I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Before leaving, Su Yao stood on the city wall, watching Qin Yuan and the other two depart. Hong Yue beside her said, "Are you worried about him?" Su Yao replied, "He won't die. I'm worried about other women." Hong Yue was silent for a moment. "Are you afraid he'll be taken away by someone else?" Su Yao didn't answer.

Qin Yuan, Hong Yue, and Yue Yao crossed the "Gate of the Ancestral Domain" and arrived in the Chaos Ancestral Domain. The spiritual energy there was ten times denser than in the Heavenly Domain, and the lowest-ranking cultivators on the streets were all Void Sovereigns. Qin Yuan, a ninth-level Void God Emperor, stood out from the crowd, attracting the attention of passersby. A burly man at the second level of Void Sovereign blocked his way, mocking, "A Void God Emperor dares to come to the Chaos Ancestral Domain? Go back!" Qin Yuan drew his bone blade and decapitated the burly man in one swift motion, as clean and efficient as killing a chicken. The entire area fell silent; no one dared to underestimate Qin Yuan anymore. Yue Yao whispered, "You're always so direct." Qin Yuan replied, "Nonsense is a waste of time."

Ice Princess greeted them at the city gate, raised an eyebrow upon seeing the corpse on the ground. "You're still the same," Qin Yuan said. "Lead the way."

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion sits atop a suspended mountain peak in the center of the Chaos Ancestral Domain, its magnificent architecture enveloped in a misty aura. The Pavilion Master, the Heavenly Mystery Elder, a ninth-level Void Sovereign with white hair and beard, sits upon the main hall. He gazes at Qin Yuan with profound insight. "Your bone blade possesses the aura of an Origin God King and a Chaos Heavenly Monarch. Young man, your background is considerable. But in the Heavenly Pride Tournament, cultivation level is a fatal flaw." Qin Yuan replies, "Cultivation level doesn't represent everything."

The Celestial Mystery Elder smiled. "I admire your confidence. I agree to Ice Princess's recommendation. But you must pass the Celestial Mystery Pavilion's assessment." Qin Yuan asked what assessment. "Defeat Ice Princess. A true defeat, not just a friendly spar." Ice Princess's expression changed slightly. Qin Yuan looked at Ice Princess. "Alright."

Qin Yuan and Bing Ji clashed in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's martial arts arena. Bing Ji held nothing back, unleashing her full power. The aura of a sixth-level Void Sovereign caused the ground to crack, and the pillars around the arena hummed. She unleashed "Frost God Domain," transforming the entire arena into a frozen world, the temperature plummeting, and Qin Yuan's breath instantly froze into frost. Forty patterns on his bone blade lit up, forcibly boosting his cultivation by burning his lifespan, the golden light clashing with the ice.

Ice Princess unleashed a rain of icy blades, a devastating barrage. Qin Yuan sustained dozens of wounds, bleeding profusely. His left arm was pinned to the ground by the ice blades, and his right leg was frozen solid. He gritted his teeth, refusing to retreat. He used his bone blade to sever the ice blades from his left arm and freed his right leg. Ice Princess said, "Admit defeat. You can't beat me." Qin Yuan replied, "It's not over yet."

He suddenly abandoned his defense, letting the ice blade pierce his left shoulder. The ice blade went through his shoulder and embedded itself in the ground. Qin Yuan grabbed the ice blade that had pierced his shoulder, while the bone blade was held against Bing Ji's neck.

You lost.

Ice Princess was shocked. "You…"

Qin Yuan said, "Your cultivation is higher than mine, but your killing intent is not as strong as mine." Bing Ji withdrew her hand and remained silent for a moment. "I lost." Tianji Laoren clapped.

Qin Yuan passed the assessment. Bing Ji explained the rules of the Heavenly Pride Tournament: it was divided into two stages. The first stage was a free-for-all battle among 100 people, with the last ten entering the secret realm. The second stage was a competition within the secret realm, with the winner receiving the inheritance of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch. The minimum cultivation level for participants was the first level of the Void Sovereign, and the maximum was the seventh level. Qin Yuan was the only Void God Emperor among them.

"Can we team up in this free-for-all?" Qin Yuan asked. Bing Ji said, "Yes, but there can only be one winner." Qin Yuan nodded. Yue Yao said to him, "I can help you." Qin Yuan said, "You're not a participant, you can't go in. Wait for me outside." Bing Ji said, "I can team up with you." Qin Yuan looked at her. "Conditions?" Bing Ji said, "Give me a share of the inheritance." Qin Yuan said, "Deal."

