The Prodigies War

Toady shivered uncomfortably under the stare and hurriedly said, "There’s nothing special about ancient-era talents. Compared to the current-era supreme path experts, they’ve spent a little more time building their foundations and are slightly better at wielding Grand Dao Power..."

Lin Xun's eyes glimmered as he stared at Toady and said, "There is no eternal life without first becoming a King expert. Yet, they are able to maintain a youthful form despite hibernating for countless years. Is that not special enough?"

A chill filled Toady. ''I’m warning you, don’t even think about it! I’d rather die than let you have your way with me!"

A'lu interjected this time, ''You're no celestial maiden or immortal fairy, so who would want to have their way with you? Then again, you are quite handsome and look better than some of the renowned beauties in this world."

At the end, he couldn’t help but grin lecherously.

Toady was so triggered that he nearly attacked the barbarian right there and then. There was nothing he hated more than having his looks compared with a woman's!

He sighed and said, "The lifespan of all beings is enslaved by the law of time. It is something no one can change unless they can somehow break the rules of time. However, it is almost impossible, and even Saint experts are unable to truly escape the shackles of time.

"Although the ancient-era talents are able to maintain their youthful potential, it isn’t that they’re powerful enough to escape the erosion of time. Instead, it is because they are specially preserved seeds!"

Lin Xun repeated, "Seeds?"

"Yes, it is possible to avoid the erosion of time by using an ultimate forbidden method to seal off one's potential, vitality, and power like a specially preserved seed. One only needs to unseal and plant the seed again for it to swiftly grow and bear fruit."

Worried that he would be dissected and studied by Lin Xun, Toady revealed everything he knew.

"However, not just anyone can become a seed!"

Toady’s expression turned solemn toward the end. "The world continues to move as the years pass. This is an unchanging law of the heavens. Even the mighty ancient orthodoxies are nothing but a drop of water in an ocean in the face of time.

"In order to avoid the erosion of time and preserve the seed so that it has a chance of awakening again, one would have to invest immeasurable resources and power, while also gambling on luck!

"If lucky, the seed will have a possibility of growing again.

"If unlucky, being preserved would equate to death!

"Due to these circumstances, only great sects and mighty orthodoxies possessing terrifying foundations have the capability of making the arrangements to preserve such seeds."

Lin Xun's heart shivered after hearing this. He asked, ''Doesn’t this mean that every ancient-era talent who managed to awaken has won the gamble? On the other hand, the other ancient-era talents who failed to reemerge will most likely never be seen again?"

Toady nodded. "Indeed."

Lin Xun pondered, ''Wouldn't that also make every ancient-era talent the strongest heaven pride of their respective faction?"

Toady nodded again. ''Preserving a seed requires tremendous resources and power. As far as I know, some ancient era factions have exhausted the power and resources of an entire clan just for the chance of a heaven pride awakening in the future great age. They basically gambled the entire future of the clan on a single individual!

"Under these circumstances, how can any of these preserved seeds be ordinary individuals? It can even be said that each of these preserved seeds possesses the foundation and qualifications to step into the Supreme King stage. They are in no way inferior to any of the current era’s supreme heaven prides and only lack an opportunity to become a King expert!"

Lin Xun completely understood. No wonder he had been regarded as one of these ancient-era talents. They were a group of the strongest heaven prides that the ancient factions had carefully selected and poured all of their resources into!

If there was a chance to become a Supreme King in the ancient era, these ancient-era talents would never have chosen to seal themselves away and bitterly wait for the great age.

"Uncountable years of waiting just for the great age...."

Lin Xun couldn't help but feel somewhat shocked.

For the very first time, he realized how cruel the path of cultivation was!

If you weren’t born at the right time, even the greatest talent and potential would be meaningless!

Fortunately, the current era supreme heaven prides were at least lucky that they were born in the era where the great age would arrive!

In addition, Lin Xun could roughly tell that there were differences between these ancient-era talents.

Some had been preserved since the ancient era and had been stuck in hibernation for a very long time.

Some had shorter hibernation periods like Chu Zhongtian, who rose to fame a thousand years ago.

This also meant that there were preserved seeds from different time periods reaching all the way back to the ancient era.

However, there were definitely not that many of them!

Like Toady had explained, a great price needed to be paid to preserve a seed. Moreover, it was a gamble that might not even work out.

"How strong are these ancient-era talents?" This was Lin Xun’s biggest concern.

Toady suddenly became arrogant. He disdainfully gazed at the sky and proudly said, "In terms of foundation, they’re probably all on a similar level to me. However, if we were to compare combat power, only a handful would be stronger than me."

