“…”

White clouds drifted leisurely, and the old daoist before her seemed about to ride the wind away.

The moment she saw him, Jian Chou was already somewhat stunned; the moment she heard these words, she felt an indescribable irony—not because of his identity as Kunwu’s head, not because of his reputation spanning the Nineteen Continents, but simply because he was the one who had taken Xie Buchen as his disciple.

Thus, a moment of silence.

Jian Chou gazed at Hengxu Zhenren, frank and open, without fear.

A trace of respect appropriate for a junior toward a senior appeared at her lips. When she cupped her hands in salute, not the slightest flaw could be found. Standing on the Heaven-Reaching Platform, she bowed deeply to Hengxu Zhenren.

“Zhenren’s praise is undeserved. This junior has not severed worldly ties and has poor character. This trial was merely luck. I only wish to give my all in future trials and not disgrace Cliff Mountain’s reputation.”

These words carried a somewhat familiar flavor.

—Worldly ties already severed, character absolutely excellent. In future immortal seeking and dao questioning, among the great powers reaching heaven, there will surely be a place for you.

A phrase suddenly echoed in her mind.

Hengxu Zhenren looked up at Jian Chou, his face completely calm with a hint of smile, nodding: “Victorious without arrogance—such character is already rare. Little friend Jian Chou need not be overly modest.”

Speaking thus, Hengxu Zhenren looked toward positions somewhat lower.

“The second trial has ended, with six remaining. You have all crossed numerous perils and extracted dragon sinew. All may carry dragon sinew into the third trial.”

On the Heaven-Reaching Platforms, including Jian Chou, there were six people total—probably a rare instance of “many participants” in previous assemblies.

Jian Chou led with forty-four Heaven-Reaching Platforms firmly in first place.

Xia Houshe was second with twenty-four accumulated platforms.

Among the remaining four, Young Master Ruhua had sixteen platforms, Xiao Jin thirteen, Jiang Wenchao eleven, and Zuoliu ten. Though the numbers seemed small, they were genuinely dragon sinew holders who could enter the third trial—they could be considered outstanding among the current generation in the Central Domain’s Left Three Thousand.

The moment Hengxu Zhenren spoke, everyone’s attention was drawn over.

“In this Kong Hai dragon hunt, each of you has gained something. The Kong Hai dao seals will no longer be usable once you leave Kong Hai. However, they will leave a ‘seal seed’ within your bodies, preserving the cultivation method. After the assembly, if you diligently cultivate and carefully comprehend, you may well restore these dao seals’ full power.”

There were actually “seal seeds”?

The several people standing on Heaven-Reaching Platforms all couldn’t help showing surprised expressions.

The dao seals they used in Kong Hai were quite powerful.

Jian Chou had never thought these dao seals could be used outside Kong Hai, never expecting Hengxu Zhenren to say such words now.

Seal seeds…

She pondered, immediately settling her mind and looking inward.

Her consciousness sank into the ancestral aperture at her brow, almost instantly reaching her spiritual platform.

Three faint spiritual lights floated above the platform, slightly swaying under Jian Chou’s mental influence.

Three!

Island Control, Water Void Evasion, Deep Sea Binding!

Besides the dao seal Jian Chou had originally possessed, the two dao seals she’d won by defeating Tang Buye had also left “dao seeds”!

This was truly an unexpected harvest, immediately delighting everyone.

Hengxu Zhenren saw all this and continued: “Currently, Cliff Mountain’s Elder Fudao has worldly matters to attend to and isn’t free, so you may take this opportunity to rest and recover. As usual, the bell will be your signal—feel free to do as you please.”

“Thank you, Sect Master Hengxu…”

Many below couldn’t help showing strange expressions upon hearing “worldly matters,” but naturally everyone thanked him in unison in Hengxu’s presence.

Jian Chou didn’t think Fudao Shanren could be connected with any “worldly matters.”

She frowned, not knowing what had happened.

Standing on the sea of clouds plaza, Hengxu Zhenren said no more, only withdrawing his voice and smiling at Jian Chou: “No need to worry about your master. I’m afraid he’ll appear shortly.”

