130: Number one on the hunting list

“Cough... cough cough...”

Violent coughing dragged Lin Ye back to reality from the boundless abyss of darkness. He struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and what met his gaze was the ceiling of an unfamiliar stalactite cave, emitting a faint glow.

“You’re awake?”

A cold voice, yet tinged with an unmissable concern, sounded in his ear.

Lin Ye slowly turned his head and saw that exquisite face, enough to make heaven and earth lose their color. Su Qingyue was sitting quietly beside him, her usually cold eyes now filled with complex emotions—fear, worry, and a trace of tenderness even she hadn't noticed.

“How long... was I unconscious?” Lin Ye struggled to sit up, but felt as if his entire body had fallen apart, every muscle groaning in pain. The backlash from forcefully activating the third layer of the God-Demon Prison Suppressing Body was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

“Not long, about half an hour.” Su Qingyue extended her slender hand and gently pressed him down, “Don’t move, your Physical Body... is too depleted.”

She took out a Medicinal Pill radiating rich vitality from her storage bracelet and carefully brought it to Lin Ye’s mouth: “This is the last ‘Heavenly Return Pill’ I have. Take it to stabilize your injuries first.”

Lin Ye didn't refuse, opening his mouth to swallow the Medicinal Pill. A gentle medicinal power instantly dissolved, like a trickling stream, nourishing his nearly dried-up Qi Sea and damaged Divine Soul.

“What about the beast core?” He asked immediately, feeling his physical condition slightly improve.

Su Qingyue didn't speak, but silently handed him the rhomboid crystal core, about the size of a baby's fist, dark gold in color, and covered with countless profound Dao patterns.

divine source crystal!

Looking at this supreme treasure, which seemed to contain the Origin mysteries of a world, and feeling the terrifying energy fluctuations emanating from it, enough to make the Laws of Heaven and Earth resonate, even Lin Ye couldn't help but feel a surging tide within him!

This was the key that would allow him to condense a Divine Spark and ascend to the heavens in one step!

“It’s good that you... are alright.” Su Qingyue looked at his eyes, which once again ignited with brilliant light, and her heart, which had been hanging, finally slowly settled. She lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, “Just now... thank you.”

Lin Ye was slightly stunned, then understood what she meant. He looked at this outwardly cold but inwardly warm Prodigy, and a genuine smile appeared on his pale face.

“Between us, there’s no need for thanks.”

These six simple words made Su Qingyue’s fair earlobes inexplicably flush. She quickly turned her head, not daring to meet his gaze again.

Inside the cave, a subtle silence fell... The time for the second trial finally came to an end. The broken world, filled with endless bloodshed and slaughter, slowly closed. All the surviving Prodigies, covered in fatigue and wounds, were teleported back to the reception platform one by one.

In the center of the platform, the nine massive stone pillars, which had been dormant, once again, without warning, simultaneously erupted with a brilliant golden light, bright enough to illuminate the entire Void Realm!

Amidst the endless golden light, an enormous list, seemingly formed by the power of stars, slowly emerged!

[Void God Realm — Hunting Leaderboard]

Rows of golden characters, filled with supreme majesty and the aura of the Great Dao, like divine oracles from the Nine Heavens, were clearly etched into everyone’s eyes!

Everyone’s gaze subconsciously moved upwards from the bottom of the list!

100th place: Stone Race, Shi Gandang. Points: 870. 99th place: Feathered Race, Feng Wuchen. Points: 910... 50th place: Three-Eyed Race, Rahu. Points: 3,200... 10th place: Titan Race, Ares. Points: 9,800.

When they saw this, everyone’s breathing subconsciously quickened!

Top ten!

These were the true... Kings of this trial! Representing the highest combat power of the younger generation in their respective worlds!

Their gazes continued upwards!

9th place... 8th place... 7th place... Every name was famous! Every score was shockingly high!

Finally!

4th place: Su Qingyue. Points: 13,200!

3rd place: Huan Qianyan. Points: 17,500!

2nd place: Shi Potian. Points: 20,340!

Everyone’s gaze, as if by agreement, simultaneously converged on the very top of that list!

Converged on that unique name, symbolizing supreme glory!

However, when they clearly saw that name, and the terrifyingly long string of numbers behind it—

The entire world seemed to have been muted!

Everyone’s expressions instantly froze completely!

Only to see, at the very top of that list, in the position symbolizing “First”!

—Lin Ye!!!

Total Points: ???????

118,750!!!

