These past days, speculations surrounding Kunwu’s situation had been emerging endlessly.

Some said that in the Snow Region Holy Temple battle, Xie Buchen was severely injured in his conflict with Jian Chou, so Hengxu Zhenren needed to stay behind to heal him. Others said Kunwu had other plans to arrange, preparing a trump card to deal with the Extreme Domain. Of course, there were quite a few who speculated Xie Buchen was about to pass the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation, after all, his Nascent Soul Peak cultivation was right there…

But at this moment, all speculations had their answer.

The instant that vortex appeared above Kunwu, all of Xinghai had a moment of boiling excitement. The old monsters and great powers gathered here comprised nearly ninety percent of all old monsters and great powers in Shijiu Zhou – how could they fail to recognize this vortex’s origin!

Following half a month after Yashan’s Jian Chou’s breakthrough, was this long-renowned genius of Kunwu finally going to break through as well?

Almost everyone stopped what they were doing and began observing.

Including the Yashan cultivators.

At some point, Fu Chaosheng, Zuoliu and others had also come out, standing behind Jian Chou, watching like her.

No one spoke.

Jian Chou’s face showed no unusual expression, as if she were merely watching a stranger cross tribulation with such calm. But the more calm she appeared, the more others felt something was surging beneath this tranquility.

But what no one expected was that Xie Buchen’s tribulation crossing this time exceeded everyone’s imagination.

The various unexpected scenes during Jian Chou’s tribulation had already been the limit of everyone’s imagination. But who could have thought that among the later ones, there would be even more exaggerated situations!

And appearing so quickly, with such a special identity for the tribulation crosser…

If Jian Chou’s Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation was the most terrifying in all of Shijiu Zhou’s history, then Xie Buchen’s Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation was the most bizarre in all of Shijiu Zhou’s history!

The entire vortex-shaped tribulation cloud actually covered Kunwu’s sky for a full three days!

Three days without dispersing, golden light glittering, night like day!

On the first day, the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation descended, but the vortex hung in the sky, not dispersing for a long time.

On the second day, it finally began rotating, but seemed to be enraged, exceptionally sending down two thunder tribulations to that legendary “Heaven-Favored Dao Child,” followed moments later by dozens of thunderbolts in wild bombardment! Leaving all witnesses dumbstruck.

On the third day, the originally distant golden vortex had turned deep black!

Jian Chou came out of Fu Chaosheng’s courtyard just as dawn was breaking. Opening the door, she could see that heart-palpitating blackness in the sky above Kunwu to the west!

The dao tribulation vortex had almost pressed down to the peaks of Kunwu’s eleven mountains!

The pressure from the firmament and Heavenly Dao could be felt clearly even from distant Mingri Xinghai!

The rising morning sun gilded the vortex’s edges with golden light, but rather than reducing that oppression, it made the cultivators who saw it feel even more suffocated.

Even someone like her who had withstood tribulation lightning directly couldn’t help but be awed by this moment’s dao tribulation!

Xie Buchen’s Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation was truly too bizarre.

Who had ever heard of a dao tribulation lasting three days without dispersing?

Moreover, the first day had no thunder tribulation, the second day not only brought down thunder tribulation but also a series after two initial strikes! It was like a counterattack after being enraged.

Yet even so, the dao tribulation seemed unable to achieve its purpose.

So on the third day, the tribulation clouds that should have been golden turned completely deep black and descended from the sky…

No thunder tribulation.

But more terrifying than having thunder tribulation!

Yesterday and the day before, cultivators’ spiritual consciousness could still reach Kunwu, just unable to glimpse the specific tribulation situation due to array restrictions at Xie Buchen’s tribulation location.

But today…

Even Return to Void stage great powers’ spiritual consciousness couldn’t penetrate the tribulation clouds, couldn’t even touch them!

This situation – where was the resemblance to any Heaven-Favored Dao Child?

It was simply like having thoroughly offended the Heavenly Dao!

Watching this, Jian Chou’s brow furrowed deeply, only speculating about the reasons for this tribulation’s changes.