“Yes.”

The moment Jian Chou’s doubts arose, she heard Hengxu Zhenren speak, immediately feeling as if she’d been seen through. She said no more, only responding once.

Hengxu Zhenren nodded lightly, then turned on the sea of clouds plaza without another word, heading toward the Palace of All Heavens.

Once Kunwu’s head left, the entire Kunwu main peak, previously relatively quiet, immediately became noisy with discussions about the battle in Kong Hai.

Things like “This year even wild-born ones took two spots,” “What exactly is that dao seal of Cliff Mountain’s Senior Martial Uncle,” “With that dao seal in hand, being number one is basically guaranteed,” and other miscellaneous chatter.

In summary, Jian Chou was too strong, and everyone felt she would definitely win the next trial.

After all, she possessed the Dijiang Wind Thunder Wings.

Even the weakened Tang Buye wasn’t someone just anyone could defeat.

Moreover, the Dijiang Wind Thunder Wings’ counterattack was “Two Chances.”

Presumably, in everyone’s minds, this assembly’s result was already determined.

But for Jian Chou, everything was still full of variables.

She looked around again but saw no one from White Moon Valley. Lu Xiangleng was completely untraceable, causing her to frown.

At the edge of the sea of clouds plaza, sect masters and elders from various major sects currently stood, seemingly having moved their spectating positions from below to above.

Zhou Chengjiang happened to be up there as well.

He stood before two elderly Dragon Gate elders, apparently saying something.

Those two elders gave some instructions, then glanced toward the Palace of All Heavens. Zhou Chengjiang seemed to understand, nodding and watching the two leave the sea of clouds plaza.

Seeing this scene from afar, Jian Chou pondered briefly, then directly flew over to Zhou Chengjiang, smiling as she greeted: “Fellow Daoist Zhou.”

This voice…

Zhou Chengjiang immediately knew who had come. When he turned to see Jian Chou, his face already showed only bitter smiles.

“Sigh, if Zhou hasn’t guessed wrong, Fellow Daoist’s visit is surely to ask about the aftermath of the Dragon Scale Dao Seal matter.”

“And Fellow Daoist Xiangleng.”

There were quite a few things to ask about.

Seeing Zhou Chengjiang nearby, knowing he was among the top five and should know much, she came to inquire.

Hearing Zhou Chengjiang had already guessed half her intention, Jian Chou simply added the other half.

But…

The moment “Fellow Daoist Xiangleng” emerged, Zhou Chengjiang silently frowned: “White Moon Valley’s Fellow Daoist Lu, I’m afraid things aren’t good…”

Jian Chou immediately froze.

At the end of the sea of clouds plaza, the magnificent Palace of All Heavens floated at the height closest to the sky.

Brilliant radiance fell upon it, cloaking it in dazzling light.

Hengxu Zhenren climbed the steps one by one, passing through a thin layer of light blue light screen, and heard the arguing voices from within.

“Return my Dragon Gate!”

“Stop talking nonsense. During the dragon clan’s peak period, there were so many dragon gates—could they all belong to your Dragon Gate?”

“You mean this dragon gate didn’t come from my Dragon Gate?”

“Nonsense! If it were really from your Dragon Gate, would I dare use it? This is clearly a small trinket my disciple Qu Er (Second Fool) respectfully offered to this mountain man. I just borrowed the technique you left in Little Dragon Gate’s underwater lake to ‘consecrate’ it, which is why it could be used…”

“Respectfully offered? Small trinket?!”

…

Dragon Gate Elder Pang Dian, hearing these shameless words from Fudao Shanren, was about to explode completely. His old face had turned the color of pig liver, and he was about to roll up his sleeves for another round with Fudao Shanren.

“Elder Pang.”

A cold voice containing pressure suddenly sounded from behind.

Pang Dian, about to act, immediately stopped upon hearing this voice. Turning around, he saw Hengxu Zhenren had arrived and said: “Zhenren.”

Earlier on the sea of clouds plaza, he and Fudao Shanren had inevitably exchanged a few moves.

