Ranobes » Cultivation Online » Chapter 1839: An Unexpected Encounter
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Chapter 1839: An Unexpected Encounter
Cultivation Online

"It's been a week since I arrived at this place, but I could've arrived two weeks earlier. I'm surprised it took you this long to become a cultivator, considering you already memorized the cultivation technique," Yuan said.

Ji Ran scratched his head in an embarrassed manner and admitted, "Honestly, I was taken aback by life in the Bamboo Garden and needed some time to adjust. I also failed my first quotas, which slowed me down a little. Although I was the Sect Leader, I have never actually stepped foot inside the Bamboo Garden until recently."

Ji Ran was a genius who entered the Immortal Monastery through the entrance examination, so he didn't know what life was like for those who had to enter the sect through the Bamboo Forest. Although he'd heard of them before, he never paid any attention to them. After all, those who entered the sect through the Bamboo Forest were considered trash and not worth his attention.

However, after experiencing the Bamboo Forest himself, Ji Ran had come to acknowledge—even respect those who had to endure such a life for many years just to become a disciple of the Immortal Monastery.

"What are your plans now?" Yuan asked Ji Ran a moment later.

"I am going to focus on my cultivation for now. We only have ten years to become an Inner Court disciple," he replied. "While it's shorter than the 30 years we're supposed to get, we get more cultivation resources here, so it kind of balances out."

"What about you, Young Master?"

"I will focus my cultivation for a little before I turn my focus to acquiring points," said Yuan.

"Points, huh? Now that you mention it, it might be better to focus on points since it has so many uses, and I can even speed up my cultivation with it," Ji Ran muttered.

"However, it's not easy earning points, and I don't even know where to begin."

"You can earn points by selling magical beast materials, especially their cores," Yuan revealed.

"Wait… there's only one place with magical beasts accessible by Outer Court disciples. Have you already gone to the Hunting Grounds?" Ji Ran looked at Yuan with wide eyes.

Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.

"How strong are the magical beasts?" Ji Ran then asked.

"The weakest magical beast you'll find is at the fifth level of Spirit Apprentice."

"Fifth level?! But you've only just become a cultivator recently! Did you somehow retain your original body and talents?" Ji Ran exclaimed with a shocked face.

"No, but I did purchase a Golden Spirit Pill with my points."

"Fifth level?! But you've only just become a cultivator recently! Did you somehow retain your original body and talents?" Ji Ran exclaimed with a shocked face.

"No, but I did purchase a Golden Spirit Pill with my points."

"How many points did that cost you?"

"7,500."

"That's too expensive… I only have a little over a thousand," Ji Ran sighed.

After chatting for a little longer, Ji Ran left to visit the point store while Yuan returned home to continue his cultivation.

Two weeks later, Yuan finally finished absorbing all of the spiritual energy from the monster core. However, he was only able to breakthrough a single level, reaching the third level Spirit Apprentice, and he was barely able to do so.

Although he still had five spirit stones, Yuan decided to save them just in case. Since he had the capability to hunt magical beasts and monster cores, he wasn't desperate for cultivation resources.

After taking a shower and filling his stomach, Yuan headed back to the Hunting Grounds for another hunting session.

As he approached the entrance, his eyes fell on someone exiting the area. It was Ji Ran, and his appearance was nothing short of pitiful. His clothes were tattered and roughed up, and his body was smeared with blood, giving the impression that he had been through a brutal ordeal.

"Y-Young Master…" Ji Ran almost instinctively hid his face after encountering Yuan.

"You don't look so good," Yuan teased with a smile.

He sighed, "I thought I would be able to hunt magical beasts since you were able to do it. However, even with my experience, there's no point if my body doesn't listen to me. I will need to temper my body before I can even think about returning to this place."

"Good luck, Young Master."

Not wanting to linger with his appearance, Ji Ran hastily left the scene. Yuan entered the Hunting Grounds shortly after. The sect elder watching the entrance noticed him but didn't say anything.

Once inside the Hunting Grounds, Yuan wasted no time looking for magical beasts. However, even though he was confident in his abilities, there were certain magical beasts that he actively avoided, especially the agile ones.

"Oh? To find a monster core this quickly, how lucky," Yuan muttered to himself after getting a monster core on his first kill.

After gathering the materials, Yuan continued his hunt. This time, he was prepared to stay inside the Hunting Grounds until his spatial ring could no longer store any more materials.

A week later, after averaging 10 to 15 kills a day, Yuan finally filled his spatial ring to capacity with magical beast materials.

Just as he was preparing to head back to the sect, he sensed a presence approaching him. The individual made no attempt to conceal their presence, which kept Yuan from feeling overly alarmed. However, his cautious nature kept him on alert, ready to react if necessary.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" a feminine voice rang out.

Yuan turned around to face the source of the voice and saw a beautiful young woman approaching him. When he saw her face, his eyes widened with surprise. Meanwhile, the young woman frowned deeply upon seeing Yuan.

"I knew it," she said, her tone sharp but laced with confusion. "I thought I was seeing things, but it really is you. What are you doing wearing the Outer Court's uniform? And why are you still in the sect? I thought you had already left to prepare for your Core Disciple examination long ago. Hm? Disciple Tian Yang?"

"Elder Sun…?" Yuan muttered her name subconsciously, his voice filled with disbelief.

This young woman wasn't just any sect member—she was Elder Sun, a sect elder and someone Tian Yang was deeply familiar with, as she had saved his life on multiple occasions in the past.

Cultivation Online
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    Chapter 1842 Enriched Roots of Vigor

    The three disciples blocking Yuan's path stood with their chests high, looking quite proud of their tactics.

    Yuan didn't immediately respond to their threat and silently analyzed them.

    'First-level Spirit Warrior, eighth-level Spirit Apprentice, and seventh-level Spirit Apprentice, huh?'

    All of them had a higher cultivation than Yuan, and one of them was even a Spirit Warrior. If Yuan had his original body, he wouldn't need to worry about fighting those above his cultivation. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Even if Yuan's fighting experience was far superior to the three of them combined, the three disciples could easily overpower him with raw strength alone.

    Moreover, Yuan lacked not just cultivation but also martial techniques and treasures. After contemplating his choices for a moment, Yuan suddenly turned around and began walking back to the point store, which left the disciples puzzled.

    "W-wait! Where the hell do you think you're going?!"

    "How dare you ignore us?!"

    "Come back here!"

    The disciples shouted for him to return, but Yuan simply ignored them. Upon returning to the store, Yuan faced the disciples and said, "You want what I have? Come get it."

    The disciples trembled in anger after hearing his words, but for some reason, they refused to chase after Yuan, almost as if there was an invisible barrier that prevented them from getting close to the point store.

    'So those who are not participants are not allowed inside the point store, huh? This is good to know.'

    Yuan had planned on consuming the treasure inside the store, where there were others watching, making it difficult for the disciples to intervene. He never expected that only participants and those who were designed to work at the point store would be allowed to enter. Upon realizing this, Yuan immediately sat down and retrieved the Enriched Roots of Vigor. Before consuming it, he dangled it in front of him like he was trying to bait something.

    "You f#cking bastard! Don't you dare!"

    "I swear I'll f#cking kill you later!"

    "Don't think you can stay there forever!"

    When the three disciples saw Yuan's actions, they became infuriated, their faces flushed with redness. However, no matter how red their faces turned, their feet remained rooted to the ground, unable to take a step closer to the point store.

    Once Yuan confirmed that they were definitely unable to approach the point store, Yuan consumed the Enriched Roots of Vigor and began cultivating with the disciples as spectators.

    The young man working behind the desk inside the store noticed Yuan's actions but didn't say anything. After a glance, he returned to his own business and pretended as if Yuan wasn't even there.

    Over the next several days, Yuan remained at the point store, trying to absorb the Enriched Roots of Vigor. The three disciples who tried to threaten Yuan had left after spending an entire day cursing at him, throwing all sorts of insults and threats until their voices turned hoarse.

    A few participants had visited the store during this time, and they were curious why someone was cultivating out in the open—at the point store, no less.

    However, as cultivators, they all knew it was an unspoken rule to never disturb another cultivator while they were cultivating—unless they were enemies, of course.

    After spending eleven days cultivating at the store, Yuan finally finished absorbing the Enriched Roots of Vigor, and his cultivation reached the eighth level of Spirit Apprentice.

    Although his cultivation only increased by two levels, Yuan could tell that his strength and combat prowess had doubled—even tripled.

    'I should have no issue dealing with those three now, even if they come at me together,' Yuan thought to himself as he left the store and returned home.

    Once he returned home, Yuan retrieved the monster cores he'd collected and began absorbing them as well.

    After consuming the Enriched Roots of Vigor, his cultivation speed increased even more. Now, instead of taking two weeks to fully absorb a monster core, he only needed a week. However, he had 28 monster cores, which meant he would need 28 weeks or 7 months to finish them.

    "7 months is too long. Let's just increase my cultivation by one more level and sell the rest for points. I'll be able to hunt Spirit Warrior magical beasts by then, anyway."

    With that in mind, Yuan spent another month and a half in seclusion, increasing his cultivation to the ninth level of Spirit Apprentice.

    Although spending almost two months to increase a single level at the Spirit Apprentice realm may seem very long at a glance, especially considering Yuan's normal speed, one must keep in mind that most cultivators lack resources and have to cultivate without treasures. Even talented cultivators require months of hard work to increase a single level without the help of cultivation resources such as spirit stones and monster cores, much less treasures like the Enriched Roots of Vigor.

    As for the other participants who have arrived at the Immortal Monastery, the majority of them have only recently entered the second level of Spirit Apprentice, so Yuan's progress could still be considered unfathombly fast when compared to his peers.

    Once he ended his seclusion, Yuan went back to the point store to sell the remaining of his monster cores for points.

    "I can give you 31,500 points for these 24 monster cores," the young man offered.

    "I'll sell it," Yuan nodded.

    "Great."

    After selling his monster cores, Yuan looked at the talent-boosting treasures again.

    'I need 750,000 points for the next one, huh? They're getting expensive very quickly…'

    After seeing the ridiculous price for the next treasure, Yuan decided to hold off on purchasing it for the time being. Instead, he began looking for something more affordable and would offer immediate benefits to his cultivation or abilities.

    Eventually, he came across a certain pill—one that would immediately push his cultivation straight into the next realm.

    "I will buy a Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill," Yuan said.

    "That will be 10,000 points," said the store clerk.
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      Eternal Paragon
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      Chapter 1843 Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill

      Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill—just as its name implies, it could help a Spirit Apprentice cultivator reach Spirit Warrior instantly when consumed. However, there are a number of limitations.

      One such limitation was that the pill would only be effective for those at the ninth level of Spirit Apprentice. The second limitation was that a single individual could only consume three such pills in their lifetime, regardless of the results.

      "Before I sell it to you, I must warn you that the Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill doesn't guarantee you'll successfully enter Spirit Warrior. These pills have a 70 percent chance of success, so there is a 30 percent chance it will do nothing," the young store clerk warned him.

      "I understand. I still wish to buy one," Yuan nodded, purchasing a Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill for 10,000 points.

      Yuan returned home and immediately began preparing to attempt a breakthrough to Spirit Warrior.

      After consuming the pill, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him, his cultivation speed accelerating rapidly toward the next level. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the breakthrough was within reach.

      However, just as the energy reached its peak, it suddenly dispersed, slipping through his grasp like sand in the wind. The Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill had failed despite having a 70 percent success rate.

      Upon failing to breakthrough using the Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill, Yuan wasted no time returning to the point store for another one.

      However, after consuming it and trying again, Yuan failed to breakthrough to Spirit Warrior for a second time.

      "Failing a seventy percent chance success rate two times in a row… My luck seems to be backward here…" Yuan sighed as he made his way back to the point store for the third time.

      After purchasing a third Spirit Warrior Advancement Pill, Yuan returned home to try to breakthrough for his final time. After all, a single person could only consume three such pills in their lifetime.

      Eventually, a powerful burst of energy radiated from Yuan's body, signaling his successful breakthrough to the first level of Spirit Warrior.

      As the energy stabilized within him, Yuan released a sigh of relief. Without the pill, achieving the same result would have taken him two to three months of consistent effort through normal cultivation.

      'Although it took 30,000 points and three tries, I have managed to enter Spirit Warrior.'

      Now that he was a Spirit Warrior, Yuan could confidently traverse deeper into the Hunting Grounds, where much more powerful magical beasts roamed.

      However, before returning to the Hunting Grounds to farm more points, Yuan had to prepare.

      'Now that I am a Spirit Warrior, I should try learning the Immortal Monastery's martial techniques.'

      Although the participants were prohibited from using martial techniques that did not originate from the Immortal Monastery, they had no problem learning the sect's martial techniques. The only issue was that it was nearly impossible for the participants to acquire these techniques in their current state.

      Yuan and the participants confirmed that they were able to purchase the Immortal Monastery's techniques with points after arriving at the Immortal Monastery. However, even the basic ones required tens of thousands of points, which was simply not feasible for the majority of the participants.

      As for Yuan, he didn't need to spend any points on purchasing these techniques because he already had memorized several of them. The only reason he hasn't tried to use them was due to a lack of cultivation. Now that he reached Spirit Warrior, he could start using them properly.

      Yuan made his way to the Training Grounds, a spacious outdoor area specifically used by disciples for training martial techniques.

      When Yuan arrived, there were dozens of disciples already training. At a glance, he observed a diverse array of techniques being practiced—some focused on swordsmanship, others on hand-to-hand combat or even niche weapons like sickles and fans.

      The variety of methods on display made it seem that the Immortal Monastery didn't adhere to a single teaching style like most sects. Instead, it seemed to encourage disciples to cultivate and hone techniques that suited their individual strengths and preferences, fostering a more versatile and adaptive environment.

      However, Yuan knew the truth behind this apparent freedom. While it was true that the Immortal Monastery didn't enforce a specific style, this wasn't due to a philosophy of allowing disciples to choose their paths freely. Instead, it was because of the sect's unique cultivation techniques, which were designed to enhance and complement all styles equally.

      This adaptability was the sect's greatest strength—it didn't matter what techniques or fighting styles the disciples practiced. The Immortal Monastery's methods ensured that every approach could reach its full potential, creating a foundation that benefited all who trained within its walls.

      The Immortal Monastery was renowned for one defining feature—its technique-amplifying techniques.

      If one observed the Training Grounds closely, they would notice a faint red and black aura emanating from every disciple's weapon. This distinct aura was the result of the sect's core cultivation method—the Peerless Immortal Technique, a mythical technique unique to the Immortal Monastery.

      This technique was the cornerstone of the sect's reputation, enhancing the effectiveness of any technique. It allowed disciples to push all of their abilities to unimaginable levels, making even the most basic techniques formidable in combat.

      'The Peerless Immortal Technique… While it has an impressive name, it's a relatively simple technique that basically amplifies the strength of all techniques. What truly differentiates the Peerless Immortal Technique from other strengthening techniques is its diversity and its seemingly endless potential,' Yuan recalled Tian Yang's knowledge of the technique.

      Typically, when a cultivator masters a specific weapon or technique, learning another would require them to start from scratch. However, the Peerless Immortal Technique completely bypassed this limitation.

      With this unique technique, a cultivator could effortlessly switch weapons or techniques without any loss of strength, allowing one to display prowess that would only be possible when the technique is fully mastered, even with the most basic understanding. That said, the technique is not perfect and has its own drawbacks.

      The Peerless Immortal Technique was incredibly difficult to learn and even harder to master. In fact, most disciples spend their entire lives stuck at the basic levels of the technique, unable to advance further.
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        Chapter 1844 Peerless Immortal Technique

        The Peerless Immortal Technique was comprised of nine known levels, with the first two levels considered the foundational basics.

        Although most disciples only ever managed to reach Level 2, even at this stage, they were able to display a level of prowess that far surpassed that of other cultivators with the same cultivation level. This is why, despite the difficulty, the Immortal Monastery remained a top sect during the Primordial Era.

        Yuan retrieved one of his swords from his spatial ring and made his way to an empty spot in the Training Grounds. With plenty of space around him, he could practice without worrying about disturbing the others.

        'While the Peerless Immortal Technique is the Immortal Monastery's main technique, they also have other techniques that, while not as versatile, are still incredibly powerful,' Yuan thought to himself, considering his options.

        The Peerless Immortal Technique was designed to amplify and enhance other techniques, meaning it required a foundational technique to pair with. Without one, practicing it would be meaningless.

        Yuan closed his eyes and focused, delving deep into Tian Yang's memories to recall the techniques he had once practiced. Once the memories surfaced, Yuan began training.

        The first technique was called Thousand Miles Sword Strike, a straightforward yet powerful sword art. With a precise swing of the sword, it unleashed a sharp arc of spiritual energy, cutting through the air and striking targets from a distance.

        Standing on the Training Grounds, Yuan raised his sword, channeling his spiritual energy as he practiced the technique. He swung the blade, and a faint arc of energy shot forward, dissipating shortly after. It wasn't perfect, but with each repetition, his movements grew sharper, and the spiritual energy more concentrated.

        Several hours later, once Yuan was satisfied with the speed and distance, he began training the Peerless Immortal Technique.

        Once activated, Yuan's sword became engulfed in an ominous red and black aura. The next time he used the Thousand Miles Sword Strike, it flew two times faster and further than before while only using about 50 percent more spiritual energy than he usually would.

        'With my cultivation, I'll only be able to use the Peerless Immortal Technique up to the first level, but this is already powerful enough.'

        Yuan continued training until he was satisfied.

        As Yuan concluded his training session and prepared to leave, he caught sight of three individuals approaching him from a distance. Their hurried pace and the unmistakable killing intent in their gazes left no doubt about their hostile intentions.

        These three disciples were the same ones who tried to rob his Enriched Roots of Vigor. Despite having plenty of time to run away, Yuan remained still, patiently waiting for them to reach him.

        The three disciples thought he was frozen from fear, causing smiles to appear on their faces.

        "Did you really think we'd forget about what happened last time, you bamboo bastard?" the Spirit Warrior snarled, his voice dripping with anger. His face turned red, both from the effort of suppressing his rage and the humiliation that resurfaced as he recalled their previous encounter.

        "Of course not. In fact, I was hoping you'd return," Yuan said.

        He faced them with a calm expression and continued, "So, what are you going to do about it?"

        "How dare—"

        The Spirit Warrior's voice halted as he noticed Yuan's cultivation.

        "Y-you! How are you already a Spirit Warrior?! You were only at the sixth level of Spirit Apprentice the last time we spoke!"

        In the time it had taken Yuan to advance from the sixth level of Spirit Apprentice to Spirit Warrior, none of the three disciples had made any progress in their cultivation

        This realization didn't just shock the three disciples—it terrified them.

        The speed of Yuan's advancement was far beyond anything they had seen or heard of before, and the thought that they might have offended a genius sent chills down their spines. Their anger and confidence began to waver, replaced by a creeping sense of dread as they considered the possibility of offending someone they shouldn't have.

        Noticing the fear in their eyes, Yuan smiled and said, "Is there something weird about me being a Spirit Warrior?"

        He raised his sword and activated the Peerless Immortal Technique before pressing its blade against the Spirit Warrior's neck.

        "I want to kill the three of you right now, but I am a rule-abiding disciple. However, if I see any of you outside the sect—especially the Hunting Grounds, I won't give any warnings and swing my sword."

        The disciples trembled in fear. However, it was not Yuan's threat that terrified them—it was his usage of the Peerless Immortal Technique. Despite being at the sect for over half a decade, neither of them had managed to reach the first level of the technique.

        Yet, despite having just become a Spirit Warrior, Yuan was already demonstrating a mastery of the technique that seemed superior to even that of Inner Court disciples.

        "I will give you five seconds to get out of my sight before I start swinging my sword."

        "Y-you wouldn't dare to kill another disciple in the sect!"

        "This is the Training Grounds. Accidents happen here every once in a while. I can just say that I was too absorbed in my training to notice you and accidentally killed you," Yuan shrugged.

        The moment the disciples sensed the cold, suffocating wave of killing intent emanating from Yuan, their courage evaporated in an instant. Without a second thought, they turned and bolted, fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them.

        Once those three disciples left, Yuan made his way to the Hunting Grounds.

        At the Hunting Grounds, Yuan ignored the weaker magical beasts and went straight to the area with powerful magical beasts at the Spirit Warrior level.

        Magical beasts are inherently stronger than human cultivators at the same level, so it was common to see disciples work together to hunt a single magical beast. However, Yuan traversed the place alone, killing magical beasts left and right with the Thousand Miles Sword Strike and Peerless Immortal Technique, quickly filling his spatial ring with materials.
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          Chapter 1845 A Rumor

          "Senior Sister Sun, have you heard? There's a monster hunting all of the magical beasts in the Hunting Grounds."

          A female sect elder approached Elder Sun while she was patrolling the outer areas of the Hunting Grounds.

          "Huh? Monster? What are you talking about?" Elder Sun raised an eyebrow at this news.

          "There's a rumor going around saying that an Outer Court disciple is hunting Spirit Warrior magical beasts alone and at an incredible rate. I don't know how credible this information is, but according to the sect elder who witnessed it, this Outer Court disciple could utilize the Peerless Immortal Technique even better than many Inner Court disciples."

          "An Outer Court disciple doing better than Inner Court disciples with the Peerless Immortal Technique? When did our sect acquire such a genius?" Elder Sun asked with raised eyebrows.

          "Who knows? We don't even know if this person really exists."

          "Why don't you go take a look and confirm it yourself?" Elder Sun asked.

          "That's what I plan on doing. Want to come with me?"

          "I would love to, but I don't want to give the Sect Leader any reasons to lecture me," Elder Sun sighed out loud.

          "Oh, right. You were lectured for paying too much attention to a certain disciple a few years ago. What happened to him?"

          "He's on his way to becoming a Core Disciple. He left the sect sometime ago to train."

          "A Core Disciple? I guess there's a reason you were paying so much attention to him. Everyone thought you had fallen for a disciple back then. Do you have any idea how shocked we were?"

          "That's absolute nonsense. He's akin to a little brother to me—one who is always in trouble and requires my help. He would've died long ago if it weren't for me," Elder Sun shook her head.

          Although her words may sound a little egotistical, it was very true. Tian Yang would've died long ago if it weren't for her constant support, not to mention the amount of times she had to save him in the Hunting Grounds.

          "Whatever you say, Senior Sister. Anyway, I'll go check out this monster and report back to you once I confirm or expose the rumors."

          With that, the female sect elder left Elder Sun and went deeper into the Hunting Grounds.

          At the same time, Yuan was just leaving the Hunting Grounds after filling his spatial ring with materials.

          A single magical beast earned him around 100 points before, but now, they were earning him around 500 points. As for the monster cores, they would also earn him 5 times more than previously if he sold them. Of course, he only sold the materials and kept the monster cores.

          However, while the magical beasts earned him more points, they were harder to encounter. In the end, it took Yuan almost a week to fill his spatial ring when it used to only take three to four days.

          Still, the amount of points he was earning was still much more than before. In a week, he'd earned around 55,000 points.

          'At this rate, I'll need to farm magical beasts for 3 months straight before I can afford the next treasure…'

          Although it was a long time, Yuan didn't mind it, as it was almost a drop in the bucket when compared to Tian Yang, who had spent years training inside the Hunting Grounds.

          "I'd like to purchase an Earth-grade sword," Yuan said to the young store clerk.

          "That would cost 5,000 points."

          It was a thousand times more expensive than the Spirit-grade sword Yuan had purchased.

          "I'll take it," Yuan said.

          Although Yuan wouldn't have minded continuing to use his Spirit-grade swords, they were beginning to show visible signs of wear and tear. The immense stress placed on them by the Peerless Immortal Technique had pushed them to their limits, and cracks were starting to form. It was clear they wouldn't last much longer under such strain.

          After acquiring the Earth-grade sword, Yuan returned to the Hunting Grounds to continue his grind.

          "Oh? Is that him?" The sect elder who went to confirm the rumors finally found Yuan after searching for an entire day.

          She then watched as Yuan killed a magical beast from afar using the Thousand Miles Sword Strike, which had been strengthened by the Peerless Immortal Technique.

          "Heavens! He killed it with a single strike! And his Peerless Immortal Technique is almost level 2! Only the top Inner Court disciples have reached that level after decades of hard work!"

          The sect elder almost couldn't believe her eyes.

          After watching Yuan for a few hours, the sect elder approached him and asked, "Disciple, what is your name?"

          "My name is Xiao Yang," Yuan introduced himself.

          "Xiao Yang, huh? How long have you been a disciple?"

          "A few months."

          "Only a few months?! And you're already a Spirit Warrior?! Not to mention your understanding of the Peerless Immortal Technique! Did you, by any chance, come from the Immortal Clans?"

          "No, I have no relations to the Immortal Clans." Yuan's eyebrows twitched after hearing about the Immortal Clans.

          "Then do you have a master? Although only Inner Court disciples are allowed to have a master, exceptionally talented individuals are exempted from this rule."

          "No, I don't have a master," Yuan shook his head.

          A disciple may accept a sect elder as master once they are promoted to the Inner Court. This had several benefits, such as learning techniques that most disciples do not have access to, as well as receiving much more cultivation resources than others.

          "No, I don't have a master, nor do I have any intentions of accepting one." Yuan shook his head.

          "Why not? You'd grow stronger much faster if you had one. You would also receive special protection from the sect," the sect elder was puzzled, even surprised by Yuan's response, as most disciples would kill for a master.

          "I don't know," Yuan shrugged.

          "How about I be your master? You use the sword, right? Well, I happen to be a swordmaster," the sect elder revealed with a puffed chest.

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            Eternal Paragon
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            Chapter 1846 Soul Refining Elixir

            "Sorry, senior, but if I had a master, I would prefer it be someone I am familiar with," Yuan shook his head.

            "That's a simple fix. We can just get to know each other better!"

            The sect elder appeared noticeably eager, even a little desperate, to recruit Yuan as her disciple. This was because having a highly talented disciple would significantly enhance her reputation and status within the sect.

            A disciple's achievements reflected directly on their master, and if Yuan were to accomplish something extraordinary for the sect, it could lead to promotions and increased prestige for the elder. For her, recruiting someone with Yuan's potential was not just about guidance—it was an opportunity to elevate her own standing.

            "Thank you for the offer, senior, but for personal reasons, I won't be accepting a master for now," Yuan refused.

            The sect elder sighed, clearly disappointed in his response. However, she wasn't ready to give up a talented disciple like him and said, "I am Elder Jing. My offer remains, so if you ever change your mind in the future, you can find me."

            "Thank you, senior. I will definitely keep your offer in mind," Yuan responded politely.

            Despite saying that, Yuan had no intentions of accepting her as his master. In fact, he already had someone else in mind.

            Elder Jing left shortly after and returned to Elder Sun's side to report her findings.

            "The rumors were true. This Outer Court disciple exists. I watched him slay Spirit Warrior magical beasts as if they were just ordinary animals. I have never seen anyone like him before. Not only that, he's also very talented with the sword. His movements were swift and precise with zero waste. Hell, he might even be better than me in terms of basic sword understanding."

            Elder Jing praised Yuan endlessly, leaving Elder Sun speechless.

            "Such a talented disciple, I wonder if he's already accepted a master."

            "He doesn't have a master yet. Honestly, I tried to recruit him, but he refused," Elder Jing sighed.

            "Did he say why?"

            "He only said it was due to some personal reasons."

            "I see…"

            "Speaking of accepting a disciple, I'm surprised you didn't try to recruit that brother-like disciple of yours," Elder Jing suddenly said.

            "It's complicated," Elder Sun shook her head, refusing to elaborate further.

            Time continued to flow, and before Yuan realized it, a whole month had passed since his breakthrough to Spirit Warrior. He decided to take a break from the Hunting Grounds to check up on the others.

            Ji Ran had just achieved the fifth level of Spirit Apprentice, while Lan Yingying was on the verge of entering the third level.

            "Have you seen Meili, Yingzi, or the Zither Goddess?" Yuan asked Ji Ran and Lan Yingying.

            They both shook their heads.

            "Since they're beasts like me, they might be a little slower, especially Yingzi, who only started cultivating recently," Lan Yingying said. "The Zither Goddess should be arriving soon, through."

            "I wouldn't be too worried about them. Not even half of the 20,000 participants have made it to the Immortal Monastery," Ji Ran added.

            "Hopefully, they're just a little slow and nothing happened to them," Yuan said.

            "By the way, Young Master, do you think the founder is also in this place?" Ji Ran suddenly asked.

            "It's his trial, so it's highly likely. Whether he'll contact us or not is a different story."

            "I hope he does. I would like to speak more with him," Ji Ran said.

            After his break ended, Yuan returned to his grind inside the Hunting Grounds. Before he left, he gave Ji Ran and Lan Yingying a few monster cores he'd collected throughout the month.

            As time passed, Yuan's name continued to speak throughout the sect as a beast-slaying genius. Several sect elders besides Elder Jing approached him in hopes of recruiting him as their disciple, but Yuan refused all of them.

            Some were more persistent than others, and there was even one that subtly threatened him.

            In the case of being threatened, Yuan merely acted like he didn't understand he was being threatened, which worked.

            In the blink of an eye, another two months passed, and Yuan finally collected enough points to purchase the next tier of treasure.

            At the point store, Yuan spent 750,000 points purchasing the Soul Refining Elixir, a powerful treasure that increased one's soul strength and overall cultivation talents.

            After acquiring the treasure, Yuan immediately returned home to consume it, which took an entire day.

            Upon consuming the treasure, Yuan's cultivation soared to the third level of Spirit Warrior, and he could now fully absorb a monster core in a little under two days. However, even after spending another two months absorbing all of the monster cores he'd collected, his cultivation only reached the fifth level of Spirit Warrior.

            It has been around a year since Yuan and the others began the trial. Yet, only a little over 10,000 participants have made it to the Immortal Monastery.

            While Yuan was in seclusion trying to absorb the monster cores, both Tan Songyun and Xi Meili made it to the Immortal Monastery.

            "Where's your master?" Tan Songyun asked Lan Yingying when she arrived.

            "He's in seclusion."

            "How far has he progressed?"

            "He was at the first level of Spirit Warrior right before entering seclusion."

            "He's already reached Spirit Warrior?! How's that possible?!" Tan Songyun exclaimed in a shocked voice.

            "You will have to ask him…" Lan Yingying shook her head.

            Xi Meili showed up at the Immortal Monastery a month after Tan Songyun.

            "How long have you been here?" Xi Meili asked.

            "About half a year."

            "That long?! How?! It was mostly with the Young Master's help."

            "Yua—Xiao Yang? Where is he right now?"

            "Cultivating inside his room. He lives next door, by the way."

            After learning about Yuan's living quarters, both Xi Meili and Tan Songyun decided to live nearby.

            "By the way, I heard a massacre had occurred in your group. Was that…?" Xi Meili asked.

            "Yes… this is what happened." Lan Yingying explained the situation, leaving her speechless.
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              Chapter 1847 Sudden Event

              When Yuan emerged from his seclusion, he was pleasantly surprised to learn that Xi Meili and Tan Songyun had finally arrived at the Immortal Monastery.

              "So the only one left is Yingzi, huh?"

              If Yuan had to be honest, he was the most worried about Yingzi, as she was new to cultivation in the Nine Heavens. Moreover, she isn't even familiar with humans, much less their lifestyles. Yuan could imagine Yingzi having a hard time adapting to the quotas in the Bamboo Garden.

              "I must ask, how many points do you currently have?" Xi Meili asked Yuan as they sat in his room.

              "Near zero since I just spent all of them," Yuan said. "However, I had 750,000 points before that."

              "750,000?!?!" Everyone in the room exclaimed in shock. The rest of the participants had just begun entering the Hunting Grounds to farm for points, yet Yuan had already earned and spent 750,000 in one go. It was an astronomical amount of points that they couldn't even begin to comprehend.

              "How in heaven's name did you earn that many points? Did you threaten someone for them?" Tan Songyun asked with wide eyes.

              "You can get points by selling materials of magical beasts to the point store. You get about 100 per kill as Spirit Apprentice. Once you reach Spirit Warrior, you can expect around 500 per kill," Yuan explained his methods.

              However, even if everyone knew his method, not everyone could replicate it. After all, most participants have to pair up to fight a single magical beast, and they'd need to split the points. Yuan was fighting alone, so he could easily keep all points for himself.

              "By the way, here's a little something."

              Yuan retrieved four Golden Spirit Pills from his spatial ring and continued, "These will make your life a little easier."

              "What is that?" Xi Meili asked.

              "That's the Golden Spirit Pill. Although not by much, it can boost one's cultivation talents," Ji Ran explained.

              "Oh, I saw that in the list. They cost 7,500 points each, right? Are you sure you want to spend so many points on us? I don't want to slow down your progress," Xi Meili said.

              Yuan smiled and said, "It's only 7,500 points. I can earn that much with a single monster core and some materials. It'll hardly slow down my progress right now."

              Ji Ran then said, "I appreciate the offer, Young Master, but I have already purchased and consumed the Golden Spirit Pill myself. You can save mine for Yingzi."

              In the Immortal Monastery, Ji Ran's progress was only second to Yuan, which was expected, as he was once the sect leader of the Immortal Monastery.

              Xi Meili and Lan Yingying accepted the Golden Spirit Pill. As for Tan Songyun, she hesitated to receive Yuan's assistance out of pride.

              However, she eventually accepted the Golden Spirit Pill.

              "Thank you…" she mumbled. Sometime later, just as everyone prepared to leave Yuan's place, they heard a familiar voice being broadcast through voice transmission, allowing all of the participants to hear it no matter where they were.

              "The Immortal Monastery will be hosting its Entry-level Immortal Exchange in half a year. Only Outer Court disciples and those below Spirit Master may participate. The winner of this tournament will be granted 1,000,000 points and the treasure Translucent Dew of Flawlessness. However, you will need 25,000 points to participate in the tournament. You are only allowed to use your own points to participate. Moreover, you will gain one contribution for every victory."

              Once the announcement ended, Ji Ran said, "That was the founder's voice."

