Even after Yun Xi lost consciousness, her body continued to spasm uncontrollably. Every cell screamed the same truth: her injuries were too severe. She was standing at death's edge.
In the pocket space, Dian Dian lay trembling at the edge of the seven-colored lotus pond. His master's aura was terrifyingly weak, and as a contracted spirit beast, he too suffered the backlash. Before long, he collapsed completely, slipping into unconsciousness.
Fei Xia's state was even more tragic. Half of her body had been annihilated by the Divine Transformation lightning tribulation. She clung only to the survival of her inner core. Yu Geng had no choice but to seal her into a spirit beast pouch. She had long since lost consciousness.
Zhu Sheng had fallen into slumber ever since his grandfather's true form was destroyed. Now, with Yun Xi suffering such grave damage, he too sank into an even deeper sleep.
The Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff, once carried out of the thunder tribulation's range, had automatically returned to Yun Xi's dantian. There, it greedily absorbed the thunder spiritual power rampaging through her body. The violet Yaoguang star embedded on its shaft shone brighter and brighter.
By this point Yun Xi had slipped completely into oblivion. Yu Geng Zhēnjūn carried her into the Qingye Pool—the same place where she had once broken through in cultivation. After setting her down, he cast a restrictive seal over the pool before hurrying back to Lingxue Peak. Yu Ling's Divine Transformation tribulation had not yet ended.
Not long after Yu Geng Zhēnjūn departed, Zuo Qiu quietly appeared at the Qingye Pool. He had deliberately waited for the sect master to leave. He also knew that Hao Qing Zūnzhě, who usually guarded this place, was away at the Baohua Mountain Range. This was the perfect opportunity.
He slipped past the outer warding barrier, released his divine sense, and began searching for Wei Yunxi.
That cheap disciple of his had told him Yun Xi carried some treasure left behind by her mother. Exactly what kind of treasure, only finding her would reveal.
It didn't take long before Zuo Qiu located Yun Xi. She floated unconscious within the pool, her charred body half-submerged, eyes tightly shut. Faint violet flames licked across her skin.
Zuo Qiu's eyes narrowed. That was a strange fire, and it was helping refine the chaotic thunder energy in her body. The sight only deepened his greed. Yes, this was worth the risk.
Without hesitation, Zuo Qiu unleashed a soul attack aimed directly at Yun Xi's sea of consciousness. This way, she wouldn't die on the spot, and her eventual death could be blamed on her failing to withstand the tribulation. It was killing two birds with one stone.
The corners of his lips curled in satisfaction. Success seemed certain. But in the very next instant, his face twisted in shock. A surge of overwhelming power erupted from Yun Xi's brow, repelling his soul attack and rebounding straight into his own sea of consciousness.
Zuo Qiu had no chance even to cry out. His body crumpled instantly, unconscious, and collapsed by the poolside.
The disturbance came too suddenly, and the energy fluctuations were immense. In the next breath, a figure clad in cyan appeared by the pool.
It was a female cultivator. Her features were refined, with phoenix-shaped eyes that lit her face with brilliance. She swept a glance at the unconscious Zuo Qiu, then turned to the fainted Yun Xi. At Yun Xi's brow, the radiant red Huadian Immortal Artifact glowed fiercely. The woman's phoenix eyes narrowed.
In the next moment, Hao Hui appeared beside her. After first confirming Yun Xi was unharmed, he cupped his fists. "Senior Sister Hao Yan, forgive the disturbance."
Hao Yan arched a brow, her phoenix eyes sharp. "Hao Hui, it seems much has happened while I was in seclusion. How did this little girl end up so gravely wounded? And yet she is protected by an immortal artifact. Who is she?"
Hao Hui replied respectfully. "Senior Sister, it's a long story. She is Yu Ling's personal disciple, his only successor. To help her master withstand the Divine Transformation tribulation, she was injured this severely."
