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Su Ning is now a cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, which means he has officially stepped into the world of cultivation.

However, Su Ning knew that the current situation was unstable. Not only were there the invasion crisis from various demonic sects, but there was also an even more dangerous Xiang Zhili watching them.

After all, the collapse and dissipation of the Crimson Forbidden Land had a huge impact, and those disciples who came out of the Crimson Forbidden Land safely were all suspects. Therefore, Su Ning, Han Li, and Li Feiyu had been cultivating in seclusion in Huangfeng Valley.

Yellow Maple Valley, Thunder Peak.

A bolt of purple lightning ripped through the sky and struck the lightning rod on the mountaintop.

Su Ning sat cross-legged three zhang away from the lightning strike point, his body wrapped in fine electric snakes.

The circulation route of the Five Thunder Orthodox Method formed a lightning network within his body, channeling the power of each bolt of lightning into his dantian.

"The thirty-sixth transformation is complete!"

Su Ning opened his eyes, and a flash of purple lightning disappeared from his pupils.

In just three months, he had already mastered the Five Thunder Orthodox Method to a minor level, a speed that even Lei Wanhe found astonishing.

Only Su Ning himself knew that it was entirely due to the transformation of his physical body by the "Human King's Heavenly Technique" that he was able to withstand such violent thunderous power.

At the same time, Suning also realized that his low-key mentor had not kept anything secret.

One day, Lei Wanhe suddenly appeared in front of Su Ning's cave, and showed a gratified expression when he saw Su Ning's arduous cultivation.

"Haha, Su Ning, your progress is amazing!" Lei Wanhe's voice came from behind.

"Master."

"Hmm." The Core Formation Master patted Su Ning's shoulder respectfully. "We have distinguished guests visiting today, so cultivation will be temporarily suspended."

"Yes! Master."

Su Ning quickly stopped practicing and stood up, following her master's gaze.

On the mountain path, a figure with white hair and a youthful face was slowly walking towards them.

Even though they were far apart, that chilling gaze made the hairs on the back of Su Ning's neck stand on end.

"Xiang Zhili!" Su Ning's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm. "Master, isn't this Xiang Zhili, a Qi Refining disciple?"

"How dare you be so rude! He is not a Qi Refining stage disciple, but rather a Core Formation stage cultivator from our Yellow Maple Valley."

"What? Core Formation stage?"

"Hmph! This guy has a really strange temper! He's known as Old Monster Xiang, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, but he always hides as a Qi Refining cultivator and hangs out in the outer sect." Lei Wanhe said in a low voice, "He said he came here to exchange insights on thunder techniques, hmph! When did this old fox become interested in thunder techniques?"

Suning became secretly on guard.

Xiang Zhili's visit at this time was by no means accidental.

However, if Lei Wanhe knew that Xiang Zhili was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he would definitely be so afraid that he would kneel down and beg for mercy.

He quickly checked his internal condition...

The aura of the "Human King's Heavenly Technique" has been perfectly concealed by the power of thunder, and the Thousand Illusion Mask has long been replaced with the most ordinary yellow silk shirt.

Even the spatial world was temporarily sealed off by him, showing no fluctuations whatsoever, completely behaving like a beginner Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Junior Brother Lei, it's been so many years! Are you talking bad about me again?" Xiang Zhili approached with a smile, stroking his white beard with his withered fingers.

"Hmph! You old monster Xiang, are you tired of playing around in the outer sect?"

"Haha, you are not a fish, how can you know the joy of fish! This must be your newly accepted disciple? Indeed, he is a handsome and talented man."

Lei Wanhe returned the greeting in a lukewarm manner: "Senior Brother Xiang, what brings you here today?"

Xiang Zhili chuckled, but his gaze swept over Su Ning like a knife: "I have recently encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation. I have heard that Junior Brother's Five Thunder Orthodox Method has the effect of cleansing inner demons, so I have come to ask for your guidance."

Then he suddenly turned to Su Ning, "Young friend, you just returned from the Crimson Forbidden Land not long ago, right? You are truly blessed to have escaped before the Forbidden Land collapsed."

Su Ning's heart skipped a beat, but he showed just the right amount of lingering fear on his face: "Reporting to Senior Uncle, I was just lucky. I was collecting spiritual herbs on the outskirts at the time."

