Chapter 78: Illuminating the Heavens

At that moment, Lu Ye’s heart was remarkably calm.

If I attain it, I am fortunate. If I do not, it is fate.

To cross blades with the Eternal Heaven’s Chosen at this very moment—was a blessing in itself.

The light continued to climb, though its speed had clearly begun to slow. The top twenty were all titans—aside from those who had fallen prematurely, the rest were all Emperors at minimum.

As he watched the light leap past one name after another—

Lu Ye’s lips curved into a faint smile.

Back when I faced the Eternal Tribulation, all of you beat me down so viciously. Now it’s my turn to surpass you one by one, isn’t it?

Fifteenth!

Fourteenth!

Thirteenth!

All of First Heaven was utterly stunned.

It was still climbing?

Yue Hongling’s eyelids twitched wildly. No way... Why has Senior Brother become this strong after reincarnation?

Even with a rebirth, being able to climb from thirty-third to somewhere in the top twenty was already ridiculously exaggerated. And now—he was still rising?

"Master, how can Senior Brother’s rank rise so much?" Yue Hongling asked, unable to understand.

She, too, had reincarnated as a Great Emperor. Though there was indeed a realm gap between an Emperor and a Heavenly Lord, the improvement Lu Ye was displaying far exceeded anything she’d achieved.

Bai Qiulan’s expression was complicated.

She stared unblinking at the beam of light that continued to surge upward.

Why had Lu Ye become so powerful?

"Perfect Origin Core Pill," Bai Qiulan uttered those five words.

In his past life, Lu Ye had only formed a Sky-Grade Core—it had left serious flaws in his foundation.

Those who made the Eternal Heaven’s Chosen top thirty... no, even the top twenty—all of them had walked an utterly flawless path at every step.

For Lu Ye to reach thirty-third despite a flawed Origin Core said everything about how terrifyingly strong he already was.

Yue Hongling fell silent.

So... Lu Ye could’ve ranked higher in the past life, but because he gave her the Perfect Origin Core Pill, his placement dropped?

"A single Perfect Origin Core Pill isn’t enough to boost Senior Brother this far," Yue Hongling still resisted the idea.

Bai Qiulan’s gaze shifted toward her.

"The Silent Forest Battle."

Yue Hongling froze.

He was the Nine-Life Heavenly Lord—but last time, because of her, he’d already lost one of his lives. Compared to now, when his lives remained intact—there was no contest.

"I remember... when Lu Ye left his name on the Eternal Heaven’s Chosen Ranking in his past life, he wasn’t at full strength," Bai Qiulan added.

Yue Hongling...

That wasn’t her fault, okay—Senior Brother had been injured saving Vermilion Bird.

"So now, without us holding him back... he truly soars. No one can stop him anymore." Bai Qiulan sighed deeply.

Yue Hongling no longer had the slightest smile on her face.

Twelve!

Eleven!

When the beam of light reached rank eleven, the Invincible Sword Sovereign was automatically pushed back.

That peerless sword cultivator—had just been surpassed by Lu Ye.

The crowd erupted.

Truly—an uproar.

Lu Ye breaking into the top twenty had shocked everyone—but it was still digestible. After all, this was a one-man slaughterhouse. If he wasn’t that strong, how could he have wiped out the entire Heaven’s Chosen Ancient Battlefield?

But now—you’re telling me he’s entering the top ten?

Tenth!

The top ten names were cloaked in chaotic light. When Lu Ye’s gaze pierced through the haze, one ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) of the names emerged from the mist.

Cang Jiutian.

Honorific title: Great Sage of the Nine Heavens.

The very one who carved out the Nine Heavens, giving the weak a chance to breathe—an exalted sage of supreme virtue.

Before the Nine Heavens had been opened, what kind of world had this been?

The Human Sovereign Banners flew unchecked, blotting out the sun and sky. Tens of thousands, even millions of beings would be swept into the banners to be "guests."

The refinement of Purple Placenta Chariots had become commonplace.

