Tuoshe Cave Mansion

"Disciple, when the Tuoshe Cave Mansion opens, be very careful of those older cultivators. They suppress their realms and break through their limits, opening many Spiritual Apertures, even up to nine, all for the inheritance of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe!" Yun Qingyao reminded him.

Lu Ren nodded. As his gaze moved forward, he saw a ten-foot-tall, crimson stone door embedded in the mountain wall ahead.

Flashes of dazzling light emanated from the seams of the stone door, as if containing a very powerful energy.

Above the stone door, a huge plaque was embedded, on which were carved four large characters: "Tuoshe Cave Mansion"!

Without a doubt, the giant cave mansion before them was the Tuoshe Cave Mansion!

"Heh heh, Yun Qingyao, I heard you took in a trash disciple. Is that true?"

Just as Lu Ren stepped forward, wanting to observe it, a hearty laugh echoed from a distance.

From afar, a thin young man in black, with a dark ancient sword on his back, strode forward. He was handsome and stern, with an extraordinary aura, exuding an unparalleled sharp presence.

Behind him followed a black-clothed youth, also carrying a dark ancient sword on his back.

"It's Gu Yifan!"

Someone exclaimed.

Gu Yifan, one of the three prodigies of Jiangyun Kingdom, possessed a Seventh-grade Bloodline and powerful cultivation. He was the most favored disciple of the Ghost Sword King and the foremost core disciple of the Imperial Dao Immortal Sect, holding a noble status.

The youth behind him, without a doubt, was the genius with a Third-grade Bloodline, Tang Hao, cultivated by the Ghost Sword King to seek the inheritance of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe in the Tuoshe Cave Mansion!

"And what are you?"

Lu Ren sneered.

"What did you say?"

Gu Yifan was furious. He never expected that a mere trash who wasn't even in the Spirit Stream Realm would dare to talk back to him.

Boom!

An incredibly powerful aura erupted from his body, true qi surging like a tide, fiercely charging towards Lu Ren.

Lu Ren's expression changed drastically. Facing this power, he could barely breathe.

However, just as he was about to dodge, he saw Yun Qingyao step in front of him and wave her hand, shattering the wave of true qi.

"Gu Yifan, how dare you injure my disciple?"

Yun Qingyao's voice was bone-chillingly cold. An even more powerful aura erupted from within her, pushing outwards and forcing Gu Yifan back several steps.

At this moment, Yun Qingyao was like a goddess descending!

"Junior Sister, I didn't expect you to have also advanced to the seventh level of the Divine Sea Realm!"

Gu Yifan's expression turned serious.

He and Yun Qingyao were both Ghost Sword Successors and possessed Seventh-grade Bloodlines. Later, Yun Qingyao withdrew from the Ghost Sword Sect and became an elder of the Qingyun Sect.

Gu Yifan had originally thought that Yun Qingyao's strength would fall behind his after she left the Ghost Sword Sect, but he never expected her to be this strong.

"Don't call me Junior Sister. I am no longer a Ghost Sword Successor!"

Yun Qingyao said coldly.

"Hmph, quitting the Ghost Sword Sect was the most foolish choice you ever made. Now that I have cultivated the Ghost Control Sword, the Tenth Sword of the Inner Ghost Sword Art, let's see how you can stop me!" Gu Yifan said with a contemptuous smile.

"Then I shall have to experience the Ghost Control Sword!"

Yun Qingyao's body suddenly floated into the air. Air currents swirled around her, her white robes fluttering. Within a ten-foot radius around her, sword qi floated.

An aura that looked down upon heaven and earth, brooks no blasphemy, emanated from her.

At this moment, Lu Ren felt as if his master was a sharp, unsheathed treasure sword, standing straight, as if even the sky could be pierced.

"Such strong Sword Intent! You've actually cultivated Sword Intent?"

Gu Yifan's expression was grim. He felt an incredibly powerful Sword Momentum from Yun Qingyao.

