High above, the phantoms of ten thousand beasts galloped and roared amidst a colossal pillar of purple-gold light that connected heaven and earth.

Cultivators within a thousand-mile radius looked up, their faces a mixture of shock and awe at the celestial phenomenon.

“Has the Shen Family obtained the legacy of the cave dwelling?” a Golden Core True Person from a prominent clan asked, his voice trembling.

Such a profound anomaly could only be related to the legacy. They had stood guard here for more than ten days, waiting for the right moment to enter and seek their own fortunes. The Shen Family’s repeated failures in the past had given them all a glimmer of hope.

But now, that hope was dissolving into thin air.

“This cave dwelling is of extraordinary origin. We cannot allow the Shen Family to monopolize it.”

At that moment, a deep, powerful voice echoed across the land. A terrifying pressure descended, causing the expressions of every Golden Core True Person present to twist in shock.

Within the clouds, three Nascent Soul True Lords of the Lin Family had gathered, each exuding a fearsome aura. Besides them, the faint silhouettes of Nascent Soul True Lords from other forces loomed in the depths of the clouds.

Clearly, in the face of true treasures, so-called access rights were meaningless. These prominent clans, and even some immortal sects, had been lying in wait for a long time.

If the Shen Family failed to obtain the legacy, that would be one thing. But if they succeeded, prying it from their grasp would not be so easy.

“Lin Fangtian, are you seeking death?”

Above the cave dwelling, a rough voice exploded like a crack of thunder as an overwhelming momentum surged forth. The Nascent Soul True Lord who had escorted Shen Xian earlier stood on a spirit boat, glaring at the crowd from afar with fury in his eyes.

Lin Fangtian emerged from the clouds and sneered, “A legacy like this is more than your Shen Family can swallow alone!”

Behind him, several other Nascent Soul True Lords unleashed their imposing auras, creating an extremely intimidating front.

“Hmph. Then let me show you the might of my Shen Family’s Heavenly Cycle God-Slaying Array,” the Shen Family’s Nascent Soul True Lord snorted coldly.

The Heavenly Cycle God-Slaying Array suddenly erupted with a blinding golden light. Seventy-two array flags whipped and snapped in the wind, sketching a ten-thousand-zhang-tall phantom of a golden-armored divine general into the void. The divine general had three heads and six arms, each palm holding aloft a crimson sun. The terrifying pressure it radiated instantly evaporated the clouds within a hundred-mile radius.

Everyone was shaken.

At the same time, the celestial phenomenon grew even more dazzling. Blinding golden light shot into the sky, blotting out the sun. Wherever it reached, vast spiritual power surged and roiled, causing the hearts of countless cultivators to tremble with awe.

【Host’s Dao Companion, Ye Qingxian, has broken through from the early Foundation Establishment Realm to the late Foundation Establishment Realm. Blessing Return grants twenty times the cultivation increase from your Dao Companion’s breakthrough.】

Inside the cave dwelling, Shen Xian felt his spiritual power begin to boil. An ocean of spiritual energy poured into his meridians from the void. The spiritual vortex in his dantian spun wildly, and the barrier to the next stage of his cultivation was instantly shattered!

Boom—

Spiritual light erupted from Shen Xian’s body as his aura climbed steadily. His skin took on a jade-like luster, and his bones emitted crisp, humming sounds. Every inch of his flesh greedily devoured the immense spiritual power being returned to him.

Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm!

And now, outside the cave dwelling, the celestial phenomenon grew even more violent. The purple-gold pillar shot straight into the highest heavens. The phantoms of ten thousand beasts roared at the sky as if proclaiming the birth of a true heaven-defying genius!

Above the cave dwelling, within that expanse of golden light, a figure as graceful as an exiled immortal stood ethereally, bathed in spiritual power.

“It’s the Third Young Mistress!” a guard at the cave dwelling exclaimed in surprise.

The Shen Family’s Nascent Soul True Lord also recognized the woman of peerless beauty and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. “So it was she who obtained this fortune.”

With the legacy now manifest before them, all the Nascent Soul True Lords grew restless, their eyes burning with greed. Lin Fangtian, in particular, was already plotting to seize the woman and take her back to the Lin Family.

“Tsk.”

However, just as tensions reached their peak…

A soft sigh, like a whisper of the Great Dao itself, instantly suppressed the mountains and rivers for ten thousand miles!

Boom—

The void trembled! The laws of the world congealed!

A figure clad in white robes stepped slowly down from beyond the ninth heaven. With each step he took, a golden lotus imbued with Dao charm bloomed beneath his feet, each one bearing nine petals that reflected all of creation. His face was indistinct, shrouded in a misty haze, but his eyes were clear—as deep and vast as a starry river.

