He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

As the light from Zhang Bufan's silver flying sword dissipated, Bai Qingyao staggered, her arm falling limply. The water mist and spiritual light surrounding her receded like a tide, revealing for the first time weariness on her cold and beautiful face. At this moment, the Myriad Laws Plaza, which held thousands of cultivators, seemed to have been muted, falling into a deathly silence. Everyone froze in place, their gazes fixed on the slightly slender yet upright figure on the arena, their eyes filled with disbelief.

A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with mixed spiritual roots actually defeated the Yaochi Saintess, a half-step Core Formation cultivator with a water-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root! This was not only a victory across realms, but also a heaven-defying comeback against those with superior talent and foundation. In the nearly thousand-year history of sect competitions in the Pangu Immortal Cultivation World, there had never been such an outrageous battle—Heavenly Spiritual Roots inherently suppressed mixed spiritual roots, and the combat power of a half-step Core Formation cultivator far surpassed that of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even with tactical support, there was absolutely no chance of a comeback. Yet Zhang Bufan shattered all the cultivators' preconceived notions with his actual achievements.

The deathly silence lasted no more than three breaths before being shattered by a deafening clamor. The plaza erupted in chaos, cultivators from various sects whispering amongst themselves, their voices filled with shock, inquiry, and astonishment. "A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with mixed spiritual roots defeated a half-step Core Formation cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root? How is that possible! Could he have been hiding his true power?" "When did the Immortal Sword Sect produce such a figure? We've never heard of such a heaven-defying disciple before!" "He must have obtained an ancient inheritance; otherwise, there's absolutely no way he could have won against so many cultivation levels!"

The reactions of the elders from various sects were more complex. Unlike the younger disciples who were simply amazed, their gazes, when sweeping over Zhang Bufan, were filled not only with shock but also with unfathomable scrutiny and hidden covetousness. An elder from the Qingyun Sect frowned, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the jade talisman in his sleeve, and whispered to the disciple beside him, "Investigate! Find out Zhang Bufan's background thoroughly, especially his lineage. If you can win him over, do it at all costs; if not, then…" His words were unfinished, but a cold calculation was evident. An elder from the Danxia Valley stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming, clearly also coveting Zhang Bufan's lineage.

Many first-rate sects that had previously looked down on the Immortal Sword Sect have now drastically changed their attitude, flocking to the vicinity of the Immortal Sword Sect's headquarters with fawning smiles, subtly inquiring about Zhang Bufan's situation. The patriarch of the Qingcheng Sect, which is on good terms with the Immortal Sword Sect, proactively stepped forward and bowed to Yue Buwei, saying, "Sect Leader Yue, you are truly blessed! With such a prodigy, the future of the Immortal Sword Sect is promising!" Even the sect leader of the Kunlun Myriad Laws Sect, who had previously maintained a calm demeanor, cast a meaningful glance, clearly now regarding Zhang Bufan as a key figure to watch.

The atmosphere within the Yaochi Immortal Sect's ranks was extremely tense. Two female cultivators who had accompanied Bai Qingyao into battle rushed forward to support the swaying Saintess, their eyes filled with anxiety and resentment. Bai Qingyao pushed away her junior sister's hand, barely managing to straighten herself. Her cold gaze swept across the crowd, landing on Zhang Bufan. There was no resentment in her eyes, only deep confusion and a hint of barely perceptible curiosity. She couldn't understand why, after suppressing her cultivation for many years, her half-step Core Formation strength was enough to sweep aside Foundation Establishment cultivators, she had been defeated by a cultivator with mixed spiritual roots. The spiritual power within the opponent seemed inexhaustible; that vast and strange fluctuation of spiritual power was definitely not something an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could possess.

In the Immortal Sword Sect's ranks, Yue Buwei stood frozen in place, the astonishment on his face lingering. Although he had always known Zhang Bufan possessed extraordinary talent, exceptional alchemy skills, and combat abilities far surpassing his peers, he had never imagined the other could reach such a level. Bai Qingyao, a half-step Core Formation cultivator, already possessed combat power exceeding the limits of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even when he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment in his youth, he might not have been able to withstand her for so long, let alone win. This achievement had already exceeded the scope of "extraordinary talent."