Seeing these two famous figures from the Central Domain fighting, Hengxu Zhenren feared it would damage reputations, so he invited them into the Palace of All Heavens to talk properly and set up a barrier preventing outside observation.

Who would have thought that upon returning, not only had the dispute not ceased, but it seemed to have intensified.

Hengxu Zhenren stepped forward, immediately seeing Pang Dian’s huffing appearance, while the “culprit” Fudao Shanren sat there with his legs crossed, completely at ease.

Sighing inwardly, Hengxu maintained his calm, unperturbed tone: “I’ve always understood Brother Fudao’s ways—he wouldn’t lie about such matters. But… this talk of ‘respectful offering’ is rather interesting.”

Everyone knew Dragon Gate preserved “dragon gates” inherited from ancient times to ensure transmission to future disciples.

The dragon gates’ existence was presumably secret. How could Qu Zhengfeng, a Cliff Mountain disciple, have a “dragon gate” to respectfully offer to Fudao Shanren?

Fudao Shanren might not be lying, but this dragon gate’s origin was quite peculiar.

Fudao Shanren, sitting with crossed legs, merely snorted upon hearing this.

“That fool Qu Zhengfeng rarely shows filial piety—look how nervous you all are. Your Dragon Gate can rest assured; our Cliff Mountain doesn’t covet using such things for scheming. Moreover, this gate is broken, and the world within carries a strange aura. I’ve investigated it before daring to throw it into Kong Hai as a little surprise for this round.”

Surprise?

Surely not a shock?

That terrifying power appearing in the small assembly—how many spectators were frightened pale?

Pang Dian no longer had the energy to refute Fudao Shanren: this old turtle was truly full of nonsense.

Fortunately, Dragon Gate had verified that they possessed over ten dragon gates of various sizes, not one missing. It seemed Fudao Shanren’s dragon gate indeed had no connection to their sect.

With this Nine Dragon Gate existing, Jian Chou’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal was easily explained.

Pang Dian sighed inwardly, thinking of Zhou Chengjiang voluntarily taking blame for Jian Chou and receiving the “Human Weapon” body cultivation method in exchange—suddenly he felt less angry.

He simply waved his sleeve: “Fine, given our years of friendship, I won’t argue with you. Anyway, Chengjiang is unlucky—this year’s number one spot is gone…”

“Hehe, that boy from your sect also has exceptional talent…”

Fudao Shanren wanted to be polite, but before finishing his words, the sky outside the Palace of All Heavens suddenly burst with rosy light, immediately illuminating the entire hall.

His unfinished words were instantly cut off.

Like being bitten, Fudao Shanren immediately stood up, casting his shocked gaze outside.

“Heart-questioning?!”

On the sea of clouds plaza, Zhou Chengjiang was still slowly speaking to Jian Chou: “…People from White Moon Valley came and took away Fairy Lu. I heard that the giant python appearing beside Fairy Lu was an evil creature…”

Before he finished speaking, a terrifying aura suddenly covered the western sky.

Jian Chou immediately looked up, seeing a deep purple cloud in the west gradually expanding, stretching hundreds of li.

The clouds were thick with lightning faintly gathering, occasionally producing heart-shaking rumbles.

That direction…

Her heart secretly alarmed—if she remembered correctly, her junior brothers had said some time ago that Qu Zhengfeng had returned to Cliff Mountain for closed-door cultivation, preparing to break through to Nascent Soul!

Between heaven and earth, subtle mysterious changes suddenly began.

Above Kunwu, the crowd that hadn’t yet left immediately became excited.

“It’s Cliff Mountain’s direction!”

“Is someone breaking through?”

“Is it heart-questioning?”

“Such massive tribulation clouds…”

…

By the Western Sea, at the tail of Nine-Head River, Wangjiang Tower.

River water flowed horizontally, waves lapping, reaching the high tower.

Gold-embroidered carpets covered the floor, tables held thousands of wine cups, a precious sword lay across the table, and a bewitching beauty brought wine cups, still leaning toward the richly dressed man on the couch.

“My lord…”

The soft voice made one’s bones go weak.

Sword-like brows and starry eyes, carrying noble bearing.