              "Entry-level Immortal Exchange, huh? Will you be participating, Yuan?" Xi Meili turned to look at him, who calmly nodded.

              There was no way he'd miss the chance to acquire the Translucent Dew of Flawlessness, which would help him achieve an Untainted Body and speed his cultivation speed tremendously.

              "I guess that means I won't be participating," Xi Meili shrugged.

              "We're too far behind, after all," Ji Ran sighed.

              "I'll also skip it," Lan Yingying nodded in agreement.

              Tan Songyun didn't say anything, but she also planned on skipping the tournament. As enticing as the rewards were, she knew she wouldn't defeat Yuan, who was an entire realm ahead of her.

              If she joined the tournament, she'd only be wasting 25,000 points.

              "I guess this will be an easy win for you," Xi Meili then said.

              Yuan shook his head and said, "That's not necessarily true. If only those like us are allowed to participate, then I will most likely win it without any competition. However, they didn't say anything about only allowing us to participate, so it's safe to assume the other disciples will also be participating."

              "The Young Master is right. The founder wouldn't give such a generous reward so easily," Ji Ran said.

              "By the way, even if you know you won't win the tournament, I think you should still participate for the contribution, which you will need to become an Inner Court disciple," Yuan then said.

              "But 25,000 points is a lot…" Xi Meili sighed.

              "There are many ways to earn points, but contribution is a different story. We might only be able to acquire contributions through events such as this one. In such a case, we'd want to participate in all of them, regardless if we win or lose."

              Yuan's logical take on the situation instantly made everyone in the room reconsider their decision. Although 25,000 points may be a lot, they could earn it back with enough effort. However, contribution was a different story. If they could not become an Inner Court disciple due to lack of contribution, even a billion points would be pointless.

              "Alright, I'll participate in the event and earn as much contribution as possible," Xi Meili said after pondering for a moment.

              Lan Yingying and Ji Ran nodded their heads in agreement.

              Sometime later, everyone left Yuan's living quarters to continue their training. As for Yuan, he returned to the Hunting Grounds to continue slaying magical beasts for points.
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                Chapter 1848 Half a Year

                After returning to the Hunting Grounds, Yuan wasted no time grinding magical beasts. After the Soul Refining Elixir, the prices of talent-boosting treasures in the point store no longer experienced extreme price hikes. However, they were still far from affordable, with most of them priced between one million and five million points.

                The Translucent Dew of Flawlessness was a treasure that cost seven million points, but Yuan was pretty confident he'd be able to win the tournament.

                'With six months before the tournament, I only have enough time to purchase two, maybe three treasures if I sell all of my monster cores…'

                Before going to the Hunting Grounds, Yuan stocked up on recovery and hunger pills, which would allow him to get rid of hunger entirely. Each pill could make an adult feel full for an entire week without any issues, and some could even last a month—even a year.

                Knowing that there was only half a year until the tournament, Yuan did not want to waste any time outside the Hunting Grounds. Hell, he even purchased several more spatial rings to reduce the number of trips he'd need to take to the point store to sell his materials.

                As Yuan hunted magical beasts day and night, he improved his understanding of the Peerless Immortal Technique.

                In the blink of an eye, an entire month has passed since Yuan entered the Hunting Grounds, and for the first time since he entered, he had to leave to empty out his spatial rings.

                At the point store, Yuan placed a dozen spatial rings on the table before the young clerk, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

                "I'd like to sell everything for points," Yuan said.

                "Please give me a moment to confirm the contents…"

                The young clerk accepted the spatial rings and inspected their contents.

                A few minutes later, he said, "I can give you 320,000 points for the materials and 90,000 points for the monster cores."

                "Deal."

                After selling the materials, Yuan purchased some more recovery pills before heading right back to the Hunting Grounds.

                Due to the upcoming tournament, Yuan noticed a lot more people were at the Hunting Grounds when he entered it. However, the majority of them were in the outer areas, and as Yuan entered deeper into the Hunting Grounds, he stopped encountering participants and would only encounter real disciples.

                For the second month, Yuan earned a total of 450,000 points, bringing his total to 860,000 points.

                In the third month, Yuan earned exactly half a million points, bringing his total to 1,360,000 points.

                After collecting over a million points, Yuan stopped farming magical beasts to purchase a treasure and consume it.

                After carefully considering all his options, Yuan decided to purchase the Refined Dragon Blood Pill—an exceedingly powerful pill infused with the blood of a true dragon.

                This pill granted the consumer immense physical strength and significantly enhanced resilience, bestowing them with a body akin to that of a dragon.

                Although the pill had cost him 1,250,000 points, Yuan did not regret it, especially after consuming it and immediately feeling several times more powerful than before.

                "In my current condition, I should have no problem hunting even magical beasts at the Spirit Master realm,' Yuan thought to himself.

                His cultivation also increased by a single level, bringing him to the sixth level of Spirit Warrior. However, even without factoring in his techniques, his raw strength alone had already reached the level of a first-level Spirit Master.

                This breakthrough also allowed Yuan to push the Peerless Immortal Technique to the beginning of its second level. When used, it could amplify the prowess of its targeted technique by five times.

                Once he was prepared, Yuan returned to the Hunting Grounds. Once he arrived, he went right past the outer area and even the inner regions, only stopping when he reached the deepest parts of the Hunting Grounds, where magical beasts at the Spirit Master realm roamed. The core region of the Hunting Grounds was so dangerous that most Outer Court disciples avoided it, and only Inner Court disciples would dare to traverse this land.

                However, in Yuan's eyes, these magical beasts were no different than the ones roaming around the inner region, as he'd still kill most of them with a single strike.

                The only issue was that he needed to use the majority of his spiritual energy to take down a single magical beast, so after every kill, he'd need to consume a spirit recovery pill.

                A month later, he returned to the point store to unload his materials.

                Each magical beast now earned him around a thousand to two thousand points. Although the price of materials didn't increase too much, the monster cores were an entirely different story.

                A single monster core could earn him anywhere from 10,000 points to 50,000 points, depending on the rarity and quality of the monster core.

                In the end, Yuan earned a grand total of 1,750,000 points. This allowed him to purchase another treasure, and he purchased the Phoenix Rising Pill, a potent treasure that increased his recovery rate, resistance to fire, and Dantian's capacity. It also cost him 1,500,000 points.

                After spending three days absorbing the treasure, Yuan's cultivation reached the seventh level of Spirit Warrior.

                He then wasted no time returning to the Hunting Grounds and immediately began grinding again.

                In the fifth month, Yuan earned an impressive 2,000,000 points. However, he didn't purchase another treasure and decided to save it for a specific treasure he had his eyes on.

                For the last month, Yuan had a little less than a month, and he'd killed so many magical beasts in the previous months that the core region of the Hunting Grounds had become void of life.

                The magical beasts were simply being slain faster than they could regenerate, so Yuan was only able to earn a total of 1,300,000 million points. Fortunately, he had just enough to purchase the treasure he wanted.

                Chapter 1848 Half a Year

                After returning to the Hunting Grounds, Yuan wasted no time grinding magical beasts. After the Soul Refining Elixir, the prices of talent-boosting treasures in the point store no longer experienced extreme price hikes. However, they were still far from affordable, with most of them priced between one million and five million points.

                The Translucent Dew of Flawlessness was a treasure that cost seven million points, but Yuan was pretty confident he'd be able to win the tournament.

                'With six months before the tournament, I only have enough time to purchase two, maybe three treasures if I sell all of my monster cores…'

                Before going to the Hunting Grounds, Yuan stocked up on recovery and hunger pills, which would allow him to get rid of hunger entirely. Each pill could make an adult feel full for an entire week without any issues, and some could even last a month—even a year.

                Knowing that there was only half a year until the tournament, Yuan did not want to waste any time outside the Hunting Grounds. Hell, he even purchased several more spatial rings to reduce the number of trips he'd need to take to the point store to sell his materials.

                As Yuan hunted magical beasts day and night, he improved his understanding of the Peerless Immortal Technique.

                In the blink of an eye, an entire month has passed since Yuan entered the Hunting Grounds, and for the first time since he entered, he had to leave to empty out his spatial rings.

                At the point store, Yuan placed a dozen spatial rings on the table before the young clerk, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

                "I'd like to sell everything for points," Yuan said.

                "Please give me a moment to confirm the contents…"

                The young clerk accepted the spatial rings and inspected their contents.

                A few minutes later, he said, "I can give you 320,000 points for the materials and 90,000 points for the monster cores."

                "Deal."

                After selling the materials, Yuan purchased some more recovery pills before heading right back to the Hunting Grounds.

                Due to the upcoming tournament, Yuan noticed a lot more people were at the Hunting Grounds when he entered it. However, the majority of them were in the outer areas, and as Yuan entered deeper into the Hunting Grounds, he stopped encountering participants and would only encounter real disciples.

                For the second month, Yuan earned a total of 450,000 points, bringing his total to 860,000 points.

                In the third month, Yuan earned exactly half a million points, bringing his total to 1,360,000 points.

                After collecting over a million points, Yuan stopped farming magical beasts to purchase a treasure and consume it.

                After carefully considering all his options, Yuan decided to purchase the Refined Dragon Blood Pill—an exceedingly powerful pill infused with the blood of a true dragon.

                This pill granted the consumer immense physical strength and significantly enhanced resilience, bestowing them with a body akin to that of a dragon.

                Although the pill had cost him 1,250,000 points, Yuan did not regret it, especially after consuming it and immediately feeling several times more powerful than before.

                "In my current condition, I should have no problem hunting even magical beasts at the Spirit Master realm,' Yuan thought to himself.

                His cultivation also increased by a single level, bringing him to the sixth level of Spirit Warrior. However, even without factoring in his techniques, his raw strength alone had already reached the level of a first-level Spirit Master.

                This breakthrough also allowed Yuan to push the Peerless Immortal Technique to the beginning of its second level. When used, it could amplify the prowess of its targeted technique by five times.

                Once he was prepared, Yuan returned to the Hunting Grounds. Once he arrived, he went right past the outer area and even the inner regions, only stopping when he reached the deepest parts of the Hunting Grounds, where magical beasts at the Spirit Master realm roamed. The core region of the Hunting Grounds was so dangerous that most Outer Court disciples avoided it, and only Inner Court disciples would dare to traverse this land.

                However, in Yuan's eyes, these magical beasts were no different than the ones roaming around the inner region, as he'd still kill most of them with a single strike.

                The only issue was that he needed to use the majority of his spiritual energy to take down a single magical beast, so after every kill, he'd need to consume a spirit recovery pill.

                A month later, he returned to the point store to unload his materials.

                Each magical beast now earned him around a thousand to two thousand points. Although the price of materials didn't increase too much, the monster cores were an entirely different story.

                A single monster core could earn him anywhere from 10,000 points to 50,000 points, depending on the rarity and quality of the monster core.

                In the end, Yuan earned a grand total of 1,750,000 points. This allowed him to purchase another treasure, and he purchased the Phoenix Rising Pill, a potent treasure that increased his recovery rate, resistance to fire, and Dantian's capacity. It also cost him 1,500,000 points.

                After spending three days absorbing the treasure, Yuan's cultivation reached the seventh level of Spirit Warrior.

                He then wasted no time returning to the Hunting Grounds and immediately began grinding again.

                In the fifth month, Yuan earned an impressive 2,000,000 points. However, he didn't purchase another treasure and decided to save it for a specific treasure he had his eyes on.

                For the last month, Yuan had a little less than a month, and he'd killed so many magical beasts in the previous months that the core region of the Hunting Grounds had become void of life.

                The magical beasts were simply being slain faster than they could regenerate, so Yuan was only able to earn a total of 1,300,000 million points. Fortunately, he had just enough to purchase the treasure he wanted.
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                  Chapter 1849 Fate Altering Pill

                  With just a week left before the tournament began, Yuan sold all of his collected materials and monster cores to the point store.

                  Using the wealth of points he had accumulated, he purchased the Fate Altering Pill—a priceless treasure from the Primordial Era known for its unparalleled ability to completely transform an individual's innate talent and constitution for the better.

                  This would not only improve Yuan's talents all around but even have a chance to grant him a unique physique, something his current body did not possess. Although this treasure had cost him an insane four million points, Yuan did not hesitate to spend the points.

                  Once he acquired the treasure, Yuan returned home and instantly consumed the Fate Altering Pill, spending the next several days in seclusion.

                  Meanwhile, the other participants used the last few days to sign up for the tournament. The majority of them were between the fourth level and sixth level Spirit Apprentice, and 25,000 points were enough to bankrupt most of them.

                  Since only Yuan's group was aware of his true progress, the other participants remained confident in their own chances of winning the tournament. As a result, the atmosphere was lively, and spirits were high.

                  "Where's Yuan? Is he still in seclusion? The enrollment period for the tournament ends tomorrow. If he doesn't sign up by then, he won't be able to participate," Xi Meili asked.

                  "I saw him rushing back to his house a few days ago. I didn't even get the chance to call for him," Lan Yingying said.

                  "I'll go disturb him if he doesn't come out by today," Ji Ran said.

                  The three of them were seated outside Lan Yingying's living quarters. After training for half a year with barely any breaks, the three of them were worn out and needed to take the last few days to relax before the tournament began, hence why they were sipping tea and relaxing together.

                  "What about Yingzi? Has she arrived at the Immortal Monastery yet? Most of the participants have arrived at the sect by now," Xi Meili wondered out loud.

                  "Seeing how long it's taking her to arrive is certainly concerning, but there's nothing we can do but hope for the best," Lan Yingying sighed.

                  A few hours later, Ji Ran and the others noticed Yuan's front door opening. The person himself walked out the next moment.

                  "Young Master, you're finally out! I was just about to knock on your door," Ji Ran said with a relieved smile.

                  Yuan smiled and asked, "What's the hurry?"

                  "The enrollment period of the tournament ends tomorrow—or tonight. If you don't sign up by then, you won't be able to participate in the tournament."

                  "I know, but I still have time, don't I? Anyway, I'll be back."

                  After registering for the tournament, Yuan returned to his living quarters to spend his time with the others.

                  "Yingzi hasn't arrived yet, huh?" Yuan sighed out loud.

                  "I can't tell you not to worry since I am also a little concerned. However, there are still over two entire years for her to arrive at the sect," Xi Meili said.

                  Everyone was given four years to get out of the Bamboo Garden, and only a year and a few months have passed since the trials began, so there was still plenty of time for the participants to arrive at the Immortal Monastery.

                  "There's no point worrying about it since we can't do anything about it but hope for the best," Yuan said.

                  "Anyway, how did you guys spend the last half a year?" Yuan asked them.

                  He noticed that Lan Yingying was at the ninth level of Spirit Apprentice while Xi Meili was at the seventh level. Ji Ran had already become a Spirit Warrior, even reaching the second level.

                  "We spent half of that time cultivating the monster cores you gave us and the other half inside the Hunting Grounds for points. Since we're a three-man group, we needed to collect 75,000 points," Lan Yingying said.

                  "Three-man? You hunted with them?" Yuan looked at Ji Ran with raised eyebrows. He was sure that Ji Ran was going to do things alone.

                  "It's not me," Ji Ran shook his head.

                  "We went hunting with Sister Songyun," said Xi Meili.

                  "Sister? Since when have you gotten so close?" Yuan's eyes widened with surprise. He also anticipated Tan Songyun would be hunting with her fellow faction members, but that didn't seem to be the case.

                  "Where is she right now?" Yuan then asked.

                  "Cultivating inside her room."

                  "I see… By the way, did the two of you study the technique I recommended to you before?" Yuan asked a moment later.

                  "The Peerless Immortal Technique? Yes, we went to the library to acquire the technique right afterward. However, it's a very difficult technique. I am barely scratching the surface, even after having it for half a year. That said, I only spend a little time studying it every day. I'll spend more time on it after the tournament," Xi Meili said.

                  Every disciple of the Immortal Monastery is granted the privilege of learning the Peerless Immortal Technique for free, so Lan Yingying and Xi Meili were able to acquire it without any issues or spending points.

                  Moreover, unlike the cultivation technique, they were unable to spend points speeding up their memorization progress. Fortunately, the founder did not alter the Peerless Immortal Technique in any way, allowing everyone to study it without any artificial difficulty. However, even without altering its difficulty, the Peerless Immortal Technique would still challenge the geniuses and experienced cultivators doing the trial.

                  That said, since there were no guidelines or instructions that recommended the participants to learn the technique, it was unknown how many participants actually picked up the Peerless Immortal Technique to study.

                  "It's a difficult technique, but it'll be worth it. Trust me," Yuan said.

                  He then looked at Ji Ran and asked, "Just wondering, but what level of the technique did you reach?"

                  Ji Ran quickly said, "I reached the sixth level before being imprisoned in the Shadow Realm. It hasn't advanced since then for obvious reasons."
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                  Chapter 1850 Entry-level Immortal Tournament

                  "Sixth level, huh? That's not bad, considering there are only nine levels to the technique," Yuan muttered after hearing Ji Ran's response.

                  "Not bad?" Ji Ran raised his eyebrows and said, "Young Master, although there are nine levels, only the founder has ever managed to reach that level. The highest level achieved by someone other than the founder is only the seventh level, which was achieved by the Sect Leader before I took his position."

                  "What about you, Young Master? What level did you achieve in your past life?"

                  Yuan shrugged and calmly replied, "I have no clue. I only have memories of learning up to the third level. I don't have all of my memories of that incarnation."

                  "The third level, huh? Only the top Inner Court disciple would reach that level when I was still the Sect Leader," Ji Ran mumbled. "That is also the requirement to qualify as a Core Disciple."

                  "Anyway, I'm going to get some sleep. It's been a while. I'll see you all tomorrow at the tournament," Yuan said to them before returning home and instantly falling asleep the moment he lay on the bed.

                  The following day, Yuan and the other participants made their way to the only arena available in the Outer Court.

                  However, when they arrived, they noticed that the real disciples were also there. This made them wonder if these disciples were just there to spectate or to participate in the tournament as well.

                  "Do you think they'll be participating as well?"

                  "I hope not. Because if they are, we're all screwed."

                  "Right? There's no way we could compete with them with our trash bodies and talents."

                  The participants mumbled amongst themselves as they entered the arena and sat down in the empty seats.

                  Although the arena was massive, with tens of thousands of seats available, it quickly filled up with disciples. There was also a small but luxurious section for sect elders and disciples from the Inner Court.

                  Once the seats were filled, a tall and handsome figure descended from the sky, landing directly on the stage in the center of the arena.

                  When the sect elders and the real disciples saw this figure, they immediately stood up and lowered their heads before greeting in unison, "We greet the Sect Leader!"

                  Ji Ran was also standing, but it was not because he recognized the handsome man's face. Instead, he recognized the handsome man's robes, something he also wore before.

                  Realizing that they were before the sect leader of the Immortal Monastery, the participants also hastily stood up and silently bowed. At the same time, they wondered if this sect leader was the founder—the same individual who spoke to them before the Immortal Monastery's opening.

                  "I will keep things brief. The rules are as follows—"

                  Once the Sect Leader spoke, the participants no longer doubted his identity, as he sounded exactly like the voice from the Immortal Gates.

                  "First and foremost, killing is not allowed. Even if it's an accident, you will be forced to forfeit the match if you kill your opponent. If it was deemed that you'd purposefully killed your opponent, you will also be punished.'

                  "For each match you win, you will be rewarded one contribution. There are 8,192 participants, so the maximum contribution you can earn through matches is 13. However, if you win the tournament, you'll also be awarded an additional 10 points. If you didn't know already, one must have at least 25 contributions to even qualify for the Inner Court Disciple Examination."

                  Although 25 contributions may seem like a lot at a glance since one would only acquire 23 points from winning a tournament, it was actually not that difficult to earn contributions in the past.

                  For example, a disciple could finish a simple sect mission and would be awarded two to three points, so they'd only need to do about ten missions to qualify as an Inner Court disciple if they were also Spirit Masters.

                  "For the following rule, since I am a believer that your wealth is part of your talents, I allow you to use your own treasures in the tournament. However, this is only limited to the weapon you'll use to fight, so your sword, spear, etc."

                  "If you don't have a weapon, the sect will provide one for you. However, it will only be an ordinary weapon."

                  "Damn! If only I had purchased a weapon before they sold out!"

                  The participants, mostly those like Yuan, were dumbfounded to hear such a rule, as many of them were still using ordinary weapons.

                  However, this wasn't because they were too cheap to purchase a Spirit-grade treasure from the point store.

                  It was because the point store had a stock limit, something the people didn't find out until someone tried purchasing something that had already sold out, such as a Spirit-grade treasure. However, when questioned about the stock, the point store would not reveal the limit for each item and would only say if the item was in stock or not.

                  Not knowing if they might miss out on something in the store caused a panic buy. The first thing the people looked at were treasures and weapons. Unfortunately for them, anything past the Golden Spirit Pill was still out of everyone's price range. As for the Golden Spirit Pill, it quickly sold out.

                  Although the participants didn't know how many had been sold in total, they knew that fourteen of them had been purchased before it ran out.

                  Unbeknownst to them, Yuan had purchased five of them, and Ji Ran had also purchased one, meaning there were only twenty Golden Spirit Pills in stock.

                  This amount was incredibly small, especially considering there were over ten thousand participants.

                  Yuan wasn't aware of the stock limit, so his eyebrows raised after hearing the people around him complain about it. He turned to look at Lan Yingying and asked, "What are they talking about? What was sold out?"

                  "You didn't know? The items in the point store have purchase limits, so once an item is bought out, it can no longer be purchased again," she revealed.
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                  Chapter 1851 Limited Stock


                  "What? There's a stock limit to the items in the point store?" Yuan was genuinely surprised to learn about this information.
                  "All of the Spirit-grade swords have been sold out for some time now. Luckily, we all managed to purchase one," Lan Yingying added. "I purchased a Spirit-grade spear, and they are still in stock due to low demand," Xi Meili added.
                  Swords were the most popular and widely used weapon, so it wasn't shocking for them to run out of stock so quickly.
                  "What about treasures?" Yuan then asked.
                  "Well, the Golden Spirit Pill is sold out. The Enriched Roots of Vigor and Soul Refining Elixir are still available. As for the rest… nobody even bothered asking about them since they're way out of our league."
                  "I see… I should buy as many as I can before they run out of stock then…" Yuan mumbled to himself.
                  Even though the treasures would only work once for each individual, he wanted to secure the most powerful treasures for his own people. The Sect Leader continued speaking, "Once the tournament begins, the fighters' numbers will be called. Those who have been called will be given 10 seconds to enter the stage. Failure to enter the stage on time will result in an automatic loss."

                  When the participants signed up for the tournament, they were each given a number.
                  Sometime later, the Sect Leader flew off the stage and to his personal seat, which was atop the entire arena, giving him a full view of everything and the presence of a god.
                  Soon, a sect elder acting as the judge entered the stage and announced the beginning of the tournament.
                  There were over eight thousand participants in the tournament, and since there would only be two fighters at a time, the tournament was guaranteed to take a long time. Moreover, the numbers called seemed to be random, so none of the participants dared to leave the arena, fearing they might miss their turn.
                  "Numbers 99 and 1,209," the sect elder called.
                  Not even a second later, two disciples jumped from the spectators' area and onto the stage.
                  Once the fighters retrieved their weapons, the sect elder officially started the match.
                  For the first several fights, everyone at the arena was watching with excitement, including the participants, but as time passed and more fights happened, the noises calmed down, and the participants began cultivating. Soon, there would only be loud cheers every so often when something amazing happened, or it was a popular disciple's turn to fight.
                  As much as the participants wanted to shut down their senses and cultivate in complete silence, they didn't dare to, as it would also block them from hearing their number being called out.

                  The people doing the trial also realized that they would not only have to fight real disciples from the Immortal Monastery but there was also a chance they would encounter a Spirit Warrior as their opponent.
                  Eventually, someone from Yuan's group was called.
                  "Number 3,333 and 4,099."
                  "That's me. I'll see you guys later," Xi Meili suddenly stood up and said.
                  "Good luck," Yuan and the others said to her.
                  Xi Meili nodded at them before jumping onto the stage. Her opponent was a young man at the ninth level of Spirit Apprentice, two whole levels above Xi Meili.
                  By now, over a hundred matches have occurred, and in these matches, a dozen of them were fought by those who came from the Bamboo Garden, commonly known as Bamboo Disciples by the other disciples.
                  As for the result of these dozen matches, only a single one of them managed to win because they got lucky with their opponent. Xi Meili would be considered unlucky by the others since her opponent was of higher cultivation than her. Even though it was only two levels, one must consider that Xi Meili was in a mediocre body with mediocre talents. Someone without talents would have trouble overcoming an opponent a single level higher, much less two levels.
                  Fortunately for the Bamboo Disciples, most of the Outer Court disciples were as mediocre as them, and they lacked the knowledge and experience the Bamboo Disciples had.

                  On the stage, Xi Meili wielded her Spirit-grade spear while her opponent wielded a Spirit-grade sword.
                  "Begin!" The sect elder wasted no time starting the fight.
                  Xi Meili and the disciple clashed the next moment.
                  "A spear, huh? You don't see that weapon often," the disciples murmured to each other.
                  While the spear may have existed for many thousands of years, very few people actually mastered the spear during the Primordial Era, and compared to swords' popularity and vast knowledge, it was almost nonexistent, hence why the disciples were surprised to see Xi Meili's weapon.
                  As for her opponent, he also wasn't familiar with the spear and thus didn't know how to deal with it. Xi Meili, on the other hand, has over 10,000 years of experience with the spear.
                  In the blink of an eye, Xi Meili dominated her opponent before he could even display any techniques.
                  "Wow, that Bamboo Disicple is definitely better than the others I have seen so far."
                  "She's also very pretty. Maybe I should try courting her."
                  The disciples no longer looked down on Xi Meili after her domineering display, with some even falling for her.
                  After the fight ended, which didn't even last three minutes, Xi Meili returned to her seat.

                  "Great job," Yuan said.
                  "It felt like I was bullying a child," Xi Meili said in a somewhat embarrassed manner.
                  While she was over 10,000 years old, the Outer Court disciples of the Immortal Monastery were mostly between 16 and 30 years old.
                  "Don't think too much about it. A win is a win," Yuan said with a calm smile.
                  Several matches later, Lan Yingying was called to the stage.
                  "Good luck, Yingying!" Xi Meili and the others cheered for her.
                  Upon entering her stage, Lan Yingying faced her opponent, a female disciple wielding a sword, who was also at the ninth level of Spirit Apprentice.
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                  Chapter 1852 Immortal Monastery’s Fourth Sect Leader

                  Lan Yingying also wielded a sword, and once the match began, it quickly became apparent that she was not as experienced as Xi Meili when it came to wielding a weapon.

                  Unlike Xi Meili, who had over ten thousand years to train both her body and skills with the weapon, Lan Yingying was only slightly older than Yuan in terms of his current life. Moreover, she was a Divine Serpent who fought with Sacred Fire and her own body, so she was almost a complete beginner when it came to weapons.

                  Fortunately, she was able to get used to holding and swinging a sword during her time in the Bamboo Garden. She would also watch Yuan chop bamboo, as he was not just mindlessly striking at them but practicing sword techniques.

                  "Her sword techniques are a little rough…" Xi Meili couldn't help but mutter after seeing Lan Yingying fight with the sword.

                  If it weren't for her cultivation and the Golden Spirit Pill, Lan Yingying would've lost quite easily. Moreover, her opponent wasn't too experienced in the sword either, which was the biggest reason that Lan Yingying was able to hold on for many minutes.

                  "Looks like I need to teach her some basic sword techniques…" Yuan mumbled.

                  Hearing this, Tan Songyun said, "If it's just the basics, I can teach her."

                  "Are you sure?" Yuan looked at her with a surprised face.

                  "Why are you looking at me like that? While I may have debts to settle with you, she's completely innocent, and we're friends now," Tan Songyun sneered.

                  "Alright. I'll leave her in your hands," Yuan couldn't argue with her and nodded.

                  After ten long minutes, Lan Yingying barely managed to defeat her opponent after the disciple made a mistake. When Lan Yingying returned to her seat, her face was slightly flushed red, almost as if she was embarrassed about her performance.

                  "There's no need to be embarrassed. You did very well for someone who's never really trained with the sword," Yuan said.

                  "No, that's not why I am embarrassed…" she quickly shook her head before continuing to speak, "I thought I would be able to replicate your movements because I have been watching you fight for years, but when I finally tried it, my body wouldn't listen to me."

                  Lan Yingying thought she would be able to wield the sword just fine because she had witnessed Yuan use his sword for many years, so she didn't put as much effort into training the sword. However, she quickly realized her mistake and felt ashamed for it.

                  "I'll put more effort into training the sword now…" she sighed.

                  "I wouldn't put too much thought into it if it were you. After all, once this trial is over, you will go back to your original fighting style," Xi Meili said.

                  "While that may be true, we don't know how long we'll be in this trial. I don't want to be a burden, and even if I might never pick up the sword again, I think it's good to have some experience just in case I need to wield a weapon again in the future," she said.

                  "Number 7,232 and number 8,000."

                  Sometime later, Ji Ran was called to the stage.

                  Yuan and the others were very confident in Ji Ran's victory—unless he got extremely unlucky and was given an opponent that was far above his cultivation.

                  "Sixth level Spirit Warrior…" Yuan muttered after seeing Ji Ran's opponent.

                  "Sixth level?! That's four entire levels higher than him!" Xi Meili exclaimed.

                  "I wouldn't worry too much," Yuan said with a smile.

                  Once the match began, Xi Meili quickly understood why Yuan had said such a thing. Despite being four levels below his opponent's cultivation, Ji Ran was able to dominate his opponent with ease.

                  "The Peerless Immortal Technique! He's using the Peerless Immortal Technique!"

                  "Not just that, but his understanding of the technique seems to have reached the second level! How can an Outer Court disciple who came from the Bamboo Garden have such talents?!"

                  The audience exclaimed in shock after witnessing Ji Ran display such a technique. It was not just the disciples who were shocked. Even the sect elders watching were greatly surprised, and many of them began considering accepting Ji Ran as their disciple.

                  "That man… He's the Immortal Monastery's fourth Sect Leader, huh?" The Sect Leader mumbled with a satisfied smile on his face.

                  Sometime later, in just a few minutes, Ji Ran secured his victory while leaving his opponent completely speechless.

                  Once the sect elder declared Ji Ran's victory, something unexpected happened. For the first time since the beginning of the tournament, the Sect Leader clapped, showing his amusement and acknowledgment.

                  This shocked everyone there, as it was almost impossible to receive the Sect Leader's approval as an Outer Court disciple, much less a Bamboo Disciple.

                  When the sect elders saw this, many of them made up their minds and decided to recruit Ji Ran once the tournament ended.

                  "Thank you, Founder!" Ji Ran was incredibly excited to receive the Sect Leader's approval despite his age and experience. After all, the Sect Leader was a hero and legendary figure in his eyes.

                  Time continued to pass, and eventually, it was Tan Songyun's turn to enter the stage.

                  Her opponent was at the fifth level of Spirit Apprentice and also a fellow Bamboo Disciple, while Tan Songyun herself was at the ninth level of Spirit Apprentice. The result of the fight was apparent to everyone even before the fight began.

                  A dozen exchanges later, Tan Songyun proved everyone right by defeating her opponent without even breaking a sweat.

                  Then, right after Tan Songyun's match, Yuan heard his number being called.

                  "Number 8,171 and number 300!"

                  "Good luck… not that you need it!" Xi Meili chuckled.

                  "I'll be back soon." Yuan jumped onto the stage, and his cultivation shocked many disciples, even sect elders.

                  "He's at the peak of Spirit Warrior?! But he's a Bamboo Disciple!"

                  The audience was also shocked when Ji Ran entered the stage while being at the second level of Spirit Warrior, but it was incomparable to Yuan, who was almost a step away from Spirit Master.

                  The Sect Leader narrowed his eyes and frowned slightly after seeing Yuan's face, almost as if he found it unpleasant for some reason.

                  "He looks familiar…" he mumbled to himself, but he didn't think too much about it.
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                  Chapter 1853 The Seventh Round

                  Yuan's opponent, a peak Spirit Apprentice, felt his confidence shatter the moment he realized the overwhelming gap between them—his expression turning deathly pale.

                  Facing an opponent who was an entire realm above him, he immediately understood that this battle was anything but fair. But alas, there was nothing he could do about a lottery system that was completely random and entirely reliant on luck.

                  With a deep sigh, the disciple accepted his fate. However, he didn't forfeit. After all, the Sect Leader was watching, and forfeiting would make him look mentally weak.

                  While the disciple retrieved his Spirit-grade sword, Yuan retrieved his Earth-grade sword.

                  "..."

                  The disciple's expression grew darker after seeing this. Not only was there a disparity in their cultivation, but his weapon was also outclassed an entire grade.

                  "You may begin the match!" The sect elder announced.

                  The moment the match began, Yuan kicked off the ground, launching himself forward like a bullet.

                  In an instant, before his opponent could even react, Yuan's blade was already pressed against the disciple's neck. The cold touch of steel sent a jolt of terror through the disciple's body, causing him to freeze in place, his breath caught in his throat.

                  "I-I forfeit…" the disciple quietly muttered.

                  The match ended so quickly that some of the spectators missed it because they were not paying attention or they had to turn away for a second.

                  "What? The match ended already? That was the fastest one yet!"

                  "The disciple got unlucky, encountering a monster like that Bamboo Disciple."

                  Meanwhile, in the sect elder's area, Elder Sun's eyes were as wide as saucers. She couldn't believe what she'd just witnessed.

                  'He's already at the peak of Spirit Warrior?! He had just become a cultivator not long ago!' Elder Sun cried inwardly.

                  "Wow, his cultivation speed is quite ridiculous… I know disciples who have spent twice as much time as he has inside the Hunting Ground, but they're not even half as fast as him!" Elder Jing exclaimed, her desire to have him as her disciple growing even stronger.

                  Even Elder Sun was beginning to consider recruiting Yuan as her disciple.