Yue Buwei's gaze unconsciously shifted between Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er, his heart's balance subtly shifting. Yue Ling'er was his personal disciple, possessing the aptitude of a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and had been groomed by him from childhood as the future successor of the Immortal Sword Sect, receiving countless resources and effort in the process. But the potential Zhang Bufan displayed today was like a bottomless ocean, immeasurable. This heaven-defying combat power, coupled with his mysterious and unpredictable master, Xuanqing Daoist, gave Zhang Bufan the potential to lead the Immortal Sword Sect out of its current bottleneck and towards greater glory. At this moment, for the first time, Yue Buwei's regard for Zhang Bufan surpassed his expectations for Yue Ling'er.

He felt an even greater sense of awe for the elusive Xuanqing Daoist—to be able to teach such a heaven-defying disciple, his own foundation must be incredibly profound; he might even be a reclusive ancient powerhouse. Yue Buwei secretly resolved to treat Zhang Bufan even better in the future, to fully support his cultivation, and to keep this cash cow firmly within the Immortal Sword Sect, no matter the cost.

Liu Yan'er, Xie Ding, and the others could no longer contain themselves and rushed to the edge of the arena, their faces filled with undisguised elation. Liu Yan'er gazed at Zhang Bufan, whose figure was slightly unsteady yet still upright, her alluring eyes swirling with emotions—both admiration for a powerful figure and an indescribable flutter of excitement for her junior brother. Previously, when Zhang Bufan promised to give her his Core Formation Pill, she had taken it merely as politeness; now, seeing his extraordinary fighting prowess, her gratitude and admiration grew even stronger.

Xie Ding patted Zhang Bufan on the shoulder, his voice trembling with excitement: "Junior Brother Bufan! You're amazing! You even defeated the Holy Maiden of Yaochi. Our Immortal Sword Sect is truly going to have a triumphant moment this time!" As one of the best Foundation Establishment disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect, he knew how terrifying Bai Qingyao was. He had prepared for defeat when facing the Yaochi Immortal Sect, but he never expected Zhang Bufan to create a miracle.

Zhang Bufan forced a smile. At this moment, his spiritual energy was almost exhausted, and his meridians were throbbing with pain. He was only holding on by sheer willpower. He nodded to the two of them, his gaze sweeping over the boiling crowd below the stage, but his heart remained unusually calm. Although this victory could bring honor to the Immortal Sword Sect, it would inevitably attract countless covetous eyes. In the days to come, he must be even more cautious.

At this moment, two Wanfa Sect deacons dressed in purple robes quickly stepped onto the arena, checked the condition of Zhang Bufan and Bai Qingyao, and then announced loudly to the square: "Both cultivators have suffered excessive depletion of spiritual energy and require rest. They are unable to immediately begin the next round of the match. It has been decided that the match between Yaochi Immortal Sect and Wanfa Immortal Sect will be postponed to tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM). Today's competition is now concluded!"

Upon hearing this order, both sides' disciples breathed a sigh of relief. Such a high-intensity peak duel consumed a great deal of spiritual energy and mental strength. If they were to force themselves to continue, not only would they be unable to unleash their true combat power, but it could also cause irreversible damage to their bodies. Bai Qingyao, supported by her two junior sisters, walked off the arena. Before leaving, she turned back to look at Zhang Bufan one last time, her eyes filled with even greater doubt. Zhang Bufan, supported by Xie Ding and Yue Ling'er, slowly walked off the arena and returned to the Immortal Sword Sect's headquarters.

After returning to the palace at the Immortal Sword Sect's headquarters, the atmosphere remained lively. Yue Buwei briefly instructed everyone to "rest well" before sending them to their rooms for seclusion. Zhang Bufan, Xie Ding, and Yue Ling'er were all severely depleted of spiritual energy, especially Zhang Bufan, who had almost exhausted the last bit of spiritual energy in his body. He needed to recover as soon as possible to prepare for the final battle against the Myriad Laws Sect in two days.

