CHAPTER 427: XUANHE GATE [ADVANCING]

Chapter 427: Xuanhe Gate [Advancing]

After the heavenly tribulation passed, the skies cleared for ten thousand miles. Only the bottomless thunder crater remained as proof of the tribulation's passage. The area within a hundred zhang radius was scorched black, with sand and stones fused into glass. Deathly silence enveloped the crater's surroundings, devoid of any signs of life.

"Useless."

A sigh echoed through the void.

"Couldn't even withstand the tribulation?"

At the crater's edge, peach blossom petals swirled and coalesced into the figure of a white-robed swordsman. He frowned at the charred skeleton below, his cold eyes filled with disdain.

"Immortal... Lord..."

The skeleton weakly lifted its head, its voice hoarse and faint: "I've failed your expectations... I... couldn't pass the tribulation..."

Her withered hand barely rose before crumbling into ashes.

The white-robed swordsman's expression turned impatient. He descended into the crater, landing before the remains.

"Attempting the heavenly tribulation at merely the third stage of Mahayana? Foolish!"

"Lord... the tribulation came..."

"Then shouldn't you have kept a lower profile?" The swordsman clasped his hands behind his back, sneering. "Do you think I didn't know your thoughts? After absorbing Monk Burning Karma, your power surged to the Third Tribulation of Mahayana, so you thought to face both tribulations together. Yet the Ascension Tribulation hadn't even begun before you were reduced to this state."

"Didn't I warn you? My immortal techniques may be powerful, but you must solidify your foundation. Otherwise, any power gained is but an empty shell."

"And didn't I also say that to attempt the Ascension Tribulation, you must first eliminate at least two-thirds of those nine in the Void Abyss as nourishment? Was I wrong?"

Real Person Yuyao fell silent.

The immortal had indeed said so.

She had been too impatient.

After absorbing Monk Burning Karma, the feeling of invincibility had clouded her judgment, making her believe she could casually face even the Ascension Tribulation. Yet not only did she fail against the main tribulation, even the third minor heavenly tribulation had struck her down brutally.

"I... I just wanted to become immortal quickly... to stand by your side..."

The white-robed swordsman chuckled softly. His voice was pleasant, reminiscent of a spring breeze beneath peach blossoms, yet carried a chill that kept all at bay.

"I'll give you one more chance. A final chance."

Plucking a peach blossom petal from his hairpin, he casually tossed it toward Real Person Yuyao before dissipating like the wind, leaving only his echoing voice in the crater.

"Remember - if you wish to ascend properly, you must absorb at least six beings at or above the Second Tribulation of Mahayana using my techniques! Otherwise, you'll never knock on the immortal gate nor see me again!"

"If next time you're struck down like this again... I have no shortage of candidates to replace you!"

The peach blossom petal drifted slowly before finally landing on Real Person Yuyao's forehead.

Like dead wood meeting spring, flesh rapidly regenerated. Her withered skin plumped visibly, and within less than an incense stick's time, she was completely restored.

Naked, she lay in the crater staring at the sliver of sky above, feeling as if still in a dream. Her hands traced her rejuvenated face and body in disbelief.

"This... this is immortal power?"

"Just a single peach blossom petal can instantly heal all my injuries..."

Adoration and fanaticism flashed in Real Person Yuyao's eyes.

This was true immortality.

This was the path she sought.

She quickly knelt and kowtowed repeatedly toward where the immortal had vanished. "This junior Yuyao solemnly obeys the Immortal Venerable's command! Henceforth I shall act discreetly and abandon all thoughts of ascension until I've refined those old things in the Void Abyss!"

She remained kneeling for a long time without response.

Yet she wasn't disheartened.

The immortal ignored her because she had erred.

That he granted her another chance proved he still valued her.

At least she remained useful to him.

That was enough.

"I originally planned to settle accounts with the Sword Pavilion's ancestor..." Real Person Yuyao murmured, unconsciously touching her abdomen as thoughts of that scoundrel Zhang Mengchu surfaced.

Because of Zhang Mengchu, she'd lost her purity!

Humiliation and rage flashed across her face before she composed herself.

She could have stood before the immortal pure and untouched.

Offering everything to him.

Now she only felt filthy.

And for this, Zhang Mengchu, the Sword Pavilion, and the True Martial Holy Land would pay!

But first -

She must ensure her own ascension.

If the immortal could descend to the Cangyun Realm, so could she. Wouldn't it be better to take revenge after becoming immortal? She could already imagine the despair these ants would feel facing an immortal.

Then she could torment them in countless ways.

With this thought, Real Person Yuyao suppressed her hatred.

There was no need to return to the Jade Pool Holy Land either.

Only her senior sister and some disciples remained.

"Having killed so many sect leaders, some surely have connections to those old monsters in the Void Abyss... I need a secluded place for closed-door cultivation."

After some consideration, her eyes narrowed.

"The most dangerous place is the safest... Why not establish a new sect near the Void Abyss? Hiding in plain sight would raise fewer suspicions."

Previously this would have been risky, but now at the Third Tribulation of Mahayana, having undergone the minor heavenly tribulation's tempering, both body and soul had transformed. She was confident in assuming a new identity.

"Moreover, by building a new sect and blending in... When their guard drops, I'll reveal my true self~"

Real Person Yuyao's eyes narrowed further, her expression intoxicated.

She could hardly wait for that moment.

"The new sect shall be called..."

"The Xuanhe Gate!"

...

Deep within Mo Shumei's soul:

Gloomy skies, howling winds, flames and smoke.

Amidst charred ruins, Mo Shumei knelt on one knee, leaning on a broken blade as blood trickled from her lips.

She clearly understood her condition.

Demonic Backlash - not her first encounter.

Previously during backlash, she'd faced at most a few vengeful spirits - cultivators she'd slain, empowered by demonic energy to match her level.

Usually she simply fought multiple enemies to eliminate them.

But today was different.

Mo Shumei gritted her teeth.

Before her stood not some amalgamation of spirits, but a black-robed elder wreathed in demonic energy.

She swore she'd never killed such an elder.

Moreover, this old man's aura clearly exceeded the Divine Transformation stage.

Reaching into the Body Unity realm or beyond.

Their brief clash confirmed this.

He was toying with her!

"You... who are you? I don't remember killing you..."

"Of course you don't."

The old man stroked his beard, smirking.

"I am Xiao Feng, one of the creators of the Great Lamentation Ode.

Your talent meets my standards to become nourishment! Consider this... an honor!"