Chapter 922: Heaven And Earth Returns To Nothingness, The Final Curtain (2)

No matter how slowly time passed, the thousand-year-long trial still eventually came to an end.

While the ten peerless geniuses were still in the midst of comprehending with all their might, as if they had forgotten the passing of time, waves of invisible fluctuations enveloped them simultaneously, and then they disappeared from those mysterious realms.

This also awakened Zhu Shan, Wu Yuan, and the other eight geniuses, who all understood that time was up. The Saintcrest Prodigies were about to be determined.

...

On the plaza where the top ten of the Heavenly Domain stage had been decided, jade platforms had been arranged in rows on the viewing stands. The geniuses who had been eliminated sat in lotus position on each platform.

Bai Shui, Inconstance, Zhuo Haiyue, Mu Long, and other Supreme Geniuses were all meditating quietly.

Of course. Many geniuses were also conversing with each other.

"The hundred-year time limit is almost up."

"Yes, according to the Heavenly Domain Emissary, the Saintcrest Prodigies would be selected from the top ten after a hundred years." Many geniuses communicated telepathically.

"It should be over soon."

"I wonder who will claim a Saintcrest."

"The first place will definitely be Zhu Shan."

"Is there even any question?" A hundred years passed by in the blink of an eye for these geniuses, and moreover, the cultivation environment of the Megaverse Crossroads was excellent, far from being a waste of time.

Hum~

An invisible fluctuation swept across the vast void, and eleven figures appeared simultaneously.

Ten figures stood on the plaza, while a single figure in white robes stood in the void. His gaze was vast and profound, sweeping over the geniuses on the viewing stands.

"They're out."

"Zhu Shan."

"Wu Yuan!”

“Ming Jian! And Lie Jin!" The viewing stands immediately erupted in excitement. Even the geniuses who had been meditating were quickly jolted awake by others, soon understanding what had happened. All eyes turned to the ten figures on the distant plaza.

"Why do I feel that their auras have changed?"

"They are different now."

"Perhaps they've obtained some great opportunity in the last hundred years."

"It must be extraordinary." The many geniuses communicated silently.

Those whose strengths were originally close to the top ten, such as Bai Shui, Inconstance, and Bai Lian, all felt this especially clearly. They had a vague feeling that the strength of the top ten participants seemed to have undergone a transformation. It was just difficult to tell how much stronger they had become.

All of them felt a twinge of regret. If they had broken into the top ten, they could have obtained such an opportunity as well.

"Who will it be?"

"The Saintcrest Prodigies?"

"Zhu Shan?" On the plaza, Zhu Shan, Wu Yuan, Lie Jin, Qin Yuan, and the other six peerless geniuses were also observing each other.

Another moment passed.

"This Megaverse Crossroads is about to end, and the Saintcrest Prodigies have been decided." The Heavenly Domain Emissary spoke slowly. His voice was indifferent, echoing through heaven and earth, yet also resonating in the depths of every genius's spirit.

There was silence.

Everyone, including Zhu Shan, Wu Yuan, and the other eight geniuses, couldn't help but look up. Already decided? Who could it be?

"First, I will bestow upon the top ten geniuses a Xiantian artifact each. These are Xiantian artifacts I have prepared after observing you, and they are compatible with your cultivation paths." The Heavenly Domain Emissary said calmly and waved his hand.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Whoosh! Balls of light descended before Zhu Shan, Wu Yuan, and the others. They shone brightly, their radiance blocking all Soul Will perception, preventing others from probing.

"Xiantian artifacts?"

"They're finally here." Even though Zhu Shan, Wu Yuan, and the others had all gained tremendous harvests, they still couldn't help but feel a flash of excitement. Before this, none of them had the qualifications to obtain ultimate treasures of this level.

"So those are Xiantian artifacts?"

"We can't sense them at all!"

"Perhaps the Heavenly Domain Emissary doesn't want us to see them." The thousands of geniuses on the viewing stands were all quite envious and even jealous.

