174: Chapter 174 Warm-up in the Arena: Gathering of Prodigies from All Races

When the [Heavenly Court - First Generation] emerged from its final short-range jump, the silhouette of the Hegemon Body Ancestral Star occupied half of the holographic star map in the command deck.

It was a dark gold solid planet with no oceans or cloud layers on its surface. Its diameter was approximately 1.7 times that of the Big Dipper Star Field, and its surface was densely covered with countless circular depressions ranging from hundreds of meters to dozens of kilometers in diameter—those were not meteorite craters, but marks blasted out by generations of Hegemon Body Trial Takers over the eons using their fists and feet.

On the periphery of the planet, there was a layer of extremely thin, pale golden atmosphere. But that was not an atmosphere; it was "Hegemon Intent Remnants"—an energy field formed by the condensation of dissipated power after countless Hegemon Body powerhouses fought, cultivated, and fell here.

[System Notification: You have arrived at the outer orbit of the "Hegemon Body Ancestral Star"]

[Current Coordinates: Anchor Point No. 47]

[Gravity Environment: 0.3G (Inside Ship) → 127G (Planetary Surface)]

[Suggestion: Before entering the planetary surface, at least 24 hours of gravity adaptation training is required]

[Current Mooring Point: Ancestral Star Synchronous Orbit · Anchor Point Platform No. 47]

[Anchor Point Platform Status: Active]

[Moored Ships: 47 ships]

[From Forces:]

[1. God Clan Council: 7 ships]

[2. Holy Demon Palace: 5 ships]

[3. Dragon Clan Alliance: 4 ships]

[4. Kingdom of the Undead: 3 ships]

[5. Eternal Kingdom: 3 ships]

[6. Angel Legion: 2 ships]

[7. Primordial Royal Court: 1 ship (Note: Vampire Council)]

[8. Other Races/Forces: 22 ships]

———

Lin Ye stood in the center of the command deck.

He looked at the line "Primordial Royal Court: 1 ship."

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Shi Potian."

"Present."

"That ship."

"The Blood Prince's?"

———

Shi Potian walked to the holographic star map.

He looked at the ship labeled "Vampire Council."

The ship was narrow and long, dark red all over, with a blood-colored crystal three meters in diameter at the bow, pulsating at a frequency of once every 1.7 seconds.

It was perfectly synchronized with the pulsation of the [blood emperor essence blood] in Lin Ye's pocket.

———

"Yes," Shi Potian said.

———

Lin Ye didn't speak.

He just looked at that ship.

Watching it moor at Anchor Point No. 37—a straight-line distance of 170 kilometers from the [Heavenly Court - First Generation]'s Anchor Point No. 47.

———

Qin Ruoxue's voice came from the communications station:

"Boss."

"Received an invitation from the Anchor Point Platform."

———

She projected the message onto the central star map.

[Hegemon Body Ancestral Star · Prodigy Arena Organizing Committee]

[To: Heavenly Court Force]

[Welcome to the outer Anchor Point Platform of the Ancestral Star]

[The arena tournament will officially begin in 24 hours]

[Please have your force's representative complete the following tasks within 12 hours:]

[1. Gravity Adaptation Training (Anchor Point Platform Area G · 127x Gravity Simulation Room)]

[2. Participant Registration (10 star core energy required)]

[3. Draw Lots for Grouping (Determines the first-round opponent)]

[4. Review Complete Arena Tournament Rules]

[Currently Registered Participants: 317 people]

[From Races/Forces: 47]

[Minimum Rank Requirement: Rank 60—All currently met]

[Current Highest Rank Record: Rank 67 (Odin)]

[Wishing you all great martial fortune.]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "317 people."

47 races.

Rank 67 is the highest.

———

"Chen Hao," Lin Ye said.

"Present."

"Dock with the Anchor Point Platform."

"We're going down."

———

The [Heavenly Court - First Generation] slowly approached Anchor Point Platform No. 47.

It was a circular metal structure 1.7 kilometers in diameter, floating in the Ancestral Star's synchronous orbit. Its surface was covered with a dark gold energy shield, and the interior was brightly lit. Through the shield, countless moving figures could be seen.

At the moment the ship docked, a slight vibration spread throughout the vessel.

[Docking Complete]

[Hatch opened]

[Current Environment: Inside Anchor Point Platform · Standard Gravity Zone (1G)]

[Gravity Adaptation Training Zone: Platform Area G · 127x Gravity Simulation Room]

[Participant Registration Desk: Platform Central Hall]

———

Lin Ye was the first to step out of the hatch.

Behind him were nine people.

Su Qingyue.

Shi Potian.

Chen Hao.

Zhou Tieshan.

Chu Yunxi.

Zhao Wuji.

Qin Ruoxue.

Yun Qianxue.

Lu Xinghe.

———

The interior of the Anchor Point Platform was more... lively than he had imagined.

Not a chaotic liveliness.

It was an "ordered clamor."

