Qian Renxue Descends, Xiang Zhili!

Just moments ago, she had been a mere nominal disciple entitled only to a small amount of basic resources. With a word from the two patriarchs, she had soared to new heights.

This also meant that she now had true backing within the Falling Cloud Sect. She would no longer have to risk her life over a few spirit stones like those low-level rogue cultivators.

"Now that you are a disciple of my Falling Cloud Sect, and since this is our first meeting, I, as your grandmaster-uncle, naturally cannot be stingy."

Elder Cheng smiled and lightly brushed his withered hand across the storage pouch at his waist.

Amid flashing light, a jade pendant emitting a gentle white glow and a small, exquisite green porcelain bottle flew steadily before Hu Liena.

"This Clear Heart Jade Pendant was refined by this old man in his early years from a piece of thousand-year warm jade."

"Worn on the body, it not only grants immunity to all poisons, but when struck by external force, it can automatically activate a water-attributed shield equivalent to the full-force strike of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"As for what is inside this bottle, there are ten Spirit Cleansing Pills."

"Although you have successfully cleansed your marrow and refined your body, your foundation is still shallow."

"These Spirit Cleansing Pills can help stabilize your meridians and remove the remaining impurities from your body. They will be enough to let you cultivate safely all the way to the great perfection of Qi Refinement."

As she listened to Elder Cheng's introduction, Hu Liena's breathing quickened.

She reached out with both hands and carefully accepted the jade pendant and pill bottle, her voice trembling.

"Thank you... Thank you for these treasures, Patriarch!"

Those few casually spoken words

caused a tsunami-like uproar across the Douluo Continent.

Heaven Dou Empire Imperial Palace.

Emperor Xue Ye sat upon his dragon throne, staring wide-eyed at the Clear Heart Jade Pendant.

"Immune to all poisons... and it can even automatically activate a defensive shield?"

Emperor Xue Ye turned to the old minister beside him.

"Does our imperial treasury possess armor of this level?"

The old minister gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Your Majesty, forget the Heaven Dou Empire. Even if we turned every soul tool on the entire continent upside down, we would not find a second one like it."

"Automatic defense—this completely defies the fundamental principles of soul power circulation."

Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi stared at the green porcelain bottle, his face full of envy.

"Stabilizing meridians, removing impurities, and guaranteeing advancement to the great perfection of Qi Refinement."

"How is this a medicinal pill? It is practically an immortal elixir."

He recalled Liu Yunfei of his sect, who had needed to humbly beg others with gold soul coins just to buy a basic cultivation technique, only to end up losing both his head and his life.

Then he looked at Hu Liena.

Two patriarchs had come to her door with cultivation techniques, magical treasures, and pills, directly arranging her future path for her.

That was the difference in treatment brought by talent and special qualities.

Comparing people really could make one furious.

At Shrek Academy, Tang San looked at the Clear Heart Jade Pendant, a deep sense of helplessness rising within him.

"Automatically blocking the full-force strike of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator..."

Tang San silently assessed it in his heart.

That Han Li, who had just instantly killed Su Yuntao, had only been at the Qi Refinement stage.

Foundation Establishment was an entire major realm above Qi Refinement. Its strength was undoubtedly comparable to a Soul Sage or even a Soul Douluo on the Douluo Continent.

This jade pendant could withstand the full-force strike of an expert at that level.

If his hidden weapons struck it, they probably would not even leave a white mark.

"A magical treasure like this is merely a meeting gift from an elder to a junior?"

Tang San gritted his teeth. The Tang Sect craftsmanship he had been so proud of in his previous life felt like children's toys in this world.

In the scene, seeing Elder Cheng's generosity, Lu Rusheng burst into laughter as well.

"Since Senior Brother Cheng has given a meeting gift, I, as an elder, naturally cannot fall behind."

With a flip of his wrist, Lu Rusheng produced a ribbon radiating five-colored light.

"This Cloud-Piercing Silk is a top-grade flying magical artifact."

"Pour spiritual power into it, and it can expand in the wind and fly at tremendous speed. It is most suitable for a girl like you who has just entered the sect and has yet to learn sword flight."

As he spoke, Lu Rusheng took out another small cloth bag.

"Inside are one hundred mid-grade spirit stones. Keep them to buy the things girls usually like."

The magical artifact ribbon and the bag of spirit stones landed steadily in Hu Liena's hands.

Holding those items, Hu Liena felt as though she were dreaming.

One hundred mid-grade spirit stones!