“Eleven... one hundred eighteen thousand?! I... I didn’t see that wrong, did I?”

“How... how is this possible?! How many Yao Beasts... did he kill?! Did he... slaughter the entire Void God Realm?!”

“Monster! This... this is simply not Human!!!”

Even those Peak Dharma Body Realm powerhouses, who had long seen major storms and possessed unyielding Heart-Natures, showed a look of horror as if they had seen a ghost when they saw this terrifying number that could overturn their worldview!

...And just as the entire reception platform was plunged into a near-frenzied clamor because of this terrifying score, which was enough to be recorded in the annals of the Void God Realm.

In the center of the platform, on the nine massive stone pillars that had remained silent, nine brilliant Divine Lights of different colors quietly lit up!

Nine indescribable, vast wills, seemingly transcending all Laws of this Heaven and Earth, slowly descended, like awakened ancient deities!

“Interesting... truly interesting...”

A voice filled with endless years of vicissitude, yet with a hint of playfulness, was the first to sound. That voice seemed to come from beyond the Nine Heavens, yet also seemed to whisper in everyone’s ear.

“This Lord has guarded this realm for 100,000 years, and this is the first time I’ve seen such... an interesting ‘variable’.”

“Hmph! A mere ant from the Lower Realm, he just happened to kill a Heavenly Rule that was already on its last legs. Is he worthy of being called a ‘variable’?” Another voice, filled with endless coldness and brutality, followed closely, its tone full of disdain.

“Not so, not so.” A third voice, filled with endless wisdom and profound aura, slowly sounded, “This child is not simple. I actually sense a trace of... mist on him that even we cannot see through.”

“I feel the same.”

“...”

The nine vast wills actually began to communicate with each other in this Void Realm, as if no one else was present!

And the core of their communication was none other than Lin Ye, who had just created an immortal myth!

Clearly, Lin Ye’s astonishing performance and his terrifying, discontinuous score had successfully attracted the attention of these ‘Half-God’ guides who guarded this realm and had long transcended the Dharma Body Realm!

“Very well.”

Finally, it was the ancient voice, filled with endless years of vicissitude, that broke the argument.

“Whether he is a Dragon or a worm, summon him... and we shall know.”

Before the words finished!

Buzz—!!!

A brilliant golden light, filled with endless majesty and sacred aura, suddenly shot up from the center of the nine stone pillars!

...The world spun!

When Lin Ye’s consciousness regained clarity, he was horrified to find himself in a strange space that defied description!

Here, there was no sky, no earth.

There was only... an endless, slowly flowing... brilliant Star River!

And in the center of that Star River, nine majestic figures, ten thousand zhang tall, formed of pure light, with indiscernible faces, were quietly seated in the Void Realm!

They were like the creator deities of this Universe; merely sitting there, they exuded a supreme Divine Might capable of making Heaven and Earth submit!

This was... the Half-God Realm?!

Lin Ye’s heart pounded violently from this unprecedented shock!

Just then, one of the oldest and most... vast light figures slowly opened its pale golden eyes, which seemed to contain the entire starry sky.

Its gaze calmly fell upon Lin Ye.

At that instant, Lin Ye felt as if everything, from his Physical Body to his Divine Soul, and even the System’s secret hidden deep within his Soul, had been seen through by the other party!

“You, are Lin Ye?”

The ancient, indifferent voice, devoid of any emotion, sounded slowly, like a final judgment.

Lin Ye forcefully suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart and respectfully bowed to the nine god-like figures.

“Disciple Lin Ye, greets the esteemed Guides.”

“No need for formalities.” The ancient light figure slowly spoke, “We summoned you here for only... one question.”

“Your potential, we already know fully.”

“Your Heart-Nature is also extraordinary.”

“But, we wish to know...”

For the first time, a hint of... curiosity appeared in his pale golden eyes.

“Where does your ambition lie?”

This question was so sudden, and so... directly aimed at his Origin!

Lin Ye was silent for a moment.

He slowly raised his head, his dark eyes showing no hesitation, nor any fear.

Only a towering flame, capable of igniting this entire Star River, burned within them!

“This Disciple’s ambition...”

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet every word was firm, like thunder, booming in this silent Star River!

“Is not in the Half-God Realm.”

“But in... the legendary...”

He enunciated each word, speaking with a tone filled with endless confidence and dominance, uttering the two words that could move all the gods and buddhas in the heavens!

—“God Emperor!”

Boom!!!

At these words!

The nine majestic light figures, who had been high and mighty and utterly indifferent, all trembled violently at once!