This man wore robes resembling python patterns, reclining on the couch in apparent debauchery. Seeing another cup of wine arrive, he couldn’t help smiling, drinking from the beauty’s wrist with a sigh: “Good wine!”

“Then drink a few more cups?”

This was thousand-year jade nectar, difficult for ordinary cultivators to obtain, extremely precious.

But in Sword Marquis’s eyes, what did it matter?

Wangjiang Tower’s Purple-Robed Sword Marquis Xue Wujiu always loved fine wine and food, famous swords and beautiful women…

The beauty thought this, lifting the wine pot to pour another cup, ready to serve the man properly.

Unexpectedly, the moment she brought the second cup, the Purple-Robed Sword Marquis, who had been lazily reclining, suddenly opened his previously squinting eyes with some surprise, looking west toward Cliff Mountain.

A stream of light passed over the sword on the table.

How many years had it been? The formerly equally famous “Eastern and Western Swords”—he, the “Western Sword,” had become the Purple-Robed Sword Marquis, while the Eastern Sword Qu Zhengfeng remained stagnant at Nascent Soul cultivation for years without progress.

“Finally coming to terms with it…”

With a sigh, he laughed once, picked up the precious sword from the table, and disappeared from the high tower.

Those tribulation clouds, which hadn’t appeared in the Nineteen Continents for ages, attracted the attention of nearly all powerful cultivators throughout the Nineteen Continents.

Soul Departure was a threshold—once crossed, one entered an entirely new realm.

This realm was like a barrier dividing ordinary from extraordinary. No matter how powerful before, failing to cross this threshold meant everything was in vain.

Wangjiang Tower, Wanghai Tower, Tongling Pavilion, the Northern Domain’s Yin-Yang Sects, Western Sea’s Chan Sect, Snow Region’s Esoteric Sect…

One after another, powerful divine consciousnesses crossed endless spatial barriers, arriving at Cliff Mountain’s periphery.

Here was the tribulation clouds’ center.

Endless tribulation clouds churned like an ocean thrown into Cliff Mountain’s sky.

Whether cultivating, chatting, or walking through mountain forests…

Throughout Cliff Mountain’s territory, whether ordinary people or Cliff Mountain disciples and elders, all now raised their heads to look at the sky above.

Before the Executive Hall.

Elders Bi Yan and Xihe, one stern and rigid, the other humorous and steady, now showed both joy and worry as they gazed at the Sword Sheath Peak.

There, a figure stood in the swirling wind, motionless for a long time.

All dust had been swept away by fierce winds, leaving only larger stones in place.

The rough ground was covered with sword and blade marks, seemingly left by someone practicing on Cliff Mountain’s highest point.

The steep platform looked like it had been leveled by a single sword stroke.

The towering Cliff Mountain giant sword stood like something eternal at the edge of Qu Zhengfeng’s vision.

He gazed at this sword as if deaf to the howling wind, the crackling lightning above, and the mysterious questioning voice…

Ask, cultivator, where does your heart turn!

Four days had passed. Though Kunwu’s Xie Buchen hadn’t returned, he couldn’t be far off.

Unfortunately…

No matter how fast they were, they couldn’t match his breakthrough speed.

Over three hundred years trapped at the same realm was rare throughout the Nineteen Continents, especially for someone originally talented like Qu Zhengfeng.

The long time had let him thoroughly understand everything within this realm.

He could be said to be this realm’s only nightmare, an existence no same-realm cultivator could match. Some cultivators entered Nascent Soul when Qu Zhengfeng was the first Nascent Soul cultivator, and after breaking through Nascent Soul to reach Soul Departure, Qu Zhengfeng was still the first Nascent Soul cultivator…

On the Nine Heavens Tablet, other names came and went, but only Qu Zhengfeng’s name remained unchanged for three hundred years, unmoved by wind and rain.

Now, it was time.

Qu Zhengfeng didn’t look at the tribulation clouds ready to erupt overhead, nor did he pay attention to this heart-questioning dao tribulation.

His heart needed no questioning.

Tribulation clouds covered hundreds of li, even reaching the distant White Moon Valley.

