"Being the target of everyone's arrows? So be it. But as for the top spot on this list, I've already claimed it. The number one position — who else but me?"
Yi Tianxing stared at the list appearing on the Hongmeng Ten Thousand Spirits Ranking. He clearly understood that occupying the top spot was undoubtedly a provocation to all the myriad races of the heavens. If the human race's many powerful immortal sects and experts hadn't been sealed away, then even if they held the top spot, would they really fear anyone?
"No backing from any mighty experts, no extraordinary talent or physique, only an unyielding heart and indomitable will — carving a bloody path and forging a formidable reputation. When has the human race ever bowed its head? Today, as we take the top spot, from this day forth, the human race shall look down upon all other races. If you don't accept this, come and fight!!"
Each word was spoken with unwavering determination.
Top spot — so what if it made him the target of everyone's ire? In the end, it was just a matter of fighting. Besides, with Eternal Night still looming, even if all ganged up against them, they would need the capability for that. As long as the human race's pride remained unextinguished, even if slaughtered again, their flame would not die out, and their will would endure.
Without enduring storms and hardships, how could one become a truly strong race?
He wanted to tell everyone that even if the human race currently lacked the shelter of top-tier experts, and their starting point was indeed lower than other races, the one thing the humans had that others lacked was this relentless spirit of self-improvement — enough to make the human race stand tall once more among the strong.
"Brothers and sisters from all races, this is indeed an unexpected surprise. Who would have thought that the human race would top the list? But surprises exist everywhere in this world, and strength is always part of the unexpected. The Hongmeng Ten Thousand Spirits Ranking never errs — the human race is the current number one."
Xiaosa Ge smiled lightly. This was somewhat different from their earlier speculations.
"The Battlefield of Gods and Demons has only just opened. This is only a temporary top spot. Whether it can be held continuously depends on the future performance of each race," said Hei, his face stern as he spoke loudly. "Also, the activation of the Hongmeng Ranking means merit points exchange is officially open. The Divine and Demonic Treasury is accessible. On the battlefield, all cultivators can use merit points to exchange for treasures. Merit points spent on exchange will not count towards the race's total merit points, so feel free to redeem as much as you want. The treasury contains everything imaginable."
"I'm sure everyone already knows, once night falls on the battlefield, enemies will cross over from the Star Gates. These enemies look no different from the major races of the Eternal Continent on the surface, but they are all puppets — cannon fodder for Eternal Night. They have no compassion, no mercy — only desire for slaughter and destruction. They carry the aura of Eternal Night. These are the enemies you will face. The past few days are just the beginning. In the days ahead, you will face even harsher trials."
Xiaosa Ge spoke with passion.
"Eternal Night will not retreat in the coming days. There will be no safe zones on the battlefield. Killing will accompany eternity. Death will linger on the battlefield. I hope everyone is mentally prepared to face an even bloodier conflict."
Hei spoke coldly.
This is war — war never ceases.
"If anyone can destroy a Star Gate, they will receive one billion merit points. There are powerful humans capable of this — destroying one Star Gate is equivalent to closing one Eternal Night's entry point onto the battlefield. Taking down a fortress. Immense merit indeed. Everyone, keep fighting."
Xiaosa Ge smiled again.
"Also, with the opening of the Hongmeng Ten Thousand Spirits Ranking and securing the top spot, the reward granted by Heaven and Earth will fall directly to the human who contributed the most merit points. What exactly this is, neither of us knows. To that exceptional human, good luck."
Hei said coldly.
Flash!
A streak of purple-golden divine light flashed across the Hongmeng Ranking, transforming into a stream of light that fell toward where Yi Tianxing was standing, slicing through the void.
"Someone from the human race destroyed a Star Gate, and the divine light fell in that direction."
"Good, finally a target. I want to see who can accomplish this impossible feat. The human race may have climbed to the top, but they won't be afraid to fall — and fall hard."
Many who had been watching intently silently noted the direction and position of the falling light.
This must be where a human powerhouse resides.
That divine light should be a blessing sent by Heaven and Earth.
As for what it was, no one wasn't curious or excited.
At this moment, Yi Tianxing also saw the divine light falling from the Hongmeng Ranking. He felt no danger from it. He knew it must be the reward from Heaven and Earth. However, it didn't seem to be a tangible object but rather directly entered his body along with the divine light, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
In a flash, Yi Tianxing saw a mysterious strand of purple zi qi (purple energy) penetrate into his body.
"What is this?"
Yi Tianxing's heart trembled. Even if it was granted by Heaven and Earth, suddenly having something unknown enter his body was never good news — an instinctive resistance stirred inside him. Especially for cultivators, who had extremely strong control over their own bodies and minds.
No one could ignore a sudden mysterious force invading their body.
He quickly focused his mind inward and probed.
