One month had passed.
Under the efforts of the Gold-Devouring Mouse Race, the profound crystals covering the seventeen qi veins that belonged to Gongyi Tianheng were completely extracted. They acquired as many as 12.2 billion profound crystals, which greatly enriched the two’s private treasuries and public storehouses. At the same time, because the Gold-Devouring Mouse Race worked so hard, the rewards given to this race were increased by twenty percent.
Having obtained these benefits, it was only natural that the Gold-Devouring Mouse Race was incomparably happy.
During this period of time, several large organizations discovered the existence of the qi vein mine. The output of this mine was abundant, and numerous prodigies had fought in a chaotic melee here. In the end, the matter of the qi veins being divided up was also exposed in front of everyone.
In this respect, although the performances of many other prodigies were all worthy of praise, only some people were able to pull ahead to the front of the pack to surpass everyone else.
Five great prodigies had split up the qi vein mine!
The majority of prodigies dejectedly retreated with their feathers plucked, all of which adorned the wardrobes of other people.
And among these people, Tianheng’s name was the most dazzling.
Within the upper echelons of the large organizations, there were naturally pieces of information about Tianheng. It was just that their impression of Tianheng had been vague, and they couldn’t truly see his background clearly. They were only able to determine that he came across a few fortuitous encounters. As for his innate skills as an all-star prodigy, it was enough to shock countless people.
For this time’s prodigy competition, Tianheng obtained the most outstanding achievements. While it seemed he hadn’t exerted himself fully, he gained a fine outcome. However, no one would overlook him. It was because the strength he displayed while holding back already caused many prodigies to feel a sense of crisis.
This was especially the case for the few remaining prodigies. They deepened their vigilance against Tianheng one after another.
What left people even more astonished was the amount of qi veins Tianheng had seized during this struggle!
In the qi vein mine, there was a total of 520 to 530 qi veins. Among which, Tianheng single-handedly seized 162 qi veins. Indeed, this was too frightening! One ought to know that even if it was Tantai Lianxing and the other pinnacle prodigies, the Black Dragon Jades they seized were no more than eighty to ninety units each. Unexpectedly, Tianheng acquired twice as many as the other prodigies all by himself!
Considering the things Tianheng gained, there were many powerhouses who felt an envious surge of vinegar in their hearts. Although their apprentices and disciples were very strong, in terms of comprehensive qualities, they seemed to fall short of Tianheng.
Even without using one’s head, anyone would know that, with how many profound qi veins Tianheng brought back to Ten Ultimates Sect this time, the Blood Transformation Palace Master would certainly give him endless benefits and definitely wouldn’t let him work for free.
As a matter of fact, the Blood Transformation Palace Master’s written orders soon arrived.
Tianheng opened the letter to read it, and faintly chuckled.
Gu Zuo moved closer: “Big brother, what happened?”
Tianheng smiled and said: “I’ve been given one contribution point for every thirty meters of profound qi veins. All told, it isn’t very much, but it’s also enough to use for the time being.”
Afterwards, Gu Zuo, Tianheng, and the others didn’t go back to Hyssop Heart City. However, from a distant vantage point, they watched those dragon-like qi veins being herded like oxen and horses by several exceptional powerhouses with towering figures. The qi veins were drawn up into a spiraling formation as they soared into the sky. From there, they dashed straight into the void, and directly entered Ten Ultimates Sect!
This kind of mighty force, this kind of imperious air, left people with startled hearts and shocked souls. They were overwhelmed with emotions.
After that, Gu Zuo and Tianheng returned to their manor, and started another round of painstaking cultivation.
With new medicinal ingredients, Gu Zuo had many novel ideas to explore. Meanwhile, Tianheng swiftly entered secluded cultivation to absorb the Masculine Yang Clay. Within his five viscera, he smoothly established the five elements, forming a relatively complete cycle.
Once Tianheng came out of seclusion, the temperament of his entire person underwent another world-shaking change.
At this time, Gu Zuo had already been waiting outside the doors for a long while.
Gu Zuo only saw the stone doors open wide. From inside, a handsome young man with a slender build walked out. The temperament of this young man was originally as clear and bright as the moon, but when he emerged, it was like his entire body was draped in a mantle of malevolence. There was even a streak of hidden light that hurriedly flashed within his eyes.
It was like the bright moon had been covered with layers of thunderous clouds. The heavenly vault was completely shrouded from view. Yet, a beam of faint light pierced through these thunderous clouds, which brought to mind the graceful bearing and charm of the cold moon hanging high in the sky.
In short, the pure and bright moon had turned into the profound depths of the night.
This kind of thought silently appeared in Gu Zuo’s heart. After that, he shook his head, and went up to give a warm welcome: “Big brother, was the Masculine Yang Clay smoothly absorbed?”
It looked like big brother’s strength made a lot of progress?
Tianheng smiled: “Mid Atomic Realm.”
As it turned out, because the physical fitness of his Tiandu Body was always affected to a certain extent, even though he was stronger than the average prodigy, he still never unlocked the Tiandu Body’s true potential. Now that a small cycle of the five elements was set up, his body was basically ninety-nine percent recovered, and the suppressed potential was automatically restored. Hence, his strength instantly had a breakthrough from the low to mid Atomic Realm.
