181: Chapter 181 One After Another Takes the Stage

[I feel like my hands and feet aren't mine anymore. Grave sweeping is too exhausting.]

The three years following the arrival of the Golden Age were the most turbulent three years for the cultivation world of the entire Big Dipper Astral Region.

Three years ago, the Dao marks of the Azure Emperor had just dissipated. Countless prodigies had sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain, and the younger generation from the Holy Lands, Imperial Dynasties, and great families of every region began to distinguish themselves.

Today, three years later, those young men and women who had once just begun to show their potential have grown into true experts capable of shaking a whole region. The clashes between prodigies from different regions have also evolved from initial tentative sparring into truly fierce collisions over these three years.

Eastern Wasteland.

On this day, in the sky above a wasteland in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wasteland, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle.

One of them was surrounded by brilliant light, every strike like the blazing sun in the sky, illuminating ten thousand miles; the other's form was elusive, constantly flickering through the Void Realm, each move carrying a might that could change the very color of the heavens and earth.

The aftershocks of their battle leveled hundreds of miles of the wasteland below, sending shattered rocks flying and filling the sky with dust. In the distance, countless Cultivators watched from afar, their faces filled with shock.

"Too strong... is this the strength of a top Prodigy?"

"I heard both of them are at the Peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm, just a step away from becoming a Half-step Great Power."

"The Peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm? Why do I feel like they're even more terrifying than an average Half-step Great Power?"

"Nonsense, which Prodigy capable of reaching this stage can't fight above their level?"

The watching Cultivators discussed fervently, their eyes locked onto the battle in the sky. The collision between the two grew more intense, every clash making the Void Realm tremble as the Laws of the Great Dao surged wildly around them.

Just as everyone thought the battle would last much longer, one of them suddenly erupted with power, knocking the opponent back dozens of miles with a single strike before turning to depart and vanishing into the sky.

"Is there a winner?"

"No, both were holding back; it was likely just a test."

"Just a test is this terrifying? If they fought with everything they had, I'm afraid this wasteland wouldn't even be enough for them to fight on."

Southern Ridge.

The prodigies of the Yao Race were equally unwilling to be outdone. Amidst a vast range of mountains, two massive phantoms collided within the clouds.

Those were two of the most elite figures of the Yao Race's younger generation, both descendants of ancient Vicious Beasts.

The phantom of a Golden-Winged Great Peng blotted out the sun, tearing through the Void Realm with a single flap of its wings; the other, a phantom of a White Tiger, was incomparably fierce, its roar making the mountains tremble.

The two fought in the sky, blood spilling and dyeing the mountain forests below a deep red. Countless Yao Race Cultivators knelt on the ground, looking up at the battle with a mix of fear and excitement.

"The prodigies of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Clan and the White Tiger Clan are fighting again."

"This is already the third time this year, isn't it?"

"They've been fighting since three years ago, and every time it's a draw."

"Who do you think is actually stronger?"

"I don't know, but I do know that if they both went all out, this mountain range probably wouldn't survive."

Western Desert.

On Mount Sumeru, a Holy Land of Buddhism, golden Buddhist light shone for ten thousand miles. A young monk sat cross-legged in the plaza outside the Great Leiyin Temple, Buddhist light circulating around him as the faint sound of Sanskrit chanting drifted from the Void Realm.

Opposite him stood a young expert from a certain kingdom in the Western Regions, holding a long saber with an eerie light flowing across its blade.

The two faced off for a moment before the young expert struck first. With one slash, the saber's glow tore through the Void Realm, aiming straight for the monk. The monk did not stand; he simply raised a finger, and a beam of golden Buddhist light shot from his fingertip, colliding with the saber's glow.

"Boom—!"

Amidst the loud explosion, the young expert was sent flying, coughing up blood. The monk withdrew his finger, pressed his palms together, and softly chanted a Buddhist name.

"Amitabha."

In the distance, the faces of the watching Western Region Cultivators changed drastically. They knew how strong their young expert was—he was one of the top three in the younger generation of the Western Regions. Yet, before that monk, he couldn't even withstand a single move?

"Who is that monk?"

"The number one of Mount Sumeru's younger generation. It's said he has already touched the threshold of a Half-step Great Power."

"A Half-step Great Power? And he's still so young?"

"In the Golden Age, anything is possible."

Central State.

The young prodigies of the Central State were also unwilling to be left behind.

In the sky above an ancient imperial city, several figures were engaged in a chaotic brawl. They came from different Imperial Dynasties and great families of the Central State, each at the Peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm with astonishing combat power.

The light generated by the collision of Divine Abilities illuminated the entire imperial city. The Mortals below knelt on the ground, trembling in fear, while the Cultivators looked up at the sky, their eyes filled with fanaticism.

"Those are several of the most elite prodigies of the Central State's younger generation!"

"Why are they fighting?"

"I don't know, it seems like a pre-arranged battle."

"A pre-arranged battle? With so many people at once?"

"In the Golden Age, everyone wants to prove they are the strongest."

The chaotic battle lasted for a full day and night, but in the end, no winner was decided. Everyone withdrew at the final moment and went their separate ways. But they all knew this was just the beginning. The true struggle was yet to come.

Over the three years, such battles were constantly played out in every region. In the Eastern Wasteland, Southern Ridge, Western Desert, Northern Plains, and Central State, prodigies were clashing and colliding on every piece of land, proving their existence in their own ways.

Over these three years, the younger generation of countless Holy Lands, Imperial Dynasties, and great families advanced by leaps and bounds, climbing from the initial Dragon Transformation First and Second Changes all the way to the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Changes.

And the most elite prodigies had even touched the threshold of the Immortal Bridge Secret Realm.

Ji Family, Martial Arts Arena.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. He was surrounded by a dense golden light; the power of his Saint Body had reached a new height under the nourishment of the Dragon Transformation Realm's Peak.

Three years ago, he had just achieved a Breakthrough to the Dragon Transformation First Change. Today, three years later, he stood at the Peak of the Dragon Transformation Ninth Change, just one step away from becoming a Half-step Great Power.

Over the three years, his sparring with Ji Zi had never ceased.

From initially trading wins and losses, to later being evenly matched, and now to being difficult to distinguish between, he could feel his own progress with every encounter.

His fists grew heavier, his speed faster, and his reactions sharper. More importantly, he had begun to forge his own combat style—not just pure brute force, but leveraging the advantages of the Saint Body to the extreme, combined with his own understanding of the Dao to deliver his own unique strikes.

Ji Zi stood at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, looking at Ye Fan sitting in the center, a flash of approval in his eyes.

Over the three years, his progress had been equally astonishing. From the Dragon Transformation Third Change to the Ninth Change, and now to a Half-step Great Power, he had taken every step firmly and steadily.

His Hunyuan Void Cultivation Technique had been perfected to a new height; the transition between the Void Realm and reality became increasingly fluid, and his attacks more unpredictable. But he knew this was not enough. The true opponents were still ahead.

Ji Haoyue stood on the other side, also regulating his breathing. Three years ago, he had just achieved a Breakthrough to the Dragon Transformation First Change.

Today, three years later, he had also reached the Dragon Transformation Seventh Change.

Although he couldn't match the speed of Ye Fan and Ji Zi, he was still among the elite in the entire Eastern Wasteland. More importantly, he had found his own path.

He no longer relied solely on the power of his Divine Body; instead, he began to fuse the Ji Family's secret arts with his own understanding, carving out a unique path for himself.

At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, Ji Ziyue sat on a stone bench under that large tree, her chin resting on her hands as her gaze fell upon that golden figure.