Great Sage

Chapter 116

After several months of tireless effort—by the peak lords, Uncle-Master Yunyangzi, and the entire Luoxian Sect’s disciples—Han Luo finally had it.

Finally.

At long last.

The materials required to refine four supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pills had been gathered.

Originally, he had planned to wait until he could collect enough ingredients to craft ten pills in one batch. But the materials were simply too rare and difficult to source, and based on his ten-year plan, he urgently needed to enter the Foundation Establishment stage.

Delaying even one or two more years would throw off his entire schedule.

So despite knowing that his success rate had dropped slightly to ninety-eight percent, he decided to forge ahead with the four pills now rather than risk further delays.

—

Inside a pristine and orderly alchemy chamber, Han Luo washed his hands thoroughly and began the refining process. Thanks to his prior rounds of practice, he had already become proficient in producing high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills from ordinary herbs.

He was confident.

After all, he was no stranger to successfully refining supreme-grade pills in the past.

Still, caution first.

He began with a few warm-up batches using regular herbs—getting his hands steady and the furnace warmed up. The results were excellent.

Only then did he take out the treasured ingredients required for the supreme-grade pills and officially begin the main process.

Before he started, he snapped his fingers—snap!—and activated the Tenfold World domain.

The chamber instantly transformed into a land of blazing fire: molten ground cracked like parched skin, burning ancient trees crackled in the distance, and thick magma surged from below. Fire-elemental spiritual energy filled the air.

Perfect.

Han Luo was quite satisfied. This environment would intensify the pill flames and boost the efficiency of refining the herbs.

He waved his hand, and his bronze ring flashed. A bronze cauldron appeared before him.

With meticulous precision, he added each ingredient in its proper ratio.

Alchemy was a tedious and demanding process—but Han Luo had always been the patient type. He never rushed, and he never skipped steps.

He ignited his spiritual fire from within, beginning the refining phase.

It all went smoothly—he was already very familiar with these ingredients. The only real difference between a high-grade and supreme-grade Foundation Pill was the age of the herbs. These were several times more potent, but structurally identical.

After refining the ingredients nine full times, he transitioned into the fusion stage.

But as time passed, he began to feel... strained.

This was the first time he had ever struggled during alchemy.

No matter what he'd refined before, no matter how long it took, he had never felt this level of pressure.

So this was the true difficulty of a supreme-grade Foundation Pill...

He closed his eyes and visualized the mental image of the Ancient Jade Visualization Method—a technique he had practiced for an hour daily ever since he discovered it.

Without it, he wouldn’t have dared to attempt such a pill at all.

Then he altered the Tenfold World, changing the hellish landscape to a calm, lush valley with rustling trees and gentle breezes.

Now seated on soft grass in a serene glade, he continued guiding the process. Under such conditions, the success rate for supreme pills improved significantly—by nearly ten percent.

But he wasn’t done yet.

To ensure the spiritual energy wouldn’t fall short during the final condensation phase, he activated a Spirit-Gathering Formation, pulling in rich qi from the surrounding air.

And just in case...

A chain reaction of formations activated:
– Soundproofing formations to block out noise
– Cushion formations to absorb tremors
– Mental shielding formations to prevent spiritual interference
– Dehumidifiers to keep moisture away
– Humidity balancers to avoid over-dryness

...More than dozens of formations, each dedicated to protecting the alchemy chamber.

And each formation had three backups.

If even a thread of instability occurred, the malfunctioning formation would instantly be redirected into a separate space for destruction, while the backup seamlessly took over.

With the Ancient Jade Visualization, Tenfold World, and all those defensive arrays working together, Han Luo finally felt some relief.

Inside the cauldron, the various energies began to coalesce. At last—after a gradual fusion process—the pill began to form.

A small, round pill, about the size of a fingertip, emerged, glistening with rich spiritual light.

As the critical point approached, Han Luo moved decisively.

"Release!"

He flicked two fingers upward. The cauldron lid lifted with a metallic hum, and a brilliant rainbow-hued pill shot into the air.

As expected of a supreme-grade pill—it had developed a will of its own and tried to escape.

“So naughty,” Han Luo chuckled, raising his fingers.

The pill danced in circles around the room, then obediently landed between his thumb and index finger.

He could feel the warmth.

This was the exact sensation he wanted.

The supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pill—complete.

He snapped his fingers again. Snap! The Tenfold World faded, and the alchemy chamber returned to its normal state.

With the pill in hand, he walked to a secluded chamber designed for breakthroughs.

“Jiutong!”

The loyal dog appeared instantly.

Han Luo fed Jiutong the pill, then took out his notebook, carefully observing and recording every change.

Jiutong, ever the professional test subject, immediately sat cross-legged on a cushion, palms up, and activated the Luoxian Technique like a proper cultivator.

Though a dog by birth, Jiutong had long served as Han Luo’s trusted assistant for experimental pills. And while there were risks, the benefits he’d gained were enormous.

He had been nothing more than a regular mutt with barely twenty years of lifespan.

Now?

A nine-time refined spiritual beast, a true anomaly.

Even though Han Luo would continue to test all kinds of experimental pills, talismans, and formations on him, it was still far safer than the brutal cultivation paths of ordinary disciples.

After taking the supreme pill, Jiutong entered Foundation Establishment.

Han Luo activated Tenfold World again, this time creating an earth-elemental domain, perfect for Jiutong’s breakthrough.

In this realm, all spiritual qi turned to earth-type energy, ideal for tempering Jiutong’s body.

Unlike demonic beasts, who cultivated via beast cores and physical strengthening, spiritual beasts practiced human cultivation methods. In ancient times, these two branches had split—demonic beasts faded, while spiritual beasts survived by adapting.

As Jiutong pushed through the five meridians, Han Luo watched with keen interest.

He had to admit: this silly dog’s talent was no joke.

Han Luo had spied on thousands of Foundation breakthroughs using his Bronze Mirror, observing every cultivator in the sect—Li Jun, Chi Xiao, Wang Huan, Xiao Long…

From all those observations, he’d compiled a master guide of tips and tricks, which he taught to Jiutong.

Now Jiutong applied them flawlessly in battle—no, in cultivation.

Though he was still a notch below Han Luo himself, Jiutong could easily crush the rest of the current generation.

Not bad at all. Han Luo was proud.

This dog truly deserved all those rare spirit herbs he’d fed him over the years.

Seven days later.

Jiutong opened his eyes, divine light flashing within. His coarse fur began to shed, replaced by sleek, shimmering new fur—so smooth and radiant, it looked like it had been woven from jewels.

Gone was the mutt.

In his place stood a majestic hound, every bit like a divine beast from the heavens—refined yet playful, playful yet dignified. Dignified yet... okay, Han Luo ran out of adjectives.

He gave a satisfied nod.

Jiutong now looked almost as polished as Xiaobai, the elegant white cat with mysterious origins.

If Xiaobai saw this, she’d be green with envy.

“Woof!”

Jiutong barked as always. In truth, he could now speak, but he barked to show respect to his master.

He understood all too well—Han Luo had given him new life.

Even Xiaobai, who acted aloof with Shen Xian’er, only spoke human words when addressing Han Luo—and always in the most profane, foulmouthed way.

“How do you feel? If anything feels off, tell me immediately. No toughing it out.”

Han Luo stroked Jiutong’s silky fur, completely enamored. Honestly, it was as smooth as Chi Xiao’s skin. Ahem…

“Woof woof woof!”

Jiutong wagged his tail excitedly, clearly feeling great.

Han Luo smiled.

From his aura alone, it was clear Jiutong had fully broken through. His five spiritual meridians were broad as rivers, channeling torrents of earthy spiritual energy that repeatedly washed through his body—making it tougher and more spiritually resonant by the second.

Han Luo didn’t rush to craft more pills just yet.

He needed a proper rest, time to recover both mentally and physically.

After waiting this long, what were another day or two?

Steady progress always wins in the end.

Chapter 115

“I must’ve owed you something in my past life...” Han Luo muttered as he tied on a flowery pink apron and picked up a spatula and ladle.

Clang, clang, clatter—
A plate of fragrant egg fried rice was soon ready.

As soon as Shen Xian’er finished eating, she bolted out the door like a wild monkey. Watching her vanish, Han Luo couldn’t help but sigh, Looks like wild game really does taste better.

But whatever the case, with Shen Xian’er gone again, peace and quiet finally returned.

A rare moment of serenity.

Having been under pressure for so long, Han Luo decided to give himself a little break. With Jiutong beside him, he rowed a small boat out onto Luoxian Lake and spent the day fishing.

Sipping warm wine as the breeze brushed past, he felt completely at ease.

“Life isn’t actually that stressful. It’s the endless desires that bring trouble. Isn’t that right, Jiutong?”

“Woof! Woof!”

Jiutong barked cheerfully at the fish tugging on the line.

“No rush. Let it bite a bit longer.”

Han Luo leaned back, hands behind his head, legs crossed, humming a little tune as he gazed at the sky. Jiutong, understanding his master’s mood, laid down quietly beside him, tail wagging gently.

Such happy moments are always fleeting.

After his brief vacation, Han Luo got back to work, beginning preparations to refine supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pills.

However, the ingredients were extremely hard to find. Relying solely on the few peak masters and even his uncle-master Yunyangzi would take years. And Han Luo had no interest in leaving the mountain himself.

So, he came up with an alternative strategy.

He posted a bounty at the exchange hall, offering high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills as a reward to anyone who could help him collect the necessary ingredients.

Fortunately, Luoxian Sect still had a decent number of disciples in the Foundation and Qi Sea stages. By enlisting their help, the search for rare materials would become far more efficient.

He handed several bottles of pills to senior sister Lou at the exchange counter to manage the rewards, paying a “considerable” price for her help.

While waiting for materials to be gathered, Han Luo kept busy. In the mornings, he refined Foundation Establishment Pills to keep his skills sharp. In the afternoons, he immersed himself in the library, studying books on magical tools, puppetry, and divine arts.

On weekends, he gave himself time to relax—fishing, walking Jiutong, teasing Xiaobai, or preparing delicious meals to share with Shen Xian’er.

It was a leisurely cultivation life—peaceful and free of conflict, filled with simple joy.

In this carefree rhythm, time flew by.

Six months later, Li Jun became the first of their generation to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Shortly after, Chi Xiao also succeeded, stepping into a new realm of cultivation.

Over the next six months, more disciples began breaking through one after another. Perhaps it was thanks to the increased physical resilience brought on by the refinement formations, but this year saw a record number of disciples successfully reaching Foundation Establishment—many times more than previous years.

Once a cultivator reached Foundation Establishment, they could begin cultivating true techniques, using divine arts and magic tools in real combat. Their strength underwent a dramatic transformation.

Because of this shift, the sect didn’t bother organizing a new Luoxian Assembly. Instead, the disciples began to duel and spar on their own initiative.

Now that they had formed their foundations, they could no longer lounge about in the sect as they had during the Qi Refining stage. Responsibilities were starting to fall on their shoulders.

Luoxian Sect, after all, was a mid-tier sect—not just a place where everyone meditated in seclusion, waiting to ascend.

To begin with, the lands surrounding the sect were rich in natural resources: spiritual stone mines, spirit iron veins, and more.

Spirit iron alone came in many varieties—cold iron, red iron, meteorite iron—each containing incredible spiritual properties. Most types were key components in crafting magic tools.

Aside from minerals, the sect also protected rare spirit woods found in nearby forests. Many of these trees required unique environments to grow.

Take the famous purple bamboo, for example. It could only thrive on Purple Mountain. All attempts to transplant it elsewhere had ended in failure.

These spirit woods, whether used for alchemy, formations, or crafting magical treasures, were extremely valuable—but also immovable.

Hence, disciples were needed to guard, harvest, and process them.

But the cultivation world wasn’t as peaceful as Luoxian Sect.

If your land produced top-quality resources, other sects would covet it. Clashes were inevitable, and sometimes people even died.

Losing such conflicts meant handing over some of your resources to rivals.

You could, of course, avoid conflict by using formations to seal off your lands. But doing so would make you a target—of taunts, provocations, even surprise attacks during resource transport.

Your weakness would become a scent in the wind, attracting vultures from the shadows.

These weren’t members of any sect—they were drifters, madmen, outcasts. Some were disciples cast out due to poor talent. Others were bitter cultivators who sought revenge on the world. Still others were professional scavengers who preyed on the weak.

They were like beasts, ripping through your supplies, consuming your treasures, then vanishing into the night.

The cruelty of the cultivation world was most vividly seen in these resource struggles.

According to decrees from the Eastern Domain's imperial capital, cultivators above the Qi Sea stage were not allowed to take part in such disputes.

On the surface, this seemed like a bizarre law.

But upon reflection, it made sense.

Only those who could survive this brutal gauntlet of competition would be eligible to join the Golden Battlefield and fight the demon race.

If they couldn’t even hold their own against a few rogue cultivators, how would they fare against demons?

Han Luo understood this all too well—the cunning and power of the demon race were beyond imagination.

And aside from resources, sects also had another sacred duty: to protect mortal cities from demonic beasts and rogue cultivators.

Heaven was fair.

It gave cultivators power, but took something in return.

That price? The ability to reproduce.

The more talented a cultivator, the lower their chances of bearing children.

Mortals, on the other hand, had high fertility rates. From their vast numbers, future cultivators would emerge like seeds scattered by the wind.

So while mortals appeared fragile and insignificant, they were essential to the survival of the Eastern Domain’s human race.

The larger the population base, the more likely gifted individuals would arise.

Protecting mortals meant protecting the sect’s future.

In short, as this new generation of Luoxian disciples reached Foundation Establishment, they were soon assigned real responsibilities:

Some were sent to help mine spiritual veins.

Some to harvest spirit woods.

Others were dispatched to mortal territories to fight beasts and purge evil.

A wave of industry and urgency swept across the entire sect.

Everyone was hard at work.

Everyone—except Han Luo, sitting quietly atop Luoxian Mountain.

Chapter 114

“Woof! Woof!”

Jiutong barked excitedly, spinning in circles in place to show his enthusiasm and agreement.

“Jiutong,” Han Luo said as he gently patted the dog’s soft fur, “once you take the Colorless Immortal Pill, I can’t help you. Whether you succeed in the eighth refinement will depend entirely on your own effort.”

He spoke solemnly. It wasn’t that he looked down on Jiutong or wanted to abandon him. The real reason was that helping Jiutong refine his body would result in visuals far too graphic—not suitable for children or adults. No one needed to witness that.

But Jiutong barked again, insistent and undeterred, eagerly demanding the pill.

“Alright, if you really want to take it, how could I refuse? Don’t worry. Even if it doesn’t work, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Han Luo ruffled the big yellow dog’s head affectionately, clearly doting on him.

“Woof! Woof!”

Jiutong wagged his tail and rubbed against Han Luo’s pant leg, full of joy and affection.

The process of giving him the Colorless Immortal Pill went smoothly.

Three days later, Han Luo stood before Jiutong—now completely transformed—and looked unusually serious.

Since stepping onto the path of cultivation, Han Luo had never envied anyone. His own talent had always been unrivaled—something others could only look up to.

But today, for the first time, he admitted it: he was jealous.

“Woof! Woof!”

Though Jiutong was spiritually aware, he still couldn't speak like Xiaobai. He used barks to communicate, each one full of reverence for his master.

“You dumb mutt, you’re actually pretty damn strong,” Han Luo muttered, still in disbelief.

He never expected that, like Shen Xian’er, Jiutong would also possess a pure heart. Maybe not a child’s heart, but a dog’s heart—equally bright and untainted.

With the help of the supreme refinement pill and the Colorless Immortal Pill, Jiutong had achieved the unimaginable: a ninth refinement.

Yes, you read that right.

Han Luo was stunned. This mutt—who he'd raised since birth—had managed to accomplish something so absurd. A common yellow dog had completed nine rounds of body refinement, only one short of Han Luo himself.

Where was the justice in this?

Who would believe it if he said it out loud?

In truth, Han Luo had only guided him. Just like with Li Jun, he had offered an opportunity—the rest was up to Jiutong’s own strength and perseverance.

Now it seemed even those so-called future emperors and sovereigns might pale in comparison to his silly mutt.

“Jiutong, you’ve made it big. From now on, guarding the house is going to look seriously impressive.”

A nine-times refined yellow dog watching his door? That was beyond intimidating.

As Han Luo basked in pride, trouble quickly followed.

No, it wasn’t a flood of sect members begging him to increase their refinement counts.

It was worse.

After the news of Li Jun’s eighth refinement spread, Chi Xiao stormed over like a madwoman, unleashing her wrath right at the gates of Luoxian Mountain, charging into the Immortal Trapping Formation like a berserker.

“Han Luo, you bastard! Come out and face me!”

Her domain erupted, and torrents of fiery red phoenix flames pounded against the formation. The entire mountain trembled.

She was beyond furious.

After hearing from her master that Li Jun had completed his refinement with just one pill, she instantly recalled her own excruciatingly complicated process under Han Luo’s guidance.

It had to be intentional.

He had deliberately made her suffer.

She was humiliated and enraged. And now the guy was hiding in his mountain, refusing to come out—absolutely shameless!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Han Luo, meanwhile, sighed and kept reading his “Foundation Establishment Complete Guide.”

“Let her burn off some steam. We’ll call it cardio training.”

Never reason with an angry woman.

And definitely don’t reason with Chi Xiao when she’s angry. That kind of temper might take a hundred years to cool down.

“Han Luo, you really aren’t doing this right,” came Hongniang’s teasing voice as she lounged gracefully on the grassy slope of Luoxian Mountain. Sipping tea and sunbathing, she toyed with a red thread in her hand. “Chi Xiao’s practically throwing herself at you, and here you are, hiding away? Don’t be shy—your master aunt is rooting for you.”

Han Luo sighed. “You call that throwing herself at me?”

He summoned the mirror screen.

On it, Chi Xiao was unleashing devastation like a war goddess, blasting the formation with divine fire.

He had every reason to believe that if he stepped out, her combat power would surge by another tenfold.

“This kind of ‘affection’ could get me killed.”

“You just don’t understand,” Hongniang said, like a seasoned matchmaker. “The more a girl yells at you, the more she likes you. Look at our Chi Xiao—she likes you so much her domain is on fire. Literally!”

She really did like Chi Xiao—both her talent and her fiery personality.

“Tch.”

Han Luo shook his head.

“Master Aunt, I’m not worthy of your precious disciple. Please tell her to leave. She’s supposed to be preparing for Foundation Establishment.”

“You little brat,” Hongniang narrowed her eyes. “When I offered to match you two up before, you refused. Now you’ve gone and pulled that kind of stunt with her. I really didn’t expect you to be into that sort of thing…”

Han Luo nearly facepalmed.

You know exactly what happened—or didn’t happen!

Every day she freeloaded off him for food, and now she was playing matchmaker?

Do Nascent Soul cultivators not have better things to do?

“I know what you’re thinking,” Hongniang said with a sly smile, clearly reading his mind. “And yes, I probably know more than anyone else about what really happened. Or didn’t.”

Han Luo stayed silent and kept reading.

“But really, let’s be honest. You know exactly what went down. Whether it was intentional, accidental, or nothing at all—only you know for sure. Right?”

She giggled delightedly, pleased with herself.

Not even Han Luo could escape her matchmaking net.

“And now that it’s happened,” she went on, “as Chi Xiao’s master, I’ll take the lead. You two should get married soon. Have a few chubby kids while you’re at it. Don’t worry, I’ll raise them for you—you just focus on cultivating. How about it?”

Hongniang’s biggest hobby in life was matchmaking. Unfortunately, she’d never succeeded—until now.

Since the “rice had already been cooked,” she wasn’t going to let this pair get away.

If you try to run, I’ll break your legs myself.

Han Luo’s scalp tingled.
My liver hurts just listening to this.

“Master Aunt, the materials are ready,” he said quickly, desperate to change the subject before she started picking baby names.

Hongniang raised a brow at his impatience, then handed over a small pouch.

“This is all I could gather. Resources are tight lately—use them wisely.”

Han Luo accepted the pouch without opening it—not out of trust, but because he preferred to open it later under secure conditions.

After that incident with the Changshou sect elder, he’d become much more cautious.

“Thank you, Master Aunt.”

He bowed politely, hoping she’d take the hint.

“What, you trying to kick me out already?” she frowned. “I’m your elder, you know.”

“It’s not that,” Han Luo said tactfully. “But shouldn’t you be taking Chi Xiao out to establish her foundation now?”

“Oh, right. She should be ready.”

Hongniang stretched with elegance.

Despite being hundreds of years old, her figure remained like that of a young maiden—mature and graceful, with an unmistakable aura of power and wealth.

A true rich lady if there ever was one.

She finally led the grumbling, indignant Chi Xiao away.

Han Luo stretched too, relieved.

Finally.

Finally.

Finally—

“Senior brother, I’m back! Let’s eat!”

Chapter 113

“Master Uncle.”

Han Luo greeted Yunyangzi respectfully.

“That demon clan member—he’s in your hands now?” Yunyangzi’s expression was as gentle and composed as ever, like a kindly old grandfather.

“Yes. I’ve trapped him inside the Bronze Mirror. He won’t be getting out.”

“Very good,” Yunyangzi nodded approvingly. “The Bronze Mirror is a postnatal spiritual treasure of the support type. It excels at trapping enemies—your choice was wise.”

Han Luo hesitated, then carefully asked, “Master Uncle… what about that old ghost from Changshou Sect?”

As a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, Han Luo knew he wasn’t yet qualified to delve into the affairs of Nascent Soul stage experts. Even if he was exceptionally talented, overstepping boundaries could bring unnecessary trouble.

“Don’t worry,” Yunyangzi reassured him. “I’ve already communicated with the Xian Sword. From today on, unless someone breaks through the Luoxian Grand Formation by brute force, any disguised experts entering the sect will be exposed immediately.”

“You… you spoke with the Xian Sword?” Han Luo was visibly surprised.

The sword hadn’t accepted a master—how could anyone communicate with it?

“Hehehe…”

Yunyangzi laughed softly at Han Luo’s shock.

“The Twin Immortal Swords possess sentience. They simply choose to ignore people most of the time. It’s not uncommon for innate spiritual treasures to have odd tempers.”

That wasn’t exactly a secret, and with Han Luo’s potential, it wasn’t unlikely that one of the swords might recognize him in the future.

“I see,” Han Luo nodded.

He hadn’t realized the swords were that intelligent—but it made sense. As innate spiritual treasures, they were born of the Heavenly Dao and likely far more intelligent than 99% of humans.

With that reassurance, half of the heavy burden in Han Luo’s heart was lifted. He continued chatting with Yunyangzi for a while, mostly about the demon clan’s schemes, before seeing the elder off.

He then headed straight to the only entrance of Luoxian Sect and personally used the Bronze Mirror to set up an alarm formation. Unless someone had an outrageous concealment technique that could evade the mirror’s scan, they would be exposed immediately.

With that done, the rest of the burden in his heart eased. Still, he maintained a trace of caution—after all, there was no such thing as being too careful.

At the base of Luoxian Mountain, Han Luo’s face darkened.

Li Jun had somehow appeared outside his mountain, kneeling with solemn determination. Judging by his expression, he must have heard that Chi Xiao had completed her eighth refinement.

At that moment, a voice from the void echoed—it was Master Uncle Yunding.

