LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 26:
Chapter 26: The Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies:
At this moment, Bai Qiulan’s expression was exceptionally grave.
The chaotic venom had reappeared, forming a single drop. Though it wasn’t a significant issue, it was enough to concern her.
In her previous life, before Lu Ye helped her deal with it, she had endured as many as eleven drops of chaotic venom, suffering from the bone-chilling agony day and night.
Now, even a single drop made her Dao Nascent Soul feel as if it were encased in icy pain—a sensation she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
What truly worried her, however, was that while using the Lunar Transformation Technique to transform the chaotic venom into the chaotic lunar force, part of the transformed energy was absorbed into her Dao Nascent Soul, while the rest stubbornly lingered in her dantian.
It even showed signs of recongealing into chaotic venom.
Why was this happening?
Previously, after dissolving the chaotic venom, the excess energy would either be absorbed by her or dissipate entirely.
Why didn’t it dissipate this time?
As Bai Qiulan circulated her technique, the chaotic lunar force flowed continuously, gradually turning her Dao Nascent Soul into an icy blue color.
A thick chill emanated from her body.
She couldn’t absorb any more of this energy. If she did, her Dao Nascent Soul would freeze entirely.
Why didn’t the chaotic lunar force disappear as it should?
Countless questions flooded her mind.
The reason was simple: in her previous life, the excess chaotic lunar force had been transferred from Bai Qiulan to Lu Ye via the Yin-Yang Conversion Mark.
Now, without Lu Ye to absorb it, Bai Qiulan couldn’t expel it on her own.
This limitation stemmed from her unique physique.
The Lunar Divine Body allowed her to survive.
But the Chaotic Lunar Divine Body, as powerful as it was, only brought more pain as her cultivation advanced, ultimately leading to death in endless torment.
Such was the fate of this extraordinary yet cursed physique.
In the early stages, the pain could be mitigated with Yin-Yang techniques. In later stages, Lu Ye’s immense cultivation power had been the only thing capable of grinding down the chaotic lunar force.
But now, Lu Ye was gone.
If Bai Qiulan wanted to minimize her suffering, the only solution was relentless cultivation, ensuring her progress outpaced the venom’s condensation. Her Dao Nascent Soul could continuously absorb the chaotic venom.
It became a race—a battle between her cultivation speed and the venom’s formation.
And so…
In the mountains, time passed unnoticed. In a flash, decades seemed to go by.
After reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, Lu Ye’s cultivation progress slowed slightly compared to his Core Formation Realm.
However, after six months, he had already reached the 5th stage the Nascent Soul Realm.
This speed was astonishing—yet no one knew about it.
Lu Ye rarely participated in competitions, and his presence in the Dao Sect was almost non-existent.
The entire Bai Lan Peak had fallen into silence.
No disturbances, no commotion.
It was as if everything was waiting for a crucial moment.
Then, a bell rang out!
“Dong!”
Yue Hongling trembled, her eyes snapping open. It was time!
“Ninety-second generation disciples, gather in front of the Dao Pavilion!”
It had begun!
A storm among the younger generation was about to unfold.
The Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies had opened!
Lu Ye opened his eyes as well, a faint smile appearing on his face.
The Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies…
In his previous life, he had entered this battlefield at the 6th stage Core Formation Realm.
This time, he was at the 5th stage Nascent Soul Realm.
Previously, as a 6th stage Core Formation cultivator, he had defeated a 9th stage Core Formation opponent, only to be relentlessly hunted by Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. He had even sacrificed his life to save the fool Yue Hongling.
This time, who would be the one running for their life?
The path of cultivation was one of both opportunity and peril.
The Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies was a unique space where prodigies from countless eras had fought and where countless treasures and divine artifacts lay hidden.
This space connected numerous great worlds—demonic cultivators, the demon race, Buddhist cultivators, Confucian cultivators, ghost cultivators, the divine race…
The lineage of Emperors, the lineage of Heavenly Sovereigns…
Young elites from countless backgrounds would gather.
The battlefield itself had nine layers. The higher one went, the richer the resources and the denser the spiritual energy.
The Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies only opened once every thousand years, making it an incredibly rare opportunity. Only those under a hundred years old could enter. Within the battlefield, the Eternal Prodigy Rankings awaited, offering immense rewards and eternal fame to those who made the list.
In his previous life, Lu Ye had encountered the Vermilion Bird and Shangguan Huanling here.
Recalling his initial encounters with these two, a cold smile appeared on his face.
In his past life, the young Vermilion Bird had been hunted by a demon race prodigy, and Lu Ye had intervened to save her.
Shangguan Huanling, a stunningly talented cultivator who matched Lu Ye in brilliance, had been pushed into a desperate situation by her own brother.
Lu Ye knew that in this life, both of them would grow stronger and more cautious. But some situations couldn’t be reversed with strength alone.
Let’s see how it unfolds this time!
Lu Ye flew toward the Dao Pavilion, with Chu Ling hurrying after him.
At the Dao Pavilion, a crowd had already gathered.
Linghu Wushuang, Xiao Huarong, and Li Jiumin had become the new leaders of the Dao Sect’s younger generation, all having reached the peak Core Formation Realm.
Chu Ling and Yue Hongling had also reached the peak Core Formation Realm.
Their combat strength, however, far surpassed that of the three leaders.
Having not seen Lu Ye for six months, Yue Hongling’s gaze never left him.
Lu Ye ignored her completely.
Yue Hongling wanted to approach him and speak but restrained herself, knowing she was about to meet Feng Wuxie.
Feng Wuxie, her cherished memory.
Recollecting their brief two days of fighting side by side filled her heart with sweetness.
Was this what love felt like?
Yue Hongling needed to see Feng Wuxie one more time to be certain.
“The Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies has shown signs of activity. It will soon open in the Nine Dragon Valley of Central State. This battlefield, which opens once every thousand years, is rich in resources and is the most suitable proving ground for you.”
“But it is also filled with danger. Ghosts of ancient prodigies roam the battlefield. Demon spirits, monster clans, and even rival sects will kill for treasure. Consider this carefully. You have one incense stick of time to decide. Those willing to seek fortune in the Ancient Battlefield of Prodigies, board the Dao Vessel!”
Such a grand event would naturally include Dao Sect experts to escort them.
After all, the treasures of the Ancient Battlefield were coveted even by seasoned cultivators. It would be a pity to survive the battlefield only to be killed on the way back.
“I repeat: the Ancient Battlefield is extremely dangerous. Of those who enter, perhaps only two or three out of ten will return. Think carefully!”
Lu Ye was the first to board the Dao Vessel.
Finding a spot with a good view, he settled in.
Chu Ling quickly sat beside him, while Yue Hongling, pouting, took a seat behind him.
One by one, disciples boarded the vessel.
Of course, some chose not to board.
It wasn’t a matter of lacking ambition but of differing goals—or perhaps a realistic understanding of their own abilities.
If they couldn’t compete within the Dao Sect, how could they survive in a battlefield filled with rival powers equal to or stronger than the Dao Sect?
When the incense burned out, 147 disciples of the ninety-second generation had made their choice.
Of them, 112 boarded the Dao Vessel.
How many would return?
But such was the path of cultivation.