With the prodigies of both Wantu Kingdom and Eastern Ling Country admitting defeat and withdrawing...

this Three-Country Prodigy Competition finally came to an end.

After the news spread completely...

within less than three days, the entire martial arts world of Mystic Moon Kingdom was invigorated, and the name of Young Lord Dongyang, Li Yun once again resounded through the skies, echoing across the twelve provinces of Mystic Moon Kingdom.

Zhao Ziyue gradually took control of the imperial court's situation and took the opportunity to issue a new decree in the name of the court, bestowing a new title upon Li Yun, changing 【Young Venerable of Dongyang】 to 【Young Venerable of Dongyang】.

Although there was only a one-word difference, the difference in nobility rank was as vast as heaven and earth.

The former was merely a province-level title that the Ye Huang had secured for Ye Li, while the latter was a true Dynasty-level Viscount!

This meant he had truly become a noble of Mystic Moon Kingdom!

Of course.

To this, Li Yun's reaction was merely a faint smile.

With the improvement of his own strength, such empty fame was no longer in his eyes; let alone just being the Young Venerable of Dongyang, even if the throne were offered to him directly, he might not necessarily accept it.

In his view, a Martial Artist should always be judged as a hero based on their strength.

Strength should be the eternal pursuit of a Martial Artist.

Everything else, as strength continues to rise, are things that can be easily obtained like taking something from a bag—insignificant.

After the competition ended.

He stayed in the royal palace for about half a month.

During this half-month, besides the first two days when he specifically summoned Evil Blade Supreme and Ye Tianxie to the palace to meet with Zhao Ziyue and catch up a bit, the rest of the time was basically spent on cultivation.

Utilizing the heavenly and earthly treasuress and the martial arts treasury within the Mystic Moon Kingdom royal palace, along with the Spirit Cocoon cultivation technique he had previously obtained through a trade with Daoist Yunxiao...

Li Yun focused on the Fusion of his cultivation and techniques.

Finally, he reached the Realm he had dreamed of... 【Host: Li Yun】

【Age: 17】

【Aptitude: Aperture Opening】

【Innate Divine Power: All Things Return to Origin, Listening Wind, Turning Willow】

【Physique: Willow Wood Spirit Body】

【Identity: Heavenly Martial Sect, Courtyard 95 of the Ren Branch Outer Sect Disciple, Deputy Hall Master of the Martial Arts Hall, Lingyun Pavilion disciple】

【Realm: Innate, Spirit Cocoon Fourteenth Layer (Super First-Grade Spiritual Power)】

【Spirit: Core Formation Realm (Early Stage)】

【Divine Ability: Rising Bright Moon from the Sea (Loading... 11.5%), Great Sun Illuminates a Thousand Autumns (Loading... 11.5%), Mountain and River Seal (Loading... 27.3%), Netherworld Subduing Demon Seal (Loading... 9.5%), Wail of the Dead (Loading... 51%), Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Sealing (Yellow Grade Middle Rank, Initial Success), Blazing Prairie (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Entry), Thunderbolt (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Entry), Ten Thousand Wood Cage (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Entry), Three Thousand Absolute Swords (Yellow Grade Low Rank, Entry)】

【Battle Skill: Black Tiger Battle Skill (Battle Soul Awakening)】

【Formation Dao: One Element Formation (Minor Achievement), Two Elements Formation (Proficient), Three Talents Formation (Proficient), Four Symbols Formation (Proficient), Five Elements Formation (Proficient)】

【Mental Secret Method: Sutra of Inaction (Initial Success)】

【Martial Arts: Primordial Chaos Art (Spirit Cocoon Realm), Immovable Wisdom King Sutra (Initial Success), Soul Cleansing Curse (Perfection), Demonic Infusion (Perfection)... Expandable!】

【Spirit Beast: Blackie, Xiao Qing】

【martial cognition points: 250 Billion】

Hard work pays off!

