Although the Five Domains often clashed, no one liked to stir up trouble by bringing up matters related to evil cultivators. Everyone was clear on one point: evil cultivators were their common enemy. Yet today Hua Yu actually wanted to dump that filthy pot on the heads of the Western Domain cultivators. That was something he would never agree to.
Hua Yu seemed to realize his earlier words had been inappropriate and fell silent.
At that moment, Ming Hong Zūnzhě spoke:
"Evil cultivators are to be slain by all. Li Chang, who betrayed the Weiyu Realm, is a fine example. If one's Dao heart is unstable, how could they possibly endure a tribulation? Everyone, just watch."
These words were also a subtle reminder: those tainted by evil and lacking a firm Dao heart could never pass their tribulation. Let all see clearly for themselves.
At the same time, the final bolt of lightning fell. It was a violet-red strike, utterly silent, and it split straight down at the crown of Yun Xi's head. Everyone had their focus divided, yet all noticed how this last bolt was unlike the ones before.
Han Lian blurted out:
"The Heart-Questioning Lightning!"
Hao Qing Zūnzhě could no longer sit still. His figure vanished from his chair, and the next instant he appeared beside Hao Hui Zūnzhě.
"Why has this boy drawn the Heart-Questioning Lightning?"
Hao Hui Zūnzhě was also puzzled. "The earlier strikes fell quickly, but their power wasn't too great. I could see he was even using them to temper his body. Only this final bolt came suddenly and strangely."
Meanwhile, Yun Xi's spirit hovered within her own sea of consciousness. After enduring twenty-six bolts, her meridians had grown tougher, her dantian expanded further, even her Yuányīng had been tempered by lightning.
Though the little Yuányīng grimaced in pain, after the baptism of thunder it shrank in size, becoming denser and stronger. Brimming with power, the tiny Yun Xi sat cross-legged at the center of her dantian, calmly cultivating.
This time, Yun Xi had prepared. When she battled Li Chang, hidden injuries had lingered in her meridians. She intended to repair them during her tribulation, which was why she had chosen to withstand the strikes directly.
Of course, she hadn't gone in unguarded. The Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella floated at her side the whole time. If she faltered, the umbrella would bear the strike for her.
Perhaps because she had once forcibly advanced to Golden Core in the mortal realm, and even summoned the Nine Heavens Mystic Thunder to destroy the demonic corpse, she had survived twenty-seven bolts of Nascent Soul tribulation with only a Golden Core cultivation. Compared to that ordeal, today's Nascent Soul tribulation felt easier.
Just as she was about to become a true Yuányīng Zhēnjūn, a silent bolt descended straight into her sea of consciousness, trapping her spirit within.
Sensing herself bound, Yun Xi tried to reach for her spatial pocket, but once again the connection failed. She felt fortunate that she had never overly relied on it, using it only for guidance and storage of resources. With her temperament, she did not panic but waited calmly.
She did not know how much time had passed—perhaps a day, perhaps a year, perhaps longer. Long enough that in her soul form, she began cultivating the Soul Refining Art. Then a melodious female voice echoed within her sea of consciousness:
"Why do you not seek a way out?"
Yun Xi opened her eyes and countered: "This is my own sea of consciousness. What way out should I seek?"
"But you are trapped by yourself. Can you escape your destined death?"
"Why not? Am I not already doing so?" Yun Xi's gaze narrowed.
"Heh. You are optimistic indeed. Yet all you've done is divert a stream. In the end, you will still flow into the sea."
"Then I shall claim the entire sea as mine!"
Yun Xi's response was sharp and domineering.
"You are bold indeed!"
As the voice faded, her entire sea of consciousness churned violently, surging as though to drown her soul.
Yet Yun Xi remained calm, hovering above. Lifting her hand, she wove an attack inscription from soul force mixed with merit and flung it into a certain point of her consciousness.
The inscription burst with golden light, crashing against a spot. With a crisp crack, like shattering glass, the confinement broke. Her sea of consciousness stilled once more.
Yun Xi let out a cold snort. "Get out of my sea of consciousness!"
The next moment, a red light shot up from her crown. Her spirit snapped back to her body, and her eyes flew open. Seeing the vanishing red glow, a fierce glint flashed in her gaze. In her hand appeared the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff.
Purple lightning flickered along the staff. Yun Xi unleashed a strike. "Thunder Shines Across the Nine Heavens!"
Heaven's thunder fell, striking down upon the fleeing red light.
The red light darted faster, but the thunderclouds' violet bolts blocked its path. At last, a pained cry echoed, the red glow shattered, the tribulation clouds dispersed, and spiritual rain poured down. A rainbow arched across the sky, heralding Yun Xi's success. She had ascended to become a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn.
At the side, Hao Hui and Hao Qing twitched at the corner of their mouths. This girl was far too reckless. She hadn't even stabilized her realm before she started fighting. But both of them had seen that red glow emerge from her head.
Yes. Yun Xi's identity had been exposed before the two Zūnzhě. The moment she wielded the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff, they knew—she was Wei Yunxi, the personal disciple of Yu Ling.
As Yun Xi steadied her realm, Hao Qing said to Hao Hui: "That girl's staff is formidable. It even stored a strike. A life-saving treasure indeed."
Hao Hui nodded. "One of the seven purple stars on the staff has been lit. I've heard of this artifact before."
Hao Qing then asked: "That red light, what was it?"
Hao Hui lifted his eyes skyward, his voice cold. "Anything that could borrow the power of heavenly tribulation—what else could it be?"
Hao Qing's expression darkened, and he spoke by transmission: "Could Yun Xi have become an obstacle to something?"
Hao Hui shook his head, then nodded, replying the same way: "The Founding Ancestor once said that the great variable of this world would arise within our Haoran Sect."
Hao Qing frowned deeply. The Ancestor's words had been far too vague.
By now, Yun Xi had finished absorbing the spiritual rain bestowed by the heavens. She flashed before the two Zūnzhě and bowed respectfully. "Many thanks, Zūnzhě, for guarding me during my tribulation."
Hao Hui casually flicked out a sound barrier, then asked with calm interest: "Wei girl, why are you in this secret realm? Were you not supposed to be in closed-door cultivation on Lingxue Peak?"
At those words, Yun Xi's heart sank. She immediately recalled the thing she had struck down with her staff, and quickly plastered on a smile to explain:
"Please forgive me, Zūnzhě. I had no intention to deceive. After receiving the Yixian Gate's legacy, trouble followed me everywhere. I wished to temper myself, so I changed my appearance and entered the secret realm. Master, the Sect Master, is aware of this.
But this time I gained nothing in the realm, only fought several hard battles. Truly nine deaths for one life. Fortunately, I met Yun Chen Fózǐ of Yunmen Temple, and…"
Drawing upon her gift of words, Yun Xi gave a vivid retelling of her adventures since entering the realm. Naturally, she omitted anything about the Wu Tribe, Zhu Sheng, the Shengji Tree, or the spiritual veins.