"Put them away, you will only be able to wield them when you become sempiternal lifeforms." The Heavenly Domain Emissary looked down at the ten geniuses below.

"Yes. Thank you, Emissary." The ten geniuses quickly stored the balls of light into their amethyst cradles or internal shambhalas.

The rewards for the top ten had been bestowed.

“Now, I will announce the Saintcrest Prodigies.” The Heavenly Domain Emissary spoke slowly: "The first place in this Megaverse Crossroads, and also the First Saintcrest Prodigy."

There was silence as everyone held their breath.

Many heard the implication in the Heavenly Domain Emissary's words. The first? This meant that there would be more than one Saintcrest Prodigy in this Megaverse Crossroads. [1]

Though there were multiple Saintcrest Prodigies, a hierarchy still existed among them, with the first to be announced being the strongest of them.

"Zhu Shan," whispered an Eldritch Court genius, eyes gleaming with expectation.

"Ming Jian," Zhuo Haiyue murmured, her heart quietly yearning.

"Brother Wu Yuan," Yu Xiang inwardly rooted for Wu Yuan. [2]

"It must be Qin Yuan," another voice insisted.

"You Feng!" The thousands of assembled prodigies, each with their own allegiances, offered silent prayers and fervent wishes.

Of course, in the minds of most, Zhu Shan remained the overwhelming favorite for the First Saintcrest. His power was simply unmatched.

"Wu Yuan, congratulations!" The Heavenly Domain Emissary's gaze turned to him.

Boom!

Tendrils of violet light burst into existence around Wu Yuan, enveloping him in a radiant cocoon. At that moment, Wu Yuan became the focal point of the entire heaven and earth, drawing every eye.

"Wu Yuan!"

"It's Wu Yuan!"

"It's Wu Yuan! Our Eldritch Court's Wu Yuan!"

"The First Saintcrest!"

"The strongest Saintcrest Prodigy."

"Ha ha, he's one of ours!" The entire viewing platform erupted in jubilation, with the hundreds of Eldritch Court geniuses leaping to their feet in unbridled excitement.

Though Zhu Shan hadn't claimed the top spot, Wu Yuan was still one of their own. His triumph was a victory for all of the Eldritch Court, igniting fierce pride in their hearts.

Wu Yuan? I suppose that's acceptable.

Zhuo Haiyue sighed inwardly.

Wu Yuan, my disciple, has not only attained a Saintcrest, but the First Saintcrest?

High Immortal Dong Yang's eyes widened in shock. Though he had held high hopes, the reality of this moment left him trembling with elation.

"Wu Yuan."

"Him?" You Feng, Qin Yuan, Yan Xiao, and the other top ten prodigies turned to regard Wu Yuan, their gazes a complex mixture of emotions.

The First Saintcrest?

Wu Yuan himself remained remarkably composed. This outcome was within his expectations.

If one met the requirements for a first-grade Saintcrest, all participants would receive a notification. Since there was only one notification made throughout the trial, it could only mean that he alone had met the requirements. Naturally, this positioned him as the First Saintcrest Prodigy.

"Congratulations, Wu Yuan." Zhu Shan's voice rumbled like distant thunder, a smile gracing his features without a hint of disappointment. It was as if he had anticipated this very outcome.

"Congratulations," Lie Jin echoed, his own smile genuine.

"Mere chance," Wu Yuan replied with a humble chuckle. Though they competed fiercely amongst themselves, the Eldritch Court stood united in the face of outsiders.

Witnessing this exchange, the Eldritch Court geniuses on the distant viewing platform felt their grins widen even further.

"Zhu Shan and Lie Jin don't seem surprised at all."

Did they both expect this?

The thought flickered through Wu Yuan's mind.

Could it be that they both met the Saintcrest requirements as well?

If one had achieved the Saintcrest requirements and understood the three-stage system, they would have known their relative standing during the trial itself.

Zhu Shan reaching the third-grade Saintcrest requirements was unsurprising, but Lie Jin?

Time flowed onward.

The murmurs of discussion gradually subsided.