                  'I may not be able to recruit Tian Yang as my disciple, but he's a different story…' she thought to herself. 'However, the fact that he looks exactly like Tian Yang is weird… I don't know if I'll be able to ignore that…'

                  When Yuan returned to his seat, those around him stared at him with weird looks on their faces. Some had gazes of admiration, while others were fearful of him.

                  The excitement for the next several matches was almost non-existent after Yuan's match.

                  Since he'd just gone on the stage and wouldn't fight again until the next round, Yuan closed his eyes and began to cultivate in silence after sealing his hearing.

                  A few days later, Yuan opened his eyes when Lan Yingying woke him from his seclusion.

                  "It's your turn," she said.

                  "Thank you."

                  The second round of the tournament had begun, and Yuan was the first amongst their group to go first this time.

                  This time, his opponent was at the first level of Spirit Warrior.

                  Once the match began, Yuan immediately went on the offensive. The Spirit Warrior was able to see his movements, but reacting to it was a different thing entirely.

                  After barely avoiding Yuan's first strike, the disciple panicked and tripped, falling to the ground, and at the same time his butt touched the cold platform, Yuan's sword reached his neck.

                  His opponents were so weak that he only needed basic sword techniques and raw speed to defeat them.

                  The more the Sect Leader watched Yuan fight, the stronger his gut feeling about seeing Yuan before got.

                  Sometime later, Xi Meili entered the stage again. Her opponent had the same cultivation as her, so it didn't take long before Xi Meili secured her victory.

                  Ji Ran's opponent was only a Spirit Apprentice, allowing him to take another easy win.

                  Lan Yingying got unlucky and had to face an opponent who was at the third level of Spirit Warrior. Unsurprisingly, she lost after a few exchanges.

                  "Haa… I thought I would be able to win a few more, but alas, I only managed to win once before losing," she sighed as she sat back down.

                  "Statistically speaking, you're quite lucky when compared to the other Bamboo Disciples since the majority of them lost their first match," Ji Ran said.

                  "That doesn't make it any better," she shook her head.

                  Tan Songyun went several matches later, and her opponent was three levels higher than her. Despite the disparity, Tan Songyun managed to defeat her opponent and win. However, it was not an easy victory, and she even almost lost.

                  Time passed, and the matches continued without any pauses. The sect elder judging the tournament would change every single day, and the audience would change over time. Xi Meili managed to make it to round five before losing to an opponent who was seven levels above her cultivation.

                  Tan Songyun had to leave the tournament after losing in the sixth round. Her opponent was surprisingly at the peak of Spirit Warrior. Due to the massive disparity, Tan Songyun didn't even bother trying to fight and forfeited before the match could even begin.

                  Unlike the true disciples of the Immortal Monastery, Tan Songyun had no problem forfeiting when obviously outmatched, as she was not afraid of losing face in front of the Sect Leader.

                  Ji Ran and Yuan continued to win their matches without any issues.

                  Eventually, half a month had passed since the tournament began, and it just reached the seventh round.

                  "Number 8,171 and number 121."

                  Yuan entered the stage after hearing his number being called. His opponent, a handsome young man, entered the stage several seconds after he did.

                  Normally, Yuan would face his opponents with a nonchalant expression. However, this time was different. When Yuan saw his opponent, he immediately frowned, and he could feel his blood heating up from anger.

                  "Killing intent?" The sect elder on the stage frowned when she noticed that Yuan was emitting clear killing intent, but she didn't say anything since feuds between disciples were common.
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                  Chapter 1854 Unexplained Anger

                  Although Yuan was emitting killing intent, heremained unaware of it himself. However, he did notice his unusual reaction toward his opponent—the sheer intensity of his aggression was unlike anything he had consciously intended.

                  Yet, despite sensing this abnormality in himself, Yuan had no clear understanding of why he was reacting this way. A vague feeling stirred deep within him, but the reason remained elusive, leaving him with an unsettling sense of unfamiliarity toward his own actions.

                  The handsome young man frowned after sensing Yuan's killing intent and said, "Hey, are you okay? Did I do something to offend you?"

                  "I don't know. Did you?" Yuan asked, not because he was being snarky. He was genuinely curious if the disciple had offended him.

                  "I mean, this is our first time talking to each other. I can't imagine how I'd managed to offend someone I'm meeting for the first time," the disciple responded.

                  "What's your name? I'm Xiao Yang," Yuan suddenly introduced himself.

                  "Bai Zhan is my name, and I am ranked first in the Outer Court," the disciple introduced himself.

                  Yuan had hoped that his name would trigger some kind of memory, but unfortunately, nothing came to mind.

                  "I think it's a misunderstanding. Sorry," Yuan apologized a moment later.

                  "No worries," Bai Zhan showed a calm and understanding smile. Since Bai Zhan was ranked first in the Outer Court, he was also at the peak of Spirit Warrior like Yuan.

                  "Let's have a good fight," Bai Zhan said as he retrieved an Earth-grade sword.

                  Yuan nodded and retrieved his weapon.

                  Seeing this, the audience quickly woke up from their boredom and became filled with anticipation and excitement.

                  Bai Zhan was a widely recognized and respected disciple not just in the Outer Court but also in the Inner Court. Not only was he considered a genius, but he also had quite the background, as his grandfather was a high-ranking sect elder in the Immortal Monastery.

                  As for his reputation, Bai Zhan was known as a kind and generous man who would always help those around them. He was also humble and treated other disciples with respect despite his grandfather being a sect elder. All in all, he was liked by everybody and only had those who were jealous of his popularity as enemies.

                  "Are you ready to begin?" the sect elder eventually asked.

                  "I am," Bai Zhan said.

                  Yuan silently nodded.

                  "Then the match will begin now."

                  Bai Zhan made the first move and immediately used the Peerless Immortal Technique, boosting a technique that increased his body's capabilities, causing his body to emit a black and red aura.

                  "..."

                  Yuan used nothing but his sword to block the incoming strike before going on the defensive and avoiding the following attacks from Bai Zhan.

                  Although it didn't show on his face, his blood was still heated. In fact, it was boiling hotter with each passing moment.

                  This left Yuan puzzled, and he tried to figure out the reason for his anger as he fought Bai Zhan.

                  "What happened to the Young Master?" Ji Ran mumbled to himself.

                  If Lan Yingying and the others were present, they would also be worried. However, they left after they lost their match so they could immediately continue their training.

                  Since they were confident Yuan would win the entire tournament, they had no reason to stay for the whole thing.

                  Time passed slowly. Five minutes turned to ten, and then it became fifteen. Half an hour had passed since Yuan and Bai Zhan started their match, marking their match the longest since the start of the tournament, but neither one seemed to be on the verge of defeat.

                  The audience mistook Yuan's seemingly defensive performance as a sign that he was struggling, believing he was at a disadvantage in the fight. Murmurs of speculation rippled through the crowd as they watched, convinced that Bai Zhan was pushing him back.

                  However, Bai Zhan felt something entirely different. Though he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, a deep sense of unease settled in his chest. There was something off about Yuan—something ominous that sent warning signals through his instincts.

                  As the match reached the hour mark, Yuan's expression suddenly changed drastically.

                  The calm, controlled demeanor he had maintained throughout the fight vanished in an instant, replaced by a look of pure fury. His previously tranquil face twisted with anger, and the killing intent that had momentarily faded came surging back with terrifying intensity.

                  This time, it wasn't subtle—it was so overwhelming and palpable that everyone in the audience felt it. A chilling silence fell over the crowd as a heavy, suffocating pressure settled in the air, making it clear that something had shifted within Yuan.

                  Meanwhile, a piece of memory flashed within Yuan's head.

                  "H-hey, what are you—" Bai Zhan began, his voice laced with nervousness as he sensed the drastic shift in Yuan's aura.

                  Before he could even finish his sentence, Yuan suddenly unleashed the Peerless Immortal Technique, amplifying his Thousand Miles Sword Strike to an overwhelming degree.

                  With immense fierceness, Yuan's sword slashed through the air, sending a terrifying arc of spiritual energy hurtling toward Bai Zhan. Bai Zhan reacted just in time, managing to raise his sword to block the incoming strike. However, the sheer overwhelming force behind Yuan's attack was far beyond what he had expected.

                  The impact ripped Bai Zhan's sword from his grasp, sending it flying through the air before the remaining energy of the strike crashed directly into his body, severing it in half.

                  Everything happened so quickly that neither the audience nor the sect elders had time to react.

                  By the time they fully processed what had transpired, it was already too late.

                  Bai Zhan's body lay split in two on the stage, his blood and organs scattered across the arena in a gruesome display. The silence that followed was deafening—absolute shock and horror overtook the spectators, their eyes locked onto the carnage before them.

                  Once the sect elder acting as the judge snapped out of his daze, he hastily declared, "N-number 8,171 disqualified for killing his opponent!"
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                  Chapter 1855 Punishment

                  "What?!" Ji Ran stood up in shock after hearing that Yuan had been disqualified. However, he was more shocked by Yuan's seemingly random brutality.

                  "How dare you, disciple!" The sect elder turned to face Yuan and shouted at him after declaring the results.

                  "Not only did you kill a fellow disciple, but it was even deliberate!"

                  As much as Ji Ran wanted to believe in Yuan, even he couldn't deny that Yuan had purposefully killed his opponent, and it was more unbelievable that Yuan would lose control of his own power.

                  Moreover, Yuan displayed clear killing intent before the match started and right before killing his opponent. Nobody would believe Yuan had killed his opponent by accident, and nobody did.

                  "H-he killed Senior apprentice-brother Bai Zhan!"

                  "No way!"

                  "I knew there was something wrong with that Bamboo Disciple at the beginning of the match! So he had planned on murdering Senior apprentice-brother Bai this entire time!"

                  The audience was in an uproar because of Bai Zhan's fame. Yuan ignored the audience and faced the sect elder to respond to her question, "I have nothing to say. It's true. I deliberately killed him."

                  Elder Jing and Elder Sun were left speechless after hearing his confession. They wanted to believe it was an accident, but Yuan's confession left no room for doubt.

                  "Ah… what a disaster. Even if he's a cultivation genius, he won't be able to get out of this unscathed. I wanted to recruit him as my disciple, too," one of the sect elders around Elder Sun suddenly sighed out loud.

                  "Even if the Sect Leader doesn't punish him, Senior Bai will definitely go after that disciple for killing his grandson."

                  It was widely known that Elder Bai greatly doted and spoiled Bai Zhan, his grandson, so it wouldn't shock anyone if Elder Bai went after Yuan for his actions. It was only a matter of when.

                  "Why? Why did you kill him?" The sect elder questioned Yuan.

                  "He offended me in the past," Yuan calmly responded.

                  "What…?"

                  "Sorry, but that's all I can say," Yuan shook his head.

                  "That's not good enough!"

                  Meanwhile, the Sect Leader watched everything play out with a slight frown on his face.

                  Suddenly, his eyes widened, and his expression shifted drastically.

                  "I remember now! Tian Yang, you bastard!"

                  After realizing why he found Yuan familiar, the Sect Leader leaped from his seat and landed directly inbetween Yuan and the sect elder.

                  "S-Sect Leader!" The sect elder immediately took a step back and bowed to him.

                  The Sect Leader suddenly swung his sleeves, and in an instant, the world around him seemed to freeze.

                  Everything—the audience, the disciples, the sect elders, even the spiritual energy in the air—abruptly stopped moving, as if time itself had been halted.

                  Yuan, however, remained unaffected.

                  "Tian Yang, you bastard! What the f#ck are you doing here?!" The Sect Leader roared, his eyes filled with killing intent.

                  "W-what?" Yuan was taken aback by the Sect Leader's unexpected outburst, especially since Tian Yang's name came out of his mouth, and it was even accompanied by killing intent.

                  However, despite his shock, Yuan managed to keep a straight face and responded, "T-Tian Yang? Are you talking to me? My name is Xiao Yang, though."

                  "Bullshit! You may look a little younger, but you're definitely Tian Yang!" The Sect Leader shouted. "How else do you explain your mastery of the Peerless Immortal Technique?! There's no way you'd managed to reach that level in such a short time! You must've known it prior to coming here!"

                  After a moment of silence, Yuan said, "It's true. I knew about the Peerless Immortal Technique before coming here. However, that's only because I was taught it by Sect Leader Ji Ran. I am his disciple, after all."

                  "What?" The Sect Leader's expression suddenly froze.

                  "Ah, you don't recognize me because I had my mask back then, right? I was the one who asked if I could bring my companions, who would not be participating in the trial, with me."

                  Sure enough, Yuan was wearing a mask before entering the Immortal Gates. However, that mask disappeared alongside his real body, hence why the Sect Leader didn't recognize him.

                  The Sect Leader fell silent with a pondering face.

                  'Now that I think about it, there's no way he could be Tian Yang. He looks too young, and that bastard should've died long ago.'

                  Eventually, the Sect Leader realized that he'd made a mistake. However, he didn't apologize and said, "Forget it. Now tell me, why did you kill that disciple?"

                  "Because he offended me," Yuan said, keeping it vague on purpose.

                  "I know you said he offended you in the past. However, you also claimed you'd never met him before."

                  Yuan shook his head and explained, "That was actually a lie. That disciple just didn't remember me, and I agreed with him to make him lower his guard."

                  The Sect Leader narrowed his eyes at Yuan. Eventually, he said, "Whatever. I don't care why you killed him, but you will be punished accordingly for breaking the rules."

                  "What kind of punishment?" Yuan asked.

                  "Ten years in confinement," said the Sect Leader.

                  Yuan raised an eyebrow and said, "You expect
                  me to just accept this? I'm not spending ten years in this trial, so you can just disqualify me from the trial entirely."

                  "Because you have something to do in the outside world? Then you should be happy to learn that time in this world flows differently—much slower than the outside world. Although you have spent over a year in this world, in reality, only a little over a month has passed in the outside world."

                  "Really?" Yuan's eyes widened with surprise after learning this information.

                  "What would I gain from making such a lie? I was going to announce this information sooner or later, anyway," revealed the Sect Leader.

                  "Anyway, I will give you two choices since you are currently ahead of the pack. One, you will spend ten years in confinement, but your time limit to become an Inner Court disciple will be halted. Or two, you will spend two years in confinement, but that timer will continue to tick even while in confinement, and all points you earn will be reduced by 50 percent for the next five years. Now, which do you choose?"
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                  Chapter 1856 Two-Year Confinement

                  For the first punishment, Yuan would spend ten years in confinement, but his ten-year time limit to become an Inner Court disciple would be halted, so he could come out of the confinement and still have plenty of time to become an Inner Court disciple. However, the other participants would be far ahead of him.

                  For his second option, instead of ten years, he would only need to spend two years in confinement, but that ten-year time limit would not pause even while he is in confinement, giving him less time to reach his goal. Moreover, all of his earned points would be halved, slowing down his progress even further.

                  No matter which option he chose, it would hurt his progress in the trial.

                  'Ten years is too long. I don't care even if I only have a year left to become an Inner Court disciple since I am already near the goal. The second option is definitely much better for me, even if I have to work twice as hard for the next five years…'

                  After spending a few moments considering his choices, Yuan responded, "I will choose the second punishment."

                  The Sect Leader nodded and waved his sleeves again a moment later, unfreezing the time.

                  "For deliberately killing a fellow disciple, I shall sentence you to two years of confinement, and all of the contributions you earned during this tournament will be nulled."

                  The Sect Leader's judgment dumbfounded everybody. However, it was not because it was harsh. Instead, it was an extremely light sentence considering the crime Yuan had committed.

                  Normally, if a disciple killed another disciple on purpose, they'd be crippled and expelled from the sect. Those with more background and protection would receive ten years of confinement for punishment instead. Yet, Yuan would only receive two years for killing one of the most popular and well-liked disciples in the sect, not to mention Bai Zhan's grandfather was an elder of the sect.

                  However, despite the seemingly unfair judgment and favoritism, nobody dared to utter any complaints.

                  "Elder Huang, bring this disciple to the confinement chamber," the Sect Leader commanded the sect elder, who was also the judge.

                  "As you command."

                  The sect elder proceeded to retrieve a pair of handcuffs made of a type of red jade and cuffed them around Yuan's wrists. The moment the cuffs went on, Yuan stopped being able to feel or control his spiritual energy, almost as if he'd become a mortal again.

                  Then, the sect elder wrapped his spiritual energy around Yuan and flew away, taking Yuan away.

                  Ji Ran could only watch in disbelief as Yuan quickly disappeared from their sight. Meanwhile, the disciples all angrily stared at Yuan, their eyes filled with hatred and rage. Many of them even silently vowed to avenge Bai Zhan once Yuan emerged from his confinement.

                  Once Yuan was taken away and the mess on the stage was cleaned up, the Sect Leader continued the tournament. However, the atmosphere had drastically changed, and everyone was busy talking about the incident.

                  As for the Bamboo Disciples, those who were from his group recognized him and said, "Fu#k, I knew that murderous bastard couldn't stop himself from killing again!"

                  "Huh? You know him?"

                  "Yes, he was from my group in the Bamboo Garden. He is also the madman who went on a rampage and killed nearly everyone from my group."

                  "I heard about that incident even before leaving the Bamboo Garden! So he was the one responsible for the massacre, huh? He looks nothing like a killer, though."

                  "Don't let his innocent appearance deceive you. His true appearance shows once he starts killing."

                  "How did he even manage to reach the peak of Spirit Warrior, anyway? Did he receive a special treasure for being the first one to reach the Immortal Monastery?"

                  "Who knows? I don't even want to approach him, much less ask him."

                  As for the other disciples, while they didn't dare to criticize the Sect Leader's judgment in his presence out loud, they did not hesitate to curse Yuan out.

                  "That f#cker Xiao Yang! I swear he's dead if I ever see him again!"

                  "Senior apprentice-brother Bai Zhan did not deserve such an end! He was such a kind and generous person! He gave me guidance when he saw me struggling in the training grounds even though I didn't ask for it!"

                  "He also helped me a ton by giving me spirit stones to help with my cultivation! He even told me I didn't need to worry about returning it!"

                  The disciples reminisced about all the times Bai Zhan had done good and helped everyone.

                  Meanwhile, the sect elder brought Yuan to the confinement chamber, which was located on a massive mountain.

                  "You know, I'm actually glad the Sect Leader only gave you two years. Do you know why?" the sect elder suddenly said as they neared a dark, yawning cave entrance that seemed to lead into oblivion. Beside it stood a massive boulder, its size and shape perfectly suited to seal the opening like a door.

                  "Why?" Yuan asked.

                  "Because you'd only live longer if he'd given you a longer sentence. The moment you leave your confinement, Elder Bai, the grandfather of the disciple you killed, will be here to avenge his grandson and take your life."

                  While a disciple is in confinement, they are essentially prohibited from contacting the outside world. This also meant the people outside were unable to contact him, and this included sect elders.

                  Yuan didn't respond to the sect elder's words and only silently gazed at the dark cave entrance.

                  The sect elder proceeded to remove Yuan's cuffs before kicking him in the back, sending him flying into the cave.

                  "Enjoy what little time you have left, you bastard," the sect elder sneered, his voice laced with cold satisfaction. With a series of swift hand gestures, the massive boulder trembled before grinding into place, sealing the cave's entrance.

                  Once he confirmed that Yuan had been sealed properly, he turned around and flew back to the arena.
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                  Chapter 1857 Confinement Chamber

                  As the boulder settled into place, sealing the cave shut, Yuan took a moment to survey his surroundings. Though the cave appeared as if it were an abyss where no light could reach, a faint, eerie glow subtly illuminated the space. However, its source remained a mystery.

                  The cave was surprisingly spacious, even larger than the room he had back in the Bamboo Garden. However, its conditions were harsh and unwelcoming. There was no proper floor, only the cold, uneven ground beneath him, layered with dirt and dust. Aside from the two pots placed at the far end of the space, the cave was utterly barren—not even the bare comfort of a bed to rest on.

                  Yuan approached the pots and lifted their lids, revealing the pills inside. A single glance was enough for him to recognize their purpose. One pot contained hunger-suppressing pills, designed to stave off starvation without the need for actual food. The other held pills that would eliminate his body's need for waste elimination. It was clear that these were meant to sustain him just enough to survive, but nothing more.

                  The spiritual energy inside the cave was also pathetically low, almost nonexistent. Even if Yuan were to spend a decade cultivating there, his cultivation wouldn't see any noticeable improvements.

                  "I have to spend two years in this place, huh? Well, it won't be my first time," Yuan sighed with a bittersweet smile on his face.

                  In the past, Tian Yang would often find himself in confinement for breaking sect rules, mostly from fighting with other disciples. Of course, he would only spend a few days—weeks at most at a time in confinement, but when added up, it easily exceeded two years.

                  During confinement, Tian Yang would try to improve his martial techniques since it was a waste of time to cultivate.

                  "Now then, if my memories serve me correctly, I should be able to find that thing here…"

                  Yuan's gaze turned to look at a specific spot on the ground. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and began digging with his bare hands, scooping away the cold, hard dirt.

                  After digging about a meter deep, Yuan's fingers brushed against something hard and unnaturally cold. Its surface was smooth—too refined to be just another random rock buried in the dirt. He carefully unearthed the object, dusting away the loose soil until it was fully revealed.

                  The moment his eyes confirmed it was exactly what he had been searching for, a quiet chuckle escaped his lips. A glimmer of amusement—even disbelief—flickered in his gaze as he held the object in his hands.

                  "I can't believe it's actually here. Even more unbelievable, I was put into the confinement chamber hiding this treasure."

                  Although Yuan had never intended to visit the confinement chamber this soon, he had always planned to come here eventually. This place held something that had been on his mind since he arrived at the Immortal Monastery. Even if it wasn't guaranteed the treasure would exist, he still wanted to confirm it.

                  Yuan spent the next few moments staring at the object in his grasp. It was small and perfectly round, its surface smooth and cool to the touch, almost identical to a monster core. Despite its unassuming size—small enough to be held between just two fingers—there was an undeniable weight to it, not in mass, but in significance.

                  In the past, when Tian Yang first found this treasure by pure coincidence and accident, he didn't know what it was or how to use it. However, he knew it was definitely a treasure, so he kept it with him for many years until he accidentally activated the treasure.

                  However, even after activating the treasure, Tian Yang did not realize its significance or how it'd benefit him for many more years.

                  "I can't believe I am actually holding you in my grasp again, Heaven Refining Crystal."

                  Sure enough, this unassuming treasure eventually gave birth to the legendary Heaven Refining Physique. A one-of-a-kind physique so heaven-defying that it would transcend lifetimes, following Tian Yang through his future reincarnations and the reason for his immense growth.

                  Although Tian Yang never uncovered the origins of the Heaven Refining Crystal—how it came into existence or why it had been buried within the Immortal Monastery's confinement chamber—none of that truly mattered to him.

                  Once he finished admiring the Heaven Refining Crystal, Yuan brought his thumb to his mouth and bit down until blood welled up. Holding the crystal carefully, he let the crimson droplets fall onto its smooth surface. The moment his blood made contact, it didn't smear or roll off—instead, it was absorbed instantly, as if the crystal were alive and thirsting for his essence. A faint glow began to emanate from within, signaling the start of something profound.

                  Yuan continued to feed his blood to the Heaven Refining Crystal, watching as it eagerly absorbed every drop. The process seemed endless, and before he knew it, dizziness crept over him, his body growing weak from blood loss. Recognizing his limit, he finally stopped and reached for a hunger pill, placing it on his tongue. As it dissolved, a wave of warmth spread through his body. The pill not only satiated hunger; it also had healing properties that would heal minor injuries, such as paper cuts, and speed up recovery.

                  With a tired exhale, he laid down on the cold. The crystal remained clutched in his hand, its surface now faintly pulsing with life. Though the cave was bleak and desolate, Yuan closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

                  Once he woke up several hours later, Yuan immediately started feeding his blood to the Heaven Refining Crystal again, and he would repeat this process for almost an entire year.

                  Meanwhile, the tournament ended two weeks after Yuan's match. As for the results, Ji Ran had managed to win up to the tenth round before losing in the eleventh round to someone at the peak of Spirit Warrior. Even with his experience and the Peerless Immortal Technique, he was unable to bridge the gap of almost an entire realm.

                  In the end, none of the Bamboo Disciples managed to win the tournament, with Ji Ran lasting the longest and earning the most contribution.
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                  Chapter 1858 Elder Bai

                  Once the tournament concluded, Ji Ran wasted no time rushing back to find Xi Meili and the others to notify them of the situation.

                  "WHAT?!" Xi Meili's voice rang out in sheer disbelief as she processed the news.

                  Lan Yingying, on the other hand, was so stunned that words completely failed her. She simply stood there, wide-eyed, unable to form a response.

                  Meanwhile, Tan Songyun furrowed her brows, her expression more puzzled than shocked. Unlike the others, she wasn't just overwhelmed—she was trying to make sense of the situation.

                  "He deliberately killed a disciple and even admitted to it? Why would he do such a thing?" Tan Songyun wondered out loud.

                  "I don't know, and we won't be able to find out until he leaves confinement in two years," Ji Ran sighed.

                  "You mean we won't be able to contact him for two whole years?" Lan Yingying finally spoke, her voice trembling from worry.

                  Ji Ran shook his head, "Unfortunately, we won't. Once someone enters confinement, nobody is allowed to contact them besides the Sect Leader. We can't sneak him out even if we want to since the boulder that seals the place is protected with formations."

                  "I don't know why Yuan killed that disciple, but I'm sure he had a good reason for doing so," Xi Meili sighed, showing her unconditional trust in him.

                  "I also trust he wouldn't kill someone randomly, but even if he had a good reason, the sect wouldn't care about it. Regardless of his reason, he killed a disciple, and in the presence of the Sect Leader, no less. The disciples also seemed like they wanted to rip his throat out," Ji Ran said.

                  "Will he be able to cultivate while in confinement?" Lan Yingying then asked.

                  "No, the confinement chambers also prevent the prisoners from cultivating by depriving them of spiritual energy. The Young Master will have to spend the next two years doing mental cultivation or training his martial techniques."

                  "So we'll have to make sure we're powerful enough to protect him when he emerges in two years?" Xi Meili wondered out loud.

                  "I don't think we'll be able to catch up with the Young Master's progress even with two years, but we can try," Ji Ran said.

                  Meanwhile, in the Sect Leader's office, an old man stood trembling before the Sect Leader. His eyes were bloodshot, tears still streaming down his weathered face, yet his sorrow was eclipsed by the sheer fury burning within him. His expression was a storm of anguish and rage, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

                  This old man was Elder Bai, Bai Zhan's grandfather. Although he had been outside the sect for business, he rushed back to the sect after learning about his beloved grandson's death.

                  "Sect Leader! Please let me avenge my grandson, who did nothing wrong and was unjustly murdered by some psycho!" Elder Bai roared, his voice filled with anguish and anger. He had also heard about the Sect Leader showing favoritism to Yuan by giving him a lenient punishment, which is why he didn't go straight to the confinement chamber to find Yuan. As much as he was enraged about his grandson's death, it did not cloud his judgment.

                  "I am willing to step down from my position as the Grand Elder as long as I can avenge my grandson!"

                  The position of Grand Elder stood at the pinnacle of the sect's hierarchy, second only to the Sect Leader.

                  After listening to Elder Bai's impassioned plea, the Sect Leader finally spoke, his voice calm yet weighted with authority.

                  "I won't say you are forbidden from seeking vengeance for your grandson," he said, his gaze steady. "But as the Grand Elder, you must carry yourself with grace and dignity—even in the face of vengeance. Do not let your grief cloud your judgment, nor let your wrath taint the honor you have upheld for so long."

                  His words were not a denial, nor an approval, but a warning—a reminder that even vengeance had its own path to follow.

                  Elder Bai's eyes gleamed with newfound determination as he realized the Sect Leader hadn't explicitly forbidden him from pursuing Yuan. However, despite his burning desire for revenge, he knew that as a Grand Elder, personally executing a disciple—especially in a fit of rage—would bring severe consequences.

                  Losing face before the sect's disciples was of little concern to him, but his reputation outside the sect was another matter entirely. His standing in the wider cultivation world was not just his own—it was tied to the Immortal Monastery itself. A reckless act of vengeance could tarnish not only his name but also the sect's prestige, drawing unwanted scrutiny from outsiders.

                  Clenching his fists, Elder Bai understood that he needed to tread carefully. If he wanted justice—or vengeance—he would have to be smart about it.

                  Elder Bai left shortly after to begin planning his revenge.

                  At the same time, Elder Jing and Elder Sun were having a conversation on a similar subject.

                  "So, what are you going to do? Will you try to protect that disciple from Elder Bai?" Elder Jing asked Elder Sun.

                  Elder Sun let out a dry chuckle before shaking her head. "Who are you talking to? Me? I'm just an ordinary sect elder who can't even follow the rules," she said, her voice laced with self-mockery. "Elder Bai, on the other hand, is the Grand Elder—the second most powerful figure in the entire sect. If he decided to kill me just to get to Xiao Yang, he wouldn't even blink. Protecting that boy? That would be nothing short of suicide."

                  Despite her words, there was something unreadable in her expression, as if she wasn't entirely convinced by her own words.

                  Elder Jing raised an eyebrow and said, "While you may be an ordinary sect elder on the surface, your real background is something else entirely… With a single command, you could have even the Sect Leader bow to you, much less a mere Grand Elder."

                  Elder Sun's expression darkened the moment her background was brought up. A sharp frown creased her beautiful face as she snapped, her voice laced with anger, "You know I don't like my background being mentioned. I will die before I ask them for help!"

                  "S-sorry," Elder Jing quickly apologized after realizing her mistake.
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                  Chapter 1859 Mysterious Cavern

                  Once Elder Jing left, Elder Sun sighed, "Why did he kill Bai Zhan? He didn't seem like a vicious person. Maybe he has a good reason."

                  Elder Sun would spend the next several days contemplating Yuan's situation.

                  Time passed, and the Bamboo Disciples continued to progress their cultivation. Xi Meili and the others began training harder than usual to improve their prowess as fast as possible to surpass Yuan so they could protect him when he inevitably emerged from his confinement.

                  When they were not grinding points at the Hunting Grounds, Xi Meili focused on her cultivation while Lan Yingying practiced her sword techniques with Tan Songyun.

                  Ji Ran focused on improving his cultivation and farming points alone as usual.

                  The true disciples eventually stopped talking about Yuan and Bai Zhan's death after many months, but that didn't mean they'd forgotten about it or stopped caring. They were simply biding their time until Yuan returned.

                  That said, only the Outer Court and some Inner Court disciples who knew and were close to Bai Zhan cared about the situation. The Core Disciples couldn't care less about some drama in the Outer Court and focused on improving themselves.

                  Meanwhile, Yuan would do nothing but feed the Heaven Refining Crystal his blood until he grew tired and had to sleep.

                  However, as Yuan slept, his mind was consumed by incredibly vivid dreams—memories so detailed and lifelike that they felt more like relived experiences than mere illusions. These were not ordinary dreams but fragments of Tian Yang's past resurfacing.

                  These memories were mostly of Tian Yang's days as a disciple inside the Immortal Monastery, but after a few months, memories of his time at Han Zexian's Tomb resurfaced, mainly memories of his time inside the mountain containing Han Zexian's legacy.

                  After dashing into the mountain to escape from the Immortal Clans and the Seven Divine Sword Peaks' Sect Leader, Tian Yang found himself on an impossibly long, narrow path. The corridor stretched far beyond what the mountain's exterior should have allowed, defying logic and space itself.

                  Each step echoed unnaturally, the walls pressing in with an eerie stillness, as if the very mountain was watching him.

                  However, as freaked out as he was, Tian Yang could only move forward, as the only entrance and exit had closed behind him.

                  After walking for days without rest, Tian Yang finally reached the end of the path. There, beyond the oppressive darkness, lay a small cavern bathed in an unearthly light. Unlike the narrow passage behind him, this space was open and strangely serene, its illumination seemingly without a clear source.

                  The air here felt different—ancient and mythical, as if infused with the lingering presence of something beyond mortal comprehension. Despite its modest size, the cavern exuded a quiet majesty, as though it held secrets untouched by time.

                  At the center of the cavern, a small waterfall cascaded down smooth stone, its gentle flow creating a serene ambiance. At first glance, it appeared unremarkable, but Tian Yang quickly noticed the water was saturated with dense spiritual energy, far richer than anything he had encountered before.

                  Even more astonishing was what lay at the base of the waterfall—a small yet vibrant garden flourishing in its mist. Several exotic plants thrived there, their leaves shimmering with an otherworldly radiance. Though Tian Yang didn't recognize them, their overwhelming aura and the sheer intensity of their spiritual energy left no doubt in his mind—these were priceless treasures, each one likely more valuable than the Immortal Monastery's entire collections of rare herbs.

                  A place like this… it wasn't natural. It was a sanctuary, hidden away from the world for whatever reason.

                  "Why did Han Zexian create a place like this? And why did he want me to come here?" Tian Yang mumbled to himself as he continued surveying the place.

                  At one end of the cavern, Tian Yang's gaze fell upon a peculiar sight—a square-shaped platform, resembling a bed, but made entirely of an unknown stone-like material. Unlike ordinary stone, however, this one seemed to be alive with energy, drawing in the densest spiritual essence from the surrounding cavern.

                  The sheer amount of accumulated energy was so immense that a thick mist hovered above the platform, swirling like a living entity. It was clear this wasn't a mere resting place, but a cultivation platform of unparalleled quality.

                  The stone itself was likely a rare, priceless material that refined and amplified the spiritual energy of anyone who meditated upon it. A treasure like this was beyond value and would start wars with experts battling for its ownership. Then, Tian Yang's eyes were drawn to the cavern walls, where meticulously engraved texts covered nearly every surface. Each word was carved with precision, the deep, sharp strokes indicating they had been etched by a sword or dagger rather than a mere chisel or hand.

                  The inscriptions carried an air of intent—each stroke imbued with meaning, as if the one who had written them had poured their very soul into the engravings. Though Tian Yang couldn't immediately decipher them, he could sense their significance. They weren't just ordinary writings; they held knowledge, perhaps even secrets left behind by the creator of this place.

