The once majestic sword, spanning a thousand meters and shadowing the sky, had now condensed to a mere two meters in length.
Perhaps "condensed" wasn't even the right word—it was more like refinement.
This chaotic sword, though small, wielded a power far more terrifying than before. Its aura was fierce, as though it could slay anything in the heavens or on earth.
Hum!
At that moment, a deep vibration arose within the body of the Golden-Winged Roc Clan prodigy, sending an intense shiver through him.
A radiant light burst forth from within him, manifesting as a golden mirror forged from precious bone—a rare, treasured spirit artifact.
This mirror wasn't just any spirit tool; it was an extraordinary shield, imbued with its own sentience to protect its master at will. No ordinary treasure, it had been gifted by an elder of his clan as a sacred guard.
With a sudden crash, the chaotic sword struck the bone mirror, sending ripples through the surrounding space as the two forces clashed, entangled in a deadly struggle.
Hummm! Hummm!
The bone mirror glowed fiercely, releasing dense arrays of golden runes that wrapped around the chaotic sword. Its power was immense, gradually eroding away the sword's chaotic energy.
The Golden-Winged Roc Clan prodigy, sensing a reprieve, snapped out of his daze, drenched in a cold sweat.
"Close call!" he muttered to himself, relief flooding his mind.
Yet, before he could even savor his narrow escape, a sharp, chilling sensation touched his forehead.
Slice!
Blood sprayed into the air as another sword pierced clean through his skull, bursting out between his brows.
"I don't need immortal blood, nor double-pupiled vision, or even the Supreme Bone to kill you."
Chu Wuchen's voice floated over, calm and untroubled.
Three of his most powerful abilities lay dormant, unused, as if this was nothing more than a warm-up. Chu Wuchen hadn't even unleashed the full potential of his refined abilities, yet he'd effortlessly crossed entire realms in strength.
For anyone else, this would be impossible. But if he couldn't achieve even this, his ten years of seclusion would've been meaningless.
The perfection in his foundation was flawless, perhaps even transcendent. This alone elevated him beyond the level of many so-called powerful prodigies by a margin that was almost unimaginable.
The Ninth Ancestor had poured immense resources into him—training, elixirs, and even immortal medicine. And it wasn't just the Ninth Ancestor; several other ancestors had secretly contributed to his development.
Even in the first two years of his life, his mother nourished him with her own power and immortal blood, while his father fought his way into forbidden lands to seize the life-sustaining Immortal Essence Liquid. Upon his birth, this essence had infused his entire being.
This monumental accumulation of strength was the reason behind such terrifying power.
The Golden-Winged Roc Clan prodigy, formidable as he was, was still but a shadow in comparison to Chu Wuchen. Among his clan, he was second only to the Little Roc King. Even beyond his clan, in ancient Daoist sects, he was a being revered as a son of the gods, or even a saint.
But even so, a chasm lay between him and Chu Wuchen—one that couldn't be crossed by natural talent alone.
One was a prodigious figure, a giant of his kind. But the other? Chu Wuchen was something altogether different, bordering on the forbidden. His innate qualities were unmatched; there were likely only a handful in the world who could rival him.
And this wasn't even his first life. Chu Wuchen had once risen from mediocrity, with near-zero resources, yet had reached heights others could only dream of. He wasn't simply a child of privilege relying on heritage and legacy.
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderous sound exploded in the sky above Chu Wuchen, as the remaining eight prodigies unleashed their divine techniques in unison. The heavens shuddered under the onslaught, as though they would crumble beneath the sheer force.
Six pairs of eyes locked on Chu Wuchen, while two among them sensed the fallen Golden-Winged Roc's demise.
Thud!
A deep, resonating crash followed as something massive struck the earth, sending fissures sprawling outward from the impact.
A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.
Their eyes widened in horror as they realized…
It was the fallen body of the Golden-Winged Roc, colossal as a mountain, sprawled lifeless on the ground.
It felt as if an immortal thunderbolt had struck, enveloping them in a grave silence, a daze clouding their minds.
As the chaotic energy dissipated, Chu Wuchen emerged unscathed from the battlefield.
He stood quietly, floating in the void, his long hair flowing gracefully, his features godlike and untainted by the dust of battle. The term "Heavenly Sovereign" seemed tailor-made for him, for he radiated an ethereal serenity that belied the clash that had just occurred.
Moments before, the Sword of Three Thousand Dao had converged into one chaotic blade. The remaining force had condensed into a protective aura, shielding Chu Wuchen.
