The mountain wind howled across the shattered slope.
Gu Ming stood calmly before them, dark spiritual energy swirling like a storm around his body.
Across from him stood five young cultivators.
Mo Xuan.
Ling Yue.
Lan Jian.
Lan Xue.
Han Wei.
For a brief moment, none of them moved.
Then Han Wei laughed.
"So you two finally came back."
Lan Jian's sharp eyes were focused on Mo Xuan and Ling Yue.
His gaze narrowed slightly.
Something had changed.
The spiritual pressure around them was completely different.
Lan Jian spoke quietly.
"Your cultivation…"
Ling Yue smiled slightly.
Mo Xuan simply stood calmly.
Han Wei shook his head.
"This is ridiculous."
"One week ago you were barely Foundation and Qi Gathering."
Lan Xue crossed her arms.
"And now?"
Her gaze lingered on Ling Yue.
"Core Formation."
Lan Jian nodded slowly.
"You two are terrifying."
Han Wei laughed.
"No wonder the mountain exploded."
But their moment of reunion ended quickly.
Because Gu Ming's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"How touching."
His dark eyes glowed with killing intent.
"Five little cultivators celebrating their reunion."
He raised his hand slowly.
"But you seem to forget something."
His Nascent Soul aura exploded outward.
The ground beneath them cracked.
"I am still standing here."
The pressure crushed toward them like a falling mountain.
Lan Jian stepped forward first.
His sword flashed with icy light.
"Ice Dragon Severing Slash!"
A massive blade of frozen energy surged toward Gu Ming.
Lan Xue followed instantly.
Her sword danced through the air.
"Frozen Lotus Bloom!"
Dozens of razor-sharp ice petals exploded outward.
Han Wei activated three talismans simultaneously.
"Thunder Binding Formation!"
Golden lightning chains shot toward Gu Ming.
The attacks collided at once.
The mountain shook violently.
But when the smoke cleared—
Gu Ming stood unharmed.
He flicked his sleeve casually.
The lightning shattered.
The ice attacks collapsed.
Lan Jian was forced back several steps.
Han Wei coughed blood.
Lan Xue's sword trembled slightly.
Gu Ming laughed.
"You children think teamwork can defeat Nascent Soul?"
His hand moved.
Dark energy condensed into a massive claw.
"Nether Devouring Palm."
The attack crashed down.
Mo Xuan moved instantly.
His sword flashed.
"Shadow Severing Strike."
A sharp black arc cut through the descending palm.
At the same moment—
Ling Yue stepped forward.
Her blade shimmered silver.
"Frost Veil — Crescent Moon Slash!"
The two attacks collided with Gu Ming's palm technique.
The explosion sent shockwaves across the mountain.
Dust filled the air.
Gu Ming slid back half a step.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting."
He finally began to take them seriously.
Lan Jian grinned.
"Did you think we would just stand and watch?"
Mo Xuan's calm voice followed.
"Five against one."
Ling Yue lifted her sword again.
"Let's finish this."
The five of them moved simultaneously.
Lan Jian and Lan Xue attacked together.
"Ice Heaven Twin Dragons!"
Two massive dragons of frozen energy spiraled toward Gu Ming.
Han Wei leapt into the air.
"Golden Thunder Rain!"
Lightning bolts crashed downward like a storm.
Ling Yue rushed forward through the chaos.
"Frost Veil — Thousand Petal Bloom!"
Her sword split into dozens of silver afterimages.
Mo Xuan moved through the battlefield like a shadow.
His sword strike was simple.
But precise.
"Silent Abyss Cut."
Five attacks struck Gu Ming from different directions.
For the first time—
Gu Ming roared.
His Nascent Soul energy erupted violently.
"Demonic Eclipse Domain!"
Darkness spread outward like a tidal wave.
The ground shattered.
The five disciples were pushed back.
Lan Jian wiped blood from his mouth.
"He's stronger than I thought."
Mo Xuan's eyes sharpened.
"We break his domain first."
Ling Yue nodded.
"Together."
Lan Xue raised her sword high.
"Ice Sky Prison!"
Han Wei slammed another talisman into the ground.
"Thunder Array Lock!"
Lan Jian unleashed a massive slash.
"Glacial Dragon Collapse!"
Mo Xuan stepped forward.
His sword energy gathered silently.
"Shadow Rupture."
Ling Yue followed beside him.
Her blade glowed brilliantly.
"Frost Veil — Heaven Cutting Moon!"
All five attacks collided with Gu Ming's domain.
The sky seemed to split.
A deafening explosion shook the entire mountain.
The dark domain shattered.
Gu Ming staggered.
Lan Jian roared.
"Now!"
Mo Xuan appeared before Gu Ming instantly.
His sword pierced forward.
Ling Yue's blade followed at the same moment.
Twin strikes.
Light and shadow.
The swords pierced through Gu Ming's chest.
The Nascent Soul cultivator froze.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"…Impossible."
Mo Xuan's voice was calm.
"You chose the wrong prey."
Ling Yue pulled her blade free.
Gu Ming collapsed.
His body fell lifeless onto the broken mountain ground.
Silence followed.
For several seconds, none of them moved.
Then Han Wei dropped onto the ground laughing.
"We actually did it!"
Lan Jian wiped his sword clean.
"Barely."
Lan Xue glanced at Mo Xuan and Ling Yue.
"You two changed everything."
Ling Yue smiled softly.
"Teamwork."
Han Wei stood up again.
"Well… looks like our little adventure ends here."
Lan Jian nodded.
"The mountain is destroyed."
Lan Xue looked toward the horizon.
"And the sect competition is coming."
Han Wei stretched his arms.
"So we meet again there."
Ling Yue smiled.
"Definitely."
Lan Jian raised his fist.
"Before we go…"
He extended it forward.
Han Wei immediately bumped his fist against it.
Lan Xue followed.
Mo Xuan hesitated briefly.
Then joined them.
Ling Yue completed the circle.
Five fists together.
A silent promise.
"Main Sect Competition."
"See you there."
"Don't lose."
They all laughed.
Moments later—
They separated.
Han Wei flew toward the direction of Azure Sky Pavilion.
Lan Jian and Lan Xue rose into the air together toward Ice Star Sect.
As they traveled through the sky, Lan Jian glanced sideways.
"So…"
Lan Xue frowned.
"So what?"
Lan Jian smirked.
"You like Mo Xuan."
Lan Xue's cheeks flushed instantly.
"I do not."
Lan Jian laughed.
"You're terrible at hiding it."
Lan Xue turned away quietly.
But a small smile appeared on her lips.
Far behind them—
Mo Xuan and Ling Yue flew toward Heavenly Radiance Sect.
Ling Yue looked toward him.
"This time…"
"We'll both enter the main sect competition."
Mo Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
Ling Yue smiled brightly.
"Let's win."
They continued flying toward their sect.
Far away—
Inside a dark underground hall—
A masked man sat upon a massive black throne.
The chamber was filled with eerie green flames.
A kneeling subordinate spoke nervously.
"Master… Gu Ming is dead."
The masked figure remained silent for several seconds.
Then he chuckled softly.
"A Nascent Soul failure."
He leaned back in the throne.
"Killed by a group of disciples."
His voice became colder.
"He was never worthy of our clan anyway."
The green flames flickered violently.
The masked man's eyes glowed beneath the mask.
"Interesting…"
His voice echoed through the dark chamber.
"Very interesting."
The game had only just begun.
End of Chapter...