“Little Luo, I heard you helped that Chi Xiao girl complete her eighth refinement. I know it’s bold of me to ask, but could you help Jun’er too? I swear, if you do this for me, I’ll do anything you ask. I’ll even be your servant—bring you tea, pour your water. Whatever you want, I won’t refuse!”

Yunding’s tactics were far more shameless than Hongniang’s—this was full-on emotional blackmail, classic Yunding style.

Apparently, that shamelessness ran deep.

Outside the formation, Li Jun knelt on one knee like a loyal retainer swearing fealty to his king.

Han Luo’s head throbbed.
Can’t I just peacefully cultivate in peace for once?!

He cleared his throat and said calmly, “Master Uncle Yunding, you’re too kind. I could never accept you as a servant—that’d be outrageous. As for helping Senior Brother Li Jun with his eighth refinement… I’m afraid I simply don’t have the ability.”

Of course, that was a lie.

He was simply unwilling.

Chi Xiao may be temperamental, but at least she was a pretty woman. Some back-and-forth with her was acceptable.

But Li Jun? He was a guy.

Sure, a handsome one—but no way was Han Luo going to help him bathe in fire and purify his body. Just thinking about waking up to that made him want to vomit up yesterday’s chicken stew.

“Little Luo, I understand your concerns,” Yunding said, not giving up. “How about this—we’ll form a master-servant contract right now. Once that’s done, help Jun’er with his refinement.”

A scroll appeared in Yunding’s hand—one that would bind their lives together once Han Luo added a drop of his blood.

Han Luo’s face froze.
He hadn’t expected the old man to go all-in.

Even so, he was determined: no way was he helping Li Jun refine his body.

But after thinking for a moment, he proposed a compromise.

“How about this—since the refinement is for Senior Brother Li Jun, let’s see how determined he is. Let his will be the deciding factor.”

If Li Jun proved himself, Han Luo might consider it. If he gave up halfway, it would show his character—and then Han Luo could walk away guilt-free.

“That works,” Yunding agreed, keeping the contract scroll and not saying anything to Li Jun.

Han Luo, however, had underestimated Li Jun’s resolve.

He might have looked like a smooth-talking goody-two-shoes who never offended anyone, but beneath that polite exterior was a donkey-stubborn will—not a bit weaker than Chi Xiao’s.

Half a month passed.

Li Jun remained kneeling, one knee on the ground, without moving a muscle.

No one had spoken to him the entire time.

Han Luo observed carefully: Li Jun wasn’t using any spiritual energy to support himself. He was holding that posture entirely through physical strength and mental focus.

Even for a cultivator, that kind of endurance without relying on spiritual power was an immense trial.

Another half month passed.

Li Jun was still kneeling, unwavering and devout.

Han Luo finally called for Master Yunding.

Step one, as always, was the oath.

Both parties completed the formal vow.

Han Luo then handed two pills to Yunding, instructing him to pass them to Li Jun. He didn’t show himself.

One pill was a supreme-grade refinement pill.

The other… wasn’t exactly a pill.

He’d named it the Colorless Immortal Pill—a disguised pill made from his own colorless spiritual energy.

Over the past month, aside from studying Foundation Establishment techniques, he’d spent his time preparing this.

His colorless spiritual energy was unique. The fact that he could fight Chi Xiao’s inner demon inside her refinement world proved how exceptional it was—it had a real effect in a space where ordinary spiritual energy failed.

If it worked, it could give Li Jun the extra boost he needed to succeed.

The rest was up to fate.

Li Jun bowed respectfully toward Luoxian Mountain and returned to Xianding Peak.

Seven days later, news came: Li Jun had narrowly survived a life-or-death breakthrough and miraculously completed his eighth refinement.

“Fate has spoken. Fate has spoken indeed,” Han Luo muttered with a small smile.

He had only given Li Jun a chance—whether he succeeded was always going to depend on his own strength and luck.

And clearly, fate had given him this step forward.

“Woof woof woof—!”

The big yellow dog, Jiutong, wagged his tongue excitedly, staring up at his master with an expectant, dopey look.

“You too, Jiutong? You’re sure you want to try the Colorless Immortal Pill?”

Chapter 112

"Ahhh!"

A piercing shriek jolted Han Luo awake.

As his eyes opened, he was met with a view so shocking it nearly knocked him senseless. His heart pounded, body flushed with heat, and a strange force surged within him, rising straight to his spiritual core.

Buzz!

A deafening roar echoed in his head. He suddenly felt as though he’d lost control of his body to a wild, uncontainable power.

“Damn it!” he cursed, glaring at the source of his perilous state.

Thank the heavens for his strong willpower—anyone else might've ended up in serious trouble.

“Have! You! Seen! Enough?!”

The voice, laced with fury and humiliation, came from Chi Xiao. Each word was spat out like a slap to the face.

In the blink of an eye, her flaming Spear was pointed right at Han Luo’s nose, the divine fire on it so intense it warped the space around them.

“Headache! Headache!” Han Luo cried, grabbing his head in mock agony as he darted away from danger.

“Die!”

Chi Xiao launched herself at him, furious beyond reason. The tip of her flaming spear blazed with destructive force as she stabbed toward him.

“Seriously?! Just one glance and you’re already trying to kill me? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before!”

Han Luo shouted, and with a wave of his hand, he teleported both of them out of the sealed chamber and onto Luoxian Mountain.

BOOM!

The moment they landed, Chi Xiao’s attack slammed into Luoxian Lake, exploding a giant column of water into the sky.

Han Luo swallowed nervously.
See? This is why she shouldn’t be allowed on Luoxian Mountain.

If she’d exploded in the chamber, his whole base might’ve been flattened.

"You crazy woman! I just helped you complete your eighth cleansing, and now you want to kill me? That’s gratitude? That’s how you repay a life-saving favor?"

Han Luo was furious. He had fought a brutal battle against her inner demon, nearly drained himself dry—and this was his reward?

"Where’s the justice? Where’s the decency? Where’s the Dao?!"

“Han Luo, you bastard! I’m going to kill you!”

Chi Xiao, now fully clad in her Battle Armor, charged at him without hesitation, spear in hand, a streak of red fury.

Han Luo rolled his eyes and nimbly dodged using the Immortal Trapping Formation—only to suddenly feel a chill run down his body.

He looked down.
“…Uh…”

No wonder she was so mad—he wasn’t even wearing clothes.

That made no sense. Where the hell were his clothes?

Chi Xiao’s rage exploded the moment she saw his clueless expression.

This bastard has the nerve to pretend he doesn't understand?!

And when she realized the changes in her own body, her fury doubled.

“You shameless scumbag! Today I’ll burn your entire Luoxian Mountain to the ground!”

Chi Xiao raised her spear.
"Phoenix Domain!"

In an instant, a five-hundred-meter radius ignited. Fire burst from the ground, sky, and even the void—an inferno made from the sacred phoenix flames.

Han Luo immediately waved his hand.
“Out you go.”

He teleported Chi Xiao outside the mountain.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion sounded from the distance. Through the Bronze Mirror, Han Luo saw Chi Xiao unleashing her wrath far from the mountain, and wiped sweat from his brow.

Thank goodness she didn’t detonate inside Luoxian Mountain. His entire sanctuary could’ve been destroyed.

Outside, Chi Xiao pounded relentlessly at the Immortal Trapping Formation. Thankfully, it was a tier-three array—if it were only tier two, she probably would've broken in.

“What the hell happened?”
Han Luo was desperate to figure it out.

So he activated the Bronze Mirror and reviewed the recording of her cleansing session.

One hour later, he put the mirror down, massaging his temples with a sigh.

How disappointing.

In such a close, tense situation—absolutely nothing had happened.

The recording didn’t lie: he and Chi Xiao hadn’t crossed any boundaries.

He didn’t even need physical contact. Thanks to the miraculous Tenfold World Domain, he had been able to enter her inner world and help her from the outside.

Han Luo didn’t know whether to feel relieved, sad, or regretful.

There was this weird sense, like he’d just lost a fortune—an indescribable emptiness.

Meanwhile, outside Luoxian Mountain, Chi Xiao finally calmed down.

Yes, she’d been humiliated by Han Luo…
But she’d also completed her eighth cleansing.

The strength she now felt only deepened her desire to kill him.

And the worst part… she had called him "celestial big brother."

Ugh!
Han Luo, you’ve crossed the line!

Then it hit her—this wasn’t the first time she’d felt like this.

Wait… back during the sect entrance test six years ago…
That bastard she encountered at the end—could it be him?!

“Great! Wonderful!”

Old grudges and new ones—it was time to settle them together.

Chi Xiao sat cross-legged on the spot, stabilizing her cultivation base.

After some time, she stood up and shouted,
“Han Luo! If you’re a man, come out and face me! If you don’t, I’ll smash your whole formation to bits!”

She radiated unrestrained fury, determined to tear the formation down.

“Chi Xiao, listen to me—”

Han Luo projected his image from inside the formation.

“Die!”

She lunged at the illusion with her spear—but it passed right through.

“It’s just a projection. You can’t hurt me. Just hear me out.”

“I won’t stop until I drag you out of there and beat you senseless!”

She resumed her assault on the formation.

“Look, nothing happened between us. Watch the recording if you don’t believe me.”

Han Luo displayed the replay for her.

It was a mistake.

The moment she saw the footage, Chi Xiao exploded in shame and fury.

“You bastard! Turn it off! Now!”

She went berserk, trying to destroy the formation and erase the embarrassment.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out, calm and calculating.

“Ahem… Han Luo, as the one responsible, you can’t deny what happened.”

Hongniang had arrived, and her tone was filled with mischief.

“Master Hongniang!”

Han Luo quickly dismissed the recording. It was bad enough that he’d seen it—he didn’t want anyone else getting the wrong idea.

“Relax. As Chi Xiao’s master, I won’t spread rumors. But I must step in. After all, something did happen. I’m sure you understand.”

Han Luo felt a chill.
Why did it sound like he was being blackmailed?

“Master Hongniang… nothing happened, okay?”

He had seen things, sure. But he hadn’t touched her. And thanks to the Tenfold World Domain, he didn’t need to.

“Oh? Nothing happened?” she said slyly. “You call that soul resonance nothing? That’s an advanced form of connection even I’ve never experienced. And there are special techniques for cultivators like you two. I’ve heard some of them are very… synergistic.”

Her words were calm—but laced with intent.

It was a clean setup.

Step one: help Chi Xiao achieve her eighth cleansing.
Step two: make Han Luo her future husband.

Han Luo’s face darkened.
No matter how cautious you are, you can’t defend against an inside job.

He couldn’t expose his Tenfold World Domain, which made denying anything impossible.

“I won’t pry further,” Hongniang said gently. “But I hope that next time Chi Xiao is in danger, you won’t stand by and watch just because you’re cautious.”

Han Luo sighed.
“Master Hongniang, I understand. Chi Xiao is my senior sister and a fellow disciple. If she’s ever in danger, I’ll help.”

“Good,” she replied. “Now swear it.”

Pfft!
Han Luo nearly coughed up blood.
Aren’t I the victim here?!

“Don’t complain. I learned that from you,” she said smugly. “It works surprisingly well.”

“I refuse,” Han Luo said flatly. “I said I would help her. That’s enough. I don’t need to swear.”

“You—!”

Hongniang was caught off guard. This wasn’t how her plan was supposed to go.

“I, Han Luo, speak truthfully. Believe me or don’t. Your choice.”

He had barely taken advantage of Chi Xiao. If anything, she owed him for the miracle he pulled off.

Hongniang thought about it.
She didn’t really have any leverage.

Plan: Failed.

“…Very well. I believe you,” she said and promptly dragged the raging Chi Xiao away.

But Chi Xiao still needed to vent her fury.

So she challenged Wu Dao to a fight.

The resulting battle flattened a mountain and left behind a massive crater. The final outcome remained unknown, but even standing near the battlefield gave people chills. The residual heat and killing intent made it unbearable to linger.

As for Han Luo…
He ignored the chaos and turned to face his senior, Master Yunyangzi, with a serious expression.

Chapter 111

As Han Luo spoke, he waved his hand decisively.
"Water, come."

Without warning, the sound of rushing water thundered overhead. A massive waterfall, over a hundred meters wide, came crashing down from the sky and landed in front of Han Luo, completely shielding him. The fiery meteors that rained down fizzled out on impact, like matchsticks doused in a tank of water—snuffed out with a hiss.

The Scarlet Phoenix immediately looked up—and panicked.

What the hell?!

Countless waterfalls poured from the heavens like a flood from broken dams, roaring toward her with terrifying force. She flapped her wings frantically, weaving between the falling torrents, attempting to dodge them as she lunged toward Han Luo.

"Sky-Locking Chains!" Han Luo whispered.

In an instant, golden chains burst from the void and coiled around the flying phoenix, binding her midair with ruthless precision.

"Break!" the Scarlet Phoenix screamed, her red feathers erupting into flames as she struggled fiercely against the chains. Her divine phoenix fire surged in intensity as she tried to burn her way out.

But it was useless.

"Let me go! Let me go, you bastard!" she shrieked, her tone equal parts rage and disbelief. She couldn't understand how, in her own domain, she was being utterly suppressed by an outsider. The only explanation that made sense was that Han Luo was somehow fusing with her host, gaining authority here.

"No point in yelling. Even if you scream until your throat bursts, I’m not letting you go."
Han Luo slowly raised his palm.

"Thunder, descend."

Boom!

Dark clouds blanketed the sky. In the blink of an eye, a silver bolt of lightning crashed down, slamming into the phoenix’s bound body.

"Aaaaahhh!"
She screamed in agony, her voice sharp enough to pierce ears.

"Oho? Looks like you’re enjoying that," Han Luo teased.

"Enjoy your damn uncle!" she spat, cursing venomously.

"Tsk. Such foul language… Slap her."
Han Luo raised his hand again, summoning gusts of wind that turned into phantom palms. They smacked the phoenix across the face with loud, satisfying pah-pah-pah sounds.

"Skreeee!!"
The Scarlet Phoenix screeched in rage, her flames erupting even more violently. In the next instant, her phoenix fire surged to a new level and incinerated the golden chains binding her.

"Today, I will—"

"Thousand-Year Ice Prison."

Han Luo didn’t let her finish her dramatic line. He cast again, and in the blink of an eye, the searing world turned into a snowstorm. The temperature plummeted, and icy wind howled.

A massive glacial prison formed, locking the phoenix inside with only her head sticking out. Her beak chattered, and she drooled from the cold.

"Who… who are you?!" she croaked, shivering. "How can you possibly wield so many divine arts? How can you possess such overwhelming power?!"

She could feel it now—an endless, unfathomable pressure radiating from Han Luo. It was like staring into an abyss. She had no idea what terrifying move might emerge from the fog next.

"Scarlet Phoenix, you’re a legendary divine beast. Can you not spew such cliché villain lines? It makes me look bad," Han Luo replied.

"Then die!" the phoenix howled.

Her form began to grow. She swelled larger, wings spreading, body expanding, her strength rising exponentially. With a loud BOOM, the glacial prison shattered.

She had unleashed her Heavenly Form.

Her monstrous body blotted out the sky. One wing spanned the North Sea, the other stretched toward the South Pole. Her burning tail lashed the Northern lands, while her enormous head filled the heavens.

"This is my world!" her voice thundered like a god's decree.
"Here, I am god! I am immortal! What can you do against me?"

Han Luo simply smiled.
"I love a challenge."

"Mountain, come."

From beyond the void, he summoned a towering mountain. It slammed down, suppressing the colossal phoenix beneath its weight.

But the Scarlet Phoenix wasn’t so easily crushed. She lifted the mountain on her back and opened her beak, preparing to spew divine fire.

Han Luo raised his hand again.

"More mountains."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three more mountains smashed down on her. The ground shook. The void cracked. The phoenix screamed as she was pinned under them all.

"This is impossible! How can you defeat me in my own world?!"

"Your world?!" Han Luo repeated, astonished, then scoffed.
"Fluffy chicken, this world isn’t yours—it belongs to Chi Xiao. You’re just her inner demon, a tiny, pathetic part of her."

"No! I am Chi Xiao! We grew up together! Every bad thing we’ve ever done, we did together! You don’t understand anything!"

She flailed wildly in denial, her voice shrill and deranged.

"Fire Vines."

Han Luo gestured again. Crimson vines burst from the ground and wrapped tightly around the phoenix, pinning her down. Each leaf resembled a mouth, gnawing hungrily at her flames.

As the fire vines devoured her divine flame, her strength rapidly diminished. The great phoenix slumped, lifeless.

Eventually, the phoenix's body dissipated, transforming into a palm-sized crimson spear—a miniature version of Chi Xiao’s signature weapon.

When Han Luo took the weapon into his hand, he felt a chilling sensation. The spear, though forged of fire, carried a sharp, eerie coldness.

So her resentment still lingers…

"You chose her. Trust that one day, she’ll stand atop the world and reach the heights you once dreamed of. Now… go."

Han Luo summoned a glowing orb of milky-white light, enveloping the spear. As he watched, a wisp of black smoke emerged, forming a shadowy image of the Scarlet Phoenix.

"You are exceptional," she said. "In all my years, I’ve never seen such talent. But if you think you can purify me—you're still too weak."

With that, she vanished into the orb, splitting into countless tiny red shadows that etched themselves into the spear's shaft. The weapon now glowed with both searing heat and cold precision.

Han Luo touched his nose, a little embarrassed.
Did I just get looked down on…?

Whatever.

He wasn’t strong enough to fully purify the Scarlet Phoenix. But it didn’t matter. As Chi Xiao grew stronger, she would eventually absorb this power and make it her own. When that day came, this former demon would become a nourishing source of strength.

With the threat gone, Han Luo floated down to the now-sleeping girl.

"Celestial big brother!"

Chi Xiao—returned to her child form—looked up at him joyfully.

Han Luo smiled and gently handed her the spear.

"This is for you."

As she gripped it, the entire dreamscape began to fade.

"Big brother, don’t go! Big brother, don’t go!" her voice echoed across the dissolving world. She reached out, trying to hold on to him.

Reality.

Inside the sealed chamber, Chi Xiao stirred and murmured softly:
"Big brother, don’t go… don’t go…"

She slowly opened her eyes, dazed and weak from the ordeal. She moved to sit up—and froze.

To her horror, she realized she was resting in Han Luo’s arms… and she wasn’t wearing anything.

Chapter 110

In the heart of the primordial forest, a few white rabbits nibbled on wild grass while birds chirped merrily from the treetops. A gentle breeze danced across clear streams, carrying the whispers of spring. Everything felt peaceful and hopeful, a picture of harmony.

But deep within the forest, a soft mutter disrupted the stillness.
"I am a disaster…"
As the words fell, a wall of fire swept across the landscape.

In mere moments, millions of hectares of woodland were engulfed in flames. Countless creatures fled as towering infernos reached hundreds of meters into the sky, blotting out the sun and painting the world in apocalyptic hues.

A barefoot little girl walked through a forest of thorns. Wherever she stepped, ash remained. She was confused, dazed, and kept muttering the same phrase—
"I am a disaster."

She paused, crouching to cradle a scorched but still-breathing white rabbit. She wanted to save it—but just as she reached out, crimson flames surged from her palm. The fire formed into a blazing bird—the divine scarlet phoenix—who snapped up the rabbit in a single bite.

"You must embrace your nature," the bird whispered, coaxing like a cultist.
"You are the child of destruction. From the moment you were born, you were fated to destroy all you touch. Those you consume—consider it a gift."

Still dazed, the little girl walked on. She journeyed through mountains and rivers. And wherever she passed, ruin followed.

Eventually, she stood atop a towering cliff and threw herself off. The rushing wind reminded her of her mother's embrace and her father's gentle scolding. But flames wrapped around her mid-fall, cushioning her landing—leaving her unharmed.

She waded into the sea, hoping to drown, only for the waters to evaporate into mist. Each bubble reflected a life she’d destroyed. She sought out wild beasts in the jungle to end her life, but they all scattered in fear. Then the forest burned.

She entered a city and asked its greatest warrior to slay her. But before he could strike, her flames erupted and incinerated the entire city.

She only wanted to understand herself—why did her attempts at peace bring only devastation?

"I told you… you are me, and I am you," the scarlet bird’s voice murmured again.
"Let go. Surrender your last bit of resistance, and I will grant you power beyond imagination. The East Domain is nothing—we’ll remake the world together."

On a snowy peak, the little girl sat hugging her knees, unmoved by the howling wind. Tears rolled down her cheeks, only to evaporate before they could fall.

She gazed at the endless stars above. The last glimmer in her eyes began to fade…

"Hmph. Boring," said a voice suddenly.

Throughout all this, Han Luo had been silently watching. He hadn’t interfered. This was her trial—her burden to bear. If he interrupted, the damage could be catastrophic. At best, she’d become dull; at worst, mentally broken or catatonic.

"But since I promised to help you… it’s time I stepped in."

As her consciousness started to collapse, the phoenix’s aura surged in power. Just then, a meteor streaked across the sky and landed before her.

Han Luo arrived, robed in white and glowing with gentle divine light, descending like a celestial from the heavens.

"Who are you?" the phoenix’s voice rang with alarm.
"Are you… an immortal or a celestial big brother?" the little girl asked softly, her voice tinged with surprise and faint hope.

"Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is—who are you?"

Han Luo smiled warmly, like sunlight melting ice.

"Who am I…?" The little girl looked up, confused, murmuring the question to herself.

"Little one," Han Luo knelt and whispered, "do you want to see your parents again?"

Her eyes flickered with light at the mention of her parents—but the light quickly dimmed again.

"They’re dead! She killed them herself!" the phoenix cackled cruelly.
"You should’ve seen their faces—priceless!"

Han Luo ignored it.
"Have you heard the legend?" he asked her gently.

"What legend?"

"They say at the end of the Immortal Path, one can glimpse the wheel of reincarnation. In that cycle… you might see those you've lost."

"Lies!" the phoenix shouted.
"The Immortal Path leads to eternal life, the ultimate truth everyone seeks. There is no such thing as reincarnation. He’s tricking you!"

But no one paid it any mind.

"Will… will my parents be there too?" the girl asked, voice trembling.
"Of course," Han Luo said with a serene smile. "They’re waiting there for you."

"They’re waiting for me…" she repeated, over and over. With each repetition, her eyes grew brighter.

"NO!" the phoenix shrieked in pain.
"What have you done to her?! She’s resisting me—how can she have such willpower? Who ARE you!?"

Han Luo stood, eyes narrowing at the screeching bird.
"Feathered turkey, I’ve tolerated you long enough."

That thing had been babbling throughout his motivational monologue, and it was starting to get on his nerves.

"You dare insult me?!" the phoenix roared, enraged.
"In my domain?! Die!"

It flapped its wings, summoning fire meteors that screamed through the air toward Han Luo.

"Good," he said, stretching his arms.
"Let’s see how strong my Tenfold World really is."

Chapter 109

The hidden chamber was immaculately clean. Despite being compact, it didn’t feel cramped—on the contrary, its layout was orderly and surprisingly spacious. Carefully placed furniture lined the room, and peculiar artifacts rested neatly atop them.

Chi Xiao stood silently, glancing around before her gaze settled on Han Luo. She couldn’t quite describe the feeling that welled up in her chest, but everything about this man exuded calm, calculated control. His composed tone, his meticulous environment—everything about him said one thing: nothing here was left to chance.

“First things first,” Han Luo said, his tone businesslike. “You need to take an oath.”