"Is that so?" A strange light flashed in Xiang Zhili's eyes. "I heard that when the forbidden area collapsed, golden light shot into the sky from its core. Did you see it, young friend?"

This question hits the nail on the head.

Su Ning knew that if he wasn't careful at this moment, he would be exposed.

He deliberately frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "I did see a light in the distance, but I was only focused on escaping at the time and didn't see the specific situation clearly."

Lei Wanhe, standing to the side, interjected at the opportune moment: "Senior Brother Xiang, my disciple has always been very timid. He was so frightened that day that he even lost half of his storage bag. Instead of asking him these questions, why don't we discuss thunder magic?"

Xiang Zhili chuckled and didn't press the matter further.

But in the instant he turned around, Su Ning keenly noticed a blood-red jade pendant slipping out of his sleeve, which was slightly warm to the touch.

"A detection artifact!" Su Ning was secretly shocked and immediately activated the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, his body instantly surrounded by lightning.

Interfering with the violent power of lightning, the jade pendant quickly cooled down and became unresponsive.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Xiang Zhili's eyes, but he was then pulled by Lei Wanhe to discuss the theory of thunder magic.

Suning stood to the side, seemingly listening respectfully, but in reality, he was constantly on guard.

During this period, I have been diligently studying and practicing the techniques on my own, so this opportunity to listen to Lei Wanhe explain the "Five Thunder Orthodox Method" is very rare.

However, he noticed that every time Xiang Zhili tried to circumvent the topic back to the Crimson Forbidden Land, Lei Wanhe would deliberately change the subject with difficult questions about thunder magic.

This seemingly aloof master was actually intentionally protecting himself!

Two hours later, Xiang Zhili finally took his leave.

Before leaving, he gave Su Ning a meaningful look: "Young friend, your talent in thunder magic is extraordinary. If you have the opportunity in the future, you are welcome to visit my cave."

"Thank you for the invitation, Senior Uncle."

"Well, consider this Crimson Sky Sword as my gift to you."

“This…” Su Ning did not immediately take the familiar Crimson Sky Sword, but instead turned to look at his master Lei Wanhe.

"Please accept this! It's a token of your senior's appreciation."

"Thank you very much for your kind gift, Master Uncle."

Once Xiang Zhili had walked away, Lei Wanhe's face immediately darkened: "That old fox has come with ill intentions. Disciple, you should not leave the mountain gate in the near future."

"Yes, Master. This Senior Uncle Xiang seems to be very interested in the Crimson Forbidden Land?" Su Ning solemnly replied, but his mind was filled with many thoughts.

"Hmph! One of the reasons Xiang Laoguai concealed his cultivation was to enter the Crimson Forbidden Land, and the collapse and dissipation of the Crimson Forbidden Land drove him somewhat mad."

"..."

Xiang Zhili's personal involvement demonstrates that his emphasis on the Crimson Forbidden Land far exceeds expectations.

He must inform Han Li and Li Feiyu as soon as possible.

That night, the three secretly met.

After listening to Su Ning's description, Han Li's expression turned serious: "He also 'bumped into' me the day before yesterday and asked me a lot of details about the forbidden area."

“I encountered one too!” Li Feiyu scratched his head and said, “The old man asked me if I had seen any strange statues in the forbidden area. I said that there were mountains and forests everywhere, so how could I tell what kind of statues there were?”

Su Ning and Han Li exchanged a glance.

Li Feiyu's answer seemed simple and straightforward, but it conveniently avoided the key information.

The faceless sculpture is the biggest secret of the forbidden area, and Xiang Zhili is clearly focusing his investigation on it.

"What do you think this old man is trying to do?" Li Feiyu asked, puzzled.

Han Li pondered and said, "My master, Li Huayuan, hinted that there might be a mysterious organization behind Xiang Zhili. In the past hundred years, many of the cultivators who have disappeared in the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom have some connection with him. Moreover, his personality has always been eccentric, and he often hides his cultivation and mingles in the outer sect of Huangfeng Valley."

Su Ning nodded and added, "The collapse of the Crimson Forbidden Land disrupted their plans. Our biggest advantage now is that the other side is unsure who actually obtained the opportunity."

