Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, the righteous and demonic paths both make their moves

In the bamboo grove, Qin Yi sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, with a green Flame Cloud Fruit and a red one placed on either side of him. As he continued circulating the Blazing Yang Thunder Asura Scripture, he gradually reached the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. When his Qi reached its peak, Qin Yi launched an assault on that threshold.

Splurt~

A force of spiritual power squeezed the two Flame Cloud Fruits into a pool of spiritual liquid that hovered by Qin Yi's mouth. He continued to assault the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and after a faint hum sounded, he abruptly opened his eyes and swallowed the spiritual liquid. A moment later, a storm of spiritual power appeared in the bamboo grove.

A vortex of spiritual power formed around Qin Yi, ceaselessly devouring the Spiritual Qi gathering toward him. As more and more Spiritual Qi gathered, the bamboo grove rustled incessantly.

Boom.

A muffled sound came from within Qin Yi's body, and the Spiritual Qi gathered around him was instantly scattered. The temperature in the bamboo grove then began to rise rapidly, and Qin Yi's skin turned bright red.

Song Qi had appeared in the bamboo grove at some point. He walked a circle around Qin Yi, looking thoughtful, before a faint smile appeared on his face. "It's time to make preparations." A gentle breeze blew past, and Song Qi vanished.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Yi slowly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through them, and the temperature in the bamboo grove gradually returned to normal. Qin Yi stood up, stretched his limbs, and clenched his fists.

In the past, he had relied solely on the power of lightning, but now it seemed that flames were no weaker. After this brief seclusion, he had not only broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but his control over flames had also reached a new level.

Before Qin Yi could use the move he had just comprehended, Song Qi's voice transmission rang out in the bamboo grove. "Yi'er, come to the main hall."

Qin Yi withdrew the presence he had released and briefly calmed the spiritual power within him before flashing toward the main hall at the summit of Purple Myrtle Peak.

At that moment, the elders had long since arrived at the Purple Myrtle Peak main hall with their disciples. They were somewhat puzzled, unsure what the pavilion master was planning this time. When he had summoned them, he had only said there was a fortuitous opportunity that would be gone if they missed it. This left them somewhat helpless, since they had never once guessed correctly what Song Qi was going to do.

"Master."

Qin Yi soon arrived at the main hall, though he had not expected so many people to be there either. Song Qi waved a hand, motioning for him to stand to one side, then slowly rose to his feet.

"Now that everyone is here, I shall speak."

The elders and their personal disciples immediately perked up. They were also interested in the fortuitous opportunity Song Qi had mentioned. Presumably, it was a great one, or he would not have summoned all their disciples. But why was he sharing such a good thing with them instead of leaving it to Qin Yi alone?

"We don't have much time left, but these juniors are advancing too slowly in their cultivation. After weighing the matter, I wish to open the Azure Dragon Secret Realm and let the disciples enter to temper themselves."

Song Qi's tone was perfectly calm, but it carried an unquestionable authority. The elders fell silent after hearing him out. Ordinarily, they would not have opposed the pavilion master opening a secret realm; they would even have given him their full support. After all, their disciples could also gain some benefits from it.

Unfortunately, Lan Xuan could be said to have monopolized the Black Tortoise Secret Realm the last time it was opened. She alone had obtained more than half its resources and the Black Tortoise Inheritance. Not only had their disciples gained little, they had also wasted quite a few treasures to stay alive. One had to know that the Eight Gods Pavilion had only four secret realms in its possession.

The three secret realms other than the Azure Dragon Secret Realm had long since been explored for the most part. The remaining fortuitous opportunities were either hidden too deeply or too dangerous to obtain. Only the most mysterious Azure Dragon Secret Realm had been left untouched until now. But when their predecessors first discovered the realms, they had laid down a rule that one could be opened every twenty years, and now it had only been...

An elder said hesitantly, "Pavilion Master, it has been less than five years since the Black Tortoise Secret Realm was opened. Isn't it a little too early to open the Azure Dragon Secret Realm now?"

Song Qi had long expected some stubborn people to jump out and oppose him, so he sighed softly. "I don't want to break the rules either, but the grand elder personally asked this of me. He said that if we don't open it now, should we wait until the righteous path is destroyed in ten years before opening it?"

The elder's lips moved, but he voiced no further objection. Seeing that no one else objected, Song Qi immediately beamed and announced, "Since none of the elders have any objections, bring your disciples to Purple Myrtle Peak in three days. These three days will be left for your disciples to prepare."

"Thank you, Pavilion Master."

Just as the Eight Gods Pavilion and the various immortal sects of the righteous path began working to improve the strength of their disciples, the demonic path also began putting their plans into motion.

Demonic Sect, Vast Righteousness Mountain

This was where Bai Junhao's cave abode was located. After he joined the demonic path back then, he had been rewarded with a cave abode. He had deliberately named this place Vast Righteousness Mountain, but the demonic path was full of lunatics, and no one paid any attention to what his cave abode was called. They recognized only strength; strength reigned supreme.

Within Vast Righteousness Mountain, Bai Junhao sat cross-legged with his eyes closed in his cultivation chamber. Before long, a figure shrouded in a black cloak appeared before him.

A young voice came from beneath the cloak. "Master, the Eight Gods Pavilion has decided to open the Azure Dragon Secret Realm, and the other immortal sects have also begun preparing. What should I do next?"

Bai Junhao slowly opened his eyes, his gaze indifferent, as though he truly held the righteous path in regard. "Ye Gong, don't be impatient. I'm going into seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. Once I come out, I'll contact you myself."

"Over the next ten years, you only need to use their resources to break through to the Golden Core stage as soon as possible and gain a certain say in matters. Also, keep an eye on those old things. Every one of them is extremely cunning. As long as we can get through these ten years smoothly, the righteous path will surely be defeated, and your vengeance will naturally be fulfilled."

When his words fell, Ye Gong slipped back into the darkness and disappeared. A smile played at the corner of Bai Junhao's mouth. As the cave abode's protective formation began to operate, he slowly closed his eyes. "Just a bunch of self-righteous fools. When the time comes, you'll find out how ignorant you are."