Upon returning to the Heavenly Dao Sacred Land, Jun Wangyou acted as though nothing had happened.
As for the spirit mine, the trip there and back only took a few breaths. Jun Wangyou was in no hurry.
His original goal had merely been to get close to Qingfeng.
Someone like Qingfeng, who was profoundly lacking in friendship and familial affection, was easy to approach.
He only needed to show him a little care and warmth.
Qingfeng would unconsciously develop a dependence on Jun Wangyou.
This kind of feeling resembled the affection one had for an elder brother or a father.
He would never betray him; the bond would be unbreakable.
Having navigated the business world in his previous life, Jun Wangyou had an exceptionally deep grasp of human nature and the human heart.
Dealing with a naïve boy like Qingfeng was even easier.
Furthermore, Jun Wangyou needed to figure out how to break the shackles binding Qingfeng.
Of course, Jun Wangyou could also choose not to interfere.
Qingfeng was a Child of Destiny to begin with. With destiny's favor upon him, even if no one helped him, he would break his own shackles eventually.
If Jun Wangyou intervened rashly, he might turn good intentions into bad results.
"No rush, no rush. I need to take it slowly." Jun Wangyou's gaze was profound.
Over the next few days, Jun Wangyou occasionally visited the spirit mine, chatted with Qingfeng, and deepened their bond.
He spent the rest of his time cultivating at Lingtian Peak while waiting for the challenge three days later.
During this time, the disappearance of the spirit mine's spiritual energy was also discovered.
The Sacred Land dispatched many powerful experts to investigate, but they found nothing.
Jun Wangyou, who had been watching in secret, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At the same time, he was delighted to discover that the Azure Sky Pure Spirit Bottle contained a full half-bottle of Innate Spiritual Energy!
It was comparable to over a million spirit stones!
This discovery made Jun Wangyou feel as though he had discovered a new continent.
Hundred Stars Sect, Eastern Continent.
Deep within the sect's forbidden grounds.
A young man in an ornate azure robe sat cross-legged beside a spring shrouded in mist.
Before the young man, a Seven Star Dragon Abyss sword stood embedded in the ground.
On the other side of the spring, a white-haired old man sighed and asked, "Jianxing, are you confident in challenging Jun Wangyou?"
"The world may be foolish, but you should know that anyone who breaks through the Eternal Extreme Realm is absolutely invincible among those of the same realm. It does not matter which realm's Eternal Extreme Realm they broke through."
"If I have no confidence... does that mean I should not do it? Everyone says I am inferior to him, but I refuse to believe it. I insist on trying." The young man finally spoke.
"Ancestor, there is no need to persuade me. The challenge letter has already been sent. Tomorrow, either he dies or I do!"
"Ah! You child, you have always been this stubborn."
The white-haired old man was quite helpless, knowing there was nothing he could do.
He then asked, "Is your challenge to Jun Wangyou related to the Myriad Law Immortal Sect?"
The Myriad Law Immortal Sect was an extremely renowned major sect even within the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Its strength was incomparably formidable, far beyond what forces like Holy Heaven Palace and Qi Tian Palace could compare to.
Not long ago, the Myriad Law Immortal Sect had sent people to select ten disciples from the Profound Region.
There was hardly any need to say it. Everyone knew that the Myriad Law Immortal Sect had its eyes on the top ten of the Heavenly Pride Ranking!
Li Jianxing had no intention of concealing it and nodded. "Yes!"
The white-haired old man was immediately puzzled. "But aren't you ranked tenth? Why do you still need to challenge Jun Wangyou?"
Li Jianxing's expression darkened at once as he said indignantly, "I thought so too, but the people from the Myriad Law Immortal Sect said my ranking was inaccurate and highly controversial. Compared to me, they preferred Jun Wangyou!"
"If I want to join the Myriad Law Immortal Sect, I must defeat Jun Wangyou fair and square!"
"So that was it. No wonder."
The white-haired old man immediately understood and said nothing more.
His gaze dimmed as he carefully took out a silver disk.
"Jianxing, the sect cannot help you much. Take this Silver Moon Star Disk. At a critical moment..."
"Ancestor, you must not!"
Li Jianxing was startled and quickly waved his hands in refusal.
Hundred Stars Sect was a sect that had risen to prominence within the last thousand years, and it had never produced an immortal patriarch.
The Integration Realm old man before him was Hundred Stars Sect's strongest expert.
This silver disk was Hundred Stars Sect's treasure for safeguarding the sect, its grade unknown.
Yet with this treasure, the white-haired old man could fight experts at the middle or even late stages of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm despite the difference in cultivation.
Its power and value were evident.
Knowing the stakes, Li Jianxing knew he absolutely could not accept it.
Moreover, he only wanted to defeat Jun Wangyou through his own true strength, not through external objects.
The old man sighed softly and held it out. "Child, take it. I know what you are thinking, but can you guarantee that Jun Wangyou will be as honorable and upright as you, without using underhanded methods?"
"Looking further ahead, once you go to the Myriad Law Immortal Sect, you will need something to protect yourself even more. The Immortal Realm is unlike the Profound Region. It is more cruel and more dangerous there."
"So... take it."
The white-haired old man's eyes were kind as he looked at Li Jianxing as though he were his own grandson.
Li Jianxing's eyes reddened at once. He accepted the silver disk and lowered his head in silence.