With just one more step, he could use his Super First-Grade Spiritual Power and the foundation of the Spirit Cocoon Fourteenth Layer to break into the Soaring Sky Realm.

This would be the final step for a Martial Artist to enter the Reaching Heaven Nine Realms.

For this step.

Li Yun had already prepared in advance, copying all the Soaring Sky Realm cultivation techniques available in the palace, totaling a staggering two hundred and seven.

Although their grades were uneven, one must realize that these were Soaring Sky Realm cultivation techniques.

Ordinary Martial Artists find it difficult to reach the Soaring Sky Realm in their entire lives; for many common Martial Artists, this Realm is the absolute peak, and techniques for this Realm are extremely rare.

Even in the Heavenly Martial Sect's Martial Arts Hall, Li Yun had only obtained fewer than twenty when he left.

It could only be said that the foundation of the Royal Zhao Clan was indeed quite substantial.

Beyond the reach of ordinary forces.

In addition, Zhao Ziyue had even secretly stolen two Inheritance divine abilities from the Royal Zhao Clan's Forbidden Land and personally handed them to Li Yun.

Unfortunately.

After staying in the palace for half a month, Li Yun no longer had any extra time to cultivation.

Because Old Daoist Wuchen had received a message from an old friend about an urgent matter to discuss, Li Yun was forced to end his seclusion and prepare to leave with him.

Before leaving.

Li Yun specifically sat down for a small gathering with Ye Tianxie and Zhao Ziyue once more.

That night.

No one used their cultivation, and relying on their true capacity, they all got drunk.

Seeming to know that Li Yun might not be able to return to Mystic Moon Kingdom very soon after this departure, both Ye Tianxie and Zhao Ziyue appeared particularly sorrowful.

They spoke all sorts of drunken nonsense.

Ye Tianxie had returned to his old self, boastfully claiming under the influence of alcohol that he would stay in Mystic Moon Kingdom to cultivation, so that one day when Li Yun returned, he could give him a good beating.

This provoked Li Yun, who in turn gave Ye Tianxie a black eye and a swollen face first.

Until Ye Tianxie fell asleep in a daze while hiccuping, Li Yun had someone escort Zhao Ziyue back to her room, then he himself swayed alone to meet with the King of Xuanyue, Zhao Wuji.

No one knew exactly what Li Yun said during his meeting with the King of Xuanyue.

But in any case.

Early the next morning, before Li Yun was to leave the palace with Old Daoist Wuchen, when Ye Tianxie and Zhao Ziyue came to see him off, the King of Xuanyue actually appeared as well.

He didn't say much.

He merely nodded to Li Yun from a distance, his expression being very indifferent and faintly relieved; all in all, he seemed much more relaxed than usual.

This made Zhao Ziyue, who had noticed the change in Zhao Wuji's expression, feel that it was somewhat unbelievable.

But she didn't say much either.

She simply stepped forward and hugged Li Yun, whispering in a sorrowful yet firm tone, "Like Zhang Ruohan, I know in my heart that we cannot keep up with your footsteps."

"In our eyes, you are like the legendary Nine Heavens Divine Dragon, destined to leave us sooner or later to soar across the vast skies."

"But we all know you will come back!"

"I will wait for you here in Mystic Moon Kingdom, whether it's for ten years or a hundred!"

Li Yun's heart trembled slightly.

Not knowing what to say, the words felt inappropriate as they reached his lips, and in the end, they could only turn into a lighthearted yet promise-like sentence.

"Yes, I will return. Mystic Moon Kingdom and the Eastern Cloud Continent are my home; sooner or later, I will return..."

Then.

Li Yun left.

Following behind Old Daoist Wuchen, he rose into the sky, turning into two streaks of light that rapidly disappeared from everyone's sight.

Zhao Ziyue gazed intently at the sky, unwilling to look away for a long time.

She only felt a sense of profound loss.

Li Yun's departure seemed to have taken her soul away with him.

Not far behind her.

Ye Tianxie shook his head and finally let out a long sigh.