                  As he stepped closer, he felt a faint resonance from the words, as though they contained lingering traces of the writer's will. Were they cultivation insights? Sword techniques? Or perhaps the final words of someone who had sought refuge in this mysterious place?

                  With a deep breath, Tian Yang reached out, his fingers brushing against the ancient engravings. The moment his skin made contact, a sudden, bone-chilling sensation surged through his entire being. It wasn't just cold—it was an unnatural, penetrating force that seemed to freeze his very soul.

                  His instincts flared in alarm, and without hesitation, he yanked his hand back.

                  "Just what in heaven's name is this place? And what the f#ck am I doing here?" Tian Yang swallowed nervously as he stared at his trembling hands.

                  Once he calmed down, Tian Yang continued exploring the cavern, his heart pounding with anticipation and nervousness.
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                  Chapter 1860 A Cultivator's Paradise

                  As Tian Yang continued exploring the cavern, his attention was drawn to a wooden shelf nestled against one of the cavern walls. Despite the passage of time, the wood remained intact, exuding a faint aura that suggested it had been reinforced with spiritual energy.

                  Resting atop the shelf were numerous spatial rings, and when Tian Yang peeked inside one of them, he was surprised to find it completely filled with pills. However, Tian Yang didn't know what kind of pills they were since his knowledge of pills was very limited.

                  He checked the other spatial rings after placing down the first spatial ring. Once again, it was filled with pills, but they looked and smelled different from the previous pills.

                  "Are all of these spatial rings filled with pills?" Tian Yang muttered to himself as he continued finding more pills with each new spatial ring he checked.

                  Sure enough, after checking every single spatial ring, Tian Yang found nothing but pills. After putting the last spatial ring down, Tian Yang returned to the center of the room and sat down on the ground.

                  "A waterfall, priceless herbs, spatial rings with countless pills, a cultivation platform, and unknown words on the walls… What the hell was Han Zexian doing in this place? And what am I supposed to do here? Can I even leave this place?"

                  Tian Yang was filled with questions but nobody to answer them.

                  Eventually, he started experimenting and studying the place in more detail.

                  First, Tian Yang decided to test the waterfall's water. Cupping his hands, he took a small sip.

                  The moment the cool liquid passed his lips, a wave of vitality surged through his body. His fatigue melted away instantly, his energy rapidly recovering as if he had undergone days of deep meditation in mere seconds. However, the water's effects didn't stop there.

                  A clarity unlike anything he had experienced before washed over him. His mind felt sharper, and his thoughts more refined. It was as if a veil had been lifted, allowing him to perceive everything with greater focus and understanding.

                  Tian Yang's eyes widened. This wasn't just ordinary spiritual water—it was a sacred elixir, capable of restoring not only the body but also sharpening the mind. The significance of such a resource was immeasurable. Even in the most powerful sects, water of this caliber would be considered an irreplaceable treasure.

                  Next were the herbs. Although they looked delicious, Tian Yang didn't actually dare to consume them. Unlike the waterfall, which seemed to flow endlessly, the herbs were limited, and he was worried they might not regrow once consumed. The most he could do was inspect them, but since he was not an expert in this field, he quickly gave up and moved to the cultivation bed.

                  The moment Tian Yang sat on the cultivation bed and took a deep breath, he could feel his cultivation improving by leaps and bounds, and he hadn't even started cultivating yet.

                  With the cultivation bed, he could progress his cultivation with ease and maybe even catch up to the experts from the Immortal Clans, regardless of his talents.

                  As days turned to weeks, Tian Yang found himself intoxicated by the experience. The rapid ascension of his cultivation, the intoxicating surge of power—it was unlike anything he had ever known. His body and mind craved more, urging him to stay, to immerse himself deeper into this endless growth.

                  And so, he remained seated for months, unmoving, consumed entirely by the boundless potential of the cultivation bed.

                  Eventually, Tian Yang emerged from his cultivation, and his peak Spirit King had soared past Spirit Emperor and Spirt Sovereign, entering Spirit Enlightenment and stopping at the peak of Spirit Enlightenment by the end.

                  To increase his cultivation by three entire realms within just a few months was unheard of and unprecedented. Moreover, Tian Yang noticed that his cultivation was no longer suppressed to Spirit King despite still being inside Han Zexian's Tomb.

                  "I am actually still inside Han Zexian's Tomb, right? I am not actually dead and in cultivator's paradise, right?" Tian Yang wondered out loud.

                  He wouldn't be surprised if the mountain actually existed in a different space and away from Han Zexian's Tomb, which would explain how he could walk for days without encountering an end.

                  After emerging from his cultivation, Tian Yang took another sip of the waterfall before turning his focus to the words on the wall. However, he quickly gave up and went to check on the pills inside the spatial rings again.

                  Since there was no way for him to know their effects without taking them outside to get examined, Tian Yang had to consume them and examine their effects using his own body.

                  "How long have these pills been here? Pills shouldn't expire, right?"

                  It was a common rumor that pills never expired, their potency lasting for eternity. However, this was far from the truth.

                  In reality, pills that aren't properly sealed or stored will gradually lose their effectiveness over time. The spiritual energy infused within them would slowly dissipate, weakening their medicinal properties until they eventually became nothing more than ordinary, powerless pills.

                  If left unchecked for too long, some pills would deteriorate to the point where they crumbled like brittle crackers at the slightest touch.

                  After embracing himself for the worst, Tian Yang picked a random spatial ring and retrieved a pill from it before consuming the pill.

                  After consuming the pill, Tian Yang sat in silence, focusing intently on any changes occurring within his body, his back soaked in cold sweat.

                  However, as the minutes stretched on, his anticipation slowly turned to confusion.
                  Nothing happened.

                  His body felt the same. His energy remained unchanged. The pill had dissolved, yet there was no reaction—not even the faintest ripple of medicinal effect.

                  Tian Yang frowned. Had the pill lost its potency over time? Or did the pill have an effect that couldn't be felt?

                  Since he had no way of knowing, Tian Yang could only pick up a different spatial ring and consume a different pill.

                  "The hell? Nothing's happening!" Tian Yang exclaimed in disappointment when the second, third, and even fourth spatial rings contained pills that seemingly had no effect. Yet, he continued examining the pills, throwing unknown pills with unknown effects into his mouth without any of his initial hesitation.
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                  Chapter 1861 Han Zexian's Diary

                  After tirelessly picking up and testing the pills from one spatial ring after another, Tian Yang finally sensed a change in his body upon consuming a pill from the tenth and final ring.

                  At first, he braced himself, expecting a surge of spiritual energy, perhaps an increase in his cultivation or physical strength. However, what he experienced was something different—a sharpening of his mind.

                  It was similar to the effects of the waterfall's water but more concentrated. His thoughts became clearer, more refined, as if a fog he hadn't even realized was there had been lifted. Every detail around him appeared more vivid, and his comprehension of his surroundings heightened, almost as if the strength of his divine sense had been amplified a hundred times.

                  Since the tenth spatial ring had pills that actually worked, Tian Yang put it aside and apart from the other rings in case he needed them.

                  Now that Tian Yang was done with the spatial rings, there was only one thing left in the cavern that he could realistically do, which was to return to studying the engravings on the wall.

                  After staring at the wall for days, Tian Yang realized one thing—that everything in the cavern seemed to assist Tian Yang or whoever was present in studying the engravings.

                  The waterfall and pills increased his mental strength, allowing him to be sharper, more observant, and more perceptive. The cultivation bed sped up his cultivation speed, which would not just improve his mental capacity and strength but also increase his longevity, giving him more time to study the engravings.

                  "Everything points to the engravings on the walls, but what does it mean…? Is it a cultivation technique? Maybe a martial technique? I have no clue! Ah, Han Zexian, why didn't you leave behind some clues for your successor?"

                  After a few more days, Tian Yang took a break from the engravings and went to wash his face with the waterfall and then went on another cultivation session.

                  This time, he spent a month cultivating and reached the peak of Divine Warrior. Normally, a cultivator must face a heavenly tribulation upon reaching a new major realm, but due to Tian Yang's unique location, he did not have to face one.

                  Upon reaching Divine Warrior, Tian Yang learned Divine Gaze. Although most people would learn it a little later, Tian Yang was able to learn it early due to the amount of treasures he'd consumed that boosted his senses.

                  Once Tian Yang grew accustomed to Divine Gaze, he decided to put it to use, scanning the cavern once more with his enhanced perception.

                  As his gaze swept across the chamber, something caught his attention—something he hadn't noticed before.

                  Once Tian Yang grew accustomed to Divine Gaze, he decided to put it to use, scanning the cavern once more with his enhanced perception.

                  As his gaze swept across the chamber, something caught his attention—something he hadn't noticed before.

                  "Huh? What's that?" he muttered, his brows furrowing as his eyes locked onto the cultivation bed.

                  At first glance, it appeared no different from before—perfectly shaped, exuding boundless spiritual energy. But now, under the scrutiny of Divine Gaze, he could see faint, almost imperceptible lines along its edges. It wasn't just a solid platform—it was hiding something beneath.

                  Curious, Tian Yang stepped forward and placed his palms against the smooth surface. Applying force, he pushed.

                  To his surprise, the entire cultivation bed shifted.

                  A low, grating sound echoed through the cavern as the platform slid away, revealing a hidden compartment beneath.

                  Tian Yang's heart pounded with curious anticipation as he reached inside to grab the only object hidden within. When he held it before his eyes, Tian Yang could see clearly that the hidden object was an old, worn-out book. He wondered if it was a technique, but his eyes widened with surprise after reading the title of said book.

                  The title was a single, simple word, and it was the word 'diary'.

                  Tian Yang wasted no time and opened the book to the first page, immediately reading its contents.

                  Soon, Tian Yang realized that the book contained vital information about the cavern, such as the herbs' identity, as well as the unknown pills' effects.

                  "Heavens! They were all longevity pills?! No wonder why I didn't feel anything after consuming them!"

                  "But Han Zexian was an Immortal. Why would he need longevity pills when he already can live forever without them?"

                  Tian Yang's question was answered as he read more of the Han Zexian's dairy.

                  Apparently, the engravings on the cavern walls contained information about a powerful and mysterious entity, one that might be omnipotent—an existence that held absolute control over the Divine Heavens. The words carved into the stone seemed to whisper secrets far beyond mortal comprehension, knowledge that transcended even the most powerful cultivators.

                  However, there was a terrible price for attempting to decipher them.

                  Any effort to understand these inscriptions would directly consume one's longevity.

                  It wasn't just a warning—it was a curse woven into the very text itself. The engravings were not meant for the unworthy, and those who sought their meaning would pay the cost with the most precious currency of all: their lifespan.

                  As Tian Yang continued reading the diary, his vision blurred, and an overwhelming fatigue washed over him. His eyelids grew heavy, his limbs sluggish, as if an unseen force was siphoning his very essence. It didn't take long before Tian Yang realized it wasn't ordinary fatigue but his longevity being drained.

                  The diary wasn't just a record—it was cursed knowledge, just like the engravings on the wall. Every word he read came at a cost, and the longer he continued, the more of his lifespan was sacrificed. This curse was so powerful and unforgiving that even Immortals—beings with seemingly infinite lifespans—were not immune to its effects. No matter how vast one's life force was, this curse would make them seem finite if they delved too deep into its knowledge.

                  "Just what kind of entity is so dangerous that even learning about it would shorten one's existence?" Tian Yang wondered out loud.

                  As insane and perilous as it was, Tian Yang couldn't suppress the burning curiosity rising within him. Even knowing the cost, even feeling his lifespan slipping away with every word, he couldn't stop.

                  Despite the dangers, despite the risk of his own lifespan being drained away, he wanted to know.

                  If the heavens sought to keep this entity a secret, then he would defy the heavens themselves.
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                  Chapter 1862 Outer Gods

                  In order to continue reading Han Zexian's diary, Tian Yang had to constantly replenish his diminishing longevity with longevity pills.

                  Each of the longevity pills granted Tian Yang a hundred years of life. Although this may not seem like much at a glance, these pills were unique in the sense that they could be consumed endlessly.

                  While most longevity pills could only be consumed once in a lifetime before their effects ceased, Han Zexian's longevity pills were an exception—they had no limit. As long as one had an endless supply, they could achieve eternal life.

                  However, such pills were exceedingly rare and unimaginably valuable. Their creation required specific herbs, ones that were nearly impossible to find. These herbs could only thrive in the most harsh and unforgiving environments, where even the strongest cultivators would struggle to survive.

                  Yet, the very same herbs, ones thought to exist only in the most extreme landscapes, were right here in the cavern, growing beneath the waterfall.

                  It was clear that Han Zexian had concocted the longevity pills by himself using the herbs he'd grown. However, Tian Yang was not an alchemist, so there was no way for him to utilize the herbs before him.

                  This meant that once the supply of longevity pills ran out, Tian Yang would not be able to acquire more. Fortunately for him, Han Zexian had left behind an immense supply of longevity pills—enough to increase his longevity by tens of millions of years.

                  Yet, at the rate his longevity was being depleted, Tian Yang wasn't sure the supply would last him until he could learn the secrets of the cavern.

                  However, Tian Yang didn't care and continued.

                  Time slipped away like grains of sand through Tian Yang's fingers.

                  With his mind wholly immersed in Han Zexian's diary, he lost all sense of the outside world.

                  One year… ten years… twenty years…

                  In what felt like an instant, twenty-five years had passed since Tian Yang first set foot inside Han Zexian's cavern.

                  During this time, Tian Yang had managed to improve his cultivation to the peak of Immortal Ascension, and he'd also long finished Han Zexian's diary and was now studying the engravings on the walls.

                  Just finishing Han Zexian's diary had cost Tian Yang over a million years of his lifespan. Yet, he felt no regret.

                  The knowledge he had gained was beyond anything he had ever imagined.

                  Through the diary, he had not only unraveled the mystery of Han Zexian's existence but also uncovered his purpose in the cavern.

                  According to Han Zexian, he had somehow stumbled upon forbidden knowledge—information about entities so powerful they surpassed all mortal and even Immortal comprehension. These entities not only controlled the Divine Heavens, but they could even be dictators of their universe. Han Zexian referred to these unfathomable beings as Outer Gods—entities beyond the reach of mortals, immortals, and even divine beings. Their very existence defied logic, and their power was so absolute that even the highest realms of cultivation could not comprehend them.

                  Han Zexian became obsessed with these beings, dedicating the rest of his life to studying them. His desire to learn more eventually evolved into something far more dangerous—he sought to contact them.

                  This pursuit led him to this very cavern, a place Tian Yang had initially assumed belonged to Han Zexian. However, in truth, the cavern wasn't Han Zexian's creation, and the cultivation bed and engravings on the wall existed before Han Zexian's arrival.

                  The only things that truly belonged to him were the herbs and the longevity pills.

                  As for Han Zexian's Tomb, while it was indeed created by Han Zexian, this cavern was never originally part of it.

                  In truth, the cavern existed somewhere else entirely, and the tomb itself was nothing more than a method of transportation—a gateway that led here. Tian Yang had suspected this from the very beginning, so he wasn't too surprised about it.

                  Tian Yang hoped to find a translation of the engravings on the walls, but Han Zexian never managed to decipher it—or so Tian Yang thought, as the diary lacked any mention of it.

                  Tian Yang looked at the longevity pills and mumbled to himself, "Maybe Han Zexian actually managed to contact these Outer Gods, hence why he left his supplies here and disappeared."

                  If Han Zexian had failed, it would have only been because his entire lifespan had been drained away from trying to decipher the engravings. However, the abundance of remaining longevity pills suggested otherwise. If he had perished from longevity depletion, he would have consumed every last pill. The fact that so many pills were still left behind meant Han Zexian hadn't met his end in such a way.

                  After spending over a decade studying the engravings, Tian Yang had begun to understand it. While he didn't decipher the words, he could somehow feel and understand them. It was a weird phenomenon that Tian Yang couldn't comprehend himself.

                  As time passed and the supply of longevity pills neared depletion, Tian Yang at last grasped the true meaning of the engravings.

                  Although the engravings didn't reveal any new information about the Outer Gods, they revealed something much more valuable—a method of contacting the Outer Gods.

                  "This engraving is actually a technique! One that lets me contact the Outer Gods!" he clenched his fists in excitement.

                  "Perhaps Han Zexian actually managed to understand the engravings and fulfilled his goal of contacting the Outer Gods…"

                  However, as much as Tian Yang yearned to contact the Outer Gods, a deep sense of unease held him back. What would happen to him if he succeeded?

                  After all, Han Zexian had likely attempted it and succeeded… yet he was nowhere to be found. No body, no trace—as if he had been erased from existence itself.

                  The unknown loomed before Tian Yang, both tempting and terrifying.

                  "Despite everything, I am still stuck in this place… I might as well give it a try and see what happens."

                  Tian Yang sighed, his gaze lingering on the ancient engravings. He had uncovered forbidden knowledge, deciphered the truth behind the Outer Gods, and sacrificed an unimaginable portion of his lifespan. Yet, he remained trapped inside the cavern with no way out.

                  Han Zexian's diary, despite its wealth of knowledge, contained no mention of a way to leave the cavern.

                  Tian Yang was no different from a caged beast, left with only two choices: to wait for an escape that may never come… or to take the risk and reach out to the Outer Gods.

                  After spending days pondering about it, Tian Yang decided to contact the Outer Gods.
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                  Eternal Paragon
                  Eternal Paragon
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                  Chapter 1863 Encounter With an Outer God

                  After deciding that he would contact the Outer Gods, Tian Yang spent another few months learning the technique used to contact them.

                  Once he was prepared, Tian Yang sat on the cultivation bed, took a deep breath, and began muttering, "O ancient gods beyond the veil of reason, where time coils and the stars weep—heed my call! I invoke the Nameless, whose shadows consume light, whose whispers unravel fate! Through the fracture of all that is, through the silence where even Dao crumbles… descend and make this world your own!"

                  However, nothing happened after Tian Yang activated the technique and recited the summoning phrase.

                  Frowning, he looked around, his brows slightly raised at the anticlimactic result. "Did it fail?" he muttered, half-expecting some kind of reaction.

                  Just as he prepared to attempt the ritual again, his vision suddenly went blank.

                  A weightless sensation overtook him, and the cavern's familiar presence vanished. The very atmosphere shifted, becoming something utterly alien—something beyond anything he had ever experienced.

                  He was no longer where he had been. The cavern, the engravings, the cultivation bed—all of it was gone.

                  Instead, an endless void stretched before him, vast and incomprehensible. Tiny flickering lights dotted the darkness, resembling distant stars, yet they felt eerily different—as if they were watching him.

                  Unbeknownst to Tian Yang, he had been transported to the Starry Sky—a realm beyond the sky of the Divine Heavens and a place untouched by mortals or immortals at his time.

                  "W-where am I? How did I get here? What happened to the Outer Gods?" Tian Yang's voice trembled slightly as he turned, searching for any sign of familiarity in the boundless abyss.

                  A moment of silence stretched across the void. Then, a voice—deep, profound, and utterly overwhelming—resounded through his very being.

                  "By Outer Gods, are you referring to me?"

                  The sheer weight of its presence sent shivers down Tian Yang's spine.

                  Before him, an immense silhouette emerged from the abyss, its scale so vast that his mind struggled to comprehend it. If he were to compare his own size to the silhouette, it'd be like comparing an ant to an elephant.

                  The figure bore the shape of a human, yet its form was anything but ordinary. Ten arms stretched outward, five on each side, exuding an aura of absolute dominion.

                  Tian Yang's breath was caught in his throat.

                  He had sought the Outer Gods.

                  And now, he stood before one.

                  "An Outer God… they really exist…" Tian Yang swallowed nervously.

                  "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but unfortunately, I cannot answer them at the moment. That said, since you are the first human to ever decipher my engravings, I shall grant you a wish. Tell me, what do you desire?"

                  "Can you grant me any wish?" Tian Yang asked after snapping out of his daze.

                  "..."

                  The Outer God did not respond, almost as if it deemed it was pointless to answer such an obvious question. After a brief moment of contemplation, Tian Yang finally spoke, his voice steady despite the overwhelming presence before him.

                  "I have only experienced losses throughout my life. Time and time again, I've watched everything slip through my fingers because I was too weak to protect anything."

                  His fists clenched, not in anger, but in unwavering resolve.

                  "If I could have any one thing in my life, it would be power—the power to protect what I want to protect. However, with that said..." his gaze hardened as he looked up at the towering entity, "I don't want such power to be handed to me."

                  There was no hesitation in his words.

                  "Therefore, what I want is talent—the talent to surpass everyone."

                  This was not a request for mere strength. It was a demand for the right to forge his own path.

                  After a moment of silence, the Outer God spoke, "So you wish not for strength but the chance to acquire the strength you desire, huh? What an amusing human."

                  Then it continued, "Unfortunately, I cannot grant that wish."

                  "What?" Tian Yang showed a puzzled frown upon hearing this, as he thought the Outer God was omnipotent and could grant him any wish.

                  "I cannot give you what you already have. Although you may not be aware of it, you already possess such talents."

                  "That's ridiculous! If I had even a sliver of talent in me, I wouldn't have struggled so much!" Tian Yang shouted, his voice raw with frustration, feeling like he was being mocked.

                  "You don't have to believe me. Regardless, I cannot grant you that wish. You may choose a different wish."

                  Tian Yang sighed, "I don't have another wish. You can grant me whatever you want."

                  "In that case, I shall grant you something I believe is befitting of your existence," the Outer God declared, its voice reverberating through the endless abyss.

                  Before Tian Yang could react, a golden light materialized in the vast darkness, its radiant light pulsing with an indescribable energy. It drifted forward, moving with an ethereal grace, as though drawn by fate itself.

                  In the next instant, the star shot toward him.

                  Tian Yang barely had time to process what was happening before it pierced into his chest, disappearing into his body.

                  "What did you just do to me?" Tian Yang asked.

                  "That is for you to find out."

                  Suddenly, a powerful ripple surged through the distant void, distorting the fabric of space itself. The presence was vast and ominous, something beyond Tian Yang's comprehension.

                  The Outer God's gaze shifted toward the disturbance.

                  "I shall end our conversation here," it declared.

                  Just as the abyss began to tremble, the Outer God's attention returned to Tian Yang for one last moment.

                  "This will not be the last time we speak, for it seems our existences are intertwined by fate. Until next time, human."

                  Before Tian Yang could respond, the void around him collapsed. The starry abyss twisted, and his consciousness was forcefully pulled away, as though reality itself was ejecting him from this realm.

                  When Tian Yang snapped out of his daze, he found himself back inside the cavern, seated on the cultivation bed just as he had been before, almost as if his encounter with the Outer God was only a mere dream.
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                  Eternal Paragon
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                  Chapter 1864 Leaving Han Zexian's Cavern

                  After returning to the cavern, Tian Yang's body was immediately drenched in sweat. A crushing exhaustion weighed down on him, as if every fiber of his being had been wrung dry.

                  His breath came in ragged gasps, his limbs trembling uncontrollably. Despite having accumulated over a million years of longevity, his brief encounter with the Outer God had drained nearly all of it away.

                  Tian Yang, ignoring his exhaustion, hurried to the shelf and snatched the only spatial ring that still contained longevity pills. Inside, only about a hundred pills remained, enough to increase his longevity by another 10,000 years.

                  Without hesitation, he popped a pill into his mouth. As it dissolved, warmth spread through his body, and his vitality slowly stabilized.

                  "So that was an Outer God, huh? Unbelievable…" Despite just meeting one himself, Tian Yang still found it difficult to believe such a powerful entity could exist.

                  "Wait a second… that Outer God claimed I was the first human to decipher its engravings. What about Han Zexian? What happened to him?"

                  Tian Yang had originally believed that Han Zexian had deciphered the engravings and successfully contacted the Outer Gods long before him, but he turned out to be wrong. This made Tian Yang wonder about Han Zexian's mysterious disappearance.

                  However, Tian Yang didn't dwell too long on Han Zexian.

                  As intriguing as the mystery was, there was something far more pressing at hand—his own predicament. Even after contacting the Outer God, he was still stuck inside the cavern with no way out.

                  With no other options, Tian Yang started searching every nook and cranny of the cavern. Though he had taken a quick look when he first arrived, he had only checked the obvious spots. Now, with no choice but to be thorough, he began a more careful search, hoping to find something he had missed before.

                  However, even after looking through the entire place not once but twice, Tian Yang was unable to find anything.

                  Just as he was about to give up, Tian Yang's gaze suddenly turned toward the only entrance to the cavern.

                  "There's no way, right?"

                  After a brief moment of stillness, Tian Yang turned toward the cavern's entrance. As he crossed the threshold, he found himself once more on the dark, winding path—the very same passage that had first led him into the cavern. However, there was something different about it.

                  Sensing this, Tian Yang turned around and returned to the cavern. He started packing up just in case, taking the spatial rings and herbs he hadn't touched since arriving at the cavern and tossing them into the spatial ring. He wanted to take the cultivation bed with him, but with it firmly rooted into the ground. Regrettably, there was nothing he could do but leave it behind.

                  Once he was prepared, Tian Yang returned to the passage and began traversing it without looking back.

                  After several days, Tian Yang finally reached the end of the passage, where a brilliant light pierced through the darkness. A slow breath escaped his lips as relief washed over him, his steps quickening toward the long-awaited escape from the cavern's suffocating embrace.

                  Meanwhile, outside the mountain, two Spirit King cultivators guarded the sealed entrance to the mountain that Tian Yang had disappeared into several decades ago.

                  "I don't get it. Why do the Immortal Clans insist on guarding this mountain? Do you know why?" one of the guards suddenly asked, as he was never given the reason he needed to guard it.

                  "They didn't tell you? And why are you asking this now? We've been here for almost a decade!"

                  "I don't know…"

                  "Unbelievable… Anyway, there is someone inside this mountain that the Immortal Clans want to capture."

                  "What? There's a person inside this mountain? I heard this place hasn't been open for decades! And for the Immortal Clans to guard this place just to capture him… I can't imagine how he'd offended them."

                  "I can't either, but we will most likely never see this individual. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd already perished inside—"

                  The guard halted his words but kept his mouth wide open when the sealed entrance to the mountain suddenly opened for the first time in decades.

                  "T-t-this—!"

                  Tian Yang stepped out of the mountain the following moment, his eyes adjusting to the open sky as he raised an eyebrow at the sight of two cultivators standing before him with shocked expressions.

                  He had entertained the possibility that the Immortal Clans might be lying in wait, yet it did nothing to deter him. If anything, he wanted them to be there so he could immediately begin his revenge.

                  "Are you two with the Immortal Clans or the Seven Divine Sword Peaks?" Tian Yang calmly asked them.

                  In response, the guards unsheathed their weapons, the cold steel gleaming under the light as they leveled them at Tian Yang. Their expressions were tense, their stances rigid.

                  "Under the Immortal Clans' orders, we are to capture you! Do not resist, or we will take you in by force!"

                  "I see. Alright, you can take me."

                  Tian Yang raised his hands and surrendered himself.

                  The guards were pleasantly surprised by how smoothly it went. However, as they took a step toward him, Tian Yang suddenly activated Limitless Sword Domain, killing the two guards before they could even react.

                  "So they won't let me go even after so many years, huh? Good! Very good! This will make hunting them down even more satisfactory!" Tian Yang laughed as he flew away from the scene.

                  Meanwhile, within the grand halls of the Immortal Gu Clan, a lone servant stood vigil over two luminous jade slips, their glow pulsing faintly in the dim chamber. For years, they had remained undisturbed, carrying the essence of their owners—until now.

                  Without warning, the light within them flickered, faded, and then vanished entirely. A heartbeat later, both jade slips cracked, the fractures spreading like veins of death before they shattered into countless fragments.

                  When the servant, who was half asleep, saw this, he hastily ran out of the room to report the news.
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                  Eternal Paragon
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                  Chapter 1865 Heaven Refining Crystal


                  Patriarch Gu of the Immortal Gu Clan sat in his secluded chamber, immersed in deep cultivation. The flow of qi around him was steady, his breath synchronized with the universe itself. Each inhale refined his power, and each exhale expanded his control over the profound energies of the world.
                  Yet, in an instant, that harmony was shattered.
                  A loud, urgent banging erupted against his door, the force behind it so jarring that it sent ripples through the qi in the chamber. His eyes snapped open, a flicker of irritation flashing across his face. Who would dare disturb him while he was cultivating? With a flick of his sleeves, the door flung open, and before the individual outside could so much as step inside or utter a single word, Patriarch Gu's voice exploded like thunder, reverberating through the halls with unrestrained fury.
                  "You better have a damn good reason for disturbing my cultivation—or I will feed you to the dogs!"
                  His piercing gaze locked onto the trembling figure before him, his presence suffocating.
                  The servant immediately fell to his knees and reported in a trembling voice, "This lowly servant has urgent news to report! The Soulbound Life Jade of the two guards at Han Zexian's Tomb had just shattered! The guards have been killed!"

                  "WHAT?!" Patriarch Gu instantly stood up in shock, with disbelief written all over his face.
                  After the incident, the Immortal Clans kicked everyone out of Han Zexian's Tomb and sealed it so that only approved individuals could enter. In other words, the guards' deaths were no accident, and only one individual could have done it.
                  "That bastard has finally stopped hiding and crawled out of his rathole!" Patriarch Gu's voice thundered through the chamber, his fury palpable.
                  As he seethed, a strange sensation coursed through his left arm—the very same limb Tian Yang had severed in their last encounter but was eventually healed with treasures. However, even having fully healed, he would often feel phantom pain where Tian Yang had cut, a constant reminder of his humiliation.
                  Unfortunately for Patriarch Gu, Tian Yang had long left Han Zexian's Tomb before he could arrive, something he realized before even entering the tomb, as the guards keeping watch of the entrance were lifelessly lying on the ground.
                  Moreover, engraved into the very earth where the guards had fallen were the ominous words, "I have returned to kill all of you."
                  The moment Patriarch Gu's gaze fell upon them, a chilling sensation washed over him. These were not mere threats—they pulsed with raw, unbridled killing intent, so thick it seemed to seep into the surroundings, staining the very air with malice. He could also feel the deep hatred embedded in every stroke, as if Tian Yang had carved the message not just into the ground, but into the souls of those who would read it.


                  Despite knowing that Tian Yang was no longer inside the tomb, Patriarch Gu still entered it and traveled to the mountain. He wanted to confirm if the door was open now that Tian Yang had come out. Unfortunately for him, the doors had closed shortly after Tian Yang left.
                  He left the tomb shortly after and contacted the other Immortal Clans, notifying them of Tian Yang's return.
                  "..."
                  After a deep slumber, Yuan woke up with a puzzled look on his face.
                  "Why did I see Patriarch Gu in that dream?" he muttered out loud.
                  He thought he was recalling Tian Yang's memories, but if that were the case, he wouldn't have been able to see Patriarch Gu's reaction to Tian Yang's return. This made him consider the possibility that he wasn't actually dreaming of Tian Yang's memories but someone else. There was also the possibility that he wasn't dreaming of memories but something entirely different.
                  However, Yuan had no clue what it might be.
                  After pondering for some time, Yuan eventually set aside his thoughts and shifted his focus to the Heaven Refining Crystal. He had been feeding it his blood for over a year now, and the crystal looked a lot different than it did a year ago.

                  When he first discovered it, the Heaven Refining Crystal had been plain and devoid of any distinct features. It was an ordinary, colorless crystal. But after absorbing his blood for over a year, it had undergone a profound change. Its once-lifeless surface now shimmered with a vibrant spectrum of colors, shifting and pulsating like a living entity. More than just its appearance, the crystal emanated a unique aura—a profound energy that made Yuan subconsciously revere it.
                  "It's ready to move to step two…"
                  After staring at the crystal for a brief moment, he pressed the crystal against his lips before pushing it inside his mouth, treating it as though it was a candy.
                  Unlike pills, the Heaven Refining Crystal did not dissolve upon contact with his tongue. Yet, Yuan did not hesitate. With a single, deliberate motion, he forced the crystal down his throat, swallowing it whole.
                  The moment it passed into his body, a violent reaction erupted within him. A tidal wave of energy surged through his meridians, scorching them like divine fire, threatening to tear him apart from within. His muscles tightened, his bones groaned under immense pressure, and his very soul trembled as if the crystal were trying to refine him instead.
                  "Arrgh!" Yuan roared as unbearable pain wracked his entire being. It had been a long time since he had experienced such agony. It was so intense it felt as if every fiber of his existence was being torn apart and reforged at the same time.
                  The Heaven Refining Crystal, now a part of him, unleashed an uncontrollable storm of energy. His meridians twisted and expanded, his blood boiled as if ignited by flames from purgatory, and his very soul trembled.


                  He struggled, his body convulsing, sweat pouring down like rain, but no amount of resistance could quell the sheer torment.
                  Hours passed, though it felt like an eternity. His vision blurred, his strength waned, and eventually, his consciousness slipped away.
                  However, even in unconsciousness, the pain did not fade. It clung to him, an unrelenting force that refused to grant him even a moment of peace.
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                  Eternal Paragon
                  Eternal Paragon
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                  Chapter 1866 Leaving the Desolate Continent

                  After days of relentless pain that only grew more painful as time passed, Yuan could finally breathe as the pain slowly subsided. However, he was still too exhausted to lift a finger, much less stand up.

                  He closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. Once he'd fallen asleep, the memories returned.

                  After Tian Yang had left Han Zexian's Tomb, he went to the nearest city within the Desolate Continent to sell some of his treasures, as he was completely broke.

                  Besides the longevity pills and herbs he'd acquired from the Outer God's cavern, Tian Yang had several spatial rings filled with treasures from the opponents he'd killed inside Han Zexian's Tomb, mainly from Gu Lim and his friends.

                  Since he didn't want to risk attracting the Immortal Clans' attention, Tian Yang opted to pawn the treasures for much cheaper than if he'd sold them at an auction. However, even when sold for cheap, the treasures earned him a lot of money—more than he ever had before, especially from selling Gu Lim's treasures. After selling all of the treasures he deemed useless, Tian Yang purchased enough appearance-altering pills to fill an entire spatial ring. Then, he rented a room at a hotel.