Before the grand gathering, prodigies from all sides gathered at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Sword Domain Saintess Jian Wushuang, dressed in snow-white robes, carried a long sword on her back, her eyes sharp as swords. Demon Abyss Young Master Demon Prince, in black robes and black hair, with demonic markings on his face, exuded a chilling aura. Beast King, Young Master of Ten Thousand Beast Ridge, was burly and imposing, accompanied by a white tiger. Seeing Qin Yuan's low cultivation level, Jian Wushuang smiled contemptuously. "Even a Void God Emperor dares to participate in the Prodigy Gathering? Is the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion lacking in talent?" Qin Yuan remained silent. Demon Prince sneered. "Perhaps he was sent here to die." Beast King laughed heartily. Ice Princess's expression darkened slightly; she wanted to speak, but Qin Yuan stopped her.

"My cultivation level is low, but my blade is fast," Qin Yuan said. Jian Wushuang scoffed. "Stubborn to talk."

Qin Yuan turned and left. Bing Ji followed. "Aren't you angry?" Qin Yuan said, "What's there to be angry about? Killing them is better than saying anything."

On the eve of the grand tournament, the elites from all sides drank at a banquet. Jian Wushuang publicly challenged Qin Yuan, "Dare you challenge me to a duel?" Qin Yuan put down his wine cup. "How do you want to compete?" Jian Wushuang said, "No need for cultivation, just swordsmanship." Qin Yuan said, "I don't know how to use a sword, only a saber." Jian Wushuang said, "Same here."

The two entered the training ground. Qin Yuan wielded a bone blade, while Jian Wushuang used a longsword. They fought solely based on technique and physical strength, without channeling their inner energy. Jian Wushuang's swordsmanship was exquisite, his sword light weaving like silk, each strike carrying a magnificent arc. Qin Yuan's saber technique was simple and unadorned, yet every strike was deadly, wasting not an inch of strength. After a hundred moves, Qin Yuan's blade was pressed against Jian Wushuang's neck.

Jian Wushuang's face turned ashen. "You win," Qin Yuan said, sheathing his sword. "Your swordsmanship is flashy but impractical; you'll suffer in real combat." Jian Wushuang remained silent. Bing Ji watched from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips. Yue Yao said to Hong Yue, "He's offended another beauty." Hong Yue replied, "Haven't he offended enough beauties already?"

The Prodigy Tournament officially began. One hundred prodigies entered the massive, suspended arena, hovering in mid-air, surrounded by endless void. Qin Yuan stood in a corner, observing discreetly. A chaotic battle erupted on the arena, sword energy crisscrossing, palm strikes whistling. Jian Wushuang charged ahead, slaying several with his sword, his white robes stained with blood. The Demon Prince transformed into a shadowy figure, ambushing those who were alone, specifically targeting the weak. The Beast King, riding a white tiger, charged forward, unstoppable.

Qin Yuan didn't attack first, only dodging. Occasionally someone attacked him, he would swiftly and cleanly kill them with a single strike. He didn't use any unnecessary moves, nor wasted a single ounce of energy. Bing Ji moved closer, and the two stood back-to-back in defense. Bing Ji whispered, "Can you beat Jian Wushuang?" Qin Yuan replied, "Yes, I have." Bing Ji raised an eyebrow. "When?" Qin Yuan said, "Last night."

The number of people on the arena dwindled rapidly; in less than half an hour, only about thirty remained. Qin Yuan had already killed four, and Bing Ji had killed three. Jian Wushuang, covered in blood, looked at Qin Yuan with a complex expression. The Demon Prince also noticed Qin Yuan and sneered. "You've been hiding your strength quite well," Qin Yuan said expressionlessly. The arena was filled with killing intent; the next round of chaotic fighting was about to begin.

The number of people on the arena dwindled from one hundred to thirty. Blood stained every stone slab of the suspended arena, limbs and severed bodies lay scattered in the corners, and several severely wounded but not yet dead groaned. No one paid them any attention. The living only stared at those still standing. Jian Wushuang's white robes were stained with blood, her sword tip still dripping blood. Her gaze swept across the entire arena, finally settling on Qin Yuan. The Demon Prince's black robes were torn, revealing pale skin and black demonic markings beneath. His left arm had been slashed by Jian Wushuang, blood flowing down his wrist, but he hadn't bandaged it. The Beast King rode a white tiger, bits of flesh hanging from its claws, blood still clinging to its mouth. Bing Ji stood to Qin Yuan's left, her body shrouded in icy aura, her ice blade covered in frost. Qin Yuan stood beside her, his bone blade devoid of blood—his blade was too fast; the blood slipped off before it could even touch him.