Divine Root Bone

The Broken Cloud Canyon in the Southern Region stretches across the east and west, completely severing the fortunes of the two regions.

East of the canyon, the Qingyun Sect and the Bishui Yunlan Sect have been allies for generations, relying on each other for peace and tranquility.

To the west of the canyon, the Black Fiend Cult has been entrenched for a century, its sinister and miasma lingering year-round, its fierce and murderous aura soaring into the sky.

At this moment, the entire southern region was filled with a chilling atmosphere, and the omen of a great battle pressed down from all sides.

The Black Fiend Cult has mobilized its entire force, with countless evil cultivators gathering their troops and advancing majestically towards the Azure Cloud Mountains.

Meanwhile, the entire Qingyun Sect was under martial law, with battle flags flying high. Disciples from both the inner and outer sects were stationed at key passes, and weapons, array plates, and elixirs were all readily available, making every effort to defend the sect to the death.

The neighboring and allied Biyue Yunlan Sect also led all its female cultivators to provide immediate assistance.

Yun Qingchan, the sect leader of Yunlan Sect, wore an elegant white cloud-patterned Taoist robe. Her figure was gentle yet her demeanor was composed, and her eyes were clear and cold like the moon reflected in a stream.

Unknown to outsiders, this powerful figure, who oversees a sect and possesses a cultivation level of the fifth stage of Foundation Establishment,

The root bone is merely the most common, low-grade root bone.

Inferior aptitude is the lowest aptitude in the Southern Region, with 90% of cultivators stuck at the early stage of Qi Refining for their entire lives, unable to advance further once their lifespan is exhausted.

But Yun Qingchan, through a century of arduous cultivation, unwavering perseverance, and steady progress, broke through the shackles of the lower grade and rose from the most ordinary aptitude to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, taking charge of the Biyue Yunlan Sect.

She doesn't possess extraordinary talent, but she has a composure and determination that surpasses her peers. Among the many sect leaders in the Southern Region, she is known for her steadiness, resilience, and prudence.

Her personal disciple, Su Qingyao, who stood close to her, was the complete opposite of her.

Su Qingyao possesses superior physical attributes, exceptional talent, and clear spiritual energy. She is a genius that the Yunlan Sect rarely encounters in a hundred years. Now, she has steadily stepped into the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, and is only one opportunity away from opening the door to Foundation Establishment.

With movements as swift as clouds and as fluid as water, and an ethereal grace, he is the top combatant among the younger generation of the Yunlan Sect, and the core of the sect's formation.

High-ranking officials from both sides gathered at the main hall of Qingyun Peak and quickly finalized the joint defense strategy.

Yun Qingchan's gaze was steady as she looked at the billowing black mist of the Broken Cloud Canyon to the west, and she spoke softly:

"Our Azure Cloud Mist Sect is entirely composed of female cultivators. We do not practice the path of fierce killing, but mainly cultivate the Cloud Water Softness Technique and the Cloud Mist Control Technique. Our sect has a unique inherited grand formation—the Azure Cloud Mist Thousand Soft Water Control Formation, which is specially designed to suppress yin evil, poison, and demonic malevolence."

This formation is the sect's most important formation, and only female cultivators can perfectly activate it.

Based on clouds and water, using cloud threads as a net, and employing gentle force to deflect a thousand sharp edges.

It does not rely on explosive attacks, but it can lock spirits, trap enemies, dispel evil, and steadily suppress evil techniques.

The more people there are, the stronger the water and cloud energy becomes, and the stronger the array's defense and trapping power. It is perfectly suited to the Yunlan Sect's all-female cultivation system and is also a natural nemesis of the Black Fiend Demon Sect's various insidious and poisonous spells.

"The entire winding mountain road and valley pass on the right flank will be guarded by my Yunlan Sect."

Yun Qingchan spoke calmly, yet with absolute certainty, "When the Thousand Soft Water Defense Array is deployed, it can seal off all sneak attacks from side paths, dispel the demonic sect's miasma and poisonous techniques, and relieve half of the pressure on the Qingyun Sect's defenses."

The Qingyun Sect Master solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "With the support of Sect Master Qingchan and the Yunlan Sect, this battle is assured!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the order was issued from the mountain gate.

In an instant, hundreds of female cultivators from the Yunlan Sect moved with the lightness of flowing clouds and dispersed into the mountain range on the right.

The group took their positions in different formations, their fingertips simultaneously drawing upon the spiritual energy of clouds and water.

Wisps of bluish-white mist rise, entwine, and intertwine from the forest, while the spiritual energy of the water flows through the earth's veins, and layers of clouds and light curtains unfold one after another.

hum-

A gentle, lingering tremor of inspiration echoed through the valley.

The Azure Water and Cloud Mist Thousand Gentle Water Control Array is now fully formed!

The entire right wing of the mountains was shrouded in a light, misty fog, seemingly gentle and ethereal, yet actually concealing an inescapable predicament.

Any evil spirits or malevolent energy that approach are instantly dismantled and dissolved by the gentle force of the clouds and water.

Any evil cultivator who steps into the formation will have their spiritual power immediately entangled by the cloud silk and water filaments, causing their circulation to become sluggish, their movement to become blocked, and their inner demons to become agitated, resulting in their combat power being reduced by more than half.

At the very center of the formation, Su Qingyao, dressed in a plain blue dress, stood at the core of the formation.

With the full force of his superior innate talent, the abundant spiritual power of the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining continuously flowed into the entire formation, directly boosting the stability, enemy-trapping effect, and evil-dispelling power of the Thousand Soft Water Defense Formation to its peak.

She possessed unparalleled talent and pure spiritual energy, single-handedly supporting the spiritual energy supply of half of the Cloud Mist Array.

Yun Qingchan, who was overseeing the overall situation from outside the formation, was only of the lower grade in terms of talent, but with her profound foundation at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment and a hundred years of experience in formations, she calmly directed every formation eye, every cloud thread, and every wisp of water.

The lower-grade Dao Bone Palm Formation is used to suppress the formation's core.