The circular space with a diameter of 1.7 kilometers was divided into dozens of functional areas. The central hall was 500 meters in diameter with a 70-meter-high dome. At this moment, at least a thousand people were gathered—participants, followers, spectators, merchants, information brokers, and observers from various forces.

They came from 47 different races.

Some were humanoid.

Some were beast-shaped.

Some were energy beings.

Some were in mecha forms.

There were undead shrouded in black robes.

There were God Race members with light wings spreading from their backs.

There were Holy Demons surrounded by an abyssal aura.

There were Dragon Clan warriors with skin covered in dragon scales.

There were unknown life forms composed entirely of crystals.

———

Lin Ye stood at the edge of the central hall.

He looked at this grand spectacle where ten thousand races converged.

3 seconds.

He stepped forward.

———

Step 1.

The first gaze fell upon him.

It came from 17 meters to his left, from a Dragon Clan warrior sitting cross-legged.

His pupils were vertical and golden.

[Dragon Clan · Cang Xuan]

[Rank: Rank 64]

[Bloodline: Golden Dragon Royal Clan (71% purity)]

[Current Status: Resting with eyes closed]

———

He didn't open his eyes.

But the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Was that... a smile?

———

Step 2.

The second gaze.

It came from 31 meters to his right, from three God Race members walking side-by-side.

The leader had three pairs of fully extended light wings on his back.

[God Race · Odin]

[Rank: Rank 67]

[Physique: Sun God Body (Fully Awakened)]

[Current Status: Talking with someone]

———

He stopped talking.

Turned his head.

Looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He nodded slightly.

———

Step 3.

The third gaze.

It came from 47 meters directly ahead, from a figure standing alone in the center of the hall.

He wore green cloth clothes.

On his back was a long sword wrapped in coarse cloth.

His face was ordinary.

His temperament was peaceful.

But as he stood there, no one approached within seven meters of him.

[Sword Pavilion · Sword Nameless]

[Rank: Rank 64]

[Physique: None (Mortal Body)]

[Current Status: Looking at Lin Ye]

———

He looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was very light, very faint.

Then he turned around.

And walked toward the registration desk.

———

Step 4.

Step 5.

Step 6.

———

Step 17.

Lin Ye stood before the registration desk counter.

Behind the counter was an old man with a stern face, wearing a standard robe of the Ancestral Star.

[Arena Tournament Organizing Committee · Registrar]

[Rank: ???]

[Identity: Hegemon Body Ancestral Star Native]

———

The old man raised his head.

Looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

"Name," he said.

———

"Lin Ye."

"ID."

"Night Emperor."

"Force."

"Heavenly Court."

———

The old man swiped on the light screen in front of him.

[Searching...]

[Matched participant information: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)]

[Rank: Rank 64]

[Physique: Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body]

[Current Rank Prediction: 27th]

[star core energy required: 10]

———

Lin Ye took out 10 star core energy from his pocket.

Placed them on the counter.

The old man glanced at the energy.

Without counting.

He took them directly.

———

[Participant Registration · Complete]

[Participant Number: 047]

[First Round Grouping: Pending (Announced in 12 hours)]

[Currently Registered People: 341]

[Your Current Rank Prediction: 27th]

———

Lin Ye looked at the line "27th."

One place higher than the 28th place in the initial version of the Myriad Race Prodigy Ranking.

———

He turned around.

Looked at the nine people behind him.

"Register," he said.

———

The nine people stepped forward in turn.

Su Qingyue.

[Participant Number: 048]

[Rank: Rank 61]

[Physique: Vast Cold Spirit Body]

[Current Rank Prediction: 63rd]

———

Shi Potian.

[Participant Number: 049]

[Rank: Rank 63]

[Physique: Hegemon Body (Ancestral Star Returnee)]

[Current Rank Prediction: 17th]

———

Chen Hao.

[Participant Number: 050]

[Rank: Rank 60]

[Class: Mecha Master (chaos unit no. 1 Pilot)]

[Current Rank Prediction: 97th]

———

Zhou Tieshan.

[Participant Number: 051]

[Rank: Rank 61]

[Class: Heavy Shield Warrior]

[Current Rank Prediction: 114th]

———

Chu Yunxi.

[Participant Number: 052]

[Rank: Rank 61]

[Class: Archer]

[Current Rank Prediction: 107th]

———

Zhao Wuji.

[Participant Number: 053]

[Rank: Rank 58 (2 Ranks below minimum Rank requirement)]

[Class: Merchant]

[Current Rank Prediction: 341st (Last Place)]

———

He looked at that ranking.

Didn't say anything.

Just held [Black Gold - New Life] in his hand.

———

Qin Ruoxue.

[Participant Number: 054]

[Rank: Rank 60]

[Class: Assassin/Intelligence Specialist]

[Current Rank Prediction: 187th]

———

Yun Qianxue.

[Participant Number: 055]

[Rank: Rank 60]

[Class: Healer]

[Current Rank Prediction: 204th]

———

Lu Xinghe.

[Participant Number: 056]

[Rank: Rank 60]

[Class: Formation Master]

[Current Rank Prediction: 237th]

———

10 people.

10 numbers.

