The Prodigies War

Xia Zhi!

Thinking of the girl, Lin Xun couldn’t help but be reminded of what she had said before leaving—“I’ll come back.”

It had been said so casually like she was only heading out for a short trip.

But it had been roughly ten years since that day…

So it’s been ten years…

Lin Xun fell into a stupor.

Back then when Xia Zhi had woken up at Star Chess Sea, she had said that the fifth Cycle of Obliteration would be different from the previous ones, requiring her to be reborn through battle and transcend in the darkness.

Then, she had left with her white bone spear, flying up into a mysterious and unknown dark world.

She had said it was a battlefield that belonged only to her.

“Don’t tell me you’re really scared?” Zhao Jingxuan’s almond eyes widened, her pupils bright and playful like black gems.

She sat there casually like a beautiful picture. Even the beautiful mountains and rivers in the background could not cover her beauty.

It was a kind of beauty that belonged only to Zhao Jingxuan, pristine like a timeless painting, and deep like the best of fragrant tea. The more time one spent around her, the more they could grasp her beauty and find it pleasing to the eyes.

Lin Xun shook his head, discarding the lingering sorrow and attachment in his heart, and smiled bitterly. “I’ve been focusing everything on seeking my dao, so how could I possibly have time to ‘make friends with a lot of beauties and develop a playboy talent?’”

Zhao Jingxuan’s glistening white teeth were slightly exposed in a bizarre smile as she said, “It’s because you have the desire to but not the guts, right?”

Lin Xun could sense a headache coming. This felt too strange, like he was a prisoner being interrogated, but with a gentle tactic.

“You seem really concerned about this?” Lin Xun mused as he stared at Zhao Jingxuan across from him. He had to admit she had become even more beautiful and attractive compared to the past.

Zhao Jingxuan felt her face grow hot after being gazed at so intently, but she pretended to be calm. “I won’t ask if you don’t like it. If we weren’t friends, then I wouldn’t care how many beautiful women you’ve flirted with.”

Lin Xun smiled and blurted out, “Really just friends?”

Zhao Jingxuan was stunned. She stared blankly at Lin Xun, and then, it was unknown what she had realized as her pretty face became tinted with a touch of burning red, and her autumn-like eyes now held a hint of shyness.

When did this guy become so bold? How should I answer this?!

Caught off guard, she was at a loss for words and panicked. In her absent-mindedness, the teacup fell out of her hand.

Lin Xun quickly reached out to catch the cup. However, what he grasped instead was a cool and soft jade-like hand.

It turned out that Zhao Jingxuan had also instinctively caught the cup, and that had been when Lin Xun unintentionally grabbed her hand.

The two froze on the spot. An inexplicable tremor ran through their hearts, and they just stared at each other up close. The surroundings suddenly became quiet…

Unable to withstand the dense and provocative atmosphere, the two looked down at the same time, and their eyes fell upon their hands.

One hand was holding the other that was holding the cup.

……

Mythic Fire Realm.

A large crowd had gathered in front of the Genius Battle Tablet. Still suspending high above was the colorful, illusory tunnel that led to the mysterious Ultimate Inheritance Land.

“It’s already been three days since it started. I wonder what kind of marvelous fortune is hidden in there,” someone murmured.

“Whatever it is, we’ll never have a chance anyway. Just the Genius Gold Rankings requirement alone stops nine out of ten people,” someone lamented.

Someone mocked, “Heh, don’t be so discouraged. Even someone as powerful as Demon God Lin is stuck outside just like us if you think about it.”

Hearing this, many cultivators started laughing as well.

Demon God Lin was undoubtedly dazzling for defeating Yun Qingbai, but the duel had also left him severely injured. It was to the point that he couldn’t compete in the Ultimate Inheritance Land. This was simply unlucky.

“This is retribution! Even the heavens can’t stand him and want to suppress his momentum, otherwise, who else could oppose him in this Upper Nine Realms?” Someone was delighted by Lin Xun’s misfortune.

To this, the others remained silent. It was a rare case that someone would dare to bash Demon God Lin so openly nowadays.

Such behavior could be considered quite dangerous. If it got to the ears of Demon God Lin, then the consequences would not be something that anyone could bear!

The daredevil was a young man in brocade clothes. Embarrassed that no one chimed in and agreed with him, he indignantly mumbled, “It’s not like I said something wrong.”

In response, the atmosphere only grew more silent and embarrassing.

This was the might of Lin Xun in the Upper Nine Realms.

There had been many voices that had bashed, opposed, resisted, doubted, and humiliated him during his rise to power, but it was different now!

What people would call absolute strength and unquestionable influence could be seen on Lin Xun to the fullest.

In turn, it made those who expressed doubts and disdain toward him look absurd and ignorant.

