Translator: CinderTL
It wasn't just Zhou Xingkong and Li Zihuang.
In the core region of the civilization ruins, all the Heavenly Pride with Transcendent Aptitude gradually learned of Jiang Ye's existence.
Instantly, the transcendent prodigies harbored a mix of emotions.
In stark contrast to the tranquility of the core region, the hundreds of participants in the inner perimeter were in an uproar.
"Have you heard?"
"Jiang Ye defeated Zhou Kun, the former top-ranked contender, with just three spear strikes!"
"Seriously? That sounds exaggerated!"
"He's too powerful."
The news spread like wildfire.
Initially, Jiang Ye's ascent to the top of the rankings had merely surprised the participants.
But now, as detailed accounts of the battle emerged, all the participants were utterly stunned.
At that moment, a new message spread:
"Zhou Yuan, ranked 15th, and Chu Chi, ranked 16th, teamed up to challenge Jiang Ye earlier, only to be instantly killed by a single spear strike!"
This news completely silenced all remaining doubts.
"Undeniably, Jiang Ye is the strongest among those with the Dao Bone Aptitude."
"He's definitely a contender for this year's All-Stars Champion title."
"Jiang Ye is invincible." This was the unanimous sentiment of the hundreds of participants.
Time flowed onward.
Jiang Ye, accompanied by Chen Zilu, Song Gang, and others, roamed freely through the inner perimeter of the civilization ruins.
Wherever they went, they swept away all star beasts in their path.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
On a solitary peak, Jiang Ye and Chen Zilu sat cross-legged at the summit, undisturbed.
Whoosh! With a wave of his hand, a massive pile of golden-glowing star beast cores materialized and clattered onto the ground.
Over a hundred cores lay scattered before them.
Among them, six radiated an overwhelming aura—the life cores of Star Beast Kings.
These were Jiang Ye's spoils from the past three days.
"These star beast cores should be enough for us to cultivate to the sixth breakthrough," Jiang Ye said with a faint smile.
Throughout their slaughter, he had personally collected all the beast cores.
Chen Zilu glanced at the cores, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. "I'll use my own first," she said. "We can talk about this later."
She reached for her storage wristband.
But Jiang Ye seized her wrist.
"Use mine first," he said, his expression stern.
"Yours?" Chen Zilu's beautiful eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by his sudden action.
"Senior Sister," Jiang Ye said solemnly, "what's mine is yours. Stop always keeping things separate. Understand?"
"I understand," Chen Zilu replied, pulling her hand away. "What are you doing?"
"Why are you being so fierce all of a sudden?" she muttered under her breath, staring at Jiang Ye's stern expression.
He just surpassed me, and now he's acting so bossy. This guy changes so fast!
Still, with her current strength inferior to Jiang Ye's, she lacked the confidence to argue back.
"Senior Sister, don't misunderstand," Jiang Ye said with a gentle smile. "I'm just reminding you."
He knew Chen Zilu always preferred to quietly make sacrifices, but that's precisely why he wanted to correct her habit.
Chen Zilu had already given him enough.
If things continued this way, what if they faced danger again? She might use her innate avatar or even risk her life, recklessly trying to protect him as she had before.
If that ever happened, Jiang Ye would never forgive himself.
"Senior Sister, you need to think more about yourself," Jiang Ye said earnestly. "Caring about me is fine, but only if you prioritize your own safety first."
"Why are you suddenly saying all this?" Chen Zilu asked, looking at him with confusion.
"It's nothing," Jiang Ye replied. "I just hope senior sister will always stay by my side." He reached out and gently squeezed her soft, delicate hand.
A faint blush crept across Chen Zilu's fair cheeks, and a sweet warmth bloomed in her heart.
But she retorted with a playful huff, "That depends on your performance."
"What kind of performance?" Jiang Ye asked, his curiosity piqued.
"What do you think?"
"I excel in all areas," Jiang Ye said with a grin. "Of course, senior sister will discover certain aspects for herself in due time."
Chen Zilu froze, then seemed to realize what he meant.
"What are you saying? Nonsense!" Her face flushed crimson, and she glared at him before turning away.
Jiang Ye chuckled softly, letting the topic drop.
"Senior sister, have your mysteries of gold already reached the peak of the seventh breakthrough?" Jiang Ye suddenly asked. "How did you advance so quickly?"
During the three days of combat, Chen Zilu had revealed her abilities, leaving even Jiang Ye deeply impressed.
After all, her initial realm had only been the fifth breakthrough.
To have elevated her mastery of the mysteries of gold to the peak of the seventh breakthrough in such a short time, she must have encountered some extraordinary fortune.
Hearing this, Chen Zilu turned her head.
"I did grasp the mysteries of gold very quickly," she said hesitantly. "I don't know why, but whenever I meditate on the mysteries of heaven and earth, a strange energy appears within me."
She swiftly explained her situation to Jiang Ye, revealing even her most private secrets without reservation.
"Strange energy?" Jiang Ye's expression turned peculiar.
He had never heard of such a phenomenon before.
In his own case, his rapid progress in the dao of fire and the path of earth was largely due to the enhanced heart fire provided by the system—the assistance granted by the Lower Realm Immortal.
But Chen Zilu? She had achieved this entirely through her own efforts.
"Senior sister, are you experiencing any discomfort?" Jiang Ye asked.
"No," Chen Zilu replied, shaking her head.
After a moment's hesitation, she transmitted telepathically, "Jiang Ye, the ancestor mentioned before that there might be some kind of 'treasure' within me, but even he doesn't know exactly what it is."
"A treasure?" Jiang Ye couldn't help but freeze in surprise.
Buzz~ Jiang Ye unleashed his psychic power, scanning Chen Zilu.
Chen Zilu's body tensed, and she couldn't resist shooting him a furtive glare before slowly relaxing. He's already seen everything anyway.
Soon, Jiang Ye withdrew his psychic power, his brow furrowed.
"What is it?" Chen Zilu asked urgently. "Did you find anything?"
"No," Jiang Ye shook his head.
"..."
Chen Zilu stared at him silently. "Then why are you frowning?"
Jiang Ye grinned mysteriously. "Just teasing you. Trying to cheer you up."
"You're such a weirdo!" Chen Zilu rolled her eyes.
Jiang Ye chuckled, but inwardly he mused, Senior Sister seems to have gone through a second growth spurt. Is her figure even more voluptuous now because of that strange energy?
Chen Zilu had always been remarkably curvaceous, but this second growth spurt had clearly pushed her beyond the E-Rank standard.
However, Jiang Ye's psychic scan hadn't detected any anomalies.
"A treasure?"
"If there's nothing unusual, it might actually be a good thing for Senior Sister," Jiang Ye said with a smile. "Anyway, try not to worry too much."
"Mm," Chen Zilu nodded, resigned to the situation.
If it's a blessing, it's a blessing; if it's a curse, you can't escape it.
We'll just have to face whatever comes our way.
"Alright," Jiang Ye said.
"Let's cultivate first," Jiang Ye suggested. "While the second-tier hasn't started yet, we should maximize our strength."
"Okay," Chen Zilu nodded.
Quickly, she picked up a star beast core and began cultivating.
(End of the Chapter)
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