He recited the conditions like it was standard procedure. “From the moment you set foot on Luoxian Mountain to the moment you leave, everything you see and experience must never be shared. If you break this oath, you will be cursed with acne-covered skin, the body of a sow, the voice of an old ox, a scraggly beard, yellow teeth, and the overwhelming aura of an unwashed man.”

Chi Xiao was visibly shaking with fury by the time he finished. Her eyes twitched, hands clenched.

This was the first time in her life she’d ever encountered such a ridiculous, shameless oath. She felt like she’d wandered into the lair of some deranged cult instead of a high-level cultivator's abode.

Han Luo, meanwhile, casually sipped tea with a deadpan expression. “My mountain, my rules. Do you want to attempt your eighth body refinement or not? If so, swear now. I’m on a schedule.”

Left with no choice, Chi Xiao swallowed her rage and repeated the bizarre oath word for word.

Han Luo nodded. “Good. Let’s begin.”

Under his guidance, she sat atop a pink lotus-shaped formation, the refinement array already glowing faintly. He handed her a supreme-grade Body Refining Pill.

“Take this and begin as usual. The rest—I’ll handle.”

Chi Xiao stared at the pill, then at Han Luo. “Can I trust you?”

“This is your last chance,” she added softly.

Han Luo looked her in the eyes. “I never take risks I can’t control. Do your part. I’ll do mine.”

She didn’t know where his confidence came from, but she recognized that calm, unshakable certainty. It reminded her of herself. Without further hesitation, she swallowed the pill and closed her eyes.

Han Luo snapped his fingers.

His domain—Tenfold World—expanded, wrapping the entire chamber in layered dimensions. Stepping inside, he entered Chi Xiao’s inner world—the trial space of body refinement, born of her own soul and memories.

He found himself in a village consumed by fire.

“Help! Help us!”
“It’s coming—run!”

Screams echoed as villagers fled in terror. Han Luo walked calmly through the blazing streets, watching everything unfold. These were her memories, raw and real.

A small girl—Chi Xiao—covered in blood, knelt beside the bodies of her parents, shaking them and wailing.

Suddenly, a flaming bird descended from the skies—an enormous divine bird. The girl froze in terror, unable to move as the beast approached and merged with her in a flash of red light.

Her screams pierced the inferno.

Then, her body exploded.

From the blast emerged two streaks of red light—one reformed into the divine bird, the other into a fully armored Chi Xiao, clad in crimson lotus armor, spear in hand, blazing with killing intent.

“You’ve come again,” the bird sneered. “But no matter how many times you try, you can’t defeat me. Because you are me, and I am you.”

Chi Xiao roared, “This time, I will end you. For my parents—die!”

The battle began.

Their powers clashed violently, razing what remained of the village. Bolstered by the supreme pill and the refinement formation, Chi Xiao fought more fiercely than ever.

But the bird only laughed. “You have help this time, but you’ll never defeat me.”

Fire rained from its wings, killing illusionary villagers. Rage filled Chi Xiao’s heart.

“DIE!” she screamed, activating her ultimate technique: “Slay the Immortal!”

A crimson arc tore through the sky, cleaving the divine bird’s head clean off.

She collapsed, breathing heavily, but victorious.

Or so she thought.

The severed head dissolved into red mist and returned to her body.

“No…” she gasped.

Her body shrank—turning into a child again.

And the flames returned.

She looked up, wide-eyed and terrified, as villagers stared at her in horror.

“She’s the monster!”
“She killed everyone—she brought the fire!”

A woman she once called aunt raised a stick and struck her head. Blood ran down her tiny face.

“I’m your niece, remember?” she whispered, dazed.

“I don’t know you, monster! You killed your parents! You brought death to this village!”

The other villagers joined in, beating her, stoning her, cursing her.

“It’s all your fault!”
“You were born cursed!”
“Die, freak!”

Chi Xiao curled into a ball, broken and silent, as their hatred rained down.

Then—flames.

She accidentally released the divine fire within. Her aunt was instantly reduced to ash.

“No! Stop!” she cried, horrified—but her body no longer obeyed.

The flames spread.

Within seconds, the entire village was gone—scorched to dust.

“See?” came the voice of the bird again. “You couldn’t stop it. You wanted this.”

“No, I didn’t…” she whimpered, trembling.

“But you did. Deep down. Let go of this pain, and I’ll give you power beyond imagination. Leave this pathetic place. I’ll take you to the real world.”

The child sat in a burning ruin, her eyes vacant.

Yet—amid the darkness—one flicker of light remained. A single spark of defiance. A fragile, stubborn hope.

“Good,” the voice chuckled. “Let’s see how long that little ember can last.”

And the trial continued.

Chapter 108

Chi Xiao stood atop Luoxian Mountain, taking in its breathtaking beauty. Divine beasts and celestial birds soared through the skies, and the sight alone lifted the heavy gloom that had been clouding her mind.

“Woof woof woof—!”

A big yellow dog came bounding over, tongue out, tail wagging. This dumb mutt, Jiu Tong, clearly wasn’t shy around strangers. It rubbed its massive head against Chi Xiao’s leg with goofy affection. That dopey grin on its face actually made her smile for once.

She crouched to stroke Jiu Tong’s head, but her eyes suddenly widened. Her spiritual sense told her this was no ordinary dog—this mutt had undergone seven rounds of spiritual tempering.

Impossible.

For spirit beasts, each round of tempering was more difficult than for humans. And yet this scruffy dog had managed seven? That meant someone incredibly powerful lived here.

Chi Xiao’s confidence surged. Anyone who resided in such a mystical place had to be a hidden expert. Then she remembered—hadn’t she once stood outside, shouting for someone named "Woshi Zhu" to come out and fight?

Could that disciple have belonged to this mysterious expert?

If that’s the case… would the expert hold a grudge? Would she be punished?

Normally, Chi Xiao was the act-now-think-later type. But today, she found herself carefully planning what to say in case she was questioned or “taught a lesson.”

As her thoughts churned, a familiar voice cut through her musings.

“Chi Xiao! You’re here!” Shen Xian’er came skipping out from a small house and threw her arms around Chi Xiao. “Did you miss me? You must’ve come to see me!”

Chi Xiao was startled. “Xian’er? Why are you here? Isn’t your place up on Sanxian Mountain?”

Xian’er’s eyes darted in panic. She covered her mouth, clearly flustered.

Oh no, I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone I live here now! If senior brother finds out, he’ll cut my food rations!

Trying to steer the conversation away, Chi Xiao asked casually, “Do you know a disciple named Woshi Zhu?”

Xian’er frowned, then shook her head. “Nope. Is that a type of pork? If it is, senior brother’s braised pork with noodles is amazing!”

Chi Xiao narrowed her eyes. “Senior brother?”

She caught that slip instantly.

Panicking again, Xian’er covered her mouth. “Oh no! I said too much again! Lying is really hard!”

Before the awkwardness could escalate, another voice chimed in.

“Chi Xiao, long time no see,” came Han Luo’s voice, calm and timely.

Hearing him, Xian’er instantly relaxed, her eyes sparkling. Her hero had arrived at just the right moment, as always.

Chi Xiao scanned him. Somehow, she didn’t sense the same energy as the mysterious “Woshi Zhu.” Had her master misled her?

“Who are you?” she asked bluntly.

“Han Luo, disciple of Wudao under Wudao Peak. I’m Xian’er’s senior brother.”

“You’re her senior brother? Why have I never heard of you?”

Han Luo shrugged. “There’s a lot you don’t know.”

He didn’t bother engaging her provocations and got straight to the point. “Red Matchmaker already told me everything. Are you sure about this? Do you still want to attempt your eighth spiritual tempering?”

“I’ve made up my mind,” she said without hesitation.

“Then let me remind you—there’s a risk. Failure might just turn you into a normal person. At worst, it could kill you.”

Han Luo had a 99% chance of helping her succeed—but that 1% still made him uneasy. Normally, he wouldn't take such risks. But perhaps he owed her this much… for stealing her ancient jade technique.

“If I succeed, I’ll owe you anything. If I fail, I won’t blame you. The path to immortality is dangerous. If we don’t fight for it, how will we ever reach the peak?”

Seeing her resolve, Han Luo nodded. “Alright. Take some time to adjust. I’ll do the same. We’ll begin the tempering later tonight.”

While he went to prepare, Chi Xiao began calming herself.

Nearby, Xian’er munched on a tomato, watching curiously. “Chi Xiao, want one? My senior brother grew it himself.”

“I’m good—wait…” Chi Xiao took the tomato, sniffed it—and flames practically erupted from her eyes.

“This was grown by your senior brother? The one from earlier?”

“Yep!” Xian’er chirped. “He’s amazing! You should try his pork stew sometime—best food ever!”

“Ah. So it’s you,” Chi Xiao muttered darkly, realization dawning.

She had finally connected the dots.

When Han Luo returned, he was greeted not with thanks—but with an explosion of fury.

Chi Xiao’s blazing red flames erupted.

Before he could even dodge, she pounced and gave him a beating so fierce it left him bruised and staggering, face swollen beyond recognition.

Once the storm had passed and she stood panting, still drenched in sweat and radiating fighting spirit, his calm voice came from the mountaintop.

“If you’re done, can we start? I’m on a schedule.”

She turned. There he was—sitting calmly under a parasol tree, sipping tea, looking utterly unharmed.

“You tricked me!” she shouted.

“I’d never,” he replied dryly. “You were too tense. That anger in you needed to be released, or it would’ve ruined the tempering. Consider that little tantrum your warm-up.”

Chi Xiao was fuming, still glaring daggers at him.

Ignoring her, Han Luo turned to Xian’er. “Tonight, go stay with your godmother on Piaomiao Peak. Chi Xiao and I have something important to do—you’ll only get in the way.”

Xian’er giggled knowingly. “Hehe, I get it! You’re going to ‘cultivate’ together, right?”

“You really know too much,” Han Luo muttered.

“I learned from Sister Lan,” she whispered. “One time I followed her and Du Ming secretly, and they—”

“Tell me later,” he said quickly. “Now go.”

With a wave of his hand, he teleported Xian’er away before she could spill more awkward truths.

“Hmph! What do you even teach that girl?” Chi Xiao scowled, crossing her arms.

Han Luo rolled his eyes.

Oh please. Since the day she started visiting Piaomiao Peak, her ‘innocence’ has been long gone.

Still, he didn’t argue. The sooner he helped Chi Xiao temper her body, the sooner he could return to peace.

“Come with me,” he said, leading her through a winding underground passage.

Once she was good and lost, he guided her into a sealed chamber. The preparations were complete.

It was time to begin.

Chapter 107

With the departure of Du Ming, Lu Dancheng, and the rest of their generation, an era at Luoxian Sect quietly came to an end.

And with the end of an era came inevitable sorrow.

A heavy atmosphere blanketed the entire sect—every tree, every flower, every blade of grass, every person, and even every dog seemed to carry the weight of that farewell. Yet this solemn mood lasted only a few days before fading away like mist.

Soon, the disciples picked themselves up and returned to their cultivation with renewed determination. Everyone strove to reach the Qi Sea stage as soon as possible, so they could contribute to the Eastern Region's war effort on the Golden Battlefield and temper themselves through life-or-death trials.

Of course, not everyone followed the same path.

Some cultivators, more cunning than diligent, chose to slow—or completely halt—their progress. After all, as long as one didn’t reach the Qi Sea realm, they wouldn’t be conscripted for service. So why bother pushing forward? Why not stay in the comfort of their current realm and enjoy a lifetime of peace?

As for Han Luo, life continued on with its usual tranquility.

Inside the Scripture Hall, he sat quietly in a corner, poring over ancient texts. He was preparing meticulously for his upcoming breakthrough into the Foundation Establishment stage.

Foundation Establishment was a crucial milestone for any cultivator. The name itself suggested its purpose: to lay the foundation. In this case, the foundation was the body.

Cultivation, Han Luo reflected, was like sailing across a boundless sea of suffering. The body was the vessel, and the soul was the one steering the ship. For body cultivators, the goal was to strengthen the vessel itself. Even if the boat capsized in a storm, they could swim to the other side with sheer tenacity.

For qi cultivators, however, it was about controlling the wind and waves. They relied on spiritual energy to shield the boat and remain unshaken amid tempests.

To do that, one needed to open five spiritual meridians within the body.

These five meridians, when fully unblocked, allowed spiritual energy to flow freely and nourish the body, inside and out. As cultivation deepened, the harmony between spiritual energy and the body would increase—until eventually, the cultivator reached a state of unity between spirit and form.

With the soul as the commander and the body as the medium, one could wield the energies of heaven and earth, performing miracles like burning mountains, boiling seas, and shaking the very heavens.

Thus, Foundation Establishment was all about opening those five inner meridians.

The process sounded simple—and in truth, it wasn’t terribly complex. What it demanded was a tremendous amount of willpower. While the structure of meridians was the same for everyone, what differed was how wide and deep they could be carved using spiritual energy.

The broader one’s meridians, the more energy they could handle. The more energy flowed through them, the more refined the body became. And in higher realms, broader meridians made it easier to unleash vast, devastating spells. What might be a mere fireball for one cultivator could become a blazing sun in the hands of another. The difference was absolute.

Han Luo read through the foundational knowledge about Foundation Establishment in detail.

To succeed, one typically needed to rely on a spiritual item powerful enough to simultaneously open all five meridians. And yes—it was going to hurt. A lot. But once the initial breakthrough was over, the benefits would be immense.

A successful first attempt with wide meridians would yield enormous long-term advantages.

Most people used the Foundation Pill, a tried-and-tested medicine that wouldn’t give the widest meridians, but ensured success without risking failure and stagnation.

Still, if someone happened to have a rare spiritual treasure, they could attempt a more powerful breakthrough—though the risks were greater. If they succeeded, they would soar like dragons. If they failed, they would fade into mediocrity.

Han Luo ran the numbers and concluded that he preferred the traditional route: using the Foundation Pill. His reasoning was simple. No spiritual item could compare with the compatibility of his unique colorless spiritual energy. Rather than chase miracles, it was safer to proceed step-by-step.

He wasn’t looking to become some peerless overlord who crushed all before him. He just wanted to quietly cultivate in peace.

With this decision made, he began researching the recipe for the Foundation Pill.

The pill itself wasn’t difficult to refine, but the ingredients were rare and valuable. Especially the supreme-grade version—the required herbs were even more expensive than those for the Spirit Tempering Pill. But that made sense. After all, it was a pill designed to blast open five spiritual meridians in one go.

He sent messages to Master Yunyangzi and a few peak lords, asking them to help collect the needed ingredients. In the meantime, he headed to the sect’s exchange hall and met with Senior Sister Lou to obtain materials for practicing with basic Foundation Pill recipes.

Upon returning to Luoxian Mountain, Han Luo was surprised to see Chi Xiao pacing back and forth outside.

She looked hesitant and uneasy, which puzzled him.

Why is Chi Xiao here?
Shouldn’t she be in seclusion, preparing for Foundation Establishment?

Just then, he heard a familiar voice through sound transmission.

“Han Luo.”

“Martial aunt,” he responded respectfully—it was the voice of Hongniang.

“I’ll be direct. Do you have any way to help Chi Xiao complete her eighth soul tempering?”

Hongniang hadn’t planned to reach out but was driven by desperation.

After sending off the previous generation of disciples, Chi Xiao had challenged Wu Dao to a private match—and lost. Wu Dao activated his domain and utterly crushed her. Chi Xiao didn’t even have a chance to resist.

Since then, she had thrown herself obsessively into attempting her eighth soul tempering, refusing to stop no matter how injured she became.

She couldn't accept being left behind. If she entered Foundation Establishment now, she’d forever remain one step below Wu Dao.

Why could someone like Wu Dao, who didn’t even have a special background, complete eight rounds of soul tempering, while she, a proud daughter of heaven, couldn’t?

Hongniang had tried to stop her, but nothing worked. So as a last resort, she reached out to Han Luo. After all, he had helped Shen Xian’er succeed—maybe, just maybe, he could pull off another miracle.

Of course, she knew the odds were slim. Xian’er was a seven-grade spiritual root cultivator. Chi Xiao had only a sixth-grade root. The gap was enormous.

Han Luo had heard some of the rumors about Chi Xiao’s madness. Her attempts at eighth soul tempering were so extreme that anyone else would have crippled themselves by now. Yet she kept going, dragging her battered body through another attempt again and again.

“Martial aunt, it’s not that I don’t want to help,” he said carefully, “but I don’t have any experience guiding someone like her. If I make a mistake, it could hurt her more than help. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if that happened.”

Everyone’s cultivation path was unique. If he interfered and it went wrong, even with good intentions, it might ruin her foundation.

Helping was a kindness. Not helping was a responsibility.

Still, with Hongniang already humbling herself like this—clearly worn down and full of concern—Han Luo couldn’t refuse.

Especially considering how much she’d done for him and Xian’er, despite constantly teasing him with the idea of becoming her son-in-law.

“…Alright.”

He deactivated the Immortal Trapping Formation and allowed Chi Xiao to enter Luoxian Mountain.

Chapter 106

On Luoxian Mountain, Han Luo sat beneath the parasol tree, observing Mo Jiu through the ancient bronze mirror.

Watching the way Mo Jiu struggled confirmed that his methods were working. Sometimes, punishing someone didn’t require gruesome torture or severed limbs—though, admittedly, that had its own appeal. For now, Mo Jiu was locked up under tight surveillance. Any strange movement would be noticed instantly.

Initially, Han Luo had considered soul-searching as a way to extract information. It was quick and efficient, but also risky. The soul was an elusive thing. Mo Jiu, being the ninth son of the Demon Emperor—even if only a clone—warranted caution. If he had any traps planted in his soul or chose to self-destruct, it could hurt Han Luo and destroy vital clues.

So he chose the slow route instead.

Mental breakdowns could be just as effective. Once Mo Jiu’s mind was broken, he would spill everything Han Luo needed to know.

For now, he turned his attention to something else.

Pulling out his little notebook, Han Luo began to review his goals. It had been six years since he entered Luoxian Sect. According to his original ten-year plan, he was to master three skills: formations, alchemy, and talisman crafting.

Looking at his progress now, he had already achieved entry-level proficiency in all three.

Formations:
He could now lay down third-grade formations, whether offensive, defensive, or illusion-based. This was his strongest area by far.

Alchemy:
Although he didn’t have access to many pill recipes, he had already refined high-quality pills with no side effects. That, in his book, counted as mastery of the basics.

Talisman Crafting:
He had recently undergone a period of seclusion specifically to study talisman-making and could now carve various first-grade talismans, including four extremely rare Substitution Talismans, which he had crafted at great personal cost.

In conclusion, he had achieved all the foundational goals of his ten-year plan well ahead of schedule.

This led to a question—should he wait out the remaining four years before planning the next stage?

He shook his head.

No plan could keep up with real-world changes forever. A good plan should evolve naturally as circumstances shift. The original plan was just a framework; how to move, how to execute, and how to conserve effort were all flexible parts.

With that in mind, it was time to revise his objectives and write a new ten-year plan.

Step One:
Break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and work toward reaching the Qi Sea realm within the next decade.

In other words, by the time the next Luoxian Tournament rolled around, he would be among those preparing to serve on the Golden Battlefield.

Cultivation remained the foundation of everything. Whether formations, alchemy, or talisman crafting, each skill was deeply connected to one’s cultivation level. Especially now, as he intended to develop three additional skill paths:

Magical Artifacts.
Essential tools for any cultivator, a good artifact could mean the difference between life and death in combat. Look at Luoxian Sect—without the legendary Luoxian Twin Swords, it could never have claimed such a rich region.

Puppetry.
Technically a branch of magical artifact refinement, puppets were overlooked by most due to the difficulty of crafting them. But for Han Luo, they were more vital than any weapon or spell.

Mystic Arts and Techniques.
Mystic Arts referred to attack and defense skills—combat tools. Techniques, on the other hand, were foundational: healing, energy recovery, and cultivation boosts. These were just as crucial, forming the other "arm" of a cultivator’s strength.

Han Luo carefully jotted all this into his notebook.

There was no need to rush. Ten years would be more than enough. First, he would focus on breaking into Foundation Establishment, then hone his three new disciplines.

Having finalized the roadmap, he put the notebook away and returned to his quarters.

There, he gently woke up Shen Xian’er.

Today was the day that Senior Brother Du Ming and Senior Sister Lan Caicai would leave. As the last two remaining disciples of Wudao Peak, it was only right for them to see them off.

Luoxian Sect — Teleportation Plaza.

“Xiao Luo, I’m leaving Wudao Peak in your hands.”

Du Ming clapped Han Luo on the shoulder, looking as carefree as ever, as if he were heading off on a honeymoon with Lan Caicai rather than to the deadly Golden Battlefield.

But Han Luo knew better. That battlefield was also known as the “Reaper’s Playground,” where countless prodigies had been buried. Du Ming might be clever, but misfortune never needed an invitation.

“Don’t worry, senior brother. I’ll look after Wudao Peak. We’ll be waiting for your return.”

Han Luo spoke solemnly. In truth, this might be their final meeting.

They had barely grown close, and now Du Ming was already leaving. The feeling left Han Luo slightly unsettled.

“Good. When I return, let’s sit and talk about life again.”

As fellow men, both Du Ming and Han Luo showed the kind of calm detachment expected of cultivators. Meanwhile, Shen Xian’er and Lan Caicai were a mess, crying rivers.

Ever since Shen Xian’er joined the sect, she had lived with Lan Caicai. Their sisterly bond ran deep. In parting, Xian’er brought out her most treasured snacks and handed them to her senior sister. Worried she might go hungry along the way, she even added five storage pouches stuffed full of food.

Compared to Wudao Peak, the other peaks looked a bit more composed.

The most surprising was Piaomiao Peak. Being all women, one would expect emotional farewells, but instead the air was somber and disciplined—more so than even Qianren Peak.

In the end, parting was inevitable.

A generation stepped onto the teleportation array, waving goodbye to their sectmates and home. Once the formation activated, they would be sent to the imperial capital, where an intercontinental array would take them directly to the Golden Battlefield.

“Senior brother…”

Tears continued to flow from Shen Xian’er’s large eyes. The once cheerful girl now looked like a weeping doll. Not even Han Luo’s usual offering of snacks could lift her spirits.

“Don’t worry. With Du Ming’s smarts, he’ll be back. It’s just ten years—not that long.”

Han Luo genuinely believed in Du Ming. In all of Luoxian Sect, he was the only one Han Luo could never see through.

“Really?” Shen Xian’er wiped her tears with her sleeve, looking up hopefully at her senior brother.

“When have I ever lied to you?”

With a gentle smile, he gave her a reassuring pat on the head. It made her feel a little better.

“You’re right! Senior Brother Du Ming is super smart—he’ll definitely bring Senior Sister Caicai back with him!”

Nodding firmly, she grabbed a roasted pork knuckle and started happily munching on it.

“What a little glutton,” Han Luo chuckled, then turned and led her back to Luoxian Mountain.

Chapter 105

Just as he approached the contestant lounge, before even stepping inside, Han Luo heard loud wails coming from within.

Inside, Du Ming and Lan Caicai were trying their best to comfort Shen Xian’er, who was bawling uncontrollably.

The moment Han Luo entered, Shen Xian’er rushed over and buried her face in his chest, sobbing loudly.

“Waaaahhhhhh…”

The cry was just one long note, steady and uninterrupted—impressive in its own right.

Han Luo gently patted her head, sighing helplessly. He had already reviewed the replay on the way back and knew exactly why Xian’er had lost.