With one steady approach and the other sharp one, one gentle approach and the other precise one, they defended the Yunlan Sect's defenses so thoroughly that they were impenetrable and as solid as a rock.

At this point, the two joint defenses were fully formed:

[Qingyun Sect] defends the front, left flank, and back mountain, resisting the main force of the Demonic Sect's strong attack and engaging in frontal warfare;

[Azure Cloud Mist Sect] The right wing deploys the Cloud and Water Formation to trap enemies, dispel evil spirits, prevent sneak attacks, and counteract poison and evil.

The mountain wind howled, and dark clouds pressed down on the mountains.

West of Broken Cloud Canyon, the Black Fiend Cult's densely packed army of evil cultivators had already approached the mountain's edge, their murderous aura overwhelming and causing the forests to tremble.

Everyone knows that—

The once-in-a-century battle between good and evil in the Southern Region will begin in the next moment.

Deep within Qingning Xiaozhu, Zhang Yang remained secluded in his meditation room.

Surrounded by top-grade spirit stones, and with his divine-grade physique unleashed at full power, he raced against time to break through to a higher realm.

at the same time

Several thousand meters east of Broken Cloud Canyon, to the left of the Azure Cloud Sect's territory, lies a forbidden area shrouded in miasma and littered with withered bones—the Chaotic Burial Valley. For centuries, few have ventured here; legend has it that countless remains of fallen cultivators lie buried beneath, their restless spirits lingering. Even ordinary disciples feel a chill run down their spines when they approach the valley's outskirts.

Deep within the secluded valley, a dilapidated and ancient stone side hall is concealed by piles of rubble. The hall's doors have long been weathered and shattered. Inside, a layer of pale purple, flowing light patterns floats in the air, its faint light flickering like the eyelids of a sleeping beast. The barrier isolates the inside from the outside; whether one attempts to probe with spiritual sense or to intrude with physical body, they will be repelled by an invisible force. Countless elder cultivators of the Southern Region have searched through ancient texts but have found no record of this barrier or the existence of the hall. It is as if a secret realm appeared out of thin air, lying dormant deep within the desolate burial valley.

The scene instantly shifts back to the front lines of the Qingyun Mountains.

Black mist surged at the horizon, and the Black Fiend Cult's army, like a dark, surging tide, swept across the Broken Cloud Gorge, swarming towards the Azure Cloud Sect's mountain gate. The shouts of the evil cultivators and the clashing of weapons could be clearly heard by the cultivators of both sects from miles away. The cultivators of the Azure Cloud and Azure Cloud Sects formed defensive lines, watching the overwhelming surge of demonic cultivators from afar, each gripping their magical weapons tightly, their minds tense.

Leading the charge were a large number of Qi Refining stage disciples from the Black Fiend Sect, most of whom were at the sixth to ninth level of Qi Refining, similar in cultivation to the main disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect. Before the higher-ups could give orders, the young cultivators on both sides roared and clashed simultaneously, and a fierce battle erupted instantly.

Spiritual energy blasts, poisonous claws, sharp blades, and magical light exploded everywhere. The bluestone ground was soaked with blood, severed limbs and broken bones littered the battlefield, and screams of agony echoed throughout. The disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect at the eighth level of Qi Refining were the backbone of the fighting force. Relying on the protection of the sect's formation, they fought desperately to stop the demonic cultivators from advancing. The Black Fiend disciples cultivated insidious and evil arts, and their moves were ruthless and merciless. In a short time, many disciples on both sides fell to the ground, and the stench of blood permeated the entire valley. The scene was extremely brutal.

In the midst of the fierce battle, a cold figure slowly stepped out from the black mist. It was Tu Jin, the elder of the Black Fiend Sect in charge of the front-line command. He wore a black robe embroidered with blood-red skull patterns and his cultivation was steadily at the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage, which was the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

According to the rules of the Foundation Establishment realm, cultivators at the later stages of the Foundation Establishment realm possess a perpetual flow of Dao foundation light, allowing them to briefly fly using spiritual energy, making it extremely difficult for lower-level Foundation Establishment cultivators to get close and confront them. Tu Jin was surrounded by an inexhaustible flow of dark Dao foundation light, and an extremely thick layer of pressure, the aura of a late-stage Foundation Establishment seventh level cultivator, spread out along the black mist, enveloping the entire Qi-refining battlefield below.

All the Qingyun and Heisha Qi Refining cultivators fighting below simultaneously felt excruciating pain throughout their bodies. Their blood surged uncontrollably, their legs went weak, and most of them knelt down, their magical weapons nearly slipping from their hands. The Heavenly Might of the third level of Foundation Establishment naturally restrained all Qi Refining cultivators. The mere dissipated pressure was enough to lock down most of the low-level cultivators' mobility. The originally entangled battle instantly came to a standstill. A large number of Qingyun eighth-level Qi Refining disciples were made to have difficulty breathing by this pressure, their spiritual energy circulation almost stopped, and they could only stiffly look up at Tu Jin in mid-air.

"A bunch of ants."

Tu Jin sneered, his Dao Foundation light surging violently around him, and dense black baleful energy coalesced into a giant claw shadow, carrying the overwhelming pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator at level three, and slammed directly down towards the cluster of Qingyun Sect Qi Refining disciples below. Once this attack landed, hundreds of low-level disciples below would be killed or injured in an instant.

At the critical moment, seven elders of the Xuan generation from the Qingyun Sect simultaneously burst forth, all at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. Cultivators can condense small spiritual energy fields around their bodies, capable of sealing the flow of spiritual power in Qi Refining cultivators. Seven azure and white spiritual energy domains intertwined and converged, layer upon layer, blocking the giant claw of the Slaughtering Aura. With a low shout, the elders' seven Foundation Establishment spiritual energies merged into one, erecting a massive joint defensive light barrier.

Two completely different Foundation Establishment level heavenly powers collided violently in mid-air, and invisible air waves exploded wildly in all directions like a hurricane, sweeping across the entire battlefield.