His gaze swept briefly toward Zuo Qiu lying unconscious, a flicker of meaning crossing his eyes. Then he asked, "And why is Zuo Qiu here?"
"I don't know," Hao Hui answered. "I only sensed the power of an immortal artifact and came to investigate. What I saw was the artifact lashing out from this unconscious girl, with Zuo Qiu as the target."
With a flick of his sleeve, Hao Hui drew Zuo Qiu into his Qiankun sleeve. He then bowed to Hao Yan."Senior Sister, I'll trouble you to watch over Yun Xi for now. Once Yu Ling finishes his tribulation, he will come for her."
Hao Yan waved her hand lightly. "I understand. Go attend to your duties. Yu Ling taking a disciple is rare enough—I'll guard the girl."
"My thanks, Senior Sister."
With that, Hao Hui vanished from the pool. The next moment, he reappeared within the Discipline Hall of Haoran Sect. He tossed the unconscious Zuo Qiu onto the floor and spoke into the darkness.
"Have your master interrogate him personally. I want the reason why he harmed a personal disciple of the sect, and whether it was he who tampered with the formation of Lingxue Peak."
"Yes, Zūnzhě!"
From the shadows, a hand emerged, binding Zuo Qiu with a golden Immortal-Binding Rope. Dragging him into the depths of the Discipline Hall, the figure vanished.
Hao Hui lingered a moment, then shifted back to Lingxue Peak. By now, Yu Ling's Divine Transformation tribulation was reaching its end. The final bolt of lightning descended, splitting down from the heavens onto Yu Ling's crown.
Yu Ling's face was pale, yet his eyes were firm. He gritted his teeth and took the full force of the strike. Scenes flashed rapidly before his eyes, until one image froze—his little disciple's bloodless, stricken face.
Yu Ling's eyes snapped open. The spiritual energy flooding into his body was vast. Pressed against his chest, the celestial herb endlessly infused pure spiritual energy into him, letting him simultaneously fight the wild thunder within and repair his shattered meridians.
Inside his dantian, the tiny Yuányīng opened its eyes. Its icy blue gaze turned grave as it devoured the incoming flood of energy. Slowly, it swelled in size, until after one incense stick of time it was the same height as Yu Ling, fusing completely with his true body. The Divine Transformation was complete.
The heavenly rain ceased. The dark clouds dispersed, revealing boundless skies. Then, snowflakes began drifting down. A spectral longsword of ice-blue light appeared above the heavens, lingering five breaths before fading away.
Yu Ling descended in a storm of wind and snow, appearing at the peak of Lingxue. In the next breath, he stood before the sect master and Hao Hui Zūnzhě.
Cultivators from the watching sects all cupped their hands. "Congratulations, Peak Lord of Lingxue, on successfully overcoming the tribulation and stepping into Divine Transformation."
Yu Ling merely inclined his head. After a polite bow, he asked directly, "How is Yun Xi?"
Yu Geng frowned. "Her injuries are grave. Hao Hui Zūnzhě had me send her to the Qingye Pool."
Yu Ling's gaze turned icy. His silver hair lifted as though sensing his killing intent. He exhaled a heavy breath. "If not for Yun Xi, I could not have survived this tribulation. Someone tampered with the formation of Lingxue Peak. I suspect Zuo Qiu."
Hao Hui examined Yu Ling, confirming his condition was stable and only required seclusion to consolidate. Knowing his concern for his disciple, Hao Hui said, "Zuo Qiu followed Yu Geng to the Qingye Pool and tried to harm Yun Xi. Senior Sister Hao Yan stopped him. I've already sent him to the Discipline Hall. Senior Sister Hao Yan is watching over Yun Xi. You need not worry."
Hearing this, Yu Geng's face darkened. So Zuo Qiu had targeted Yun Xi, counting on his lower cultivation to get away with it. If the man had succeeded, Yu Geng would never have been able to face his senior brother again. Rage broke through his composure, and for the first time, Yu Geng cursed without restraint.
"That despicable scoundrel!"