Over the past few days, she had wandered around the outer sect of the Falling Cloud Sect and learned that even a single low-grade spirit stone was enough to make those low-ranking disciples fight desperately over it.

If converted into gold soul coins, one hundred mid-grade spirit stones would probably empty nearly half of Spirit Hall's treasury.

"Disciple Hu Liena kowtows in thanks to the two ancestors!"

Hu Liena dropped to both knees and performed a grand salute.

She had now completely given her heart to the Falling Cloud Sect.

Here, she had seen a path to greater heights and experienced the confidence of a great cultivation sect that regarded worldly wealth as beneath notice.

Compared to a place like Spirit Hall, where people schemed against one another and relied on hunting soul beasts to maintain their rule, this was the true broad road of the Great Dao.

The two ancestors smiled in satisfaction.

Then Elder Cheng turned to Song Yu, his expression becoming somewhat more solemn.

"Martial Niece Song, although this girl has a special constitution, she was born in the mortal world and lacks actual combat experience."

"In another three years, the Bloody Trial jointly held by the various sects of the Stream Kingdom will begin."

"That ancient secret realm is filled with spirit herbs, but it is also fraught with danger."

"Teach her well during this time. In three years, send her into the secret realm to temper herself."

"Only by experiencing life-and-death battles can one truly understand the cruelty of the cultivation world and travel farther upon the path of immortality."

Song Yu nodded respectfully in acknowledgment.

"Rest assured, Martial Uncle. This niece will teach her everything I know."

Having given their instructions, the two ancestors did not linger.

Their figures flickered, transforming into two long rainbows that shot through the clouds and returned to the forbidden grounds in the back mountain.

Emerald Mist Peak returned to tranquility once more.

But Hu Liena's heart remained unsettled for a long time.

She looked at the treasures in her hands, gleaming with spiritual light, then raised her head toward the bright moon hanging high in the night sky.

"Bloody Trial..."

Hu Liena silently repeated those four words in her heart.

She knew that this was not merely a dangerous test, but also the springboard that would allow her to truly gain a foothold in this cruel cultivation world.

She would discard all the useless pride she had learned back on the Douluo Continent.

From this moment on, she was a cultivator of Emerald Mist Peak, Falling Cloud Sect.

And the people of Douluo beyond the light screen...

Hearing the name "Bloody Trial," a shadow fell over their hearts as well.

In this cultivation world, opportunities and dangers had always existed side by side.

The skies of the Douluo Continent had only just returned to their original azure hue.

Just as everyone believed this heart-stirring cross-realm broadcast had finally come to an end and prepared to process the shock and fear in their hearts...

"Buzz!"

A strange hum that pierced through the barriers of space echoed beside everyone's ears once again.

Immediately afterward, vast ripples of gold spread across the previously tranquil sky.

The enormous light screen that had just faded away reappeared in the center of the heavens like rippling water.

Lines of flowing golden characters slowly emerged, carrying the unquestionable majesty of the Heavenly Dao.

[Explorer Hu Liena has successfully cleansed herself of mortal impurities and reconstructed her cultivation foundation.]

[Hidden achievement attained: Immortal Path Foundation Establishment.]

[Heavenly Screen rules triggered. One additional descent slot is hereby granted.]

The moment these lines appeared, the entire Douluo Continent erupted into an uproar.

Spirit Hall, within Papal Hall.

Bibi Dong looked at the light screen overhead. A flash of wild joy crossed her eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by deep concern.

Hu Liena's success proved that Spirit Hall's judgment had not been wrong.

But this additional slot was like a sword suspended over everyone's heads. No one knew upon which unfortunate person's head it would fall.

After all, encountering a sect willing to teach all without discrimination, as Hu Liena had, depended far too much on luck.

Far more often, people would end up like Zhao Wuji and Liu Yunfei, not even knowing how they died.

On the light screen, golden radiance began to flicker wildly.

Countless names flashed rapidly across it, tugging at the heartstrings of billions of living beings across Douluo Continent.

Ten breaths later.

The light gradually settled.

A name no one had expected appeared prominently in the very center of the heavenly screen.

[Additional slot confirmed.]

[Spirit Hall's young mistress, inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, Qian Renxue!]

Heaven Dou Empire, Imperial Palace Hall.

Emperor Xue Ye sat upon the dragon throne, discussing the upheaval brought by the heavenly screen with Ning Fengzhi below.

The newly revealed name had left them both utterly confused.

"Spirit Hall's young mistress? Qian Renxue?"

Emperor Xue Ye frowned and turned to Ning Fengzhi.

