His consciousness continued to in the endless darkness and the illusion of despair, like a drowning person, wrapped in cold negative emotions, nearly suffocating. That cyclical failure and loss, that readily available demonic path power, like two enormous vortices, tearing at Xiao Qi's remaining intelligence, dragging him into the abyss of damnation.
Just as that last thread of clarity was about to be devoured by darkness—
A point of faint light, like the first star breaking the eternal night, tenaciously lit in the deepest part of his consciousness.
That light was extremely faint at first, but carried an unyielding warmth and determination.
Within that light, face after face appeared.
It was the Master, that elder who seemed strict on the surface but kind at heart, who gave him tests and guidance when he first entered Qingxu Temple ignorant and naive, secretly paid attention when he was mocked as a "small," and ultimately took him as a disciple. The Master's eyes held expectation and trust.
It was Father Xu Zhan, that entangled with demonic energy, his eyes struggling. In his last moment of clarity, he used all his strength to transmit spiritual thought, telling him the truth, branding the protective sword intent within the Red Flame Sword, ultimately choosing to self-dissipate to not burden him. Father's eyes were full of guilt, reluctance, and determined love.
It was Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng, steady and reliable, who gave him guidance and encouragement many times on his path of growth, bearing sect responsibility on his shoulders, not forgetting to caution him about being careful before his departure.
It was Third Senior Sister Liu Yun, sharp tongue but soft heart, "special training" him again and again to temper his foundation, fighting shoulder to shoulder with him in battle, their coordination seamless.
It was Zhao Tiezhu, honest and upright, following along all the way, sharing life and death, with absolute trust and support.
It was the grateful low roar of the Snow Plains Giant Wolf Tribe leader, the complex gaze of the Ice Crystal Phoenix before her departure, the sincere cheers and gratitude of the Black Miao Witch Tribe villagers.
There were also countless faces, clear or blurred—those in the Northern Wastes, Western Desert, Central Plains, who he had helped and rescued with his modest strength, both cultivators and mortals. Their eyes held the of surviving disaster and hope for the future.
These faces, these gazes, like trickles merging into streams and then rivers, ultimately transformed into a and warm torrent that crashed through that seemingly unbreakable wall of despair!
"Protection."
A completely clear thought, like thunder, exploded in his collapsing heart!
Protection was not for certain success and perfection!
Protection was because those faces were worth protecting! Because that warmth and trust deserved his utmost to repay!
The meaning of protection lay not in whether the outcome was perfect, but in that heartfelt intention, that determination to never give up and never abandon, no matter what kind of desperate situation faced—the beginner's heart!
Even if the path ahead was thorny, even if failure was possible, even if loss would come, as long as this heart of protection remained unchanged, as long as there were still beautiful things worth protecting, his Dao had value! His sword had reason to swing!
"My Dao lies not in the strength of power, not in the height of realm, but in this heart—Protection!"
"BOOM—!!!"
As if some shackle was completely broken, some essence thoroughly perceived!
Xiao Qi's Dao Heart, which had been shaking violently and on the verge of breaking, at this moment, like iron thrown into a great furnace, tempered through thousands of hammerings, removing all impurities and confusion, blooming with unprecedented brilliant light!
That light was not scorching but as clear as autumn water, as firm as bedrock! That was his Guardian Sword Heart, in the extreme situation, thoroughly illuminated!
Use the heart as a sword, use intention to cut through falsehood!
That brilliant light of the Guardian Sword Heart burst forth heroically from the depths of his consciousness, like the first sword aura that opened heaven and earth, sweeping outward!
"Swoosh—!"
That endless, cyclical desperate illusion, that seductive whispers, that grim demonic shadows, under this illuminated Sword Heart, like snow and ice under the sun, shattered and dissolved one after another!
The tragic scene of Qingxu Temple's destruction? An illusion! He would use the sword in his hand to protect the sect, not allowing it to be invaded by demonic flames!
The grief of close friend's horrible death? An illusion! He would stand shoulder to shoulder with his brother, cutting down all enemies, protecting them completely!
The temptation of falling into the demonic path? An illusion! Power was merely a tool; his heart forever pointed toward light and protection!
All obstacles, all falsehoods, at this moment were thoroughly cut clean by this illuminated Sword Heart!
Returning to reality, Xiao Qi suddenly opened his eyes!
Within his eyes, there was no longer the previous chaos, pain, and struggle, only an absolute calm and determination that had experienced tribulations and perceived truth. That gaze was clear as crystal, yet seemed to contain the sharpness to cut through all.
The chaotic aura around him instantly settled. The restless spiritual power returned to control. The faintly overflowing demonic energy was completely expelled and purified. A round, transparent, firm, and heroic momentum, like a sleeping dragon awakening, rose from within his body and surged straight to the clouds!
It even dispersed most of the residual cold aura from the ninth Inner Demon Tribulation!
He slowly stood up. Although his clothes were shattered and he was covered in blood and dirt, his spine was straight as a cudgel, like a supreme divine sword about to be unsheathed and questioning the heavens after being tempered by thunder and fire!
The will to protect, Sword Heart illuminated! Inner Demon Tribulation, broken!
Thus, of the Nine Layers Thunder Tribulation, eight had been passed! Physical body, spiritual power, and Dao Heart, all under the baptism of Thunder Tribulation and inner demons, had reached a perfect, seamless peak state!
Just one final step remained—to condense the Golden Core, and he could leap over the dragon gate and achieve the Great Dao!
Xiao Qi raised his head, looking toward those jet-black tribulation clouds that seemed to have become even more violent due to the Inner Demon Tribulation being broken, brewing the final destructive strike. His gaze was, only that illuminated Sword Heart.
Come! The final tribulation!