                  Once he was alone and in a quiet environment, Tian Yang began pondering his next steps.

                  He thought about returning to the Immortal Monastery, but he was now at the peak of the Immortal Ascension realm, a step away from becoming an Immortal. Unless he wanted to become the Sect Leader of the Immortal Monastery, there was no reason for someone at his level to return. Moreover, he'd been absent from the sect for many decades.

                  "They most likely considered me dead long ago. There's no point in going back… Even if I went back, I'd only bring my trouble to them."

                  When he thought about returning to the Immortal Monastery, only one thing appeared in his mind.

                  "Senior Sun… I never got to apologize to her…" Tian Yang sighed, his voice laced with regret.

                  Memories of her flickered through his mind—her unwavering gaze, their weird relationship of disciple and sect elder, and the disappointment he had left behind. He had long since accepted the path he had chosen, but he still regretted it.

                  If he ever returned to the Immortal Monastery, it would only be to apologize to her. Nothing more.

                  Once Tian Yang decided that he would not return to the Immortal Monastery, he shifted his focus elsewhere. There was something—someone—that had lingered in his thoughts ever since he entered the Outer God's cavern. A question that resurfaced every so often, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

                  Once Tian Yang decided that he would not return to the Immortal Monastery, he shifted his focus elsewhere. There was something—someone—that had lingered in his thoughts ever since he entered the Outer God's cavern. A question that resurfaced every so often, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

                  "What happened to Kulas after that day? I hope he's fine."

                  The memory of their last encounter played in his mind.

                  The only thing that somewhat eased Tian Yang's worries was the knowledge that Kulas was the young master of the Immortal Might Clan. A clan of such prestige and strength would not let harm befall their heir so easily—not even a fellow Immortal Clan. And yet, despite this reassurance, an uneasy feeling still lingered in his heart.

                  Kulas was more than just an acquaintance—he was his savior, his friend, and his sworn brother. That bond could not be ignored. Tian Yang owed him more than just fleeting concern.
                  With a deep breath, he made his decision.

                  "I need to check on him."

                  However, he did not know where to start. Should he visit the Immortal Might Clan, or should he ask around?

                  "No, I shouldn't try to contact Kulas directly, especially when the Immortals Clan knows of our connection. I'd only be bringing him trouble by doing that."

                  Another individual suddenly came to mind.

                  "What if I asked her?"

                  Inside his mind was a beautiful woman—Ren Xia, Kulas' ex-fiancee.

                  'If I recall correctly, Ren Xia belonged to the Immortal Sword Clan…'

                  Once he had a destination, Tian Yang left the hotel and made his way to the Immortal Sword Clan, which was on the other side of the world.

                  "But first, I'll need to leave the Desolate Continent. They should have restored the ship services by now, right?"

                  Tian Yang made his way to the docks to see if the ship's services were operational.

                  Sometime later, he confirmed that a ship would arrive in two weeks.

                  Although Tian Yang could easily traverse through the sea by flying at his cultivation, he didn't know the directions and feared he might accidentally encounter the mysterious sea demon that killed Huang Xiao Li's family again.

                  Even at the peak of Immortal Ascension, Tian Yang wasn't confident he would be able to defeat that monster.

                  After paying for a spot, Tian Yang waited for the ship to show up.

                  Two weeks later, when the ship finally arrived, Tian Yang boarded and began his journey back.

                  A little over a week into the trip, while he was cultivating, a sudden announcement shattered his focus. The voice was urgent, almost desperate.

                  "This is an emergency announcement! There is a Flying Leviathan heading in our direction! If there are any cultivators aboard who can deal with it, please save us!"

                  Tian Yang opened his eyes as panic erupted around him. The once-calm ship was now filled with the sounds of terrified passengers, their screams and frantic shouts echoing through the air.

                  "Seriously, what is with my luck?" Tian Yang sighed out loud.

                  Encountering a Leviathan was already rare enough, yet somehow, he had managed to come across two Flying Leviathans, something even rarer, back-to-back. The absurdity of it all almost made him laugh.

                  He stood up and left his room, making his way toward the deck. His steps were unhurried, his expression calm despite the chaos unfolding around him.

                  When he arrived at the deck, Tian Yang turned to look in the direction of the Flying Leviathan. Although the Flying Leviathan was still a few hundred miles away, Tian Yang wasted no time. Without hesitation, he activated Limitless Sword Domain.

                  A formless yet boundless pressure swept across the sky, and in the next instant, a single sword strike cut through the vast distance like a divine decree.

                  The Flying Leviathan never had the chance to react. Its colossal body froze mid-flight before splitting apart, its life extinguished without knowing what had transpired.
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                  Eternal Paragon
                  Eternal Paragon
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                  Chapter 1867 Searching for Ren Xia

                  After killing the Flying Leviathan, Tian Yang turned around and calmly made his way back to his room. He neither announced his deed nor lingered to witness the aftermath.

                  Meanwhile, the passengers remained in a state of panic, unaware the threat had already been taken care of. Unbothered by the ongoing commotion, Tian Yang simply resumed his cultivation, as if nothing had happened at all.

                  Eventually, the captain's voice echoed through the ship once more, laced with confusion.

                  "I don't know how to say this, but it appears the Flying Leviathan has disappeared. We are safe for now…"

                  The announcement did little to calm the passengers—if anything, it only deepened their bewilderment. A Flying Leviathan was not a creature that simply lost interest or abandoned its prey. Once it had set its sights on something, it pursued it relentlessly until either it or its target was destroyed.

                  Yet, against all logic, the threat had vanished without a trace.

                  The captain's puzzlement was shared by everyone aboard, but Tian Yang, still in his room, paid it no mind. Eventually, the ship reached land safely, and the moment it docked, the passengers wasted no time rushing to deboard. Their fear had not fully subsided—even with the captain's reassurance, none of them had truly felt safe until their feet touched solid ground once more.

                  Some murmured among themselves about the mysterious disappearance of the Flying Leviathan, while others simply counted their blessings and hurried away without looking back.

                  Meanwhile, Tian Yang stepped off the ship at his own pace, indifferent to the lingering tension in the air. His focus was already elsewhere, as his journey was far from over.

                  A few days later, Tian Yang entered an unassuming building.

                  "How can I help you?" A fully cloaked individual asked as he sat across from Tian Yang inside a dark room.

                  "I want to know where I can find Ren Xia from the Immortal Sword Clan," said Tian Yang. He had gone to an information broker to ask about Ren Xia's whereabouts.

                  "..."

                  The cloaked individual fell silent, and the atmosphere became awkward.

                  "If you're trying to harm the Young Lady of the Immortal Sword Clan, you can leave now. I won't give you such information even if you kill me since I will be a dead man the moment I assist you," said the cloaked individual.

                  Tian Yang showed the information broker the medallion Ren Xia had given him inside Han Zexian's Tomb and assured him, "I am not trying to hurt her."

                  However, the information broker wasn't buying it and said, "If your medallion is real and you really know Lady Ren, then what are you doing here talking to an information broker? You should be able to contact her by yourself."

                  "I've never been to the Immortal Sword Clan, and we're only acquaintances. We barely know each other, but she gave me this medallion after I helped her with something."

                  Tian Yang placed a thousand spirit stones on the table and said, "Let me change my question. Where can I find the Immortal Sword Clan?"

                  "Are you serious…?" Even without seeing his face, Tian Yang could tell that the information broker had a look of disbelief on his face right now.

                  "Does it look like I am joking?"

                  "..."

                  The information broker turned his gaze to the spirit stones on the table and swallowed nervously.

                  After a moment of silence, he spoke, "You can find the Immortal Sword Clan at the Sword Blossom City."

                  Since this was public information, the information broker didn't mind revealing it to Tian Yang. He only hoped that nothing would happen to Ren Xia in the near future.

                  Tian Yang didn't say anything else. Not even a thank you. He stood up and left the next moment.

                  A few months later, after using several Teleportation Arrays and traveling from city to city, Tian Yang finally arrived at Sword Blossom City—a place that lay on the opposite side of the world from where his journey had begun.

                  Once inside the city, it didn't take long for Tian Yang to locate the Immortal Sword Clan's residence. It was impossible to miss, as they occupied nearly half of the city.

                  After walking around for a while, Tian Yang finally approached one of the guards stationed at one of the many entrances to the Immortal Sword Clan's vast residence.

                  The guard, clad in traditional sword-engraved armor, stood with an imposing stance, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

                  "Excuse me, I am looking for Lady Ren," Tian Yang said.

                  "Why are you looking for the Young Lady? Who are you, and what is your relationship with her?" the guard asked.

                  It was common for young masters from around the world to show up at the Immortal Sword Clan's gates, all seeking an audience with Ren Xia in their relentless attempts to court her. So, the guard instinctively assumed Tian Yang was just another one of them.

                  Tian Yang retrieved Ren Xia's medallion and said, "I'm an acquaintance of Lady Ren, and I am here to discuss business with her. Unfortunately, this is the most I can share with you."

                  The guard instinctively straightened his back and fixed his demeanor after seeing the medallion.

                  "May I inspect the medallion, Esteemed Guest?"

                  "Go ahead."

                  Tian Yang handed the medallion to him. Although he trusted Ren Xia to a certain extent, he wouldn't be surprised if she had given him a fake medallion to mess with him.

                  However, a few moments later, the guard spoke, "I have confirmed the medallion's authenticity. That said, the Young Lady is currently not home. If you wish to meet her, you will have to wait for her to return, or you can go find her at the Celestial Sword Sect."

                  "If you decide to wait, I can notify the Young Lady of your arrival. However, I cannot guarantee you that she will return in a timely manner since she is a very busy individual."

                  "The Celestial Sword Sect, right? I will go to her. Thank you." Tian Yang gave a slight nod to the guard before turning around and disappearing into the crowd.
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                  Chapter 1868 Meeting Ren Xia Again

                  After Tian Yang left the Immortal Sword Clan's residence, the guard notified Ren Xia of the situation in advance through her communication jade slip.

                  "A business partner with my medallion, huh?" Ren Xia was puzzled after receiving this news.

                  Although she had business partners, she couldn't recall giving any of them her medallion. As a matter of fact, she hadn't given out a medallion for the last fifty years.

                  When Ren Xia asked for a description of the man, the guard described Tian Yang in his disguise. Naturally, Ren Xia didn't recognize this description and only found the situation more puzzling.

                  "A man with my medallion and claiming to be a business partner, huh? How interesting."

                  Thus, Ren Xia patiently waited for her mysterious business partner at the Celestial Sword Sect.

                  A few weeks later, Tian Yang arrived at the Celestial Sword Sect.

                  The Celestial Sword Sect was one of the top sects in the Divine Heavens during the Primordial Era, its prestige and influence rivaling even the Seven Divine Sword Peaks.

                  Like the Seven Divine Sword Peaks, the Celestial Sword Sect specialized in sword cultivation, but their philosophies differed greatly.

                  While the Seven Divine Sword Peaks emphasized raw power, overwhelming force, and unshakable might, the Celestial Sword Sect cultivated a style that was elegant, fluid, and swift—like a blade of light cutting through the heavens.

                  Their techniques were said to be as graceful as flowing water yet as deadly as a falling star, embodying both beauty and lethality in perfect harmony. This elegant and fluid swordsmanship naturally attracted more female sword cultivators.

                  Because of this, the majority of the Celestial Sword Sect's population was female, setting it apart from other top-ranking sects of the Divine Heavens. Though not exclusively a sect for women, it had long been recognized as a haven for female swordmasters, producing some of the most powerful and revered swordswomen in history.

                  Tian Yang approached their entrance, which was guarded by two female disciples.

                  "I am looking for Lady Ren Xia from the Immortal Sword Clan," Tian Yang showed the guards the medallion as he spoke.

                  Since the disciples couldn't determine whether the medallion was real or fake, they had no choice but to notify a sect elder for assistance.

                  Under normal circumstances, the guards would have allowed Tian Yang to enter the sect without much issue. However, this situation was different. Ren Xia was the young lady of the Immortal Sword Clan. Because of her exalted status, the Celestial Sword Sect treated her differently, enforcing stricter protocols and ensuring that only those who passed their scrutiny could approach her.

                  A sect elder arrived half an hour later and asked Tian Yang a few questions before leaving to contact Ren Xia.

                  "Lady Ren, there is someone who wishes to see you. He has your medallion and claims to be a business partner," the sect elder notified Ren Xia. "Should I bring him to you?"

                  "Yes, but bring him to the Seventh Celestial Peak. I'll be waiting for him at the Blossom Garden there," said Ren Xia.

                  "I understand. I'll bring him to you immediately."

                  Even sect elders had to act like servants before the presence of the Immortal Clans.

                  Sometime later, the sect elder led Tian Yang to the Blossom Garden in the Seventh Celestial Peak.

                  The Blossom Garden was a tranquil retreat where disciples went to relax and meditate.

                  Nestled atop a large hill, the garden was adorned with a variety of rare and exotic plants, their fragrances blending into the crisp mountain air.

                  At the very peak of the hill, a massive cherry blossom tree stood in full bloom, its delicate pink petals drifting gracefully with the wind, painting the landscape in soft, fleeting beauty.

                  Right beside the cherry blossom tree stood a small pavilion, its elegant structure blending seamlessly with the serene beauty of the garden.

                  Inside, a single table sat at the center, surrounded by jade chairs carved with intricate patterns that reflected the refined aesthetic of the Celestial Sword Sect.

                  However, what drew Tian Yang's attention the most was that one of the chairs was already occupied.

                  The figure seated there exuded an air of quiet authority, her presence effortlessly commanding the space around them.

                  It had been over fifty years since Tian Yang had last seen Ren Xia inside Han Zexian's Tomb.

                  Back then, she had already been a beauty, but she had matured into an even more breathtaking presence since then.

                  Her once youthful features had refined, exuding a quiet grace and confidence that only time and experience could forge. Her pink hair fluttered gently in the breeze, catching the soft light of the cherry blossoms, creating a mesmerizing contrast against the serene backdrop of the garden.

                  As she turned her gaze toward the sect elder, her expression remained calm yet commanding.

                  "Thank you."

                  Her voice was smooth and composed, carrying the elegance befitting someone of her status.

                  The sect elder gave a respectful nod, but she made no move to leave. Instead, she remained in place, her presence unwavering. It was clear she had no intention of stepping away.

                  Ren Xia, however, didn't object. She, too, was wary of Tian Yang's identity, and allowing the sect elder to stay only reinforced her caution.

                  Turning her gaze back to Tian Yang, her sharp eyes studied him from head to toe, a quiet scrutiny that carried both curiosity and suspicion.

                  Finally, she spoke, her voice composed, "I do not have the best memory, so I apologize if this may come across as rude, but—could you jog my memory with your name?"

                  There was no hostility in her tone, but neither was there warmth.

                  "I would like to speak in private," Tian Yang said as he placed her medallion on the table.

                  Ren Xia instantly confirmed that the medallion was real with a glance, but she still didn't realize Tian Yang's true identity.

                  "A name," she repeated in a firm tone.

                  Instead of answering with his name, Tian Yang simply spoke the name of a technique.

                  "Ethereal Blossom Sword Dance."

                  The moment those words left his lips, Ren Xia's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, and a particular individual appeared in her mind.

                  "Impossible…" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
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                  Chapter 1869 Meeting Ren Xia Again(2)

                  The moment the sect elder noticed Ren Xia's abnormal reaction, her instincts flared. Without hesitation, she moved swiftly to Ren Xia's side, her expression sharp with vigilance.

                  In a single motion, she drew her weapon, the cold gleam of her blade reflecting the gentle light of the cherry blossoms.

                  She leveled the tip of the sword directly at Tian Yang, her voice filled with suspicion and authority.

                  "Who are you?!"

                  Her stance was unwavering, her aura surging as she prepared for any possible threat.

                  Before Tian Yang could even react, Ren Xia swiftly intervened.

                  She reached out and pressed her hand firmly on the sect elder's, forcing the blade to lower.

                  "It's okay," she said, her voice calm but still shaky. "He's nobody suspicious. Can you give us some privacy?"

                  The sect elder's eyes flickered with hesitation. Ren Xia's reaction had been far from normal, and now she was suddenly vouching for this stranger?

                  After a brief moment of tension, the sect elder reluctantly sheathed her sword, though her sharp gaze remained locked onto Tian Yang.

                  "…As you wish, Lady Ren."

                  With that, she stepped away, though it was clear she wouldn't go far.

                  Now, only Tian Yang and Ren Xia remained beneath the cherry blossom tree.

                  Once Ren Xia had full control over her emotions again, she sat back down and spoke, "Is it really you?"

                  Tian Yang sat down and calmly responded, "Two weeks."

                  His answer to her question was the exact amount of time it took him to learn the technique.

                  "I see… So it really is you…"

                  Ren Xia's voice was soft. She exhaled slowly, as if releasing a weight she hadn't realized she was carrying.

                  "How long has it been since then? I thought you would never make it out of that place alive."

                  She had never expected to see him again after learning about his situation with the Immortal Clans, and yet… here he was.

                  However, Tian Yang ignored her question and went straight to the topic, "I didn't come here to reminisce. Kulas. What happened to him after I entered the mountain? Where is he now?"

                  Ren Xia's body trembled again after being reminded of someone she'd forced herself to forget.

                  "Sorry, but I do not know."

                  "Do you really expect me to believe that?" Tian Yang frowned.

                  "Why do you expect me to know?"

                  "Because you're his fiancee."

                  "Ex-fiancee. We broke our engagement at the tomb. Did you forget?"

                  "That doesn't mean anything, nor does it change the fact that your clans are close enough to engage the two of you. There's no way you wouldn't know about his situation."

                  Ren Xia let out a quiet sigh, her gaze drifting slightly as if recalling a distant memory.

                  "I truly don't know what happened to him," she said, her voice genuine, devoid of pretense. "All I know is that he was taken away by the Patriarchs of the other Immortal Clans. I haven't heard from or about him since then."

                  "And you never bothered to ask about him?" Tian Yang frowned.

                  "Why would I?" Ren Xia shrugged, her expression indifferent. "Besides our forced engagement, our relationship could barely be considered more than acquaintances. Even now, I couldn't care less about his situation."

                  Tian Yang didn't doubt Ren Xia's claims.

                  From the way she spoke, from the casual indifference in her tone—he could tell that she truly didn't care about Kulas.

                  Even if she were to learn that Kulas had died, Tian Yang had a feeling that she wouldn't grieve, nor would she feel any sorrow.

                  To her, he was nothing more than a name from the past, a person she had once been tied to by obligation rather than choice.

                  "But what is this?" Ren Xia suddenly said, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice. "We haven't seen each other in over half a century, and the first thing you talk about is another person—my ex-fiance, no less?"

                  She leaned slightly forward, her sharp gaze locking onto Tian Yang, her expression unreadable—profound, teasing, yet carrying an undertone of something more.

                  "Why don't you ask about me?" she continued, her tone light yet deliberate. "Like how I've been doing… or whether I've found another partner or not?"

                  "I'm not interested in your affairs," Tian Yang coldly responded.

                  However, this only made Ren Xia more aggressive.

                  "You know, I would occasionally think about you, even though I was confident you were dead or would be soon. I knew you were a special individual, but even I couldn't have anticipated how special you were. How did you escape the tomb? I know the Immortal Gu Clan has that place watched around the clock despite how long it's been."

                  Yet, Tian Yang didn't play into her game. His expression remained calm and unwavering as he replied,

                  "I'll tell you if you help me acquire information on Kulas."

                  Ren Xia blinked before a playful smirk appeared on her lips. Leaning back slightly, she crossed her arms in amusement.

                  "I don't want to~," she said in a teasing, sing-song tone, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

                  Even the coldest of men would have had their demeanor soften at the sight of Ren Xia acting so playfully. Her teasing tone, her mischievous smirk, and the way she carried herself with effortless charm could easily smite any man.

                  Yet, Tian Yang only frowned.

                  "If I recall correctly, you still owe me a favor for helping you acquire the Ethereal Blossom Sword Dance. I am here to claim that debt."

                  After being reminded of her debt to him, Ren Xia's playful demeanor vanished.

                  Her expression hardened, the amusement in her eyes fading as she straightened her back, exuding the cold, commanding presence that befitted her status.

                  She stared at him with an icy gaze, her voice devoid of the lighthearted tone she had moments ago.

                  "And what are you going to do if I refuse?" she challenged, her words sharp and deliberate.

                  "Since you don't want to have anything to do with me, I no longer have a reason to keep you around."

                  A pause.

                  Then, her next words carried a thinly veiled threat.

                  "Hell, I might even capture you right now and gift you to the Immortal Gu Clan as a present."

                  Tian Yang didn't immediately respond, but the atmosphere around them had changed drastically.
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                  Chapter 1870 Meeting Ren Xia Again(3)

                  When the sect elder sensed the tense atmosphere between Tian Yang and Ren Xia from afar, she thought about approaching them but hesitated.

                  Just as the sect elder took a step forward, Tian Yang suddenly released a chuckle.

                  His voice was calm, yet there was an undeniable confidence in his tone.

                  "You'll capture me and gift me to the Immortal Gu Clan? Sorry, but I don't think you're qualified to do such a thing."

                  Ren Xia frowned, and her eyes narrowed.

                  "What did you just say? I'm not qualified?" she repeated, her tone turning sharp. "Who do you think you are?"

                  "You were just a peak Spirit King fifty years ago," she stated. "I don't know what happened inside the mountain, but I highly doubt you've managed to surpass me in cultivation in such a short time."

                  Ren Xia's cultivation had already reached the peak of Divine Lord when she first met Tian Yang inside Han Zexian's Tomb.

                  Now, after fifty years, she had ascended even further, reaching the sixth level of Divine King.

                  Her growth was nothing short of astounding. In just half a century, she had achieved what would take most cultivators centuries to accomplish.

                  Within her generation, she was virtually unparalleled. Only the top geniuses from the other Immortal Clans could rival her, and even among them, few could claim to be superior.

                  As for Tian Yang, his cultivation was only at the Spirit King, not even close to stepping into the Divine Realm. Compared to Ren Xia, the gap between them should have been insurmountable.

                  Moreover, unlike her, Tian Yang had no access to vast resources or powerful cultivation techniques provided by a prestigious clan. Most importantly, he lacked the talents, which might as well be nonexistent compared to Ren Xia.

                  By all logic and reason, there was simply no way for Tian Yang to surpass her. At least… that's what Ren Xia truly believed.

                  Hearing her words, Tian Yang smiled and said, "You're only at the sixth level of Divine King. I can kill you with a single flick to the head with my current strength."

                  Ren Xia's eyes widened slightly, her initial shock quickly replaced by disbelief.

                  "You're bluffing!" she snapped, refusing to accept his claim.

                  Yet, despite her immediate rejection, a sliver of doubt crept into her mind. For Tian Yang to instantly perceive her exact cultivation level, it could only mean two things. Either he had already reached close to her level, or he had surpassed it.

                  "I would reveal my cultivation to prove myself, but I don't want to cause a scene. However, if you're serious about your threat, go ahead and try capturing me. I didn't escape Han Zexian's Tomb by chance."

                  Ren Xia clenched her fists under the table and asked, "And what are you going to do to me? Kill me?"

                  "If I have to," Tian Yang instantly responded without an ounce of hesitation in his voice.

                  "My family will avenge my death even if it's the last thing they do."

                  "I am already being hunted by several Immortal Clans. Having another one on that list won't make much difference. I will destroy them all eventually."

                  Tian Yang's bold words would have enraged anyone from the Immortal Clans, especially someone of Ren Xia's status. To claim he would destroy not one but multiple Immortal Clans—it was nothing short of madness.

                  And yet…

                  Ren Xia couldn't help but smile.

                  A smirk tugged at her lips as she shook her head, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes.

                  "You're really one crazy son of a bitch—" she said, her tone half-mocking, half-admiring. "But that's exactly what I like about you."

                  Tian Yang's level of madness and defiance was exceedingly rare, and for someone like Ren Xia, who was attracted to such personalities, it was an irresistible charm.

                  "Alright," she released a defeated sigh. "I'll try to find out what happened to Kulas, but don't expect much."

                  "Thank you." Tian Yang nodded.

                  "Do you have a communication jade slip for me to contact you when I have the information?" Ren Xia then asked.

                  "No, I don't."

                  "Then here is mine."

                  Ren Xia tossed a jade slip at him, and it was not just any ordinary communication jade slip but one she would only use for emergency contact.

                  "I'll contact you when I have the information on Kulas. Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee you any time frames on when it'll be available."

                  "I can wait," Tian Yang said.

                  Ren Xia stood up and began approaching him.

                  "So, what are you going to do now? Do you have a place to stay? My house is pretty spacious, you know?"

                  Tian Yang raised an eyebrow at Ren Xia's ridiculous offer, his expression clear with disbelief.

                  "Are you seriously asking someone who's being hunted by the Immortal Clans to stay with you?" he asked. "I even threatened you not long ago. You're just asking for trouble now."

                  "You're worried about me? Maybe I do have a chance, after all." Ren Xia chuckled.

                  "Sorry, but that's not possible."

                  "Why do you say that? Do you already have a partner? You don't give such vibes." Ren Xia looked genuinely surprised.

                  "I did, but she's no longer in this world," Tian Yang admitted.

                  "Is that so? You have my condolences."

                  "I'm leaving now."

                  Just as Tian Yang prepared to leave, Ren Xia suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

                  Caught off guard, he instinctively turned his head. "What are you—"

                  Before he could finish, Ren Xia's face was already close to his. And then she swiftly leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against his cheek.

                  The unexpected gesture left a fleeting warmth on Tian Yang's skin. For a moment, there was silence.

                  As Tian Yang opened his mouth, Ren Xia smiled and said, "I'll see you later."

                  And before he could respond, she turned around and flew away, her figure vanishing in an instant, moving so fast that it almost seemed like she was fleeing the scene.

                  The sect elder, who had just witnessed the shocking scene unfold before her eyes, could only stand there, completely dumbfounded.

                  'T-they were lovers?!' she cried inwardly, struggling to process what she had just seen. 'That explains their awkward atmosphere!'
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                  Chapter 1871 Information on Kulas

                  Tian Yang stood there, completely dazed, even long after Ren Xia had left. Eventually, almost absentmindedly, he lifted his hand and touched the spot where Ren Xia had kissed him.

                  The warmth was still there.

                  However, Huang Xiao Li's smiling face suddenly appeared in his mind, instantly snapping him out of his daze.

                  'Kulas was right. She's a dangerous and unpredictable woman. I need to be especially careful when around her…' Tian Yang thought to himself as he left the Celestial Sword Sect.

                  After leaving the Celestial Sword Sect, Tian Yang traveled deep into the wilderness, searching for a secluded area away from prying eyes.

                  Once he found a desolate, untouched area, he finally set his focus on something he had long neglected—his martial techniques.

                  Although his cultivation base had grown significantly over the past fifty years, his martial techniques remained stagnant.

                  During his time in Han Zexian's cavern, his mind had been entirely consumed by the diary and the engravings on the walls, leaving little to no time for him to practice his martial techniques.

                  While Tian Yang trained, Ren Xia tried to acquire information on Kulas. The first person she went to for such information was naturally her own family.

                  Coincidentally, Ren Xia's mother paid her a visit at the Celestial Sword Sect just a few weeks after her meeting with Tian Yang.

                  Seated within her courtyard, surrounded by the gentle rustling of flowers, Ren Xia and her mother enjoyed their tea in peaceful harmony.

                  Their conversation was light and pleasant at first, with her mother inquiring about her time at the sect, her progress in cultivation, and any challenges she had faced.

                  Ren Xia responded with ease, sharing details of her breakthroughs and training progress.

                  However, as the conversation continued, Ren Xia eventually brought up Kulas, a name she hadn't mentioned to her family for decades.

                  "Mother, this may sound random, but have you heard from or about Kulas recently?"

                  The moment Ren Xia spoke his name, her mother, who had just lifted her teacup to her lips, suddenly trembled.

                  A faint ripple disturbed the surface of the tea as her fingers momentarily stiffened around the delicate porcelain.

                  For a brief second, an unreadable expression flashed across her usually composed face—one that Ren Xia had never seen before.

                  Then, slowly, she lowered the cup, placing it carefully back onto the table.

                  "Did something happen? You haven't mentioned him ever since your engagement was broken."

                  Ren Xia kept a calm demeanor and responded, "A friend mentioned him not long ago, and I realized that I haven't heard a word about him for over fifty years now. I don't care about his situation, but it does intrigue me how quiet he's been. Don't tell me he died?"

                  Her mother didn't immediately respond. Instead, a heavy silence settled between them, the only sound being the soft rustling of flowers in the gentle breeze.

                  Then, after what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.

                  "Sorry, but I also haven't heard from him or the Immortal Might Clan recently."

                  Her voice was calm, steady—too steady.

                  "After your engagement was broken, our relationship with the Immortal Might Clan hasn't been the same. It might take some time before things return to normal."

                  On the surface, her words were logical and reasonable.

                  But Ren Xia knew better.

                  She had spent a lifetime reading the subtle nuances in her mother's expressions and tone.

                  And right now… her mother was lying. She wasn't just withholding information—she was deliberately hiding something from her.

                  "Is that so?" Ren Xia kept her cool and responded nonchalantly. "By the way, I wouldn't mind completely severing ties with the Immortal Might Clan."

                  Her mother shook her head and said, "You know that's not possible."

                  "I know."

                  As their meeting neared its end, Ren Xia's mother set down her teacup and spoke with deliberate intent.

                  "Before I leave, I need an answer for you-know-what."

                  Ren Xia's expression remained composed, her response almost instantaneous.

                  "If you're talking about who my next fiance will be, I am still considering my options."

                  Her voice was calm, unaffected—as if she had expected this conversation from the very beginning. Despite how last-minute the question might have seemed, Ren Xia knew this was the true reason for her mother's visit.

                  "Your father and I both know you're trying to delay it as long as possible, but you really need to make up your mind soon, as it'll greatly our clan. We love you, but our patience has a limit, and it's running thin."

                  "Of course, mother." Ren Xia managed to keep a calm demeanor until the very end.

                  Once her mother left, Ren Xia's calm expression turned grim.

                  "Love me? What a joke. I am nothing but an object with a price in their eyes," she coldly sneered.

                  After failing to acquire any information on Kulas from her family, Ren Xia changed her methods, using more unorthodox methods.

                  A few years later, in the midst of his training, Tian Yang noticed the communication jade slip Ren Xia had given him was trembling.

                  He quickly answered it.

                  "Hello?"

                  "I have the information you want."

                  Ren Xia's voice resounded from the jade slip, her tone calm but carrying an undertone that Tian Yang couldn't quite place.

                  "Great. I'll come to meet you at the Celestial Sword Sect," Tian Yang responded immediately.

                  However, Ren Xia quickly rejected the idea.

                  "No, let's meet somewhere else. I'll give you the location in a few days."

                  The moment she said that, Tian Yang's expression darkened slightly, and a bad feeling settled in his gut.

                  "Okay..."

                  And with that, their conversation ended.

                  For the next several days, Tian Yang waited anxiously for Ren Xia to reach out again.

                  A week later, Ren Xia finally reached out with the location.

                  "I'll be there in three days," Tian Yang replied.

                  "Okay."

                  Without hesitation, Tian Yang set out toward the destination.

                  Three days later, he arrived as promised, stepping into a private room at a quiet restaurant where Ren Xia was already present. Yet, the setting was anything but ordinary—there was no food on the table, and Ren Xia was in disguise.
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                  Chapter 1872 Kulas' Situation

                  "Are you...?" Tian Yang hesitated, his gaze fixed on the woman before him. He was almost certain it was Ren Xia, but a sliver of doubt remained. Was it truly her, or merely someone sent in her place to deliver her words? He needed to be sure.

                  "It's me," Ren Xia said as she removed her disguise.

                  "I don't like this at all," Tian Yang said with a frown. However, his unease wasn't directed at Ren Xia but the room itself. The air felt heavy, the atmosphere unpleasant and oppressive.

                  "Please, sit down." Ren Xia gestured at the seat across from her.

                  Once Tian Yang was seated, Ren Xia began, "Before I talk about Kulas, there's something you should know."

                  Tian Yang didn't say anything and allowed her to continue.

                  "Shortly after you clashed with the Immortal Clans outside the mountain," Ren Xia revealed, her voice calm but laced with underlying tension, "Patriarch Gu of the Immortal Gu Clan, the Sect Leader of the Seven Divine Sword Peaks, and two other prominent figures from the Immortal Clans confronted me. They wanted to know about my connection to you after learning that I'd traveled with you for some time."

                  "Although I told them we only met through Kulas and that I barely knew you, they refused to believe me," Ren Xia continued. "They accused me of conspiring against the Immortal Clans alongside Kulas and you."

                  A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

                  "Conspiring against the Immortal Clans? That's a stretch," Tian Yang raised an eyebrow.

                  "You not only killed Patriarch Gu's son but also acquired Han Zexian's legacy, not to mention the Limitless Sword Domain as well as other techniques. That's right; they also know that you'd acquired several techniques inside Han Zexian's Tomb."

                  "Everything you've done seems directed at the Immortal Clans, so I am not surprised they think you are conspiring against them."

                  "So, nothing happened to you, right?" Tian Yang asked.

                  "I wouldn't be here if that were the case. Thanks for worrying about me, though," she smiled.

                  "Now, tell me about Kulas," he said.

                  "I'll be honest. I don't have much information on Kulas, and what information I managed to gather had cost me a fortune," she said.

                  "Get straight to the point…"

                  Ren Xia stared at him for a long moment, her gaze unreadable. Then, with a quiet sigh, she finally revealed, "According to the information I obtained, Kulas was taken away by the Immortal Gu Clan after you entered that mountain. Since then, he hasn't been seen or heard from by anyone—including his own family."

                  Tian Yang's expression darkened, but he remained silent as she continued.

