Chapter 79 - 1st Place

"A whole vial of Spirit Dew, and all I got was this tiny strand?"

Theo couldn’t help but laugh wryly... Now he finally understood the purpose of those fifteen meridians!

Without them working in unison to refine the earth vein essence, even this single wisp of energy would have been impossible to condense.

Raising a finger, the strand of energy manifested at his fingertip.

It held no heat. No discernible aura. With a flick, the wisp shot out the window, landing on the frozen stream. Miraculously, it began to burn.

The ice was ignited... Yet, it didn’t melt into water.

The flickering flames reflected in Theo’s widened eyes, mirroring his astonishment.

"If I do not recall it, it will keep burning like this."

"Until the entire stream is consumed."

"This energy does not just burn ice. It can even consume other elements."

A realization dawned upon him.

No other martial artist’s Inner Scenery energy could boast such an outrageous property.

At best, theirs might be tougher or more lethal.

But his? It could incinerate all things. Only a matter of time.

"So... how exactly did this energy fit inside my body?"

Theo had stumbled upon the critical question.

Well.

This could only be attributed to the wonders of his Abyssal Physique.

"Regardless, I have finally reached the Inner Scenery realm."

A weight lifted from Theo’s heart.

He still had several vials of Spirit Dew left.

Setting aside a few for emergencies, he decided to dedicate the rest to his cultivation.

Enough talk. Time to charge ahead.

...

Upstairs.

The room was suffused with a snowy hue. Every surface coated in frost.

The finely crafted bed had cracked under the extreme cold.

Liana’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.

A faint ripple of inner energy pulsed around her.

Even now, she was harnessing the restless Supreme Yin to cultivate.

The process was agonizing, but the rewards were immense.

The Aurora Spark. Supremely cold, supremely gentle.

While it withered all things, it also concealed the seeds of rebirth.

This was why her physique far surpassed others of her realm.

"The time should be about right."

Liana lifted her gaze to the bright moon hanging high in the sky.

Midnight.

Right on schedule, the system chimed with a notification.

[Scanning the Province to compile a list of all prodigies...]

[Conducting combat power comparisons for the host...]

The Heavenly Mandate performed both tasks simultaneously.

In truth, the list alone sufficed.

If her name topped it, nothing else needed to be said.

"Haah..."

A breath laced with ice crystals escaped her lips as a trace of focus settled on her jade-like features.

Not out of concern for her position, but curiosity.

Aside from Theo, would anyone else in this life defy her expectations?

And where would that youth, so different from his past incarnation, rank?

In the bone-chilling cold, time seemed to lose all meaning.

Ding.

[Initial ranking results announced.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 50th Place: Arthur.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 49th Place: Zhao Qin.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 30th Place: Kaelen.]

As the system’s words materialized line by line, Liana’s expression returned to its usual serenity.

The rankings did deviate slightly from her memories.

Arthur, Kaelen.

Coincidentally, both seemed acquainted with Theo.

His name hadn’t appeared yet.

Not surprising.

Theo’s blade arts had been learned from her, after all.

And today’s clash had even revealed something she hadn’t anticipated.

His rank would surely land within the top twenty.

The system’s announcements continued.

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 20th Place: Corey.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 19th Place: Mei Ziguang.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 14th Place: Luo Yu.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 13th Place: Zuo Qiuyang.]

Gradually, some names began to stir recognition in Liana’s mind.

Some had risen to prominence in the province in her past life. Others had ventured to the central domains, leaving their mark on the grand stage of the world.

Luo Yu, for instance, had led the Blazing Jade Forest to supremacy in the region after the decline of the Silent Thunder Sect.

Zuo Qiuyang had claimed victory in the Endless Trial, later becoming a dreaded assassin under the banner of the Shadow Syndicate.

All were figures of extraordinary talent.

As for the top ten? They were true dragons among men.

A thought flickered through Liana’s mind.

Theo’s absence meant only one thing.

He had broken into the top ten.

No, even higher.

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 5th Place: Zhong Zhenyue.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 4th Place: Han Zhen.]

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 3rd Place: Shang Li.]

At this, a rare trace of bewilderment flashed in Liana’s serene eyes.

These individuals had all carved their names into the annals of history, rising as titans amidst the tides of fate.

Shang Li, the last crown prince of a fallen dynasty, had wielded the remnants of his kingdom’s fortune to stage a dramatic resurgence.

Han Zhen was an enigma. His meteoric ascent and martial arts, seemingly out of sync with the current era, hinted at an inheritance from an ancient lineage.

For Theo to surpass them, placing only beneath her?

The thought had barely formed when. Liana’s mind froze.

Her tranquil eyes widened in shock.

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 2nd Place: Liana.]

She saw herself.

...

The vastness of the domains holds wonders beyond imagination.

Yet this was merely the ranking list of the province.

It excluded the capital, excluded those transcendent sects. It was but a fragment of the world.

For a moment, Liana’s mind was blank.

But.

The Heavenly Mandate would not pause for her bewilderment or confusion.

[Provincial Prodigy Ranking, 1st Place: Theo.]

The remaining characters silently appeared before her.

Theo?

The name reflected in Liana’s eyes, stirring a tempest within. Unbidden, her mind conjured images of the young man. His gentle demeanor, his busy figure in the kitchen, his words of trust on the sect’s peaks.

How could it be him? How could it possibly be him?!

True, Theo had changed from what she once knew. His temperament had softened, becoming as comforting as a spring breeze. His talent had soared, now worthy of discussing blade arts with her. He had even obtained some inheritance.

But... He had just lost to her today!