Originally, tribulation crossing was an individual matter, especially the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation – it could be said outsiders couldn’t help much. From the beginning, she felt Hengxu Zhenren staying at Kunwu was somewhat unreasonable.

Because his staying wouldn’t help Xie Buchen at all.

But now…

Was it because this dao tribulation was originally so bizarre and dangerous that it required Hengxu to stay and intervene, or was it precisely because Hengxu intervened that this dao tribulation became so strange?

Incomprehensible.

And Kunwu didn’t seem willing to let others understand either.

These past days, she had probed Wang Que and Wu Duan indirectly and personally asked the well-informed Sect Master Zheng Yao, but learned nothing – they hadn’t even received any advance notice from Hengxu Zhenren.

The longer this dao tribulation dragged on, the more unsettled everyone in Xinghai became.

Originally, the gathering and discussion was scheduled for after everyone arrived. In these three days, most other sects had arrived. For instance, Wangjiang Tower, Yang Sect, Chan Sect, Baiyue Valley, Wuyi Sect, and even the three largest families from the southwest…

But they were missing Kunwu, one of the two great pillars.

For over ten jiazi, Hengxu Zhenren had been the undisputed leader of the world’s righteous path. How could such a grand occasion lack him?

Everyone could only wait.

Fortunately, the situation wasn’t particularly urgent yet, so they could afford to wait.

Though the tribulation clouds had hung overhead for three days, with Hengxu Zhenren, a Realm-Bearing great power present, clearly staying at Kunwu to protect Xie Buchen, the possibility of trouble was small.

So everyone wasn’t particularly worried.

After all, they had great confidence in Hengxu Zhenren.

But during these days, the cultivators hadn’t done nothing.

In Shijiu Zhou’s history, grand occasions that could gather ninety percent of the world’s old monsters and great powers in one place were extremely rare.

This was an excellent opportunity for sitting and discussing the Dao – how could everyone let it pass?

The matter’s origin dated back three days.

When Xie Buchen’s dao tribulation first appeared, everyone paid attention, including Jian Chou and others. But after watching for a while, they discovered this dao tribulation had no movement at all – quite boring.

So Wu Duan of Kunwu suggested simply touring Xinghai, going out for tea or wine.

Jian Chou wasn’t particularly familiar with Mingri Xinghai, but Wang Que was very familiar.

Finding everyone had no objections, and familiarizing themselves with Xinghai wouldn’t hurt them, they actually gathered into a group and went out together with Zuoliu, Fang Xiaoxie and others.

Fu Chaosheng seemed to have decided to investigate “space silkworms” and didn’t go with them.

After walking through most of Suixian City, they rested at the city’s largest and most famous Lanke Tower. This tower was beside the Lan River with quite magnificent scenery.

They chose riverside seats and sat down.

Initially nothing special happened – everyone’s casual conversation was about Xinghai matters, nothing particular.

But they couldn’t withstand having Zuoliu there!

After just a few drinks, his questions began becoming fantastical, naturally drifting toward cultivation matters.

The biggest difference between Kunwu and Yashan might be in teaching lineage.

Simply put, each disciple’s master was particularly responsible, teaching them many cultivation-related things. Unlike Yashan, which completely implemented “Master leads you through the door, cultivation depends on yourself” to the extreme.

Comparatively, they were more versed in cultivation principles.

As true disciples of Hengxu Zhenren, ranking among the top, both Wu Duan and Wang Que had knowledge beyond ordinary comparison.

Especially Wang Que.

He originally enjoyed reading various ancient texts, well-versed in cultivation methods worldwide. Being kind-natured with unique thoughts, he could answer seven or eight of Zuoliu’s tricky, strange questions!

Even Jian Chou, sitting beside them, couldn’t help but admire his erudition.

Zuoliu felt even more like he’d encountered a master, eyes gleaming with excitement, practically treating Wang Que as a great scholar. While Wang Que spoke, he clutched a jade slip, recording continuously…

That posture suggested he wouldn’t give up until Wang Que was completely drained!