The last three stages of Tu Jin's Foundation Establishment at the seventh level were thick and domineering, each ray of light carrying the power to suppress lower-level Foundation Establishment cultivators; the spiritual energy fields of the seven Qingyun elders at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment trembled and cracked continuously, their robes were torn by the air waves, their blood and qi surged and churned, and a trace of blood was faintly spilled from the corner of their mouths, but fortunately they were able to stabilize for a moment.

All the Qi Refining disciples and female cultivators from the Yunlan Sect watching below were shaken to their core. The shockwaves generated by the clash of the two Foundation Establishment auras bent all the trees in the mountains and forests, and cracked the ground with fine ravines.

Tu Jin looked down at the seven people below, his tone full of contempt: "Seven mere mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators dare to try and stop me, a late-Foundation Establishment cultivator? Today I will raze the Qingyun Mountain gate to the ground and abduct that exceptionally talented youth!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the light emanating from his Dao Foundation doubled, and with a flash of his unique short-term low-altitude walking technique, he suddenly pressed down on the seven Qingyun elders. His vast Yin Sha spiritual power brewed once more, preparing to launch a second wave of powerful attacks. Inside the Biyue Yunlan Sect's right-wing position, Yun Qingchan, dressed in a plain white Daoist robe with cloud patterns, slowly spread out her Foundation Establishment Level 5 spiritual energy field. Beside her, Su Qingyao, at the peak of Qi Refining, clenched her fists, and the entire Biyue Yunlan Thousand Gentle Water Control Array's cloud and water light screen tightened, ready to rush to the aid of the main battlefield at any moment.

The murderous aura on both sides of the canyon reached its peak. The fierce battle between low-level cultivators had not yet subsided, and the duel between high-level Foundation Establishment experts had already begun. This bloody battle between good and evil in the Southern Region had been pushed to a fever pitch.

Just then.

Tu Jin sneered, his Dao Foundation light surging violently around him, and dense black baleful energy gathered into a giant claw shadow, carrying the overwhelming pressure of the third level of Foundation Establishment, and slammed down directly onto the defensive light barrier that the seven people below had jointly erected.

The seven Qingyun elders were all at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, and could only condense small spiritual energy fields around their bodies. Seven azure and white spiritual energy domains intertwined and converged, and they thought that joining forces would be enough to withstand the attack. However, the three levels of Foundation Establishment Dao Foundation light brought with it a level of suppression, and the difference in realm between the two sides was like an insurmountable chasm.

With a deafening roar, the combined spiritual energy barrier erected by the seven elders shattered instantly, like a sheet of paper! The lingering, violent aura swept outwards in all directions, sending the seven elders flying backwards like kites with broken strings. Upon landing, they clutched their chests, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. Their meridians trembled and were damaged, their spiritual power completely dissipated, leaving them paralyzed on the ground, unable to move, and utterly incapable of fighting again.

Tu Jin glanced disdainfully at the seven people lying on the ground, then his gaze suddenly turned to the cloud-shrouded formation in the valley on the right wing, which was the Azure Cloud Mist Thousand Gentle Water Defense Formation set up by hundreds of female cultivators from the Azure Cloud Mist Sect.

"A mere Water Encirclement Formation dares to block my Demonic Sect army?"

Tu Jin raised his hand, and a torrent of black evil energy surged between his ten fingers. A pitch-black evil dragon roared out, its body carrying the heavy might of the third heaven, and crashed hard into the core of the Cloud and Water Array.

Boom—

The gentle, clear cloud and water light barrier shattered inch by inch, the intertwined cloud wisps and water droplets completely dissipated, and the entire Thousand Gentle Water Defense Array collapsed and disintegrated. Hundreds of female cultivators from the Cloud Mist Sect within the array were impacted by the recoil, their blood and qi reversed, and they spat out mouthfuls of blood, staggering and falling to the ground. Not one of them could maintain their position at the array's core. Su Qingyao, as the central figure of the array, was even more severely shaken, her entire body exhausted, and she collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale.

Tu Jin's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He stepped through the air and his figure blurred as he swept above the fallen elder and Yunlan female cultivator. Dark evil energy condensed again in his palm, preparing to kill all those who had lost the ability to resist with one strike.

The Qingyun disciples, who were engaged in a bloody battle below, were filled with rage upon seeing this, but they were tightly bound by the demonic cultivators and unable to break free to provide assistance. It seemed that a tragedy was about to unfold.

At the critical moment, a warm and powerful azure-white spiritual light soared into the sky from the main peak of Qingyun. A figure flew briefly through the air, with a stable stream of Dao foundation light flowing around him. It was none other than Ling Xuanchen, the sect master of Qingyun Sect!

Ling Xuanchen was also at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, belonging to the third level after Foundation Establishment. In an instant, he stood in front of Tu Jin, and his majestic righteous heavenly might spread out, forcefully blocking Tu Jin's ready-to-kill attack.

Two Foundation Establishment Stage 3 auras of the same level but completely opposite attributes clashed violently in mid-air. Gale-force winds swept across the mountains, and the ground cracked open with countless ravines. Everyone on the battlefield stopped fighting and looked up at the two Foundation Establishment Stage 7 experts confronting each other in mid-air.

Ling Xuanchen's expression was cold and stern, his voice echoing through the valley: "Tu Jin, do not harm my sect's elders and fellow cultivators, Yunlan!"

Tu Jin's black robes billowed as he chuckled sinisterly, "Ling Xuanchen, today the entire Qingyun Mountain Range is destined to fall into the hands of my Black Fiend Demonic Sect!"

Two powerful cultivators at the late third level of Foundation Establishment stood facing each other in mid-air, their Dao Foundation radiance colliding with each other. The highest-level showdown between good and evil in the Southern Region officially began.

at this time.

In the Qingning Xiaozhu, an inner courtyard of the Qingyun Sect, Lin Wanqing stood helplessly in the corner of the courtyard, watching the black and white spiritual light soaring into the sky from the direction of the mountain gate defense line. The deafening roar of battle echoed in her ears, and she couldn't stop trembling.