Evil demons and wayward cultivators were endless in number, their growth frighteningly fast. Billions of living beings floated rootless like pond scum—not knowing if they would survive today, not knowing what tomorrow might bring.

You could devote yourself wholeheartedly to cultivating the Dao—only to step outside and be slaughtered by some devil cultivator who started far later than you.

They roared and howled, murdering and burning, flaunting their golden belts. Build a bridge? Die in a ditch.

“Fellow Daoist, help me attain the Dao!”

In such an atmosphere, it’s easy to imagine how absurd the world was.

Ordinary beings were on the brink of extinction.

It was under such conditions that the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens, after much sorrow and reflection, rose to become invincible, purging evil and cleansing the world—this is also how the Nine Heavens came to be.

He was a benevolent saint, admired by all living beings.

To this day, countless beings still offer incense in his name.

Lu Ye admired him as well.

But now, Lu Ye had taken his place, directly occupying the tenth spot.

It was at this very moment.

The illusory stone stele in the void erupted with unprecedented brilliance.

In that instant, countless shadows of the stele cast their light toward the heavens.

Second Heaven!

Third Heaven!

Fourth Heaven!

All the way up to the Ninth Heaven!

The Eternal Heaven’s Chosen Ranking was a chaos-grade treasure, possessing boundless power. Simply casting an illusory shadow across the Nine Heavens was a simple task.

But this shadow created an uproar across the realms.

"Heaven’s Chosen Stele? Someone has entered the top ten again?"

"Good, good, good! Looks like another great era is arriving. My path to becoming an Emperor is right before this person!"

"Father, what is this?"

"The Eternal Heaven’s Chosen Ranking records the greatest Chosen of all time. Anyone who makes it onto the list is an unparalleled genius, destined to become an Emperor, a Supreme Lord, or even a Saint. There’s more than one who will achieve this!"

"Where is it? I’ll go try it! With my strength, I’m sure I’ll make it to the top!"

"It’s in the First Heaven. You won’t be able to pass."

"Is there no way? This kind of momentum should be mine!"

"It’s set by the Saints, and it’s not easy."

The stele floated high in the Nine Heavens.

Under the gaze of thousands, the race for the rankings was far from over.

Lu Ye saw the ninth name on the stele.

Li Mo!

Also known as, Mo Sheng!

Ah, this was the strongest evil cultivator who had ascended through the darkest and most chaotic era.

One could say that the title of Mo Sheng was so prestigious, it was almost absurd.

Eighth.

Zhu Qing Shen.

Oh, so the Heartless Saint only ranks eighth, huh?

The deeper the love, the shorter its life. The more profound the feelings, the deeper the wounds.

Lu Ye couldn’t help but sigh when he saw that name.

The Heartless Dao, the Heartless Dao...

If Lu Ye weren’t such an optimistic person after all that had happened—betrayed by eight women he loved—he might have doubted himself as well.

As the saying goes, if one person betrays you, it’s their fault.

But if eight people betray you, perhaps it’s time to reflect on your own issues?

There’s a valid point in that.

Lu Ye didn’t argue against or agree with that kind of thinking.

No one is perfect, no saint is flawless.

There’s not always a right or wrong in this world—what matters is whether you stay true to your own heart.

To be honest, with those eight women...

If even one of them had truly cut off their love after being reborn and moved forward with determination, Lu Ye might not have grown so disgusted with them.

Of course, the premise was that they never came near him again.

Leave him be, stay far away, live a good life, and perhaps, they might create a dazzling future for themselves.

Wasn’t Shangguan Huanling trying to become independent and strong?

Her Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture was also the ultimate technique Lu Ye had derived for her based on the Swallowing Heaven True Scripture. If Shangguan Huanling could use her own strength to gain enough treasures and devour her own origin, she might truly be able to rise to the throne once again.

But of course, only if she could really pull it off.

Seventh place.

Yao!

This name didn’t even leave a personal mark, instead using the title "Yao."

A great Saint of the Demon Clan, Swallowing Heaven Mayfly?

As for this, Lu Ye couldn’t say for certain, but it didn’t matter. He’d never really cared much for demons or monsters.