“Xian’er, didn’t I tell you to use the Super Glutinous Rice Cake from your Gluttonous Domain to trap Wudao? Why on earth did you use a cream cake instead?”

His strategy had been clear: trap Wudao using the sticky, tenacious nature of the Super Rice Cake. Wudao’s style was overwhelmingly forceful, and the rice cake’s elasticity would have neutralized that advantage.

“I-I-I…” Shen Xian’er pouted, her eyes glistening with fresh tears. “I just thought cream cake tasted better… so I used it instead…”

Han Luo facepalmed.

He had expected a silly reason, but hearing it out loud made him want to sigh at the setting sun.

And she started wailing again.

“Waaaahhhhhh…”

As if she’d just been betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend at once.

“Alright, alright, look what I brought,” Han Luo said, pulling out a treasure from his storage ring—an ultimate delicacy known as… spicy sticks.

“Ah!”

The moment Shen Xian’er caught a whiff of it, she immediately stopped crying. She didn’t know what it was, but that aroma alone made her salivate. She instantly forgot about losing the match.

“This, dear junior sister, is the snack that even immortals can’t resist. Spicy sticks. Your senior brother here went through a lot to steal these for you.”

Of course, there was no such thing as a divine snack loved by immortals. That had been a made-up tale to motivate her to participate. Still, regardless of the outcome, Han Luo had planned to give her the treat as a reward.

Hearing his words, Shen Xian’er’s eyes lit up.

“Then let’s hurry home before anyone finds out and tries to take them back!”

She latched onto Han Luo’s arm, dragging him out the door.

“You two go ahead. We’re going to stay and watch the finals,” Du Ming said.

Han Luo nodded and took Xian’er back to Luoxian Mountain.

As for the rest of the tournament—he didn’t really care.

Li Jun versus Wudao would simply continue the long-standing rivalry between Qianren Peak and Xianding Peak.

Back at Luoxian Mountain, Shen Xian’er rushed to her room, locked the door, wrapped herself tightly in her blanket, and began secretly devouring the spicy sticks like they were forbidden treasure.

Despite her precautions, Han Luo could still hear her muffled exclamations from outside. It was clear—spicy sticks were a timeless, cross-dimensional delicacy. Especially when it came to children, they were always a hit.

Han Luo raised his hand and activated a formation to seal Xian’er’s room within the Mirror Realm, just in case Changshou Laogui came back for revenge.

Once that was done, he returned to the Mirror Realm himself.

Inside the Illusory Confinement, Mo Jiu sat cross-legged, meditating.

“What’s your name?” Mo Jiu growled the moment Han Luo entered, his aura brimming with hatred. He looked like a jilted wife glaring at her cheating husband—utterly drained and furious.

“Who I am doesn’t matter,” Han Luo replied calmly. “What matters is who you are, where you came from, and what you’re doing in the Eastern Region.”

A classic interrogation opening—he didn’t expect answers, but protocol was protocol.

“You don’t deserve to know who I am,” Mo Jiu snapped arrogantly. “And besides, what you’ve captured is just one of my avatars. Even if you destroy this one, so what? You’ll never leave Luoxian Sect alive. The moment you step outside, I’ll show you what true cruelty looks like.”

His crimson eyes bore into Han Luo, seething with killing intent.

Han Luo smiled faintly, pleased with the display.

“At least you’re smart enough to use an avatar for something this risky.”

He had already suspected it. After all, Mo Jiu had survived Yunyangzi’s wrath, so he had to have had backup plans.

“And you’re no better, hiding behind substitution talismans,” Mo Jiu sneered.

The memory of that betrayal made his blood boil. He cursed Changshou Laogui for playing dirty and attempting to monopolize the Xian sword. The old bastard would pay one day—Mo Jiu swore he’d wipe out the entire Changshou Sect.

“Honestly,” Han Luo said, rubbing his chin, “I do appreciate your straightforwardness. But I don’t like people with too much murderous intent—even if you are a demon. So let’s take some time to cleanse your temperament before we talk again.”

Han Luo already had a plan for dealing with Mo Jiu.

“You think locking me up will drive me insane?” Mo Jiu scoffed. “I was born into loneliness. Your kind could never understand it. Lock me up for a million years—I won’t break.”

Han Luo nodded in understanding.

“That’s why I prepared something special for you. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

With a snap of his fingers, the walls, ceiling, and floor of Mo Jiu’s cell were covered in one-meter-wide video screens.

“Shhhhhh…”

All screens lit up simultaneously, first with static, then distortion—and finally, lush green pastures appeared on all sides.

A cheerful tune began to play:
“Don’t look down on me just 'cause I’m a little lamb…”

The cartoon Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf began broadcasting in full surround sound.

Mo Jiu instinctively raised his arms into a defensive stance, expecting a spiritual attack or some mental illusion. But no threat came.

One minute passed. His head began to hurt.

“Enjoy,” Han Luo said. “I’ll be back later. Maybe by then you’ll have had a change of heart.”

He turned to leave.

Mo Jiu stayed alert, refusing to believe Han Luo would let him off that easily. He stared at the screens, searching for hidden patterns, danger, traps…

Then the episode ended.

And looped back to the beginning.

Again.

And again.

“Seal my senses!” Mo Jiu tried to block all inputs—sight, sound, everything.

But he was shocked to find that all his magic was sealed. No demonic energy. No divine techniques. No way to shut anything out.

“Damn you!” he roared. “You call this torture?! This is humiliating!”

He sat cross-legged and tried to meditate—but those cheerful songs kept drilling into his mind.

“AAAAARGHHHHHH!”

He smashed his head into the wall.

No use. The walls had been enchanted with a soft barrier. It felt… comfortable.

“I’LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR I’LL KILL YOU!”

His screams echoed through the sealed chamber.

But the only reply was that irritating voice:
“I’ll be back!”

Chapter 104

“Cough… cough…”

Han Luo coughed violently, spraying blood mixed with fragments of bone. The sight was gut-wrenching.

“You… who… are you? Why… did you come to the Eastern Domain…” he asked in a weak, trembling voice, as if clinging to his last breath. Mo Jiu's combat style was brutal and unrelenting, honed by countless battles. Han Luo couldn’t keep up—he was completely outmatched.

“I am Mo Jiu, the ninth son of the Demon Emperor and the future ruler of the Eastern Domain,” the demon replied coldly. His fingers tightened, bones in Han Luo’s neck cracked audibly under the pressure—enough to make one’s skin crawl.

“Relax. I won’t let you die so easily. I’ll torment you with a thousand different methods. You’ll learn what it truly means to regret ever stepping into this world.”

With a mad grin, Mo Jiu grabbed Han Luo’s arm and yanked hard.

RIP—!

Blood sprayed like a fountain as Han Luo’s arm was torn clean off, spattering Mo Jiu’s face with gore—making him look even more like a true demon.

“You… how did you enter the Eastern Domain? We have… the World Wall…” Han Luo’s voice was faint as a whisper, but Mo Jiu’s keen hearing caught every word.

“You’re not worthy of the answer.”

Without hesitation, Mo Jiu reached down, seized one of Han Luo’s legs, and tore it off as well. Blood splashed across the ground, satisfying the seething fury in Mo Jiu’s chest.

“You’ve pleased me today,” Mo Jiu said with twisted joy. “So I’ll give you a gift.”

He raised his hand, and in his palm appeared a flickering True Demon Flame.

“This flame will burn your soul. Every sin you’ve ever committed, every drop of blood on your hands, every lie you’ve ever told—will return to torment you. You’ll feel each of them, one by one, until you beg for death.”

Mo Jiu cast the flame.

“AAAAHHHH!”

Han Luo screamed in agony. His face contorted beyond recognition, his entire body writhing and warping from the soul-searing pain.

“HAHAHAHA!”

The more Han Luo screamed, the more ecstatic Mo Jiu became. Watching his enemy suffer was like a drug—he was intoxicated by it, laughing madly, utterly deranged.

The screaming continued for several breaths. Mo Jiu finally pulled back, realizing he couldn’t play any longer. He needed to finish the real task at hand.

“Useless body.”

He clenched Han Luo’s neck—BOOM!—and Han Luo’s body exploded like a balloon, spraying blood across the land. All that remained in Mo Jiu’s hand was a glowing crimson talisman.

The talisman disintegrated into dust before his eyes.

“Damn it. I still didn’t get the information on how he entered the Eastern Domain. A complete failure.”

Then—a voice rang out behind him.

“You say something?”

Mo Jiu’s mind blanked for a second. He turned around slowly.

Han Luo stood there, holding his little notebook, calmly jotting down notes.

“You… what did you say?!”

Mo Jiu sensed something was wrong. Terribly wrong. But he couldn’t figure out exactly what—his thoughts stumbled like stones in a raging river.

Han Luo didn’t respond. He kept scribbling, ignoring the furious demon.

After a moment, he closed the notebook, looked up, and said, “Mo Jiu, thanks for helping me test the durability of my Substitute Talisman. Also, did you really think I’d fight you head-on?”

He tilted his head, staring at Mo Jiu like he was an idiot.

“DIE!!”

Mo Jiu erupted in fury, hurling a full-powered punch.

But Han Luo stood there, unflinching, not even blinking.

BANG!

The punch stopped a mere ten centimeters away from Han Luo’s face. A transparent wall had materialized, blocking the attack completely.

“Impossible!”

Mo Jiu stared in disbelief. Han Luo had actually blocked his strike?

“In a world where even immortals exist, what’s impossible? You should understand that better than anyone,” Han Luo said calmly.

“I DON’T BELIEVE IT!!”

Mo Jiu roared and pummeled the invisible wall with both fists. Blow after blow thundered against the barrier, but it wouldn’t budge.

He could sense it now—it wasn’t a simple wall. It was the manifested prison realm of the treasure—the Bronze Mirror. Unless he could destroy a postnatal-grade treasure with brute force, he’d be trapped here forever.

Even in his awakened True Demon Form, he couldn’t make a dent.

“You think you can trap me?” Mo Jiu snarled. He raised his hand and shouted, “Sword, to me!”

One second… nothing happened.

Three seconds… still nothing.

The silence was deafening.

“You mean this sword?” Han Luo raised his hand. A black demonic sword flew into his palm.

“WHAT?! Why is the sword answering to you?!”

Mo Jiu was dumbfounded.

What’s going on? Who’s the real demon here? I’m supposed to be the one controlling the magic sword!

“You want to know why it ignored your summon?” Han Luo asked with a smirk. “Because… it was never corrupted.”

With a flick of his wrist, the black sword dissolved into mist and vanished.

“No! I saw it with my own eyes! The Ancient Demon Blood corrupted the Xian Sword!” Pang Hu shouted in disbelief.

“All fake,” Han Luo said casually. “Everything was staged. The array was set long ago—just waiting for the two of you to walk into the trap.”

Shou Hou narrowed his eyes. “So that was all an act… Damn, his performance was even better than mine.”

“At least you’re not completely hopeless,” Han Luo chuckled, waving his hand.

The illusion shattered. They were still in the Xian Peak, yes—but at a safe distance from the sword.

“Got them,” a voice echoed.

Yun Yangzi stepped forward with a smile, as if he’d been there the whole time.

Han Luo wasn’t surprised. A Nascent Soul cultivator had all sorts of unimaginable techniques.

“Yes,” Han Luo nodded. “They’re caught.”

“Where’s the Ancient Demon Blood? You’re too weak to handle it—give it to me, or it might affect your mind.”

Yun Yangzi sounded gentle and concerned. Han Luo hesitated briefly, then pulled out a brocade box from his Bronze Ring.

“It’s in here, Master. Please keep it safe.”

Yun Yangzi took the box—and in that instant, BOOM!

It exploded violently. The blast could’ve severely injured a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It was one of Han Luo’s 72 hidden trump cards. But the explosion didn’t even spread. A white light in Yun Yangzi’s hand absorbed it completely—like striking a match that instantly fizzled out.

Han Luo scoffed.

“So that’s it. I was wondering why a mid-Foundation demon like Mo Jiu dared sneak into Luoxian Sect and hatch such a grand plan. Of course—it’s because he has someone powerful backing him.”

From the moment he saw Pang Hu and Shou Hou, Han Luo suspected something was off. A plan this grand couldn’t be left to two clueless thugs.

He’d prepared for this all along—just waiting for the real mastermind to show.

“Han Luo, calling your elder a liar… isn’t that a little inappropriate?” Yun Yangzi said with a crooked smile.

“Only if you actually are my elder,” Han Luo replied flatly.

As he spoke, Yun Yangzi’s body shifted—revealing a completely unfamiliar old man.

“A clever child like you… can’t be allowed to live.”

The old man struck without warning. Han Luo tried to dodge, but before he could react—he blacked out and dissolved into dust.

It was another Substitute Talisman.

“Hmph.” The old man snorted. He extended his divine sense, trying to scan the entire Luoxian Sect.

As long as he could find the Ancient Demon Blood, he could taint the Xian Sword and force it into submission.

“Changshou, you old bastard—how dare you!”

A thunderous voice rang out. Yun Yangzi had truly arrived and stood calmly before him.

Changshou flinched and ceased his actions.

“Of course not,” he said with a fake smile. “I heard Luoxian Sect was holding its Grand Assembly, and as a neighbor, I thought I’d stop by and pay my respects.”

Changshou, the Sect Master of Changshou Sect, was infamous for his ruthlessness, cunning, and total lack of scruples.

“Hmph! Since you’re here, then don’t leave. Allow me to give you a proper welcome.”

Yun Yangzi’s tone turned icy.

“Fine. It’s been a while since I stretched my limbs. Let’s play.”

White and green lights flashed—the two vanished into the sky.

Back on Luoxian Mountain, under a phoenix tree, Han Luo slowly opened his eyes.

Losing two Substitute Talismans in one day stung badly. They were extremely hard to craft, and he only had four total—each infused with his own blood essence. Losing even one would make him ache for months.

Still, despite the cost, his mind was on Yun Yangzi.

Please don’t let anything happen to him… If the sect’s only Nascent Soul cultivator fell, Luoxian Sect would suffer immensely.

With a flick of his hand, he summoned another talisman.

It took on his form—a decoy.

The real Han Luo hid himself within the Mirror Realm’s prison domain. After all, Changshou was the type to come back for a surprise kill.

Better to be safe than sorry.

His decoy, meanwhile, headed to the Luoxian Assembly to bring back Xian’er—before anything else went wrong.

Chapter 103

"Why bother summoning the master? We’ve got ancient demon blood. We could just corrupt the Xian Sword ourselves, take it, form our own sect, and live the high life!" Pang Hu’s eyes glowed blood-red as his body emanated thick black mist—he looked entirely possessed.

"I think that plan could work," Shou Hou added, equally frenzied. His bulging, bloodshot eyes gleamed with madness, and ominous demonic energy coiled off him. "If I can get the sword to recognize me, not even the master can stop me! This is one of the strongest innate treasures in the entire cultivation world—it once killed a cultivator in the Grand Ascension Stage!"

Watching them so easily fall under the sword’s influence, Han Luo was speechless. Seriously? Mo Jiu sent these two clowns to carry out such a critical mission?

With no other choice, he quickly pulled out two Clarity Talismans and slapped them onto the two men. Instantly, the talismans took effect, clearing their minds.

The two snapped out of their trance and shivered in fright. Had they really reached for the sword just now? If they had touched it, they’d likely have been consumed, turned into nourishment for the sword.

"Thank you, little brother!" Pang Hu clapped a meaty hand on Han Luo’s shoulder, grinning. "I promise—when big bro eats meat, you’ll never be left drinking soup!"

"I'm honored, Brother Tiger. From now on, I’ll serve loyally at your side." Han Luo kept up his bootlicking with flawless execution. He’d heard their earlier conversation outside and knew exactly how to play his part.

"Brother Tiger, should we summon the master now?" he asked earnestly.

"Not yet," Shou Hou said, narrowing his eyes and eyeing Han Luo with suspicion.

"Why not?" Han Luo put on a look of confusion.

"The master said we have to first taint the Xian Sword with the ancient demon blood before summoning him. He’s worried that if he appears too early, his demonic aura will alert the old fogies in Luoxian Sect," Pang Hu explained patiently.

"Ah, so that’s how it is..." Han Luo nodded, feigning realization. "Then what do you need me to do, Brother Tiger?"

"You? Just stand there and watch. Let your big bro show you how it's done."

Pang Hu and Shou Hou exchanged a glance, then took out colorful stones from their storage rings and began arranging a formation.

An ancient teleportation array.

Han Luo recognized it immediately—he’d seen something similar when the demons first infiltrated the sect. He had wanted to learn the formation back then, but he’d only caught a glimpse of it and never had the chance to study it up close. Now, thanks to this perfect opportunity, he memorized every step.

Soon, the array was complete.

Before activating it, Shou Hou produced a delicate brocade box. When he opened it, a wave of ancient, oppressive energy swept through the air. Inside was a single drop of Ancient Demon Blood, thick and black like molten tar, shimmering with eerie brilliance.

Han Luo’s colorless spiritual energy reacted immediately, trembling inside his body. It recognized the demon blood as a threat.

Indeed, ancient demon blood was rare and terrifying. While it was a powerful tonic for demons—used in alchemy, weapon forging, and more—for cultivators, it was a curse. Anyone contaminated by it risked turning into a half-human, half-demonic monster, either to be slain or devoured by the blood itself.

"Let’s begin," Shou Hou said, activating a specialized tool to direct the demon blood toward the Xian Sword.

Upon contact, the sword trembled violently, clearly resisting. But the ancient demon blood was far too corrosive. Despite being an innate spiritual treasure, the sword couldn’t hold back the corruption.

In just a few breaths, the sword’s radiant, holy glow dulled and then turned pitch black. Demonic energy wafted off the now-corrupted weapon—it had become a Demonic Sword.

"We did it!" Pang Hu beamed with joy. He hadn’t expected the plan to work so smoothly.

"Save the chatter. Summon the master quickly—we don't want to get caught." Shou Hou urged him toward the array.

The two of them stood before the formation, chanted obscure, guttural incantations, and activated the array. Han Luo couldn’t understand the ancient language, but he recorded the sounds for later study.

The array hummed, activated, and slowly, a tall, handsome figure materialized from within. His blood-red eyes glowed menacingly. He looked every bit the classic villain—only missing the words “Final Boss” stamped across his forehead.

Mo Jiu had arrived.

"Master!" Pang Hu and Shou Hou dropped to their knees in reverence.

But Mo Jiu didn’t even glance at them—his crimson gaze locked directly onto Han Luo.

"You... who are you?"

His deep, magnetic voice rang out, each syllable heavy with pressure. The entire atmosphere froze in an instant.

Pang Hu stammered, sensing something was wrong. "Master! Isn't that Little Fan, the one you sent to assist us?"

Then Mo Jiu's eyes widened in recognition. "It's you..."

"Die!"

He roared. Fate truly had a twisted sense of humor—he had long dreamed of finding and killing this man. Without hesitation, he lunged, his hand morphing into a demonic claw.

Han Luo was ready. He sidestepped the attack and slipped into the mist of one of his pre-laid arrays.

Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage. Just one exchange and Han Luo had gauged Mo Jiu’s strength.

"You’re not getting away." Mo Jiu's eyes gleamed, firing twin beams of blood-red light that locked onto Han Luo’s position. His arm extended unnaturally and reached toward the mist.

"He can see through my illusion array?" Han Luo was stunned but quickly shifted his location again.

Yet the demon claw still followed him.

"Too strong!"

Even with all the agility his formations afforded him, he was barely evading the relentless attacks.

"You must die today!" Mo Jiu’s killing intent erupted.

Even if the mission failed, he would personally end Han Luo. This man had nearly destroyed his soul years ago. If not for that battle with the old Nascent Soul cultivator, he would be even stronger now.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Mo Jiu bellowed, summoning a second claw that also lashed out at Han Luo.

"Mid-Foundation stage truly is terrifying. I’m being forced to use my spiritual energy," Han Luo muttered, a thin aura forming around him. His speed instantly doubled, and without using any protective arts or techniques, he evaded the full-force assault.

"True Demon Form!"

Mo Jiu howled and activated his transformation.

Horns burst from his forehead. Wings unfurled from his back. A massive, three-meter-long demonic tail lashed behind him. With a boom, the air exploded from the sheer force of his motion.

He vanished—then reappeared right in front of Han Luo.

Before Han Luo could react, Mo Jiu's fist struck.

Boom!

Han Luo crossed his arms instinctively to block, but with a crack, both forearms and his sternum shattered. His body flew like a cannonball and smashed into the ground, embedding into the cracked floor.

Before he could rise, another boom echoed. Mo Jiu appeared above him, his burning demonic fist crashing down again.

BOOM!

A sea of fire exploded on impact.

Han Luo coughed blood violently. He hadn’t been able to dodge the furious blow and now lay weak, his body unresponsive.

Mo Jiu descended, gripping him by the throat and lifting him into the air.

"Do you know what I’ve been through these past few years?" Mo Jiu’s body trembled. His blood-red eyes flickered with unshed tears.

Yes—tears.

A demon, shedding tears over a cultivator. He had allowed Han Luo to become his heart demon.

Night after night, Mo Jiu had nightmares of this man’s face. That paranoid, overly cautious expression haunted him endlessly.

And now, he finally had him.

"Let’s see how I’ll make you pay!"

Chapter 102

Luoxian Peak got its name from the legendary Luoxian Twin Swords.

Located at the very heart of Luoxian Sect, the peak consisted of two towering mountains that pierced the clouds—one called Luo Peak, the other Xian Peak.

Within Luo Peak rested a congenital spiritual treasure, the Luo Sword.

Within Xian Peak resided its twin counterpart, the Xian Sword.

The Luoxian Twin Swords were famed throughout the Eastern Region, with their most glorious record being the time they combined forces to strike down a cultivator in the Grand Ascension Stage.

However, this renown came with a known limitation: the Luoxian Twin Swords had never recognized a master. They could not be taken from Luoxian Sect and could only serve as passive defensive treasures. If either sword were ever to acknowledge a master, Luoxian Sect would instantly rise to become one of the supreme sects in the Eastern Region.

Beneath Luoxian Peak, Pang Hu and Shou Hou lay hidden in the bushes, quietly waiting according to the plan.

Han Luo, having come from the tournament grounds, had already locked on to their location using his bronze mirror treasure. Still, he pretended to be cautious as he approached them.

“Sweet potato, sweet potato, I am potato,” he whispered, deliberately acting nervous and furtive.

Hearing the signal, Pang Hu and Shou Hou exchanged glances. Pang Hu replied in kind, “Potato, potato, I am sweet potato.”

Han Luo stepped out, feigning sudden realization. He clasped his fists in greeting. “You must be Brother Tiger and Brother Monkey, as Lord Mo Jiu mentioned.”

He addressed them with exaggerated respect, calling them “Brother” with every sentence. The flattery pleased the two immensely.

“What’s your name, little brother?” Pang Hu asked, already liking this kid.

“My name is Liang Feifan, but you can call me Little Fan,” Han Luo replied with just the right amount of sycophancy. His brown-nosing made the two feel very important.

“Hahaha! Good name,” Pang Hu laughed. “When the master takes action, just say which senior sister you like. I’ll make sure she’s left alive and given to you as a wife.”

“Really, Brother Tiger?” Han Luo’s eyes lit up with exaggerated longing.

“Of course! Don’t you know who I am? The master’s most trusted subordinate. Why else would he send me on such an important mission?” Pang Hu boasted shamelessly, already forgetting the humiliating slap-fest earlier.