Her foundation was weak; her innate talent was merely of the lowest grade, making cultivation inherently difficult. She had only managed to break through to the second level of Qi Refining thanks to the spirit stones Zhang Yang had given her. Her cultivation time was short, and her foundation was extremely fragile. Looking at the raging battles below, the terrifying pressure of Foundation Establishment experts clashing in mid-air was overwhelming. Even the residual shockwaves were making her blood and qi stagnate, preventing her from even breathing normally. Her heart was filled with fear and lingering dread.

Her gaze fell on the meditation room on the west side, its doors and windows tightly shut, and her heart was filled with anxiety. Now, the powerful members of the Demonic Sect were rampaging, seven elders were seriously injured, the Yunlan Sect's great formation was broken, and the entire sect was in grave danger. She only hated that her cultivation was too low, and she could not help in the slightest. She could only wait for Zhang Yang to emerge from seclusion and place all her hopes on him.

At this moment, in the meditation room, Zhang Yang sat cross-legged in the center of the spirit-gathering array, surrounded by fifty top-grade spirit stones privately given to him by the elders, plus the low-grade and high-grade spirit stones he had accumulated along the way, and all kinds of spiritual materials were piled up like a mountain.

The deafening roar of violent collisions outside pierced through the walls and reached his ears. The screams of battle and the explosions of spells rose and fell. He knew that the battle had reached a fever pitch, even a matter of life and death. The defensive lines of the two sects were on the verge of collapse. If he could not break through as soon as possible, those with higher cultivation levels could still survive, but those with lower cultivation levels, such as Lin Wanqing, Qingyun Sect, Biyue Yunlan Sect, and even himself, would all be in dire straits.

However, looking at the massive amount of spirit stones around him, he also had concerns. Absorbing the immense spiritual energy of all the spirit stones at once to break through the bottleneck of his cultivation level would be too overwhelming, easily exceeding the limits of his physical body and soul. At best, it would damage his meridians and cause his cultivation to regress; at worst, it would cause his spiritual veins to explode and he would die.

The sounds of fighting outside suddenly rose again, and the heavy pressure of the collision between Foundation Establishment experts could be clearly heard even through the courtyard wall. Zhang Yang no longer hesitated. He made up his mind and decided to fight to the death, using the power of a massive amount of spirit stones to forcefully break through the shackles.

He closed his eyes and focused all his energy on his cultivation technique. All the spirit stones around him instantly burst forth with brilliant spiritual light, and a massive amount of pure spiritual energy surged into his body like a flood bursting its banks!

boom!

The spiritual energy suddenly surged into Zhang Yang's head with astonishing force, causing his brain to buzz and his head to spin. He couldn't adapt to this violent spiritual power. His long black hair stood on end, every hair on his body stood on end, spiritual energy surged wildly beneath his skin, and his clothes billowed violently without wind. He was completely enveloped in a white cocoon of spiritual energy.

Just as his spiritual energy was about to burst his meridians, the black jade he kept close to his body suddenly emitted a warm and gentle sensation. A faint, almost imperceptible light flowed from the jade pendant, quietly calming the restless and turbulent spiritual energy within him and stabilizing the foundation of his collapsing meridians.

Zhang Yang suppressed the dizziness in his head, gritted his teeth to steady his mind, and focused all his efforts on guiding the surging spiritual energy to cleanse his dantian, aiming to break through to a higher realm.

The scene abruptly cuts back to the front-line battlefield.

The two powerful Foundation Establishment level 7 experts, Ling Xuanchen, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect, and Tu Jin, the elder of Heisha Sect, engaged in a brief but intense aerial clash.

Both were at the late Foundation Establishment stage, their Dao Foundation Aura lingering around their bodies, allowing them to fly continuously through the sky. Their diametrically opposed spiritual energies collided wildly. Ling Xuanchen's body radiated a thick and enduring righteous azure-white spiritual light, while Tu Jin was surrounded by a dark and ferocious aura. Every time their palm techniques and spells clashed, they unleashed terrifying shockwaves that swept for miles.

Boom! Boom!

The sound of the spiritual light exploding shook the mountains, and the heavenly might of the second-to-last Foundation Establishment cultivators intertwined and pressed down, enveloping the entire battle valley.

All the Qi Refining cultivators below, even the injured Foundation Establishment Level 5 elders and female cultivators from the Yunlan Sect, were completely locked down by this extremely high level of pressure.

The unique Dao Foundation Suppression of the third level after Foundation Establishment pressed down all at once, making everyone's meridians stiff and sluggish, their dantian qi vortex almost stop rotating, and even mobilizing a trace of spiritual power to circulate throughout their bodies was extremely difficult. Their hands and feet felt heavy as if they were filled with lead, and they could only stiffly look up at the earth-shattering battle in mid-air, their hearts trembling with fear, unable to muster even the slightest thought of intervening.

Tu Jin's black torrent of evil energy intensified, and he roared, "Ling Xuanchen, you alone cannot protect the entire Qingyun Mountain Range!"

Ling Xuanchen focused his mind to stabilize his own Dao foundation's spiritual light, layering righteous spiritual power to resist the evil attack. He retorted in a deep voice, "The demonic sect is wreaking havoc in the Southern Region. Today, I will guard this place and will not allow you to harm a single member of your sect!"

The two powerful spiritual lights from the black and white paths collided fiercely once again, and the huge shockwave blew away boulders at the foot of the mountain, raising the atmosphere of killing intent on the entire battlefield to its peak.

In mid-air, the two Foundation Establishment Stage 7 cultivators, Ling Xuanchen, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect, and Tu Jin, an elder of the Demonic Sect, collided violently. The sound of black and white spiritual energy exploding reverberated throughout the entire Qingyun Mountain Range. The two layers of heavenly might from the third level pressed down, causing all the cultivators below the mountain to have their spiritual energy stagnant, making it extremely difficult for them to even raise their hands.