047 to 056.

———

[System Notification: Participant Registration Complete]

[Current Total Registered People: 347]

[Arena Tournament Rules · Full Version Unlocked]

———

Lin Ye clicked on the rules.

[Prodigy Arena · Hegemon Body Ancestral Star Station]

[Rules Overview:]

[1. Participants need to consume 1 star core energy to obtain 30 minutes of arena combat time. If energy is exhausted or they are defeated, they lose the eligibility to continue challenging.]

[2. The arena tournament uses a "Consecutive Win Promotion System": Every time a participant defeats an opponent, they get 1 point; 3 consecutive wins grant an extra +1 point; 5 consecutive wins grant an extra +3 points; 10 consecutive wins lead to direct promotion to the next round.]

[3. The arena tournament is divided into three rounds:]

[—First Round (Qualifiers): All participants are randomly grouped for matches, single-elimination. Winners enter the second round, losers lose eligibility (star core energy is not refunded).]

[—Second Round (Ranking Matches): Promoted participants are ranked by points, and the top 64 enter the third round.]

[—Third Round (Finals): 64-person single-elimination, the final top ten receive the "Ancient Road Mark."]

["Ancient Road Mark" Effect: Cultivation speed +50%, Law affinity +20%, all attributes +15% within the range of the Ancient Star Road. Permanently effective.]

[5. During the arena tournament, the use of any recovery items (Medicinal Pill/Talisman/healing Spell) is prohibited; participants rely solely on their own recovery abilities.]

[6. After dying in the arena, participants will be reborn at the Ancestral Star respawn point, but their current arena points will be cleared, and they will lose the eligibility to continue challenging.]

[7. The final top ten can receive extra rewards: Exclusive Title/Legacy Shards/Saint-Grade Materials Selection Box.]

[8. First place extra reward: Hegemon Body Ancestral Star Recognition + "Son of the Ancestral Star" title (+100% reputation with Ancestral Star natives, +30% to all attributes within the Ancestral Star range).]

———

Lin Ye finished reading the last line.

He raised his head.

Looking at the giant holographic projection screen in the center of the hall.

On the screen, information for the 347 participants was scrolling in real-time.

[Current Rank Prediction · Top 10]

[1. Odin (God Race) — Rank 67]

[2. Zachariah (Holy Demon Palace) — Rank 66]

[3. Frost Burial (Kingdom of the Undead) — Rank 65]

[4. Cang Xuan (Dragon Clan Alliance) — Rank 64]

[5. Sword Nameless (Sword Pavilion) — Rank 64]

[6. Xing Yue (Garden of Nature) — Rank 64]

[7. Blood Prince (Primordial Royal Court) — Rank 63]

[8. Rex (Mechanical Cult) — Rank 63]

[9. Yan Ji (Fire Spirit Clan) — Rank 63]

[10. Shi Potian (Heavenly Court) — Rank 63]

———

10th place.

Shi Potian.

———

Lin Ye looked at the ranking.

3 seconds.

He turned to Shi Potian.

"10th," he said.

"Is it enough?"

———

Shi Potian looked at the line "Shi Potian · Rank 63."

3 seconds.

He raised his left fist to his chest.

"...Enough," he said.

"But I want to be higher."

———

Lin Ye didn't answer.

He just looked at the bottom of the screen.

There was a line of small text:

[27th: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court) — Rank 64]

———

27th place.

One place higher than the 28th place in the initial version of the Myriad Race Prodigy Ranking.

17 places behind Shi Potian's 10th place.

———

Su Qingyue walked to his side.

She didn't speak.

She just looked at the ranking.

3 seconds.

She said softly:

"27th."

"3 places closer than the goal set three months ago."

———

Lin Ye looked at her.

"The goal set three months ago was the top ten," he said.

———

Su Qingyue didn't answer.

She just gently held his hand.

3 seconds.

Let go.

———

[System Notification: Grouping for the draw will be announced in 11 hours]

[Suggestion: Proceed to Area G for 127x gravity adaptation training]

[Current Remaining Time: 10 hours 47 minutes]

———

Lin Ye turned around.

And walked toward Area G.

Behind him, nine people.

Stepped forward simultaneously.

———

Step 1.

Step 2.

Step 3.

———

When passing through the center of the hall, Lin Ye's footsteps paused for 0.3 seconds.

Because he saw a person.

That person stood on the other side of the hall, with his back to him.

Wearing a blood-red robe.

Three pairs of light wings extended from his back—but those light wings were dark red, not the golden color of the God Race.

He was surrounded by an extremely faint, almost imperceptible blood-colored mist.

———

Blood Prince.

———

He didn't look back.

But he spoke.

His voice was very light, yet it clearly reached Lin Ye's ears:

"27th place."

"One place higher than last time."

"Congratulations."

———

Lin Ye didn't speak.

He just continued walking forward.

———

Behind him, the Blood Prince's voice came again:

"See you in the arena."

———

Lin Ye didn't stop.

But he spoke.

His voice was also very light.

"Fine."

———

[Chapter 174 · End]