"What should we do then?" Li Feiyu asked nervously. "Should I ask Elder Linghu for help..."

"Absolutely not!" Han Li and Su Ning exclaimed in unison. Han Li explained, "Without solid evidence, rashly alarming Nascent Soul cultivators would only put us in danger. Besides, how could these big shots in the cultivation world care about insignificant figures like us? Otherwise, why would Senior Brother Ye have openly snatched that Foundation Establishment Pill when we first entered the sect?"

Su Ning nodded in agreement: "The best strategy right now is to remain calm and observe. We should continue our cultivation as usual and act as if nothing is amiss. No matter how powerful Xiang Zhili is, he can't keep an eye on us for long."

“That’s fine! I’ve been thinking of going to Tainan Valley to see Zhang Tie recently.”

"Sigh! Let's wait a little longer! I believe Zhang Tie will have his own opportunity."

The three discussed until late at night and decided to reduce contact in the near future and focus on improving their own strength.

Before parting, Su Ning took out three purple talismans: "These are 'Thunder Concealment Talismans' that I refined with the power of thunder. They can interfere with the detection spells of cultivators below the Core Formation stage. Carry them with you, just in case."

Han Li took the talisman, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Senior Brother Su's talisman-making technique... doesn't seem to be from our sect's tradition?"

“Junior Brother Han, you’re not the only one with this opportunity,” Su Ning said with a meaningful smile.

This talisman actually incorporates the concealment techniques of the "Human King's Heavenly Control Technique," but it is concealed by the power of thunder.

Han Li didn't ask any more questions, and the three of them tacitly parted ways.

……

In the days that followed, Huangfeng Valley appeared calm on the surface, but the undercurrents grew increasingly turbulent.

Xiang Zhili used the guise of exchanges to frequently visit various factions, but in reality, he was secretly investigating them.

Several times when Su Ning was cultivating, he vaguely felt a faint divine sense sweeping across his cave, but it was blocked by the Thunder Concealment Talisman and the Thousand Illusion Mask.

A month later, Su Ning was studying the "Heavenly Thunder Body Forging Technique" given to him by Lei Wanhe when he suddenly received a communication talisman...

Xiang Zhili left Huangfeng Valley, telling the sect leader before leaving that he had "gained nothing".

"Sigh! Looks like I've passed the test for now..." Su Ning didn't relax at all.

He knew all too well that an old monster like Xiang Zhili would never give up easily.

The Bloodstained Forbidden Land has already confirmed this judgment; Xiang Zhili's cunning and treachery are truly terrifying.

Their retreat now is likely a prelude to a larger conspiracy.

Then he got up and went to the secret chamber deep inside the cave, where he unlocked the seal on the spatial world.

The core area of ​​the Crimson Forbidden Land has been completely integrated with his spatial world, and the rare spiritual herbs that grow there are thriving in the spatial world.

As for the level-two ink dragon that almost brought Han Li and Nangong Wan together, it was also quietly cultivating, and Su Ning felt that it would be a breakthrough soon.

As for the miniature pyramid in the center, the twelve stone pillars around it were much more solid than before.

Suning reached out and touched the pyramid, and a strange memory suddenly flooded his mind...

On the battlefield, where blood gushed forth, countless cultivators fought against demons of all shapes and sizes.

A figure clad in golden armor held a long spear, and wherever the spear tip pointed, countless bolts of lightning descended upon the world.

Behind him, twelve faceless sculptures formed a strange array, suppressing the enormous vortex in the center of the sea of ​​blood.

Suddenly, a pair of divine hands from beyond the realm appeared, seemingly sealing off this shattered world...

"Could this be... a memory of the ancient war?" Su Ning was shocked.

This memory clearly shows that the faceless sculptures and pyramids were key to sealing away some terrifying entity!

Considering Xiang Zhili's urgency in searching for the sculpture, and the name "Blood God Cult," a terrifying speculation arose in Su Ning's mind: "Could they be trying to break the seal?"

At that moment, the space world suddenly trembled violently.

A beam of golden light shot from the top of the pyramid, outlining a map in the void...

