186: Chapter 186 The Struggle of Wills, The Heavenly Emperor Subdues the Golden Dragon

The 19th second.

Pale Moon stopped walking.

She did not walk off the arena.

She stopped at the edge of the arena, 3 meters away from the exit.

With her back to Lin Ye.

---

Lin Ye stood where he was.

He looked at that back figure.

3 seconds.

He felt an unprecedented pressure.

Not Dragon Might.

It was "Will".

[System Prompt: Dragon Clan Princess "Pale Moon" activates "Dragon Soul Will"]

[Dragon Soul Will - Effect:]

[1. Immune to all physical/Spell damage, duration 60 seconds]

[2. During this period, both parties enter "Will Duel" state]

[3. Will Duel: Both parties' "Dao Heart", "Origin", and "Bloodline" clash directly; the loser will be forced to concede]

[4. This state cannot be interrupted, cannot be evaded, cannot be cheated]

[5. Dragon Clan Princess has consumed the permanent energy of the "Dragon Pearl"; the Dragon Pearl will become ineffective after this battle]

---

Pale Moon turned around.

Her eyes—those golden vertical pupils—were burning at this moment.

Not flames.

It was "Soul Fire".

[Pale Moon - Dragon Soul Form]

[Rank: Level 75 -> ??? (Will Form has no Rank)]

[Dragon Soul Strength: 9,700]

[Dragon Clan's ten-thousand-year accumulated will foundation: +300%]

[Current Total Dragon Soul Strength: 38,800]

---

She looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

That smile was different from when she conceded just now.

Not appreciation.

It was a "challenge".

"Level 66," she said.

"You won the first round."

"You used your cauldron to smash a hole in me."

"And made me concede."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

---

"But that was not the true victory or defeat," she continued.

"True Prodigies do not compete over who can smash harder."

"What we compete over is—"

She paused.

"Whose Dao Heart is firmer."

"Whose Origin is purer."

"Whose Bloodline—is more noble."

---

She took a step forward.

The moment that step landed, the entire arena—no, the entire No. 1 Arena area, the entire Hegemon Body Ancestral Star—trembled.

[Dragon Soul Will - Expand]

[Range: 100-meter radius]

[Effect: All non-Dragon Clan units suffer from "Dragon Soul Pressure"]

[Dragon Soul Pressure: A Will check is performed every second; failure results in -10% to all attributes, stackable]

---

Lin Ye felt it.

It was not physical pressure.

It was pressure on the "Soul".

It was as if an ancient giant dragon was coiled deep within his consciousness, coldly looking down at him with those golden vertical pupils.

[Will Check - 1st second]

[Lin Ye Will Strength: 7,300]

[Dragon Soul Pressure Strength: 38,800]

[Result: Failure]

[All attributes -10%]

---

His body did not change.

But his "Dao Heart"—that Dao Heart which had been as firm as iron since the first day the server opened—showed a tiny crack for the first time.

---

2nd second.

[Result: Failure]

[All attributes -20%]

---

3rd second.

[Result: Failure]

[All attributes -30%]

---

4th second.

[Result: Failure]

[All attributes -40%]

---

5th second.

[Result: Failure]

[All attributes -50%]

---

Lin Ye stood where he was.

All his attributes had been suppressed to 50%.

But he did not fall.

He looked at Pale Moon.

Looking at those burning golden vertical pupils.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was different from any previous battle.

Not mockery.

Not relief.

It was "Awakening".

---

"Dragon Soul Will," he said.

"38,800 strength."

"Suppressing me by 10% every second."

---

Pale Moon looked at him.

"How much longer can you stand?" she asked.

---

Lin Ye did not answer.

He simply closed his eyes.

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body - Origin Awakening]

[Current Origin Awakening Degree: 17%]

[Releasing...]

[Release progress: 17% -> 23% -> 31% -> 47%]

---

Gray light surged out from his body.

Not the Chaos Domain.

It was "Origin".

It was the true core of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body—that Heavenly Emperor Origin which had been sleeping in the deepest part of his Soul since the moment he created his character, and had never truly been awakened until now.