"The second place in this Megaverse Crossroads, and the Second Saintcrest Prodigy." The Heavenly Domain Emissary's voice remained impassive, yet it instantly silenced the entire plaza.

All eyes turned expectantly towards him.

"Zhu Shan!" The Emissary's pronouncement surprised no one.

Boom!

Purple light erupted around Zhu Shan, its radiance only slightly dimmer than the previous light that had surrounded Wu Yuan.

In an instant, every gaze in the vast gathering focused intently upon Zhu Shan.

"Zhu Shan!"

"As expected, haha!"

"Both the First and Second Saintcrests belong to our Eldritch Court." The Eldritch Court geniuses grew even more ecstatic, while the vast majority of other prodigies nodded as if this outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Zhu Shan's might was simply overwhelming; him coming in second place was astonishing enough.

"Both Saintcrest Prodigies are from the Eldritch Court?"

"This..." Even though they had anticipated it, the Immortal Court geniuses couldn't help but feel a surge of reluctant resentment, yet there was nothing they could do.

This round of discussion quieted far more swiftly than the last.

"It's not over yet?"

"Could there be a third?"

"Is it possible that we'll see three Saintcrest Prodigies this time?" A glimmer of shock flashed through the eyes of countless prodigies. The emergence of three Saintcrest Prodigies was an exceedingly rare occurrence.

"This Megaverse Crossroads has indeed proven extraordinary, with a surge of talent," the Heavenly Domain Emissary intoned solemnly. "In truth, among the top ten prodigies, five have met the Saintcrest requirements."

"What?"

"Five? There are actually five?"

"So many." Every prodigy present was thunderstruck, including Zhu Shan and Wu Yuan, whose faces betrayed a flicker of astonishment.

"However, the Heavenly Domain has its rules. Each Megaverse Crossroads may produce no more than three Saintcrest Prodigies." The Emissary's gaze swept across the assembled multitudes. "Therefore, the third-ranked individual in this Megaverse Crossroads shall be the third and final Saintcrest Prodigy."

A hush fell over the gathering.

Lie Jin's eyes blazed with longing, his confidence absolute.

Qin Yuan's gaze, too, brimmed with boundless desire.

Both of them had met the Saintcrest requirements.

Meanwhile, the thousands of other prodigies silently prayed and speculated.

"Ming Jian!" The Heavenly Domain Emissary finally uttered.

Boom~

Coils of purple radiance instantly materialized around Ming Jian, bathing him in a dazzling, ethereal glow.

"Ming Jian."

"Not Lie Jin or You Feng, not even Qin Yuan, but Ming Jian!"

"Who would have thought it would be Ming Jian?"

"It's not entirely surprising; his talent and strength are formidable as well."

"Ming Jian of the Taiyuan Divine Court." At once, all eyes converged upon Ming Jian, filled with shock, curiosity, admiration, and even envy. A kaleidoscope of emotions.

Unlike Zhu Shan and Wu Yuan, whose reputations had long since reached mythic proportions, Ming Jian's fame and perceived strength had been somewhat less overwhelming.

Ming Jian!

Zhuo Haiyue's eyes sparkled with joy, a smile blossoming across her face.

My disciple...

High Immortal Dong Yang nearly leapt from his seat, his eyes as wide as saucers.

This...! Two true selves, two Saintcrests? And one of them claimed the First Saintcrest?

High Immortal Dong Yang's heart skipped a beat, scarcely able to believe it.

"The three Saintcrest Prodigies have all been determined. I hereby declare this Megaverse Crossroads concluded!" The Heavenly Domain Emissary's voice resonated with finality.

"Return to your homes, and may some among you rise to become supreme existences in the eons to come."

Before the myriad prodigies could react, an invisible wave swept across the plaza and the viewing platform. In an instant, the thousands of geniuses vanished, each returning to their respective universes.

News of the Saintcrest Prodigies was destined to spread like wildfire throughout the entire megaverse.

1. In Chinese, there is no differentiation between plural and singular when he says Saintcrest Prodigy/Prodigies. ☜

2. since when were you two bros??? ☜