"Sect Master Ning, isn't Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden that Hu Liena? Where did this Qian Renxue come from?"

Ning Fengzhi was equally perplexed and shook his head.

"As far as I know, Qian Xunji, Spirit Hall's former Pope, did have a daughter. But rumors said she had died young long ago. Yet now the heavenly screen has named her outright..."

Before he could finish, the crown prince Xue Qinghe, who had been quietly standing to one side with his head lowered as he sipped tea, suddenly erupted with a dazzling golden light too brilliant to look at directly.

This light did not come from his soul power, but from the teleportation light descending from the heavenly screen.

"Qinghe! What's wrong?!"

Emperor Xue Ye turned pale with shock and sprang to his feet from the dragon throne.

Ning Fengzhi's heart tightened as well, and he was just about to step forward to inspect him.

But in an instant, the golden glow became incomparably brilliant, directly enveloping Xue Qinghe's entire body.

Under the cleansing force of the heavenly laws, the soul bone skill Xue Qinghe used for disguise melted and collapsed in an instant, like ice and snow beneath the blazing sun.

Before everyone's eyes, the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince—once gentle-faced and slender—underwent a heaven-shaking transformation.

A cascade of golden hair spilled down her back. Her formerly flat chest swelled, and her Adam's apple vanished.

Her features became breathtakingly beautiful and cold, carrying an inviolable, sacred nobility.

"Whoosh!"

With a crisp sound.

Three pairs of flawless white wings burst open from her back, radiating holy brilliance.

Six-Winged Angel!

This sudden turn of events plunged the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Palace into dead silence.

Emperor Xue Ye pointed at the stunning woman standing in the golden light, his finger trembling nonstop as he found himself unable to utter a word.

Ning Fengzhi felt his vision darken, as though someone had fiercely clenched his heart.

His most prized disciple, the heir apparent of the Heaven Dou Empire, had actually been a woman in disguise!

And judging by that unmistakable Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, she was clearly a direct descendant of Spirit Hall!

"Y-you... who exactly are you?!"

Emperor Xue Ye's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with the fury of betrayal and utter disbelief.

Standing within the pillar of light, Qian Renxue knew that her disguise had been completely exposed.

At this point, she instead felt relieved.

She slightly raised her delicate chin and calmly swept her gaze over Emperor Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi. Her red lips parted.

"Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue."

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, yet it carried an innate arrogance.

The next instant, the golden light flashed fiercely and shot into the heavens.

Qian Renxue's figure vanished from the hall without a trace, leaving the court officials staring at one another in a deathly silence.

As Qian Renxue was teleported away, the image on the heavenly screen swiftly shifted to a new scene.

This was a sprawling mountain range rich in spiritual energy.

Ancient trees towered into the sky, while exotic flowers and strange herbs dotted the forest. A faint fragrance of vegetation hung in the air.

Qian Renxue's figure slowly appeared in an open clearing.

The moment she landed, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul behind her instantly possessed her.

Seven soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—pulsed rhythmically beneath her feet.

She gripped an Angel Holy Sword blazing with golden flames tightly in her hand.

Qian Renxue's gaze was sharp as a blade as she warily surveyed her surroundings.

She had watched the broadcast of Zhao Wuji's tragic death and knew that this cultivation world was filled with deadly monsters and traps lurking everywhere.

Even as a Soul Sage above level seventy with a god-tier Martial Soul, she had to remain on high alert in this world.

"The spiritual energy concentration here is several times higher than in Spirit City."

Qian Renxue silently assessed the situation, spreading out her spiritual power completely and missing nothing—not even the slightest rustle of wind or grass.

Just then, faint footsteps came from the woods ahead.

They were accompanied by the soft rustling of someone pushing through the bushes.

Qian Renxue's eyes sharpened. She slightly raised the Angel Holy Sword in her hand, its tip aimed directly toward the sound.

"Who's there? Come out!"

Her clear shout echoed through the forest.

The leaves ahead shook a few times.

An old man in a faded yellow Daoist robe of an utterly ordinary style slowly emerged from the woods.

He looked to be in his sixties, short and plump, his round face covered in wrinkles carved by time.

A few sparse goat hairs hung from his chin, and he held a small medicinal hoe specially used for gathering herbs.

A bamboo basket was slung over his back, containing several of the most ordinary low-grade spirit herbs.

Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback when she saw the old man.

She had expected to encounter some vicious cultivator or a massive, terrifying demon beast.

Instead, the one who came out was an utterly unremarkable, even somewhat sleazy old man.