Qin Wentian’s Ambitions

Qin Wentian's Ambitions...

For Qin Wentian, these three months felt like an extended siesta.

In the midst of the ranking battle, he had achieved a breakthrough, ascending to the ninth level of Yuanfu. Through a series of fierce battles, his foundation at this level had become rock solid.

Now, another three months had elapsed, and the three Yuanfu receptacles within Qin Wentian's body were teeming with astral energy, nearly overflowing.

Qin Wentian lay sprawled on the arena platform, sleeping soundly. Above him, the radiant light emanating from the true spirit of the formation world bathed him in its gentle glow.

Hovering in mid-air, Little Rascal was present as well. Its golden coat shimmered as it chewed on something intently, appearing to feast on starlight. After its celestial banquet, it returned to the platform and nestled beside Qin Wentian, quietly keeping him company in slumber.

Despite the persistent purgatory flames that had engulfed the ancient kingdom, there were still pockets of respite where its occupants could find reprieve. Apart from Qin Wentian, his comrades were also immersed in their cultivation.

In their eyes, reaching the ninth level of Yuanfu was only the beginning.

At this moment, Qin Wentian stirred from his rest. He stretched lazily, his eyes brimming with warmth as he regarded the true spirit of the Vermilion Bird Formation.

"Little Rascal." At the sound of Qin Wentian's voice, Little Rascal bounded over and leaped into his arms. Qin Wentian hugged the furry companion and stroked its fur, chuckling. "You're never leaving my side, alright?"

"Yi yaya!" Little Rascal bobbed its head vigorously, drawing a fond smile from Qin Wentian. As he sat up, he assessed his body's condition. Three months of slumber had rejuvenated him completely.

"Wentian gege, you're awake!"

A melodious voice reached his ears, prompting Qin Wentian to turn toward it. A graceful figure approached.

"Silly girl, how's your cultivation progressing?" Qin Wentian inquired.

"It's going quite well. My Mandate of Sabre has already advanced to the second level, and I'm on the cusp of nurturing my Astral Nova. I'm about to break into the Heavenly Dipper Realm," Bai Qing replied, taking a seat beside Qin Wentian. Just like in their childhood, she enjoyed spending leisurely moments chatting with him.

That young girl from the past had been naive and carefree, with no concerns to weigh her down.

"Are you stocked up on enough Yuan Meteor Stones?" Qin Wentian inquired. Advancing to the Heavenly Dipper Realm was no easy feat; even prodigies required extensive preparations, including a substantial amount of Yuan Meteor Stones to condense their Astral Nova. Furthermore, breaking into the Heavenly Dipper Realm required that one's Mandate reached the second level, and their state of heart underwent an evolution. Failing in either of these prerequisites would hinder their breakthrough.

For those ranked on the Heavenly Fate Rankings, the numerous life-and-death battles they faced had already propelled their Mandates and mental states to the next level. As long as they reached the pinnacle of the ninth level of Yuanfu and had sufficient time and resources, stepping into the Heavenly Dipper Realm shouldn't pose a problem.

This was one of the key reasons why generations of geniuses vied for a place in the Heavenly Fate Rankings. Only by facing peers of similar caliber could they temper their hearts and willpower, stabilize their cultivation, and advance their Mandates.

Such trials improved their chances of successfully breaking through to the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

"Yeah, I've got enough from the spoils we found in those experts' interspatial rings," Bai Qing replied with a grin. "But here's the question: should I condense a single Astral Nova or all three at once?"

"Since all three of your Mandates are at the second level, you might as well condense all three Astral Novas simultaneously. It'll give you a significant combat boost when you enter the Heavenly Dipper Realm," Qin Wentian suggested, grinning.

"Exactly what I was thinking. But I wonder about the difficulty and whether the condensed Astral Novas will be powerful," Bai Qing mused, gazing at Qin Wentian. "Wentian gege, when are you planning to cross over? Your Astral Souls are so formidable; your condensed Novas would undoubtedly be far stronger than most."

"Yes, but the resources required for me to condense them would be considerable as well," Qin Wentian chuckled. The strength of the condensed Astral Nova depended on the power of one's Astral Souls.

If an Astral Nova formed from a 5th Heavenly Layer Astral Soul clashed with one created from a 1st Heavenly Layer Astral Soul, and both opponents were at the same level, the latter's Astral Nova might shatter with a single blow.

"I don't have a set timeframe; I'll break through when the moment feels right, and I'll start preparations then," Qin Wentian said, gazing at the sky. Entering the Heavenly Dipper Realm was a prolonged process, and cultivators usually sensed the right moment, significantly improving their chances of success.

"Bleh, you have to pick up the pace. Big Bro Chu Mang is already busy condensing his Astral Nova," Bai Qing teased, sticking out her tongue. Qin Wentian could only chuckle in response. Given Chu Mang's unwavering determination and the time he had spent at the ninth level of Yuanfu, it made perfect sense for him to be the first to step into the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

"Yeah, you too, right?" Qin Wentian playfully pinched Bai Qing's nose, earning an eye roll from her.