This Sword Momentum made his heart palpitate!

"Ghost Control Sword!"

Gu Yifan roared, and the Ghost Sword behind him actually floated out. After circling in the air a few times, it shot directly towards Yun Qingyao.

As the Ghost Sword flew, it conjured the phantom of a ferocious ghost, its mouth agape as if to devour Yun Qingyao.

However, when the Ghost Sword reached within ten feet of Yun Qingyao, it could advance no further, as if blocked by an invisible field.

"Purple Thunder Dragon Sword!"

Yun Qingyao waved her hands, and a flash of purple lightning condensed into a dragon-shaped long sword. It swept across the sky, emitting a dragon's roar. Powerful lightning and thunder vibrated as it fiercely struck towards Gu Yifan.

Bang bang bang bang!

Gu Yifan did not expect Yun Qingyao's attack to be so fierce. He swept his large hand, grabbed the Ghost Sword back, and desperately defended.

But he could only block the seventh strike before the Ghost Sword in his hand was knocked away. He himself retreated repeatedly, a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, having already sustained injuries.

The dragon-shaped lightning sword then hovered above Gu Yifan's head before turning back to Yun Qingyao's side and slowly dissipating.

"Gu Yifan, you think you can harm my disciple? If it weren't for the fact that we have some camaraderie as fellow disciples, I would have killed you long ago!"

Yun Qingyao said calmly.

"You!"

Gu Yifan's face turned extremely ugly. He was one of the three prodigies of the Jiangyun Kingdom, and being publicly humiliated by Yun Qingyao like this was unbearable.

Even Tang Hao's expression was grim. He hadn't expected the Saintess of the Jiangyun Kingdom to be so formidable.

He had thought that with Gu Yifan present, she could at least be suppressed, but in the end, Gu Yifan was easily defeated by Yun Qingyao.

"As expected of the Saintess. She doesn't act unless she does, and when she does, she makes a stunning debut!"

"The Saintess is only in her early twenties, yet her Sword Momentum is already so powerful. She's truly a prodigy!"

The onlookers were all awestruck by Yun Qingyao's strength.

"This is truly Master's real strength. With every move, she looks down on the world. True experts of the Divine Sea Realm are terrifying, no, Master is too terrifying!"

Lu Ren witnessed everything before him, deeply shaken by the aura Yun Qingyao exuded during the battle. He realized that surpassing his master in a short period would likely not be easy.

"Junior Sister, I admit I was outmatched and am no opponent for you. However, your worthless disciple will not be able to leave the Tuoshe Cave Mansion alive today."

Gu Yifan said coldly, clutching his chest.

Tang Hao stepped out from behind Gu Yifan, his eyes coldly fixed on Lu Ren. "Lu Ren, if you have the guts, don't enter the Tuoshe Cave Mansion. You have your master protecting you here, but inside, I'll see who can protect you. If you dare to go in, I will kill you!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Qingyao's delicate eyebrows furrowed.

She had heard of this Tang Hao before; he was also a Ghost Sword Successor. At a young age, he had already broken through his limits and opened nine Spiritual Apertures.

"Alright, I'll be waiting!"

Lu Ren nodded, not a trace of fear on his face.

As time passed, many middle-aged elders continued to arrive.

Even many elders from the Four Great Sects arrived, including Xie Kuang, the Grand Elder of the Imperial Dao Sect, and Meng Qian, the Grand Elder of the Qingyun Sect.

The Tuoshe Cave Mansion only opened once every three years, and they naturally wanted to see if anyone could pass the trials and obtain the inheritance of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe.

Although no one had ever obtained the inheritance of Ancient Emperor Tuoshe in previous openings of his cave mansion, this year there was not only a Ghost Sword Successor who had opened nine Spiritual Apertures but also a Saintess disciple with a Scrap Bloodline.

They were all incredibly eager to see who would pass the assessment.