"What were you two thinking? Why did you attempt to open the Tenth Heavenly Grotto without saying a word? Didn't I tell you how dangerous this process was?"
Yun Canghai's tone held a note of reproach. How could they treat something as momentous as opening the Tenth Heavenly Grotto so casually?
If Yun Ying intended to attempt it, he would certainly have stood guard beside her, because the slightest misstep during the process could spell failure.
Moreover, according to ancient records, if the first attempt to open the Tenth Heavenly Grotto failed, there was almost no chance of ever opening it again. Anyone attempting it therefore had to make extensive preparations and could not afford any carelessness.
Yet Yun Ying had suddenly begun on her own. Had the lightning tribulation not caused such a tremendous disturbance, Yun Canghai would not even have known what was happening here.
"I... I didn't expect it either... Ying suddenly said she wanted to demonstrate it for me... and then she started."
Yun Xi felt somewhat wronged.
"Ah."
Helplessness filled Yun Canghai's face. Yun Ying had been withdrawn since childhood and never showed anyone a pleasant face, yet she treated her older sister Yun Xi very well and cared deeply for her. Rather than a younger sister, she seemed more like an older sister or brother.
Clearly, Yun Ying had chosen this moment to attempt the Tenth Heavenly Grotto for Yun Xi's sake.
He looked up into the air, his expression grave. No one from any of the Primordial Sacred Mountains had successfully opened the Tenth Heavenly Grotto for countless years. He could only hope Yun Ying would succeed.
Lightning struck, splitting Yun Ying's body and leaving her drenched in blood. Yet her nine cave heavens continuously poured divine essence from heaven and earth into her, rapidly healing those wounds in a repeating cycle.
It was an agonizing process, but Yun Ying seemed utterly unaware of it. Like an peerless divine sword, she stood proudly in the void, the keen edge of her sword dao blazing ever more intensely.
Above her head, the Purple Bamboo Sword shimmered with violet light. Runes danced like stars around its blade, while strands of sword qi roamed the void, tearing through everything.
The lightning struck not only Yun Ying but also the Purple Bamboo Sword, sending brilliant sparks flying.
Yet each thunderous strike made the Purple Bamboo Sword's radiance purer and lent its blade an increasingly ancient simplicity. A divine aura arose naturally from it.
The Purple Bamboo Sword hummed softly. Terrifying sword intent surged upward, piercing the void and drawing the tenth cave heaven into reality.
Rumble!
The Great Dao seemed to roar as the tenth cave heaven descended steadily under the guidance of her sword intent, gradually revealing itself in full.
During this process, the nine cave heavens shone ever more brilliantly, pouring the essence of heaven and earth into the tenth. A sacred, tranquil radiance spread outward.
Bolt after bolt of lightning struck Yun Ying and her Purple Bamboo Sword, as though tempering them.
After seven times seven bolts-forty-nine in all-the lightning began to fade. The thunderclouds filling the sky dispersed, and that terrifying will swiftly withdrew.
"The heavenly tribulation is gone!"
Yun Xi stared intently at the scene. The fading lightning tribulation let her breathe a sigh of relief.
Yun Canghai smiled as well. "Good, good, good."
With the heavenly tribulation over, the greatest ordeal had passed. Yun Ying's opening of the tenth cave heaven could all but be considered a success; only the final few steps remained.
"Take your place!"
Yun Ying spoke and formed a seal with both hands before her. The Purple Bamboo Sword sang softly, transformed into a streak of violet sword light, and plunged into the tenth cave heaven.
Heaven and earth shuddered violently, as though the world were being created anew. The Tenth Heavenly Grotto fully manifested, erupting with countless rays of divine radiance that hung down like Order Divine Chains and poured over Yun Ying.
At that moment, the potential within Yun Ying gushed forth like a geyser, awakening in full and connecting with the Tenth Heavenly Grotto.
Wisps of sacred immortal qi emerged, and an undying aura spread outward. The wounds on Yun Ying's body rapidly healed, her split flesh joining together again. Like a butterfly breaking free of its cocoon, she grew even stronger.
Powerful fluctuations erupted, sweeping across heaven and earth like a hurricane.
The tenth cave heaven descended above Yun Ying's head. Compared with the other nine, it was far stronger, majestic and vast, towering and imposing. Divine essence from heaven and earth gushed forth like a heavenly waterfall, with boundless vital essence surging within.
Soon, every injury on Yun Ying's body had vanished. Her flesh was translucent and lustrous, as flawless and unblemished as glass. Enveloped in sacred light, she resembled an immortal spirit descended into the world.
"She did it!"
At the sight, Yun Canghai grew excited. Yun Ying had truly succeeded in opening the Tenth Heavenly Grotto!
Hearing Yun Canghai's words, Yun Xi was overwhelmed with excitement as well. Yun Ying had done it. She had reached the Cave Heaven Extremity, with all ten cave heavens emerging together, looking down proudly upon the world.
Before long, the ten cave heavens faded away, and Yun Ying slowly descended.
"Ying! Congratulations!"
Yun Xi immediately rushed forward and hugged her, overjoyed—happier than she would have been had she opened the Tenth Heavenly Grotto herself.
"Mm. Did you gain anything from watching?"
Yun Ying nodded and asked.
"I think... a little."
At Yun Ying's question, Yun Xi suddenly lost her confidence. After all, she had spent the entire process worrying about her sister. How could she have had the presence of mind to think about anything else?
Yun Ying did not dwell on it. Instead, she turned to Yun Canghai. "Grandfather, you're here."
"Hmph. Such nerve, attempting the Tenth Heavenly Grotto without making any preparations."
Yun Canghai spoke with a stern face, but the smile in his eyes betrayed him.
"I only dared to do it because I was confident."
Yun Ying replied.
"Never mind. Since you've succeeded, I won't scold you further. Ying, you've reached the Cave Heaven Extremity and stepped into a legendary domain. You could already be called the foremost of the younger generation across the divine mountains. However, don't let word of this spread yet. It isn't time to reveal it."
Yun Canghai stroked his beard and offered Yun Ying a reminder.
"Mm." Yun Ying nodded. She had no intention of making a grand spectacle of it anyway.
"All right. You've just broken through and still need to stabilize your cultivation. I won't disturb you. If you want to cultivate, you can go to the sacred medicine."
Leaving her with those words, Yun Canghai turned and vanished.
"Sit."
Yun Ying led Yun Xi over to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.
Almost no one else ever came here. Yun Ying lived alone, and aside from Yun Xi, who visited often, no one else in the clan approached the place.
In her daily life, Yun Ying cultivated and contemplated the sword here alone, rarely going out. Whenever there was news from the outside world, Yun Xi generally told her about it during her visits.
"Has anything happened outside?"
Yun Ying asked.
"Yes. I heard a famous Bear Child appeared in the Void God Realm and broke the Double-Pupiled One's record in the Blood Moving Realm."
Yun Xi thought for a moment before answering.
After a pause, she added, "But I don't think that amounts to much. It's only the Blood Moving Realm. That Double-Pupiled One is already in the Cave Heaven Realm now, and he's very likely to open the Tenth Heavenly Grotto too."
"Even Grandfather is full of praise for the talent of those double pupils. The bearing of a Primordial Saint-that reputation is absolutely deserved."
"But you've already opened the Tenth Heavenly Grotto, Ying. You're definitely even more outstanding than that Double-Pupiled One..."
Before you continue