                  "This information wasn't difficult to find, but as you know, it still took me several years to contact you. Anyway, the Immortal Might Clan began pouring their resources into another heir shortly after Kulas' disappearance. That only happens when the previous one is either dead… or no longer qualified."

                  The weight of her words settled over the room, the unspoken implications pressing down like a suffocating force on Tian Yang.

                  "Are you saying that Kulas is dead?!" Tian Yang roared, his voice shaking the room as his expression twisted with anger. His hands clenched into fists, veins bulging beneath his skin. The very idea was unbearable. Kulas—gone? Just like that?

                  Ren Xia met his gaze steadily, unfazed by his outburst. "I'm saying that, to the Immortal Might Clan, he might as well be. Also, let me finish."

                  After taking a deep breath, Ren Xia continued, "Kulas isn't dead, but he's currently imprisoned in the Immortal Confinement Dungeon."

                  "Immortal Confinement Dungeon? Never heard of it," Tian Yang frowned at this unfamiliar yet ominous name.

                  "I'm not surprised. It's a secret prison shared by the Nine Immortal Clans," she explained, her tone grave. "A place reserved for those who have committed unforgivable offenses against them. Once someone is sent there, they are never seen again. Even within the Immortal Clans, only trusted members are aware of its existence."

                  Tian Yang fell silent, deep in thought. A moment later, he asked, "Where is the Immortal Confinement Dungeon?"

                  Ren Xia's eyebrows shot up. "Don't tell me you're planning to break Kulas out of that place?"

                  Tian Yang scoffed. "Of course. Why else would I be asking? To bring him lunch?"

                  Ren Xia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Of all the responses she had expected, sarcasm wasn't one of them. For a moment, she could only stare at him in a daze, unsure whether to be exasperated or impressed.

                  Eventually, she snapped out of her daze and said, "Sorry, but I don't know. I told you that only trusted members of the Immortal Clans know about its existence, right? Well, even few people know its location."

                  "Aren't you the young lady of the Immortal Sword Clan? Your status should be pretty high up there."

                  "Of course it is, but that doesn't mean I know everything that happens within the Immortal Clans. Moreover, I am just a—"

                  Ren Xia suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her expression flickering with bitterness, though it vanished almost instantly.

                  She took a breath before continuing, her tone firmer. "Anyway, I cannot help you with this. If I dig any deeper, they'll start noticing, especially when it comes to information on the Immortal Confinement Dungeon. Hell, I probably don't even have the funds to continue, as I am already near bankrupt from this favor."

                  "Is that so…" Tian Yang murmured, his voice devoid of emotion as he fell into silence once more.

                  Ren Xia watched him carefully, her eyes studying his expression. Finally, unable to hold back her curiosity, she asked, "So, what are you going to do now?"

                  "My goal hasn't changed in the slightest. If Kulas is imprisoned within the Immortal Confinement Dungeon, I will get him out of there," he declared.

                  "And how in heaven's name are you going to do that? You don't even know its location."

                  "There are many ways to find out."

                  "Don't tell me you're going to kidnap someone from the Immortal Clans?" Ren Xia said in a somewhat joking tone.

                  Tian Yang glanced at her, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

                  "That doesn't sound like a bad idea."
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                  Chapter 1873 Attacking the Nine Immortal Clans

                  "You can't be serious!" Ren Xia exclaimed, eyes widening in shock at Tian Yang's response.

                  Tian Yang simply looked at her, unfazed.

                  Ren Xia pressed on, "Even if you're actually considering kidnapping someone, they'd have to be of high enough status to know the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon. Only elders of the Immortal Clans have access to that information!"

                  "How strong are the elders of the Immortal Clans?" Tian Yang then asked.

                  "Most of them are within the Immortal Ascension realm, but a few have already stepped into the realm of Bronze Immortals. They are not individuals you can simply kidnap and threaten," Ren Xia said, shaking her head at the absurdity of Tian Yang's plan.

                  "If they're only at the Immortal Ascension realm, then it's doable."

                  Ren Xia stared at him, utterly speechless.

                  Immortal Ascension cultivators weren't just powerful—they were on the cusp of true immortality, standing at the peak of the mortal world. Even among the Immortal Clans, they were revered as near-invincible figures. The idea of kidnapping one was nothing short of madness.

                  "You… Unbelievable..." she finally said, barely able to form the words.

                  But Tian Yang's expression remained calm, composed—as if he had just stated the most ordinary thing in the world.

                  Then, in the next moment, Tian Yang let a sliver of his cultivation leak out. The air around him trembled, and an invisible force pressed down on the room like the weight of a mountain.

                  Ren Xia's breath was caught in her throat. Her instincts screamed at her, her very soul recognizing the overwhelming presence before her.

                  "I-Immortal Ascension?! Impossible!" she gasped, stumbling back as she shot to her feet.

                  Her mind reeled. How could this be? Reaching the Immortal Ascension realm was a feat that required many millennia of effort, even for the most gifted cultivators. Yet Tian Yang, who had once been beneath her in cultivation, now stood at such a level.

                  "So, do you still think I won't be able to kidnap one?" Tian Yang said a moment later.

                  As the realization sank in, a chill ran down Ren Xia's spine. If Tian Yang was already at this level, then perhaps kidnapping an elder wasn't just reckless madness.

                  "D-Did you really acquire Han Zexian's legacy?" Ren Xia asked, her voice unsteady as she swallowed hard. It was the only logical explanation for his unfathomable progress.

                  Han Zexian—an existence shrouded in mystery, a legend whose legacy was said to contain insights and power that defied the heavens themselves. If Tian Yang had truly obtained it, then his meteoric rise in cultivation suddenly made sense.

                  Tian Yang stared at her for a long moment, as if weighing the decision of whether to tell her the truth.

                  Finally, he spoke. "No, Han Zexian's legacy wasn't inside that mountain."

                  "What? Then what was inside that mountain? And how did you reach the Immortal Ascension realm in just fifty years? You were only at the peak of Spirit King back then!"

                  "I cultivated… normally."

                  "Do you really expect me to believe that?"

                  Tian Yang shrugged.

                  "Anyway, thanks for the information. I'll be taking my leave now," Tian Yang said as he turned toward the door. Now that he had what he came for, there was no reason to linger.

                  "Wait," Ren Xia suddenly stopped him.

                  "What?"

                  "Can I take a look at you before you leave? The real you."

                  "Why?" Tian Yang raised an eyebrow.

                  "It's not fair that only you get to see me without my disguise," she said.

                  "..."

                  After a moment of silence, Tian Yang removed his disguise, revealing his handsome and mature appearance. He stood tall, his posture exuding quiet confidence. His sharp, well-defined features carried a mature elegance, his long hair neatly tied behind him. An otherworldly aura subtly radiated from him—ethereal and commanding. It wasn't something Ren Xia could clearly define, but she could feel it pressing against her senses, vast and unfathomable.

                  Tian Yang only revealed his true appearance for a few fleeting seconds before consuming another appearance-altering pill. His features shifted once more, concealing his identity beneath a new disguise.

                  "I doubt we'll see each other again, but until next time," he said casually. Without another glance, he stepped out of the room and disappeared.

                  Ren Xia, however, remained seated, unmoving. Even long after Tian Yang had left, she could still feel the remnants of his presence lingering in the air. Her face, inexplicably, was flushed with redness.

                  She exhaled slowly, pressing a hand against her chest, as if trying to steady something within her.

                  "This feeling…" she muttered under her breath.

                  She had never experienced anything like it before, yet somehow, she instantly knew what it was, and it was a feeling she never thought she would have.

                  Ren Xia exhaled sharply, shaking her head as if trying to dispel the thought. Sometime later, she disguised herself and left.

                  Over the next few months, Ren Xia found her thoughts drifting to Tian Yang more often than she cared to admit. No matter how much she tried to focus on her own affairs, his figure would surface in her mind.

                  She also wondered when he would act and kidnap someone from the Immortal Clans.

                  Though nothing had happened on the surface, a subtle shift in the air told her that something was happening behind the scenes.

                  As someone born and raised within the Nine Immortal Clans, Ren Xia could sense it. The way the atmosphere within the Nine Immortal Clans had changed, and the way their movements had grown more cautious and alert. It was as if something had stirred them awake, almost like beasts sensing an unseen predator lurking in the shadows.

                  Eventually, the whispers could no longer be suppressed. The truth surfaced like cracks in a fragile dam, and Ren Xia, as well as the public, finally learned what had been unfolding in the shadows.

                  Members of the Nine Immortal Clans were ruthlessly being slain, with most of the victims belonging to the Immortal Gu Clan.

                  While the public remained puzzled as to why the Immortal Clans were being targeted—and utterly shocked that someone would dare challenge them—the Immortal Clans themselves had little doubt about who was behind the killings.

                  "It's him! That bastard has finally decided to reveal himself after hiding like a rat for years!" Patriarch Gu roared, his voice trembling with a mix of rage and excitement.

                  "I have been waiting for this moment!"
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                  Chapter 1874 Attacking the Nine Immortal Clans(2)

                  Shortly after it became clear that the members of the Nine Immortal Clans were being targeted and murdered, the head of each family gathered to discuss it. The last time the Nine Immortal Clans gathered in one place was before the opening of Han Zexian's Tomb.

                  "It appears that someone is targeting the Nine Immortal Clans. Does anyone here have any idea who it might be?" The Immortal Sword Clan's Patriarch started the conversation with a grim expression.

                  The others in the room didn't say anything and turned to look at Patriarch Gu instead, as most of the victims belonged to his Immortal Gu Clan.

                  Noticing their gazes, Patriarch Gu calmly responded, "Yes, I know who this individual is. As a matter of fact, you guys do, too."

                  "What? Who?"

                  The others couldn't think of anyone.

                  A cold smile appeared on Patriarch Gu's face as he continued, "That bastard who went inside Han Zexian's legacy!"

                  "What?! He came out?!" A few of the people inside the room stood up from shock.

                  "When did something like that happen?"

                  "A few years ago," Patriarch Gu calmly revealed.

                  When the others heard this, they quickly frowned.

                  "What the hell? So you've been keeping this to yourself for several years now? Were you trying to capture him and acquire Han Zexian's legacy for yourself?" The Patriarch of the Immortal Spring Clan said.

                  Patriarch Gu shook his head and said, "While it has been several years, he went into hiding the moment he escaped. I was going to notify you once I find any information about him—hence why I summoned everyone the moment he started attacking."

                  After a brief pause, he continued, "Also, while it would be nice to acquire Han Zexian's legacy, my focus is still revenge."

                  "..."

                  Although the others were still suspicious of his intentions, they decided to let him go for the time being to focus on Tian Yang.

                  "So, do you know anything about his goal? Or is he just randomly attacking our members?" asked the Patriarch of the Immortal Yu Clan.

                  "I am not certain of his goals, but if we consider what he said before entering Han Zexian's legacy, it's likely that he's just attacking us for revenge."

                  Tian Yang's voice suddenly resounded in their heads. Although it had been over fifty years, they could still remember Tian Yang's every word vividly, as he was the only one who would dare to threaten them so openly.

                  "He was only at the peak of Spirit King fifty years ago. Even if he'd spent every second cultivating, he shouldn't be above Divine Grandmaster, and I am already considering the possibility that he acquired Han Zexian's legacy," said Patriarch Gu.

                  "How should we deal with him?" someone asked.

                  The room fell silent.

                  Nobody in the room truly knew how to deal with Tian Yang.

                  The situation was unprecedented. The Immortal Clans had faced rebellions and even wars among themselves before, but never had a single individual dared to attack them so blatantly.

                  Moreover, as the Nine Immortal Clans, they could not afford to act recklessly. They had their reputation and their dignity to uphold. If they reacted too aggressively or defensively, it would only prove that one man could threaten their authority—an embarrassment they could not allow.

                  "For now, we can only warn our members to stay alert. Each family should also send out a few disguised experts. With any luck, we'll catch him off guard," said the patriarch of the Immortal Spirit Clan.

                  It was a simple but practical plan. If Tian Yang kept attacking the Immortal Clans at random, there was a good chance he'd run into one of the disguised experts—someone ready to take him down.

                  No one objected.

                  The meeting concluded swiftly, and the Immortal Clans wasted no time putting their plan into action.

                  Before long, the members of the Nine Immortal Clans found themselves constantly glancing over their shoulders, wary of Tian Yang's presence. Every trip outside became a risk, and every shadow was a potential threat.

                  Yet, the killings did not cease.

                  Day after day, members of the Nine Immortal Clans fell, including the disguised experts, their lives snuffed out without warning. Despite their precautions and vigilance, the death toll only grew, rising with each passing week.

                  The once-proud and arrogant members of the Nine Immortal Clans now hesitated to even step outside their homes without guards. Their confidence, once unshakable, had crumbled under the weight of fear. Eventually, the Nine Immortal Clans had no choice but to admit they had seriously underestimated Tian Yang. What they once dismissed as the arrogance of an inexperienced cultivator had become a nightmare they could no longer ignore.

                  "We cannot allow this madness to persist any longer! Each time he slaughters one of our own and walks away unscathed, it is not just a slap to our faces—it is a humiliation carved into the very foundation of our legacy!" the Patriarch of the Immortal Sword Clan thundered, his voice laced with fury as the Nine Immortal Clans convened for the second time, a full month after their first gathering.

                  "I agree. We should stop holding back and unleash our full might upon him. Though we will definitely lose face for using such force against a single individual, it is far preferable to being perceived as useless and vulnerable in the others' eyes," said the Patriarch of the Immortal Soul Clan, his tone laced with cold resolve.

                  "Let's take a vote."

                  After a quick vote, it was decided that the Nine Immortal Clans would stop being so reserved to go after Tian Yang with full force.

                  When Ren Xia learned of this, she sighed inwardly, 'What are you doing, Tian Yang? Weren't you planning to abduct an elder for the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon? Have you given up on recusing Kulas?'

                  She couldn't comprehend why Tian Yang was drawing so much attention to himself when such acts would only make it more difficult for him to recuse Kulas.
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                  Chapter 1875 A Potential Trap

                  "Have you heard? Some madman has been waging war against the Nine Immortal Clans. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of grudge he must hold to go this far," Elder Jing remarked, her tone laced with curiosity and disbelief as she addressed the stunning woman before her within the Immortal Monastery.

                  "With everyone and their mother talking about it, it'd be a miracle not to know by now," Elder Sun replied in a tone of utter disinterest, as if the chaos shaking the Nine Immortal Clans was nothing more than idle gossip unworthy of her concern.

                  Elder Jing fell silent, her gaze lingering on Elder Sun's face—once radiant, now clouded with an unspoken gloom. The reason behind her unhappiness was evident, yet Elder Jing dared not voice it, fearing that even the slightest mention might deepen the shadows in her companion's heart.

                  Meanwhile, Ren Xia found herself back at the Immortal Sword Clan after being called back by her parents.

                  Inside a quiet room, facing her parents, Ren Xia spoke, "If you're worried about my safety, I would have been far safer at the Celestial Sword Sect than here."

                  However, her father merely sneered, as if he found her concern amusing. "That madman may be attacking the Nine Immortal Clans, but most of his victims belong to the Immortal Gu Clan. Our Immortal Sword Clan has yet to suffer any casualties, which means there's a good chance we're not his target."

                  Ren Xia's eyes widened in surprise.

                  "What? We haven't been attacked?"

                  When she had chosen to help Tian Yang, she did so fully aware that it would bring harm to her own family—something she had already come to terms with.

                  Patriarch Ren shook his head and said, "To begin with, this whole thing started with Gu Lim. Our Immortal Sword Clan has done nothing to offend him."

                  "That's…"

                  Although Ren Xia didn't fully understand the depth or reason behind Tian Yang's hatred for the Nine Immortal Clans, she had a feeling it stemmed from more than just Gu Lim. Even so, she chose to stay silent, knowing some things were better left unsaid.

                  "Even if that madman attacked us, I'm confident you're strong enough to handle it alone," her mother added.

                  After a brief pause, her father continued, "Anyway, the real reason we called you back today is to see whether you have come to a decision regarding your next partner."

                  "It hasn't been that long since you last asked me…" Ren Xia said.

                  "No, but a lot has happened, and we can no longer wait for you. If you don't have a decision by the time you leave this room, we will make the decision for you."

                  Ren Xia clenched her fists in frustration. Despite her brilliance and countless achievements, she knew that none of it would ever be enough to free her from the fate of being a mere pawn in a political marriage.

                  After a moment of silence, she said, "Do as you wish. Now that I think about it, it doesn't matter who I marry since I won't have feelings for any of them."

                  "Then we will do just that," her father responded with no hesitation in his voice.

                  Her mother merely shook her head in silence.

                  "If this is all, I would like to return to my cultivation," Ren Xia said a moment later.

                  "You may leave, but do not return to the Celestial Sword Sect and stay home for now. I plan on inviting your future partner for dinner next week, after all."

                  "I understand."

                  Ren Xia returned to her room shortly after and lay on her bed, her gaze empty as she stared at the ceiling in silence. After a while, she reached for a jade slip and held it above her, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion—contemplation, longing, or perhaps an unspoken resolve.

                  She brought the jade slip to her lips and began mumbling, "It's me. Let's meet at the same place we last met in five days. I know you probably don't need my help, but I have a way to ensure you'll receive the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon with minimal risk. Don't worry, this isn't a trap—I swear on my Soul."

                  A few moments after Ren Xia lowered her arm, Tian Yang received her message. He held the jade slip in his hand with a pondering expression as he mulled over its contents.

                  Though he trusted Ren Xia to some extent, he didn't fully trust her. The timing was too convenient, not to mention that the Nine Immortal Clans had just declared war on him.

                  There was a real possibility that Ren Xia was trying to lure him into a trap. Yet, Tian Yang couldn't bring himself to dismiss her message outright—mostly because of the tone of her voice.

                  She hadn't sounded coerced, nor did she carry her usual composure. Instead, there was something else in her voice… something unguarded, almost fragile. It wasn't desperation, but a quiet distress, as if she were struggling with something she couldn't put into words.

                  Five days later, Ren Xia arrived at the designated meeting place.

                  "He'll come… right?" she murmured under her breath, uncertainty in her voice. Yet, even if Tian Yang chose not to appear, she wouldn't blame him. Given the circumstances, his wariness was justified. A few hours later, the door to her room suddenly creaked open.

                  Ren Xia's body tensed as she instinctively turned toward the entrance, only to find an unfamiliar middle-aged man standing in the doorway. Yet, instead of confusion, a wave of relief washed over her.

                  "You sure know how to make a lady wait," Ren Xia said, swiftly regaining her composure. Her voice carried its usual teasing lilt, as if she hadn't spent hours anxiously anticipating this moment.

                  "I had to make sure I wasn't going to be ambushed," Tian Yang said as he sat before her.

                  "Do you think so little of me? I already swore on my soul that it wasn't a trap," Ren Xia sighed.

                  "You can never be too careful," he said before continuing after a slight pause. "So, how are you going to help me?"
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                  Chapter 1876 Ren Xia's Demands

                  "So, how are you going to help me?" Tian Yang asked.

                  However, Ren Xia merely shook her head and said, "Slow down. You just arrived. We have plenty of time to talk."

                  Tian Yang frowned and responded coldly, "Plenty of time? Kulas is still imprisoned within the Immortal Confinement Dungeon! We don't know how much time he still has!"

                  Ren Xia remained calm as she said, "He's managed to survive over fifty years inside that place. A few more minutes of delay won't kill him. Moreover, if you were in such a rush, why did you spend the last month taunting the Nine Immortal Clans instead of helping Kulas?"

                  She narrowed her eyes at him and continued, "What happened to your initial plan of kidnapping an elder? Now the Nine Immortal Clan is not only aware of your existence, but they're actively looking for you."

                  Tian Yang clenched his fists and said, "In order to kidnap an elder, I would need to know their identity and location first! For the past month, I have been gathering information on the Nine Immortal Clans while relieving my anger on them at the same time. As much as I wanted to remain lowkey until I rescued Kulas, it's not possible."

                  Unlike other families, the identities of those in the higher ranks within the Nine Immortal Clans remain shrouded in secrecy, hidden from the public eye.

                  "It would've been a lot easier if you'd told me where I could find an elder during our last meeting," Tian Yang sighed.

                  "I would have told you if I knew," Ren Xia said, shaking her head. "But even I am not privy to the identities of the elders from the other families. Just as they keep their existence hidden from the public, they conceal it from one another as well."

                  "What? How does that make any sense?" Tian Yang frowned, clearly unconvinced.

                  Ren Xia let out a soft sigh. "What do you even know about the Nine Immortal Clans? While we may appear friendly and cooperative to the outside world, the truth is far from it. The clans are constantly scheming against one another, each seeking an advantage. The elders, in particular, safeguard their family's most sensitive secrets, which is why their identities remain hidden—even from each other."

                  She continued, "That said, we're not all enemies, nor are we openly at war with each other. There are moments of cooperation and times of peace, fragile as they may be. For example, my Immortal Sword Clan and the Immortal Might Clan once shared an alliance of sorts, and my engagement with Kulas was merely a means to strengthen that bond."

                  "I see… Then, does your help include giving me the identity of an elder?" Tian Yang asked.

                  Ren Xia smiled and said, "While there's a good chance the elders know of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location, they aren't the only ones."

                  "Who else?" Tian Yang swallowed nervously.

                  "The family heads, of course!"

                  Tian Yang immediately rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Can you stop messing with me? While I know the identity of the family heads, it'd be suicidal to go after them when they're all Silver Immortals. I may be reckless, but I am not crazy."

                  Ren Xia looked at him with a doubtful gaze and said, "I wouldn't speak so confidently about that… You're plenty crazy in my eyes, not to mention the rest of the world."

                  "Anyway, I am not finished. I can not only guarantee you the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location but that you'll also be able to enter and leave with Kulas without any interference."

                  Despite Ren Xia's confident tone, Tian Yang struggled to see how he could possibly accomplish such a feat. He was nowhere near strong enough to contend with the Patriarchs, let alone abduct one. Even if, by some miracle, he managed to threaten one of them, the Nine Immortal Clans would be waiting in ambush for him at the Immortal Confinement Dungeon.

                  Seeing Tian Yang's doubtful face, Ren Xia smiled and said, "Here's the plan."

                  Ren Xia proceeded to reveal her grand plan to Tian Yang, who was left utterly speechless by the end.

                  "You can't be serious. Why would you even go to such lengths to help me? No… this isn't for me but for Kulas…?" Tian Yang looked at her and asked with a serious face, "Do you, by any chance, still care about Kulas but are too stubborn to admit it?"

                  Ren Xia frowned and said, "Are you purposefully trying to make me angry? Because if so, you've successfully done so. If you don't want my help, we can forget about it."

                  "It's not that I don't want your help… It's just that… I don't understand why you're helping me. This plan may have almost no risk for me, but it's incredibly risky for you. I just can't see how it'll benefit you."

                  "Of course you can't see how it'll benefit me. I have yet to reveal my demands." Ren Xia said.

                  His rejection was immediate, firm, and without the slightest hesitation.

                  "..."

                  Seeing Tian Yang's surprised face, Ren Xia continued, "What? Did you think I was going to help you for free? When there's so much risk involved for me?"

                  After a brief silence, Tian Yang finally asked, "What are your demands?"

                  Ren Xia's lips curled into a playful smirk. "Become my man!"

                  "I refuse."

                  His rejection was immediate, firm, and without the slightest hesitation.

                  "..."

                  Ren Xia didn't respond right away. Instead, she puffed out her cheeks in mock frustration, attempting to look angry—but all she managed to do was make herself look unintentionally adorable.

                  "Fine, I'll settle with just sex."

                  "I refuse."

                  "How about a kiss on the lips?"

                  "My answer remains the same."

                  "Why?! Any logical men wouldn't refuse this demand!" Ren Xia slammed the table in front of her in frustration.

                  "I should be asking you that! What kind of demands are those?! I fail to see how they benefit you!"

                  "As if you'd understand a maiden's heart…" she sighed.

                  "Can you be more serious?" Tian Yang sighed, shaking his head in exasperation.

                  The playful glint in Ren Xia's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a rare solemnity. The air in the room grew heavier, the shift in her demeanor casting a palpable tension between them.

                  After a brief silence, she finally spoke.

                  "Let me follow you."
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                  Chapter 1877 Ren Xia's Demands(2)

                  "What…?"

                  A mixture of surprise and puzzlement appeared on Tian Yang's face after he heard Ren Xia's demands.

                  "You want to follow me? I don't understand. Can you elaborate?"

                  Ren Xia's expression remained serious as she explained, "It's exactly as it sounds. I want to follow you as a traveling partner. Wherever you go, I want to be by your side."

                  Tian Yang only became more puzzled by her explanation and continued to ask, "But why would you want to do that?"

                  "I have my own reasons."

                  "..."

                  For Ren Xia to follow him, she would essentially be abandoning her family, her status, and everything she had built until now. Tian Yang couldn't fathom why she would make such a drastic choice.

                  Even if she harbored feelings for him, it was hard to believe that she would cast aside her entire life just for his sake

                  'What if she wants to follow me to uncover Han Zexian's legacy, thinking I've inherited it?' Tian Yang wondered.

                  There was also the unsettling possibility that she was acting under the orders of the Nine Immortal Clans. No matter how sincere she seemed, he couldn't ignore the reality that Ren Xia was one of them. Moreover, she was not just any member but a young lady of the Nine Immortal Clans, someone whose status rivaled even the elders.

                  As much as Tian Yang wanted to trust her, experience had taught him otherwise. He had grown wary of everything and everyone, knowing that trust was a luxury he could no longer afford.

                  However, Ren Xia had been nothing but helpful to him thus far, and despite his wariness, he couldn't sense any ill intent from her.

                  Eventually, Tian Yang decided to trust her.

                  "Are you sure you want to do this? There's no going back once it's done," Tian Yang said a moment later.

                  Ren Xia calmly nodded, "I have resolved myself even before I reached out to you."

                  "Fine, I'll accept your demand. When do you want to do this?"

                  "Let's do it tomorrow."

                  For the next few hours, Ren Xia and Tian Yang meticulously reviewed their plans, going over every detail multiple times to ensure there were no missteps.

                  Once they were certain everything was in place, Ren Xia took her leave, returning home as if nothing had changed. Meanwhile, Tian Yang vanished into the shadows, disappearing to an unknown destination.

                  The following day, Ren Xia's mother approached her with a calm yet authoritative tone.

                  "We've decided that you'll be engaged to Ling Zhan, the fifth eldest young master of the Immortal Spirit Clan."

                  Ren Xia's expression didn't waver, but deep inside, a chill ran down her spine.

                  She was no stranger to that name. Ling Zhan's reputation preceded him—not for his talents or achievements, but for the unsettling rumors that clung to him like a shadow. He was known as a playboy with a particular fetish, one that made even his own family members tremble when mentioned.

                  "So our Immortal Sword Clan is that desperate for power, huh?" Ren Xia sighed out loud as she shook her head.

                  Her mother instantly frowned and shouted, "Don't you dare go there!"

                  "Am I wrong, though? Although Kulas wasn't to my taste, he's still countless times better than Ling Zhan."

                  "I bet you regret breaking your engagement with him now," her mother sneered, her voice laced with mockery. "You never know what you have until it's gone."

                  "Whatever."

                  Ren Xia turned on her heels and began walking away, unwilling to entertain the conversation any longer.

                  But before she could take more than a few steps, her mother's sharp voice halted her.

                  "Where do you think you're going? The Immortal Spirit Clan will be arriving tomorrow. You are forbidden from leaving until they leave."

                  "Relax. I won't be going far," she said annoyedly. "I just need some fresh air—or are you going to take that away from me too?"

                  After leaving the Immortal Sword Clan's residence, Ren Xia aimlessly wandered through the city, her thoughts tangled in frustration and helplessness. Her usually sharp gaze was unfocused, and every so often, she let out a quiet, defeated sigh.

                  With her striking beauty and renowned reputation, it was impossible for her presence to go unnoticed. Passersby stole glances, some whispering among themselves, others merely staring in curiosity, wondering why Ren Xia looked so distressed. Yet, nobody attempted to talk to her, fearing they might anger her.

                  Several hours later, Ren Xia's father furrowed his brows as he noticed her absence.

                  "Where's Ren Xia?" "She's walking around the city right now," her mother replied nonchalantly. "Don't worry, I have guards watching over her to ensure she doesn't escape."

                  Her father exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "She better not cause trouble. The Immortal Spirit Clan will be here tomorrow, and I don't want any unnecessary complications."

                  "She won't," her mother assured him in a confident voice. "She may be stubborn, but she understands the weight of our family's decision."

                  However, just moments later, someone forcefully knocked on the door before entering the room and shouted, "It's an emergency! The Young Lady has been abducted!"

                  "What?!"

                  Both Ren Xia's parents exclaimed in a shocked voice.

                  "What happened?! Tell me everything right now!" Her father roared.

                  "We were following the Young Lady as instructed by Matriarch Ren," the messenger, one of the guards assigned to shadow Ren Xia, reported in a frantic tone. "But then someone suddenly appeared from the sky, snatched the Young Lady, and vanished before we could even react!"

                  "How is that even possible?! Ren Xia is a Divine King expert! There's no way she'd be abducted like this!" Her mother shouted, her voice filled with disbelief.

                  "B-but the kidnapper exuded the presence of a Divine Emperor—if not Divine Sovereign!"

                  "Don't tell me it's Tian Yang!" Ren Xia's mother quickly deduced.

                  "But why would he kidnap her? If it were truly him, I'd sooner believe he would have killed her on the spot, just like he did to the others. But he didn't!" Ren Xia's father refused to accept it.

                  Before they could dwell further into the situation, the sound of hurried, frantic footsteps echoed through the halls. A guard burst into the room, his face pale with urgency.

                  "I-It's an emergency!" he stammered, barely catching his breath. "The Young Lady has returned home—but she's not alone! She came back with an unknown individual who claims he's holding her hostage and demands to speak with the Family Head, or he'd kill her!"

                  "What?!" Ren Xia's parents exclaimed.
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                  Chapter 1878 Taking Ren Xia as Hostage

                  "How did they return so fast?! How long has it been since Ren Xia was kidnapped?" Ren Xia's father turned to look at the first messenger, who hesitated for a moment before responding, "After the Young Lady was abducted, we sort of panicked and went to search for her. After about an hour, we finally realized we had forgotten to send someone home to notify you…"

                  "She was abducted an hour ago?! You incompetent bastards!" Ren Xia's father roared.

                  Sometime later, Ren Xia's parents went to the courtyard to meet Tian Yang and Ren Xia.

                  When Ren Xia's parents laid eyes on Ren Xia's disheveled state—her torn clothes, messy hair, and bloodied face—their expressions contorted with rage.

                  Her mother gasped, fury and horror flashing in her eyes, while her father's face turned a deep shade of red, his aura surging with uncontrollable wrath.

                  "You bastard!" Patriarch Ren roared, his killing intent filling the area like a tidal wave. "I swear, if you so much as laid a finger on my daughter with your filthy hands—!"

                  Tian Yang looked at Ren Xia's appearance and sneered, "Don't worry, I didn't touch her—at least not in the way you're thinking. However, I had to rough her up before she would start listening to me. Anyway, it's a bit chilly out here. Why don't we go somewhere more private?"

                  "And what's stopping me from killing you on the spot?" Patriarch Ren responded.

                  "F-Father! Just listen to him! He poisoned me! If you kill him, I am as good as dead!" Ren Xia suddenly shouted, tears flowing down her face.

                  Tian Yang smiled and said, "You should listen to your daughter. If I don't feed her the antidote every hour, the poison will melt her body from the inside. For the record, she took the previous antidote half an hour ago."

                  "You fiend!" Her mother shouted.

                  Although Patriarch Ren wanted to kill Tian Yang on the spot, he couldn't let Ren Xia die. Thus, he reluctantly led Tian Yang to a private room.

                  "What are your demands?" Patriarch Ren asked Tian Yang as they stood several meters away from each other.

                  "Straight to the point, huh? I like it." Tian Yang smiled. "It's quite simple. In exchange for your daughter's life, I want the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon."

                  "What?! The Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location?! How do you know about that?!"

                  Patriarch Ren exclaimed with a surprised face.

                  "Does it matter how I got the information? The only thing that matters right now is whether you're willing to exchange its location for your daughter's life."

                  "That information isn't something I can just give you! It's not that simple!" Patriarch Ren growled.

                  "What do you mean it's not that simple? It's just a prison for those who offended the Nine Immortal Clans, right? You make it sound like it's a treasure trove," Tian Yang shook his head.

                  "What the hell do you know?!" Patriarch Ren clenched his fists and jaw in frustration.

                  Unbeknownst to Tian Yang at the moment, he had actually hit it right on the nail.

                  The Immortal Confinement Dungeon may function as a prison, but it also serves as a vault for the Nine Immortal Clans, where many treasures and techniques are stowed away. If it weren't for this, Patriarch Ren wouldn't have hesitated to give Tian Yang its location.

                  Seeing Patriarch Ren hesitate, Tian Yang looked at Ren Xia and sneered in disdain, "I guess your parents care about a prison more than your life."

                  "Wait!" Patriarch Ren suddenly shouted.

                  "Why do you want to find the Immortal Confinement Dungeon?" he continued. "Depending on your reason, I may or may not be able to give you the information—even if you threaten me with my daughter's life."

                  Tian Yang narrowed his eyes and said, "So there really is something in there worth more than your own daughter's life?"

                  Patriarch Ren didn't answer, but his silence was enough.

                  Tian Yang was taken aback. He hadn't expected this. Neither had Ren Xia. But at this point, there was no turning back.

                  "Whatever. I don't care about that. I'm going there for Kulas, nothing more, nothing less," Tian Yang revealed his reason for going to the Immortal Confinement Dungeon.

                  "Kulas?! You're doing all of this for Kulas?!" Patriarch Ren instantly became bewildered. "You… You're really Tian Yang?" Matriarch Ren muttered in a daze, as they'd only assumed his identity until now.

                  "That's right. Now that you know my reason, are you going to tell me or not? If you refuse, I'll not only kill your daughter, but I'll make sure to kill as many people in the Immortal Sword Clan as I can," Tian Yang threatened.

