedly storm a 7.9-magnitude Shadow Clan Nest and force the Shadow Clan to mobilize reinforcements... truly remarkable!"
"It's a pity," Bai Jing sighed softly. "We can't offer him any assistance."
Qiu Cang sighed inwardly.
He understood the principal's meaning.
A 7.9-level Shadow Calamity was beyond the reach of eighth and ninth breakthrough experts like themselves. Entering the Shadow Clan Nest would mean certain death.
The other demigods on Blue Star couldn't assist Chen Jiuxuan either. These top-tier experts were needed to defend Blue Star against potential 7.9-level Shadow Calamities erupting elsewhere.
Ultimately, the Shadow Clan Civilization held complete control over the Shadow Calamity's activation. Blue Star could only react defensively.
Thus, Chen Jiuxuan was destined to face this alone.
"I hope the Chen Family Patriarch can hold out a little longer," Qiu Cang thought, a hint of worry in his heart. "If he falls, Xiao Chen..."
Chen Jiuxuan had already endured three months within the Shadow Clan Nest.
For a demigod on the verge of death to survive this long was nothing short of miraculous.
Yet human potential knew no bounds.
Until the very end, no one could predict the full extent of Chen Jiuxuan's reserves.
Billions of light-years beyond the solar system,
in the deepest reaches of the cosmos, at the nexus of infinite darkness and order,
in that unknowable void, an incomparably majestic figure sat cross-legged.
The figure sat cross-legged in the void, eyes tightly shut, radiating an aura of boundless antiquity. Every strand of hair on his body stirred the cosmic rules, and with each breath, visions of stars being born and dying flickered into existence.
Motionless, he seemed to exist for eternity.
Suddenly,
Swish!
The colossal figure opened his eyes, a look of reverence crossing his face.
"The time has come," a voice echoed in his mind. "Depart! Bring Him back."
"Yes, Master," the figure replied respectfully.
His voice carried the imprint of the great dao law, causing planets dozens of light-years away to tremble violently.
Swish!
The figure turned his head, his gaze piercing through the endless void to glimpse a scene beyond immeasurable distances.
Instantly,
A phantom shadow of a vibrant blue planet materialized.
(End of the Chapter)
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