Xie Ding was about to turn back to his room when Zhang Bufan called him back. Zhang Bufan took out a translucent white jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it to him, saying gently, "Senior Brother Xie Ding, here are ten catties of spiritual spring water. Take this to drink and recover. The spiritual spring water doesn't need refining and can quickly replenish spiritual energy. We still need to fight side by side, so we must be in the best condition to face the battle."

Xie Ding accepted the jade bottle. The moment his fingertips touched it, he felt the pure spiritual energy emanating from within. Overjoyed, he bowed deeply to Zhang Bufan, expressing his gratitude: "Thank you so much, Junior Brother Bufan! I will remember this kindness!" As a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect, he only received about two jin of spiritual spring water each year, mostly used for crucial moments in his daily cultivation. Receiving ten jin at once was an incredible surprise. He knew that spiritual spring water had miraculous effects on restoring spiritual power, far surpassing ordinary pills. These ten jin of spiritual spring water would be enough to restore him to his peak condition overnight, and he might even be able to use the opportunity to refine his cultivation level.

Xie Ding clutched the jade bottle tightly and hurried back to his room, afraid of wasting even a moment of recovery time. As soon as he returned, he eagerly opened the bottle, and a refreshing burst of spiritual energy rushed towards him. He tilted his head back and took a large gulp; the spiritual spring water melted instantly in his mouth, transforming into gentle spiritual energy that flowed down his throat into his dantian, rapidly nourishing his depleted meridians. In just half an incense stick's time, he felt his spiritual energy rapidly recovering, and his previously exhausted body gradually regained its strength. His gratitude towards Zhang Bufan deepened even further.

On the other side, Zhang Bufan, holding Yue Ling'er's hand, slowly returned to his room. The moment the door closed, he raised his hand and set up a soundproof barrier to prevent any sound from leaking out. Then, he took out a mutton-fat jade pot several times larger than an ordinary jade bottle from his storage ring, and then took out a brocade box carved with dragons and phoenixes, and gently opened it.

The jade pot contained a full fifty catties of spiritual spring water, while the brocade box held five fist-sized immortal peaches, their color a vibrant red like the sunset, their skin gleaming with a warm luster. The rich aroma of the fruit instantly filled the entire room; merely smelling it was enough to invigorate one's spirit, and a subtle flow of spiritual energy would begin to circulate within one's body. These immortal peaches were picked from the shore of the spiritual lake in the Xuanqing Secret Realm, their value far exceeding any known spiritual object in the Pangu World.

"Eat quickly! This immortal peach restores spiritual energy several times faster than the spiritual spring water, and it also nourishes your meridians." Zhang Bufan smiled, picked up an immortal peach, and handed it to Yue Ling'er. He then picked up another one and took a big bite. The sweet flesh melted in his mouth without any sourness or astringency. It transformed into a powerful yet gentle stream of spiritual energy, flowing down his throat and into his dantian like a rushing stream. It quickly repaired his depleted meridians and dantian, and the stinging pain in his meridians gradually subsided.

Ever since Yue Ling'er returned to Zhang Bufan's hometown and tasted the immortal peach for the first time, she had become completely captivated by its flavor and effects. After marrying Zhang Bufan, she ate one every day, never tiring of this rare delicacy. She took the immortal peach, took a small bite, and her eyes instantly lit up with surprise. She mumbled, "So sweet! Even better than the ones I ate before, and my spiritual energy is even stronger!"

While devouring mouthfuls of the immortal peach flesh, she picked up the jade pot and sipped the spiritual spring water. The gentle spiritual energy of the spring water intertwined and replenished with the abundant spiritual power of the immortal peach, flowing through her meridians to every part of her body, rapidly repairing the physical and spiritual energy she had lost in the battle. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she felt that her spiritual energy had recovered to 70%, and her aura gradually became more refined.