Gu Zuo smiled, and said: “Congratulations, big brother!”
It was just a pity that, if he himself wanted to break through from peak Immortal to the Atomic Realm, it wasn’t going to be that easy.
Tianheng ruffled Gu Zuo’s hair, but didn’t say much else.
Eventually, the two left this location for secluded cultivation. On the side, a battle slave swiftly flashed inside to clean up the room.
Gu Zuo tugged on Tianheng’s sleeve, but he was moved by Tianheng’s palm so that their fingers interlaced. His heart was filled with warmth. When he looked at the side profile of his dear big brother’s face, he realized that Tianheng’s temperament had also gradually returned to normal… Out of a sudden impulse, he stood on his tiptoes, and kissed Tianheng’s cheek.
Tianheng’s footsteps halted.
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes.
Tianheng raised an eyebrow. He lowered his head, and returned his own kiss to Gu Zuo’s cheek.
Although this method of kissing was like a dragonfly lightly touching the water’s surface, for some reason, Gu Zuo felt…
All of a sudden, he was a little embarrassed.
Just now, he shouldn’t have been so spontaneous!
Gu Zuo buried his face in his hands, and silently followed Tianheng up to the mountain peak. Without speaking, he sat down beside Tianheng… Finally, he opened his mouth, and changed the subject: “Right. Big brother, when you were in secluded cultivation, I made discreet inquiries for information about the Prodigy Monument.”
Tianheng restrained his laughter. He adjusted his thoughts, and asked: “Oh? What did you find out?”
Gu Zuo made a serious expression: “The Prodigy Monument is a prodigy power struggle.”
Tianheng: “…I’ll have to trouble Ah Zuo for a detailed explanation.”
In fact, from the words of Tantai Lianxing and the others, one could infer that the Prodigy Monument was classified as a battle for supremacy between prodigies. Gu Zuo’s words were unnecessarily obvious, but he didn’t bring this up just because he wanted to change the subject or to while the time away with his big brother. Of course, he really came over to tell Tianheng about what he learned.
The so-called Prodigy Monument was a stone tablet that was roughly three hundred meters tall. It had been handed down from ancient times until now, but it wasn’t known how many years had passed.
The stone tablet was extraordinarily hard. Someone once used a heaven-ranked spirit weapon to destroy it, but it was still left completely unharmed. People said that this stone tablet might’ve been an emperor weapon, but no one had been able to obtain any definite proof. At the very least, it was reported that the common characteristics of an emperor weapon weren’t displayed on this stone tablet.
The Prodigy Monument would activate once every fifty years. It called for all the prodigies in the world to come participate in a martial arts competition, and fight for the highest rankings. Though, this competition wasn’t fought in vain. It was said that every time a prodigy could get their name recorded on the Prodigy Monument, they could obtain a gift from the stone tablet. These gifts were random, but usually, anything gifted by the Prodigy Monument was precious enough to be exchanged for other good things or was something that perfectly suited the prodigy. In short, the gifts would never leave anyone disappointed.
In addition, the prodigy who obtained first place could raise a request to the Prodigy Monument, asking for whatever they urgently needed. For the prodigies who won first place over the years, so long as they had the qualifications, they either got something that satisfied them or they obtained clues to what they needed, which they could find by virtue of their own luck.
Not to mention that the battles of the Prodigy Monument were originally a great opportunity for many prodigies to showcase themselves and to face off against opponents of similar aptitudes, just the benefits were enough to cause numerous prodigies to scramble — If prodigies wanted to distinguish themselves all their lives, what they needed were usually things that were extremely precious, rarely seen, and difficult to obtain. Once someone claimed victory during the Prodigy Monument, there was a certain probability of obtaining those treasures. If they were able to directly claim first place, the Prodigy Monument would provide them with great help!
There were many times when martial artists wasted their lives struggling along for the sake of an uncertain hope. Now that a shortcut was arranged in front of them, how couldn’t they go and fight for that chance?
After finding this information about the Prodigy Monument, Gu Zuo’s first reaction was: They had to get the whereabouts of the Feminine Yin Clay!
Even if asking for the Feminine Yin Clay didn’t work, at least they could acquire another type of wondrous metal? At worst, they would have clues to follow. It was better for him and big brother to search purposefully than to wander around like headless houseflies.
After that, Gu Zuo inquired more carefully.
The Prodigy Monument’s requirements were divided into three stages: Immortal Realms, Atomic Realms, and Ascendant Realms. Generally speaking, everyone was divided into three fighting venues with one raised platform and one battlefield. However, the top ten of each realm were qualified to challenge the fighting venues of a higher realm. If any prodigies fought above their ranks, even if they only carved their names upon the stone tablet’s tail-end of that higher realm, it was enough to prove this disciple’s terrifying ability.
As for the ages of the competitors, it was even more stringent.
Only martial artists below forty years of age were qualified to participate in the Prodigy Monument. Even if they were a single second too old, they weren’t allowed!
T/N: Thanks for the correction, Charysa.
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