Time flew by like a fleeting white colt; in the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

During these six months, the three of them had hardly set foot off the flying boat. Supported by a steady supply of Golden Core Nurturing Pills, both Lin Yinyin and Zhang Xian had reached the peak of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. They were now consumed with preparations for their impending Tribulation Crossing.

Li Fuxi had also fully recovered to her peak strength at the sixth level of the Golden Core, with faint signs suggesting an imminent breakthrough into the later stages.

Meanwhile, the joint demon-purging operation launched by the major sects of the Southern Region had yielded significant results. The formations of the Cycle of Withering and Flourishing Forbidden Art were dismantled one after another, totaling nearly a hundred arrays scattered across various mortal regions and minor worlds.

Jian Chen’s whereabouts were finally exposed. The investigation team nearly captured the “Demon Nest” secret realm on several occasions, forcing him to sacrifice his subordinates to protect himself. Eventually, Jian Chen was forced into a direct confrontation with Han Yichen, the young general of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty. He was brutally defeated, left on the brink of death, and only managed to escape via a high-level teleportation artifact.

Unfortunately, none of the captured evil cultivators were taken alive; to a man, they all chose to self-detonate.

To boost morale after these battles, the various sects of the Southern Region decided to hold a Demon-Purging Grand Assembly. Cultivators with a bone age under 400 years were eligible to compete.

The champion’s reward was a mid-grade spiritual artifact. The top four would receive Nascent Soul Formation Pills, and even those in the top eight would walk away with generous prizes. The event was officially scheduled to take place in two years in Nandu, the southern capital of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty.

As one of the six major powers in the Southern Region, the Yunmiao Sect was allocated three participant slots. Consequently, the sect announced an internal “Seventy-Two Peak Martial Competition” to select its representatives.

The news sent the entire Yunmiao Sect into a frenzy.

“I want to sign up,” Li Fuxi said, setting down her teacup. Her tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable firmness.

Zhang Xian and Lin Yinyin exchanged a glance, unsurprised. Their master possessed a deep obsession with restoring Spirit Sword Peak to its former glory. They had heard of this drive many times from their senior siblings and understood it perfectly.

“You two should focus on preparing for your heavenly tribulations,” she added. “Do not participate.”

That night, Zhang Xian sought out Old Deng to review the registration roster. His eyes scanned the list, quickly locking onto several familiar names:

Spirit Sword Peak: Li Fuxi, Chen Tiexin, Zhenhai. Green Wood Peak: Lu Rending? (The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it). Heavenly Puppet Peak: No registrants. Heavenly Palace Peak: Wang Yue, Nan Gongyao.

Zhang Xian’s fingertip tapped rhythmically on the name “Nan Gongyao,” a flicker of coldness passing through his eyes.

The next day, in the sword practice room, Zhang Xian approached Li Fuxi after her session. “Master, why does it feel like so few people signed up?”

“Many cultivators possess high cultivation levels but lack talent for arena combat,” she explained. “For instance, disciples from Alchemy Cauldron Peak or Green Wood Peak. Even Heavenly Puppet Peak—their puppet arts are unparalleled in the Southern Region, but they are at a disadvantage due to the restrictive rules of the arena.”

“Most who sign up for this kind of direct combat are sword cultivators.”

Li Fuxi neglected to mention the most practical reason: ordinary sword cultivators were usually destitute and relied on competition rewards to fund their cultivation.

Zhang Xian nodded, then asked pointedly, “Can this kind of competition be dangerous?”

Li Fuxi snorted. “When cultivators spar, they must go all out; otherwise, how can they display their true strength? If you are injured in the arena, you can only accept it as bad luck. However, referees are supposed to intervene promptly.”

“What if they don’t intervene in time?”

“Then,” Li Fuxi said calmly, “life and death are accepted without grievance.”

As the words left her mouth, Zhang Xian’s lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

“I see,” he nodded. “In that case, I’ll sign up too.”

Li Fuxi frowned. “Nonsense! What business does a Foundation Establishment cultivator have joining this?”

“Master often says that we must have a heart that strives for progress. I will treat it as a learning experience. Besides, the competition is still three months away. Who says I won’t break through to the Golden Core stage by then?”