The camera suddenly zooms out, traversing the entire Broken Cloud Canyon and landing on a desolate plain a thousand miles below the Black Fiend Sect's headquarters. From the outside, this place appears unremarkable, with only withered rocks and wild grass, devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations; ordinary cultivators would simply pass by in a hurry. However, if birds or beasts inadvertently wander into the edge of this invisible zone, the air will ripple with transparent waves like water, and beyond these ripples lies a hidden space isolated from the world.

Deep within the secret realm, a blurry figure sat quietly in meditation, not a trace of spiritual energy emanating from its body. Its appearance and aura were completely concealed within a thin mist, making it impossible for anyone to discern its true nature. The intense spiritual energy fluctuations unleashed by the great battle between the two sects flowed into this place along the meridians of heaven and earth. The figure, silent for countless years, slowly lifted its heavy eyelids, its indifferent and unwavering eyes gazing towards the direction of Qingyun Mountain in the east.

"Interesting. A demonic sect in the Southern Region has actually started a war with the Qingyun Sect."

He murmured softly, his tone completely flat, before letting out a disdainful sneer.

It was nothing more than a battle between ants, a shallow affair, utterly beneath his notice. He glanced at it briefly, then looked away, no longer paying attention to the earth-shattering battle in the distance. He closed his eyes again and fell silent, and the entire hidden space returned to deathly stillness.

The scene cuts back to the meditation room in the inner courtyard of the Qingyun Sect.

Zhang Yang was tightly enveloped by the pure white spiritual energy bursting from the massive amount of spirit stones. The violent spiritual energy had almost ruptured his meridians, but the black jade in his arms continuously emitted a warm and gentle light, stabilizing his spiritual meridians which were on the verge of collapse.

The sounds of battle outside filled his ears, and he was extremely anxious, but he forced himself to calm down and guide the surging spiritual energy to cleanse himself.

His cultivation level was originally at the fifth level of Qi Refining, which was the third level of Qi Refining. His dantian was stable and his body was surrounded by a gentle breeze. He could suppress cultivators at the first three levels of Qi Refining. However, at this moment, a massive amount of spiritual energy surged into his body. When he tried to break through to the sixth level, he had no experience in high-level breakthroughs and did not know the method of gradual progress. He relied on the rudimentary insights he had gained when breaking through from the third level to the fourth level to tough it out. His meridians were sore and torn, and his soul was dizzy. Every time he circulated his mental cultivation technique, it was extremely difficult.

He gritted his teeth, recalling the insights he gained from his self-enlightened breakthrough, and gradually adjusted the flow of his spiritual energy. The purification power of his divine-grade bone structure slowly took effect, transforming all the impure spiritual energy into pure white mist, which repeatedly washed over his dantian vortex along his meridians. After an unknown amount of time, his dantian suddenly trembled, and a large swirling white mist surged around his body, enveloping his limbs and bones. The plants and ornaments in the surrounding room were nourished by the spiritual energy, shimmering with spiritual light.

Qi Refining Level Six, Successful!

Entering the sixth level of Qi Refining, still within the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the surrounding breeze became stronger. For cultivators at a lower level of Qi Refining, the stagnation and blockage of their spiritual energy would be exponentially amplified upon approach. His meridians widened several times over, and his physical body was repeatedly tempered by pure white spiritual energy. The fatigue was slightly relieved, but the mountain of spiritual stones and spiritual energy continued to pour in without any sign of depletion. Without stopping, he immediately launched an attack towards the seventh level.

The transition from the sixth to the seventh level is a watershed moment, marking the leap from the middle three levels to the latter three levels, a transformation far surpassing any previous breakthrough.

A massive amount of pure spiritual energy frantically seeped into the flesh and blood. The spiritual energy that originally only flowed in the meridians and dantian now seeped into every corner of the skin, bones, and internal organs. A soft, luminous white light slowly rose on the body surface, which was a unique phenomenon of the third stage after Qi Refining.

The moment he broke through, Zhang Yang felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, his bones crackling and popping. His physical strength increased several times over, his dantian vortex nearly doubled in size, and the speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy from heaven and earth increased several times over. He suddenly understood the transformation pattern of advancing from the middle three stages of Qi Refining: the middle three stages only solidify the Qi vortex and circulate it through the meridians; the latter three stages require spiritual energy to permeate the flesh and blood, allowing the physical body to bear even greater spiritual power, the faint glow on the surface of his body being proof of the fusion of spiritual energy and physical body.

The pure white spiritual energy brought by the breakthrough rushed straight to the roof, and white mist filled the room, enveloping his entire body. The spiritual energy from the scattered spirit stones around him had not yet been exhausted, and the immense power still filled his limbs.

After stabilizing his seventh level of Qi Refining, he did not rest for a moment. Taking advantage of the abundant spiritual energy and the fact that his physical body had just completed its transformation, he once again activated his cultivation technique. The violent spiritual energy swept through his dantian and he made a powerful impact on the bottleneck of the eighth level of Qi Refining. The bright white light around him became more and more intense, and the entire meditation room was completely engulfed by the thick, pure white spiritual energy.

In the neighboring courtyard, Lin Wanqing, who was at the second level of Qi Refining, stared at the tightly closed door and listened to the constant vibrations of spiritual energy coming from inside. Her heart was filled with anxiety and anticipation, and she could only silently pray that Zhang Yang would break through his cultivation as soon as possible and resolve the crisis between the two sects.

The immense, pure white energy wave generated by breaking through the seventh level of Qi Refining surged up and crashed directly onto the roof of the meditation room. Although it failed to break through the bricks and tiles, the pure spiritual pressure unique to the last three levels of Qi Refining spread out without reservation, instantly sweeping across the entire Qingyun Mountain Range battlefield.

In an instant, all the cultivators from all sides in the battle stopped in their tracks and looked toward the direction of the Qingyun Inner Courtyard, following the source of the spiritual energy.

Ling Xuanchen and Tu Jin, who were facing off in mid-air, glanced at each other at the same time; the seven Qingyun Foundation Establishment elders who were injured and paralyzed at the foot of the mountain suddenly looked up; on the right flank of the Biyun Yunlan Sect's position, Yun Qingchan and Su Qingyao were greatly shocked; the Qingyun disciples who were fighting all around, as well as the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Black Fiend Demon Sect, all stopped their attacks and stared blankly at the inner courtyard.