Initially, Jian Chou could sit calmly listening.

But later Zuoliu asked too many questions, while Wang Que knew everything and spoke freely, showing not the slightest reservation in Dao methods and cultivation, sharing whatever he knew.

This way, who could just sit there listening?

Compared to his master’s sanctimonious appearance, Wang Que could truly be called a complete gentleman.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Those around a modest gentleman couldn’t be too bad. Jian Chou was ultimately completely won over by Wang Que and joined in.

Now it wasn’t simply one asking and one answering as before.

Her cultivation, after all, was two major realms higher than the others. Her speed in heart cultivation was startlingly fast – she was a genuine Return to Void great power without any water in it. Not only had she read “Forty-Eight Records of Qingfeng Nunnery,” she had also encountered completely different cultivation methods from the Extreme Domain, even read all books left by the old master of Wangsi City’s former residence…

If Zuoliu was a small river and Wang Que like a great river, then Jian Chou could be called a boundless ocean without exaggeration!

Due to different experiences, she had different insights.

Not to mention, she had her own unprecedented, most unique “My Dao.”

Once she spoke, she often hit the key points, raising questions ordinary cultivators would find hard to consider, revealing views ordinary cultivators wouldn’t touch, developing what predecessors hadn’t developed.

Compared to Wang Que’s comprehensiveness and appropriateness, she was sharper, and due to her cultivation and realm, more commanding in perspective.

When Zuoliu and Wang Que were exchanging, many Xinghai cultivators in the tower had already noticed. But initially they were all attracted by Zuoliu’s strange questions, wanting to know the answers.

Of course, Jian Chou and others wouldn’t set up barriers to prevent others from listening.

So some cultivators stayed, thick-skinned, ears perked up listening.

Later somehow, several disciples under Yashan’s Fudao Shanren – Shen Jiu, Chen Weishan, Jiang He and others – all came.

They seemed to have originally come looking for Jian Chou, Zuoliu and Fang Xiaoxie, but who expected that upon arrival they heard Jian Chou discussing differences between Extreme Domain ghost cultivation and Shijiu Zhou cultivator cultivation.

So they became interested and sat down to listen without a word.

Shen Jiu and Chen Weishan weren’t ordinary people.

Kunwu disciples knew many things, but sometimes too much knowledge was also a constraint, not as simple and pure as Yashan disciples.

Once they came, having listened, they naturally had their own views and doubts.

You ask, I answer.

Your sentence, my sentence, his sentence…

Before long, they had all thrown aside the matter of finding people, completely immersed in this back-and-forth question-and-answer exchange.

This was Yashan, this was Kunwu!

These were the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation from two great pillar sects, including even Jian Chou who had recently broken through to Return to Void!

The famous Senior Sister of Yashan!

Who would want to miss such an opportunity to listen in?

Not only unwilling, but they also called friends, notifying each other among close friends. Even other Shijiu Zhou cultivators who came to Xinghai this time learned about it.

Acquaintances like Lu Xiangleng and Young Master Ruhua naturally came directly.

So by nightfall, not only hadn’t Lanke Tower’s crowd decreased, it had increased.

Those participating in this discussion were no longer limited to Yashan and Kunwu cultivators: those from Xinghai, from the Northern Domain, from Southeast Wilderness, from Southwest families, even from the Old Secret…

A crowd of old monsters who rarely appeared publicly, all in Nascent Soul, Out-of-Body, even Entering the World stage, all joined in!

It had become a large-scale Dao discussion!

Cultivators in daily cultivation were long past being mortals who needed rest. An entire night passed without stopping, with cultivators from all directions continuously arriving upon hearing the news.

Doubts or answers, agreement or opposition…

It was a rare instance of speaking freely, discussing principles and debating the Dao.

Such grand occasions could be said to be unprecedented in Shijiu Zhou’s ancient and modern history.

Only in some chapters of ancient history could glimpses be found.

