The Eve of Great Battle!

In a simple quiet room within a side courtyard of the Zhang Family Courtyard.

As one of those selected for the upcoming expedition, Zhang Tieshan was not resting.

This dark-skinned man, bare-chested, used the dim candlelight to wipe down the "Seven Stars Thunder Fire Armor" gifted by the Young Master, over and over again.

"Half a month left..."

Zhang Tieshan paused his movements, staring at the fierce thunder patterns on the armor, a flicker of anxiety in his eyes.

He had been stuck at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage for a full ten years now.

This bottleneck was like an insurmountable mountain. No matter how many Pills he consumed, no matter how he cultivated day and night without rest, that thin layer of membrane simply refused to break.

Facing the Wang Family this time, he shouted that he wasn't afraid to die, but he was afraid his strength would fall short and drag the family down.

Even more, he feared failing the heavy trust the Young Master had placed in him.

"If I could just break through... even if it cost me ten years of my lifespan, I'd be willing!"

Zhang Tieshan slammed his thigh hard, producing a dull thud.

Just then, a sudden change occurred.

A warm current, from an unknown source, surged deep within his dantian.

This power was gentle and mellow, yet vast as an ocean.

In an instant, it filled every limb and bone in his body.

"Th-this is?!"

Zhang Tieshan's eyes bulged like an ox's, his face full of disbelief.

He wasn't cultivating, nor had he taken any Pills, yet this spiritual power seemed to pour into him from nowhere, like a Transfusion, requiring no refinement on his part.

That warm current rushed along his meridians. The originally unbreakable bottleneck, before this power, was like a sandcastle meeting a tidal wave.

Boom--!

A muffled explosion rang out inside his body.

His Aura surged higher and higher!

The candle flames in the quiet room danced wildly, nearly extinguishing.

Zhang Tieshan stared blankly at his own hands, then clenched his fists tightly.

The air crackled with the sound of force. That overwhelming sense of control belonging to Foundation Establishment Late Stage—

so real it made him want to cry.

"Br... broke through?"

This feeling was too dreamlike, as if the heavens had played a massive joke on him.

The same scene, within the Zhang Family Courtyard that night, occurred five times in succession.

Those five clan members who had been worried about lacking strength and holding the family back, all, at the same moment, smoothly crossed the threshold that had troubled them for years.

Unlike the surprise on the Zhang side, on Black Reef Island, hundreds of miles away, within the Wang Family's main stronghold, an oppressive, bone-chilling aura now hung in the air.

In the underground secret chamber beneath the Wang Family's meeting hall.

The decor here was extremely luxurious. The walls were inlaid with luminous night pearls, and the floor was covered with thick beast pelts.

But at this moment, even the usually arrogant Wang Family Head, Wang Lie, could only stand humbly at the lower end of the room.

Beside him stood Wang Teng, his face full of fervor and excitement.

And on the main seat, that tiger-skin-covered chair, no member of the Wang Family sat.

Instead, a middle-aged man in a white robe was seated there.

This white-robed man had a clean, fair face, even appearing somewhat refined, but his eyes were narrow and cold.

When they occasionally opened and closed, green ghost fire seemed to flicker in his pupils.

In his hand, he toyed with a pair of prayer beads carved from human skulls.

This man was none other than an outer sect Elder of the mainland Demonic Path sect—the Yin Luo Sect, Li Wuji.

"Elder Li, for you to personally grace our humble East Mountain Islands is truly the Wang Family's fortune. You honor our humble abode!"

Wang Lie bowed deeply, his face plastered with a fawning smile.

There was not a trace left of his usual "Madman Wang" ferocity.

Li Wuji didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice thin and cold: "Spare me the nonsense. This Seat came this time for the matter of that Secret Realm!"

"Those above take this very seriously and don't want any mishaps."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Wang Lie nodded repeatedly: "Rest assured, Elder, our Wang Family is fully prepared this time. That Zhang Family is already a grasshopper in autumn—they won't be hopping for many more days."

"Hmph. If it were really as easy as you say, would you still need to beg the sect for reinforcements?"

Li Wuji snorted coldly, the bone beads in his hand stopping their rotation with a sharp click.

Wang Lie gave an awkward laugh: "Well... this is just to be absolutely certain. That Zhang Family does have some foundation after all, especially that old ghost Zhang Tianzheng—I hear he's been showing signs of Final Radiance lately..."

"Enough."

Li Wuji waved his hand impatiently, pointing to the shadows behind him: "This Seat brought two personal disciples this time to lend you a hand."

As his words fell, the shadows rippled.

Two cultivators wrapped head to toe in black robes...

Only a pair of vicious eyes visible—stepped forward.

Their auras were extremely obscure, carrying a thick Bloody Scent.

But their cultivation had truly reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage Peak.

Only a hair's breadth away from the False Core realm.

"These are Xue Sha and Gu Ling."

Li Wuji said flatly: "They cultivate the Yin Luo Sect's Killing Secret Art. Among their peers, they have few rivals. For this Arena Competition, let them take the place of your two Waste slots."

"Thank you, Elder! Thank you, Elder!"

Wang Teng, standing nearby, watched with gleaming eyes.

These two were clearly ruthless characters—the Sha Qi on them was even heavier than any rogue cultivator he had ever seen.