Translator: CinderTL
Second floor of the Penglai Heavenly Tower.
Cosmic Plaza.
Jiang Ye sat cross-legged as a vast, golden cosmic river poured down from above, as if being directly infused into his crown chakra.
This was Penglai's Gift!
"The Gift from the second floor of the Penglai Heavenly Tower is indeed far superior to the first," Jiang Ye mused inwardly.
He could feel it.
As the golden cosmic river cascaded down, the strength of his physical body and his life level were steadily ascending.
Moreover, Jiang Ye's physique was also gradually improving under Penglai's Gift.
"I'm now a High B-Tier Profound Physique."
"If I advance further, I'll reach A-Grade Profound Physique." Jiang Ye shook his head inwardly. "A single Penglai's Gift probably won't be enough for that."
The gap between A-Grade and B-Tier Profound Physiques was immense.
This was evident from the difference between Shi Ting and Tang Wuji.
Shi Ting, despite only having a Low A-Tier Profound Physique, far surpassed Tang Wuji, who possessed a B-Tier Profound Physique, in both cultivation realm and combat prowess.
Furthermore, geniuses with A-Grade Profound Physiques possessed innate abilities far superior to those with B-Tier Profound Physiques.
Fortunately, Jiang Ye didn't care about advancing his physique.
"This Penglai's Gift should boost my strength by at least thirty percent," Jiang Ye mused silently, sensing the surge of power.
That was more than enough.
A thirty percent increase in strength in such a short time was something even Primordial-Tier Cosmic Tempering couldn't achieve so quickly!
Time flowed by.
Half an hour later, Jiang Ye withdrew from the Penglai Heavenly Tower and returned to Villa No. 41 Estate.
He didn't bother with anything else.
Instead, he continued cultivating the White Dragon True God Manual, absorbing the Penglai's Gift while holding the Enlightenment Divine Jade in his mouth.
By nine o'clock that evening, a notification quietly flashed across his Battle Record Panel:
[White Dragon True God Manual (Upper Volume): Uninitiated (19%) → (20%)]
Jiang Ye ignored it and continued cultivating.
Another half-hour passed before he finally opened his eyes and ceased his True God Manual practice.
"Finally broke through the 20% barrier," Jiang Ye exhaled slowly.
Like other cultivation techniques, the White Dragon True God Manual became significantly more difficult to advance every 10% of progress.
The leap from 19% to 20% had proven to be a particularly challenging bottleneck.
Though not as formidable as a major bottleneck, it still trapped Jiang Ye for a full week.
The difficulty of cultivating the Third-Tier Civilization Inheritance had been evident from the very beginning.
"Fortunately, my progress has been remarkable," Jiang Ye said, clenching his fist.
After a moment of introspection, he sensed that his internal power had increased by another twenty to thirty percent.
Combined with the thirty percent boost from Penglai's Gift earlier that day, he had already improved his strength by over fifty percent in a single day!
Jiang Ye wasn't even sure how powerful he had become.
"The Genius Cup starts in two days," he mused, closing his eyes. "I won't be able to improve much more in that time." After a moment of contemplation, he decided, "I might as well head to the Independent Cosmos and try to break through to Cosmic Rank 2."
Zhu Honglie had once said that reaching Cosmic Rank 2 would put him on par with the top ten contenders in the Genius Cup.
Jiang Ye knew he already possessed that level of strength.
"Advancing to the second stage also comes with a 50 million federal currency reward from the school."
With that thought, Jiang Ye immediately opened his eyes, rose, and approached the virtual cockpit.
He entered the virtual cabin.
Beep! Consciousness connected.
Independent Cosmos, rest lounge.
Jiang Ye's figure materialized.
Simultaneously, his Battle Record Panel appeared before him:
Name: Jiang Ye
Tier: Cosmic Rank 1 (290/300)
Matches: 2,025
Win Rate: 59%
"My win rate has climbed from 50% to 59%," Jiang Ye murmured, a smile playing on his lips.
Under the Independent Cosmos's unique matchmaking system, such a significant increase in win rate within just two months spoke volumes.
Jiang Ye's skill far surpassed the average Cosmic Rank 1 player!
"Just a few more matches to reach Cosmic Rank 2," he thought, dismissing further contemplation. "Let's begin."
He pressed the matchmaking button.
Matchmaking initiated. Searching for an opponent.
Match found!
Whoosh! Jiang Ye's figure instantly transformed into a phantom, vanishing from the rest area.
As Jiang Ye began his ascent to Cosmic Rank 2...
At Penglai University, in the Earth District, within a secluded villa...
Zhao Qingli sat with her luminous white legs crossed, diligently practicing her cultivation.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed to life.
"Mom?" Zhao Qingli picked up the phone, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
After a moment's hesitation, she answered the call.
Beep. A mature, beautiful woman in a long cyan dress slowly materialized.
Though in her forties, she looked remarkably youthful, with fair, delicate skin and a mature figure that exuded a lingering charm.