At this moment, everyone present, including Jian Chou, hadn’t imagined they would, because of this Dao discussion, draw the most significant stroke in Shijiu Zhou’s ancient and modern history.

This Dao discussion, when mentioned by later cultivators, was often called the “Lanke Tower Dao Discussion.”

Some believed this was a struggle between crisis and prosperity before the Second Yin-Yang Boundary War erupted. Others considered this the most enviable Dao discussion since ancient times, without sectarian prejudice or deep hatred, with all cultivators single-mindedly pursuing the Dao. Still others believed Jian Chou Dazun’s transmission of Dao to others began from this time…

More interestingly, after careful study of this last viewpoint, someone made an amazing discovery:

Nearly a thousand cultivators participated in or listened to this three-day Dao discussion. Among Out-of-Body stage or below, or those at Out-of-Body who hadn’t yet undergone heart-questioning, there were seven hundred eighty-six people.

Of these, one hundred thirteen later chose Jian Chou’s Dao in their cultivation!

Among these hundred thirteen, eighty-three were only at Golden Core stage then, twenty-seven were Nascent Soul cultivators, but more shocking was that three were already at Out-of-Body stage!

As for this Dao discussion’s far-reaching influence, it need not be elaborated.

Just the discussion content Zuoliu recorded throughout benefited countless Shijiu Zhou cultivators over millennia, enlightening countless newcomers just entering the cultivation path and inspiring countless lost souls encountering difficulties in cultivation…

All insights and views Jian Chou expressed in this Dao discussion were later called “Initial Chapter of Human Dao.”

All cultivators who stepped onto human dao cultivation after reading this chapter would call themselves “Jian Chou’s disciples.”

Of course, there was also a period when Human Dao and Heavenly Dao cultivators fought desperately, and due to mutual attacks and slander, they were mockingly called “Jian Chou’s lackey dogs”…

But whether “Jian Chou’s disciples” or “Jian Chou’s lackey dogs,” this already reflected to some degree the impact and influence this entirely new “Human Dao” had on cultivators worldwide.

Lanke Tower Dao Discussion—

First day: participants under twenty, only Jian Chou reached Return to Void cultivation.

Second day: rapidly developed to over fifty people, and perhaps because Jian Chou, a Return to Void great power, was present, it attracted many Out-of-Body and Entering the World cultivators, even Old Secret’s Sky-Walking Mother Yang Jin and Fengmo Sword Sect’s Sect Master Zhang Yuandai came.

By the third day, some left, but more came.

Jian Chou left for a while at midnight on the second day.

She naturally didn’t want to leave – after all, opportunities to sit and discuss Dao with great powers like Old Secret’s Sky-Walking Mother Yang Jin and Fengmo Sword Sect’s Sect Master were truly rare.

But Zheng Yao called her back, so she naturally couldn’t refuse.

Returning to her lodging to find Zheng Yao, she learned that some abnormalities had appeared at Eastern Pole Ghost Gate at dusk. They called her back to inquire about details of her departure from the Extreme Domain and return to Shijiu Zhou through Ghost Gate.

Eastern Pole Ghost Gate was located on a large peach tree on an isolated Eastern Sea island.

Legend said when reincarnation still existed, nine-headed birds carried souls upstream from Nine Head River, entering through this gate to reach Ghost Gate Pass.

Though Jian Chou had fallen into space-time turbulence, she had some impressions of this Ghost Gate after emerging, so after recalling what she knew, she also mentioned some situations at Ghost Gate Pass.

Yashan’s side was naturally extremely grave, only saying they must closely monitor recent developments.

Once the matter was finished, there was nothing more for her.

Originally she planned to return directly to Lanke Tower to continue discussing Dao with everyone, but reconsidering, she realized that absorbed in Dao discussion these two days, she hadn’t seen Fu Chaosheng at all.

Previously he said he was going to find space silkworms. Two days had passed – still no results?

Jian Chou’s spiritual consciousness couldn’t detect his location, but then remembered this great demon’s cultivation exceeded hers by who knows how much – being able to detect him would be strange.

So she went directly to the courtyard he had previously chosen.

