On this day, all cultivators witnessed the sky awash with violet clouds and realized that a treasure imbued with the power of the Heavenly Dao was about to emerge.
Such treasures are exceedingly rare—those capable of harnessing the Heavenly Dao’s power while also triggering such a grand celestial phenomenon appear perhaps once in a thousand years in the cultivation world.
The moment the violet clouds appeared, every major sect, noble family, and reclusive grandmaster across the realm sprang into action.
No matter their level of cultivation, every cultivator’s eyes burned with unwavering determination.
Opportunities and the Great Dao have always been fought over, regardless of life or death.
Even the slimmest hope was worth risking everything for.
In the Tianxuan Sect…
The Sect Master of Tianxuan Sect wore an expression of unprecedented solemnity. After withdrawing her gaze from the sky, she turned to the assembled elders, her tone respectful yet commanding:
"The Tianxuan Sect will spare no cost to locate the treasure’s whereabouts."
"Until the treasure is found, I implore all elders to stand united and prioritize the sect’s interests, leaving no opening for others to exploit."
A treasure infused with the Heavenly Dao’s power holds immense allure for any Tribulation Transcendent.
Several elders had long been at the Tribulation stage. If the Tianxuan Sect were fortunate enough to obtain this treasure, internal strife would be inevitable.
Yet, having worked together for centuries, the elders were unlikely to resort to life-and-death battles.
The Sect Master made no effort to conceal the ambition in her eyes:
If the Tianxuan Sect secured the treasure, there was a thirty percent chance a Void Shattering Supreme would emerge within the sect, and a sixty percent chance of producing a Half-Step Void Shattering expert.
For two thousand years, only the Immortal Venerable had reached the Void Shattering stage—coming within a hair’s breadth of ascension.
Beyond that, no other grandmaster had ever broken through the constraints of the late Tribulation stage.
If the Tianxuan Sect could produce even a Half-Step Void Shattering Supreme, it would be enough to surpass the Taiqing Sect and claim the title of the world’s foremost sect.
With a Void Shattering Supreme presiding, the title would be indisputable.
The Sect Master slowly clenched her fists and declared, word by word:
"Today, I will summon the Heaven-Questioning Mirror."
The Heaven-Questioning Mirror was the Tianxuan Sect’s most prized treasure, capable of revealing all secrets within the cultivation world.
However, the mirror’s power was too domineering. To balance the Heavenly Dao’s karma, it could only be used once every hundred years, and only a single question could be asked each time.
She bowed deeply to the elders. "The rest will depend on your efforts, honored elders."
It wasn’t just the Tianxuan Sect—every other major faction had also mobilized.
All top-tier sects in the cultivation world possessed their own trump cards.
The nature of the treasure and its location were not absolute mysteries to them.
As long as they were willing to pay the corresponding price, the answers could be obtained.
In the Wuji Sect…
The Wuji Sect’s leader barely spared a glance at Ji Wang’s belated arrival or his revealing crimson martial attire before dragging him into the Wuji Hall.
There, all the sect’s elders and guest elders had already assembled.
The same scene unfolded in other sects.
In the Jiang Family…
The Head of Jiang Family stared at the millennia-old Skyward Array before him, his gaze unshakably resolute.
Each activation of the Skyward Array demanded vast quantities of spiritual treasures and the combined power of numerous Mahayana-stage cultivators.
Today’s task would likely require the spiritual power of over a hundred Great Perfection cultivators.
Despite the immense cost, the Head of Jiang Family showed not a flicker of concern on his face.
He glanced at the Great Perfection cultivators already standing within the formation and asked indifferently to the person beside him:
"Where are the Young Master and the Young Lord now?"
Hall Master Yun behind him bowed slightly and replied respectfully:
"Three days ago, the Young Master attained enlightenment in the Frost Pool and successfully weathered the Heavenly Tribulation, advancing to the Nascent Soul stage. Today, he is consolidating his spiritual energy."