Han Luo’s look of admiration was performed to perfection, and Pang Hu unconsciously puffed up his chest, visibly proud.

Shou Hou, standing nearby, was speechless. “Enough already. The semi-finals are going on in Luoxian Square. If we move now, no one will notice. Let’s finish the task before you two get too cozy.”

“Right,” Han Luo cut in smoothly. “Follow me. I know a hidden path that leads directly inside Xian Peak.”

This hidden path was something he had prepared long ago. In fact, a sprawling tunnel network existed beneath the entire sect—his own secret creation.

Leading the way, Han Luo brought the two along, easily bypassing the guards and formations he had previously studied. They entered Xian Peak without a hitch.

As expected, there were no guards stationed before the Xian Sword.

After all, it was a congenital spiritual treasure. Anyone capable of taking it by force wouldn’t be stopped by ordinary guards. And if no one could take it, guards were pointless.

“Brothers, wait here for a moment. I’ll go ahead and scout. If it’s safe, I’ll call you in,” Han Luo said, acting like a flunky eager to earn favor for a beautiful senior sister.

“Little Fan, from now on we’re real brothers. I’ll tell the master to spare whichever senior sister you like and give her to you,” Pang Hu said emotionally, his eyes even turning red.

Shou Hou rolled his eyes. “Too much! Want me to light three incense sticks, kill a chicken, and have you two swear brotherhood in blood?”

“You don’t get it. This is called love at first sight!” Pang Hu retorted, then turned to Han Luo. “Go, brother. I’ll wait here for your good news.”

Han Luo nodded solemnly and carefully entered the mountain.

As soon as he left, Pang Hu’s sentimental expression vanished, replaced with cold calculation and disdain.

“Not bad acting,” Shou Hou muttered. As Pang Hu’s longtime companion, he knew full well this man was no fool. He looked brash, but his heart was full of schemes.

“That kid’s just a Qi Condensation weakling. If it weren’t for this mission’s importance, do you think I’d waste breath on him?” Pang Hu sneered.

“But he seemed to really believe it,” Shou Hou noted. He had been watching closely and found no signs of deception in Han Luo’s face.

“Doesn’t matter. It never hurts to have another pawn. When this job’s done and we become Demon Generals, we’ll need obedient dogs under us. That one looks like a loyal hound.”

“Fair point. Disciples of Luoxian Sect are famously gullible. A sect that holds farewell tournaments for cultivators heading off to die? What a joke.”

The two continued mocking Luoxian Sect as they waited.

Inside the mountain, Han Luo was completely unfazed. He’d been here before, as this sacred place was a well-known spot in Luoxian Sect.

Just like last time, the interior of Xian Peak was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. The air shimmered with gentle light, sweet and full of vitality—an effect of the innate aura emitted by the Xian Sword, a natural byproduct of its divine essence.

At the mountain’s center hovered a transparent longsword, three fingers wide and nearly two meters long, radiating a faint glow.

This was the Xian Sword—one half of Luoxian Sect’s legendary twin treasures.

It didn’t look particularly special. Hovering quietly in the air, it resembled a common magical item.

But anyone who saw it would instantly desire to possess it—including Han Luo.

If he could gain its recognition, he would have the power to protect himself in this dangerous cultivation world. And nothing mattered more to him than survival.

Still, after hundreds of years, no one had ever succeeded. Many had died trying, their corpses feeding the sword.

Han Luo shook his head. Though the temptation was strong, he restrained himself.

Acting recklessly would only lead to death.

He stayed far away, setting up an array of traps and formations around the sword to prepare for an ambush. Today, no matter what, he was going to eliminate Mo Jiu.

If that demon got away again, Han Luo doubted he’d ever sleep peacefully.

Having completed the setup, he called in Pang Hu and Shou Hou.

The moment they entered and saw the floating sword, they were entranced and instinctively moved forward to touch it.

“Brothers, snap out of it! Let’s summon the master first,” Han Luo called, breaking their trance.

If these two died before summoning Mo Jiu, he’d have no way of drawing the demon out.

Chapter 101

Somewhere in a remote wilderness within Luoxian Sect...

“This can’t be right! According to the master's directions, the location should be around here. How did we get lost?!”

A burly man, face full of anxiety like he was constipated, stomped about the misty clearing. His name was Pang Hu.

“Not right? More like you remembered it wrong. Pang Hu, if your mistake ruins the master's plan, he’ll turn you into a puppet!” snapped the lanky man beside him, whose figure was so thin even a starving wolf would cry from pity. He was nicknamed Shou Hou.

“Quit nagging! Just break the formation already,” Pang Hu retorted. “You talk like the master wouldn’t punish you if things go south!”

They looked around. A heavy fog surrounded them—clearly, they were trapped in an illusion array.

These two were old disciples of Luoxian Sect.

Watching them, Han Luo frowned.

Due to the Luoxian Tournament, many senior disciples had returned to the mountain, and although most were thoroughly screened, a few still slipped through. What troubled him most was the way these two kept referring to someone as "Master"—not in a normal sense, but more like the creepy kind of devotion.

Even more suspicious, instead of watching the tournament, they were wandering around in this remote patch of land.

Han Luo quietly activated the bronze mirror artifact to control the array. He projected into the illusion what the two feared most.

Inside the formation, Pang Hu and Shou Hou were steadily working their way out, relying on their mid-stage Foundation Establishment strength. The illusion wasn’t very powerful—just a second-rank array. With time, they reached what appeared to be an exit.

“Finally! Who’s the madman that laid a formation in a place like this?” Pang Hu cursed.

“Forget it. Let’s just finish the master’s mission,” Shou Hou said and began to move forward.

Suddenly, a dark figure blocked their path.

Han Luo’s eyes went wide. His heart raced. A few drops of cold sweat slid down his back.

“That’s... Mo Jiu?!”

A black-robed figure—the very image of the demonic cultivator who had haunted his nightmares. Mo Jiu was supposed to be dead, slain by Master Yun Yangzi with a single strike. No way could a Nascent Soul cultivator fail to eliminate a Qi Condensation level demon.

What was going on?

To the two men, the figure before them looked as real as could be. They dropped to their knees immediately.

“Master! You’ve come in person!”

Of course, this was just an illusion crafted from their fears. But the trauma they’d experienced was so deep, they didn’t even question it.

“Hmph! Useless trash. What did I send you here to do?” Han Luo, disguised as Mo Jiu, berated them through the illusion, trying to extract information.

“Master, you told us to infiltrate Luoxian Sect during the tournament. Why ask us again?” Pang Hu asked, confused.

“Shut up!” Shou Hou kicked Pang Hu and quickly groveled. “Master, we were instructed to sneak into Luoxian Sect during the distraction of the tournament. Once all attention was diverted, we were to use ancient demonic blood to corrupt one of the Luoxian Twin Swords, then activate the ancient teleportation array to summon you. You would then wield the sword and massacre everyone at Luoxian Square.”

Han Luo’s heart pounded. He hadn't expected Mo Jiu to still be alive, let alone to be plotting something so sinister.

More shocking—there had been no sign of this scheme until now. If not for the defensive arrays he had laid down earlier, this disaster might have gone undetected.

“So why are you here now?” Shou Hou asked the illusion. “Didn’t you say you couldn’t come in person or risk detection by Yun Yangzi?”

Han Luo narrowed his eyes. If they began to doubt the illusion...

“Silence!” he snapped, causing a sudden gust of wind to howl around them. Shou Hou trembled and looked down.

“Disrespectful fool. You dare question me? Slap yourself.”

Without hesitation, Shou Hou started slapping himself.

“Pfft—” Pang Hu snorted.

“You too. Both of you—200 slaps. Each!”

Stunned, Pang Hu obeyed. A slap from Shou Hou came flying, followed by a return blow from Pang Hu. Back and forth, they pummeled each other until their faces were a swollen mess.

When it finally ended, Han Luo laid out his plan.

“Listen up. This is merely my projection. I’ve already scouted a safe path to Luoxian Peak and found someone to help you complete the mission.”

“Understood, Master,” they chorused.

Han Luo added a ridiculous contact code for good measure: “Your passphrase is: ‘Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato, I am Potato. Potato, Potato, I am Sweet Potato.’ Got it?”

The two hesitated, but agreed. It sounded absurd—not at all demonic—but then again, they were thieves trying to steal a divine treasure. A bit of absurdity was par for the course.

“Now go to the base of Luoxian Peak. I’ll have the contact meet you there.”

The illusion vanished.

As soon as Mo Jiu disappeared, Pang Hu frowned. “Hey... don’t you think the master seemed—”

“Shut it!” Shou Hou snapped. “You want to die? You know how temperamental the master is. Say the wrong thing, and next time it’ll be your skin getting peeled off.”

“Y-yeah. Right. I’ll shut up.”

The two disappeared into the shadows, heading for Luoxian Peak.

Back at Luoxian Square, Han Luo glanced at the time. Although Shen Xian’er’s match wasn’t first, he couldn’t guarantee how long he’d be away.

He pulled out a delivery talisman, stuffed her battle plan booklet inside, and sent it off to her before turning toward Luoxian Peak.

This time, he wasn’t alerting Master Yun Yangzi or the other elders.

The last time they hunted Mo Jiu, those old men screwed it up. This time, he’d handle it himself—and end Mo Jiu once and for all.

Chapter 100

As Shen Xian’er charged forward, Chi Xiao thrust her fire-tipped spear into the ground.

“Divine Talon Style: Heaven-Binding.”

The ground split open. From the cracks surged several crimson chains, instantly binding Shen Xian’er in place and rendering her immobile.

Chi Xiao had no intention of hurting Shen Xian’er. Her plan was simple—bind her in place and force her to admit defeat.

But she had clearly underestimated Shen Xian’er.

Struggling within the bindings, Shen Xian’er tried to break free. Yet the chains were far too tough, tightening even more the harder she pulled.

“Xian’er, give up. I’ll treat you to something delicious afterward,” Chi Xiao offered, knowing her weak spot.

Shen Xian’er immediately stopped struggling. Her face lit up with yearning at the mention of food.

Three-tenths of a second later, she bit her lip and declared, “Evil dragon! You dare use food to tempt me? I won’t fall for it!”

Even Han Luo was surprised to see her resist such temptation while still roleplaying.

Just as he was about to praise her in his heart, she began doing something unexpected.

Bound securely with only her neck able to move, Shen Xian’er leaned down and bit into the nearest crimson chain.

Crunch!

The sound was crisp and shocking.

Like chewing on a crunchy potato chip, she bit through the chain and swallowed a chunk.

“So gross... so gross...” she muttered, her expression pained—yet she kept going. Bite after bite, she chewed her way through every single chain.

This was the power of her Gluttonous Domain—within it, anything made of spiritual energy could be eaten.

After devouring the last chain, she rubbed her slightly bulging belly with satisfaction, then looked up at Chi Xiao and complained, “Evil dragon, your spiritual energy tastes awful.”

She healed herself with a flash of green light, then charged again with her massive lollipop hammer.

Chi Xiao instinctively retreated. She couldn’t believe Shen Xian’er had literally eaten her spell. Was this even allowed?

Dodging the attacks, Chi Xiao summoned more crimson chains from the Divine Talon Style to bind her again.

The result was the same—Shen Xian’er ate them all.

Chi Xiao felt a headache coming on.

She couldn’t bring herself to use lethal techniques against Shen Xian’er—what if she actually hurt her?

Honestly, she knew deep down: among all the disciples, Shen Xian’er was the one person she was guaranteed to lose to. She just didn’t have the heart to fight her seriously.

In the end, Chi Xiao gave up running. She stopped, smiled, and declared:

“I admit defeat. The princess is yours.”

The arena erupted.

No one had expected Chi Xiao, one of the top contenders for first place, to forfeit—especially without going all out.

But Chi Xiao accepted it with grace. Rather than drain Shen Xian’er’s strength in a meaningless battle, she chose to let her keep her energy for the next round.

Even if that meant Piaomiao Peak couldn’t claim the championship, it was fine—Shen Xian’er was half from Piaomiao Peak anyway.

Her victory would still feel like Piaomiao Peak’s victory.

And besides, if she had to lose to someone, better it be her adorable little sister than anyone else. She wasn’t like Wu Dao, that battle maniac—she could never bear to see Shen Xian’er hurt.

“I won?” Shen Xian’er blinked in confusion, breaking out of her roleplay. Her big eyes sparkled as she looked at Chi Xiao, who smiled warmly back.

She understood. Chi Xiao had surrendered not because she couldn’t fight, but because she didn’t want to hurt her.

If they’d really gone all out, even if Shen Xian’er won, she would’ve ended up like Wang Huan—injured and possibly out of the competition.

Thinking of that, her joy faded.

Fighting with Chi Xiao wasn’t fun at all.

She pouted. “It’s all my senior brother’s fault. He made me join the competition... Hmph. Definitely his fault.”

Never mind that she’d begged him to let her enter. At this moment, all blame was thrown on Han Luo’s shoulders.

In the spectator stands, Han Luo rubbed his nose with a helpless sigh.

Sure, it wasn’t the most glorious way to win—but it had its own beauty.

Years from now, people would remember the story of Chi Xiao, who chose to lose rather than hurt her little sister. Their bond would be something retold again and again.

After all, the Luoxian Sect’s tournament wasn’t about mere wins and losses—it was about their spirit.

If you thought this was just a contest of strength, your understanding was still too shallow.

This was a farewell festival.

Many of those present would one day leave Luoxian Sect forever—or never return at all.

To offer warmth to them before their departure was its own kind of kindness.

Okay, fine—Han Luo admitted it. He’d planned this on purpose.

Shen Xian’er couldn’t stay a child forever. She needed to grow up, to learn who could be trusted, and who couldn’t.

As long as she understood that much, he was content.

The match had ended unexpectedly, but the result was perfectly reasonable.

Chi Xiao’s affection for Shen Xian’er warmed every heart in the arena. In this cruel cultivation world, a sect with such familial bonds was truly rare.

The competition continued.

The remaining matches were fierce. Everyone who had made it into the top eight had powerful techniques and deep experience.

Eventually, the final four were determined:

Shen Xian’er, Wu Dao, Li Jun, and a quiet but formidable disciple named Ye Xiaoyao.

The semi-final pairings immediately raised suspicions—some were convinced there had to be foul play involved.

Li Jun vs. Ye Xiaoyao. Shen Xian’er vs. Wu Dao.

The first pairing was fair—two powerhouses clashing head-on.

But Shen Xian’er vs. Wu Dao?

People couldn’t help but recall how Wu Dao had brutally defeated Wang Huan.

If he went all out, would he really show Shen Xian’er mercy?

The thought made everyone shiver.

They didn’t dare imagine what might happen.

After a short break, the semifinals would begin.

Though night had fallen, the heat in the arena hadn’t dimmed.

Cultivators didn’t need sleep. Even if this lasted till morning, none of them would leave.

As the crowd buzzed with speculation, Han Luo turned to head toward the rest area to give Shen Xian’er some final instructions—

When suddenly, he stopped.

His expression shifted.

Someone had triggered a formation.

And not just any formation—but the one he had set at the location of the ancient teleportation array, where the demon race once tried to infiltrate Luoxian Sect.

He had fortified it heavily.

And now, it had been disturbed.

Chapter 99

The quarterfinals of the Luoxian Tournament officially began, and the scene erupted in thunderous excitement.

Chi Xiao stood tall as always, clad in her blazing crimson battle armor that shimmered like molten lava. Her long red hair danced wildly in the wind, her presence radiating overwhelming confidence and martial spirit. In stark contrast, Shen Xian’er looked cheerful and innocent, more like she was attending a banquet than stepping into battle.

As the match was declared open, Shen Xian’er raised her hand.

“Big sister Talon, let’s play a game!” she chirped brightly.

For Shen Xian’er, getting into character was essential. Without that immersion, she couldn’t fully unleash her potential. Perhaps this was the unique quirk of a true prodigy.

Chi Xiao, who adored her, smiled and nodded. “Alright. What do you want to play?”

“I’ll be the knight, you’ll be the evil dragon, and the princess is locked away. Whoever wins gets to keep the princess!”

Despite the absurdity, Chi Xiao indulged her. “Okay, you’re on.”

Her acceptance drew laughter from the audience. No one had ever seen a battle begin with such an adorable premise.

With a sharp nod, Shen Xian’er jumped into action. A suit of candy-colored armor shimmered into existence on her body, looking sweet and bizarrely appetizing. She then summoned a massive lollipop-shaped warhammer—appropriately dubbed “Candy Hammer.”

“Let the princess go, foul dragon!” she shouted with playful seriousness.

Her act caused another wave of laughter to roll through the crowd. Only Shen Xian’er could turn a battlefield into a fairy tale playground.

But the moment she charged forward, everything changed.

Shen Xian’er lifted her Candy Hammer and swung it with all her might.

Chi Xiao raised her shield, but—

Boom!

With a deafening thud, Chi Xiao was launched over a hundred meters into the air and crashed against the arena's barrier, her landing sending shockwaves rippling across the ground.

The entire arena went dead silent.

People stared at the petite girl holding her oversized candy hammer as if they’d seen a ghost. The girl who just moments ago was everyone’s favorite little angel had suddenly revealed a terrifying side. One swing, and she nearly made Chi Xiao spit out her breakfast from three days ago.

This… this was "cute but deadly" in its purest form.

Even the elders on the high platform were stunned—especially Hongniang, who had always doted on Shen Xian’er but never imagined she possessed such raw, explosive power.

Chi Xiao coughed up a bit of blood and steadied herself. Her arm throbbed, and her organs felt like they had been scrambled. If not for her shield absorbing most of the impact, that one blow might have ended the match right then and there.

“The princess is mine, evil dragon!” Shen Xian’er called out, still completely immersed in her role.

Chi Xiao wiped the blood from her lips and narrowed her eyes, now taking Shen Xian’er completely seriously.

“So be it. Let’s see what you’re truly capable of.”

She discarded her shield and drew her flaming spear. With a flicker of movement, she darted toward Shen Xian’er like a fiery comet.

The two clashed once more.

Their weapons collided with a series of intense clangs—sparks flew, wind howled, and neither side backed down.

What shocked everyone wasn’t Chi Xiao’s dominance—she was always known as Luoxian Sect’s fiercest female warrior. It was Shen Xian’er’s resilience and strength that stunned the crowd. She matched Chi Xiao blow for blow, never faltering.

She had a rhythm: charge in, land a flurry of strikes, then retreat to heal herself with glowing green energy. Then, rejuvenated, she’d rush back in. It was a brutal cycle—an unrelenting combination of healing and brawling.

On the high platform, the elders observed the battle with furrowed brows.

“That… is a domain, isn't it?” Yunyangzi muttered, confused and amused.

Shen Xian’er’s field was strange—a domain filled with floating food and sweets. Bizarre, but undeniably effective.

“The more unusual a domain, the harder it is to predict. I think it’s quite clever,” Yun Ding offered.

But Yun Qianren, a battle-hardened elder, frowned. “Her fighting style is too inconsistent. Last match, she looked clueless and fearful. Now she fights like a seasoned warrior. It makes no sense.”

“Geniuses don’t have to make sense,” Lei Xing said flatly. “If we could all understand them, we’d already be standing at the peak.”

Indeed, true prodigies always walked a path others couldn’t comprehend.

Down below, Shen Xian’er and Chi Xiao were locked in ferocious melee. Their weapons sang through the air—one a spinning candy hammer, the other a blazing spear.

And while Chi Xiao held back at first, unwilling to harm her junior sister, she now fought in earnest. Even so, Shen Xian’er’s wild, unorthodox style kept her off-balance.

Every time Shen Xian’er got hurt, she healed herself and came back harder. Her sheer relentlessness made even veteran cultivators flinch.

From the audience:

“Don’t stop!”
“Harder!”
“Go on, more of that!”
“Keep going! Don’t stop, please!”

The absurdity of the chants made even the serious spectators chuckle. Shen Xian’er had turned the battlefield into both a warzone and a circus act.

After more than two hundred exchanges, Chi Xiao finally leapt back, putting distance between them.

“Xian’er… I won’t hold back anymore,” she warned.

Across from her, Shen Xian’er stood proud, green light dancing over her armor, twirling her candy hammer with unwavering resolve.

“Too late! The princess is mine, evil dragon!”

And with another battle cry, she lunged forward once more.

Chapter 98: When the On-Site Director Meets the Sponsor Boss

The next few matches were particularly intense.

With the four strongest contenders temporarily out of the spotlight, the remaining eight competitors went all out. The battles shook the heavens and dimmed the moonlight—showcasing the true strength, spirit, and pride of Luoxian Sect.

When the top sixteen matches concluded, it was time for the quarterfinal draw. And what happened next stunned everyone.

Quarterfinals. First match.

Wu Dao Peak's Shen Xian’er vs. Piaomiao Peak's Chi Xiao.

The entire audience was dumbfounded.

Everyone knew that Shen Xian’er and Chi Xiao were close, like sisters. How were they supposed to fight each other seriously?

Even Elder Jin Hou, the officiator, was left speechless. Something felt off. He had carefully arranged the draw to keep the four strongest participants in separate brackets, ensuring they wouldn’t meet until the semifinals. How could this pairing have happened?

The culprit wasn’t him—it was Sect Master Yun Yangzi.

He had noticed that Han Luo had been silently supporting Shen Xian’er throughout. Her unorthodox combat tactics clearly bore his influence. So, he decided to test just how deep Han Luo’s capabilities truly ran.

Yun Yangzi, along with the other peak lords, had always found Han Luo difficult to read. The young man seemed to be deliberately hiding his strength, and while that was understandable for a clever cultivator who needed trump cards in a life-or-death world, as the sect master, Yun Yangzi had to look at the bigger picture. He needed to be certain—could Han Luo really be counted on to shoulder the sect’s future?

“Seriously?” Han Luo rubbed his forehead, exasperated. From a narrative standpoint, there was no way Shen Xian’er should be facing Chi Xiao this early. Was someone deliberately messing with the plot?

He immediately suspected Elder Jin Hou, but one glance told him the old man was just as confused. Then his gaze fell on Yun Yangzi, who met it with a wide smile.

Han Luo instantly understood.

It was fair, really. Other sects were constantly hounding their geniuses about cultivation progress, while Luoxian Sect’s genius was hidden behind layers of formations, unreachable even by the sect leader. Anyone in Yun Yangzi’s shoes would be anxious too.

Fine. Whatever.

In the end, Shen Xian’er still needed his help to reach the top. So what if her opponent was Chi Xiao? To most people she might be a queen or a flame-clad war goddess—but to Han Luo, she was just a competent and capable woman.

“Senior Brother, I won!” Shen Xian’er bounced up happily, proud of her previous match’s victory.

It didn’t take much to make her happy, which made her very easy to satisfy.

“The next match might be a problem,” Senior Brother Du Ming said worriedly. “Chi Xiao’s strength is no joke. She’s a seven-time tempered fire-element cultivator. Xian’er, also tempered seven times, uses wood-element qi—she’s completely countered. It’s a losing matchup.”

“If we can’t win, then don’t force it. As long as Xian’er doesn’t get hurt, that’s what matters,” Lan Caicai added. Though she loved fighting, she didn’t want Shen Xian’er injured.

Shen Xian’er, however, tilted her head, confused. “But why would it be hard? I fight with Sister Chi Xiao all the time in the hot springs back at Piaomiao Peak!”

