"H-Heavenly Champion!?"
Li Qingyuan froze for a moment, then cupped his fists in salute. "Are you Senior Heavenly Champion?"
"Hadn't you already fallen?"
Heavenly Champion had indeed never advanced to the Golden Immortal realm. A Heavenly Immortal's maximum lifespan was ten million years, a limit that could never be broken.
Even a half-step Golden Immortal, having taken that half step, had yet to cultivate a true Golden Immortal's immortal body and could never forcibly extend his life by six million years.
At those words, Heavenly Champion looked forlorn. "Yes, I did indeed fall."
"Back then, I was at a critical juncture in my breakthrough to Golden Immortal when a Golden Immortal Colossus ambushed me. My efforts failed at the final hurdle, my flesh shattered, and my Heart of Primordial Chaos was only half formed."
"Now, I am merely a lingering obsession remaining within the Heart of Primordial Chaos."
Li Qingyuan was shocked. "A Golden Immortal Colossus ambushed you? Who was it?"
"Everyone says that several Golden Immortal Colossi in the Investiture of the Gods Great World praised your aptitude and held you in high regard. Which of them would kill you?"
Heavenly Champion smiled faintly, then made a startling declaration. "The one who killed me was Taiyin Primordial Sovereign."
"Taiyin Primordial Sovereign?" Li Qingyuan asked. "He had already attained the Dao as a Golden Immortal. Why would he kill you?"
"Was it merely to seize your half-step Heart of Primordial Chaos?"
Heavenly Champion said calmly, "Naturally, his aims went beyond that."
"Young man, reaching this place and passing my trial proves that you possess Golden Immortal potential. Your root bone, comprehension, opportunities, and foundations are all no less than mine."
"You are the fated one I have been waiting for."
Heavenly Champion raised his hand, and a token flew out,