Lin Yinyin popped up beside them. “I want to go too!”

Li Fuxi sighed. “Fine. Consider it an opportunity to broaden your horizons. But if you haven’t undergone your tribulations by the time the competition starts, you must withdraw.”

Lin Yinyin blinked. “Are there penalties for withdrawing?”

Li Fuxi shook her head. “At most, Spirit Sword Peak loses a bit of face.”

Zhang Xian patted his chest. “Don’t worry, Master. Yinyin and I will never disgrace you.”

A trace of gratification flashed in Li Fuxi’s eyes. Both her disciples were ambitious; she felt the future of Spirit Sword Peak was secure. She sighed inwardly with emotion, unaware that Zhang Xian was thinking of something else entirely.

Life and death without grievance? Perfect.

Within half a month, Lin Yinyin was the first to sense her breakthrough; her heavenly tribulation was imminent.

“Brother, I’m scared,” she said, clutching Zhang Xian’s sleeve in a panic.

“It’s just a heavenly tribulation. You’ve already refined two spiritual treasures,” Zhang Xian said firmly, placing his hands on her shoulders. He counted them off in a light, reassuring tone. “Plus the Earth-grade talismans I prepared for you, the recovery pills… and don’t forget you have a Heavenly Spirit Root.”

Lin Yinyin forced a smile that looked more painful than crying. “That’s exactly why I’m scared! Master said my Golden Core grade will be at least Earth-grade… which means I face the Six Heavenly Tribulations.”

Zhang Xian stayed silent for a moment. I suspect you’re humble-bragging.

“What is there to fear? You have the Nine Turns Jade Condensation Sutra protecting you. Few in the Southern Region have your talent or resources. Weren’t those hours of diligent cultivation for this very moment?”

Lin Yinyin remained panicked, whispering, “If only you went first… at least I’d have a reference…”

Zhang Xian suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. I’d like to go first, too… but you cultivate too fast.

That evening, Li Fuxi returned to the ship and spoke to Lin Yinyin. “I’ve arranged everything. You will undergo your tribulation at Qiongxiao Peak.”

“It is one of the sect’s most spiritually abundant peaks. I’ve personally asked the other elders to stand guard and set up protective formations.”

The news made Lin Yinyin even more nervous. If she failed in front of the whole sect, it would be humiliating. Then again, if she failed, she’d be dead, so embarrassment wouldn’t be an issue.

Three days later, fierce gales howled atop Qiongxiao Peak. Su Ling personally oversaw the protection, sitting quietly a hundred zhang away from the girl. Zhang Xian, Li Fuxi, Wangya, Zhiyin, and other elders stood on a distant platform, observing in silence.

Nearby, a young man meticulously arranged energy-recovery formations around the summit—Shouheng Zhenren, the head of Star Dipper Peak, whose classes Zhang Xian had once attended.

Lin Yinyin eventually gathered her focus, recited several calming mantras, and cleared her mind. They waited for hours until deep into the night, when dark clouds began to churn over the peak, lightning flashing within them like dragons.

“Purple thunderclouds…” Zhang Xian frowned. He had concealed his anxiety from Lin Yinyin, but his tension was no less than hers.

Almost everyone present held their breath. These thunderclouds were extraordinary.

Boom!

The first purple bolt descended. The thick stroke of lightning smashed into Lin Yinyin’s protective spiritual light like a giant axe. A water-patterned bronze mirror floating above her rippled, forcibly dispersing most of the force.

This was the first spiritual treasure she had upgraded. Even though refining it was a challenge at her current level, its power far surpassed mere magical instruments.

The second bolt followed instantly, more violent than the first. It directy tore through her protective light and struck her body. Lin Yinyin grunted, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, but she gritted her teeth and swallowed it back.

The third and fourth bolts struck in rapid succession. Lin Yinyin’s protective treasures finally failed, and her Earth-grade talismans were reduced to ash. Lightning lashed her slender figure, making her sway perilously, yet she never fell.

With each strike, her aura didn’t fade; instead, it grew more solid, as if she were tempering her very soul within the lightning.