Ling Xuanchen and Elder Ling Xuanzheng, who was barely managing to steady his breathing below, exchanged a glance, both of them looking on in disbelief.

This spiritual energy was thick and long, and the unique aura of the faint light on the body surface was clear and distinct. It was exactly the same as the spiritual pressure when they broke through the seventh level of Qi Refining and stepped into the third level of Qi Refining. The person in the courtyard had just broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining!

In a short period of time, he broke through two realms from the fifth level of Qi Refining and entered the third level. Such a speed of cultivation is unheard of in the entire Southern Region.

Ling Xuanchen made a decision instantly, turning to a surviving inner disciple beside him and loudly ordering, "Quickly go to the sect's treasury, retrieve all the remaining top-grade spirit stones, and send them all to the outer perimeter of the inner courtyard's meditation room!"

The disciple dared not delay and immediately turned and rushed to the storeroom. A moment later, he arrived outside the meditation courtyard carrying a brocade box full of top-grade spirit stones. However, the door was tightly closed. At the critical moment of breakthrough, it was most important to avoid outsiders from intruding and disturbing the flow of spiritual energy. If the circulation of spiritual energy was interrupted, at best the cultivation would regress, and at worst the spiritual veins would be severed.

Ling Xuanchen frowned and immediately activated a spiritual technique exclusive to Qi Refining cultivators. He condensed a wisp of soft, pure white spiritual energy in his palm and slapped it against the dozens of top-grade spirit stones inside the brocade box.

Click, click!

All the top-grade spirit stones shattered instantly, and the boundless and pure spiritual energy exploded outwards, transforming into a vast expanse of white spiritual mist that flowed continuously into the meditation room through the cracks in the doors and windows and the holes in the walls.

In the meditation room, Zhang Yang, who was consolidating his seventh level of cultivation, suddenly noticed something amiss.

Although the spiritual energy supplied by the spirit stones around him was originally plentiful, it always lacked a certain viscosity and thickness. But now, a much richer and more mellow spiritual energy, several times stronger, suddenly flowed into his dantian vortex, gently filling the gap in his spiritual power. He instantly understood that it must be the secret assistance of his sect elders. His confidence soared, and he no longer had any worries.

"Taking advantage of the abundant spiritual energy, I'll directly attempt to break through to the eighth level!"

Zhang Yang gritted his teeth, urging all his mental energy to circulate his cultivation technique. His body shone with an intense, radiant white light, and a massive amount of double-layered pure white spiritual energy frantically washed over his flesh and meridians.

The spiritual energy permeated every inch of his body, making the faint light on his skin even more dazzling. The energy vortex in his dantian expanded rapidly, and another series of cracking sounds from his bones echoed throughout his body.

hum-

The shackles shattered with a crash, and the eighth level of Qi cultivation was achieved effortlessly!

Having fully entered the middle stage of the third level of Qi Refining, the spiritual energy emanating from his body was enough to easily attract the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth to converge, and his physical body was so strong that he could split rocks with his bare hands.

Just as his realm stabilized, the black jade pendant he wore close to his body seemed to sense the surging spiritual power within him. It once again emitted a long, warm sensation, and wisps of light seeped into his meridians, soothing the slight soreness brought about by the breakthrough and steadily supporting the newly formed eighth-level spiritual power foundation.

The moment the bottleneck of the eighth level of Qi Refining was completely shattered, a surging torrent of spiritual energy instantly filled Zhang Yang's limbs and bones, and his realm naturally progressed, steadily stepping into the middle stage of the last three levels of Qi Refining.

But only a few breaths later.

hum-

The surge of spiritual energy within his body suddenly plummeted.

The vortex of energy in the dantian, which had just been surging to the point of near explosion, instantly calmed down, and the violent spiritual power quickly settled and subsided, transforming from a raging torrent into a tranquil river.

Zhang Yang's heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. He felt an extreme sense of fear.

Breaking through from the seventh to the eighth level of Qi Refining is the biggest leap in the entire Qi Refining Realm, and the most vulnerable to damage to one's foundation.

Just now, he forcibly broke through several realms in succession, rushing through the barriers at an extremely fast pace. If it weren't for Sect Master Ling Xuanchen remotely shattering a massive amount of top-grade spirit stones and forcibly pouring in endless pure spiritual energy to support him, he would have inevitably run out of spiritual energy the moment he broke through the eighth level bottleneck.

If the spiritual energy cannot be replenished, the breakthrough will collapse halfway. At best, the realm will regress and the foundation will be damaged. At worst, permanent hidden injuries will be left in the meridians, and the person will be stuck in the Qi Refining Realm for life without any further progress.

"That was close, so very close..."

Zhang Yang let out a long breath, feeling completely at peace.

If the sect hadn't spared no expense in using up all its top-grade spirit stones to help him break through, this frenzied series of breakthroughs would have definitely led to a major disaster.

Now that the eighth level of cultivation is completely stable, the physical body, spiritual power, and divine soul have all undergone a new round of transformation, and there are no more hidden dangers.

He felt the powerful and profound spiritual energy within his body, far exceeding that of an ordinary eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator, and knew that continuing his seclusion was pointless. He then stopped his cultivation, stood up, and pushed open the tightly closed door of the meditation room.

The door slowly opened.

Outside the door, Lin Wanqing stood alone in the middle of the courtyard, her face pale, her eyes filled with fear and worry, staring intently at the secluded room, not moving an inch.

Her cultivation level was low, only at the second level of Qi Refining. Her inferior innate talent made her cultivation slow. Today, the battle between the two sects, the fighting among Foundation Establishment experts, the shattering of the great formation, and the serious injury of the elders were all terrifying scenes that made it hard for her to breathe.

Throughout the entire Qingyun Mountain, the only person she could place her hopes on was Zhang Yang, who was in seclusion inside the house.

Seeing Zhang Yang walk out safely, his aura deep and steady, completely transformed, with none of the restlessness and weakness he had shown during his previous seclusion, Lin Wanqing's eyes instantly reddened.