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Origin]

[Type: Unique Physique Core]

[Grade: ??? (Beyond Legendary)]

[Current Awakening Degree: 47%]

[Effect:]

[1. Immune to all "Will-type" suppression effects]

[2. Release "Heavenly Emperor Phantom" to conduct an Origin duel against the opponent]

[3. Heavenly Emperor Phantom Strength = Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body Level x 1,000 x Awakening Degree]

[Current Heavenly Emperor Phantom Strength: 66 x 1,000 x 0.47 = 31,020]

---

Lin Ye opened his eyes.

Behind him, a huge phantom was condensing.

That phantom was about 10 meters tall.

Entirely gray.

No facial features.

Only a pair of eyes—those eyes were exactly the same as his own.

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Phantom - Initial Manifestation]

[Strength: 31,020]

[Duration: Infinite (Synchronized with Dragon Soul Will)]

---

Pale Moon's pupils contracted slightly.

She looked at that phantom.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

In that smile, there was 70% shock.

30%—excitement.

"Heavenly Emperor Phantom," she said.

"31,020 strength."

"7,780 lower than me."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just looked at that phantom.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"7,780," he said.

"Is that enough?"

---

Pale Moon's Dragon Soul—moved.

That ancient giant dragon coiled deep within Lin Ye's consciousness opened its giant maw and bit toward his Dao Heart.

[Dragon Soul - Heart Devour]

[Damage: Direct attack on Dao Heart]

[If Dao Heart breaks, Will collapses]

---

Lin Ye's Heavenly Emperor Phantom—moved.

It reached out its right hand.

Grasping the giant dragon's throat.

[Heavenly Emperor - Dragon Capture]

---

The giant dragon struggled.

The dragon tail lashed out.

The phantom's left arm blocked it.

The dragon claws tore.

The phantom's right arm parried.

---

[Will Duel - 1st Round]

[Dragon Soul Attack Strength: 38,800]

[Heavenly Emperor Defense Strength: 31,020]

[Result: Heavenly Emperor Phantom pushed back 3 meters]

---

Lin Ye's body swayed.

[Dao Heart Crack +1]

---

But he did not fall.

He looked at Pale Moon.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

"A gap of 7,780," he said.

"Is that all the strength you have?"

---

Pale Moon's pupils contracted slightly.

She urged the Dragon Soul again.

Second Heart Devour.

[Dragon Soul Attack Strength: 38,800 + 10% = 42,680]

---

Lin Ye's Heavenly Emperor Phantom met it again.

This time, it did not defend.

It attacked.

The right fist smashed onto the giant dragon's head.

[Heavenly Emperor Attack Strength: 31,020 + 10% = 34,122]

---

The giant dragon felt pain.

But its Heart Devour did not stop.

It bit onto Lin Ye's Dao Heart.

[Dao Heart Crack +2]

---

Lin Ye's body swayed again.

But he looked at Pale Moon.

The smile was still there.

---

6th second.

3rd Heart Devour.

[Dragon Soul: 42,680 + 10% = 46,948]

[Heavenly Emperor: 34,122 + 10% = 37,534]

---

Heavenly Emperor Phantom's left fist smashed into the giant dragon's abdomen.

The giant dragon's head collided with Lin Ye's Dao Heart.

[Dao Heart Crack +3]

---

7th second.

4th time.

[Dragon Soul: 46,948 + 10% = 51,642]

[Heavenly Emperor: 37,534 + 10% = 41,287]

---

8th second.

5th time.

[Dragon Soul: 51,642 + 10% = 56,806]

[Heavenly Emperor: 41,287 + 10% = 45,415]

---

9th second.

6th time.

[Dragon Soul: 56,806 + 10% = 62,486]

[Heavenly Emperor: 45,415 + 10% = 49,956]

---

10th second.

7th time.

[Dragon Soul: 62,486 + 10% = 68,734]

[Heavenly Emperor: 49,956 + 10% = 54,951]

---

11th second.

8th time.