Lin Xun asked, "How much is a handful?"

Toady faked a cough and said, "How would I know? It can't be that many anyways. After all, it’s very difficult to come across someone as superior as myself."

A'lu immediately showed his disdain, "This toad is good at bragging!"

"Get lost!" Toady was furious. The repulsive barbarian seemed to be constantly antagonizing him.

The two were at each other's throats again. However, Lin Xun paid no attention to them this time.

If the mysterious woman’s deduction was correct, there was at most a month until the arrival of the great age.

At that time, the Supreme Realm would surely appear!

Regardless of whether one was a supreme heaven pride from an orthodoxy of the current era, a peerless monster from the Hidden Holy Lands, or an ancient-era talent who had reemerged into the world, all of them were destined to enter the Supreme Realm for the sake of becoming a Supreme King expert.

As such, it was impossible to avoid the battle for supremacy among the world’s heaven prides!

The competition would definitely be far crueler and more frightening than anticipated!

Lin Xun muttered to himself, "It's time to look around in the outside world..."

He desired to learn more about the great age and what kind of shocking changes were occurring in the world.

Hmm?

Suddenly, Lin Xun's heart shook violently as joy surged in his eyes.

With a flip of his hand, the Nameless Pagoda appeared.

A slender figure stepped out amidst a peculiar rumbling sound.

Darkness akin to the eternal night filled the area around her, making her resemble a goddess who had walked out from the eternal night.

Xia Zhi!

All other thoughts vanished from Lin Xun's mind as his heart and eyes were drawn to her.

Like before, Xia Zhi was still wearing the same black cloak. The brim of her hat covered half of her face, revealing only her pale, cherry lips and a section of her white, delicate chin.

Unlike before, however, Xia Zhi had become taller again. The top of her head could now reach Lin Xun's ears.

In the lower plane, Xia Zhi was still a little girl.

When she awakened during the Dao Lantern Festival, she had become a beautiful young teenager. Although she had yet to mature, she was already showing the peerless beauty and charm of a young lady.

The Xia Zhi that appeared now was different again.

Her body was as graceful as a willow, and her waist was slender. Although her face was hidden by her hat, the outlines of her body were already displaying beauty that would take anyone’s breath away.

Gulp~ Gulp~

Both Toady’s and A'lu’s eyes were nearly popping from their sockets as they swallowed.

Xia Zhi’s black clothes were already on the smaller side and now appeared a little tight due to her growth.

It was especially bad at her thighs. Barely anything was covered, revealing a pair of slender, snow-white legs. Her skin was flawless and exuded a glossy, healthy glow.

Even Lin Xun felt his heart thumping loudly. The sight was simply too overwhelming.

However, his expression immediately darkened when he saw the mesmerized looks on Toady and A'lu, so he sent both of them flying with a vicious kick.

Next, he took out a set of his clothes and helped Xia Zhi tie them around her waist.

Lin Xun’s movements were smooth and without any hint of unnaturalness just like when he had helped the sleeping Xia Zhi pull up her blanket all those years ago in Feiyun Village.

It was as if he was oblivious to the fact that Xia Zhi was no longer the little girl from back then and they were in a completely different circumstance now.

However, Xia Zhi remained calm from start to end. Her clear eyes silently watched Lin Xun from under the brim of her hat with the same naturalness as all those years ago, without any hint of resistance or reluctance.

Soon, the clothes tied around her waist were just barely able to cover her fatally enticing legs.

Only then was Lin Xun satisfied. He got up and said, ''Let's make do with this for now. I’ll help you find some clothes that fit when I have time."

The clothes tied around her waist looked rather out of place. However, they seemed to give off a unique charm when paired with her perfect body.

Xia Zhi nodded.

Lin Xun slapped his forehead and said, ''Ah right, I didn't forget what you said and left you a ton of delicious food."

He quickly began to pull out foods such as roasted meat, various snacks, and even strange flowers and fruits. The foods were numerous in number and rich in variety.

While working, Lin Xun asked, ''Did you awaken because of the approaching great age?"

Xia Zhi answered with a hum and very naturally squatted down. She wrapped her arms around her knees and watched Lin Xun.

"I knew that this would happen. Several ancient-era talents have appeared and even Toady has woken up. It would be strange if you didn’t wake up as well. "

"By the way, do you want to come to the Supreme Realm with me? I heard that there are many sealed heaven-defying blessings inside. I’ll help you get whichever one you fancy."

The peaceful island was surrounded by the silver sea.

Lin Xun worked as he rambled on about various things.