Limit Breaking Prodigy, Defeating the Empress with a Flick of His Finger

"What are the conditions for making the list?" Su Qingyao shook her head. "Only three people have made the list throughout history. There are too few examples to draw from, so no one knows what it takes to get on it."

"However, regardless of age or cultivation, anyone can try to make the list. The Ancient Stone Tablet imposes no restrictions in those areas. If there really is a condition, it is that when attempting the list, one can only wield the power of the Dao Foundation Realm."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up. Vaguely, he seemed to understand the conditions for making the Ancient Stone Tablet's list.

The Cosmic Heavens had countless cultivation realms, but the most important realm was undoubtedly the very first realm of cultivation—the Dao Foundation Realm!

The Dao Foundation was the foundation of the Great Dao.

As the saying went, a ten-thousand-foot tower rose from level ground. The foundation was the root of every realm.

Without a solid foundation, even some Dao Physique or Divine Physique would not carry one far.

On the Dark Continent, disciples of all major factions progressed very slowly at the beginning, because they were all forging powerful, steadfast Dao Foundations.

In order to forge a powerful and steadfast Dao Foundation, some prodigies were even willing to linger in the Dao Foundation Realm for ten or a hundred years.

Even Lu Yuan had lingered in the Dao Foundation Realm for over two months back then.

One month to forge an unmatched, perfect Dao Foundation.

One month to sweep through the Dao Foundation Realm of the Dark Continent without meeting a single rival.

Only after accomplishing those two steps did he choose to break through.

Yes, this was definitely not humblebragging.

The importance of the Dao Foundation Realm was clear from this alone.

The fact that the Ancient Stone Tablet only tested the power of the Dao Foundation Realm proved that it was a tool of this world's Heavenly Dao for selecting prodigies.

Lu Yuan also roughly understood just what level one had to reach to make the list.

At the very least, one probably had to break one's limits.

What did breaking one's limits mean?

Everyone knew that every major realm was divided into four minor stages: early, middle, late, and completion.

Yet few knew that beyond the completion stage, there was actually another level. Those who reached it were known as Limit Breaking Prodigies.

On the Dark Continent, if one had not broken one's limits, one was unworthy of being called a prodigy.

Beyond completion lay the Limit Breaking realms: Transcendent Saint, Peak Perfection, Unparalleled Through Ages, Unique Through Eons, and Supreme of the Cosmos—a total of five Limit Breaking levels.

Generally speaking, one who broke through three limits, reaching the Unparalleled Through Ages realm, was qualified to be called a Prodigy Supreme.

Once one broke one's limits, one would be invincible among those of the same realm, and fighting above one's level would be as easy as eating and drinking. Limit Breaking Prodigies and those who had not broken their limits were people of two entirely different worlds. The higher one's Limit Breaking, the stronger one became.

Of course, not just anyone could break their limits. Only true prodigies and monstrous geniuses could achieve it. No external force could interfere; it depended entirely on one's own comprehension.

Although Tianxiao Continent had over a hundred Children of Destiny, in Lu Yuan's view, the number among them who had broken their limits could probably be counted on one hand.

So far, not a single Child of Destiny who had died by his hand had been a Limit Breaker.

The three people on the Ancient Stone Tablet's list were most likely Limit Breakers.

Over the millions of years of Tianxiao Continent's history, there had only been three Limit Breakers in total. One could well imagine how difficult it was to break one's limits.

"Now this is interesting." Lu Yuan's eyes flickered.

Looking at the somewhat anxious Su Qingyao, Lu Yuan smiled. "Want to test whether you can make the list?"

Su Qingyao gave a bitter smile. "Young Master, who wouldn't want their name recorded in history?"

Lu Yuan nodded. "Indeed. People live in this world for nothing more than fame and profit. But making the list won't be easy."

Su Qingyao caught the hidden meaning in Lu Yuan's words.

"Young Master, do you know the conditions for making the list?"

Lu Yuan nodded. "I've roughly guessed part of it."

Su Qingyao's eyes brightened.