[Dragon Soul: 68,734 + 10% = 75,607]

[Heavenly Emperor: 54,951 + 10% = 60,446]

---

12th second.

9th time.

[Dragon Soul: 75,607 + 10% = 83,167]

[Heavenly Emperor: 60,446 + 10% = 66,490]

---

13th second.

10th time.

[Dragon Soul: 83,167 + 10% = 91,483]

[Heavenly Emperor: 66,490 + 10% = 73,139]

---

Lin Ye's Dao Heart already had 17 cracks.

Each crack represented a moment on the verge of collapse.

But he did not fall.

He looked at Pale Moon.

The smile was still there.

---

Pale Moon's expression changed.

Her Dragon Soul had stacked to a strength of 91,483.

It was 18,344 higher than Lin Ye's Heavenly Emperor projection.

But Lin Ye's Dao Heart—still hadn't shattered.

---

"You." She spoke.

For the first time, her voice trembled.

"What is your Dao Heart... made of?"

---

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"My Dao Heart," he said.

"Is not just me alone."

---

Behind him, the Heavenly Emperor projection began to change.

It was no longer a lonely gray projection.

Beside it, a second figure appeared.

Ice blue.

[Su Qingyue · Vast Cold Spirit Body · Will Projection]

---

The third figure.

Dark gold.

[Shi Potian · Hegemon Body · Will Projection]

---

The fourth figure.

Silver white.

[Chen Hao · chaos unit no. 1 · Will Projection]

---

The fifth figure.

Dark gray.

[Zhou Tieshan · Xuanwu · Will Projection]

---

The sixth figure.

Crimson red.

[Chu Yunxi · Vermilion Bird · Will Projection]

---

The seventh figure.

Transparent.

[Qin Ruoxue · Heavenly Secret · Will Projection]

---

The eighth figure.

Light green.

[Yun Qianxue · Green Lotus · Will Projection]

---

The ninth figure.

Silver gray.

[Lu Xinghe · Star River · Will Projection]

---

The tenth figure.

Golden.

[Zhao Wuji · Mysterious Gold · Will Projection]

---

Ten figures.

Ten colors.

Standing behind the Heavenly Emperor projection.

---

Pale Moon's pupils contracted violently.

She looked at those ten projections.

She watched as those ten projections and the Heavenly Emperor projection—merged into one.

[Heavenly Emperor Projection · Evolution]

[Merging Ten People's Will of the Heavenly Court]

[New Strength: 73,139 × 10 = 731,390]

---

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was different from any other in previous matches.

It was not madness.

It was not relief.

It was "protection."

"My Dao Heart," he said.

"Is supported by ten people together."

---

The Heavenly Emperor projection took a step forward.

The moment this step landed, Pale Moon's Dragon Soul—shattered.

[Dragon Soul Will · Disintegration]

[Dragon Clan Princess · Will Judgment: Failure]

[Forced Surrender]

---

Pale Moon stood in place.

Her dragon pearl, between her brows—shattered.

It turned into countless tiny golden specks of light, drifting in the air under 127 times gravity.

Her Dragon Soul was retreating from the depths of Lin Ye's consciousness.

That ancient dragon took one last look at him.

In that look, there was no anger.

Only... awe.

---

She lowered her head.

Looking at her empty hands.

3 seconds.

She raised her head.

Looking at Lin Ye.

Looking at that Heavenly Emperor projection.

Looking at those ten projections slowly dissipating.

---

She smiled.

That smile was the same as when the battle began.

Very faint.

Very elegant.

But this time, it carried a hint of—genuine submission.

"Rank 66," she said.

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body."

"Your Dao Heart is not something I alone can shake."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just looked at her.

