Heaven… Heaven’s Punishment???

As soon as Yuchi Chunlei uttered these words, the few absolute core members of the Qingxuan Sacred Land present froze in place.

The concept of Heaven’s Punishment had existed since ancient times. After all, cultivators borrowed opportunities from heaven and earth, pilfering the fortunes of the Heavenly Dao. Since they could receive gifts and protection from the Heavenly Dao, naturally there was also the notion of being spurned and punished by it.

But…

“Nonsense!”

“So-called Heaven’s Punishment is nothing but the curse of failures. How could there possibly be such a thing as Heaven’s Punishment in this world?”

As soon as Yuchi Chunlei spoke, Guan Xuelan immediately scolded her. “Hurry and save Jiang Xun!”

At her words, everyone snapped back to reality. Looking at Jiang Xun, they were instantly horrified.

“Little Junior Brother’s aura is chaotic, his vitality is fading! Quick, save him!”

“He suffered a backlash from a blood-bound treasure and was struck by that heavenly thunder. All his meridians are damaged! Senior Sister Xu, please save Little Junior Brother!”

“Little Junior Brother, you must hold on! You absolutely cannot die!”

“…”

That night, the entire Qingxuan Sacred Land was in an uproar. A group of its absolute core members scrambled into action. A vast amount of spiritual pills, miraculous medicines, spirit stones, and resources were sent to Chuyun Peak.

Third Senior Sister Xu Wanqing oversaw the treatment throughout. The other senior sisters, even the Supreme Leader Guan Xuelan, all joined in, expending immense spiritual energy and effort in a full-scale rescue attempt!

Finally.

After an entire night, along with massive resources and spiritual power, Jiang Xun was finally out of danger!

“Fortunately, we treated him promptly, resources were ample, and Master, you intervened. Otherwise, Little Junior Brother might not have made it this time.”

“The backlash injury from the magic treasure was manageable. The most terrifying thing was that black lightning tribulation. Just a wisp of it seemed desperate to devour Little Junior Brother’s flesh and blood. It was truly horrifying!”

In Jiang Xun’s courtyard on Chuyun Peak, Xu Wanqing wiped sweat from her forehead and spoke with lingering fear. She had almost failed. That sliver of black lightning that entered Jiang Xun’s body carried terrifying power, wildly destroying everything within him as if filled with immense loathing.

It was brimming with malice towards Jiang Xun!

Guan Xuelan also felt lingering fear. She saw clearly that if she weren’t already a Mahayana-stage Supreme Being, she likely couldn’t have saved Jiang Xun’s life today no matter what. This made Guan Xuelan’s expression extremely dark as she glared fixedly at Yuchi Chunlei.

“What exactly was that thing?”

Yuchi Chunlei was still somewhat dazed. Faced with the question, she instinctively replied, “Master, that was Heaven’s Punishment…”

“Stop this nonsense! Heaven’s Punishment is purely fictitious! Moreover, Jiang Xun is a man of great fortune. How could he possibly be entangled with Heaven’s Punishment?” Guan Xuelan rebuked.

This…

Yuchi Chunlei regained her composure but remained deeply distressed inside. Originally intending to forge a sword for Little Junior Brother and gift him a divine weapon, she never imagined such a thing would happen.

Not only was the Dragon’s Roar Sword destroyed, but Little Junior Brother also nearly died on the spot. Worse still… the appearance of that black lightning meant Jiang Xun’s fortune had likely run out!

Seeing Yuchi Chunlei being scolded, the other senior sisters immediately spoke up.

“Senior Sister, explain in detail.”

“You said earlier it was something called Seven Yin Evil Lightning? What is that?”

“Yes, Senior Sister, what exactly is going on?”

They asked partly to defuse the tension, but also out of genuine curiosity.

“Seven Yin Evil Lightning is something that coexists and counteracts the Seven Luminosities Fortune Tribulation. If the Fortune Tribulation appears when one carries great destiny…”

“Then Seven Yin Evil Lightning appears when one carries great misfortune…”

Yuchi Chunlei pursed her lips. Seeing Guan Xuelan about to erupt in anger again, she quickly continued.

“I know Master doesn’t believe in theories about fortune and destiny. Honestly, if I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I wouldn’t believe it either.”

“But I am absolutely certain it was Seven Yin Evil Lightning!”

“The Seven Luminosities Fortune Tribulation is a tremendous opportunity; even if it fails, it doesn’t endanger life. But Seven Yin Evil Lightning is different. It closely resembles the Fortune Tribulation but is actually extremely sinister and vicious. Once it appears, it’s a fight to the death!”