Bai Qing sighed as she gazed at the sky. "Time flies by so quickly. I still remember when you, Wentian gege, taught me how to connect with the constellations in the Heavenly Layers. And now, in the blink of an eye, we're condensing Astral Novas. We have to work hard together!"

She extended her little finger towards him.

Qin Wentian smiled and made a pinky promise. "Okay."

"I'm going to start my cultivation now," Bai Qing declared, her eyes filled with determination as she left. Despite the years that had passed, she was still the same adorable little girl in Qin Wentian's eyes.

"For myself and for all of you, I can't afford to slack off," Qin Wentian muttered to himself. He wasn't alone in this battle against the world; he had many companions who shared his fate.

He couldn't afford to stagnate.

"In the entire Heavenly Fate Rankings, I possess the most dazzling Astral Souls. Therefore, the Astral Novas I condense will be the most extraordinary," Qin Wentian thought, his eyes sharp. He closed them and assumed a cross-legged position. With a wave of his hand, an astronomical number of Yuan Meteor Stones emerged from his interspatial rings and surrounded him. The astral energy within them formed a radiant cocoon around him as he began absorbing them at an astonishing rate.

If anyone saw him now, they would be dumbfounded. Why did someone at the peak of Yuanfu need so many Yuan Meteor Stones to condense an Astral Nova? Even the most exceptional talents from the transcendent powers wouldn't have access to such vast resources from their clans.

But Qin Wentian wasn't interested in condensing ordinary Astral Novas. He aimed to convert this nearly inexhaustible astral energy into Divine Energy, using it to create a unique Astral Nova that would be entirely his own. The amount of resources gathered around him was tenfold, or even hundreds of times more than what others required to condense their Astral Novas.

...

As spring gave way to autumn, time proved itself the most relentless force in the world, never pausing for anyone.

In the blink of an eye, seven months passed since the conclusion of the Heavenly Fate Rankings. The Chen Clan's experts continued to surround the ancient kingdom, making sporadic attempts to breach the formation, only to be met with failure. Some had even been gravely injured, teetering on the brink of death. After these failed attempts, no one else dared to challenge the formation. But they hadn't given up; as long as Qin Wentian was alive, they couldn't rest easy.

This young man, supposed to have fallen in the ranking battle, had somehow summoned the Vermilion Bird Formation and concealed himself safely within it. Even the transcendent powers were helpless in the face of this situation.

As time flowed by, the chatter about the Heavenly Fate Rankings gradually dwindled into the background. However, there were still occasional wanderers who found their way to the ancient kingdom. Unfortunately, these visitors could only watch from a distance, unable to approach it. The Chen Clan had deployed a significant number of their experts in the vicinity, effectively sealing off all access points. Even a fly wouldn't slip past their vigilant watch.

They held steadfast to their belief that Qin Wentian couldn't remain hidden within forever.

Without interaction with the outside world, one's cultivation would inevitably reach a bottleneck. Even if they managed to break through to the Heavenly Dipper Realm, sooner or later, they would have to reemerge. And when they did, death would be the only fate awaiting them.

Chen Wang, after a narrow escape from death, had made a swift recovery and achieved a breakthrough to the Heavenly Dipper Realm. Even his shattered arm had been miraculously restored. His clash with Qin Wentian had mitigated some of the damage he received, leaving his arms salvageable.

But it wasn't just Chen Wang; several other survivors of the ranking battle had also successfully reached the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

The Heavenly Dipper Realm marked the beginning of a new journey, and they should have been looking ahead. However, they remained entangled in the past, unable to move forward—all because of Qin Wentian.

Numerous significant events had unfolded during the past six months.

For instance, in the Moon Continent, though the Star-Seizing Manor couldn't openly retaliate for Yang Fan's death, they managed to apply pressure on the White Deer Institute due to its close ties with Qin Wentian. After all, Qin Wentian had once been a member of the institute and had strong bonds with the Bailu siblings.

In response, the White Deer Institute, originally based in the eastern region, had to relocate due to mounting pressure.

In various regions across Grand Xia, particularly the Qing Continent, the feud between the Greencloud Pavilion and Nine Mystical Palace had escalated into full-scale warfare.

Moreover, the relationships among the other transcendent powers had grown increasingly strained, with sporadic skirmishes breaking out.

However, Qin Wentian remained oblivious to these unfolding events. He continued to recline on the arena platform, immersed in deep slumber, blissfully unaware of the world's transformations.

"How much time has passed?" Ouyang Kuangsheng inquired, casting a glance at the peacefully sleeping Qin Wentian as he turned to Fan Le.

"Nearly three months, and just look at the astronomical number of Yuan Meteor Stones he's been going through," Fan Le muttered in sheer astonishment. The radiance of the Yuan Meteor Stones was fading with each passing moment, yet the Astral Souls behind Qin Wentian blazed ever more brightly, radiating an intense aura. Faint, gushing sounds echoed from within Qin Wentian's Yuanfu, sending subtle shivers down their spines in awe.

"I wonder how much longer he'll need to complete his preparations."

This was the question weighing on the minds of Qin Wentian's companions. However, after some contemplation, they, too, decided to leave the area. Watching Qin Wentian's progress was fascinating, but they couldn't afford to neglect their own cultivation.