Qu Zhengfeng stepped forward, walking on this Sword Sheath Peak as if walking through his years at Cliff Mountain.

Past events like sand flowed through memory.

He came before that Cliff Mountain giant sword, reaching out to touch its stone surface, feeling the roughness carved by time and six hundred years of unsheathed loneliness.

“You’ve drunk my wine for six hundred years. Now that I must leave, are you willing to come with me?”

“…”

The cold sword body stood like a stubborn stone on Sword Sheath Peak, silently unresponsive.

But Qu Zhengfeng didn’t wait.

As if he only spoke to himself, as if he cared nothing for the Cliff Mountain giant sword’s answer.

Raising his hand, his form flew up. The wide gold-woven black robe flashed with brilliant light under the grim sky. He finally reached out, striking down with his palm!

“Crack crack crack…”

The terrifying accumulated cultivation from remaining at Nascent Soul for over three hundred years instantly erupted.

Surging palm force passed through this stubborn stone-like Cliff Mountain giant sword, transmitting into the entire Cliff Mountain’s body, causing trembling vibrations.

“Rumble rumble…”

The mountain continued shaking, even hard stones falling from the mountain body into Nine-Head River’s current below.

Qu Zhengfeng’s five fingers suddenly gripped into the stone, and the Cliff Mountain giant sword, showing only a hilt and bit of blade, slowly pulled up one inch!

Just this inch caused earth-shaking changes!

For a moment, there was an illusion of mountains collapsing and earth splitting.

Many Cliff Mountain disciples on Lingzhao Peak felt the ground shaking beneath their feet, unable to stand steady, crying out: “What’s happening?”

Before the Executive Hall, several elders’ faces also grew grave.

But they still didn’t know what was about to happen.

It was willing to follow him!

Beneath his dark pupils was a strange weariness and melancholy.

Cliff Mountain Sword, Cliff Mountain Sword.

Every Cliff Mountain disciple had a sword in their heart—only thus could they draw swords when needed, fearless of anything.

What he couldn’t forget, the Cliff Mountain Sword couldn’t forget either.

Thus, the withered bones on the Mitian Mirror finally opened their eyes, flesh and blood covering their body again.

He looked up to see, in this endless dark sky, that giant sword tip extending down from Sword Sheath Peak slowly separating from the bottom, moving upward, soon disappearing into the mountain’s rocky peaks.

“Sigh…”

A long sigh, and the withered bones finally closed their eyes again, returning to endless silence.

Golden light blazed, splitting endless dark clouds.

The entire Cliff Mountain was like a hard, ancient sword sheath, with the sword sleeping long within the mountain body.

Now, it was slowly drawn by Qu Zhengfeng from Sword Sheath Peak, inch by inch, slow but determined.

Like drawing a precious sword from its sheath—cold light bursting forth, weapons ringing!

Howling sword song resonated through heaven and earth.

No one knew where this sound came from or what produced it—only that it filled all directions, leaving no other sound in heaven and earth.

The Cliff Mountain giant sword was a thousand zhang long, already piercing the sky upon unsheathing.

What was Qu Zhengfeng’s figure beside this giant sword?

Yet he only raised his hand to receive it, and the giant sword carved like a mountain transformed into golden light proud between heaven and earth, falling into his palm.

Brilliant gold seemed ready to scatter even the tribulation clouds at the sky’s edge.

No one could clearly see what Qu Zhengfeng held—only that in this moment, his towering figure was hidden in that burning golden light, illuminating the entire Cliff Mountain area.

No one could distinguish which was him and which was the sword.

Perhaps he was the Cliff Mountain Sword, and the sword was Cliff Mountain him.

Looking up, with the Cliff Mountain Sword in hand, three hundred years of unceasing bitter cultivation—what was this heart-questioning dao tribulation?

Heart-questioning, heart-questioning—those with unsteady will easily suffer…

But he never doubted himself.

Thus, in this golden light, Qu Zhengfeng struck toward the dark-clouded sky with his sword!

“Boom”—sword energy stretched thirty thousand li, attacking the heavens!

