On the Vast Continent, the Southern Domain Prodigies Competition had begun.

Geniuses from across the Southern Domain gathered, including divine body prodigies who had already reached the peak of the Profound Connection realm despite their young age. War chariots pulled by exotic beasts arrived in droves, while strange phenomena flashed continuously across the sky. The powerful auras filling the air left Dongfang Yunxing's heart surging with excitement.

In the past three years, he had broken through to the eighth layer of the Spirit Soul realm not long ago. This placed him in the upper-middle tier of the competition, though he still fell slightly short compared to those monstrous divine body geniuses.

Dongfang Yunxing felt no fear—only intense excitement.

The Southern Domain Prodigies Competition was not merely a contest of martial prowess. Its true purpose was to suppress a seal containing lingering Ghost Clan souls and hunt them for Ghost Pearls. These pearls could greatly strengthen the soul force of Spirit Soul realm cultivators.

Dongfang Yunxing defeated numerous prodigies with ease and secured his qualification to enter the Ghost Clan Valley.

"There are still some hidden experts in the Southern Domain. Their methods are quite impressive," Su Chen remarked with mild surprise.

Suppressed beneath the depths of the secret realm in the valley was actually a Quasi-Emperor level Ghost Clan expert. In a small universe like this, a Quasi-Emperor was an absolute supreme powerhouse. To have sealed and continuously extracted his cultivation to nourish the world required the work of an extremely powerful figure—likely at least an alternative path Dao Achiever.

Although the Southern Domain was not the most barren region, it was far from prosperous. The many prodigies of the Southern Domain entered the secret realm one after another, and Dongfang Yunxing followed suit.

Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan had disguised himself and slipped into the secret realm among the crowd.

"Little Yunxing, this secret realm will not be peaceful," Su Chen's voice echoed in his mind.

Dongfang Yunxing wanted to ask for more details, but Su Chen spoke again. "Your master needs to rest a while longer. Everything will depend on you this time."

No matter how Dongfang Yunxing called out, there was no further response from the Heaven's Mandate Pearl.

He understood immediately. It was time for another test from his master.

Dongfang Yunxing silently swore that he would not disappoint Su Chen.

Once inside the secret realm, he began hunting the lingering Ghost Clan souls. The power contained within the Ghost Pearls was enormously beneficial for Spirit Soul realm cultivators. After persistent effort, his cultivation advanced to the ninth layer of Spirit Soul.

At the ninth layer of Spirit Soul, he was practically unmatched among his peers, except for a handful of true monsters. He continued gathering more resources.

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Through a fortunate encounter, Dongfang Yunxing seized a King-grade herb from other prodigies. The herb's power triggered his fourth Nirvana.

...

Chen Xuan entered the secret realm and immediately began a ruthless slaughter. Countless geniuses died at his hands.

"What worthless Southern Domain prodigies," Chen Xuan sneered. Compared to someone with a system like him, what did "genius" even mean?

After relentless hunting, he finally encountered the white-robed woman from before.

Lu Xuewei!

Lu Xuewei was at the eighth layer of Profound Connection, while Chen Xuan was only at the fifth. Yet he showed no fear. Her cultivation had been built through traditional training and was full of flaws. His own cultivation, however, had been directly granted by the system after completing missions—flawless and without foundation issues.

Moreover, Chen Xuan possessed system-bestowed supreme techniques that were instantly perfected, requiring no comprehension, along with an innate divine body.

Lu Xuewei was shocked to find herself outmatched. In just three years, this man had reached the fifth layer of Profound Connection!

She was heavily wounded by Chen Xuan. Just as he burst into triumphant laughter, his expression suddenly froze.

A dazzling sword light slashed toward him.

"It's you!"

Chen Xuan realized that the person rushing toward him was a handsome youth, completely different in appearance from the one he had encountered in the Great Wind Dynasty. Yet he would never mistake that aura.

Lu Xuewei was also surprised. The sudden arrival was none other than Dongfang Yunxing.

"Chen Xuan!"

Dongfang Yunxing's sword intent was cold and piercing. When enemies met, their eyes burned with hatred.

This time, Dongfang Yunxing did not hide his face. Chen Xuan found him somewhat familiar. A figure from his memories quickly overlapped with the youth before him.

"Dongfang Yunhai? No… Dongfang Yunhai is definitely dead! Who is Dongfang Yunhai to you?"

Chen Xuan suddenly remembered. He still had an unfinished mission—the last survivor of the Dongfang. That was a task worth four minor realms of cultivation.

After a brief moment of shock, he burst into wild laughter.

"Hahaha! The last survivor of the Dongfang! I searched for you for so long, and here you are, delivering yourself right to my door!"

Dongfang Yunxing, however, appeared far more mature and composed. He stared coldly at Chen Xuan.

Sword shadows condensed in the void, flickering with dark flames.

A heaven-shaking battle erupted.

Lu Xuewei watched the scene unfold, suspicion rising in her heart. She was a direct heir of a Sacred Land sect with unparalleled talent, yet Chen Xuan had defeated her in just three years. Now this youth—who had once shared a fleeting moment with her—displayed even more terrifying strength. He had only just entered the Profound Connection realm, yet he fought with the power of someone at its peak.

This was a battle to the death.

Chen Xuan discovered that the youth he had once been able to crush effortlessly could now fight him on equal footing. Three years ago, Dongfang Yunxing had only survived by ambushing him while he was heavily injured. Now, despite being at a lower cultivation level, he could match him blow for blow.

Chen Xuan wondered who the real cheater was here. He possessed a heaven-defying system!

Dongfang Yunxing's techniques were endless and varied. His martial skills and divine abilities were even more terrifying than the saint-grade ones Chen Xuan had received from the system.

Chen Xuan had to kill him. Ignoring the warnings of the Ghost Clan girl, he activated the trump card she had given him.

"That's the aura of a saint!" Su Chen exclaimed from within the Heaven's Mandate Pearl. Members of the Transmigrators Alliance truly lived up to their reputation as bearers of great destiny. They were genuinely difficult to kill before reaching the Emperor realm.

Su Chen slowly extended a finger inside the pearl. It touched the barrier, sending ripples across the surface.

In that instant, Chen Xuan felt an overwhelming terror descend upon him. An inescapable, suffocating pressure filled the air. He was certain he would die. But the feeling appeared and vanished as quickly as it had come. Chen Xuan thought it was merely an illusion.

Inside the Heaven's Mandate Pearl, Su Chen withdrew his finger and narrowed his eyes as he looked toward the sky above.

"A Ghost Clan aura… You come from the Ghost Clan outside this world?"

In the Southern Domain, a supreme expert had awakened.