This was Zhao Qingli's mother, Chen Qingyun.
"Qingli," Chen Qingyun said, her voice gentle as she looked at her daughter.
"Mom," Zhao Qingli replied, glancing at her mother. "What's wrong? Why are you calling so suddenly?"
"Don't play coy," Chen Qingyun said. "Your father has already told me everything. You can't possibly use that many cultivation resources on your own."
"Tell me, who did you sell them to?"
Zhao Qingli's heart skipped a beat.
However, she had anticipated this discovery, so she remained relatively calm.
"I sold them to a classmate," Zhao Qingli admitted truthfully.
"Qingli, you know those resources are meant for internal family use," Chen Qingyun said, her gaze fixed on her daughter. "In principle, they shouldn't be sold to outsiders. If word gets out, it could disrupt market prices."
Zhao Qingli looked away, murmuring softly, "I know, but he's my best friend."
"A good friend?" Chen Qingyun smiled. "A boy or a girl?"
"A boy," Zhao Qingli replied, as if worried her mother might disapprove. "He's the school's genius and will be competing in the Twenty-Five School Genius Cup soon. He has a real chance of winning."
"Genius Cup? Winning?"
"Is his name Jiang Ye?" Chen Qingyun raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Qingli blinked in surprise. "You know him?"
"How could I not? He's one of Ancheng's Reserve Star Professional Cadres," Chen Qingyun chuckled. "Have you forgotten what your mother does?"
"Oh right, you're the Star Practitioner Executive Officer," Zhao Qingli realized.
Chen Qingyun had been transferred from the Federation headquarters to Ancheng to serve as the highest-ranking executive officer of the Ancheng Star Practitioner Center.
If not for this, Zhao Qingli wouldn't have attended school in Ancheng.
Of course, another reason was her relatively low innate talent. Studying in East Sea Province would have been far too competitive. Ancheng offered a much more relaxed environment.
"If Jiang Ye truly wins the Genius Cup, that would be quite remarkable," Chen Qingyun said with a smile.
Noticing her mother's tone, Zhao Qingli couldn't help but ask, "Mom, do you think he has a good chance?"
"Not particularly."
"It's been a long time since a student from an ordinary family won the Twenty-Five School Genius Cup," Chen Qingyun said. "If Jiang Ye could break this pattern and win, it would be huge news."
Hearing this, Zhao Qingli realized the implications.
"If he wins, wouldn't Ancheng become famous too?" Zhao Qingli asked eagerly.
"Yes."
"But winning the Genius Cup must be incredibly difficult for Penglai University."
"In the past decade, Penglai University has won no more than three times," Chen Qingyun sighed. "But even snatching the championship from the ten great schools is considered a remarkable feat."
"Winning is that hard?" A hint of worry flashed across Zhao Qingli's delicate face.
She also hoped Jiang Ye would win.
If he did, it would be a great opportunity to promote Ancheng.
Ancheng's permanent Cosmic Void Passage needed more strong individuals to settle there. Otherwise, if the next Shadow Calamity struck, the city could suffer even greater losses.
"Enough about that," Chen Qingyun suddenly said. "You'll be back for Federal Memorial Day, won't you?"
"Yes," Zhao Qingli replied.
"Bring Jiang Ye to meet me then, okay?" Chen Qingyun smiled warmly.
"Huh?" Zhao Qingli froze, then whispered, "Mom, isn't this too soon?"
Meeting the parents already?
"What's wrong?"
"I wanted to talk to Jiang Ye about the Star Practitioner stuff," Chen Qingyun said, puzzled. "What's on your mind?"
"Um..."
"I get it! I'll bring him to meet you then!" Zhao Qingli hung up quickly.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Qingli covered her flushed face with both hands.
"So embarrassing!"
At that moment, Jiang Ye was in the Independent Cosmos, fighting his final Promotion Match to advance to the second stage.
On the Cosmic Arena:
Whoosh!
Clang! Clang! Jiang Ye, spear in hand, clashed fiercely with a black-haired youth.
The spear moved like lightning, its shadow splitting into countless afterimages.
Each afterimage left a sonic boom in its wake, its power capable of instantly killing any early-second breakthrough expert.
In a mere instant, Jiang Ye unleashed over a hundred such spear shadows.
The dense barrage of shadows, like a torrential downpour, enveloped his opponent.
"Such overwhelming power!" The black-haired youth's expression shifted slightly as he desperately parried.
Jiang Ye's own strength had reached the mid-second breakthrough stage.
Moreover, his opponent was no ordinary fighter. Judging by Jiang Ye's assessment, he possessed at least Dao Bone Aptitude, making him a genius among B-tier profound physiques!
"Ten moves," Jiang Ye murmured.
"You're the first to withstand ten of my attacks without falling," Jiang Ye said, his eyes fixed on his opponent, a hint of excitement flickering in his gaze. "As expected of a Promotion Match—the difficulty has skyrocketed."
"But this ends now."
Jiang Ye's spearmanship suddenly shifted.