---

[System Prompt: Will Duel Ended]

[Winner: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court · Rank 66)]

[Dragon Clan Princess · Pale Moon · Surrender]

[Final Result: Night Emperor Wins]

[Obtained: Starry Sky Arena · Champion]

---

[Starry Sky Arena · Champion Rewards]

[1. All Attributes +30% (Permanent)]

[2. Ancient Road Mark · Complete x1]

[3. Saint-Grade Materials Selection Box x3]

[4. Title "Ten Thousand Races Prodigy · Champion"]

[5. Dragon Clan Friendship Medal · Upgraded Version]

---

[Ancient Road Mark · Complete]

[Type: Special Status / Permanent Buff]

[Grade: Mythical (Unique)]

[Description: Proof of the Prodigy Arena champion, containing the Ancient Road's recognition of the strongest. This mark will accompany you throughout the entire Ancient Star Road; for every stage passed, the mark's strength increases by one level.]

[Current Level: Complete (Highest Level)]

[Effects:]

[1. Cultivation Speed +200% (Effective in all scenarios)]

[2. Law Affinity +50%]

[3. Within the Ancient Star Road range, All Attributes +30%]

[4. For Ancient Road Guardian type units, Initial Reputation +3 levels]

[5. Can stack with other Ancient Road Marks (Max 7, but Complete level cannot be upgraded further)]

[6. Unlock hidden permissions: Can view partial information of the next stage in advance]

---

Lin Ye looked at the line "Cultivation Speed +200%".

3 seconds.

He brought the mark into his body.

[Ancient Road Mark · Complete · Bound]

[Cultivation Speed Bonus in Effect]

---

He raised his head.

Looking at Pale Moon.

Pale Moon was also looking at him.

3 seconds.

She spoke.

"Your cauldron," she said.

"Needs [mysterious yellow qi] to repair."

"The Dragon Clan treasury has a wisp."

"You can come and take it anytime."

---

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Conditions," he said.

---

Pale Moon smiled.

"Conditions?" She shook her head.

"You won."

"The winner's privilege."

---

She turned around.

Walking toward the edge of the arena.

After 3 steps.

She stopped.

Without looking back.

"Rank 66," she said.

"Next time we meet."

"I will be stronger."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just watched that silhouette.

Watching her disappear into the golden light.

---

He turned around.

Walked off the arena.

Every step was slow.

Every step left a 3 cm deep footprint under 127 times gravity.

1st step.

2nd step.

3rd step.

---

17th step.

He stood at the entrance of the rest area.

There, 9 people were waiting for him.

Su Qingyue.

Shi Potian.

Chen Hao.

Zhou Tieshan.

Chu Yunxi.

Zhao Wuji.

Qin Ruoxue.

Yun Qianxue.

Lu Xinghe.

---

He looked at them.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Champion," he said.

---

No one spoke.

But 9 breathing sounds, in the same instant—stalled for 0.1 seconds.

Then.

Shi Potian's left fist—that left fist that permanently lost 5% of its maximum HP—was raised to his chest.

"Boss," he said.

"We won."

---

Lin Ye looked at him.

3 seconds.

He reached out.

Grasping that fist.

---

In the distance.

On the holographic screen of the No. 1 Arena area, the champion list was scrolling.

[Prodigy Arena · Final Ranking]

[Champion: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court) — Rank 66]

[Runner-up: Pale Moon (Dragon Clan) — Rank 75]

[Third Place: Odin (God Race) — Rank 67]

[Fourth Place: Frost Burial (Kingdom of the Undead) — Rank 65]

[5th-8th Place: Cang Xuan / Sword Nameless / Xingyue / Shi Potian]

---

8th place.

Shi Potian.

---

Shi Potian looked at that ranking.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

That smile was exactly the same as when he smashed the breastbone of a Rank 67 Holy Demon Race.

Very heavy.

Very steady.

Carrying a hint of... satisfaction.

---

Lin Ye turned around.

Looking at that golden sky in the distance.

There, the Dragon Clan Princess's figure had already disappeared.

But her voice was still echoing in the air:

"Rank 66."

"Next time we meet."

"I will be stronger."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just pressed his right hand on the sword hilt.

That refined iron longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star, the gray crack in the center of the blade, was currently pulsing at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/time.

Completely synchronized with Shi Potian's breathing in the medical pod.

With the heartbeat of Su Qingyue standing behind him.

With that myriad things mother qi cauldron embryo sleeping deep between his brows, on the verge of shattering.

---

[Chapter 186 · End]