Noticing the shock on his enemies' faces, Chu Wuchen's lips curled into a smile.
"Now," he said softly, "I think it's time to use my double-pupiled vision."
Boom! Boom!
As the words left his lips, his aura transformed. The calm in his gaze gave way as an intense, chaotic energy surged out of his double pupils like an unstoppable tide.
Within this chaos, visions of a shifting cosmos emerged.
His double-pupiled vision manifested six grand illusions: Creation and Destruction, the Shattering Stars, the Kingdoms of Three Thousand Gods, the Reverence of Divine Beings, the Dusk of the Saints, and the Sword of Heaven and Earth.
The scene was a chaotic whirlpool, like several worlds unfolding and evolving around him, an awe-inspiring display of power.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The six visions roared to life, each aimed in a different direction, striking with terrifying might. Each illusion expanded, covering vast areas, stretching hundreds of miles across the heavens.
The eight prodigies snapped from their trance, feeling the overwhelming, irresistible force approaching.
"Run! Quickly, run!" they cried out in terror.
Panic set in as they abandoned all thought of their earlier bravado, all hopes of taking down the double-pupiled warrior. Instead, survival was their only goal.
In an instant, every escape technique and life-saving talisman they possessed was activated. They held nothing back; the Golden-Winged Roc's grisly end had shattered any notion of restraint.
Despite his mighty defenses, the Golden-Winged Roc Clan prodigy had perished before he could even draw upon them. The eight had no desire to share his fate.
Yet, their desperation was of little consequence.
Chu Wuchen's smile turned cold, as though mocking their futile attempts to escape. He might not be able to stop all of them, but one thing was certain.
They wouldn't all make it out alive.
The hunt had begun.
Crack!
One prodigy held a jade talisman, preparing to shatter it. But a massive shadow loomed over him. A godlike phantom struck him with a punch, sending him flying, his jade talisman spiraling into the distance.
Boom!
Elsewhere, a similar scene played out.
Screeeech!
Terrified screams filled the air as the prodigies took on their true forms, scattering in all directions in frantic attempts to escape.
They reasoned that Chu Wuchen couldn't possibly pursue each of them individually; some were bound to escape.
Slash!
But as soon as that thought formed, one of their heads vanished in an explosion of blood.
A gigantic palm, infused with Supreme Bone energy, descended, obliterating everything in its path.
In one crushing blow, it shattered flesh, bone, and spirit.
Boom!
Meanwhile, another vision manifested—Heaven and Earth in one mighty sword stroke.
This was not merely a sword. It was an ancient mountain of divine power, crushing down with an unrelenting, tyrannical force.
Yet even in its brutish might, it carried the keen, piercing essence of a blade.
Long before it made contact, the Primordial Clan prodigy felt every bone in his body shatter in the face of its immense pressure.
Another life extinguished.
Beyond the Battlefield
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed across the world, like a divine hammer striking the souls of countless beings.
Eyes lifted to the heavens, filled with awe and disbelief.
The Heavenly Genius Rankings had just witnessed a monumental shift. The fifth-ranking name had vanished entirely.
It wasn't a mere drop in rank; the name had been erased altogether, signaling only one thing: Death.
The prodigy, who once ranked fifth, had been slain. Golden light shone across the rankings, illuminating a new name.
Chu Wuchen.
[Battle Power Ranking: Fifth Place]
[Name: Chu Wuchen]
[Strength: First Sequence]
[Realm: Soul Condensation Realm Out-of-Body State]
[Race: Human]
[Constitution: Double pupils, supreme bones]
Dual Pupils!!
Supreme Bone!!!
The crowd was left utterly speechless at the sight of these words.
"Am I seeing this right? Someone hit me—quick! I need to know I'm not dreaming!"
In the heart of a bustling city...
A young man was fervently urging those around him for reassurance. He seemed oblivious to his surroundings, his excitement overflowing. Instead of a light tap or a gentle nudge, he used his fists to hammer on the chests of his nearby companions, their faces growing more twisted with every blow.
"Did you see that? He has both the Dual Pupils and the Supreme Bone! This is insane!" he shouted, fists pounding with each exclamation, his voice trembling with a blend of disbelief and admiration.
Before he could continue, a figure beside him—short-tempered and visibly annoyed—threw a swift, decisive kick. Her boot landed squarely on his face, and the force was so powerful that it sent him soaring through the air.
"Get lost, you idiot!"