As stellar energy surged, a tremendous pressure began to accumulate within his spear, building with astonishing speed.
In just one second, the pressure reached its peak.
Whoosh! Jiang Ye unleashed a sweeping strike.
The overwhelming pressure erupted in a blazing sea of solar energy, scorching and intense.
A massive, orange-red Great Sun rose slowly, engulfing the entire arena.
Great Sun Spear Technique, Fourth Ultimate Move: Sea-Burning!
The Great Sun exploded.
Boom! A terrifying wave of energy, like a nuclear bomb boiling the sea, detonated across the arena.
"This... this!" The black-haired youth stared in horror at the scene.
"A complete fourth-tier ultimate move?"
"Just because I've won five matches in a row, they pair me with this kind of opponent?" the black-haired youth roared inwardly. "Damn matchmaking system! I curse your ancestors!"
Boom!
As the black-haired youth's inner rage reached its peak, he was completely engulfed by sunlight.
Jiang Ye, Victory!
A notification flashed across the screen.
Yet the terrifying energy fluctuations on the arena persisted.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The terrifying force continued to erupt across the arena for over a hundred rounds before gradually subsiding.
A tall, spear-wielding figure stood proudly atop the arena.
"No wonder it's the fourth form of the ultimate move," Jiang Ye murmured, a smile playing on his lips. "This power rivals the late-second breakthrough stage, perhaps even its peak. If I fought Tang Wuji again now, he might not be able to suppress me."
Of course, he knew that while he had improved over the past two months, Tang Wuji had undoubtedly progressed as well.
But Jiang Ye was certain that his own growth had far surpassed his opponent's.
Penglai University, 2326th-grade student Jiang Ye
Congratulations on advancing to Cosmic Rank 2!
A system notification appeared.
"Second stage," Jiang Ye said with a smile, glancing at his Battle Record Panel.
Name: Jiang Ye
Tier: Second Stage (0/1000)
Matches: 2030
Win Rate: 60%
Reaching Cosmic Rank 2 during his freshman year wasn't just a symbolic milestone. It signified that Jiang Ye's strength and skill had already met the standards of his peers at the ten great schools!
He had truly stepped into the domain of geniuses!
Looking ahead, he saw only the most dazzling figures in the world.
"Keep challenging."
"I'll spend my time here until the Genius Cup begins," Jiang Ye said, his enthusiasm burning as he continued matchmaking while his skills were at their peak.
Time flowed by.
A day passed quickly.
In the virtual combat simulations, Jiang Ye fully converted the benefits of Penglai's Gift into his own combat prowess.
Penglai's Gift had elevated his life level.
Each time his life level increased, Jiang Ye needed to readjust to his enhanced abilities.
This ensured he could unleash his full combat potential at any moment.
Moreover, the Genius Cup was of paramount importance to Jiang Ye.
Therefore, he had to enter the global competition in peak condition.
April 20th, 7:00 AM.
Jiang Ye, Shen Changxi, Liu Wanxiao, Yun Qing'er, and six other contestants boarded Penglai's private jet bound for the Mountains and Rivers Secret Realm.
Elder Bai accompanied them on this journey.
"Let me reiterate the rules of the Mountains and Rivers Secret Realm," Elder Bai said slowly, his silver hair gleaming in the cabin light. "Upon entering, you will be teleported to random locations along the realm's periphery."
"Your objective is to reach the central area of the Mountains and Rivers Secret Realm—the ten highest mountain peaks—as quickly as possible."
"For the greatest treasures of the realm lie hidden within those ten peaks."
"If you happen to encounter each other, form alliances immediately," Elder Bai instructed. "You're all from the same university. Eliminate the others first."
The group nodded in agreement.
Jiang Ye suddenly asked, "Elder Bai, what are the requirements for advancing to the top 32?"
Only those who reached the top 32 would advance to the finals.
"A chaotic free-for-all," Elder Bai replied slowly. "Until only thirty-two remain. Those survivors advance."
Jiang Ye's expression tightened.
He now fully grasped the brutal reality of the competition.
At that moment, Liu Wanxiao raised his hand and asked, "This Mountains and Rivers Secret Realm isn't a virtual environment, is it?"
"A treasure trove of opportunity like this could never be a virtual environment," Elder Bai replied, shaking his head.
"Then won't there be heavy casualties by the end of the fighting?" Liu Wanxiao couldn't help but ask.
"Casualties are inevitable," Elder Bai said. "But the Federation isn't sitting idle. There will be protective measures in place."
"However, if you're strong enough, you won't need to worry about that."
Elder Bai scanned the group, his voice calm as he said, "My expectation for you ten is that every single one of you must strive to reach the finals!"
"Liu Wanxiao, secure a spot in the top sixteen."
"Shen Changxi and Yun Qing'er, reach the top eight."
"Jiang Ye..."
Elder Bai paused slightly.
The others' gazes sharpened as they turned to look at Jiang Ye.
"Jiang Ye, claim the championship!"
(End of the Chapter)
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