Yue Ling'er swallowed the last bite of the immortal peach, looked at the remaining peaches in the brocade box, and asked with some doubt, "Husband, should we give one to Senior Brother Xie Ding as well? He also expended a lot of energy today."

Zhang Bufan gently shook his head, his tone grave. "It's not that I'm reluctant, but the value of the Immortal Peach is simply too extraordinary. Not only can it quickly restore spiritual energy, but long-term consumption can also nourish the meridians, improve aptitude, and even subtly enhance one's constitution. This treasure far surpasses any spiritual fruit in the Pangu World." He paused, gazing out the window with caution in his eyes. "If we reveal the existence of the Immortal Peach too early, it will inevitably attract the mad covetousness of various sects. With our current strength, we simply cannot protect such a treasure. At best, we'll be coveted and schemed against; at worst, it could bring annihilation upon the Immortal Sword Sect."

Xuanqing Daoist had warned him that treasures should not be revealed to others, and only by being strong enough could one protect the opportunity. Zhang Bufan had already made up his mind that before he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage and had enough ability to protect himself and the sect, he would never easily show the Immortal Peach to anyone, and it would only be used by him and his closest relatives like Yue Ling'er.

Upon hearing this, Yue Ling'er instantly understood the implications and obediently nodded, "I understand, my husband. I won't tell anyone."

The two sat on futons in the center of the room, sipping the spiritual spring water while circulating their cultivation techniques to guide the flow of spiritual energy. The gentle spiritual energy of the spring water slowly nourished their meridians, while the abundant spiritual energy of the immortal peach quickly filled their dantian. The two complemented and reinforced each other, resulting in a repair effect far exceeding that of using either spiritual object alone. In just one hour, Zhang Bufan's depleted spiritual energy had been largely restored, and the mixed spiritual liquid of the five attributes in his dantian gradually became full.

What surprised him even more was that the spiritual energy within his body showed signs of stirring, attempting to break through to the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. In fact, during the past half-month in the Kunlun Secret Realm, after being tempered by numerous high-intensity battles and nourished by abundant spiritual objects, his cultivation had already reached the perfect late-stage Foundation Establishment realm, but he had been lacking an opportunity to break through. Today's battle with Bai Qingyao, where he unleashed his potential to the limit, almost exhausting the last bit of spiritual energy within his body, actually broke through the shackles of his realm. Coupled with the nourishment from the immortal peach and the spiritual spring water, his realm naturally began to loosen.

Yue Ling'er's progress was even more rapid. The advantages of her Heavenly Spiritual Root were fully displayed under the nourishment of the spiritual objects. Not only had she completely recovered her spiritual power, but her Foundation Establishment Perfection realm had also become further solidified. The flow of spiritual energy around her body became increasingly smooth, bringing her one step closer to breaking through to the Core Formation stage. Noticing the abnormal fluctuations in Zhang Bufan's spiritual power, she quickly stopped her cultivation and asked with concern, "Husband, are you about to break through?"

Zhang Bufan nodded, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes: "Yes, my cultivation has reached a bottleneck. I'll take advantage of this spiritual object to break through to the peak of Foundation Establishment." Without further hesitation, he fully activated the cultivation technique taught by Xuanqing Daoist, guiding the spiritual power within his body toward the peak realm.

As the cultivation technique circulated, the spiritual energy within the room began to surge rapidly. Initially, it was merely a weak current, but gradually, the current grew increasingly swift. An invisible force drew in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth outside the room, causing it to rush madly into Zhang Bufan's room. Before long, the spiritual energy throughout the entire Immortal Sword Sect's palace began to fluctuate dramatically. A visible vortex of spiritual energy formed above Zhang Bufan's room, the energy at its center so dense it was almost liquefied, flowing into the room through the windows and door cracks, ultimately converging into Zhang Bufan's body.

At this moment, in the main hall of the palace, Yue Buwei was resting with his eyes closed, pondering his strategy for the battle against the Wanfa Sect two days later. Suddenly, he sensed an unusual surge of spiritual energy around him. Startled, he abruptly opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the energy fluctuations. When he sensed that the fluctuations originated from Zhang Bufan's room, his face instantly lit up with an expression of extraordinary joy.