Zhang Yang stepped forward, his voice gentle and reassuring: "Don't be afraid, I'm out, everything's alright."

A simple word of reassurance instantly soothed all the fear and anxiety in the girl's heart.

After comforting Lin Wanqing, Zhang Yang looked up at the battlefield at the mountain gate in the distance, which was engulfed in flames, and with a swift movement, he sped straight towards the main battlefield.

……

At this moment, the main battlefield remains a high-level duel of earth-shattering magnitude.

Ling Xuanchen and Tu Jin, two powerful cultivators at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, clashed in mid-air. Black and white spiritual light exploded across the sky, while the might of the latter three Foundation Establishment cultivators suppressed the surrounding area. All the low-level cultivators present were suppressed, their blood and qi churning and their spiritual power locked, making it extremely difficult for them to even raise their hands.

Just then, a tall and handsome young man slowly stepped onto the edge of the battlefield.

Dressed in a plain-colored Taoist robe, with an upright posture, surrounded by the unique shimmering white light of the eighth level of Qi Refining, his spiritual energy was thick and solid, and he was so calm and composed that he did not seem like a newly breakthrough cultivator who had broken through several realms.

This scene instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the audience.

Inside the Yunlan Sect's right-wing position, Su Qingyao's beautiful eyes suddenly narrowed.

This was the first time she had seen Zhang Yang in person.

The young man possessed a refined and aloof demeanor, his aura restrained yet his foundation terrifying. The shimmering white spiritual energy flowing around him was entirely of the same origin as the breakthrough aura that had soared into the sky in the inner courtyard and shocked the entire audience!

"So... the person who just broke through his cultivation level and shook two sects was him?"

Su Qingyao was shocked, her face filled with disbelief, and her gaze towards Zhang Yang was filled with extreme curiosity and astonishment.

Yun Qingchan, the sect leader of the Biyunyun Sect, who was standing to the side, also stared intently at the young man's figure, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Not just them.

The seven Qingyun elders on the ground, who were severely injured and coughing up blood and barely able to sit up, were all staring intently at Zhang Yang, their expressions blank and their faces filled with disbelief.

It took less than half an hour to go from the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He broke through the sixth and seventh levels in succession, and forcefully rushed to the eighth level of Qi Refining!

Moreover, his aura was incredibly stable and his foundation solid, showing no signs of the superficiality or weakness that would result from a rapid breakthrough; he was ridiculously steady.

"Outrageous...absolutely outrageous!"

"In my three hundred years of life, I have never seen anyone break through so quickly and so steadily!"

"An ordinary cultivator would spend months or even years painstakingly cultivating to break through the first level, but he broke through three levels in an instant!"

"Look at that immense spiritual pressure, the resilience of his physical body, the purity of his spiritual energy... it's simply beyond the capabilities of ordinary people!"

The elders were shaken to their core. They looked at each other and saw the extreme shock and confusion in each other's eyes.

There is only one explanation.

Root bone!

This boy's innate talent is absolutely top-tier, a once-in-a-millennium level in the Southern Region, and possibly even rarer in the Four Great Regions or the Central State.

Only by possessing extraordinary talent and potential can one break through bottlenecks without fear of obstacles, advance without hidden dangers, and establish a foundation as solid as a rock.

Everyone instantly became certain—it was his innate talent that transcended common sense!

In the center of the battlefield, Zhang Yang stood quietly, equally shocked.

He is now at the eighth level of Qi Refining, making him a top expert among low-level cultivators. With the blessing of his mysterious innate talent, his physical body, spiritual power, soul, and resistance completely overwhelm those of the same level.

Faced with the overwhelming pressure of the three levels of Foundation Establishment cultivators, all the cultivators present, including those who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, were suppressed to the point that their spiritual power stagnated, their bodies stiffened, and they could hardly move.

Only Zhang Yang.

Although he could still feel the terrifying pressure like a mountain, he still couldn't interfere in the battle between Foundation Establishment experts. The gap in their realms was still as vast as an insurmountable chasm. After all, Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment were the dividing line between mortals and cultivators, not to mention that the opponent was a top-tier Foundation Establishment seventh level expert.

but!

He was barely able to withstand the terrifying pressure.

The spiritual energy around the body can still circulate slowly, the physical body is not stiff, the blood and qi are not disordered, and the mind is not trembling.

Looking across the entire arena, apart from the two Foundation Establishment Level 7 experts, several seriously injured Foundation Establishment Level 5 elders, and Yun Qingchan, only he, a Qi Refining Level 8 expert, was able to stand firm under such pressure and remain unaffected by the Spirit Locking Technique.

Everyone assumed he was exceptionally talented and had extraordinary potential.

No one knows.

The foundation that enabled him to withstand the terrifying suppression of a major realm difference, to break through three realms rapidly and steadily, and to fight against opponents of higher levels—

It is a divine bone that no one in this southern region has ever heard of or seen!

The wind howled across the battlefield, and the fighting continued.

The young man stood amidst the flames of war, his aura rising steadily, silently watching the earth-shattering duel between the two powerful figures in mid-air.

he knows.

I am still too weak.

All the cultivators present were shaken, their gazes fixed on Zhang Yang, who had suddenly risen to prominence.

Everyone was frantically speculating and marveling at his extraordinary talent, finding it hard to believe that he could break through three levels from the fifth level of Qi Refining in just half an hour, firmly stepping into the eighth level. Such speed, such stability, and such talent were unprecedented in the entire history of the Southern Region.

But just as everyone's attention was completely drawn to Zhang Yang—

suddenly!

The black mist on the west side of Broken Cloud Canyon suddenly exploded!

A terrifying demonic aura, far surpassing that of the Demon Slayer, suddenly descended upon the entire battlefield. You Sha Yuan, the sect leader of the Black Fiend Demon Cult, stepped out into the air. His cultivation was at the late stage of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, belonging to the last three levels of Foundation Establishment. His body was surrounded by a long-lasting, dark Dao Foundation light. Relying on the unique ability of the last three levels to traverse the sky, his figure hovered dozens of feet in the air. Lower-level Foundation Establishment cultivators did not even have the qualification to approach and confront him.