The hundreds of li of tribulation clouds were cut in half by this crisscrossing sword energy, and even the lightning serpents wandering between heaven and earth couldn’t resist this sword’s light, vanishing like smoke upon contact.

The entire sky quieted for a moment.

Then, explosive sounds.

Fierce winds swept in with devastating force. The oppressive, heavy tribulation clouds finally couldn’t withstand this sword’s pressure, shattering from concentration like receding tide water, swept away by wind with a thunderous crash!

One Cliff Mountain sword stroke—cold light across the Nineteen Continents!

Qu Zhengfeng looked back at the vast mountains and boundless plains below, only curving his lips slightly, then leaping from Sword Sheath Peak westward toward the Jianzhu Sect, soon disappearing.

Only…

That clear voice still lingered in everyone’s ears.

“No longer under Cliff Mountain’s gate, I enter the demonic path myself. Until we meet again!”

“…”

Wh… what?

The elders below had only seen Qu Zhengfeng draw the Cliff Mountain giant sword, shocked by his mighty power in splitting the tribulation clouds with one sword. Still not having reacted, they heard such a stern phrase echoing in their ears, immediately feeling infinite terror!

In panic, Bi Yan, Xihe, and the other four elders flashed, appearing on Sword Sheath Peak.

The ancient, stubborn stone-like Cliff Mountain giant sword had vanished completely. The entire Sword Sheath Peak was empty, leaving only a massive hole several zhang wide at the original site. Looking down, it was deep and dark, leading to Cliff Mountain’s unknown depths…

Kunwu main peak, above the Palace of All Heavens.

Cliff Mountain had protective mountain arrays outside, blocking all divine consciousness exploration.

Neither Hengxu Zhenren nor Pang Dian could penetrate this barrier to witness the tribulation clouds’ complete dispersal, barely sensing that shocking sword energy.

With tribulation clouds scattered, coming fast and leaving fast, presumably Qu Zhengfeng had successfully crossed the tribulation, breaking through Nascent Soul to become a Soul Departure cultivator.

In extreme shock, Pang Dian finally recovered and laughed loudly: “Three hundred years! Thick accumulation for thin release—congratulations, Brother Fudao! Congratulations!”

For years, Qu Zhengfeng had often traveled bearing Cliff Mountain’s name. Everyone knew he handled matters appropriately with proper discretion—truly a rare talent.

Whether appearance, character, or insight, all were exceptionally outstanding.

Even in talent-filled Cliff Mountain, he was someone who couldn’t be ignored.

The only regret was his cultivation trapped long at Nascent Soul stage. Past a certain time limit, the longer one remained trapped in a realm, the lower the breakthrough possibility. Many had sweated for him, privately believing he had no breakthrough chance.

Who would have thought such a scene shocking the Nineteen Continents would unfold!

Even Hengxu Zhenren, whose thousand years of cultivation had produced a still-water heart, couldn’t help but ripple slightly upon seeing those tribulation clouds shatter.

But unlike Pang Dian, he felt an inexplicable oppressive feeling in his heart…

Perhaps because Qu Zhengfeng could never let go of his hostility toward Kunwu from years past?

He sighed and smiled at Fudao Shanren ahead: “Congratulations, Brother Fudao. Cliff Mountain has produced another Soul Departure great power.”

Fudao Shanren stood at the front, at Kunwu’s highest point.

His frame was thin and withered, wearing greasy dao robes unwashed for unknown years, still holding the chicken leg from his earlier argument with Pang Dian. He now stared blankly at the scattered tribulation clouds, speechless for a long time.

Unlike Hengxu and Pang Dian, he was Cliff Mountain’s highest-ranking person in name—Cliff Mountain’s arrays wouldn’t block his divine consciousness…

Below his messy eyebrows, something seemed to emerge in those bright eyes, quickly disappearing.

He went west toward the Jianzhu Sect…

Fudao Shanren’s mind was dull and blank. Hearing Hengxu and Pang Dian’s congratulations, he took a long time to react, his face expressionless: “Indeed cause for celebration…”

No longer under Cliff Mountain’s gate, I enter the demonic path myself.

How could it not be joyous?