                  "Do you really think you have that power? You're only a Divine Sovereign at best!" Patriarch Ren sneered. "I can kill you faster than you can blink!"

                  Tian Yang showed a cold smile before responding, "Have you forgotten that I'd spent over fifty years with Han Zexian's legacy? Although I won't be able to kill you, you also won't be able to kill me."

                  Patriarch Ren's expression darkened at the mention of Han Zexian's legacy. He suspected Tian Yang might be bluffing, but the mere possibility that he wasn't was enough to give him pause. Some risks were not worth taking.

                  'Since he's only after Kulas, I don't have to worry about him stealing the treasures. No… even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to open the vault.'

                  Patriarch Ren had absolute confidence in the vault's security. What truly worried him wasn't the risk of Tian Yang looting the treasures but the inevitable backlash from the other Immortal Clans. Revealing the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon would bring unfathomable consequences.

                  However, if Ren Xia were to die, the Immortal Sword Clan would be just as doomed.

                  'Actually… I can just kill him before the others find out,' Patriarch Ren suddenly realized. 'That way, no one will ever know I leaked the location, and I can save Ren Xia at the same time.'

                  "Fine, I'll tell you the location," he said a moment later
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                  Chapter 1879 Immortal Confinement Dungeon's Location

                  "Fine, I'll tell you the location," Patriarch Ren said. "But I'll need you to swear on your soul that you will not harm my daughter afterward."

                  Tian Yang sneered, "I refuse. Do you think I am stupid or something? How will I know that you won't try to screw me over with a fake location? Don't worry, I can guarantee your daughter's safety—given that you provide me what I need without messing around."

                  Patriarch Ren's eyebrows twitched slightly. Sure enough, he had planned on giving Tian Yang a fake location while ensuring that his daughter would not be harmed. Unfortunately, Tian Yang didn't take the bite.

                  With no other option, he gave Tian Yang the location of the Immortal Confinement Dungeon.

                  "The Immortal Confinement Dungeon is located at the 103,444th peak in the Endless Highlands."

                  The Endless Highlands was a vast mountain range stretching over a hundred thousand miles, its landscape dominated by millions of towering peaks.

                  The Endless Highlands is also home to countless powerful magical beasts with hidden mysteries and untold treasures buried within its depths, drawing adventurers and cultivators eager for fortune and glory. Yet, despite thousands of years of exploration, only a small fraction of its vast expanse has ever been uncovered, leaving much of its secrets still shrouded in the unknown.

                  "The Endless Highlands, huh? Alright."

                  "Now release my daughter!" Patriarch Ren demanded.

                  Tian Yang laughed out loud, "You really think I am stupid, don't you? Sorry, but your daughter is coming to the Immortal Confinement Dungeon with me. Once I recuse Kulas safely, I'll hand her over to you."

                  "You bastard! Are you walking back on your own words?!" Patriarch Ren exploded with anger.

                  "Huh? My words? I definitely don't recall saying I'd release your daughter the moment you tell me the location."

                  Ren Xia suddenly turned to Tian Yang and cursed at him, "You hateful son of—"

                  Pa!

                  Tian Yang interrupted Ren Xia with a powerful slap to her face, shocking her parents.

                  "Who gave you the permission to talk, you bitch!"

                  "You bastard! I'll f#cking kill you!" Patriarch Ren roared as immense killing intent exploded from his body. He raised his hand to strike.

                  "Go ahead. Your daughter will follow soon after." Tian Yang proudly lifted his chest high, provoking Patriarch Ren.

                  "..."

                  Patriarch Ren gritted his teeth, trying to control his emotions.

                  "I thought so. Anyway, if you have nothing to say, I'd like to leave now. The longer you make this, the longer your daughter will be with me, after all."

                  "Get out of here before I can no longer control myself!"

                  Tian Yang turned to look at Ren Xia and said, "Let's go."

                  "Mother… father…" Ren Xia looked at her parents with a reluctant expression, but Tian Yang grabbed her by the waist and flew away, treating her like luggage.

                  "Damn it all!" Patriarch Ren stomped the ground so hard he shook the entire building.

                  "What should we do about the Immortal Spirit Clan? They'll be here tomorrow!" Matriarch Ren asked.

                  "We can only delay it until Ren Xia returns. The other Immortal Clans must not know we've revealed the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location to Tian Yang at all costs!"

                  Patriarch Ren promptly reached out to the Immortal Spirit Clan. Upon hearing that the meeting had been delayed, they immediately grew suspicious, wondering if the engagement was in jeopardy. However, Patriarch Ren swiftly reassured them, claiming there was no issue because Ren Xia had simply entered enlightenment and could not be disturbed. It was a convenient excuse, one that few would question.

                  A few days later, Tian Yang and Ren Xia arrived at the Endless Highlands, but they didn't immediately head to the Immortal Confinement Dungeon.

                  "Looks like your plan went smoothly," Tian Yang said to Ren Xia.

                  Ren Xia rubbed her cheeks—the area that Tian Yang had struck and complained, "I know I told you to hit me, but you didn't hold back at all."

                  Tian Yang shrugged and said, "If I held back, it wouldn't have been as convincing. Besides, you even took poison in case they questioned it—but they didn't even care."

                  To ensure the deception was flawless, Ren Xia had willingly consumed real poison, one that required an antidote every hour to keep her alive. It was a drastic measure, but it only proved how resolute she was in her decision to sever ties with her family.

                  "Relax, I'm just joking. That said, I have never been hit like that before, so it was a first for me. You better take responsibility," Ren Xia said.

                  Tian Yang sighed, "Keep the jokes for after we've recused Kulas. The plan is still in progress, so let's not jinx it by celebrating too early."

                  Shortly after, they stepped into the Endless Highlands, where an ocean of towering mountains extended endlessly toward the horizon.

                  Due to the high frequency of explorers, the mountains within the Endless Highlands had been systematically marked and numbered. The first 10,000 mountains each had individual markers, ensuring easier navigation. However, beyond that point, only every hundredth mountain was marked.

                  Upon reaching the 25,000th mountain, markers appeared only every thousand mountains, making navigation increasingly difficult. Beyond the 69,000th mountain, no markers existed at all, forcing Tian Yang to personally count each mountain they passed.

                  After a few more hours, Tian Yang finally reached 103,000—at least somewhere around that number.

                  "Do you think the Nine Immortal Clans marked the Immortal Confinement Dungeon?" Tian Yang asked.

                  "Most likely, but it won't be anything obvious."

                  After flying around for a bit, Tian Yang suddenly sensed a lone presence nearby. When he examined the presence with divine sense, he found an individual seated outside a cave entrance, appearing to be cultivating.

                  While it was common to see cultivators meditating alone in quiet places like the Endless Highlands, Tian Yang didn't believe this was a mere coincidence.

                  "Fifth-level Divine Ancestor, huh? He must be the guard of the prison," Tian Yang said.

                  Ren Xia confirmed, "I recognize him. He's someone from the Immortal Might Clan."
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                  Chapter 1880 Rescuing Kulas

                  "Someone from the Immortal Might Clan, huh? Isn't that Kulas' family?" Tian Yang remarked, his eyes narrowing. Then, with a smirk, he added, "You think he'll just let us in without a fight if we ask nicely?" His tone hovered between sarcasm and genuine curiosity.

                  Ren Xia shook her head. "I doubt it. Kulas may have been the young master of the Immortal Might Clan, but that was over fifty years ago. He was exiled—disowned. Even when he held that title, he didn't have many allies within the clan. I doubt anyone would be willing to risk their life for him."

                  "You think I should just kill the guard then? I'm worried his death might alert the Nine Immortal Clans," Tian Yang said, as there was a good chance a life tablet tracked the guard's life.

                  Ren Xia pondered for a moment before speaking, "It'd be weird if they didn't have a life tablet on him. You know what? I think I have a plan."

                  "What are you going to do?" Tian Yang raised an eyebrow.

                  In response, Ren Xia swallowed an appearance-altering pill and transformed into someone Tian Yang was very familiar with, as he'd spoken with her not long ago.

                  "Your mother?" Tian Yang muttered.

                  Ren Xia smiled and nodded, "And you're going to play the role of a prisoner."

                  Tian Yang immediately understood Ren Xia's plan after hearing this. They were going to sneak him inside as a prisoner. This way, they wouldn't need to kill the guard.

                  "That's actually a brilliant plan," Tian Yang admitted.

                  "I'm glad you agree. Now, let me beat you up a little so it looks more convincing," Ren Xia spoke with a somewhat threatening smile on her face.

                  "That's…"

                  "What? Are you going to say you can't do that when I already did it once?" Ren Xia frowned, referring to her roughed-up appearance.

                  "I didn't even say anything…" Tian Yang sighed. "Alright, come at me."

                  Hearing this, Ren Xia cracked her knuckles before giving Tian Yang a few good punches in the face.

                  "Is this all you got? In that case, let me do it myself." Tian Yang suddenly retrieved a sword and began cutting away at his own body, tearing his clothes and staining them with blood. He also bit his own lips until they bled.

                  "Did you have to go that far?" Ren Xia stared at him with wide eyes.

                  "You want it to look as convincing as possible, right?"

                  Ren Xia could only nod.

                  Then, Ren Xia retrieved a pair of handcuffs.

                  "You even have handcuffs? I doubt you had prepared that in advance for this, so why do you have them?" Tian Yang had to ask.

                  "Oh, these? I am part of the Celestial Sword Sect's Disciplinary Squad, so I always have them on me in case I need to arrest someone. What? Did you think I have some kind of fetish?"

                  "..."

                  Tian Yang remained silent.

                  "Anyway, these cuffs will block off all spiritual energy and restrict your cultivation, so you'll become a mortal the moment you wear them. I'm letting you know in advance so you don't think I'm trying to trick you or anything."

                  Tian Yang stared at the handcuffs for a moment before sighing, "Well, if this turns out to be a trap, I can't even be mad. You're just that convincing."

                  With that, Tian Yang wore the cuffs and immediately felt his strength disappearing. Then, Ren Xia dragged him to the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's entrance.

                  When the guard sensed Tian Yang and Ren Xia's presence, he opened his eyes and glared at them with an unwelcoming gaze. However, when he saw Ren Xia's appearance, his eyes widened with surprise, and he quickly stood up.

                  "Madam Ren! What brought you here today? I didn't get any message that you were coming," said the guard after bowing to her.

                  "That's because I came here as soon as I arrested this man," Ren Xia said.

                  "But for Madam Ren to personally bring him here, who is he?"

                  "He's Tian Yang, the one who's been going after the Nine Immortal Clans."

                  "Sorry, but I don't know who that is. I haven't left my post for over seventy years now," said the guard.

                  "This crazy bastard killed over a hundred members of the Nine Immortal Clans," Ren Xia shook her head.

                  "What?! That's ridiculous!"

                  "That's why I rushed here as soon as we arrested him. The others will arrive to interrogate him later. They're still trying to clean up the mess he created."

                  The guard nodded and proceeded to unlock the formation protecting the Immortal Confinement Dungeon.

                  When Tian Yang saw this, he was glad they didn't kill the guard, as he wouldn't have been able to open the formation with his current abilities.

                  When Ren Xia brought Tian Yang inside, the guard didn't follow them and remained outside. Meanwhile, Tian Yang and Ren Xia were transported to a dark and grim place.

                  'So the Immortal Confinement Dungeon exists in its own world, huh.' Tian Yang thought to himself as he looked around.

                  "Matriarch Ren? I didn't know you were visiting today."

                  Another guard approached them shortly after they entered.

                  "This was a last-minute decision," she said. "I see… Which floor do you want to visit?"

                  "The floor with that bastard Kulas."

                  "What? The lowest floor?" The guard turned to look at Tian Yang with a surprised face. Only the worst offenders were placed on the lowest floor. "If you're curious, you can ask around. He's quite famous. Anyway, I don't have much time. Let's move it," Ren Xia spoke in an authoritative tone, leaving no room for the guard to ponder.

                  "I understand. Please, follow me."

                  Ren Xia proceeded to follow the guard while dragging Tian Yang by his cuffs.

                  After walking through a dark and narrow passageway for a minute, they reached the end, where a teleport formation existed.

                  The guard activated it and brought them to the lowest floor of the dungeon, where Kulas was being held.
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                  Chapter 1881 Rescuing Kulas (2)

                  The Immortal Confinement Dungeon lived up to its name. Its interior was as oppressive as the worst prisons—dark and suffocating, with damp stone walls that trapped the stench of decay. The air was thick with the foul mix of sweat, blood, and something more sinister, a scent that spoke of countless souls who had suffered within its depths.

                  The lowest floor was even worse. Though it held the fewest prisoners, the air was thick with the overwhelming stench of blood and rotting flesh, so pungent that it nearly made Ren Xia gag. The walls seemed to breathe with the agony of those who had long perished here, and every step forward felt like wading deeper into a place forsaken by time and mercy.

                  That feeling of despair only grew stronger as they moved past the cells, their eyes falling upon the prisoners within. Each one was shackled to the cold stone walls, their bodies stripped bare, stripped of dignity. But what was most harrowing was that none of them even looked human anymore. Their skin was a grotesque tapestry of black, blue, and red—evidence of relentless beatings and unspeakable torture. Most of them were also missing limbs. Some missed only one or two, but a few didn't have any limbs at all.

                  Although Ren Xia had heard rumors about the Immortal Confinement Dungeon being a cruel place, she could've never imagined it was in such a condition. As for Tian Yang, he wasn't surprised, but he was full of disgust and anger.

                  'Kulas has been trapped in this hell for over fifty years? Even if I save him… he might not be the same Kulas I once knew.'

                  Tian Yang clenched his jaw, his fists tightening as a wave of unease washed over him. He had to be prepared for the worst—for the possibility that the man he sought to rescue was no longer the one he remembered.

                  However, even if Kulas was an entirely different individual, he still wanted to save him.

                  'If only I had arrived sooner…' he sighed inwardly.

                  When they reached a certain cell, Ren Xia suddenly stopped to look at the individual inside, her eyes raised in a puzzled manner.

                  Seeing this, the guard said, "Since this is the Madam's first time coming to the lowest floor, you probably don't even recognize him."

                  "What are you talking about?" Ren Xia looked at the guard with a questioning expression.

                  The guard smiled and said, "Don't be too surprised to hear this, but that's Kulas."

                  "What?!" Ren Xia exclaimed in a shocked voice.

                  "Kulas?"

                  Tian Yang's eyes also widened with shock after hearing this.

                  Neither Ren Xia nor Tian Yang recognized Kulas at first until the guard pointed him out. But they couldn't be blamed for their failure to recognize him. The man before them bore no resemblance to the Kulas they once knew. However, it wasn't the scars of torture that made Kulas unrecognizable. The man who was once a handsome young man had undergone a transformation beyond comprehension. He had become massive—so colossal that even while kneeling, he stood as tall as a building, his body towering over them, far beyond the size of any normal human. "T-that's Kulas? What happened to him?" Ren Xia asked out of curiosity.

                  "We don't know what exactly caused his transformation, but we believe it's due to a technique he'd acquired from Han Zexian's Tomb since the Immortal Might Clan denied having such a technique," said the guard.

                  Ren Xia swallowed nervously. She turned to look at Tian Yang, who was staring at Kulas without blinking.

                  "Well, what are you going to do now?" she asked.

                  "Excuse me?" The guard thought Ren Xia was speaking to him.

                  "Shut up. I'm not talking to you," she snapped at him.

                  "W-what?" The guard could only stand there with a dazed look on his face as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.

                  "Release me," Tian Yang said a moment later.

                  Ren Xia nodded and removed his handcuffs.

                  "W-what are you doing, Madam Ren?!" Shocked by her actions, the guard jumped back and instinctively drew his weapon.

                  After being released from his handcuffs, Tian Yang retrieved a recovery pill and consumed it, healing all of the injuries on his body.

                  He then shifted his gaze to the now-alert guard, his eyes sharp and overwhelming. In a cold, threatening tone, he commanded, "Open Kulas' cell."

                  "Who are you?! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!" the guard roared as he released his cultivation at the Divine Master realm.

                  In response, Tian Yang exuded his Immortal Ascension cultivation, forcing the guard onto his knees with just presence alone.

                  "I will not ask you again," Tian Yang said, his voice ice-cold as he unsheathed his sword. "If you do not release him, I will kill you and open the cell myself."

                  The guard's already pale face drained of what little color remained, turning as white as a corpse. He was painfully aware of his predicament—before Tian Yang, he was nothing more than an ant, utterly powerless to resist. Yet, obeying Tian Yang's demand was no better. The Nine Immortal Clans would undoubtedly dispose of him for his betrayal.

                  No matter what he chose, death awaited him.

                  In the end, the guard made his choice. If death was inevitable, he would rather take his chances with the Nine Immortal Clans than face certain execution at this very moment. With trembling hands, he stepped forward and, without another word, unlocked Kulas' cell.

                  Tian Yang removed his disguise and approached Kulas, who had his head down and appeared to be asleep.

                  "Ahem."

                  Tian Yang quickly cleared his throat, steadying himself before speaking in a calm voice, "Brother Kulas, it's me, Tian Yang. I'm here to rescue you."

                  His words hung in the air, met with nothing but silence.

                  Let alone speak a word, Kulas didn't even bother to lift his head to look at Tian Yang, almost as if he wasn't conscious.

                  However, Tian Yang was certain that Kulas was awake and decided to try again.
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                  Chapter 1882 Rescuing Kulas(3)

                  Seeing that Kulas didn't respond, Tian Yang tried again, "Brother Kulas, can you hear me? It's me, Tian Yang."

                  "It's useless."

                  A voice responded, but it didn't come from Kulas. Instead, it came from the guard.

                  "What do you mean by that?" Tian Yang looked at him with a deep frown.

                  "He hasn't uttered a single sound for the last twenty years—not even a grunt when he's being 'interrogated'," the guard explained.

                  When the guard mentioned being interrogated, he was obviously talking about torture. However, when Tian Yang looked at Kulas' body, there was not a single scar on it. In fact, it was perfectly healthy and incredibly robust, almost as if he'd trained it vigorously for many years.

                  Tian Yang took a deep breath and continued, "Kulas, how long are you going to ignore me? Wake up already!"

                  "..."

                  Ren Xia entered the cell and said, "Looks like you wasted your time coming here."

                  However, Tian Yang wasn't ready to give up. He retrieved his sword and destroyed the chains that bound Kulas.

                  The moment the chains binding Kulas shattered and fell to the ground in fragments, his massive body stirred for the first time.

                  Without warning, a colossal fist—larger than Tian Yang's entire body—shot toward him with terrifying speed and force. The sheer pressure of the strike howled through the air, distorting space around it. There was no hesitation, no recognition—only raw, unrestrained aggression.

                  "This crazy bastard!" Tian Yang cursed, his instincts kicking in as he hastily raised his sword to block the incoming strike.

                  The moment Kulas' massive fist collided with his blade, an overwhelming force surged through him. Even as an Immortal Ascension realm cultivator, he was utterly powerless to fully withstand the impact. The immense power behind the blow sent him hurtling through the air like a rag doll, slamming into the wall with a deafening crash.

                  "Tian Yang?!" Ren Xia cried in a surprised voice.

                  "I'm fine…" Tian Yang said as he quickly stood back up.

                  He narrowed his eyes at Kulas, whose cultivation was only at the peak of Divine King.

                  'He's only a Divine King, yet he sent me flying with sheer strength alone? What kind of monstrous power is this…? Could this be the result of the Great Mammoth Body Refinement?'

                  Tian Yang's mind raced as he steadied himself. He had also learned the Great Mammoth Body Refinement, so he understood its principles—how it refined the body through relentless tempering, forging it into something indestructible, something beyond human limits. But what he had just witnessed was far beyond his expectations, even his comprehension.

                  'The Great Mammoth Body Refinement requires constant pain and suffering to grow…' His gaze darkened. 'Could the torture he endured in this wretched place have tempered his body to such an extreme?'

                  The thought sent a chill down Tian Yang's spine. He couldn't begin to imagine the agony Kulas must have suffered to reach this state—how much pain, how much torment, how many times he had been pushed past the brink of death and forced to survive.

                  "So this is how you greet your sworn brother after not seeing each other for over fifty years, huh?" Tian Yang spat out a mouthful of blood and continued, "Very well. If I have to beat you back to your senses, then so be it!"

                  Without hesitation, he lunged forward, and the cell erupted into chaos as Tian Yang and Kulas clashed.

                  Despite its designation as a prison cell, this space was anything but small. The Nine Immortal Clans had built it specifically to contain Kulas, anticipating not only his current size but also his future growth. The result was a massive chamber, its walls reinforced with powerful formations to withstand the sheer might of its prisoner.

                  Now, that very space has become their battlefield.

                  Kulas' colossal fists tore through the air with devastating force, each strike capable of reducing a mountain to rubble. Tian Yang weaved through the attacks, his blade flashing like lightning as he retaliated with precision and speed. The air trembled with each impact, shockwaves rippling through the dungeon as the battle escalated.

                  Yet, despite his overwhelming strength, Kulas fought with a terrifying emptiness—his eyes void of recognition, his attacks fueled by nothing but raw instinct.

                  Ren Xia quickly left the cell and shouted at Tian Yang, "I can't believe you're actually fighting him in this situation! Did you really come here to save him?!"

                  "Do you have any other way to wake him up?! If so, I'd love to hear it!" Tian Yang shouted back, frustration laced in his voice.

                  No matter how many times he slashed at Kulas, his sword barely left more than shallow cuts—wounds that healed almost instantly, as if mocking his efforts. The Great Mammoth Body Refinement had turned Kulas into an indomitable force, his body regenerating faster than Tian Yang could damage it.

                  "If you, his sworn brother, cannot wake him up, what can I do? He hates my guts," Ren Xia shook her head.

                  "Looks like I have no choice but to defeat him…" Tian Yang sighed as he activated Limitless Sword Domain.

                  Kulas' body suddenly trembled.

                  "That technique…"

                  For the first time, Kulas spoke words.

                  "What?" Tian Yang's body instantly froze.

                  "How did you get that technique?! Tell me, you damned bastard!" Kulas roared, his voice shaking the very walls of the dungeon. A terrifying killing intent erupted from his massive form, flooding the space like a crushing tide.

                  His eyes, once void of recognition, now burned with unrestrained fury. His rage was no longer mindless. There was something personal behind it.

                  "Did you already forget? I learned it inside Han Zexian's Tomb!" Tian Yang responded.

                  However, Kulas' killing intent only intensified.

                  "What did you do to my brother, you bastards?! I swear I will tear everyone from the Nine Immortal Clans apart if you had harmed him in any way!"

                  Tian Yang raised his eyebrows in a confused manner after hearing Kulas' words.

                  'What the heck? Does he think I am someone from the Nine Immortal Clans pretending to be me?' he wondered.
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                  Chapter 1883 Rescuing Kulas(4)

                  "I think he thinks you're a fake!" Ren Xia warned Tian Yang.

                  "Thanks for stating the obvious!" Tian Yang said to her before looking at Kulas and stating, "Kulas! Open your damn eyes and look at me! Do I look like a fake to you?!"

                  "Shut the f#ck up! Do you really think I am stupid enough to fall for such an obvious trick?! There's no way my brother would be here, not to mention your cultivation! As much as I believe in him, there's no way he could've achieved Immortal Ascension so quickly!" Kulas shouted back.

                  Due to how much stronger Tian Yang had gotten, Kulas didn't believe it was truly him. Moreover, the Nine Immortal Clans have tried tricking him before with this very tactic. He'd have to be a fool to fall for it.

                  "I got this strong because of Han Zexian's legacy! Also, if I were a fake, would I know the Limitless Sword Domain?! I even know the technique that caused your body to become like that! If you don't believe me, I can tell you the technique again!"

                  "And how do I know that you didn't torture those techniques out of my brother like you tried to me?!" Kulas roared, revealing his true reason for not trusting Tian Yang.

                  After the Nine Immortal Clans captured Kulas, they tortured him day and night without stopping for many years in hopes of acquiring whatever secrets he obtained from Han Zexian's Tomb. However, they were unsuccessful, and not only did they fail to break his mental barriers, but they even helped him become stronger by tempering his body through torture.

                  "Fu#k, why are you so stubborn?! If information doesn't prove my identity, how can I prove to you that I am real?! Tell me, Kulas!" Tian Yang shouted back. Although he found the situation annoying, he couldn't blame Kulas for his behavior.

                  If he had been in Kulas's shoes, he would've probably been even less trusting.

                  "Actually, you know what? I don't need words to convince you."

                  Tian Yang stowed away his weapon and pointed at the open cell door.

                  "I have opened your cell and even removed your chains. You're basically free to leave. Oh, but unless you're an Array Master, you probably won't be able to activate the teleport formation to reach the exit."

                  Tian Yang walked to the exit and said to the guard, "Activate the formation."

                  "Right away…" The guard immediately listened, as there was no longer any reason for him to resist. Once the teleport formation was activated, Tian Yang gestured at it and said to Kulas, "Go ahead. You're free now. My goal here is to rescue you, and I have achieved that. Whatever you do afterward is up to you."

                  Kulas looked at Tian Yang and the teleport formation with a trembling gaze.

                  'Could it really be him? Am I dreaming? No, this is too real to be a dream… Am I hallucinating? Or is this an illusion by the Nine Immortal Clans?' he wondered inwardly.

                  Although Kulas still couldn't tell if Tian Yang was real or fake, he recognized this was a chance for him to escape the Immortal Confinement Dungeon.

                  'If this is a trap, then so be it…'

                  The next moment, Kulas rushed out of the cell and ran toward the teleport formation. His massive figure disappeared the moment he stepped onto it.

                  "Let's go, Ren Xia." Tian Yang said to her.

                  Ren Xia nodded and entered the teleport formation with Tian Yang shortly after. By the time they returned to the first floor, Kulas was already halfway out of the entrance.

                  "W-what the?! Kulas?! Why are you out of your cell?!" The guard outside the cave was bewildered to see Kulas and immediately tried to stop him.

                  However, Kulas was powerful enough to overwhelm an Immortal Ascension cultivator like Tian Yang, so the guard had no chance against him.

                  With a single slap, Kulas sent the guard flying like a rag doll.

                  Tian Yang and Ren Xia watched as Kulas's figure quickly disappeared into the Endless Highlands.

                  "Are you sure this was the right choice?" Ren Xia asked him. Tian Yang sighed, "What other choices do I have? He won't listen to me, and I have no idea how to prove my identity. Honestly, it doesn't matter if he believes in me or not. At the end of the day, I have achieved my goal and rescued Kulas."

                  "But to let him go like this… What if he's captured again by the Nine Immortal Clans?" Ren Xia looked at him with raised eyebrows.

                  "..."

                  After a moment of silence, a slight smile appeared on Tian Yang's face as he responded, "I believe in Kulas, but if he does end up back in the Immortal Confinement Dungeon, I'll just save him again. I'll save him as many times as I need to. After all, this is what it means to be sworn brothers."

                  Although Ren Xia didn't understand Tian Yang's feelings or what it meant to be sworn brothers, she couldn't help but be envious of his relationship with Kulas.

                  "What now?" Ren Xia then asked.

                  "I'll continue my journey."

                  "And what kind of journey is that?"

                  Tian Yang turned to look at her with a serious expression.

                  "To erase the Nine Immortal Clans from existence."

                  Ren Xia swallowed nervously.

                  "What? Do you regret helping me? It's not too late to change your mind, you know? If I kill the two guards, nobody will know of your betrayal, and you can return to your family."

                  Ren Xia sneered, "The word regret is not in my dictionary, and I'd rather die than return to my family. If you're serious about destroying the Nine Immortal Clans, I'll assist you. As a matter of fact, we can start with the Immortal Sword Clan since I have the most information on them—whether it be their strengths or weaknesses."

                  Ren Xia's words sent chills down Tian Yang's entire body. Her ruthless nature was beyond his expectations. However, as much as he appreciated her help, if she was willing to betray her own family, Tian Yang worried she might one day betray him.

                  'No, let's not make any assumptions. I don't even know her reason for betraying her family. Let's just trust her… for now.'

                  Tian Yang turned to look at where Kulas had disappeared and muttered, "Until next time, brother."
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                  Chapter 1884 After the Rescue

                  After rescuing Kulas, Tian Yang and Ren Xia left the Endless Highlands and disappeared from the world.

                  Soon, news of the events at the Immortal Confinement Dungeon reached the ears of the Nine Immortal Clans, quickly plunging them into a state of panic. After all, not only did Kulas escape, but the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location was also leaked to their enemy.

                  Although the Nine Immortal Clans wanted to investigate the situation further, they had to prioritize changing the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location.

                  Once the Immortal Confinement Dungeon had been swiftly relocated to a new, undisclosed location, the Nine Immortal Clans wasted no time launching a full-scale investigation into the incident. Every detail surrounding the incident was scrutinized, and every potential lead was pursued.

                  It didn't take long before all evidence converged on a single source—the Immortal Sword Clan.

                  When questioned, the Immortal Sword Clan denied having any involvement at first, but when they learned of Ren Xia's actions and realized she had betrayed her own family, the Immortal Sword Clan had no choice but to tell the truth.

                  They revealed that Tian Yang had kidnapped Ren Xia and demanded the Immortal Confinement Dungeon's location in exchange for her life.

                  "I swear we didn't know she was working with that bastard! That bitch had deceived her own family!" Patriarch Ren trembled with rage, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Ren Xia—his own flesh and blood—had betrayed them.

                  At first, the Immortal Sword Clan had assumed the worst—that Tian Yang had killed her when she failed to return after the incident at the Immortal Confinement Dungeon. But alas, the truth was far worse than they thought.

                  "That unfilial wretch acted on her own! I am willing to swear on my soul!" Matriarch Ren added.

                  In the end, the Immortal Sword Clan faced no consequences for Ren Xia's actions. However, Ren Xia herself was declared a traitor, exiled from the family, and branded a criminal alongside Tian Yang.

                  As for Kulas, the Nine Immortal Clans scoured the Divine Heavens in search of him. Given his colossal size, they assumed tracking him down would be effortless. Yet, to their astonishment, not a single trace of him could be found even after months of relentless pursuit. It was as if he had vanished from the world.

                  Tian Yang and Ren Xia would continue targeting the Nine Immortal Clans, slaughtering their members one by one, forcing the Nine Immortal Clans to place a bounty on their heads, and spreading their names throughout the Divine Heavens.

                  Eventually, their bounty reached the Immortal Monastery.

                  "S-Sister Sun! Big news! I have urgent news for you!" Elder Jing burst into the room, her breath uneven, eyes alight with urgency.

                  Elder Sun turned, her gaze calm. "What is it?"

                  "T-That disciple you've never stopped thinking about… He's alive! Tian Yang is alive!" Elder Jing exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.

                  Elder Sun's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in sheer disbelief. "What?! Is that true?! Did he return to the sect?! Where is he?!"

                  In that instant, the years of sorrow that had weighed upon her lifted as if they had never existed, vanishing so swiftly that the transformation was almost tangible.

                  However, Elder Sun's excitement quickly vanished after seeing Elder Jing's hesitant expression.

                  "Hurry up and spill it!" Elder Sun urged.

                  "A-About that… Although Tian Yang is alive, he hasn't returned to the sect. In fact, it might be better if he never returns…"

                  "Why would you say something like that?!" Elder Sun raised her voice in anger.

                  "Because there's a bounty on his head—placed by none other than the Nine Immortal Clans!" Elder Jing revealed with a serious expression.

                  Elder Sun's breath hitched, her mind racing. "What…? Why would they—"

                  "Do you remember me telling you about that madman slaughtering their members?" Elder Jing continued. "That madman… was Tian Yang all along!"

                  Silence fell between them. Elder Sun stood frozen, her mind struggling to grasp the weight of those words. "Tian Yang…? But why would he go after the Nine Immortal Clans?" Elder Sun mumbled as she began pondering.

                  But her thoughts were quickly interrupted by Elder Jing, "Who cares about that?! We have a bigger issue at hand! If they learn that Tian Yang is a disciple of our sect, they might come after the Immortal Monastery!"

                  Until the moment Tian Yang rescued Kulas, the Nine Immortal Clans had only known him as Xiao Yang. However, in the chaos of Kulas's rescue, Tian Yang revealed his true name, which was heard by the guard there. Naturally, when the guard reported everything he had witnessed during the incident, he did not fail to mention the name he had overheard—Tian Yang. However, even with this crucial piece of information, it didn't mean the Nine Immortal Clans would immediately know everything about him, as his name wasn't unique to him, with many other people bearing the same name in the Divine Heavens.

                  "The Nine Immortal Clans wouldn't come after the Immortal Monastery just because of a single disciple," Elder Sun shook her head. "Even if they try to blame us, we can just claim he went rogue and hasn't been part of the sect for a long time… which is true."

                  "If you say it like that, I guess… But what about you? What are you going to do now?" Elder Jing then asked.

                  "And what do you expect me to do in this situation? Beg the Nine Immortal Clans to spare Tian Yang—a man who no longer has any connection to me?" Elder Sun scoffed, her voice cold and indifferent. "Hmph. Don't be ridiculous."

                  Yet, Elder Jing wasn't convinced by her act, as her earlier reaction spoke louder than any words Elder Sun could utter. "You can leave now. I'm going to cultivate," Elder Sun said a moment later.

                  "Okay…"

                  Knowing Elder Sun needed time to digest the news, Elder Jing didn't linger and left shortly after.

                  "Tian Yang…" Elder Sun mumbled, her voice barely audible as she gazed out the window, her eyes distant and unfocused.

                  The light from outside cast soft shadows across her beautiful face, yet her expression remained unreadable.

                  "..."

                  "..."

                  "..."

                  Yuan slowly opened his eyes, and his vision blurred as if emerging from a dream that had stretched beyond time itself.

                  "How long have I been asleep…?" he muttered, his voice hoarse, each word feeling foreign on his tongue.
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                  Chapter 1885 Leaving the Confinement Chambers

                  After absorbing the Heaven Refining Crystal, Yuan collapsed from sheer exhaustion, sinking into a deep sleep. He had no way of knowing how much time had passed—weeks, maybe even months had passed.