But Fu Chaosheng wasn’t inside.

The room showed no signs of habitation, as if he had been outside these two days without returning.

Jian Chou couldn’t help but worry, inevitably remembering his previous words about “borrowing” Qu Zhengfeng’s “Nine Curves River Map”…

Could he have gone to “borrow” from Medicine King Master Yiming?

She suddenly had quite a headache.

Carefully considering this great demon’s character – no, demonic conduct – this really wasn’t impossible.

Just finding his traces now would be difficult. Remembering the abnormality when he caught the peach blossom petal earlier, thinking there truly shouldn’t be many in current Mingri Xinghai who could defeat him, she forced herself to set this matter aside and set out again for Lanke Tower.

Lanke Tower on the third day was many times livelier than the previous two days.

Not only upstairs, but downstairs, even in mid-air, cultivators of varying cultivation levels were positioned everywhere – some as high as Entering the World stage, others merely at Golden Core or Foundation Establishment.

But at this moment, everyone’s expressions showed the same focus.

When Jian Chou arrived, Fengmo Sword Sect’s Sect Master Zhang Yuandai was discussing swords. Coincidentally, among the current audience was Xia Houshe, who had already betrayed Fengmo Sword Sect.

But no one expressed any objection to the other’s presence.

Zhang Yuandai raised his hand toward everyone in demonstration, his voice calm: “…The sword is the ‘sovereign of all weapons,’ originally born for killing. But later, the sword became a ‘gentleman’s instrument.’ All gentlemen must wear swords. It can be said this was no longer merely for killing. Swords evolved, so sword dao naturally evolved too.”

Jian Chou was very interested in swords but rarely heard others discuss them.

She quietly walked over, sitting in the spot Young Master Ruhua had shamelessly saved specifically for her, saying nothing, just listening carefully.

Zhang Yuandai was worthy of being Fengmo Sword Sect’s sect master, with very unique understanding of “sword.”

“Therefore, the ultimate, most powerful sword dao often doesn’t kill.”

“But this doesn’t mean killing swords aren’t powerful. We cultivators who cultivate swords – those who can reach the ultimate are rare as phoenix feathers, while sword’s side paths are countless.”

“If you ask me, among these paths, which kills most powerfully?”

Zhang Yuandai smiled, his eyes showing reminiscence, clearly thinking of something, sighing deeply.

“Among these paths, the most powerful killer is the demon-entered sword.”

“This path returns to sword birth’s original meaning, returns to sword emergence’s original sin, born only for killing. Meeting compassionate ones, slaughter all compassion; meeting cruel ones, kill all cruelty. Hating all, killing all – this is called—”

“Sword Demon!”

Fengmo Sword Sect’s name was related to this.

Legend said in ancient times a sword cultivator entered the evil path, becoming demonic, later cultivating into a sword demon, determined to cultivate into master of all weapons, actually stirring up bloody storms for this, slaughtering countless innocent cultivators, seizing their magical instruments as his own.

But he uniquely lacked one sword, lacked one suitable sword.

This sword was Yashan’s One Line Sky!

Throughout his life, through many schemes, he even infiltrated the weapon vault, yet always longed for this sword without obtaining it.

Finally, due to his frequent intrusions and bloody slaughter, he angered Yashan. When pursued by several Yashan elders of the time, he fled to what was then called “Hengtian Sword Sect” – Fengmo Sword Sect’s location – where all cultivators united to kill him, sealing him in Fengmo Mountain Cave.

From then on, Hengtian Sword Sect changed its name to Fengmo Sword Sect.

But no one expected that over a thousand years later, a youth named Xia Houshe would accidentally obtain this sword demon’s “Master of All Weapons” inheritance.

Speaking to this point, Zhang Yuandai didn’t glance at Xia Houshe, but ultimately didn’t continue further.

Everyone could see his mood wasn’t very good.

After all, Fengmo Sword Sect’s pursuit of Xia Houshe failing to kill him, instead forcing him into Baiyue Valley, had only happened decades ago – truly inappropriate to elaborate.