"As for the Young Lord..."
He paused briefly before continuing:
"The Young Lord remains in the Frost Pool and has yet to emerge."
The Head of Jiang Family frowned almost imperceptibly.
The Jiang Family’s Frost Pool opened only once every century. Its waters were formed from millennia-old glacial ice, and cultivating within it could expand meridians, solidify cultivation, and accelerate progress dozens of times faster than the outside world.
However, the pool’s frigid energy was overwhelming—even a Great Perfection cultivator could endure no more than ten days within it.
Yet now, Jiang Ze had already spent ten and a half days in the Frost Pool.
If he continued, hidden injuries might form, hindering his future cultivation path.
Just as the Head of Jiang Family was about to order Hall Master Yun to retrieve Jiang Ze, a figure cloaked in frost approached unhurriedly from a distance.
His expression was indifferent, and after ten and a half days, the spiritual energy of his late-stage Great Perfection cultivation had completely withdrawn into his body—a clear sign of immense gains during this time.
However... his right hand was wrapped in faint tendrils of frost, which melted into droplets as he walked, freezing the ground beneath them instantly upon contact.
The Head of Jiang Family observed Jiang Ze’s frostbitten hand and spoke with a tone of admonishment:
"Ze’er, cultivation should not be rushed."
"A late-stage Great Perfection cultivator at five hundred years old is a rarity even in the entire cultivation world. You already stand above your peers—why push yourself so harshly?"
The leap from Great Perfection to Transcendence was as difficult as scaling a sheer cliff.
It required not only centuries of accumulated cultivation but also relentless tempering of one’s heart and mind, seeking that fleeting thread of heavenly opportunity.
Only when the time, place, and conditions aligned would there be even a sliver of hope for a breakthrough.
Jiang Ze had only been at the late stage of Great Perfection for a few decades—ascending to Transcendence was no simple feat.
Jiang Ze’s expression remained unchanged. He merely bowed slightly, his voice carrying a trace of warmth:
"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Brother."
At that moment, Jiang Qiuning arrived before the Heaven’s Edge Formation. She bowed respectfully to the two men:
"Greetings, Father. Greetings, Uncle."
The Head of Jiang Family noted Jiang Qiuning’s now-stabilized Nascent Soul cultivation, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, he lifted her up with spiritual energy.
Then, turning to face the fully prepared Heaven’s Edge Formation, he spoke gravely:
"A divine treasure infused with the power of heaven and earth has emerged. For the sake of our Ancestor, the Jiang Family will spare no cost to obtain it."
The Jiang Family’s Ancestor was its pillar—a late-stage Transcendence cultivator who upheld the Jiang Family’s status as the foremost cultivation clan.
Now, with only three hundred years of lifespan remaining, the Jiang Family had to find a way for the Ancestor to break through within that time.
Alternatively, they must nurture another Jiang descendant capable of reaching the late stage of Transcendence.
With this in mind, the Head of Jiang Family continued, "Now that both of you are direct descendants of the Jiang Family and your cultivation is sufficient, you may join the journey to seek the divine treasure."
After speaking, he waved his hand, his voice solemn and commanding:
"Activate the formation."
In the Guiyuan Hall of the Taiqing Sect.
Apart from the Fourth Elder, who was trapped in a secret realm and unable to leave, all the other elders of the Taiqing Sect had gathered here.
The Fifth Elder, who had just emerged from seclusion, sat in one of the side seats.
His features were strikingly refined, carrying an ethereal aura that seemed in harmony with the natural order. The black runes on the back of his left hand added a mysterious touch to his presence.
Yet, no matter how urgent the situation, he always appeared drowsy. Even the emergence of a supreme treasure couldn’t rouse him to full alertness.
As Ning Menglan and the other elders engaged in a grave discussion, he listened with an expression of deep agreement… before yawning.
Ning Menglan glanced in his direction, her voice tinged with helplessness. "Fifth Elder."