                  When he finally woke up, he took a moment to assess himself. His body didn't feel any stronger on the surface, but deep within, there was a distinct shift—something new and unfathomable had appeared.

                  However, despite having consumed the Heaven Refining Crystal, Yuan wasn't certain it would actually have any effect. After all, he was inside an artificial world. No matter how powerful the Founder of the Immortal Monastery was, Yuan found it hard to believe that he could replicate something as extraordinary as the Heaven Refining Crystal.

                  "No… this world is much more than it appears…" Yuan eventually came to this conclusion.

                  After all, for the Heaven Refining Crystal to exist in this world, the Founder would have needed prior knowledge of its existence. Yet, as far as Yuan knew, he was the only one who had ever possessed it in his past life. No one else should have even been aware of its presence.

                  Yuan had concluded that the City of Radiance was a mere imitation, missing key details that should have been present—gaps that existed simply because its creator lacked complete knowledge. However, this artificial world felt different. There was an uncanny realism to it, a depth that blurred the line between illusion and reality. It reminded Yuan of the first time he had stepped into Cultivation Online years ago when everything had felt astonishingly real.

                  "This world can't be real, right? Even a Cultivation God would not have the capability to create a world like this…" Yuan muttered.

                  Despite his doubts about the nature of this world, Yuan chose not to dwell on it for now. There were too many uncertainties, and overanalyzing it would only further complicate things. For the moment, he would focus on what lay ahead.

                  Yuan wanted to test his Heaven Refining Physique, but there was nothing inside the chambers to test it with, and the Immortal Monastery confiscated his belongings before tossing him into seclusion.

                  In the end, Yuan continued his mental training.

                  Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before Yuan realized, his two-year confinement had come to an end.

                  The day before Yuan's release from the confinement chambers, Elder Bai arrived outside the cave where Yuan had been confined. Without a word, he settled himself before the entrance with a cold and serious expression on his face, looking like he was preparing for war.

                  It wasn't just Elder Bai—one by one, disciples began gathering outside Yuan's confinement cave, forming a growing crowd.

                  Despite the passage of two years, Bai Zhan's death remained a scar on the sect, one that time had failed to heal. Rather than fading, the disciple's resentment toward Yuan had only grown. In Bai Zhan's absence, they had come to realize just how much his presence had shaped the sect, how his charisma and strength had been a guiding light. Without him, the sect felt emptier, duller—an absence that only deepened their hatred for the one responsible for his death.

                  "Do you think Elder Bai will kill him the moment he comes out?"

                  The disciples began mumbling to each other.

                  "Probably. I would if I were in his shoes."

                  "Elder Bai's demeanor has changed drastically since Senior apprentice-brother Bai's death. He used to be gentle and approachable. Now? I can't even look at him without shivering in fear."

                  "I don't think I have seen him smile once, either."

                  Meanwhile, Lan Yingying and the others were also in the crowd. They knew how much the disciples hated Yuan and that his release from confinement would be dramatic, but none of them could've anticipated how many people would show up.

                  "Practically every Outer Court disciple is here, and there are even many Inner Court disciples," Xi Meili mumbled in a nervous voice.

                  "I hope he'll be fine…" Lan Yingying sighed.

                  The following day, Yuan stopped his mental training when he noticed the boulder that sealed the cave was being moved.

                  "Has it been two years already?" Yuan muttered as he rose to his feet. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, walking toward the light.

                  As he emerged from the cave, the warmth of the sunlight washed over him, a sensation he hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity. The gentle touch of the breeze, the scent of the open air—it all felt almost foreign after so long in isolation. However, his brief moment of reprieve was quickly overshadowed by the heavy atmosphere surrounding him.

                  The sight of the gathered crowd, their piercing gazes filled with hostility, and the oppressive silence that hung in the air immediately drew his attention.

                  However, despite the thick tension in the air and the overwhelming killing intent directed at him, Yuan met their gazes with an unwavering calm. His expression remained composed, devoid of fear or hostility, as if the hatred surrounding him was nothing more than a passing breeze.

                  After a brief silence, a cold and imposing voice shattered the stillness.

                  "Are you the one who killed my grandson?"

                  Yuan's gaze shifted toward the speaker—an elderly man standing at the forefront of the crowd, his presence radiating an oppressive aura. With each slow step he took forward, the air itself seemed to constrict, growing heavier with an unseen force that pressed upon everyone present. The sheer weight of his presence was suffocating, yet Yuan remained still, his expression unreadable as he faced the old man's piercing gaze.

                  "Sorry, I think you have the wrong guy."

                  To everyone's surprise, Yuan blatantly lied before Elder Bai's face.

                  "So you're telling me that you're not Xiao Yang and that you didn't kill Bai Zhan?" Elder Bai's voice trembled with barely restrained fury, his entire body quivering as he struggled to contain the emotions surging within him like an uncontrollable storm. His clenched fists shook at his sides, his breathing uneven. The air around him crackled with his suppressed rage, ready to erupt at any moment.
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                  Chapter 1886 Condolences

                  "Oh, I am Xiao Yang. You should've clarified," Yuan said after being pressed by Elder Bai. "I also didn't know you were that disciple's grandfather. You have my condolences."

                  "YOUR CONDOLENCES?! HOW DARE YOU!"

                  Elder Bai's furious roar thundered through the mountains, shaking the ground beneath them. The sheer force of his voice sent ripples through the air, as if the world itself trembled beneath the weight of his rage.

                  "You were the one who killed him!" he bellowed, his aura surging like a raging storm. "Take your condolences back immediately before I lose control of my hands!"

                  His killing intent exploded outward, suffocating and oppressive, causing the weaker disciples in the crowd to instinctively step back. His eyes, filled with unrelenting hatred, locked onto Yuan.

                  However, Yuan calmly shook his head and responded, "There's been a misunderstanding. Although I am offering my condolences, it's not for Bai Zhan's death."

                  "What?!" Elder Bai was so taken aback by Yuan's response that it momentarily dumbfounded him.

                  "What kind of response is that?"

                  Even the disciples behind him all wore bewildered looks on their faces.

                  "I am offering my condolences to something else, Elder Bai," Yuan continued, his voice calm and clear, each word striking like a thunderclap in the suffocating silence.

                  The crowd stiffened, stunned by his audacity. But before they could fully process his words, he delivered another blow.

                  "Despite being an honorable and genuine person, you were unfortunate enough to have such a despicable grandson. Most of you aren't aware of it because of how well he hid it, but Bai Zhan is a sick individual who has harmed a lot of people behind the curtains."

                  Gasps rippled through the gathered disciples. Shock, outrage, and disbelief painted their faces as they stared at Yuan, unable to believe what they had just heard. Even Elder Bai, whose fury had already reached its peak, faltered for a brief moment, his eyes widening in stunned silence before a new wave of rage surged forth.

                  "Y-You son of a bitch…!" Elder Bai's voice trembled with rage, his body shaking uncontrollably. "Is killing my grandson not enough for you?! Not only did you take his life, but now you dare to slander his name even after death?! Do you even have a heart?!"

                  His aura surged violently, crackling with raw fury. His restraint, already hanging by a thread, snapped as he roared, "Although I promised the Sect Leader that I wouldn't kill you with my own hands, I will have to break that promise!"

                  A suffocating killing intent exploded from Elder Bai, pressing down on the surroundings like an unrelenting storm. The gathered disciples remained frozen, unable to fault him for his outburst. To them, Bai Zhan had been a paragon of righteousness, a shining beacon of kindness and honor. For Yuan to brand him a "sick individual" was beyond outrageous—it was outright blasphemy.

                  In response to Elder Bai's fury, Yuan remained unfazed and calmly asked, "Have you cleaned out his Immortal Cave yet?"

                  "What?" Elder Bai's movements faltered, his wrath momentarily disrupted by the unexpected question. The crowd, equally confused, murmured among themselves, unsure of where Yuan was going with this.

                  With a confident smile, Yuan continued, "Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave. Only Core Disciples are supposed to have one, but since he was your grandson, he was granted that privilege despite being an Outer Court disciple. Have you gone through his belongings yet?"

                  Elder Bai narrowed his eyes, his breath still heavy with anger.

                  "If not," Yuan added, "then I can prove to you that my words aren't slander—but the truth."

                  A hush fell over the gathered disciples. The weight of Yuan's confidence sent ripples of doubt through them for the first time.

                  "If I am wrong, I'll forfeit my life."

                  Yuan's words hung in the air like a blade, sharp and absolute.

                  Yet, despite Yuan placing his very life on the line, Elder Bai hesitated. His hands trembled—not with rage, but with something far more insidious… uncertainty. Checking Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave would be akin to admitting that doubt had taken root in his heart. It would also mean he had entertained the words of his grandson's killer. And if Yuan was merely toying with him—if this was nothing more than a cruel deception—then Elder Bai would never be able to forgive himself.

                  His fingers clenched into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. The weight of the moment pressed down on him like an iron chain. The gathered disciples held their breath, sensing his inner turmoil.

                  "What's the matter, Elder Bai?" Yuan's voice was calm yet laced with something almost mocking. "Are you thinking about killing me before you even confirm the truth for yourself? In that case, I have misjudged your character and nature. That was my mistake. You can kill me now."

                  With that, Yuan took a bold step forward, his arms spreading wide open as if inviting death itself. His eyes, steady and unwavering, bore into Elder Bai's with an unshakable conviction. "Y-You…" Elder Bai's entire body trembled, his breath ragged. He had lived for decades, experienced countless trials, and met all kinds of people, yet he had never encountered someone like Yuan.

                  A man who faced death without fear. A man who, despite being surrounded by enemies, stood as if he alone controlled the outcome.

                  For the first time, true hesitation gripped Elder Bai's heart. If Yuan were lying, why was he so willing to risk his life? Why did he not beg, cower, or even show the slightest flicker of doubt?

                  Eventually, Elder Bai took a deep breath, steadying himself before speaking. "As atonement for being willing to break my promise to the Sect Leader, I will entertain you this time."

                  His voice, though still laced with anger, carried a weight of restraint. It was not a concession nor an admission of doubt but a momentary allowance—a way to justify the crack in his absolute certainty.

                  "However, if it turns out to be slander, I will make you suffer a fate worse than death! I swear my soul on it!" Elder Bai swore as he glared at Yuan.
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                  Chapter 1887 Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave

                  Once Elder Bai made his decision, he wasted no time. Without another word, he led Yuan directly to Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave, a place that few had ever stepped foot in.

                  The journey took them to Immortal Peak, a sacred ground within the sect where only Core Disciples and sect elders were permitted to enter. It was a place of prestige, home to the most promising talents and the most powerful figures in the sect.

                  Immortal Caves were sacred cultivation grounds, naturally formed in locations where spiritual energy gathered at an accelerated rate. Nestled within mountains or hidden in secluded areas, these places brimmed with an abundance of spiritual energy, allowing cultivators to cultivate at a speed far beyond ordinary means.

                  Because of their immense value, Immortal Caves were considered natural treasures, reserved only for the most talented. To have access to one was not just an honor but a testament to one's potential and standing within the sect. In fact, even amongst the few Core Disciples and sect elders at the sect, only a select few had access to them.

                  The only reason Bai Zhan was able to enter the Immortal Peak, much less acquire an Immortal Cave of his own as an Outer Court Disciple, was because of his grandfather's status as Grand Elder.

                  Additionally, the number of Immortal Caves a sect possessed was directly tied to its prestige and standing in the cultivation world. These sites were rare and highly sought after, meaning that a sect's ability to control them was a testament to its influence and power.

                  The more Immortal Caves a sect owned, the more valuable it became, as these sites provided an unmatched advantage in cultivation speed. Powerful sects with multiple Immortal Caves often attracted the most talented disciples, further solidifying their dominance over weaker sects.

                  Upon reaching Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave, Elder Bai finally halted before the entrance, his gaze fixed on the sealed doors. His hands clenched at his sides as a deep breath escaped him.

                  "This is your final chance," he warned in a cold tone.

                  Despite the seriousness in Elder Bai's tone and demeanor, Yuan couldn't help but smile, "You're still able to offer me warnings? You're just as kind as I remember, Elder Bai."

                  "What?" Elder Bai frowned, not because he thought Yuan was mocking him.

                  'He's speaking as if he's known me for a long time, but this is definitely our first meeting!'

                  In the end, Elder Bai decided to ignore Yuan's remark and opened Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave.

                  Although the exterior of the Immortal Cave bore a resemblance to the Confinement Chambers, its interior was a world apart.

                  Stepping inside, one was immediately met with a sense of vastness—the space was far larger than one would expect from the outside. Unlike the cold, barren, and almost suffocating atmosphere of the Confinement Chambers, the Immortal Cave was a place of luxury and vitality.

                  Elegant furnishings filled the space, from finely crafted wooden tables and silk-draped seating to intricate jade ornaments that shimmered under the soft glow of spiritual lamps. The very air itself felt alive, so rich in spiritual energy that a thin mist naturally formed, drifting lazily across the floor like an ethereal veil. Every breath taken inside carried a surge of renewed energy, making it clear why these caves were reserved for only the most privileged cultivators.

                  The stark contrast between the two locations was undeniable. The Confinement Chamber was a place meant to break the spirit, to suppress and isolate, while the Immortal Cave was designed to nurture one's potential, offering an environment that could elevate a cultivator's strength at an unparalleled rate.

                  The moment Elder Bai stepped into the Immortal Cave, his breath hitched.

                  The unmistakable presence of Bai Zhan's essence within the space brought forth a wave of emotions. It was as if, for a fleeting moment, his grandson was still there—still sitting in meditation.

                  A sharp pain stabbed at Elder Bai's chest. The loss he had tried so hard to suppress came crashing back with brutal force.

                  His expression darkened, grief quickly twisting into rage. His eyes snapped toward Yuan, his killing intent erupting once more. The air turned heavy, suffused with his boundless fury.

                  "You…" he growled, his voice low and venomous, his entire being trembling with restraint.

                  To Elder Bai, this place was a painful reminder of what had been stolen from him—the grandson who had once cultivated here, who had once carried his pride and expectations. And standing before him, utterly unfazed, was the very person responsible for his loss.

                  The urge to strike Yuan down where he stood clawed at his mind, yet something held him back.

                  Yuan calmly spoke a moment later, "I won't take a step from here just in case you think I will try to do something."

                  He pointed at a certain object resting on a shelf and continued, "All of the evidence is inside that box."

                  Elder Bai's sharp gaze locked onto the wooden box that Yuan was pointing at.

                  At a glance, it seemed ordinary, unassuming—just a simple container resting among Bai Zhan's belongings.

                  However, Elder Bai could tell the box was heavily protected by several layered arrays. There was even one that prevented tampering, ensuring the contents would be destroyed if someone tried opening it by force.

                  A sense of unease crept into Elder Bai's heart. Why would Bai Zhan need something so heavily secured inside his own Immortal Cave, where no one but himself had access? The tamper-prevention array was especially suspicious.

                  'What the hell is inside that box? Not even the sect's secret techniques are that heavily guarded…' Elder Bai swallowed nervously as his heart began beating faster and faster.

                  "What's wrong, Elder Bai? Aren't you curious what's inside that box? Go ahead and open it," Yuan urged him. Elder Bai gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening as he fought the overwhelming urge to strike Yuan down where he stood. With a deep breath, he forced himself forward, his steps small, unsteady, and full of uncertainty. As he reached the wooden box, his hand hovered above it for a moment, his fingers trembling slightly. Then, with a slow, measured breath, he steeled himself, grabbing the box a second later.
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                  Chapter 1888 Exposing Bai Zhan's Crimes

                  Once the wooden box was in his grasp, Elder Bai swallowed nervously, his fingers tightening around the edges as he stared at it in silence.

                  Despite the many protective arrays guarding the box, to Elder Bai, they were nothing but child's play—a minor inconvenience at best. After a moment of silence, he deactivated all of the arrays and opened the wooden box, revealing another object inside.

                  "A spatial ring?" he muttered with raised eyebrows.

                  He turned to look at Yuan and asked, "What is this? How is this evidence?"

                  "With all due respect, why don't you take a look inside that spatial ring first?" Yuan calmly responded.

                  "Hmph."

                  Elder Bai gave a cold snort before looking inside the spatial ring with his divine sense.

                  The moment his consciousness touched the contents inside, his expression froze.

                  "T-This is—?!"

                  His eyes widened in shock, and in the span of a breath, that shock twisted into horror. His face drained of color, his fingers trembling slightly as he pulled his divine sense away, as if he had been burned.

                  Seeing Elder Bai's reaction, Yuan narrowed his eyes and spoke, "I can assume that I've proven myself, right?"

                  "T-This doesn't prove anything! How do I know that this was truly done by my grandson?! For all I know, you could've planted this evidence here!"

                  Yuan sneered, "This is my first time entering this place, so how could I have planted the evidence?"

                  "Then how did you know about this evidence?!" Elder Bai roared.

                  If Yuan had never been to Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave, how did he know about the wooden box and Bai Zhan's spatial ring? This didn't make any sense to Elder Bai.

                  Yuan shrugged, "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

                  "Try me!"

                  After a moment of silence, Yuan spoke with a smile, "I came from the future."

                  "Y-You what?" Elder Bai's eyes widened with disbelief at Yuan's outrageous and delusional claim.

                  "See? I told you that you wouldn't believe me." Yuan sighed as he shook his head.

                  "Anyway, I have already given you the proof that Bai Zhan was never a good guy. If you still don't believe me, there's nothing I can do but accept my death."

                  Elder Bai gritted his teeth in silence.

                  Eventually, he said, "I will spare you… at least until I finish my investigation, so don't think for a second that you're free yet."

                  "I understand."

                  "You are also prohibited from leaving the sect until then," Elder Bai added.

                  "I wouldn't be able to go anywhere even if I wanted to as an Outer Court disciple," Yuan shrugged.

                  Elder Bai glared at him before speaking in a commanding tone, "Get out of my sight."

                  Yuan didn't say another word and immediately left Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave.

                  Once Yuan left, Elder Bai fell to his knees and began puking.

                  "Bai Zhan… please tell me this isn't true… that you didn't do these horrific acts…" he muttered with a desperate look on his face.

                  Sometime later, Elder Bai sealed Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave and returned to his own living quarters. Inside, he retrieved Bai Zhan's spatial ring and, with a flick of his wrist, dumped its contents onto the cold floor.

                  Thud.

                  A series of dull impacts echoed through the room.

                  Bodies.

                  Several human bodies lay sprawled across the floor, eerily motionless. At a glance, they appeared healthy, as though they were simply sleeping. However, spatial rings are not capable of containing living beings, so these people were already dead.

                  Elder Bai stood rigid, staring at the lifeless figures before him, his mind a storm of emotions.

                  These weren't just random people. They were all wearing the Immortal Monastery's Outer Court uniform, and Elder Bai even recognized some of their faces—but not because they were prominent disciples.

                  "They are all female disciples who went missing many years ago…" Elder Bai trembled as he muttered this to himself.

                  The fact these missing disciples' corpses were found inside Bai Zhan's Immortal Cave could only mean that he was involved in their disappearance and death.

                  After mentally preparing himself, Elder Bai began examining these corpses' condition. It didn't take long for him to find evidence that linked them to Bai Zhan.

                  To his horror, these corpses had been defiled. Not only had they been defiled, but Elder Bai could find Bai Zhan's bodily substance still inside their body.

                  Since these corpses had been stored inside a spatial ring, which perfectly preserved everything, this meant Bai Zhan's substance was still fresh, as if it had only recently been produced.

                  As for the identity of the substance's producer, Elder Bai didn't even need it to be examined to know it belonged to Bai Zhan because it contained Bai Zhan's unique spiritual energy.

                  When Elder Bai reached this point, he could no longer continue being in denial and had to admit that Bai Zhan was responsible. After all, unless Yuan had somehow acquired Bai Zhan's bodily substance and planted it inside these corpses, there was zero chance Yuan could've framed Bai Zhan.

                  After examining the corpses, Elder Bai turned his attention to the pile of clothes that came out with the bodies. They were all clothes meant for females, and Elder Bai could only think of one reason why Bai Zhan would have them.

                  "He was most likely dressing the corpses up and treating them as if they were dolls…"

                  After putting the pieces together, Elder Bai stood in utter silence.

                  His gaze remained fixed on the corpses strewn across the cold floor, his mind whirling as the truth settled in—a truth he had never imagined, never wanted to believe.

                  The realization felt like a blade twisting in his chest.

                  His beloved grandson, Bai Zhan, had not been the righteous, honorable cultivator he had so fiercely believed in all these years. He had been hiding something monstrous—something that no excuse could justify.

                  The pain of betrayal burned hotter than anything he had ever known.

                  Then, without warning—

                  BOOM!

                  Elder Bai's rage erupted like a violent storm, his spiritual energy surging uncontrollably. The very air trembled, his overwhelming power causing the walls of his quarters to crack under the sheer force of his fury despite the defensive formations placed on them.

                  "Bai Zhan, you shameful bastard! You're lucky that you're already dead, or I would've killed you myself!" His voice thundered, filled with grief, fury, and unbearable shame.
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                41. Offline
                  Eternal Paragon
                  Eternal Paragon
                  + 16 ⋅ 0 -
                  Chapter 1889 Exposing Bai Zhan's Crimes(2)

                  Although Elder Bai was already certain that Bai Zhan was behind the disappearance and deaths of these disciples, he needed more evidence and information before exposing his grandson's crimes to the world. Accusing his own blood was not a decision to be taken lightly, but Elder Bai was a man of unwavering principles. He would not protect evil, even if it came from his own family.

                  This was why Yuan remained calm despite his situation. He knew Elder Bai's sense of justice would not allow personal ties to cloud his judgment.

                  After carefully placing the corpses back into Bai Zhan's spatial ring, Elder Bai began investigating everyone who had once been close to him. The deeper their ties to Bai Zhan, the greater the pressure he placed on them.

                  Thus, over the next several days, Elder Bai would summon disciple after disciple for questioning.

                  Meanwhile, Yuan returned to his living quarters.

                  "Y-Yuan!"

                  Xi Meili and the others immediately rushed to his side after seeing him return.

                  "It's been two years. How have you all been?" Yuan greeted them with a calm smile, acting as if nothing had happened.

                  "We should be asking you that! Are you okay? What's the situation like now?" Xi Meili said.

                  "I should be fine. I don't think that elder will come after me anymore."

                  "What makes you so confident?"

                  "I know that elder very well. He's one of the most righteous individuals in this sect."

                  Ji Ran then spoke, "Young Master, I must ask, why did you kill that disciple? You even ended up losing two years of progress because of him."

                  "I killed him because he was a despicable person. As for his crimes… they should be revealed soon."

                  "What are you going to do now?" Lan Yingying then asked.

                  "I'll continue what I was doing before. How's everyone's progress in the last two years?" Yuan then asked.

                  Xi Meili scratched her head in a somewhat embarrassed manner and said, "Honestly, not much. Although our progress as Spirit Apprentices was quite fast, it's much harder to progress as Spirit Warrior. In two years, we've only managed to increase our cultivation by six to seven levels, so we're just catching up to you."

                  "I'm the only one who's managed to surpass you, Young Master." Ji Ran said, revealing his cultivation to be at the 5th level of Spirit Master. "I'm only lacking a few more contribution points to take the Inner Court examination."

                  Meanwhile, Lan Yingying had reached the 7th level of Spirit Warrior, with Xi Meili at the 5th level of Spirit Warrior.

                  "Sister Songyun is also at the peak of Spirit Warrior like you," Xi Meili added.

                  "I see… What about Yingzi?" Yuan asked with a hint of nervousness in his voice.

                  "Oh, right. You don't have to worry about Yingzi. She made it to the Immortal Monastery," Lan Yingying said. "However, she only arrived last month."

                  "Last month? Where is she right now?" "She's training at the Hunting Grounds. Also, you won't believe why it took her this long to come here," Xi Meili answered.

                  "Why?" Yuan curiously raised his eyebrows.

                  "I think it'd be best if you heard it directly from her," Xi Meili chuckled.

                  "Is that so? I'll ask her later then."

                  Sometime later, Yuan had to visit the Disciplinary Hall to retrieve the spatial rings that were confiscated from him right before he entered confinement.

                  Yuan anticipated that some of his stuff would be stolen, but to his surprise, none of his items were touched.

                  In the past, his belongings would always mysteriously disappear after coming out of confinement. Of course, they were all stolen by the sect elders, and there was nothing he, a mere disciple, could do about it.

                  'Even if they wanted to steal my things, I don't have much for them to steal,' he thought to himself.

                  Besides the spirit stones he got as an allowance, Yuan had sold all of his monster cores and materials for points before the tournament.

                  After regaining his spatial rings, Yuan made his way to the Hunting Grounds, where he remained for two weeks straight.

                  During Yuan's time in the Hunting Grounds, Elder Bai presented all the evidence he had gathered about Bai Zhan to the Sect Leader before making it known to the rest of the sect.

                  Standing before his fellow sect elders, his expression was solemn as he spoke, "Because of my own shortcomings, my grandson, Bai Zhan, has committed many unforgivable crimes within the sect."

                  When the other sect elders learned of Bai Zhan's crimes, they were all left speechless. They were also angry that they had been supporting a monster this entire time without knowing.

                  Before long, the news reached the rest of the sect. When the Outer Court disciples heard of it, they were left in utter disbelief. Bai Zhan, a figure most had respected and admired, was now revealed as a serial killer who also defiled corpses.

                  "What? Bai Zhan was responsible for those missing disciples? One of them was my friend!"

                  "I heard he defiled their corpses, even dressing them up like dolls… How sick was Bai Zhan in the head to do such things?"

                  "Fu#k! I cannot believe I admired a bastard like him!"

                  It was revealed that Bai Zhan had exploited his status and reputation to deceive unsuspecting victims. His esteemed position within the sect allowed him to gain trust effortlessly, making it all too easy to lure others into his grasp.

                  Under the guise of friendship or mentorship, Bai Zhan would invite the victims into his home, where he would mercilessly end their lives, and not wanting to damage the bodies, he would often resort to using poison or strangulation. Once dead, Bai Zhan would transport their corpses to his Immortal Cave, where he would defile them.

                  Although the exact number of Bai Zhan's victims remained uncertain, the estimated count was around a hundred. The true scale of his crimes might never be fully uncovered, but the sheer number was enough to send chills throughout the sect. Fortunately, Bai Zhan had no accomplices, or they would've faced Elder Bai's wrath.

                  As for Yuan, who had once been the most despised individual in the sect for killing Bai Zhan, the truth had completely shifted his reputation. What was once seen as a heinous act was now hailed as justice. The very people who had condemned him now praised him as a hero, recognizing that his actions had rid the sect of a monster hiding in plain sight.
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                42. Offline
                  junior you dare
                  junior you dare
                  + 2 ⋅ 2 -
                  As for Yuan, who had once been the most despised individual in the sect for killing Bai Zhan, the truth had completely shifted his reputation. What was once seen as a heinous act was now hailed as justice. The very people who had condemned him now praised him as a hero, recognizing that his actions had rid the sect of a monster hiding in plain sight.

                  True NPC mindset, worthless.
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                43. Offline
                  《KN●WN》
                  《KN●WN》
                  + 3 ⋅ 1 -
                  What exactly do you want them to do? Still blame him or something?
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                44. Offline
                  Complex
                  Complex
                  + 3 ⋅ 0 -
                  Thank you for the reading :D
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                45. Offline
                  soymoreno
                  soymoreno
                  + 2 ⋅ 0 -
                  Gracias por todos los capítulos que subiste bro
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                46. Offline
                  Eternal Paragon
                  Eternal Paragon
                  + 11 ⋅ 0 -
                  Chapter 1890 Heaven Refining Crystal's Result


                  After arriving at the Hunting Grounds, instead of going straight to the core, Yuan began hunting the magical beasts in the outer region instead. He wanted to test out the Heaven Refining Physique, but since he wasn't sure he actually had it, he decided to test it with weaker monster cores.


                  On his seventh kill, Yuan acquired a 5th-level Spirit Apprentice monster core.


                  "Even if my Heaven Refining Physique doesn't work, consuming this won't instantly kill me…" Yuan mumbled as he held the monster core before his lips.


                  A moment later, Yuan consumed the monster core. When the monster core entered his mouth and touched his tongue, it instantly melted.


                  'It worked!' Yuan thought to himself as he swallowed the liquid and absorbed the spiritual energy within.


                  However, he quickly noticed something was amiss. Although he'd managed to consume the monster core and absorb its spiritual energy, it wasn't perfect.


                  "I'd only managed to refine a portion of the spiritual energy… about ten percent?" Yuan mumbled.


                  His original body and Heaven Refining Physique allowed him to refine all of the monster core's spiritual energy even before it was awakened. Yet, the Heaven Refining Physique he'd attained in this world only managed to refine 10 percent of the monster core's spiritual energy.


                  "Even though they'd managed to recreate the Heaven Refining Crystal and its powers, they are unable to completely replicate all of its power, huh?"


                  Yuan wasn't too surprised by this outcome. In fact, he was pretty satisfied by it. After all, he thought it wasn't going to work at all.


                  "Even if it's only a tenth of its original strength, that is more than enough for me to completely surpass everyone in cultivation."


                  After confirming the Heaven Refining Physique was working, Yuan went straight to the deepest region and began slaughtering the Spirit Master magical beasts there.


                  Two weeks later, Yuan left the Hunting Ground with his cultivation at the 3rd level Spirit Master. On his way out, he noticed a familiar face. It was Yingzi, and she was hunting magical beasts by herself.


                  Not wanting to disturb her, Yuan waited for her to finish her hunt and silently watched her from the shadows.


                  'She's gotten pretty good with a sword…'


                  Although Yingzi was not at the level of a swordmaster, she managed to reach a respectable level of sword mastery by herself.


                  Once Yingzi finished her hunt, Yuan approached her.


                  "Yingzi."


                  "Yuan?" Yingzi's expression remained calm when she saw Yuan, but her eyes were noticeably brighter than before.


                  "Did you forget? I'm Xiao Yang right now," Yuan corrected her.


                  "Oh, right. When did you finish your punishment?" she asked.


                  "Two weeks ago. I heard you only arrived at the Immortal Monastery recently, but you're already at the first level of Spirit Warrior. Did you stay at the Bamboo Garden until you reached Spirit Warrior?" Yuan noticed her cultivation was too high for someone who'd just qualified to enter the Immortal Monastery, suggesting that Yingzi had become a cultivator long ago but didn't leave the Bamboo Garden on purpose for some reason.


                  She nodded and confirmed, "I left when I reached Spirit Warrior."


                  "Why did you choose to stay there for so long?" Yuan asked with a puzzled face.


                  What came out of Yingzi's mouth left Yuan dumbfounded.


                  "The food there was too good, and I was worried that I would no longer be able to taste it again once I left, so I decided to stay until I couldn't," she calmly said.


                  Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry after hearing her ridiculous reason for staying in the Bamboo Garden for almost four whole years. However, it was definitely befitting of her character.


                  "I don't even know how to respond to that… but you must be relieved to know that the food in the sect is just as good if not even better than the food in the Bamboo Garden."


                  Yingzi nodded, "Yes, I would've come here sooner if I knew the food here was just as good."


                  "What do you think of the trial so far? It must be difficult for someone like you, right? Especially the physical labor," Yuan asked, glancing at her with curiosity.


                  Yingzi shook her head slightly before responding, her expression calm. "At first, I was more puzzled than anything. It's not as bad as the others made it out to be. Once I became a cultivator, it became incredibly easy, almost effortless."


                  Unlike the others, who struggled with the demands of physical labor due to their privileged backgrounds, Yingzi was a Predator from the Primal Expanse. Chopping bamboo and fetching water didn't hurt her pride. It was nothing more than a slight inconvenience.


                  "I see…"


                  "Are you heading back now?" Yingzi then asked.


                  Yuan nodded.


                  "Yes. You want to return with me?"


                  She nodded.


                  "It's almost time for breakfast."


                  Unbeknownst to Yuan, Yingzi would eat three meals a day without fail—even while training inside the Hunting Grounds. Surprisingly, the sect's food delivery system extended beyond the residential area and even reached the Hunting Grounds. That said, they would only deliver the food to the entrance of the Hunting Grounds.


                  Upon returning to the residential area, Yingzi wasted no time and immediately ordered food. As for Yuan, he planned on taking a shower, but he noticed someone standing by his doorstep, and it was someone he wasn't familiar with.


                  "How can I help you?" Yuan spoke as he approached this individual who was wearing the robes of an Inner Court disciple.


                  This male disciple narrowed his gaze at Yuan and asked, "Are you Disciple Xiao Yang?"


                  "That sounds like me. Who's asking?"


                  "I am here on behalf of Grand Elder Bai. He wants you to visit him whenever you're available."


                  "Sure. I'll give him a visit as soon as I clean myself up."


                  The Inner Court disciple nodded before leaving.


                  "That disciple has been waiting on your doorsteps for four days now."


                  Lan Yingying said to him through her opened window.


                  "He sure has a lot of free time as an Inner Court disciple," Yuan smiled.
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                47. Offline
                  Star
                  Star
                  + 1 ⋅ 0 -
                  You're the best! joy
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  2. Offline
    Superbis
    Superbis
    + 0 ⋅ 1 -
    Oh my god, I've read this somewhere before...
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  3. Offline
    Victor Mariano
    Victor Mariano
    + 0 ⋅ 0 -
    Opa... Por essa eu não esperava, será que ele vai ter benefícios agora?
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  4. Offline
    LouiseSR
    LouiseSR
    + 3 ⋅ 0 -
    So, it's like a scenario based on that time, and all cultivators of the sect of that time are here, then... there's another "Yuan" in some place?
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    1. Offline
      Nyfeirg
      Nyfeirg
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      I think more than everyone is alive and well because time has stopped, but only Yuan remains. I suppose he had been "dead" or something at the time when the whole sect was put under the time spell.
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