“You…none of you even dare to speak?” The brocade-clad man was irritated and found this ridiculous. It’s just a trivial discussion regarding Demon God Lin, why do they all act like it’s some taboo?

Seeing him like this, a good-hearted cultivator sighed and transmitted, “Brother, look who that is.”

Stunned, he turned around to look. Immediately, he froze as if he had been struck by lightning, and his eyes were wide open in shock.

Demon God Lin!

In the distance, a man and a woman came pacing toward them. The man was handsome and ethereal, and the woman was beautiful like a goddess from a painting.

The man was Lin Xun!

The area couldn’t be quieter. The brocade-clad man finally understood why the crowd had been so silent. As he thought about what he had just said, his face turned white as a sheet, his heart trembled, and he felt weak in the legs.

I’m dead!

Talking bad behind the demon’s back and being heard by the other party… This is no different from seeking death.

The brocade-clad man just wanted to slap his own mouth!

However, the most embarrassing thing was that Lin Xun never spared him a glance. He simply ignored him.

The brocade-clad man was secretly relieved, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel powerless.

From the awe and fear in the expressions of the entire crowd, he realized how strong and influential Lin Xun currently was. Everyone was looking at him like he was a god!

Finally, Lin Xun and Zhao Jingxuan stopped before the battle tablet.

“When I first arrived at the Upper Nine Realms, I had taken the test and got ninety-third place. Even so, I was overjoyed.” Zhao Jingxuan looked at the tablet in a trance. “Now, I’m afraid that I’m far too weak to make the list again.”

Over the past few years, she had sealed her soul using a secret technique called the Six Paths Spirit Seal.

This was also a cultivation technique that placed the caster in a deep sleep where they could experience something similar to the six paths of reincarnation, giving miraculous benefits to their cultivation as they went through the trials and tribulations of other lives.

Although Zhao Jingxuan was still at the second longevity stage, her cultivation had accumulated more than enough to let her break through continuously as long as she wished to!

Lin Xun suggested, “Why don’t you try again?”

Zhao Jingxuan threw him a glare. “Can’t wait to see me make a fool of myself? You better worry about yourself first and take the test now, or the world will have a blast mocking how the mighty Demon God Lin can’t even enter the Ultimate Inheritance Land.”

She quickly glanced at the brocade-clothed man in the distance.

Women truly knew how to hold a grudge!

The brocade-clothed youngster trembled, his face turning green and white. In the end, he bowed his head in shame and apologized, “It was stupid of me to run my mouth recklessly, please forgive me.”

Lin Xun was speechless. He waved his hand, too lazy to bother with the guy.

“Your companion is right, Fellow Daoist Lin. It would be a shame if someone of your caliber missed the ultimate competition,” said someone in the crowd respectfully.

The others chimed in, “Yes, please give it a try, Fellow Daoist Lin.”

“See, that’s what everyone thinks.” Zhao Jingxuan smiled triumphantly.

In fact, they had come here because she had forced Lin Xun to. There was no other way around it as he had never taken interest in the Saint’s Guide or even the Ultimate Inheritance Land. It was simply…not manly.

When he was called unmanly by Zhao Jingxuan, Lin Xun could no longer sit still. He could accept any other judgment, but this?

It was intolerable!

“Alright, alright.” Lin Xun stepped forward and looked up at the colorful and dazzling tunnel in the sky. Finally, his gaze settled on the Genius Gold Battle Tablet.

While Lin Xun poured his spirit sense into the tablet, the whole area watched with bated breath, quietly waiting for a result.

The world knew that Lin Xun had never once taken a Genius Gold Rankings test ever since entering the Upper Nine Realms. His name had never once appeared.

Everyone had been talking about this like it was one of the biggest mysteries ever existed, and speculated how high he would be on the rankings with his battle prowess.

But speculations were only speculations in the end.

Now that Lin Xun was here and taking the test, it was certain that his rank would show!

Who could miss such an event?

Not long after, a buzz suddenly echoed in the midst of the silence as a blinding golden light dropped down from the sky and covered the region in its brilliance.

Lin Xun was bathed by the light, looking so surreal and dazzling that the crowd couldn’t look straight at him.

Vaguely, the chanting of the great dao drifted between the sky and earth, sacred and solemn.

Everyone froze in shock.

It was dao resonance!

This phenomenon had appeared when Yun Qingbai had taken the first place on the Genius Gold Rankings, and occurred again when Imperial Son Shaohao had taken this spot later.

Today, it appeared once again!

The buzzing sounds didn’t stop echoing as the blinding light flowed around Lin Xun. He looked like a holy deity in the midst of drifting wisps of dao light, striking straight into everyone’s heart.

To the side, Zhao Jingxuan watched the handsome figure being submerged in the holy golden glow and its resonance with a strange light rippling in her eyes and a proud smile on her lips.