Everyone gawked.

“That’s not fighting. That’s playing. Or at best, sparring,” Han Luo shook his head. He was truly helpless in the face of this girl.

“Han Luo, do you have any ideas to help Xian’er win this?” Du Ming asked seriously.

He cared deeply about the honor of Wu Dao Peak. They’d always had the fewest disciples and rarely placed well in competitions. But this year, with Shen Xian’er as their ace, they had a real shot. A good result would mean better cultivation resources for her—and for Han Luo, too.

Han Luo stroked his chin, observing his carefree junior sister.

“Xian’er, tell me—how do you plan to fight Chi Xiao?”

“Hmm...” She tapped her chin with a finger. “Usually, I jump into the hot spring first, then use the dragon claw move you taught me to grab Sister Chi Xiao’s—”

“Stop!” Han Luo waved frantically, cutting her off.

He had a bad feeling the conversation was about to derail.

“I meant on the arena. In front of an audience. During the official fight.”

“Oh, that?” Shen Xian’er nodded seriously. “Then I’ll use my Gluttony Domain to throw food at her!”

“Not bad. Using your specialty to fight is smart. But it’s not the smartest strategy,” Han Luo said.

“What would that be?” Du Ming asked.

“The smartest strategy is… not fighting at all,” Han Luo replied calmly. “Of course, you can’t avoid fighting Chi Xiao entirely. But, Xian’er—remember the game you used to play with Xiaobai on Luoxian Mountain?”

“You mean the one about Pinocchio and Snow White?” she asked.

Han Luo’s eyebrow twitched. When did I teach her that?

“No, I mean the game about the dragon, the princess, and the knight.”

“Oh! I remember!”

Han Luo nodded with satisfaction.

He had raised Xian’er like his own little sister, even using fairytales to gently brainwash her. She disliked violence, so he framed battles as stories—making her the princess, sometimes the knight, depending on the situation.

Thanks to that, and his constant coaching, her combat awareness had grown as fast as if she’d been eating XP pills.

Surprise, unpredictability—those were her weapons.

But surprise alone wouldn’t be enough to defeat Chi Xiao. She needed to leverage her true strength.

“Xian’er, do you remember what your most fundamental power is?” Han Luo asked.

She tilted her head. She almost answered “eating,” but realized that was her dream, not her talent.

“It’s healing. You’re a support.”

Han Luo pulled out a dagger and slashed his arm. Blood spilled out instantly.

“Senior Brother!” Shen Xian’er panicked and rushed forward to stop the bleeding.

“Use your power. Heal me.”

She blushed and reached for his wound with both hands. A warm, green light glowed in her palms, and within moments, Han Luo’s skin was flawless—no trace of the wound remained.

Wood-element qi was rare. An eighth-time tempered wood-element user was even rarer. Shen Xian’er wasn’t just a mobile healer—she was a walking healing fortress.

And with her close-combat skills, she was a full-fledged frontline support.

Unfortunately, her obsession with snacks had buried that potential.

Still, Han Luo saw it as a kind of disguise. If people thought “glutton” when they saw Shen Xian’er instead of “genius,” then they had already lost.

“Xian’er, remember—go out there, fight Chi Xiao head-on, give her everything you’ve got. When you get hurt, heal yourself. Then fight again. Heal again. Repeat. Keep going until she surrenders.”

“She’ll never surrender,” Lan Caicai said, skeptical.

Han Luo didn’t answer. He simply smiled to himself.

Chi Xiao wouldn’t surrender? Too bad—she didn’t have a choice. The moment she was paired against Shen Xian’er, she’d already lost.

This match wouldn’t have two stars. It would have one.

Only one person would shine.

“Xian’er, go,” Han Luo said softly. “Let all of Luoxian Sect remember your name. Show them who the true number one is.”

Yes, Han Luo had a selfish motive. He wanted to turn Shen Xian’er into a blazing sun—a radiant force that no one could ignore.

As long as everyone focused on that sun, no one would notice the shadow behind her.

And if someone ever tried to extinguish her light?

They’d have to pass through eighty-one layers of hell—each one personally set by Han Luo.

Chapter 97

The little handbook outlined every possible scenario that might arise in battle—neatly arranged, simple to follow, and annotated with all of Shen Xian’er’s favorite emoji faces.

Following the instructions to the letter, she pulled out a detonation talisman and hurled it toward Miao Huo.

The moment it flew through the air, Miao Huo’s face went pale.

He knew exactly what a detonation talisman could do. Normally, with his level of control over his fire-elemental qi, he wouldn’t have cared. He could easily suppress any internal reaction and avoid being turned into a walking bomb. But now? With two conflicting sources of fire qi wreaking havoc inside his body, he couldn’t do a thing.

He tried to intercept the talisman, but his limbs wouldn’t obey. All he could do was watch helplessly as it struck one of the four massive fire serpents around him.

Boom!

A towering mushroom cloud erupted into the sky. The entire competition arena trembled under the force of the explosion. The protective formation cracked audibly—it nearly collapsed.

The crowd was stunned. Everything had escalated so quickly. Just moments ago, they were practically playing house. Now explosives were flying through the air?

And that explosion… it wasn’t normal. The arena’s defensive formation was at least second-tier, and even it nearly failed. That blast had to be on the level of a full-power strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Is Miao Huo… dead?” someone muttered in disbelief.

The sheer force should’ve flattened any Qi Refining cultivator caught in it.

On the battlefield, Shen Xian’er huddled safely inside her guardian array, hands over her face, trembling from the shock. Fortunately, her senior brother had warned her: after throwing the detonation talisman, immediately activate the protective array.

This confirmed one thing for her—listening to her senior brother was never wrong.

Everyone expected the match to be over. Even someone as tough as Wu Dao would’ve been injured by that blast. But when the smoke cleared, Miao Huo stood there—alive, and seemingly unscathed.

A towering plume of fire enveloped him, shielding him from harm. Though his face was smudged with soot, the protective fire had done its job. The crowd was amazed—how had he survived that?

“Fire Dao Sutra, huh? That explains it,” murmured Han Luo in the stands.

The Fire Dao Sutra was a legendary ancient cultivation technique. But as its name suggested, only those with the potential for immortality could truly master it. And it came with a terrifying price: anyone who cultivated it could not train in any other technique—not even another fire-based one. Doing so would result in their body exploding like a human firecracker.

Throughout history, many prodigies had tried, including even Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation cultivators. All had failed. Most hadn’t even reached Core Formation before their bodies imploded.

So for Miao Huo, a mere teenager, to walk that path showed ambition far beyond his years.

“Impressive trick, Senior Sister Shen,” Miao Huo growled, his eyes brimming with fury.

He was no fool. Thinking back, he realized he’d been played since the beginning.

She’d started with a lollipop and an innocent smile. Then she attacked with seemingly useless fire talismans, all while acting confused and harmless. Finally, she lured him into a trap and forced him to expose his trump card.

There was no doubt—no one in the cultivation world was truly innocent.

Now, Miao Huo’s expression twisted into something close to madness. At his age, experiencing this kind of calculated humiliation was unbearable.

And yet, Shen Xian’er calmly flipped through her handbook again.

Next instruction: “If the opponent turns into a giant fireball, proceed as follows.”

Step one: Take out array disk #187 and activate it underfoot.

“Got it!” she chirped.

A second-tier guardian formation appeared around her. At the same time, Miao Huo charged—no weapons, no spells—just raw fists pounding against the barrier.

Crack!

The array trembled under his barrage. Shen Xian’er shrieked.

“Eek! If it cracks, it won’t look pretty!”

The crowd facepalmed. That was her concern?

Miao Huo went berserk, fists hammering relentlessly. Meanwhile, Shen Xian’er kept calmly reading her manual.

Step two: Take out disk #21.

She did, placing it beside her.

A strange contraption emerged—something like a turret with two handles. Curious, she checked the next line.

Step three: Attach a water-element talisman to the slot labeled “Entry.”

She found the label, stuck the talisman on, and the turret turned a gleaming blue.

Step four: Aim at the sky and pull the trigger five times.

She didn’t know what it would do, but her trust in Han Luo was absolute.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five muffled shots echoed upward. Moments later, a light drizzle began to fall across the arena.

Miao Huo’s furious pounding abruptly stopped.

He stared in disbelief as the rain began extinguishing the flames cloaking his body.

“No… No! This can’t be happening!”

He panicked. His flames weren’t ordinary—they’d been refined through six rounds of body tempering and enhanced by the Fire Dao Sutra! How could mere rain extinguish them?

But it wasn’t ordinary rain.

Han Luo’s so-called “practice” talismans were still far superior to the standard ones. And this rain? It wasn’t just cooling—it was Sealing Rain, capable of temporarily locking a cultivator’s spiritual energy.

Unprotected by any defensive artifacts, Miao Huo took the brunt of it.

“Your fire’s going out, little brother,” Shen Xian’er said sweetly, squatting beside him with a smile.

“I refuse! I’m stronger than her! I won’t lose—” Miao Huo roared, trying to reignite his flames.

Just then—splash!

A bucket of cold water drenched him from above.

He looked up to see Shen Xian’er standing there with a giant barrel, readying a second pour.

“Can you not?” he pleaded. “At least let me burn a little longer.”

But his plea was met with another bucket of icy water.

Miao Huo howled in frustration. He tried again.

Splash.

Every time he lit a spark, she doused it—like a soulless automaton programmed to extinguish all flames.

She didn’t know why this was necessary.

Han Luo had simply said, “Killing is easy. Breaking the spirit is harder.” Whatever that meant, her job was just to keep pouring.

And so the cycle continued. Miao Huo screamed, she splashed. Again and again.

Eventually, he stopped screaming.

For some reason, his thoughts drifted to his mother.

He stood up quietly and walked off the stage without a word, eyes red, lips pressed tight.

“Kid,” Han Luo muttered, “you got lucky today. That was just water. Next time, it might be acid.”

He wasn’t interested in picking on juniors. He just wanted to make sure the lesson landed—and left an impact.

The match ended in what seemed like chaos. But to those who looked closer, it was clear: Shen Xian’er was growing up. She’d learned how to take care of her junior brothers—albeit a little roughly.

Even if Miao Huo’s spirit was utterly crushed in the process, the effect couldn’t be denied.

“Match over,” the referee declared. “Victory goes to Shen Xian’er.”

The competition continued.

Chapter 96

The match began.

First to enter the stage was Miao Huo from Xianding Peak — a fiery, spirited boy with a puff of blazing red hair and a cocky attitude. Dressed in a simple vest, he looked straight out of an anime, like the kind of protagonist who could talk his way through saving the world.

Then came Shen Xian’er.

And with her appearance, the entire arena exploded in cheers. It wasn’t an exaggeration — all hundred thousand disciples of Luoxian Sect were essentially her fans. The thunderous chants overwhelmed her to the point she nervously pulled out a lollipop to calm down.

“Xian’er, you’ve got this!”

The familiar voice of her senior brother rang in her ears, instantly soothing her nerves. She clenched her tiny fists and nodded with confidence.

The duel officially began.

“Senior sister Xian’er, I’m Miao Huo of Xianding Peak. Please go easy on me.”

Miao Huo politely cupped his hands, but wasted no time in activating his Fire Python Art. Instantly, four massive fire serpents as thick as water tanks burst into existence, exuding intense flames that even spectators could feel.

“Such power! Why haven’t we heard of this guy before?”

“Some cultivators are low-profile maniacs. They hide behind layers of formations like they’re avoiding debt collectors, and only come out to fight when necessary.”

“…Seriously?”

The crowd buzzed, but back on the stage, Miao Huo was all business. Young as he was, he was experienced and cautious. Right from the start, he unleashed his trump card — the four flaming pythons.

Facing the monstrous fire serpents, Shen Xian’er instinctively backed away, terrified. She hated snakes. Even if they were delicious when cooked, their slimy look gave her the creeps.

“Senior brother, what do I do?”

Panicked, she looked around for help, but no voice came through this time.

Maybe… I should just surrender?

She started rummaging through her embroidered pouch for the white flag. But just as she was about to wave it, a memory surfaced.

“Oh right! Senior brother said if I panic and don’t know what to do, I should use Plan B!”

With that, she took out a small notebook from her pouch. On its first page were clear instructions:

Step 1: After your opponent summons four fire serpents, throw exactly 113 fire-element talismans at them.

She immediately pulled out the talismans — 113, not one more, not one less.

Step 2: While tossing the talismans, your arm movement should be sharp, and your expression fierce to avoid suspicion of any trap.

“Fierce!”

Xian’er tilted her head, thought hard, and made what she considered a fearsome face — which, to everyone else, just looked painfully adorable.

She began flinging the talismans, one by one.

Now, talismans were a staple for low-level cultivators. With no powerful techniques or weapons, this was a common method. So the crowd wasn’t surprised… until they noticed something odd.

“She’s using fire-element talismans… on a fire-element cultivator?”

“Is she helping him charge up?”

“She’s literally feeding his power!”

Everyone knew basic elemental theory — fire empowers fire. Surely, Luoxian Sect’s top genius wouldn't make such a rookie mistake?

But in truth, Shen Xian’er had no idea. Her senior brother told her what to do, and she simply followed instructions. If he said this would work, it would.

“Twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one…”

Focused, she counted each talisman she tossed, not even listening to Miao Huo’s mocking.

“Senior sister Xian’er, I’m fire-type too, you know! You’re not going to win like this!”

Initially nervous, Miao Huo now wore a smug grin. He had seen her beat Li Jun, so he knew not to underestimate her… but this? This was just laughable.

Still, something felt off.

She just kept tossing more talismans without a hint of hesitation.

“Very well! Let’s see how much energy you’ve got!”

He stood his ground, controlling the four pythons and letting them absorb the incoming talismans. The flames around him grew increasingly fierce.

Meanwhile, Xian’er continued counting with determination until she hit 113. She wiped the sweat from her brow, satisfied with the work.

Miao Huo, now radiating immense fire aura, sneered, “You’re trying to overload me, huh? Make me absorb more than I can handle?”

“You knew!?”

Xian’er’s shocked reaction was so genuine, it drew waves of laughter from the crowd.

“She’s too pure! Can’t even hide her plans!”

“She’s adorable!”

“Miao Huo, if you dare bully her, I swear I’ll flay you alive!”

Miao Huo basked in the attention and smirked. “Don’t worry, senior sister. I’ll end it quickly. You won’t feel a thing.”

He raised his hands to command the fire serpents — but suddenly, something went wrong.

Two conflicting strands of fire-element spiritual energy clashed inside his body, sending him reeling.

“What?! This can’t be!”

He had checked — every talisman was pure fire-type energy. How could this be happening?

“Tsk… such a naive kid,” muttered Han Luo from the stands.

My talismans? Normal?

Each was infused with my personally refined fire-element spiritual energy — so pure and intense it doesn’t even exist elsewhere in the Eastern Region, maybe not even in all of cultivation history.

He hadn’t told Xian’er, though. With her personality, she’d probably spill the beans mid-battle.

Back on the stage, Miao Huo's control collapsed. The raging energy inside him caused him to double over and roll on the ground, clutching his stomach like he had food poisoning.

Xian’er blinked. “What’s happening?”

She turned to the notebook again.

• If opponent clutches their belly and rolls around in pain — use the detonation talisman.

• If opponent resists and attacks — activate the defensive formation and follow Page 2, Rule 4.

• If opponent surrenders — wave to the crowd and smile.

“Ehehehe…” She grinned and pulled out the explosion trigger.

The crowd watched in confusion as the most ridiculous match continued — one fighter rolling on the floor, the other giggling and holding a notebook.

And so, in the most chaotic and adorable way imaginable, the match crept toward an absurd end.

Chapter 95

“Junior Brother Zhou Hong, there's no need to be so worked up.”

The Four-Star Dragon Trap Formation being broken was no surprise to Li Jun. He had only set it up to test out some of his techniques—he never intended to truly defeat Zhou Hong. If this were an external match, he wouldn’t hesitate to strike decisively. But this was an internal competition within Luoxian Sect. His goal was to let the opponent shine a little, maybe even perform beyond their normal ability, and then crush them in one move. That way, his own strength would be undeniable and convincing.

Now seemed like the right time.

He slowly raised his Star Sword and pointed it into the air. Seven silvery-white stars formed a celestial map before him.

Zhou Hong charged with his long staff, smashing it down onto the star map.

A deep thud rang out as the map trembled slightly, while Zhou Hong was flung backward by the force.

“Again!”

Instead of retreating, Zhou Hong pressed forward with renewed battle intent. “Mixed Heaven Vajra!”

With a loud cry, a golden projection of a vajra, resembling a Buddhist guardian, materialized at the tip of his staff.

The Vajra slammed down with tremendous force, shaking the star map so violently that it looked on the verge of collapsing.

Zhou Hong didn’t let up. Holding his staff with both hands, he unleashed a flurry of strikes, filling the arena with shadows of his weapon.

The platform shuddered under his relentless assault, leaving the spectators awestruck by the sheer violence of it. His attacks were wildly aggressive, enough to crush a normal cultivator outright.

The Mixed Heaven Vajra technique carried a divine force capable of breaking through defensive spells. Against it, most defenses would falter.

Yet what shocked the audience even more was that despite Zhou Hong’s brutal offensive, Li Jun still wore a composed smile, utterly unbothered—even as the star map wavered as if it were about to give up.

Were it anyone else standing there, they would’ve been dismissed as a fool. But this was Li Jun.

Zhou Hong began to grow anxious. His wild offense was draining his qi rapidly. If he didn’t end it soon, he’d lose for sure.

“Focus your attack on a single point,” came a voice through a transmitted sound from the stands.

It was Han Luo, watching the fight from the sidelines, shaking his head in disbelief. If it weren’t for paving the way for Xian’er, he wouldn’t bother helping this idiot at all.

Zhou Hong didn’t recognize the voice, but it sounded like advice from an expert. He hesitated—his Mixed Heaven Staff relied on overwhelming pressure from every angle. Focusing on a single point violated its core principle.

Still, he had no better option, and the advice seemed worth a try.

Suddenly, the staff shadows vanished. Zhou Hong targeted a single point on the star map with one, seemingly slow—yet lightning-fast—strike.

The crowd may not have noticed, but Li Jun did. He frowned. When did this brute grow a brain?

He had heard Zhou Hong was a straightforward brawler, strong but tactically inept—just someone who liked to swing his staff wildly. But in this fight, he had now countered two of Li Jun’s techniques.

“Impressive move, Junior Brother Zhou Hong,” Li Jun praised aloud, though inwardly he struggled to accept it.

Zhou Hong, the one known for brute force, was now showing signs of tactical adaptability—shifting away from his style and creating a new form mid-battle.

More importantly, that focused attack was working. The star map was beginning to crack where Zhou Hong was striking. If this went on, Li Jun might actually lose face.

Winning without dominance would feel no different than losing.

“I guess it’s time to end this.”

With a low murmur, Li Jun shifted his hand seals. The celestial map disappeared. Zhou Hong’s staff, with no target left, smashed into the ground with thunderous force, shaking the entire square.

Only then did the crowd realize how terrifying the force behind Zhou Hong’s attacks really was—and how strong the star map had been to hold up so long.

“Excellent.”

Li Jun was quite pleased with the reaction.

“Stellar Sword Formation: Lock.”

He moved again. The seven stars transformed into seven glowing chains, binding Zhou Hong’s limbs, neck, waist, and pinning him to the ground like steel spikes.

Zhou Hong roared and struggled. His brute strength actually managed to make the chains tremble—but with a light reinforcement from Li Jun, all he could do was scream like a slaughtered pig, proving how hard he was trying with absolutely no result.

“What a talented pig,” muttered Han Luo, covering his face in frustration.

He sighed deeply. “If you're being restrained by chains, why not use your staff to entangle and control them? Cut off Li Jun’s technique at its root. You’re already at a disadvantage, so you should be countering his strengths with your own. That would’ve given you your one—possibly only—chance to win.”

But alas. A pig with talent is still just a pig.

Zhou Hong was pinned and unable to move, while Li Jun didn’t press the attack further. Once Elder Jinhou announced the match over, he retracted the chains.

“Thank you for the bout, Junior Brother Zhou Hong.”

Li Jun retained his cultured demeanor, showing courtesy even in victory.

Zhou Hong, recognizing that Li Jun was likely the future of Luoxian Sect, replied sincerely, “Senior Brother Li Jun’s techniques are extraordinary. If there’s a chance, I’d like to challenge you again.”

This was the style of Qianren Peak: never lose one’s spirit, even in defeat. Lose today, win next time—simple as that.

“Of course. I’d welcome another match anytime,” Li Jun responded graciously.

Zhou Hong hadn’t expected such a direct and respectful answer. His heart lifted. Losing to someone like Li Jun didn’t feel so bad.

Li Jun, on the other hand, knew this was a perfect opportunity to earn favor. Call it winning hearts, or paving the way for his future as sect leader.

“Please.”

With that, he gestured and stepped down from the stage, earning applause from the crowd.

After the savagery of the earlier Chi Xiao vs. Wu Dao battle, it was refreshing to see a clean, respectful match.

But the next match?

That looked anything but normal.

Match Four: Wu Dao Peak’s Shen Xian’er versus Xian Ding Peak’s Miao Huo.

Chapter 94

"You're quite the chatterbox," muttered Zhou Hong, positioning his Hun Yuan Yi Qi Staff horizontally in a defensive stance.

The four silver-white stars surged towards him, encircling him in an instant.

One of the stars darted straight for his face.

Zhou Hong reacted swiftly, shifting his staff to intercept the incoming star with a resonant clang.

Simultaneously, the other three stars closed in.

Faced with this predicament, Zhou Hong had no choice but to maneuver his staff to fend off the remaining stars.

"Hun Yuan Bell!" he shouted, swinging his staff to manifest a golden bell.

The silver-white stars collided with the bell, producing a series of crisp chimes, yet they failed to penetrate its defense.

Inside the bell, Zhou Hong's staff movements left afterimages as he countered the relentless assault.

Visually, the scene was intense and perilous.

Each silver-white star weighed over a hundred pounds; even a glancing blow could result in broken bones.

However, the intensity was one-sided.

Li Jun, with a composed demeanor, formed hand seals, effortlessly directing the stars to besiege Zhou Hong.

His relaxed posture starkly contrasted Zhou Hong's sweat-drenched struggle.

This disparity made spectators realize an often-overlooked fact:

Li Jun's strength had always been overshadowed by his amiable personality.

People knew him as kind, intelligent, and caring towards fellow disciples.

Even disciples from other peaks could rely on his assistance.

Such a benevolent image made people forget that Li Jun was a formidable contender alongside the likes of Chi Xiao and Wu Dao.

Subtly, Li Jun's image elevated in everyone's mind.

Unlike Wu Dao and Chi Xiao, who had glaring flaws, Li Jun exuded an aura of perfection, reminiscent of the current sect master, Yun Yangzi, making him more approachable.

"Impressive and dazzling," Han Luo nodded from the audience, acknowledging Li Jun's technique, rating it at least 60 points.

He had considered learning the Star Sword Formation himself.

Firstly, the formation's power was immense.

Each silver-white star weighed over a hundred pounds, and with deeper cultivation, their weight could increase to thousands, even millions of pounds.

Eventually, each star could become a condensed planet.

Such massive stars, compressed to thumb-sized projectiles, possessed terrifying strength.

Moreover, with higher cultivation, one could summon more stars.

Imagine unleashing a meteor shower upon your enemies—a scene that could overwhelm even true immortals.