The Fifth Elder half-opened his eyes and nodded with practiced ease. "The Sect Master speaks wisely."
Ning Menglan and the other three elders exchanged glances and sighed in resignation.
At that moment, the hall doors slowly opened, and a refreshing scent of bamboo wafted in, filling the entire Guiyuan Hall.
"Tingbai greets the Sect Master and the esteemed elders."
Xie Tingbai bowed respectfully before turning his gaze toward the Fifth Elder, who sat with his eyes half-closed, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. With a light chuckle, Xie Tingbai said,
"It has been many years, yet the Fifth Elder remains as carefree and composed as he was thirty years ago. Truly admirable."
Ning Menglan’s eyes flickered to the empty space behind Xie Tingbai. Before the Fifth Elder could respond, she frowned and asked,
"Where is Wan Ci? Has she returned to the Sword Peak to rest?"
The faint smile on Xie Tingbai’s face faltered almost imperceptibly.
He knew nothing within the Taiqing Sect could escape Ning Menglan’s notice. Suppressing his expression, he replied calmly,
"Wan Ci mentioned she had urgent matters to attend to. She will return to the Taiqing Sect in a few days."
"Tingbai." Ning Menglan’s voice suddenly turned stern, her previously amiable gaze now cold and authoritative. "Do you understand what you’re saying?"
Gu Yunqi abruptly stood, her voice trembling with barely restrained fury. "Xie Tingbai!"
"Do you have any idea how important Xu Wanci is? How dare you let her leave alone?!"
The First and Second Elders also wore expressions of unprecedented gravity.
Under the crushing pressure of three Mahayana-stage cultivators, Xie Tingbai’s face paled slightly.
Yet his expression remained unchanged. Suppressing the turbulent spiritual energy raging inside him, he replied coolly,
"Sect Master, Third Elder, the things she wishes to do—who can stop her, apart from that one person?"
Gu Yunqi took two steps forward, unleashing her full spiritual pressure upon Xie Tingbai. "So you just let her go alone?"
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for her to be outside at a time like this?"
"With your cultivation, you could have easily brought her back to the sect unharmed!"
"And then what?" A drop of blood fell silently from Xie Tingbai’s fingertips, yet his expression remained indifferent, not even a flicker of discomfort crossing his face. "Force her to stay in the Taiqing Sect and reveal the location of the supreme treasure?"
His voice was calm and gentle, yet it cut like a blade, laying bare the thoughts buried deep in everyone’s hearts—thoughts even they themselves were reluctant to acknowledge.
Indeed, Xu Wanci could uncover all the treasures of the Wuwang Secret Realm, navigate the ancient Guiyin Formation, and even locate the Twin Yin-Yang Lotus.
So why wouldn’t she be able to find the treasure emerging this time?
Back then, the Immortal Venerable possessed power that spanned heaven and earth. It wasn’t impossible for him to have foreseen the location of this treasure.
Of course, they were worried about Xu Wanci’s safety, but they couldn’t deny that they also wanted to extract information about the treasure from her.
A treasure imbued with the power of the Heavenly Dao—no cultivator could resist such a thing.
Xie Tingbai naturally understood their thoughts. He knew human nature well. Even as a Transcendent Realm cultivator, even as the leader of a sect, no one could escape the pull of self-interest.
He raised his head, his voice steady:
"Sect Master, do you believe the gain or loss of a single individual is more important, or the karma of the tens of thousands within Taiqing Sect?"
Even if they obtained this treasure, it would only benefit one Transcendent Realm cultivator.
But if they lost Xu Wanci’s trust, the consequences for Taiqing Sect would be immeasurable.
Three breaths later, the hall fell into silence, yet the oppressive aura around him gradually receded.
Xie Tingbai showed no surprise. Calmly, he continued:
"Now that the treasure has emerged, every sect and noble family is eyeing it covetously."
"If any one of them obtains it, the current balance of the cultivation world will be disrupted, and Taiqing Sect will suffer for it."