This is the complete view of the cultivation world in Tiannan, with seven red dots standing out prominently.

Su Ning recognized one of them as the collapsed Crimson Forbidden Land, and he happened to know two of the other six locations: one was the Forbidden Land of the Hidden Moon Sect, "Moon Prison Valley", and the other was the "Ancient Sword Tomb" in the back mountain of Yellow Maple Valley.

“Seven sealed locations…” Su Ning gasped.

The collapse of the Crimson Forbidden Land caused one of the seals to fail. If the remaining six are also destroyed... At this moment, Su Ning suddenly realized that he had to speed up his cultivation.

The first level of the "Human King's Heavenly Technique," "Refining the Body Like Steel," must be completed ahead of schedule; otherwise, one will be unable to cope with the impending storm.

Outside the cave, thunder rumbled faintly.

An even greater storm is brewing over the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom.

……

At the summit of Thunder Peak, a bolt of purple lightning cleaved through the morning mist and struck the mountaintop.

Su Ning stood shirtless in the center of the lightning array, letting the violent lightning power penetrate his body.

When the "Human King's Heavenly Technique" was activated to its fullest extent, every inch of his muscles shimmered with a bronze luster, devouring all the lightning bolts that struck down.

Within his dantian, a small vortex of liquid true essence had formed, and the bottleneck of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment was slowly loosening.

"break!"

With a low shout, blinding lightning erupted from Su Ning's body.

Its aura steadily increased, eventually breaking through the shackles and settling firmly at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

When I opened my eyes, the golden and purple colors in my pupils shone brightly, but the effect was fleeting.

"Breaking through a major level in a year, I doubt anyone would believe it if I told them." Su Ning wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave a bitter smile.

Such a cultivation speed would be considered heaven-defying for an ordinary cultivator, but it is far from enough for him.

He took out a jade medicine bottle from his storage bag and poured out the last "Condensing Essence Pill".

This was sent by Han Li half a month ago. He said it was a newly developed pill that could help cultivators break through minor realms.

The pill is entirely emerald green with flowing cloud patterns on its surface. When you hold it to your nose, it has a pleasant fragrance with a hint of spiciness.

"This kid's talent for alchemy is truly terrifying." Su Ning tilted his head back and swallowed it.

Instantly, a warm current flowed from his throat down to his dantian, and the meridians damaged during the breakthrough were repaired at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This is the seventh bottle of pills that Han Li has sent this year.

From the most basic "Qi Gathering Pill" to the rare "Jade Liquid Pill", new medicines are delivered to Thunder Peak almost every month.

What's even more remarkable is that Han Li never mentioned any reward, only saying, "Senior Brother Su, take it if you need it."

In fact, Su Ning has achieved great success in alchemy, weapon crafting, and talisman making. The space world he devoured from the Crimson Forbidden Land is not lacking in rare herbs. However, Su Ning still did not refuse Han Li's kindness, after all, feelings are built through give-and-take interactions.

Just as he was pondering, a sound transmission talisman pierced through the air and ignited in front of Su Ning.

Han Li's calm voice rang out: "Senior Brother Su, a new batch of pills has been placed in the usual spot. Also, Senior Sister Chen successfully established her foundation and emerged from seclusion yesterday."

Suning's fingers trembled, and the transmission talisman fell to the ground as ashes.

Chen Qiaoqian...

This almost forgotten name suddenly resurfaced in my mind.

A year ago, on that absurd moonlit night, the "Hehuan San" (a type of elixir) drove Chen Qiaoqian to recklessness...

Shaking his head to clear his mind, Su Ning tidied up the cultivation site and headed down the mountain.

There is a hidden cave halfway up Thunder Peak, which is the secret location for the three to pass items.

Sure enough, there were three jade bottles on the stone platform inside the cave, and a jade slip next to them.

Picking up the jade slip, Han Li's divine sense message entered his mind: "Senior Brother Su, this batch of 'Profound Origin Pills' contains the Purple Lingzhi from the Crimson Forbidden Zone. Its medicinal effects are extremely potent, and it must be taken in conjunction with the Thunder Body Tempering Technique. Also, make plans for Senior Sister Chen's matter as soon as possible."

Suning felt a warmth in his heart.