Secondly, the formation offered safety.

As a long-range attack method, it allowed users to control from a distance, avoiding close combat.

Safe, reliable, and visually impressive, it was the epitome of showmanship.

However, mastering the Star Sword Formation wasn't easy.

Without sufficient talent, attempting it could be detrimental.

Powerful techniques required strong foundations.

Without strength, understanding and mastering such techniques was nearly impossible.

Observing now, Li Jun's talent was exceptional.

He could effortlessly control four silver-white stars; if he exerted himself, he might manage seven.

With seven stars, he could form the formidable Big Dipper Formation.

Facing Li Jun himself, Han Luo had myriad ways to defeat him, even making Li Jun thank him afterward.

But if Xian'er were to face Li Jun, how could she secure victory?

Han Luo pondered strategies silently.

On the battlefield, spectators' perception of Li Jun solidified.

He transformed from a gentle senior brother to a powerful and gentle senior brother.

Though some still found his demeanor overly smooth and uncLuous.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Zhou Hong swung his staff, using the Hun Yuan Bell to attempt breaking through the Four-Star Dragon Trap.

Yet, every time he spotted a weakness and tried to exploit it, he was thwarted, forced into a passive defense.

"Use softness to overcome hardness," a voice echoed in Zhou Hong's ears.

Indistinct in gender, yet clear and invigorating.

Instinctively alarmed, Zhou Hong grasped the essence of the message, his eyes lighting up.

"Damn! I should've thought of this earlier."

He cursed himself for being so fixated on defeating Li Jun that he lost composure.

The voice, though brief, was enlightening, bringing clarity.

Li Jun's spiritual energy was of the metal attribute, and the Star Sword Formation emphasized brute force.

The best counter to brute force was softness.

Adjusting his staff, Zhou Hong dispelled the Hun Yuan Bell, preparing to face an incoming silver-white star.

As before, he aimed to intercept the star.

But this time, just before contact, he withdrew force, letting the star graze past the staff's tip.

Then, leveraging the momentum, he redirected the star towards another incoming one.

The stars, moving too swiftly to halt instantly, collided.

"Boom..."

A muffled explosion ensued, distorting the surrounding space with ripples, showcasing the stars' immense impact.

"It works,"

Zhou Hong rejoiced, employing the same tactic to neutralize the remaining stars.

This unexpected turn shifted the previously one-sided battle.

"Using softness to overcome hardness, leveraging force—this Zhou Hong is intriguing. To devise such a counter in a dire situation demonstrates remarkable composure,"

praised Lei Xing, impressed by Zhou Hong's adaptability.

He was well-acquainted with the Star Sword Formation's power; escaping it was nearly impossible.

Yet, Zhou Hong managed to dismantle it by turning the stars against each other—a testament to his combat prowess.

"Indeed, maintaining a clear mind under such pressure is commendable," Red Lady concurred.

Hearing their accolades, Yun Qianren's expression softened slightly.

Seizing the moment, Yun Ding added, "This Zhou Hong is impressive. Though suppressed by Jun'er, his countermeasures are noteworthy."

His implication was clear: despite Zhou Hong's efforts, he remained under Li Jun's control.

"They're still young; temporary setbacks mean little. With such talent, Zhou Hong is destined for greatness,"

Yun Qianren retorted, displeased with his disciple's predicament.

The rivalry between the two peak masters was evident, both on and off the battlefield.

Having broken through the Four-Star Dragon Trap, Zhou Hong's momentum surged.

His Hun Yuan Yi Qi Staff danced like a dragon, creating a flurry of shadows, all targeting Li Jun.

Chapter 93

“Junior Brother Zhou Hong, it’s been a while,” Li Jun greeted warmly as soon as he stepped onto the stage.

Ordinarily, such forced familiarity might be irritating. But when it came from someone as handsome and refined as Li Jun—smiling with that gentle demeanor—it instead drew gasps from the crowd. A wave of shrieks followed, not only from female disciples but also from a few overly enthusiastic male ones whose voices sharpened with excitement.

As the undisputed favorite of Luoxian Sect, Li Jun had his own brand of charm. He never quarreled, always offered a helping hand, and had a spotless record since joining the sect. Coupled with his exceptional looks and strength, he was practically flawless—everyone wanted to be his friend.

Well, almost everyone.

Zhou Hong was not among them.

Clutching a long staff in one hand, Zhou stood proud and silent. The tension between Xianding Peak and Qianren Peak had always been thick, with frequent clashes. Their disciples often fought, and this generation was no different.

Li Jun had always distanced himself from these feuds, maintaining his saint-like image and never retaliating, no matter how provoked. Zhou Hong, on the other hand, had always been at the forefront of the fighting—a de facto leader of Qianren Peak before Wu Dao showed up.

Now, standing face-to-face with the top dog of Xianding Peak, Zhou naturally felt the urge to go all out and smash Li Jun’s smug face. Whether he could win was another matter.

“Cut the crap, Li Jun. Everyone knows what kind of pretentious act you put on. I didn’t come here for small talk. If you want my respect, you’ll have to beat it out of me.”

With that, Zhou Hong twirled his staff. The wind it stirred was fierce and wild.

Li Jun merely smiled. “Junior Brother Zhou, your greatest flaw is your aggression. A cultivator should be elegant and composed. Harboring too much killing intent will only hinder your path.”

Despite the insult, Li Jun kept his tone soft, his expression calm. To many junior sisters, he was the embodiment of a gentle, virLuous man—they were swooning, ready to bear his children.

To the veterans, though? He was the epitome of "oily." That kind of phony gentleness might trick naive girls, but to seasoned fighters, he was just a slick talker.

Zhou Hong snorted in disdain and charged forward. His staff was wreathed in spiritual energy and burst forth like a dragon.

Li Jun didn’t dare to underestimate him. In a flash, he drew a second-grade spiritual sword—the Starfall Blade—and met the strike.

Clang!

The end of Zhou Hong’s staff collided with Li Jun’s sword, stopping just ten centimeters from Li Jun’s throat. It was a clear death blow—Zhou wasn’t holding back.

“If Junior Brother Zhou insists, then I shall not disappoint,” Li Jun said, gracefully deflecting the staff and twirling his fingers across the sword’s blade. The Starfall Blade shimmered, as if galaxies swirled within it.

“Falling Star!”

A flash erupted from the blade, unleashing a barrage of astral light toward Zhou Hong.

Zhou quickly shifted to avoid it, but the starlight changed direction midair under Li Jun’s control and chased him down again.

“Tch, just a few glowing pebbles. Watch me smash them.”

Zhou planted his feet, braced himself, and whipped his staff into a spinning arc, knocking aside the incoming astral bolts with loud metallic clangs.

“Starfall Formation versus the Mixed-Origin Staff Art!” said Han Luo from the stands, taking on the role of commentator.

Both techniques were clearly from the Foundation Establishment tier—even if only partially mastered, using them while still at the Qi Refinement stage was proof of exceptional talent. Zhou Hong’s strength wasn’t far behind Li Jun’s at all. This battle might turn out to be the most intense of the tournament.

Li Jun danced across the field in white robes, sword in hand, his figure refined and otherworldly. Girls screamed themselves hoarse just for a glance his way.

Seeing his initial strike blocked, Li Jun tapped the air with his sword. Ripples spread out like water, and from them, a silver star emerged—thumb-sized, but weighing over a hundred pounds.

“Careful, Junior Brother Zhou. This one packs a punch.”

The silver star shot forward.

“Perfect timing!” Zhou roared, his staff transforming into a spear as he pierced the star with precision.

Clang!

The impact cracked the arena floor beneath them. Zhou sneered. “So this is your best? Xianding Peak’s bigshot isn’t so great after all.”

He flicked his staff like a serpent, sending the silver star spinning away, then dove forward.

“Mixed-Origin Burst Strike!”

His staff howled as he slammed it down toward Li Jun’s head.

Li Jun didn’t panic. His fingers shifted in a quick incantation. Suddenly, Zhou’s instincts screamed at him—his spine went cold. He leapt aside just in time.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four more silver stars slammed into the spot where he’d just been standing, leaving deep, smooth holes in the ground. Had he been slower, he would’ve been riddled through.

“You react quickly, Junior Brother Zhou.”

Li Jun stood calmly, his sword floating around him, the four silver stars orbiting like loyal pets. His appearance was nothing short of a textbook immortal.

“Hmph. That smug face won’t last. Even stars pale before the blazing sun.”

Zhou Hong’s eyes were sharp and focused.

“Whether ugly or virLuous, in this vast universe, we’re all just stars,” Li Jun replied. “And as stars, we live only to shine for others. What’s good or evil compared to that?”

“I was born human. I’ll fight for humanity, ascend to the heavens, and bring peace to our kind. I don’t want to be a star—I want to be the sun.”

Zhou Hong’s momentum built with every word.

He knew Li Jun was powerful. The Starfall Formation was nearly unbeatable. Still, he had his own pride.

“A sun that lights up the ages, huh?” Li Jun shook his head. “It’s just a childhood fantasy. People don’t kneel for dreams. They kneel for power.”

“Show me then, how bright your sun really shines.”

Li Jun’s hands flew through another set of signs.

“Four-Star Dragon Trap Formation!”

With a cold flash, four silver stars launched toward Zhou Hong.

Chapter 92

Wudao maintained his cool demeanor, emotionlessly lowering his gaze to the panicked and flustered Wang Huan.

“Concede. I have no interest in battling the weak.”

His deep voice signaled the end of the match.

Wang Huan was unable to break through his defenses, let alone pose any threat. Continuing the fight was a waste of time—better spent practicing his techniques.

Wang Huan appeared alarmed.

But upon hearing Wudao's words, she gradually calmed down.

She was not weak.

Her journey to this point was built on her resilience.

She slowly lifted her head.

Without a trace of fear, she met Wudao's gaze.

She was petite, often mistaken for a child.

Her talent was average, a mere speck in the vast world of cultivation.

But at this moment,

People seemed to witness the rise of a small giant.

“Senior Brother Wudao, I will not concede. I aim to be someone our master can rely on to protect our juniors. You're strong, but I won't give up.”

As Wang Huan spoke, unnoticed, several glowing red silk ribbons had formed a cage around them.

Determination shone in her eyes.

She had risen from an ordinary disciple not because of her cuteness or talent, but due to her perseverance.

How could she surrender just because her opponent was formidable? That wasn't the path of cultivation she sought.

“Stop.”

From the high seats, Hongniang was alarmed.

She knew what Wang Huan intended and tried to intervene.

“It's fine.”

Yunyangzi raised his hand to halt her.

At that moment,

The cage on the field emitted a crimson glow.

It resembled a massive, blooming rose.

Pure yet unstable spiritual energy radiated from this rose.

It was blossoming,

Aiming to obliterate everything.

“Stop, you can't, Junior Sister Huan...”

“Cease this, you're detonating your own spiritual energy—you'll die...”

“It's just a match, please stop, stop...”

...

People shouted, urging Wang Huan to halt her reckless act.

On the high seats, the peak masters and Yunyangzi remained still, coldly observing the unfolding events.

Only Hongniang was visibly anxious.

In the Fragrant Pavilion,

Lv Dancheng, Ye Qingqing, and others watched Wang Huan's actions with expressionless faces, mirroring the peak masters.

Not just them.

Chi Xiao, Li Jun, even Han Luo, all coldly watched the scene.

They weren't unwilling to intervene.

But they couldn't.

Because it was Wang Huan's choice.

When facing an unbeatable foe, do you live on, pleading for mercy, or burn yourself out, even if it only causes a single hair to fall from your opponent?

Wang Huan chose the latter.

She was destined to be a hero of Luoxian Sect, recorded in ancient texts, revered by future generations.

But...

Some disagreed.

Wudao looked conflicted at Wang Huan, who intended to perish with him.

In his worldview, failure was natural.

After failing, one should train relentlessly and reclaim victory.

Tales of invincibility are for children; no one is truly unbeatable. Only an indomitable will can be passed down eternally.

“I acknowledge your will—it's commendable and strong. But... perhaps you need to experience true pain to understand that only by living can there be endless hope.”

Wudao's deep voice felt out of place.

He acted swiftly, grabbing Wang Huan's head.

His large hand gripped her like a volleyball, then, to everyone's shock, he lifted her single-handedly and slammed her into the ground.

“Boom...”

The massive impact shattered the crimson cage, turning it into a rain of red.

Amidst this surreal scene,

Wudao, still holding Wang Huan by the head, hurled her into the air.

“Thud...”

A muffled sound.

Wudao launched himself like a cannonball, instantly catching up to the ascending Wang Huan.

“Feel the torment of hell.”

Without a hint of mercy, Wudao unleashed his deadly fist, striking Wang Huan's frail body.

“Thud...”

A chilling thud echoed in the air.

Visibly,

The sky displayed ripples formed by the air.

“Pfft...”

Wang Huan spat blood, mixed with unidentifiable flesh, a horrifying sight.

She felt on the brink of death.

Pain overwhelmed her mind.

She thought she'd recall something to ease the agony.

But she was disappointed.

All she felt was pain.

Nothing but pain.

As it spread, even her thoughts were sealed.

“Ah...”

Wudao's roar exploded in the sky.

People looked on with anger and shock.

Wudao, like a madman, unleashed a flurry of punches on Wang Huan's petite body.

She was like a ball, struck repeatedly, soaring higher and higher.

Crimson rain fell, staining the arena.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

People watched the demon-like Wudao relentlessly assault Wang Huan's delicate form.

At this moment,

They were numb, paralyzed.

Because they were terrified.

Though ambitious, they hadn't stepped into the immortal realm.

They were just inexperienced youths, never having witnessed such brutality.

Their passion,

Their shouts,

Their defiance,

Were crushed under Wudao's fists.

Facing the cruel world of cultivation, weren't they all just another Wang Huan?

In that instant,

The innocence on their young faces shattered, leaving expressions ready to appreciate the rainbow after the storm.

So,

Maturity isn't about age, but experiences.

“Junior Sister Huan, hang in there...”

Who knows who first shouted this.

Then, like a wildfire,

“Hang in there...”

“We're here, hang in there...”

“Junior Sister...”

“Junior Sister Huan...”

...

When the silent erupt, it's like an unstoppable landslide.

The earth trembled, Luoxian Sect quaked.

Wudao and Wang Huan reached the highest point of Luoxian Square.

“Embrace the pain; it's your only proof of being alive.”

Wudao flew above Wang Huan, clasped his fists, and descended forcefully.

“Thud...”

The howling wind echoed in Wang Huan's ears.

For some reason,

Amidst the pain, her mind suddenly cleared.

A mysterious force suppressed all agony.

Then,

A warmth enveloped her.

Hongniang appeared on the field.

She prevented Wang Huan from enduring the final blow.

With a gesture, she infused spiritual energy to protect Wang Huan's heart, ensuring her survival.

Hongniang immediately turned to the descending Wudao.

Wudao, seeing Hongniang, remained silent.

This was a competition arena, where rank didn't matter.

Facing Hongniang's potentially lethal glare, he remained unchanged, his cool demeanor unshaken.

“Ahem...”

Elder Jin Hou promptly appeared to prevent escalation.

Though he felt Wudao had gone too far, this was a match—refusing to concede meant facing the consequences.

“Wudao wins.”

After announcing, Wudao returned to the rest area.

As for Hongniang, she kept her gaze on Wudao's retreating figure, her anger both enviable and intimidating.

“Ahem... girl!”

Elder Jin Hou spoke softly.

Only then did Hongniang relent, carrying Wang Huan away for immediate treatment.

Elder Jin Hou shook his head.

Having overseen competitions for centuries, he was no stranger to such events.

The matches continued.

Next up:

Li Jun from Xianding Peak versus Zhou Hong from Qianren Peak.

Chapter 91

The second match began:
Wu Dao of Qianren Peak vs. Wang Huan of Piaomiao Peak.

The moment it started, a wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.

This time, it wasn’t about rivalry—but confusion.
The two contestants just didn’t look like they belonged in the same match.

Wang Huan, though a girl, had made it into the top sixteen—her strength was undeniable. She had mastered the "Red Silk Sash" technique, a true inheritance from Elder Hongniang.

But she was petite—so petite that she looked like a lost child running onto the battlefield. If you weren’t paying attention, you’d wonder who let a kid wander onto the stage.

As for Wu Dao, there was no need to explain.
His battle with Chi Xiao had already revealed his terrifying strength.
He was a top contender for first place.
Tall and lean, but broad-shouldered and physically imposing, he looked like a true warrior in every sense.

When the two stood side by side, the size contrast was comical—like a gentle breeze trying to face down a hurricane.

“Will junior sister Huan survive this match without getting... broken?”

Some speculated that, based on Wu Dao’s brutal, unrestrained combat style, there was a real chance he might tear her apart—literally.

“Surely not, right? She’s too cute. Would he really hit her that hard?”

“I trust a lot of people not to go too far, but not Wu Dao. His fighting style is all-out brute force. He’s a body cultivator—no finesse, just smash. If junior sister Huan walks off that stage without missing limbs, eyes, or ears, we should thank the heavens.”

Some sisters voiced grave concerns. They knew Wu Dao wouldn’t hold back, and that meant a bloody, painful match was likely.

But others stood firm in Wang Huan’s defense.

“She might look soft, but she’s not someone to underestimate.”

Wang Huan hadn’t always been considered talented among the Piaomiao Peak sisters. She used to be just another ordinary disciple.
But after achieving her sixth Spirit Tempering in the Spirit Tempering Array, everything changed. Her cultivation surged, her potential awakened, and she became one of the top three on Piaomiao Peak. Even Elder Hongniang passed down her signature technique to her.

The talk wasn’t limited to Piaomiao Peak.
Every peak was discussing the same thing—
What would happen when this gentle-looking girl faced the wild beast that was Wu Dao?

“Senior brother Wu Dao, please,” Wang Huan said as she stepped forward.

Ribbons of red silk danced around her, forming a graceful, blooming flower.
With her doll-like face and petite frame, she looked utterly delicate—like someone you’d instinctively want to protect.

But when she moved at full strength, it was shocking to witness the raw energy packed inside her tiny frame.

Wu Dao stood with his arms crossed, watching her like a man observing a street performer.

“Since you called me ‘senior brother,’ I’ll give you one chance to show me what you’ve got. Go ahead, use your strongest technique. I won’t dodge. You only get one shot.”

His words were... arrogant, to say the least.

Wang Huan was no weakling. She was at the seventh level of Qi Refining with six Spirit Tempers.
Even someone like Xiao Long had forced Chi Xiao to use her shield defensively.
What gave Wu Dao the confidence to tank her head-on?

Sure, he was a body cultivator with a tough physique—but cultivators weren’t invincible.

Wang Huan blinked, clearly embarrassed.
Was she really that insignificant in his eyes?

Fine then.
If he didn’t recognize her strength, she’d make sure he had no choice.

“Senior brother Wu Dao—take this!”

She let out a sharp cry and soared into the air, releasing dozens of crimson sashes.

From a distance, she looked like a blooming rose in midair.

“Go!”

She pointed her fingers forward. The crimson sashes responded, converging into a red cascade rushing toward Wu Dao.

Wu Dao didn’t budge.
He just stood there, arms still crossed, eyes half-lidded.

“Idiot. Those red sashes might look pretty, but they’re sharp like blades! They’re second-tier artifacts. Even if your body’s as tough as one, you’re going to get shredded.”

The attack closed in.
But instead of cutting into Wu Dao, the red sashes swirled around him in a spiral—binding him up like a giant dumpling.

Wang Huan had played smart.
She knew brute force wouldn't work—her red silk sashes weren’t sharper than Chi Xiao’s spear.
So instead, she used them as restraints, tightly wrapping him like a furnace.

“Sorry, senior brother,” she said, her voice apologetic but firm.

Then the crimson sashes turned red-hot, glowing like branding irons.

Han Luo, ever the commentator, chimed in from the stands:

“She’s trying to refine him like a pill—wrapping him like a cauldron, then cooking him with fire spiritual energy. Not bad. If she’d added some corrosive water and bone-melting poison, it might’ve worked.”

He explained that both poisons were lethal to body cultivators—corrosive water could weaken flesh, while bone-melting poison would rot bones from the inside out.

Together, they could cripple—or even kill.

“Shame. Junior sister Huan’s still too kind.”

But then—Han Luo paused.
His sharp eyes caught something strange.

Wait a second...

There was poison in those sashes.

He smiled.

“She really is a ruthless little lady.”

Indeed, Wang Huan had laced her red sashes with both poisons.
She knew how dangerous Wu Dao was and had chosen to go all-in—for Piaomiao Peak’s honor, and for victory.

If she ever had to face a real enemy, she couldn’t afford mercy.

Now that the toxins had done their job, she formed a hand seal.

“Explode!”

A massive blast erupted where Wu Dao stood.
The arena was ripped open, leaving behind a smoking crater nearly ten meters wide.

“Damn! That blast...”

“Wu Dao, why’d you have to act cool? Now you’re toast.”

“See? A man can’t resist a pretty face.”

But no one truly believed Wu Dao was defeated that easily.

Wang Huan herself didn’t.
She could still feel his aura—steady and calm, not at all like someone injured.

She re-summoned her red sashes, staying on high alert.

When the smoke cleared, Wu Dao emerged.

Arms still crossed.
Expression calm.
Unblinking.

The only change?

His clothes had been incinerated—leaving him in a barely intact pair of green boxer shorts with a few holes.

Wu Dao flexed his fingers, lowering his arms.

“Corrosive water and bone-melting poison… I remember that smell.
Pity—it’s much weaker than the stuff I used to bathe in.”

Then he stepped forward.

Wang Huan’s eyes widened in terror.

What kind of monster was this guy?

He’d bathed in poison?

“I’m not done yet!”

She struck first—knowing that if Wu Dao took the initiative, she’d have no chance.

Crimson sashes flew again, forming a beautiful red storm.

BOOM!

They landed with a blast—
But Wu Dao didn’t stop.
He walked through the flames like they weren’t even there.

“Stay back—stay back!”
Wang Huan screamed, frantically flinging out more sashes.

Whoosh! Boom! Whoosh! Boom!

One explosion after another—

And yet…
Wu Dao kept advancing. Calm. Relentless.

Until—

He stood just half a step from Wang Huan.

The entire arena fell silent.

In that moment, it looked like a lost lamb was trapped before a predator.

A helpless girl…
Face to face with the wolf of hell.

Chapter 90

“Why... why… why…”

Xiao Long struggled to stand.

But with nearly every bone in his body fractured, he couldn’t move an inch. He simply couldn’t accept the reality before him.
He had expected to lose—but never like this.
Not in just one exchange.
One single clash and he was defeated.

He couldn’t accept it.
He wasn’t willing.

He kept trying to stand, only to fall again and again. Blood stained the stage beneath him, and he looked like a child learning to walk in the mud—falling, rising, falling again...

Silence.

Utter silence.

The crowd watched in absolute stillness as Xiao Long struggled like a stray dog. He looked nothing like the graceful senior brother from before—now, he was just pathetic.

No one jeered.
No one cheered.
No one even offered encouragement.
They simply watched quietly, like outsiders…
Or like they were seeing a reflection of themselves.

“…You’re still a man, at least.”

Chi Xiao stood tall and proud like a divine bird, looking down at him with a scornful gaze. Her tone was sharp, cutting deep into the ears of those listening.

Xiao Long said nothing and continued to struggle.