"But if Xu Wanci acquires the treasure, the impact on Taiqing Sect would be minimal."
Ning Menglan closed his eyes, his expression still grave and solemn:
"If you’re aware of how many in the cultivation world are fixated on this treasure, then you should also understand just how perilous the process of obtaining it will be."
"Xu Wanci is only at the Nascent Soul stage. How dare you let her face such danger alone?"
A trace of helplessness flickered in Xie Tingbai’s eyes. How could he not be worried?
But unless he used force to suppress her, no one could change Xu Wanci’s mind once it was made up.
He lowered his gaze slightly, concealing all emotion:
"The defensive artifacts you left on her, Sect Master, are enough to withstand a single strike from a late-stage Transcendent Realm cultivator. That single moment would give her enough time to take the Heavenly Spirit Pill."
"I’ve set the location for her soul transfer within Taiqing Sect."
This was the utmost he could do.
At his words, the others froze, even the Fifth Elder glancing up at him in surprise.
None of them had known Xie Tingbai possessed a Heavenly Spirit Pill.
It was his own safeguard—a second life—yet he had given it to Xu Wanci without hesitation.
Ning Menglan flicked his sleeve and turned away:
"If Seventh Elder has already made such thorough arrangements, what more can this Sect Master say?"
Xie Tingbai bowed to him:
"Now, all sects stand on equal footing. With my mastery over spiritual plants, the Third Elder’s formations, and the Fifth Elder’s divination skills, Taiqing Sect still has a chance to claim the treasure."
It was simply a matter of competing fairly.
Even if Xu Wanci obtained the treasure, it wouldn’t be a bad outcome for Taiqing Sect.
After weighing the options, it was clear that the Taiqing Sect stood to gain the most.
Half an hour later.
All the sects and noble families received their answer.
The Formless Divine Stone.
The Far Western Lands.
Meanwhile, after tearing through seven teleportation talismans, Xu Wanci finally arrived in the Far Western Lands.
The dizziness from the spatial distortion made her frown as she steadied herself, immediately circulating her spiritual energy the moment her feet touched the ground.
A single long-distance teleportation talisman was taxing enough—let alone seven in quick succession.
Once she had adjusted, she stood still, scanning her surroundings with her divine sense. Given the sharpness of her spiritual perception now, she could detect even the gaze of a late-stage Tribulation Transcension cultivator.
Assured that no one was watching her, she finally exhaled in relief.
In the world of cultivation, there wasn’t a single cultivator who didn’t covet the Formless Divine Stone. That was why she had to be meticulous, leaving no room for suspicion.
With that in mind, she concealed her presence and sat cross-legged, methodically organizing all the spiritual treasures in her storage pouch.
Any talismans, spirit herbs, or artifacts that might reveal her identity were placed into a separate pouch, which she then secured in a hidden location with a teleportation talisman attached.
This way, once she obtained the Formless Divine Stone, she could simply channel her spiritual energy to reactivate the talisman and retrieve the pouch.
If anyone questioned why she sought the stone to enhance her own power…
Xu Wanci rose to her feet, her expression indifferent.
She owed no one an explanation.
From the moment she arrived in this world of cultivation, she had laid the groundwork so thoroughly that the ten great sects already believed the rumors about her and the Immortal Venerable.
At this point, others’ assumptions would serve her better than any words she could say.
Soon, most sects and noble families would learn of the Formless Divine Stone’s whereabouts. She had to find the entrance to that hidden realm before then.
And then there was Chu Qingchuan.
Compared to those Tribulation Transcension experts, he was the one she truly needed to be wary of—after all, in the original story, he had obtained the Formless Divine Stone unscathed and unnoticed.
The Far Western Lands were windswept and harsh, its cities built with massive stone pillars, giving them a rugged grandeur.
Blending into the crowd, she strode resolutely into the most prosperous city in the region—Luoxi City.
