The Xuanji Sect.
An inner chamber.
Xie Feng sat cross-legged, focusing his mind and calming his breath.
Wisps of golden Qi wound around him, giving off boundless primordial Qi.
Innate Black and Yellow Qi!
This was the accompanying power source of Solar Zhuzhao, which the Heavenly Ranking had rewarded him with when he previously claimed its top spot.
The spirit of the Great Dao, the essence of a sacred beast!
As Xie Feng breathed in and out, the innate Black and Yellow Qi began circulating rhythmically, its light growing ever more brilliant. Earth-shaking changes took place within his body.
First, like winds and clouds suddenly rising!
Second, like vast waves at sunset!
Third, like all things returning to one!
Power gradually began overflowing like a tide.
As the Black and Yellow Qi was refined, its power raged violently, only to be forcibly suppressed by the even more terrifying chaos sacred body, broken down into torrents like mountain floods, and sent surging through his limbs and bones.
Under the catalysis of the Black and Yellow Qi, Xie Feng's Divine Sense, thoughts, flesh, and spirit began racing toward an ever more boundless Dao!
Gradually...
His cultivation soared at the same time.
Spirit Transformation Fourth Stage!
Spirit Transformation Tenth Stage!
Tribulation Crossing First Stage!
Tribulation Crossing Tenth Stage!
Mahayana First Stage!
In an instant, he had crossed several major realms!
After soaring wildly, his cultivation entered a steady, gradual rise...
Mahayana Seventh Stage!
Mahayana Eighth Stage!
Mahayana Ninth Stage!
Only two final steps remained before Ascension!
Xie Feng kept his eyes closed. The innate Black and Yellow Qi surrounding him was no longer as dense as before; it had been refined.
Time and space stopped for an instant...
Suddenly!
His cultivation was about to rise again!
Xie Feng opened his eyes at just the right moment and stopped there!
He had advanced through two major realms in succession, crossing Spirit Transformation and Tribulation Crossing to reach Mahayana, his ascent as fast as a rocket. Although he had the protection of an incomparably powerful physique like the chaos sacred body, he still needed time and experience to settle before he could go further in the future.
So he did not greedily seek more. Stopping there was enough.
Boom!
An explosive sound suddenly rang out.
High above, black clouds gathered thickly, bearing down with a presence that would horrify the world.
A lightning tribulation!
In cultivation, beginning with the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, every advancement to a new major realm required undergoing a lightning tribulation.
This was the Great Dao's counterbalance!
Xie Feng looked toward the roiling tribulation clouds and rose, his blue robe stirring slightly. He took a step toward the heavens and instantly reached the sky's edge!
Before him lay a chaotic Milky Way of thunderbolts!
Xie Feng reached out to touch the wall of heaven. Wild lightning danced, forming ten thousand lightning tribulation vortices. In an instant, thunder shook the entire Milky Way.
His expression calm, Xie Feng's gaze shifted slightly, and he took out a sword.
Its blade was silver-blue, deep and exquisitely pure.
Sword name: Cherished Wine Cup!
A million years ago, there had been a sword immortal named Li Shier who loved drinking. When he was hazy with drunkenness, his sword's force grew even stronger.
The sword he wore was Cherished Wine Cup.
Bring in the wine, let the cup never rest; sleep amid azure clouds, lament the empty wine cup!
Xie Feng drew his sword.
Sword Intent swept forth, towering above all ages.
Lightning raged and lunged at him. Xie Feng swung his sword, cleaving apart the thunderclouds filling the sky!
Whoosh-
Sword Qi rose in a mighty torrent.
One strike shattered both layers of thunderclouds, present and future!
At that moment, Xie Feng circulated the Xuanji Heart Method. Power shot skyward, surrounding the tribulation clouds roiling in the heavens in an attempt to refine them!
The tribulation clouds' power began breaking down in vast quantities, turning into starlight that entered Xie Feng's body and became spiritual power to nourish his meridians.
The Xuanji Heart Method was the Xuanji Sect's most important heart method. It was divided by grade into five volumes: god, heaven, earth, profound, and yellow. New disciples studied the yellow grade, then gradually progressed to higher volumes as their abilities improved.
What Xie Feng practiced was precisely the highest-grade heart method.
God grade!
The Xuanji Heart Method blended the Dao of heaven and earth and united the intent of the cosmos. Not only did it cultivate the body and disposition, temper the physique, and strengthen the soul, it could also convert the power of heaven and earth for one's own use.