“Admit defeat,” Chi Xiao said coldly. “Right now, you’re not worthy of standing on this stage.”

Her words were like a scythe, slicing through the last shred of Xiao Long’s dignity.

He stopped moving.

Lying flat on the stage, he stared up at the sky—blue and endless—his eyes vacant, as if recalling some distant, cherished memory.

It was faint, vague…
But in that memory lay the last warmth he could cling to.
The last proof that he was still alive.

But fate seemed to mock him.

Where moments ago the sky was clear, now dark clouds rolled in.
And then—
Rain.

Fine raindrops began falling from above.

“I can only help you this far.”

A voice echoed in Xiao Long’s ears.

Then, miraculously—
His wounds began to heal under the rain’s touch.

As a water-element cultivator, being surrounded by water didn’t just help him recover—it made him stronger.

Xiao Long slowly rose to his feet.

Something had changed in him.
What exactly, no one could tell.
Maybe not even Xiao Long himself.

“Dragonform Art!”

He formed a hand seal, drawing in the water spiritual energy from all around.

“ROAR—!”

A dragon’s cry echoed through the skies as seven azure dragons circled around him.

“Unite!”

He shouted.

The seven dragons merged into one colossal, ancient azure dragon.

“Kill!”

With all his might, Xiao Long launched the dragon toward Chi Xiao in a desperate, final blow.

Faced with his life-risking attack, Chi Xiao remained proud and unmoved.

“If you truly emerged from the abyss, then good.
But if you think that a single ray of light means dawn has arrived, then I have only this to say—
Enjoy that light, because it may be the last you’ll ever see.”

She raised her Chi Xiao Shield and faced the incoming ancient dragon.

“Divine Owl Style: Cry of Bismuth.”

Her shield let out a piercing screech and came crashing down on the dragon’s head.

BOOM!

The massive dragon didn’t even get to roar—it exploded on the spot, scattering into a downpour of shimmering rain.

Xiao Long passed out immediately.

A complete knockout.
Again—a one-hit KO.

Even someone as powerful as Xiao Long, at Qi Refining Stage 7 with six spirit tempers, was no match for Chi Xiao.

The overwhelming gap in strength left the entire audience feeling a deep, inescapable sense of helplessness.

Elder Jin Hou stepped forward.

He glanced at Xiao Long’s twitching body and officially announced Chi Xiao’s victory. The medics quickly entered and carried him off the stage.

A match with no suspense—
No one had expected Xiao Long to truly challenge Chi Xiao.

Qi Refining Stage 7 with six tempers, and he couldn’t even last a single move.

Yet despite the outcome being clear, the match itself was still thrilling.

Xiao Long had broken through his limits and displayed newfound strength.
Chi Xiao, on the other hand, barely used any energy—an important advantage for future rounds.

“It’s over.”

High above, Yun Ding looked displeased.

Xiao Long had been one of his most promising disciples, and to see him humiliated by Chi Xiao stung a bit.

But honestly…

With that kind of strength, it was no wonder Chi Xiao once declared that there weren’t any “real men” left in the younger generation of Luo Xian Sect.

Her power alone was enough to make most male disciples shrink in fear.

However—

“Did any of you feel that something was strange about that rain just now?” Yun Ding frowned.

Though his own senses hadn’t detected anything amiss, his intuition whispered otherwise. He turned to ask the others.

“Probably just a sudden thunderstorm. Came fast, left fast.”
Yun Qianli didn’t think much of it—his focus had already shifted to the next match, where their star disciple Wu Dao would fight.

“…It was a bit strange,”
Lei Xing muttered, quietly instructing someone to investigate further.

“No need,”
Yun Yangzi said as he glanced toward the audience, locking eyes on Han Luo, who wore a completely innocent expression.

“It was that Han Luo kid’s doing.”

“What? Han Luo?! How did he manage that?”
The others were baffled. Could Han Luo summon rain?

“It’s simple,” Yun Yangzi said with a nod.
“Before the tournament began, I had him study the plaza’s protective formation. He laid a few minor formations atop it.”

They all blinked in surprise.

“Then… he helped Xiao Long cheat?”
Hong Niang frowned, visibly annoyed.

Not only had Han Luo refused to help her earlier, now he was helping someone else go up against her disciple?

She silently vowed to “teach him a lesson” later.
In the worst case, she’d marry off Chi Xiao to him as punishment.
Yes, that’d do.

Hong Niang was the type to blow up a speck of dust into a hurricane.
She was already planning how to use this situation to make Han Luo submit.

Meanwhile, in the stands—

“Tsk, such a disappointment.”
Han Luo shook his head.

This little trick had been planned with Elder Yun Yangzi.
With so many people watching from above, none of them could act directly.
That’s where he came in—to stir the pot behind the scenes.

Just like those shows from his past life—every good production needed a bit of scandal. The action was just the cherry on top.

That said—

He wouldn’t interfere too much in the actual fights.
He’d only helped Xiao Long because the guy looked pitiful.

He absolutely wasn’t trying to drain Chi Xiao’s energy so that a later contestant could eliminate her and pave the way for Shen Xian’er to win.
Definitely not.

He told himself that again.

But…
Why did Elder Hong Niang keep giving him that weird look?

Had he just walked into a trap?

Han Luo felt uneasy.
Maybe he should retreat to Luoxian Mountain for a while.

But then again—
Given his current status, hiding wasn’t really an option anymore.

The first match was over.

The second began immediately.

And when people saw who the next match-up was…

A bad feeling swept through the crowd.

Chapter 89

The second round, first match:
Piaomiao Peak’s Chi Xiao versus Xianding Peak’s Xiao Long.

On the stage, Chi Xiao stood tall, crimson hair flowing behind her, clad in a blazing red lotus battle armor. Just a single glance at her was enough to feel the scorching aura she emitted—an aura that wasn’t just intimidating, but also alluring and exhilarating.

“Go, Sister Xiao! We love you!”
“You’re the pride of Piaomiao Peak!”
“Don’t hold back! Show everyone Piaomiao Peak is the strongest branch in Luo Xian Sect!”

The girls of Piaomiao Peak cheered hysterically, their voices shrill like cracked bells, spitting as they shouted with wild, frenzied faces that completely ignored any semblance of grace or refinement.

“Hmph!”
Naturally, disciples from Xianding Peak didn’t take this quietly.
“A bunch of shrews—how could they amount to anything? Xianding Peak has always held the top spot. When did it become your turn?”

“That’s right!” someone else chimed in, backing his senior. “We’re the true strongest branch of Luo Xian Sect. You lot can come challenge us once you figure out how to pee standing up.”

Such brash remarks instantly ignited the fury of the Piaomiao girls.

“Who just said that? Come out here and let me slap you till you cry for your mom!”

One particularly fierce Piaomiao disciple stepped forward. Her fiery red robe clearly marked her as a die-hard Chi Xiao fan.

“I said it! If you’ve got a problem, come over and let’s go three hundred rounds. I’ll show you I’ve got more guts than your whole Peak!”

The Xianding disciples weren’t pushovers either. Constantly bullied by Chi Xiao and treated like punching bags by Piaomiao girls, today was their chance to prove themselves.
They had never been ones to back down—win together, lose together, fight together.

“Bring it on! You think we’re scared of you?”

Both sides rolled up their sleeves, ready for a full-on mixed-gender brawl right in the stands. The tension was so intense, it stunned even the spectators.

“ENOUGH!”

The thunderous voice of Elder Jin Hou silenced everyone in an instant.

Though the fighting paused, the hostility didn’t fade. Disciples from both sides locked eyes, as if one wrong glance could reignite the spark.

“Talk about explosive...”
Han Luo, watching from the crowd with the rest of Shen Xian’er’s fan club, shook his head.
The duel hadn’t even started, and the audience nearly erupted into chaos.
He scribbled a note in his little notebook: Don’t let false fame get to your head.

After that chaotic appetizer, the real battle began.

Xiao Long—the oldest among his generation on Xianding Peak—looked every bit the "senior brother" he was supposed to be. His long face matched his surname, and his strength placed him right below Li Jun among the Twelve Yamas, earning him the title of “uncrowned king.”

“Senior Sister Chi Xiao,” he said politely, “I know I’m no match for you. Please go easy on me.”

Like Li Jun, Xiao Long gave off a refined, courteous aura. After all, he was from Xianding Peak—their style was all about elegance.

Chi Xiao glanced at him with evident disdain. In her eyes, anyone outside Piaomiao Peak wasn’t worth a warm expression—except Shen Xian’er.

She raised her palm. A golden flame danced in her hand, then whooshed into the air and transformed into a crimson, eight-foot-long flaming spear.

The spear’s shaft looked like it had been forged from molten magma. Crimson spirit patterns swirled across it—majestic and deadly.

She pointed the spear straight at Xiao Long, brimming with fighting spirit.

The smile faded from Xiao Long’s face. He knew better than to underestimate Chi Xiao.

He immediately formed a hand seal.

Within seconds, his body was surrounded by rippling waves of spiritual energy that spun around him before condensing into three blue dragons.

Dragonform Art—a simple, widespread, but very practical technique.
And for someone at the Qi Refining stage to manifest three dragons? That spoke volumes about Xiao Long’s strength.

No need for more words.

“Kill!”

Xiao Long charged forward.

The three dragons roared with explosive might, ripping chunks of stone from the platform as they surged ahead.

A deep dragon’s roar echoed through the arena, shaking the air with piercing tremors.
For a moment, the audience was too stunned to even cheer.
What they were witnessing was beyond their expectations—there was nothing left to do but watch.

Xiao Long didn’t hold back, sending the dragons barreling toward Chi Xiao.

She calmly retracted her flaming spear and raised her signature weapon—the Chi Xiao Shield.

The massive shield completely protected her body.

The dragons struck—

Everyone expected a thunderous clash.

But the moment they collided, the dragons crumbled like tofu slamming into a steel wall.

That’s right.

It was like a speeding car crashing headfirst into a concrete pole.

Then came the hiss—
Thick white steam rose into the air.

The three dragons evaporated instantly on contact with the scorching surface of the shield.

“Spiritual energy suppression.”
Han Luo narrated from the stands.

Even though water typically countered fire, everything was relative.
Xiao Long’s spiritual energy had been tempered six times.
Chi Xiao’s—seven times.
Her fire was far more refined and overwhelming.

And Xiao Long was about to pay for it.

Before anyone could react, Chi Xiao swung her shield like a massive fan.

The surrounding steam, wrapped in her spiritual energy, burst toward Xiao Long—
And in that moment, it ignited midair, turning into a storm of blazing firebolts.

“Water Wall!”

Xiao Long shouted, conjuring a watery barrier before him.

But it wasn’t enough.

The firebolts pierced right through the water wall like bullets, still surging toward him.

He tried to dodge—
But suddenly, a shadow loomed in front of him.

Chi Xiao was already there.

Without hesitation, she raised her shield and slammed it straight into his face.

CRACK.

The sound echoed through the arena.

Everyone instinctively covered their lower halves and winced.
Oof. That’s gotta be broken—definitely broken.

Thud.

Xiao Long collapsed on the stage.

His face was distorted. His teeth shattered.
His body twitched like an over-wound frog.

He was absolutely done for.

Chapter 88

The grand tournament at Luoxian Plaza had entered its most intense phase. With the four strongest participants no longer fighting, the remaining competitors—whose strength was more evenly matched—were all fiercely battling for a spot in the top sixteen. It was a brutal, all-out melee that showed everyone what real combat looked like.

Cries of support filled the air.
“Go, Brother Zhou Hong! You got this!”
“Boss Xiao Long, you’re the best!”
“Our Piaomiao Peak is the strongest!”

The cheers rolled like thunder, shaking Luoxian Plaza as if it would burst apart from the excitement. The crowd was wild with passion, fully swept up in the spectacle.

After a series of fierce duels, twelve more names were added to the roster of top fighters. These were none other than the Twelve Yama, all cultivators who had completed six refinements of their spiritual essence.

With the first round concluded, the crowd was left exhilarated, still savoring the shock and awe the competition had delivered.

“Round One is over. Now, onto the draw for the next matchups,” announced Elder Jin Hou, his booming voice echoing through the plaza.

The sixteen top young cultivators stepped forward and stood in the center of the stage, receiving thunderous applause. These sixteen would be the future of Luoxian Sect—their rise was now inevitable.

Thanks to Elder Jin Hou's management, the four strongest participants didn’t clash just yet. The draw ensured a balanced fight for now. The contestants were then given a half-hour break before the top-eight elimination round.

As they left for their individual resting areas, supporters rushed to offer encouragement.

Inside Chi Xiao’s resting room, Ye Qingqing entered like a gentle breeze. With her soft demeanor and warm smile, even the fiery Chi Xiao found herself drawn in.

“Xiao, how do you feel?” Qingqing asked kindly.

“Don’t worry, Sister Ye. I’ll take first place and bring honor to Piaomiao Peak,” Chi Xiao said confidently, clenching her fist.

Ye Qingqing chuckled, then held her hand gently. “Just do your best. After all, you’ll be the next senior sister of Piaomiao Peak. You’ll need to think for the others now—not just charge ahead on impulse.”

Chi Xiao’s passion seemed endless, but she nodded solemnly. “I understand. I’ll protect our sisters, and we’ll wait for your return. We’re still going to build a kingdom of women together. We’ll show those stinky men that we can be true cultivators too.”

“Then I’ll come back for that,” Ye Qingqing said, smiling as they sealed their promise.

— — —

In Wu Dao’s resting room...

Silence.

He and his weapon, Ba Dao, sat still. No words were needed.

— — —

Meanwhile, on Xian Ding Peak...

Lu Dancheng, the senior brother, was advising Li Jun. “It’s fine not to go all out at first, but as the sect’s leading disciple, you must show your strength when it counts.”

Looking at Li Jun, he saw a younger version of himself—charming, clever, with natural leadership. The only thing left was to polish away that greasy overconfidence.

Li Jun nodded, already formulating his plan. “Don’t worry, senior brother. I’ve been saving my best for the next round. Wu Dao and Chi Xiao aren’t taking all the spotlight this time.”

Lu Dancheng reminded, “Don’t underestimate Shen Xian’er either. Even if you lose, lose with grace. Setbacks are just shadows on the path forward—keep walking, and you’ll find the light.”

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Li Jun agreed with a nod.

— — —

Back in Shen Xian’er’s room...

“Go, Xian’er! You were amazing!” said Du Ming and Lan Caicai as they entered.

They were here in place of their unpredictable senior, Bu Xiu, who even their master Wu Dao couldn’t locate.

“Ehehe~” Shen Xian’er smiled, happily munching on her lollipop. “Hi, senior brother, senior sister!”

“Keep it up, alright?” Lan Caicai said, hugging her tightly. She had adored Shen Xian’er from the moment she joined the sect.

“Don’t worry. I’ll win first place!” Shen Xian’er said with a gleaming smile, lollipop raised like a sword.

Du Ming chuckled. “Good, good. Just don’t push yourself too hard. You’re our little treasure.”

Then, Han Luo walked in, flipping through his ever-present notebook.

“Xian’er, your next opponent is a disciple from Xian Ding Peak. His name is Miao Huo,” he began, adjusting his glasses.

He listed off every detail:

• Name: Miao Huo

• Level: Qi Refinement Stage, seventh layer

• Temper: Arrogant, doesn’t take advice

• Technique: Fire Python Technique—can control four fire serpents, offense and defense combined

• Favorite food (before fasting): fish

• Favorite color: Chi Xiao Red (probably her fan)

• Current residence: Fire Blaze Cavern, Cave 18

• Background: Only child, father Miao Jiangyun (Foundation Establishment Stage), mother Zhang Lan (Refiner), entire family in the sect hierarchy

Han Luo even added:

• Special habits: Likes picking his nose and doesn’t wash hands afterward…

Lan Caicai and Du Ming were dumbfounded. Had Han Luo dug up the guy’s entire ancestry?

“Listen, his fire pythons are tough to crack. Normally, they don’t have any weaknesses,” Han Luo explained. “So we make one. Throw the fire talismans I gave you. Don’t hold back. Once you’ve thrown 113 of them, his technique will start to over-expand and freeze up. Then just toss one explosive charm—boom! The pythons pop, and you win.”

“Really? That simple?” Shen Xian’er was skeptical.

“Of course,” Han Luo replied confidently. “Your brother makes a living off this kind of plan.”

Then he went on to explain seven more backup strategies—each practical, safe, and incredibly effective. Du Ming and Lan Caicai were speechless. They had never heard of so many ways to win a fight. What shocked them even more: every plan was feasible.

Even if Miao Huo was stronger, he could be toyed with and defeated.

In another room, Miao Huo was feeling pumped. Surrounded by friends and encouraged by Elder Yun Ding, he felt ready to crush Shen Xian’er.

He believed that despite her talent, her personality was her greatest flaw. As long as he exploited that, victory was his. And with a few tricks up his sleeve, he was certain the crowd would be stunned by his performance.

He was already imagining the look of shock on the faces of the ten thousand spectators when he defeated her.

And so, after a tense half-hour…

The second round officially began.

Chapter 87

Han Luo had a pounding headache.

He had specifically warned Shen Xian’er not to reveal anything about her domain.

First, showing her domain meant one thing—she had completed her eighth spirit tempering. A cultivator with a seventh-grade spirit root who reached this stage would shake the entire Eastern Region, no less than the appearance of an emperor or a sovereign. While others might not know, he had thoroughly investigated every hidden card the Luoxian Sect possessed. If word got out, those powerful immortal dynasties might come to snatch her away, repeating the tragedy that befell the Moon Sect.

Second, while others might be clueless, his master Wudao definitely knew Shen Xian’er was connected to him. He silently hoped his master would get the hint and not stir up more trouble for him.

With worry gnawing at his heart, he glanced up toward the grandstand where the peak masters and the sect master sat. Reading their lips eased his anxiety—his master seemed to understand and wasn’t planning to expose him. The others appeared to believe Wudao’s words, neither confirming nor denying anything outright.

Just when he thought he could relax, Hongniang unexpectedly glanced in his direction.

Good thing he’d come prepared. He had been enthusiastically chanting “Go Xian’er! You’re the best!” the entire time. Surely she wouldn’t suspect him of eavesdropping.

In truth, Hongniang and the others had all been wondering whether Han Luo was the one who helped Shen Xian’er reach her eighth spirit tempering. But after considering it, they dismissed the thought. As talented as Han Luo was—with a top-grade spirit root, no less—he was still only at the Qi Condensation stage. Maybe he could’ve helped with seven rounds, but the eighth? That was a miracle few could believe he could pull off.

Meanwhile, the tournament continued.

Shen Xian’er had entered berserk mode. Her indiscriminate attacks left the audience stunned. Just moments ago, she had been a cute, sleepy little girl—and now she was chasing Li Jun, the top-ranked disciple, across the battlefield like a little demon.

“Junior sister Xian’er, I swear I didn’t wake you up! Please believe me!” Li Jun cried as he fled in panic.

He wasn’t running because he couldn’t fight back. He was running because retaliating would likely result in a serious battle—and serious injuries. The pressure Xian’er put on him was no less than that of Chi Xiao. Though he had never underestimated her, he never expected her to be this terrifying.

Every dish she hurled—braised pork knuckles, chicken legs, duck necks, stinky tofu—was a high-powered explosive. One wrong move and he’d be blown to pieces.

He had no intention of getting hurt before the finals. Whether facing Wu Dao or Chi Xiao, he needed to be at full strength. As Shen Xian’er raged on, Li Jun ran while shouting for her to calm down. But she was far too furious to listen and continued her relentless pursuit.

Seeing no other choice, Li Jun twisted around to dodge a flying plate of shredded pork and ran straight toward Chi Xiao.

Chi Xiao, who was preparing to re-engage Wu Dao, saw him coming and instantly frowned. “Junior sister Chi Xiao! Please help! I really don’t want to hurt junior sister Xian’er!”

Chi Xiao rolled her eyes. Sure, he didn’t want to hurt her—or maybe he just didn’t want to waste energy before the final round. This kind of slippery behavior was exactly why she didn’t like him.

“Whoosh!”

A golden fried chicken leg came flying toward her like a meteor. Though it looked harmless, Chi Xiao had seen enough of Xian’er’s tricks to know better.

“Shield!” she called.

A crimson shield materialized over her arm, engraved with a lifelike red phoenix. The chicken leg slammed into it.

Boom!

The impact forced Chi Xiao to take three steps back.

“What incredible power... and such pure spiritual energy,” she muttered, shocked. Only by clashing with it directly did she truly understand the strength behind Xian’er’s techniques.

Lifting a corner of her shield, she looked at the girl barreling toward her.

She had always treated Shen Xian’er like a little sister—someone who needed protection. Even though she’d long known that Xian’er’s talent far exceeded her own, the reality struck harder than she expected.

“She’s grown up,” Chi Xiao whispered with a mixture of pride and melancholy.

She had always been torn—wanting to see Shen Xian’er grow stronger, yet not wanting her to bear the burdens that came with power. But now that the truth was in front of her, all she could do was accept it.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a barrage of fragrant dishes came flying in.

“Bar snacks—two and a half pounds!” Shen Xian’er shouted.

Peanuts, tofu cubes, spiced edamame, prawns, pickled vegetables—wave after wave of appetizers stormed toward her like an avalanche.

Chi Xiao smiled.

“Come on, girl. Show me how far you’ve really come.”

With a surge of red light, her shield expanded into a massive three-meter phoenix that enveloped her. She braced herself to block the incoming snacks.

But just before they clashed—

Everything froze.

The dishes hovered mid-air. Shen Xian’er came to a stop and quickly pulled a voice-transmission stone from her embroidered pouch.

“Calm down. Don’t go overboard. I’ve got boiled fish for you after the match,” a familiar voice said.

Only one person knew exactly how to pacify her.

Just like that, her rage evaporated, and she transformed back into the sweet, adorable junior sister everyone knew.

But not everyone was so sentimental.

As she stood dazed, still thinking about boiled fish, several black-clad figures burst from the shadows. They had been waiting for this exact moment.

There were no rules against ambushes. On the battlefield, all that mattered was victory.

“Die!”

The attackers struck.

But before they could touch her—

Chi Xiao roared, slamming her shield into the ground.

Boom!

The earth cracked, sending fiery gouts of flame erupting in all directions. Within seconds, the area around Shen Xian’er was reduced to scorched earth. Anyone within twenty meters was instantly eliminated.

Had Chi Xiao hesitated for even a moment, those cultivators would’ve seriously injured or even killed Xian’er.

Completely unfazed by the chaos, Shen Xian’er blinked at the flames, then pulled out a sausage from her pouch. Holding it over the flames, she began roasting it, sprinkling on cumin and pepper.

When the flames died down, she took a bite, her cheeks forming little dimples as she smiled with delight. The sight melted the hearts of everyone watching. A wave of adoration swept through the crowd. Fans screamed as if they’d been struck by a thousand points of cuteness damage.

“Xian’er!”

Chi Xiao rushed over to check on her. Seeing the little girl safe and sound, she finally relaxed.

Li Jun, still sweating profusely, realized he’d narrowly escaped death. Being chased by Shen Xian’er was a traumatic experience.

Though chaotic, the incident didn’t truly affect the tournament’s outcome. The true contenders—Chi Xiao, Li Jun, Wu Dao, and Shen Xian’er—had already established themselves.

Now, only twelve spots remained.

With over two thousand cultivators still in the field, the bloodbath for those remaining slots was about to begin.

The real battle was just getting started.