Lu Yuan smiled. "How about this? We'll both suppress our strength to the Dao Foundation Realm. Attack me with everything you have. Most likely, I'll be able to determine whether you meet the conditions for making the list."

"Alright."

Su Qingyao agreed without a second thought. She understood very well that, in terms of insight, Lu Yuan, who came from the Upper Realm, surpassed her by far.

Besides, if Lu Yuan wanted to kill her, it would be as easy as turning his hand over. Whether they suppressed their realms or not made no difference at all.

Before long, in a spacious, empty hall.

Lu Yuan and Su Qingyao stood facing one another.

"Attack. Use all your strength."

Lu Yuan said, one hand behind his back.

"Alright."

Before her words had even faded, she was already upon him. With a snow-white longsword in hand, Su Qingyao closed the distance in one or two swift steps.

Cold light blossomed, and sword intent surged with chilling force.

A layer of frost formed over the dragon pillars in the hall, and the temperature throughout the entire hall instantly plunged to freezing.

"Ice Sword Intent—interesting, interesting." Lu Yuan smiled faintly. Then he turned sideways and flicked a finger. Terrifying force traveled along the blade to its hilt, then spread from the hilt through Su Qingyao's entire arm.

"Ah!"

Su Qingyao cried out. Her right arm went numb. Though she still held the sword in her hand, only the hilt remained; the blade had long since shattered into pieces.

After merely one exchange, Su Qingyao already knew that she had lost—lost miserably.

Staring at the hilt in her hand, Su Qingyao's eyes were filled with shock.

Comprehending Sword Intent at the Dao Foundation Realm already made one nearly unmatched, not to mention that her sword was a King Grade Top-tier weapon. Let alone Dao Foundation Realm cultivators, even Divine Ability Realm experts could not shatter it with a flick of their fingers.

Yet Lu Yuan had not only done so with ease, but had also defeated her while she wielded Ice Sword Intent.

At this moment, Su Qingyao understood the gap between herself and Lu Yuan more clearly than ever.

If their differing realms had left Su Qingyao somewhat unconvinced before, then now she was utterly convinced, in both heart and word.

"Young Master's divine might is overwhelming. This concubine accepts her defeat wholeheartedly."

Su Qingyao weakly tossed aside the sword hilt.

Lu Yuan shook his head, unable to help feeling somewhat disappointed in Su Qingyao.

"Too weak. If my guess is correct, you are still far from making the list."

Lu Yuan was disappointed. Su Qingyao was far, far too distant from breaking the limit.

Still, this was hardly surprising.

Only one prodigy emerged from among a million people, and even among a million prodigies, a Limit Breaking Prodigy might not necessarily appear.

Coupled with Tianxiao Continent's rather mild cultivation environment, it was understandable that Su Qingyao had failed to break the limit.

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Su Qingyao's gaze dimmed, her confidence taking a blow.

Lu Yuan said indifferently, "Still, you will probably go test yourself at the Ancient Stone Tablet. Fine, I will not stop you. Go—and help me draw a little more hatred while you are at it."

"Yes, Young Master."

Su Qingyao said nothing more and turned to leave the hall.

The Ancient Stone Tablet descended.

In an instant, the entire Tianxiao Continent was set ablaze. Every prodigy in the open, in the shadows, and in seclusion emerged.

Once one made the list, it meant they could ascend to the Upper Realm anytime, anywhere. No one from the Lower Realm could resist such temptation.

On the other hand, making the list also meant one's name would resound throughout Tianxiao, becoming the fourth person in Tianxiao Continent's eternal history to leave their name in the annals.

No one could resist it. No one could remain unmoved.

Especially those old monsters, who trembled with excitement.

Having cultivated for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, their understanding of the realms ran far deeper than that of ordinary geniuses, and their chances of making the list were greater as well.

For them, with their lifespans nearing their end, this was undoubtedly a blessing fallen from heaven.

The Ancient Stone Tablet had descended only a hundred li from the First Imperial City. Thus, for a time, every prodigy and every old monster across Tianxiao Continent surged toward the First Imperial City.