"This is... the aura of a breakthrough?" Yue Buwei stood up, his eyes filled with excitement. He could clearly feel that the spiritual energy fluctuations were getting stronger and stronger, already reaching the threshold of the peak of Foundation Establishment. Zhang Bufan was able to fight Bai Qingyao, who was half a step into Core Formation, when he was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. If he successfully broke through to the peak of Foundation Establishment, his combat power would definitely rise to another level. At that time, his chances of winning against the core disciples of the Myriad Laws Sect would be even greater.

The other disciples who had been in seclusion to recover were also awakened by the intense fluctuations of spiritual energy. They all came out of their rooms and stared at the vortex of spiritual energy above Zhang Bufan's room, their faces filled with shock and envy. "Is that Senior Brother Zhang's room? Is he about to break through?" "My god, the spiritual energy fluctuations are so strong! He must have broken through to the peak of Foundation Establishment!" "Senior Brother Zhang is too heaven-defying! He just defeated the Holy Maiden of Yaochi and broke through directly. Who can compare to his talent!"

Liu Yan'er also stepped out of the room, gazing at the magnificent vortex of spiritual energy, her eyes filled with admiration and joy. She knew that the stronger Zhang Bufan became, the more likely the Immortal Sword Sect would win the championship, and the more likely she would be to obtain the Core Formation Pill.

Inside the room, Zhang Bufan was completely absorbed in his breakthrough. Vast spiritual energy surged into his dantian along his meridians, constantly eroding the barriers of his cultivation realm. The five-elemental mixed spiritual liquid within his dantian became increasingly concentrated and refined. After an unknown amount of time, with a soft "crack" sound, the barrier to his cultivation realm was successfully broken through. An even more powerful aura erupted from Zhang Bufan's body, and the spiritual energy vortex around him reached its peak.

He didn't stop, continuing to circulate his cultivation technique, guiding the spiritual energy flowing into his body to stabilize his newly broken-through peak Foundation Establishment realm. It wasn't until the sky began to lighten and the first rays of morning sunlight streamed into the room through the window that Zhang Bufan's spiritual energy gradually stabilized, and the vortex of spiritual energy slowly dissipated.

Zhang Bufan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. His aura was calm and powerful. He raised his hand to sense the spiritual energy within his body, his heart filled with joy—the five-attribute mixed spiritual liquid in his dantian meridians had become increasingly rich and mellow, containing at least twice the total spiritual energy it had before his breakthrough. His meridians had also been nourished by the spiritual energy, becoming wider and more resilient. What surprised him even more was that his spiritual domain had also expanded, reaching a radius of ten kilometers. The entire Wanfa Square, and even parts of the Wanfa Sect's headquarters, were within his spiritual perception range.

He could clearly sense three extremely powerful auras deep within the Wanfa Sect's territory. One of them was even slightly stronger than Bai Qingyao, presumably a core disciple of the Wanfa Sect, and most likely at the half-step Core Formation stage. However, Zhang Bufan felt no fear, only confidence. After breaking through to the peak of Foundation Establishment, his combat power had greatly increased. Combined with the cultivation techniques and magical artifacts inherited from Xuanqing, he was absolutely confident of victory even against a half-step Core Formation cultivator.

Seeing that he had successfully broken through, Yue Ling'er quickly stepped forward, her face full of joy: "Husband, you broke through! How do you feel?"

Zhang Bufan smiled and grasped her hand, his tone confident: "Excellent, your combat strength is more than double what it was before. We're absolutely confident of winning the championship against the Myriad Laws Sect in two days!"

Zhang Bufan, holding Yue Ling'er's hand, opened the door. Sunlight bathed him, his aura calm and powerful, a stark contrast to his previous late-stage Foundation Establishment state. Yue Buwei looked at him, his eyes full of approval, already feeling confident in facing the Myriad Laws Sect. In this ultimate showdown, the Immortal Sword Sect might very well emerge victorious.