Fortunately, with so many cultivators present, no one took this seriously.

Soon other cultivators came forward to speak.

Only then did Jian Chou have leisure to look around, surprisingly discovering that Tongling Pavilion Master Lu Song, who had nearly fought with her master at the teleportation plaza, was also present.

His build was quite tall, but sitting in a corner wasn’t very conspicuous.

Until just now hearing a certain question, he spoke in response. Everyone, including Jian Chou, only then noticed him following the sound. But he didn’t put on airs, patiently expressing his insights.

Not a trace of that day’s fiery temper.

Because Tongling Pavilion was famous for raising spirit beasts, this sect’s cultivators understood spirits and demons quite well.

Halfway through speaking, seemingly worried the audience wouldn’t understand, Lu Song stroked his beard and actually took out a black octagonal ancient mirror from his sleeve, wanting to demonstrate directly for everyone.

“This mirror is called ‘Sky Demon Mirror,’ a secret treasure of our Tongling Pavilion, used to seek demon beasts and spirits. Injecting spiritual power allows sensing their presence.”

“Its sensing range relates to how much spiritual power is injected.”

“Higher cultivation, more profound spiritual power, wider sensing range; and the closer the sensed demon cultivator, the stronger this mirror’s light…”

Speaking thus, he opened his palm, injecting spiritual power into it, wanting to continue from here explaining some demon cultivator matters. But unexpectedly, the moment spiritual power was injected, the Sky Demon Mirror erupted with intense blue light!

“BOOM!”

Upstairs and downstairs, all cultivators immediately boiled over, discussion exploding like a tide!

They had clearly heard Lu Song’s words just now.

The Sky Demon Mirror reacting and bursting with radiance clearly meant it sensed demon presence nearby! Just not knowing how much spiritual power Lu Song injected and how wide the sensing range was.

Otherwise they could guess this demon’s location.

Everyone was extremely excited.

But only Lu Song himself was stunned.

His gaze fell on the small black ancient mirror in his palm. He actually felt a chill down his spine, almost instantly changing expression, abruptly standing and looking around!

No one understood the Sky Demon Mirror’s current sensing range better than him!

He had originally intended this for demonstration, not injecting much spiritual power at all – after all, this was Mingri Xinghai, too wide a range could cause trouble.

So this mirror’s sensing range actually didn’t exceed three hundred feet!

And moreover…

Such dazzling light!

Lu Song had cultivated for over a thousand years, witnessed countless spirits and demons, seen their reactions on the Sky Demon Mirror, but never once so terrifying, so intense!

Great Demon!

Absolutely a great demon!

And within three hundred feet around them!

Cold sweat broke out on Lu Song’s head, his body tense, his gaze filled with deep shock and vigilance as he scanned the surroundings.

Everyone naturally noticed his stance as if facing a great enemy.

Something seemed… not quite right…

Jian Chou had also heard Lu Song’s words and suddenly had an extremely ominous premonition, immediately seeing the Sky Demon Mirror in his hand, its light growing stronger and bluer!

In just three to five breaths, it was like the deep sea!

Lanke Tower suddenly became incredibly quiet.

Everyone’s expression turned horrified. Beyond their pounding heartbeats, they actually heard faint footsteps!

Growing closer, seemingly climbing stairs from downstairs to upstairs.

Everyone’s gaze instantly turned over.

A figure in ancient, worn slate-colored robes appeared at the corner with scattered footsteps, pale face, eyes faintly dark emerald-green, and that indelible sense of detachment and isolation…

Who else but that “Yashan guest” of unknown origin from recent days!

Though Fu Chaosheng noticed the atmosphere’s change, he hadn’t yet realized what had happened. Seeing everyone’s straight gazes containing hostility that made him uncomfortable, he frowned slightly.

He opened his mouth to ask Jian Chou, but how swift was Lu Song’s reaction?

Almost the instant he confirmed it was him, he roared furiously, wielding the Sky Demon Mirror to strike: “Evil demon, die!”