The moment he investigated, he immediately sensed a massive change inside his Divine Sea.
A strand of purple gas hovered above his Divine Sea, mingling with the countless mingqiao stars inside the Divine Sea's void. Under the light of the purple gas, they all shimmered with a faint purple hue.
"What is this purple qi? Why do I feel as if this purple qi contains the origin of all things, the ultimate truth of Heaven and Earth? It's as if I can glimpse the divine charm of the Great Dao within it."
Yi Tianxing's heart quivered. Though it was only a strand, upon seeing it, it was as if he saw the entire world, the boundless sea of Dao and laws. His entire spirit and will almost wanted to completely dive in and merge, bathing in the ocean of the laws.
"Hongmeng Purple Qi!!"
In a flash, a thought surged into Yi Tianxing's mind.
Hongmeng Purple Qi — it was indeed the legendary Hongmeng Purple Qi.
No matter how much he guessed, he had never expected that the reward from Heaven and Earth would be such an inconceivably supreme treasure. Of course, this was not a complete strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi, but only a fraction — roughly one-tenth.
But regardless of whether it was complete, Hongmeng Purple Qi is Hongmeng Purple Qi — the fundamental base of the Great Dao and the supreme carrier of the Dao itself.
Once obtained, the comprehension of the Dao could advance at an unprecedented speed — a ladder connecting one to the Dao's origin.
Its value could no longer be measured by mere wealth.
According to legend, ancient saints in myths only became supreme immortals, undying and invincible, because they obtained the full Hongmeng Purple Qi. But they possessed the complete strand, while what Yi Tianxing got was only one-tenth, only a part.
Such a supreme treasure would tempt even the mighty to personally intervene, crushing him to dust just to extract that one thread of Hongmeng Purple Qi.
"The matter of Hongmeng Purple Qi must never be leaked, not even a tiny bit. Once known, the entire Great Yi Dynasty could be easily destroyed and reduced to ruins."
Yi Tianxing almost immediately made this decision deep in his heart.
This kind of thing couldn't be told to wife or children — only he himself could know to truly ensure his survival. If it leaked, it would be fatal.
He silently thanked his luck that this thread of Hongmeng Purple Qi did not manifest before everyone's eyes, but directly entered his body. Otherwise, he would now have to consider whether to give up this treasure.
Not only he could not imagine it, but probably no one in the Battlefield of Gods and Demons, no matter which race, could have guessed that the reward for the one who opened the Hongmeng Ranking and took the top spot would be a thread of Hongmeng Purple Qi. If they knew, the entire battlefield would go mad.
Though incomplete, it was still Hongmeng Purple Qi.
After appearing above the Divine Sea, it naturally began to travel within the Divine Sea, continuously weaving in and out of each mingqiao star. It even appeared in the Fate Map — the Celestial Emperor's Dragon Map — sensing its power, the purple qi seemed joyful and satisfied.
It also passed through the Hongmeng Celestial Emperor Tower once.
It seemed equally delighted with the Tower.
Then it appeared again above the Divine Sea. The purple qi suddenly contracted and strangely transformed into a purple star, hanging in the void above the Divine Sea. Strands of purple starlight naturally spilled from this purple star.
As soon as the purple star condensed, it occupied the very center of the Divine Sea's void, like the lord of all stars, majestic and supremely honored to the utmost.
The scene was like the purple star being a great sun, while the surrounding mingqiao stars were ordinary stars, all paying homage and clustering around the purple star.
The entire Divine Sea was bathed in the starlight of the purple star.
A mystical transformation took place — the connection between each mingqiao star and the outside world instantly increased tenfold. The Dao rhythms and laws woven and derived on the stars accelerated by more than ten times.
Previously obscure and difficult-to-understand Dao rhythms and laws were now completely comprehensible, with the underlying principles clearly revealed.
It was as if, in an instant, the gateway to the source ocean of the Great Dao had been thrown wide open.
The growth rate of the origins of the mingqiao stars around his body also surged dramatically.
Bathed in the purple starlight, the Celestial Emperor's Dragon Map became even more refined, and the speed at which it derived the Heavenly Dao's rhythms and laws sharply increased.
There was even a vague sensation that it might soon crystallize directly into a scroll.
The Hongmeng Purple Qi was too extraordinary. At Yi Tianxing's current cultivation level, he could not fully refine it, even if it was only a tenth.
Yet, this strand of purple qi was evidently very satisfied with Yi Tianxing's body, as it spontaneously condensed into a purple star above the Divine Sea.
Its own star light enveloped the Divine Sea, tempering his body. Subtly and imperceptibly, the speed at which he comprehended the Dao rhythms and laws directly increased tenfold.
Of course, if fully refined, its effects would be even greater.
Still, news that his comprehension speed of the mingqiao origin laws had increased tenfold would surely attract countless powerful beings' attention.