After absorbing all the lightning's power, Xie Feng looked inward at his Dantian and felt power as vast as the sea. A casual grasp could shake the void.
The heavens and earth before him were calm. Xie Feng's figure stirred quietly, and when he appeared again, he was already inside the Xuanji Sect. It was now past midnight, and all was silent. Xie Feng came to Amber Terrace in a side courtyard, where Sushang lived.
He looked through the window. Sushang was curled into a little ball beneath her quilt, her eyelashes hanging softly. At the sight of her gentle, apple-round face, Xie Feng's heart also grew peaceful.
He sat outside the door and closed his eyes, circulating the Xuanji Heart Method to make his spiritual power firmer.
The night passed like that.
"Good morning, Master!"
The next day, Sushang opened her door and stretched like a kitten. Looking up to see Xie Feng standing before the door, she greeted him with a smile.
Xie Feng said, "The sun's already shining on your backside."
"I grew big yesterday and used up lots of power, so I rested a little longer...
"I'll go carry water, chop wood, sweep, wash clothes, and cook right away...
"And feed Mung Bean!"
Sushang scratched her head. Astonishingly quick to act, she immediately started running off to work. Just then, a hand reached over and caught her by the back of her collar. The little girl could not run, but her arms kept swinging.
Xie Feng said, "No need. Go practice your swordsmanship."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, huh? Let's go!"
"The sword is the sovereign of all weapons, the ancestor of short weapons. Its killing intent sweeps unchecked. Worn with proper dress, it establishes one's standing and one's nation, and carries the bearing of a gentleman.
"The Radiant Sun Sword Art condenses the pure Yang Qi of heaven and earth. Its sword force is fervent, its Sword Intent vast, augmented by the power of dawn.
"The first form of the Radiant Sun Sword Art: Swallowing Rosy Clouds. When the sword strikes, the intent of daybreak bursts forth, and its Sword Qi seems to swallow rosy light...
In the courtyard, Xie Feng carefully explained the Immortal Method. After finishing his explanation of the first form, he glanced over, only to see Sushang sitting on the ground with her head tilted to one side, her little face cupped in her hands and her lips pouted. Who knew what she was thinking? She had clearly lost focus.
Xie Feng reached out, pinched her furry tiger ear, and slowly pulled it upward.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
The little girl hurriedly clutched her head in pain, involuntarily rising to her feet along with his hand.
"You weren't listening carefully. You deserve punishment!
"Hold out your hand!"
Xie Feng looked somewhat stern, a broken folding fan in his hand.
Sushang stole a glance and recognized the fan she had used to fan the fire before. She did not know what it was made of, but it was quite heavy. Being struck with it would definitely hurt.
She said meekly, "Master, I was wrong."
"Hold out your hand."
"Mm, all right."
Sushang held out her little hand. Smack! Smack! Xie Feng struck her soft, fair palm twice, and it instantly turned red.
Tears immediately filled Sushang's large, watery eyes. She looked up and said pitifully, "I really know I was wrong. I'll listen carefully from now on! I swear!"
As she spoke, she obediently knelt and sat back on her heels, bringing her legs together. She raised her little hand, clumsily folding her thumb and little finger together in a swearing gesture.
Xie Feng asked, "Why did you lose focus just now?"
Sushang stuck out her little tongue. "I'd already understood it all. I got bored, so my mind wandered."
Hearing this, Xie Feng was momentarily speechless. As expected of the primordial white tiger immortal physique, her talent was outstanding. She could grasp such a profound Immortal Method after a single explanation!
However...
Theory still needed to be combined with practice!
Xie Feng's thoughts stirred, spiritual power emanated, and in the blink of an eye, the two appeared within a boundless space.
This was a domain!
Those above the Tribulation Transcendence Realm could all create their own domains!
"Xiao Shang, take a look."
Xie Feng turned sideways and pointed into the distance.
Sushang followed his gaze and saw a huge purple bamboo standing in the endless space, its leaves rustling as a formidable force of fortune burst forth.
Sushang recognized it. It was that Purple Bamboo from the mountain.
Xie Feng told her to take a bamboo leaf.
Brimming with confidence, Sushang had only taken one step when a violent vortex suddenly appeared beneath her feet. Bamboo leaves swept up from the ground, forming a terrifying storm.
Caught within it, Sushang was utterly shocked!