Han Li may seem cold, but he is actually very meticulous.

Han Laomo's ruthlessness is more like that of the villains in the cultivation world.

Just as they were about to leave, they suddenly sensed that the array barrier at the cave entrance had been activated—someone was coming!
Quickly concealing himself, Su Ning peered out through the crack in the rock.

A slender figure appeared, riding a sword, her blue skirt fluttering in the wind, like a fairy from a painting.

The newcomer had a face as delicate as porcelain, but her eyes held a hint of melancholy. She was none other than Chen Qiaoqian, who had just successfully established her foundation.

"How did she know about this place?" Su Ning's heart pounded.

This secret location was known only to the three of them, and Han Li would never reveal it.

Chen Qiaoqian lingered at the cave entrance for a moment, then suddenly whispered, "Su Ning, I know you're inside."

Her voice trembled slightly, "I...I smelled the unique scent of lightning-struck wood from Thunder Peak."

Su Ning sighed inwardly, then dispelled his concealment and stepped out.

When Chen Qiaoqian saw his bare chest, two red clouds immediately rose to her cheeks, but she stubbornly refused to look away.

"Congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment, Senior Sister Chen." Su Ning bowed politely, deliberately keeping his distance.

Chen Qiaoqian bit her lower lip: "It's been a year since we last met, and you've become quite distant."

She took a step forward, a faint fragrance of orchids wafting from her. "After that night, I looked for you three times, but you avoided me each time."

Suning remained silent.

What happened that night was purely accidental, and besides, I was "kind-hearted" in helping her detoxify.

He wanted to explain afterwards, but the Crimson Forbidden Land opened, and then Xiang Zhili investigated, leaving him no time to deal with this entanglement.

"I've come today to ask you..." Chen Qiaoqian took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with tears, "would you be willing to become my Daoist partner?"

The mountain wind suddenly stopped, and even the chirping of insects disappeared.

Su Ning was taken aback by her directness and was momentarily at a loss for words.

To be fair, Chen Qiaoqian was exceptionally talented and beautiful, and as the legitimate daughter of the Chen family, she had countless suitors within the family.

To win her favor is something countless male cultivators dream of.

but……

"I am unworthy of Senior Sister Chen's kindness." Su Ning took a half step back, her voice calm to the point of being cold. "What happened that night was purely accidental, Senior Sister, you don't need to worry about it."

Chen Qiaoqian's face turned deathly pale instantly: "You...you think I did this out of a sense of responsibility..."

“No.” Su Ning shook his head. “It is I who am unworthy of Senior Sister. I am but a rogue cultivator, without any foundation or support. Senior Sister has a bright future ahead of her, why should she be tied to me?”

"I don't care about any of that!" Chen Qiaoqian excitedly stepped forward and grabbed Su Ning's hand. "I've been secretly observing you this past year. You've been diligent and hardworking, and you've also received the true teachings of Uncle Lei..."

Su Ning gently withdrew his hand: "More importantly, I can't give any promises or guarantees."

He gazed at the distant sea of ​​clouds, his voice low and deep, "The path of cultivation is fraught with peril. I might perish any day. Since I can't even protect myself, why add to your and my troubles..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Qiaoqian suddenly stood on tiptoe and gave him a light kiss on the lips.

The soft touch was fleeting, yet it made Suning's heart tremble slightly.

"I don't believe you're such a heartless person." Chen Qiaoqian took two steps back, her eyes glistening with tears yet filled with stubbornness. "You must have other reasons for rejecting me."

Suning smiled bitterly to himself.

This woman was indeed intelligent; she could see that he was hiding something.

Indeed, if he weren't so focused on the path to immortality, he might have considered this relationship.

but now……

“If Junior Brother Su changes his mind, he can come to me at any time.” Chen Qiaoqian took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Su Ning. “This is the ‘Heart-to-Heart Jade’ passed down in my Chen family. With this, you can freely enter and leave my cave.”

Without waiting for a response, he flew away on his sword.

Su Ning held the jade pendant, still warm from his body, and stood there motionless for a long time.

Only when the sun had set did he sigh and put the jade pendant into his bosom.

Now is not the time to dwell on personal feelings. The threat from the Demonic Sect and Xiang Zhili is imminent, and improving our strength is the top priority.