“I am still one step too late…”

His voice was plain, yet it caused the very souls of every cultivator present to tremble. Even the Nascent Soul True Lords felt as insignificant as ants before him, unable to muster a single shred of resistance.

Lin Fangtian’s entire body went rigid. Cold sweat soaked through his robes as utter terror filled his heart.

This person was definitely not from the Shen Family. Yet just a wisp of his aura caused the spiritual power in Lin Fangtian’s body to stagnate; even breathing became a struggle. He was more terrifying than his own family’s ancestor!

Could it be… someone from the Northern Region? he thought, his mind reeling with shock and disbelief.

The Abyssal Continent was divided into four regions. Among them, the Northern Region stood alone, a realm apart, home to countless terrifying existences. Any one of them was powerful enough to crush any force from the other three regions.

The white-robed man’s gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Ye Qingxian. A flicker of interest appeared in his eyes.

“Not a bad seedling.”

He had come for the cave dwelling’s legacy but had arrived a step too late; another had already claimed it. The white-robed man approached, easily passing through the golden light barrier until he stood before Ye Qingxian. Everyone looked up but could see nothing of what transpired within the radiance.

Inside the golden light, the man spoke calmly, “The master of this cave dwelling had ties to my teacher. Since you have obtained its legacy… would you consider becoming my personal disciple?”

Ye Qingxian looked at him quietly, her expression as aloof as ever. “I am not interested,” she replied coolly.

She would not become anyone’s disciple—especially not someone merely at the Refining Void Celestial Venerable level. He was not qualified.

The white-robed man was not angered. Such opportunities were governed by fate. If he had no affinity with this place, there was no sense in forcing the matter. Still, the woman before him possessed extraordinary potential, and he found himself wanting to cherish such talent.

“Very well,” he said. “If you ever reconsider, you may drip your essence blood onto this.”

He raised his right hand, and an ice-crystal jade token materialized, hovering silently in the air.

Ye Qingxian’s beautiful eyes flickered, but she remained silent, neither accepting nor refusing.

“We shall meet again, if fate allows.” With those words, the white-robed man turned and drifted away as gracefully as he had arrived.

The oppressive pressure that had blanketed the land for ten thousand miles vanished completely, and everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Ye Qingxian, following the receding golden light, descended back into the depths of the cave dwelling until all returned to a peaceful silence.

“Who dares covet what belongs to my Shen Family?!”

Just then, a deep, powerful voice boomed from the sky. Shen Xiong, the family head, had arrived personally, accompanied by a host of the clan’s high-ranking members.

Seeing this, Lin Fangtian’s face filled with unwillingness, but he knew any further attempts would be futile. With a final, frustrated glance, he reluctantly led his people away.

At that moment, inside the cave dwelling, the last of the anomalies subsided. Ye Qingxian stepped off the altar as the golden radiance around her finally faded.

“All done?” Shen Xian asked, pushing himself off the wall he’d been leaning against and walking over to her.

Ye Qingxian gave a slight nod, saying nothing more. This trip had yielded a bountiful harvest, but it would take time to digest it all. For now, her outward appearance remained unchanged.

“Let’s go, then,” Shen Xian said, not bothering to mention the earlier attack by the revived evil cultivator.

The two of them walked out of the cave dwelling side-by-side.

As soon as they emerged, Nangong Wan hurried toward them.

“Xian’er, are you alright?” Her beautiful eyes shone with joy as she carefully examined him from head to toe. Confirming he had no injuries, she let out a long sigh of relief. News of the evil cultivator had been relayed back to the family, and she had rushed over, sick with worry.

“I’m fine, Mother,” Shen Xian replied simply, his expression calm.

Nangong Wan nodded, then glanced at her daughter-in-law standing quietly beside her son. The celestial phenomenon had been visible for a thousand miles, and it seemed to indicate some great figure had shown her favor, but Nangong Wan refrained from prying. “Let’s talk more when we get home.”

The three of them joined the other powerful members of the Shen Family and departed.

Hidden in a dark corner nearby, Shen Li’s figure merged seamlessly with the shadows. He watched their departure, his expression cold and unreadable.

“What incredible luck,” he gritted out through clenched teeth, seething with a furious, silent rage. He never expected his meticulously laid trap to be thwarted so easily. But this matter was far from over.

Glancing at the distant horizon where the white-robed man had vanished, a cold sneer touched his lips. He then turned and melted back into the darkness.