You Sha Yuan's demonic eyes were fixed on Zhang Yang in the center of the battlefield, his eyes surging with extreme greed: "He has broken through three levels in such a short time, his innate talent is defying the laws of nature, a rare occurrence throughout the ages. If I capture him and bring him back to the main altar to dissect and study his bones, it will surely help me break through my shackles!"

He had been lying in wait in the shadows for a long time, waiting for the two sect leaders to be distracted. In mid-air, Ling Xuanchen (the last three levels of Foundation Establishment) and Tu Jin (the last three levels of Foundation Establishment) were fiercely exchanging blows. The two subconsciously glanced at Zhang Yang, and in that instant, You Sha Yuan had already moved!

The late-stage Foundation Establishment eighth level cultivator's Dao Foundation light surged, tearing through the air like a ghost and rushing straight at Zhang Yang. The overwhelming heavenly might of the last three levels slammed down, locking down all directions. All the Qi Refining cultivators on the field experienced surging blood and their legs went weak. Even the fifth-level Foundation Establishment elder under Ling Xuan Chen's command (a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator whose small spiritual energy field could seal off Qi Refining power) was now violently shaken by this high-level pressure.

Sect Master Ling Xuanchen's pupils constricted sharply: "This is bad!"

The Demonic Sect Elder Tu Jin was also shocked to realize that his sect leader was about to launch a sneak attack on someone, and he did his best to stop the Qingyun Sect Master from rescuing him.

At the critical moment, Zhang Yang's divine-grade physique warned of a deadly attack. He used his physical body to the extreme of a side slide to dodge, barely avoiding the clutches that were about to grab his spirit.

boom!

The black demonic palm force grazed his shoulder and exploded. The powerful gale formed by the liquefaction of spiritual energy at the late stage of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment tore through his Daoist robe and ripped his flesh. Zhang Yang's blood surged wildly, and he was thrown several feet away. A metallic taste rose in his throat. The aftershocks alone almost crippled him.

The entire arena fell silent; everyone watched helplessly as the prodigy was in danger, powerless to stop him.

At that very moment, a towering blue light burst forth from the forbidden area behind the Qingyun Sect, piercing the heavens and earth!

With a deafening roar that shook the mountains of the Southern Region, an ancient and vast pressure broke through the dusty seals and swept across all directions. The reclusive ancestor of Qingyun, Ling Xuanyuan, slowly stepped into the air and appeared.

Ling Xuanyuan had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and was half a step beyond the Foundation Establishment level. When he broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm, the spiritual liquid in his dantian had already solidified into a complete Dao foundation. Golden spiritual lotus patterns constantly appeared under his feet. Wherever he landed, the vitality of grass and trees within ten miles would surge, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would spontaneously bow down in worship, far exceeding the Dao foundation light of ordinary cultivators in the last three levels.

With each step, golden lotus patterns spread out in the void, and the overwhelming power of the peak Dao crushed the entire scene: the pale golden Dao patterns on the bodies of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators collapsed directly; the spiritual energy field supported by the three Foundation Establishment cultivators shattered inch by inch; even a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert like You Sha Yuan, whose Dao foundation light had been extinguished for a long time, began to dim and disappear.

"Dare to injure my Qingyun prodigy? You're courting death."

Ling Xuanyuan spoke calmly, raising his hand and pressing down in mid-air.

The immense power derived from the solidified Dao foundation poured down, directly locking down all the space around You Sha Yuan. His liquefied spiritual power and protective demonic aura instantly collapsed.

With a loud thud, You Shayuan's foundation shattered, spraying mouthfuls of demonic blood across the sky before crashing heavily to the ground. His meridians were severed, and he collapsed, completely incapacitated. With just one move, the late-stage eighth level Foundation Establishment cultivator was utterly helpless.

Ling Xuanyuan glanced indifferently at Tu Jin, who was still in shock in mid-air, and casually waved a wisp of spiritual wind.

Boom! Tu Jin, an elder at the third level of the seventh Foundation Establishment stage, had his Dao Foundation light dissipate directly. His physical body was severely injured by the spiritual wind and was flung away like a kite with a broken string for hundreds of miles before falling into the deep black mist mountain.

With one of the two high-ranking members of the two demonic sects crippled and the other severely injured, the entire audience remained silent for a long time before a chorus of gasps erupted.

The seven heavily injured Qingyun elders trembled with awe; Yun Qingchan, the sect master of the Biyunyun Sect (third level of the fifth Foundation Establishment stage, her small spiritual energy field trembling incessantly), trembled slightly and exclaimed in disbelief, "This is the power of the peak Foundation Establishment stage! Even the top experts of the latter three stages are no match for our ancestor; the difference in their cultivation levels is terrifying!"

Su Qingyao, her personal disciple (peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining), stared wide-eyed at the old man in green robes whose feet were adorned with golden lotuses and whose spirits were worshipping him. Her mind was completely shocked and numb.

All the female cultivators of Yunlan, the disciples of Qingyun, and the remaining cultivators of the Demonic Sect stood frozen in place, clearly feeling the immense chasm of the three Foundation Establishment Heavenly Might:

The first three stages of Foundation Establishment only have pale gold Dao patterns, which can only intimidate mortals; the middle three stages of Foundation Establishment can condense the spiritual field to lock and lock the spiritual power of Qi Refining; the last three stages of Foundation Establishment have a permanent Dao foundation and can briefly fly through the air; while the peak of Foundation Establishment has a solidified and complete Dao foundation, with a golden lotus accompanying the body and all spirits paying homage, and can fly through the air for a short distance (it is a short distance, not a brief time). The difference in height is like clouds and mud.

In the center of the battlefield, Zhang Yang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked up at the ancient and majestic figure standing between heaven and earth, and suddenly realized that this was the true source of the Qingyun Sect's confidence in standing tall in the Southern Region for a hundred years.