Ch. 1490 - The Ancient Battlefield, The Contest Begins

The Solar Imperium had always kept a low profile.

Some said they were quietly gathering strength, but as long as no one provoked them, the Solar rarely took the initiative to cause trouble.

Within the borders governed by the Solar Imperium, the nation was prosperous and its people lived in peace. It was a true golden age, one of the few regions untouched by constant warfare.

So when people saw Li Guan of the Solar Imperium pass the trials and earn a place in the Radiant Court, few were surprised. The Solar had the power to do it.

Xu Zimo, on the other hand, watched the projection with interest.

The process of entering the Radiant Court was extremely complicated. One had to go through numerous trials testing mentality, strength, and even a bit of luck.

And the trials weren’t safe, far from it. A single mistake meant death without burial.

Even in the short time Xu Zimo had been watching, more than a dozen participants had already died inside.

He wasn’t too concerned about the details, though. His gaze swept across the six God Realms, pondering something.

The “betrayal” the Night Sovereign had mentioned, it must have referred to one of these six God Realms.

But which one, Xu Zimo didn’t know.

He glanced at the Fire God Race’s representatives and silently hoped it wasn’t the Chaos Fire God Realm. After all, he was fighting on its behalf.

Though many had joined the Radiant Court trial, the selection was fast and ruthless.

Those who failed were instantly eliminated. In the blink of an eye, most were either dead or disqualified.

Even those from the Ancient Eternal God Realm weren’t exceptions.

Nearly everyone under Lu Wuming’s command had been eliminated, though thankfully no one’s life was in danger.

“Isn’t that Song Wushuang from the Peerless Tower?”

“And that’s Bai Yu, the Moon Palace’s True Immortal.”

“These are all big names, people you almost never see in public. They’re all showing up today.”

“Look, that’s Wang Chong, the Overlord himself, he passed too!”

In the projection, nearly everyone who made it through the Radiant Court’s trials was a prodigy, young but already famous throughout the God Realms.

The six God Realms waited in tense silence.

One after another, names were announced. Many had thought earning one of the thirty-six spots would be nearly impossible, but they had underestimated the allure of the Ancestral Lands.

Even long-hidden geniuses came out from seclusion to compete.

In the end, the thirty-six finalists were decided faster than anyone expected. After a bloody contest that left millions dead or defeated, the thirty-six chosen ones finally emerged.

A tremendous force burst from the Radiant Court, expelling everyone else.

The crowd reappeared outside in the surrounding mountains.

What had been quiet only moments ago now erupted with noise and excitement.

Cheers, laughter, and murmurs filled the air, some rejoiced, others despaired. The factions of the chosen thirty-six celebrated, while the rest became nothing more than spectators.

A thunderous explosion echoed from the heavens.

The Light Lord Sage Monarch appeared again in the sky, accompanied by the elders of the Radiant Court.

“Light Lord Sage Monarch, now that the trials are over, can the duels begin?” Li Guan of the Solar Imperium was the first to speak.

“Of course,” said the Light Lord Sage Monarch with a wave of his hand. “That’s exactly why I’m here.”

A massive arena descended from the void.

It expanded instantly, growing thousands of times larger.

With a deafening crash, it struck the ground, shaking the earth and sending stones flying.

The arena split into several smaller ones, each like an ancient battlefield, vast and imposing, radiating an aura of age and history.

The ground was a grayish-brown hue, with faint streaks of dried crimson that hinted at ancient blood.

It was easy to imagine the wars that must have taken place there, battles so fierce that even after countless years, the bloodstains had not fully faded.

Standing before the ancient battlefields, one could almost hear the echo of ancient war horns.

Xu Zimo’s eardrums trembled. Even he felt a surge of awe, let alone the others around him.

“What is this?” someone whispered.

“Probably a remnant of some ancient relic,” another guessed.

“These are ancient battlefields, relics from the age of the ancients.”

“The ancient battlefields will serve as the stages for your duels,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch’s commanding voice boomed from the sky. “Anyone who wishes to challenge may step forward. No one may refuse. Refusal will be considered forfeiture of your spot. Each person has one chance to challenge.”

“That’s unfair,” said Du Bujie of the Vermilion Flame Region. “If those of us from the Six God Realms lose, we forfeit our places. But those with the thirty-six spots don’t lose theirs regardless of outcome. What’s the point of such a match?”

“Then why don’t you mention,” one of the Radiant Court elders retorted sharply, “that those thirty-six fought their way through the trials, while your Six God Realms were given your places for free? Do you think we don’t know some of you got in through connections? The Radiant Court is no place for mediocrity.”

At those words, Du Bujie’s face flushed with shame.

Indeed, with his strength alone, he had no right to enter the Ancestral Lands.

But his father was the Realm Lord of the Vermilion Flame God Realm, ruler of the entire Vermilion Flame Region, one of the six great overlords.

So he had used his influence to secure his son a spot.

He hadn’t expected the Radiant Court to set up such a trap, it was clearly designed to expose and target people like him.

“Who will go first?” the Light Lord Sage Monarch asked calmly, silencing the arguments.

Once again, Li Guan of the Solar Imperium stepped forward.

His gaze swept over the representatives of the Six God Realms.

For many, the pressure was immense.

Someone like Xu Zimo was utterly indifferent.

But those like Du Bujie were sweating, praying they wouldn’t be chosen.

“I challenge… Du Bujie of the Vermilion Flame Region,” Li Guan said.

Du Bujie’s face turned dark red, almost purple.

“If someone hands me a spot, why wouldn’t I take it?” Li Guan said with a grin.

“Don’t look down on me,” Du Bujie growled, stepping onto the ancient battlefield.

“Don’t worry,” Li Guan replied. “Even a lion uses its full strength to kill a rabbit. I understand that principle well. I’ll use my full power to crush you.”

The two of them entered the battlefield.

Li Guan stood tall and solemn, exuding the aura of a sovereign from ages past.

Though he had yet to inherit his empire’s throne, he already carried the bearing of a young emperor.

“I’ll let you strike first,” Li Guan said, gesturing for Du Bujie to begin.

“Kill!” Du Bujie roared.

A vast, oceanic surge of power erupted from his body, sweeping toward Li Guan like a tidal wave.

“Just entered the Grand Emperor Realm?” someone muttered when they sensed his aura, frowning slightly, even before Li Guan had made his move.

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