After a long while, Li Jianxing raised his head, his gaze firm and resolute. "Ancestor, I will definitely win!"
In the blink of an eye, the third day arrived.
Hundred Battles City had originally only been a moderately sized, unremarkable city.
Yet today, the flow of people through Hundred Battles City rivaled that of a massive city.
The inns and restaurants in the city were completely full, and the various proprietors could not stop smiling.
They only hoped such days would last a few more days.
The crowd in Hundred Battles City was extraordinarily diverse. Forces from all over the Eastern Continent had gathered here, along with countless famous experts and renowned geniuses.
Heavenly prides from other continents had also come after hearing of it, and there were even people from beyond the region in the city.
At the city's center, a battlefield covering a hundred acres had long since been erected.
Crowds packed the surrounding area.
The prices of nearby inns and restaurants with excellent views had been driven to astronomical heights.
Everyone was waiting for this battle between truly supreme heavenly prides!
Just as the crowd was making an immense clamor, two figures suddenly crossed through the masses and landed upon the battle platform built for Jun Wangyou and Li Jianxing.
"Dongfang Mu! You slaughtered my wife and children back then. Now that my divine art is complete, let us settle this in a battle to the death today!"
"Hahaha, Chen Yi, you think you deserve a battle to the death with me? I could beat you like a dog before, and I can do the same today. Die!"
As soon as the two finished speaking, they began fighting.
Countless people beneath the platform were shocked and confused.
"Who are these two?"
"No idea. I've never heard of them."
"What is there to think about? They are obviously two idiots trying to ride on the aftermath of the battle to the death between two great heavenly prides and use this opportunity to make a name for themselves!"
"Get down! We came to watch two great heavenly prides fight. Who the hell wants to watch you two idiots?"
Someone in the crowd cursed angrily.
"How noisy!"
Having had their true intentions exposed, the two on the platform became somewhat embarrassed and enraged.
With a wave of their hands, they thrust out their swords!
Vast Spiritual Power surged forth.
These two were actually cultivators at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm.
The person who had cursed earlier was pierced through the chest by a sword, his fate unknown.
Having done all this, the two resumed their "fierce battle."
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that they were merely putting on an act, their goal being to become famous.
Over ten million people had gathered in Hundred Battles City at this moment, and everyone's attention was fixed on this small hundred-acre battle platform.
As long as one could get onto this platform, no matter what one did, one could gain tremendous fame.
Whether it was infamy or any other kind of fame, the point was that one could become popular.
As long as they became popular, the two of them could reap huge benefits from it.
Whether they went out swindling others or became guest elders at some sects, everything would become much easier.
Without fame, however, they were merely ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.
Fame and profit—once one had fame, profit naturally followed.
Just as the two on the platform were imagining their bright futures.
A piercing sound of something tearing through the air suddenly came from the horizon.
A Seven Star Dragon Abyss sword tore through the sky and plunged straight into the battle platform.
A cold snort came from the distance.
"Get down!"
Li Jianxing had arrived!
Countless people beneath the platform became excited.
As the nominal number one heavenly pride of the Eastern Continent, Li Jianxing had many admirers.
However, after the two men on the platform saw Li Jianxing arrive.
Not only were they unafraid, they were actually somewhat excited.
The two exchanged a glance and revealed crafty smiles.
The fame they could gain from two obscure nobodies fighting each other was limited.
But if they could fight Li Jianxing, the illustrious number one heavenly pride.
The fame they gained would be beyond imagination.
Li Jianxing hovered in the air, his icy eyes fixed on the two men.
"What, was I not clear enough?"
"So it is Heavenly Pride Li. Why is Heavenly Pride Li so angry? We merely borrowed the battle platform to settle a grievance. Since its owner has arrived, we will leave."
"However, we have long heard of Heavenly Pride Li's great name. Might we exchange a single sword strike with Heavenly Pride Li?"
The two were quite self-aware and knew they were no match for Li Jianxing.
Thus, they only sought to exchange one sword strike.
People loved to spread exaggerated rumors. Today it might only be one strike, but perhaps tomorrow it would become an evenly matched battle.
So regardless of the outcome, as long as Li Jianxing drew his sword against them, they would profit without loss!
"Heh, there are many people in this world who court death, but this is the first time I've seen someone beg for it."
Li Jianxing sneered, his gaze incomparably cold. The way he looked at the two was already as though they were dead.
"Since you want fame so badly, I will grant your wish!"
Li Jianxing finished speaking and swung his sword!
A dazzling sword light flashed between heaven and earth in an instant, followed by overwhelming black sword qi that blanketed the entire battle platform like black bone spurs!
Seeing this terrifying sight, the two were horrified and actually sensed a trace of death!
"Heavenly Pride Li, stop! We admit defeat!"
The two shouted.
Li Jianxing seemed not to hear them and merely said coldly, "A drawn sword knows no regret. Survive if you can take it, die if you cannot!"
As his words fell.
Scarlet blood sprayed across the platform as two heads soared into the sky!
Two Nascent Soul Realm cultivators at the same level as Li Jianxing had actually been unable to withstand a casual sword strike from him!
The entire crowd was horrified!
In the air, Li Jianxing remained expressionless. He looked in a certain direction and asked with a smile, "Jun Wangyou, what do you think of that strike of mine?"
Before you continue