Back in his cave, Su Ning took out the pills that Han Li had given him and examined them one by one.

These pills are of extremely high quality, with some even reaching the "Danwen" level, making them priceless on the market.

Han Li's willingness to offer such generous assistance suggests that, besides considering their shared sect affiliation, he likely sensed something was amiss.

"It seems I need to find an opportunity to have a deep talk with him." Su Ning swallowed a Xuan Yuan Pill and immediately felt a warm current rising from his lower abdomen.

He immediately activated the "King of Man's Heavenly Power" to guide the medicinal power throughout his body.

As they were cultivating until midnight, a sudden clap of thunder sounded outside their cave.

Su Ning opened his eyes alertly and sensed a familiar Core Formation aura—it was Lei Wanhe!
"Disciple, open the door." Lei Wanhe's voice came through the rain, unusually urgent.

Su Ning quickly activated the array's restrictions.

Lei Wanhe rushed in, soaking wet, his face extremely grave: "Something's happened! A strange incident occurred last night in Moon Prison Valley of the Hidden Moon Sect. It's said that a bloody light shot into the sky and lasted for three whole hours!"

"Moon Prison Valley?" Su Ning's heart skipped a beat.

Isn't this the second red dot marked on the Tiannan map of the spatial world?

Lei Wanhe, oblivious to his disciple's unusual behavior, continued, "What's even stranger is that this morning, Yan Family Fortress sent a message to all sects, saying that they were going to hold some kind of 'Trial Conference' and invited Foundation Establishment stage elites from all sects to participate, especially the disciples who safely came out of the Crimson Forbidden Land last time."

He then took out a gold-embossed invitation and threw it on the table: "And I want to send you!"

Su Ning picked up the invitation, and a faint smell of blood wafted towards him.

The invitation was embroidered with eerie patterns in gold thread; upon closer inspection, they turned out to be miniature human figures struggling in a sea of ​​blood.

"Master believes...this is a trap?"

"Nonsense!" Lei Wanhe rarely swore. "Yan Family Fortress has always been a special place in the cultivation world. Their strange behavior this time is definitely not simple."

He paced back and forth in the cave, "but the sect leader has already agreed, saying that we can't give anyone a reason to criticize us."

The rain intensified, and Lei Wanhe suddenly stopped, looking directly into Su Ning's eyes: "Disciple, tell me the truth... what exactly did you obtain in the Crimson Forbidden Land?"

Su Ning remained silent for a moment before deciding to be partially honest: "My cultivation level is low! Naturally, I can only gather herbs on the outskirts. Even when I encounter cultivators fighting, I hide. I really haven't obtained any useful immortal opportunities."

Lei Wanhe slapped his thigh, "The problem is that those who are interested don't believe it! And there are countless mysterious figures like Xiang Zhili."

"This……"

Then Lei Wanhe lowered his voice and said to Su Ning, "Listen! Xiang Zhili's background is extremely mysterious. Even Ancestor Linghu is wary of him. So it's best not to provoke him in the future. Also, when you go to the Yan Family Fortress Trial Conference, be extra careful!"

Suning nodded solemnly.

Lei Wanhe then gave a few more instructions on cultivation techniques, left behind a few protective magic treasures, and hurriedly left, saying he was going to consult some ancient books.

After his master left, Su Ning immediately took out a communication talisman to contact Han Li and Li Feiyu.

The strange events in Moon Prison Valley, the Yan Family Fortress Trial Tournament, and Xiang Zhili's relentless entanglement...

All of this indicates that the cultivation world in Tiannan is becoming increasingly complex.

Just as the sound transmission talisman was sent out, a warm sensation suddenly came from my arms.

He took out the jade pendant given to him by Chen Qiaoqian, and saw a line of small characters appear on its surface: "Junior brother, wait for good news."

"Oh! This silly girl." Su Ning never expected that Chen Qiaoqian would fall in love.

Outside the window, a bolt of lightning cleaved the night sky, illuminating Su Ning's solemn face.

The storm is brewing; this Yan Family Fortress Trial Tournament will undoubtedly be the beginning of a tempest in the cultivation world of Tiannan…

...(End of chapter)