“That’s why that lightning tribulation could last for several hours. Even just a wisp of its power nearly took Little Junior Brother’s life.”

The more Yuchi Chunlei spoke, the uglier Guan Xuelan’s expression became. “Why didn’t you recognize it earlier?”

Yuchi Chunlei lowered her head. “This… I never imagined something like Seven Yin Evil Lightning would appear in our Qingxuan Sacred Land, a place blessed with fortune…”

She gritted her teeth. “Master, this matter is of utmost importance and must be taken seriously!”

“Do you think this Venerable One isn’t taking it seriously enough?” Guan Xuelan retorted.

Yuchi Chunlei shook her head. “No, disciple means it’s not just about Little Junior Brother’s injuries. It’s about why our Qingxuan Sacred Land would incur Heaven’s Punishment!”

Guan Xuelan’s face instantly grew even more grim. But before she could erupt in fury, Yuchi Chunlei said, “Disciple knows Master has never believed in so-called Heaven’s Punishment theories. But this matter is too important! It’s better to believe it exists than to dismiss it entirely!”

“Our Qingxuan Sacred Land has always been protected by fortune! This allows us to achieve twice the result with half the effort in everything we do! Under normal circumstances, encountering an evil object like Seven Yin Evil Lightning would be impossible!”

“Yet now Seven Yin Evil Lightning has appeared within our sect grounds and even attacked a sect disciple! That means there must be something wrong with the fortune of our Qingxuan Sacred Land!”

“What about Eldest Senior Sister? She should understand this best.”

Only then did Yuchi Chunlei realize her Eldest Senior Sister Nian Zhaoxi wasn’t present. However… mentioning Nian Zhaoxi only made Guan Xuelan and the other senior sisters’ expressions turn even more unpleasant.

“Regarding matters of fortune, your Eldest Senior Sister did speak to this Venerable One about it,” Guan Xuelan said with a frown.

“Oh?” Yuchi Chunlei’s eyes lit up. “What did Eldest Senior Sister say? Did she have a solution?”

“She didn’t say.”

“Huh?”

Guan Xuelan kept a cold face. “She only said our sect’s fortune is dissipating and leaving the sect.”

“What?!” Yuchi Chunlei felt as if struck by lightning. “Why? Did Eldest Senior Sister say why?”

Guan Xuelan replied indifferently, “Your Eldest Senior Sister said it was because Gu Xiu used an Abandon Sect Spirit Contract and left the sect.”

Gu Xiu? Abandon Sect Spirit Contract? Left the sect???

Yuchi Chunlei was instantly filled with confusion. She had been busy forging divine weapons for Jiang Xun and knew nothing about this matter. The other senior sisters also looked greatly shocked upon hearing this.

There was such a thing?

But before anyone could process it fully, Guan Xuelan sneered coldly. “We cultivators defy heaven itself! Talk of fortune or Heaven’s Punishment is utter nonsense.”

“Not only is this matter baseless.”

“Even if it were true, do you really think just because Gu Xiu left, our Qingxuan Sacred Land’s fortune would dissipate and we’d incur Heaven’s Punishment?”

This… seemed reasonable.

But then Guan Xuelan turned around. “Issue orders! The Qingxuan Sacred Land will continue scouring the world for treasures!”

“Since forging a divine weapon failed this time.”

“Then we’ll do it again!”

“Next time we’ll use even more resources! Better treasures!”

“This Venerable One refuses to believe…”

“That so-called Heaven’s Punishment…”

“Dares to come again next time!”

…

And just as Jiang Xun had barely gotten his hands on a Heaven-grade magic treasure before it was ruined—and he himself nearly ruined—on another side.

Within the merchant caravan of Wanbao Tower in the Tianqi Mountain Range.

Gu Xiu was holding a sword.

A sword entirely pitch-black like ink. A sword emitting no aura whatsoever.

He examined it carefully.

Su Rumei smiled as she introduced it to him.

“This sword is named Shadow Plunderer.”

“Although its grade is only Earth-grade Magic rank.”

“This sword is extremely special.”

“Even comparable to Earth-grade Dao rank!”

“…”

Su Rumei’s introduction was actually quite limited because she herself didn’t understand this sword very well.

However, her introduction wasn’t really needed anymore.

Because when Gu Xiu saw this Shadow Plunderer Sword… his heart couldn’t help but tremble with shock.

In that dream spanning millennia, Gu Xiu had once seen this sword.

And this sword…

Was a peerless divine weapon surpassing even Heaven-grade!

An Immortal-grade Divine Sword!!!