Indeed, no one would expect the Formless Divine Stone to hide itself in such a bustling, crowded place.
That was precisely how Chu Qingchuan had evaded the divine senses of all those Tribulation Transcension experts, securing and using the stone without incident.
Her face remained calm as she followed the original story’s clues, step by step, toward the liveliest street—Huyun Street.
Yet, even after weaving through the crowd and circling Huyun Street three times, lingering at the corner described in the original text, she still detected no trace of spatial fluctuations.
Just as she approached the corner once more, a Tribulation Transcension divine sense swept unabashedly across the entire street, soon enveloping the whole city.
Xu Wanci kept her pace steady, though unease flickered in her heart.
If she kept wandering like this, that sweeping divine sense might eventually pick up on her anomalies.
Steeling herself, she meticulously dissected the original plot once more.
Now, both the time and season differed from the original story. The only thing that remained the same was…
The weather!
That day, just like today, the sky was thick with layers of clouds.
In the original text, the description of Chu Qingchuan entering the pocket realm was that his vision went dark.
Did this darkness refer to the inside of the pocket realm, or the outside?
Xu Wanci watched as the sun was about to be obscured by the clouds. Without hesitation, she quickened her steps toward the street corner.
The moment the sky turned black, her feet suddenly met empty air, and she abruptly found herself in an icy, frost-covered land of extreme cold.
Feeling her body temperature plummet, she frowned and used her spiritual energy to shield herself.
As expected, the first pocket realm she entered was completely different from Chu Qingchuan’s.
The Formless Divine Stone was exceptionally skilled at concealment, hiding itself within countless overlapping pocket realms.
Here, it was impossible to use spiritual sense on a large scale.
To find it, she would have to search through every single pocket realm one by one.
Xu Wanci took a deep breath. Fortunately, she had the Three-Leaf Lotus, which could ignore the illusions of the pocket realms and guide her in the right direction.
The Formless Divine Stone was located to the far east. As long as she kept moving eastward, she would eventually find it.
Feeling her body grow colder by the minute, she calmly headed toward the snow-capped mountain in the distance.
Now that she knew the direction, all she needed to do was find its weakness in the eastern part.
For her, this wasn’t particularly difficult.
After breaking through this pocket realm, before she could even assess her surroundings, she sensed an overwhelming danger approaching from behind.
The Nine Heavens Sword on her wrist instantly appeared in her grip.
Holding the sword in her right hand, she swung it behind her. The clash of metal rang out as she took a step back, finally getting a clear view of the scene within the pocket realm.
It was the Ten Thousand Weapons Array—countless weapons from the cultivation world hovered mid-air, attacking her in groups of three according to the formation.
Her Nine Heavens Sword held a deterrent power over all weapons. Seizing the moment of intimidation created by the sword’s strike, she took a single step to the east and shattered this pocket realm just as the second wave of attacks began.
Next came a sea of fire.
After that, an illusion meant to bewitch the mind.
Everywhere Xu Wanci passed through was fraught with peril. Dozens of her defensive artifacts had already been destroyed, and her body bore numerous wounds.
Gripping the Nine Heavens Sword, she stepped out of the pocket realm filled with razor-sharp wind blades, her expression unreadable.
Just as she braced herself to face the next crisis, the pocket realm described in the original text—a place filled with birdsong, fragrant flowers, and the power of the Heavenly Dao—suddenly appeared before her.
After traversing thirteen pocket realms and surviving dozens of life-or-death trials, she had finally arrived before the Formless Divine Stone.
The moment her feet touched the ground, ripples surged in the space opposite her. In the next instant, a familiar figure abruptly materialized in front of her.
Chu Qingchuan stood there in dark indigo martial attire, his expression calm, not a single strand of hair out of place.
Just as described in the original text, he had arrived before the Formless Divine Stone completely unharmed.
The two of them stood facing each other—one in blue, the other in indigo; one disheveled, the other composed.
