The Elder smiled gently, his wise eyes seemingly seeing through Zhi Xuan's black robe to the Devil Tree of Life within his Consciousness Realm. His smile contained deep cosmic wisdom.

  "Precisely, Zhi Xuan," the Elder replied, his tone emotionless, yet heavy with meaning. "Heavenly Sword Peak is the Peak with the sharpest spiritual energy, befitting you, the owner of the newly forged Heavenly Blessing. It also has an Ancient Sword Formation that will suppress and hone your aura to provide stability, forcing a more harmonious unification."

  He paused for a moment, letting the meaning of his words sink in. "Regarding its proximity to the Immortal Jade Peak... that is merely fate. A fate that, as we all witnessed at the Refinement Pond, seems unwilling to let you go. The Karmic Bond you share with Holy Fairy Zhu is a thread too thick for the Sect's Grand Formation to ignore."

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw. He could feel a faint pulsation, a resonance of Law coming from the direction of the Immortal Jade Peak. That was a Peak dominated by pure Wood and Water Law, an absolute contrast to the Heavenly Sword Peak dominated by Metal and Fire. This placement was not a coincidence; it was an arrangement forced by the Will of Heaven to create extreme balance.

  "I understand, Senior," Zhi Xuan said, his voice returning to a flat tone. "I will accept the Heavenly Sword Peak." He knew this was a decree he could not avoid. The Peak was both a prison and a blessing. A prison because of its proximity to Zhu Qinglan, and a blessing because its spiritual energy would greatly enhance his Devil Metal.

  The Elder nodded, satisfied. He picked up an ancient bamboo scroll from the jade table; the scroll radiated a faint spatial aura. "This is the Heavenly Sword Peak Key. It will guide you. Ten days from now, the Annual Disciple Celebration will be held. Your task is merely to cultivate until then."

  Zhi Xuan cupped his hands, taking the scroll. The scroll felt cold and radiated the weight of the ancient Sword Formation. "Thank you for the guidance, Senior."

  As Zhi Xuan turned and stepped out of the Registration Hall, he felt his newly awakened divine sense at work. He could see the spiritual threads binding the Registration Hall to the Heavenly Sword Peak. He no longer shot off at a shameful speed; he channeled essence into his Cleaving Metal Lungs, and stepped out.

  Outside the Hall, Zhi Xuan stood on the main jade terrace, channeling essence into the ancient bamboo scroll. Instantly, the scroll glowed, projecting a spatial map that guided him, showing the winding energy path towards the distant Heavenly Sword Peak.

  He did not move immediately. He took a deep breath. His Cleaving Metal Lungs worked brutally, sucking in the rich spiritual essence from the air of the Thousand Heavens Sect. This essence was immediately tainted by his Devil Law and filtered, creating sharp and cold Devil Metal. He felt a tangible increase with every breath he took, solidifying the belief that the Heavenly Sword Peak would indeed be the perfect furnace for him.

  He glanced at his shoulder. Xiao Die, the Thousand Feathered Moth, fluttered its soft rainbow wings, as if agreeing with their new destiny.

  "Very well, Xiao Die," Zhi Xuan murmured. "We are Devils who traverse the Path of Heaven. And now, we are placed in a lion's den."

  Zhi Xuan channeled essence into his legs. In the Peak Consciousness Transformation realm, he did not need to use flying artifacts. With the help of his divine sense, he carved Space Runes beneath his feet, and stepped.

  WHOOSH!

  His figure vanished in a flash of dark light, no longer crude teleportation, but Short Cosmic Step, a movement technique that could only be performed by cultivators whose Consciousness Realm had taken strong root. In the blink of an eye, Zhi Xuan traversed the magnificent landscape of the Thousand Heavens Sect, penetrating the layers of the Grand Formation with a precision only achievable by an evolved divine sense.

  Every Short Cosmic Step was a demonstration of the speed and spatial comprehension he had just mastered, leaving fading dark light trails in the air. He finally arrived before the Heavenly Sword Peak. The Peak towered high into the sky, its summit shrouded in eternal mist, and its base rock radiated a sharp Metal aura.

  From the crevices of the cliff, sharp air currents roared, carrying spiritual essence infused with sword power. The Grand Formation enveloping the peak was unlike any other Formation he had seen; it radiated an indescribable sword will, ready to cut down anyone unpermitted.

  "A beautiful Peak," Zhi Xuan murmured, his voice containing cold acknowledgment. The sharp energy here would perfectly suit his Cleaving Metal Lungs foundation.

  However, as he stepped forward, two figures appeared on the mountain path, blocking his way. They were young cultivators, wearing the robes of senior disciples of the Thousand Heavens Sect, and their auras were both in the early Consciousness Transformation realm. Their eyes radiated clear arrogance and hostility.

  Zhi Xuan stopped, his sapphire pupils encircled by a blood-red ring narrowed. He did not recognize either of them personally, but he immediately sensed a familiar spiritual energy. His divine sense swept over both, unraveling their auras, and found a spiritual thread binding them to a single, stronger source; the man in the silver robe who accompanied Zhu Qinglan at the Refinement Pool. That man was a Five Element senior.

  "Who are you?" Zhi Xuan asked, his voice flat and cold, devoid of emotion.

  One of the cultivators, who had a sharp face and held a white jade sword at his waist, stepped forward. "My name is Li Jian. This is my partner, Hou Lin. We are here to welcome the new disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak." His tone was mocking, and his eyes were contemptuous. "Although it seems this 'new disciple' is too arrogant to know his place."

  The other cultivator, Hou Lin, smiled sneeringly. "We heard you are a 'genius' capable of leaping realms from the brink of death. Even drawing the attention of Holy Fairy Zhu. However, Heavenly Sword Peak is a place for true cultivators, not for Devils who rely solely on luck."

  Zhi Xuan narrowed his eyes. Li Jian and Hou Lin. Their auras were filled with Metal and Fire, perfectly matching Heavenly Sword Peak. They must be senior disciples loyal to the man in the silver robe, and through him, to Zhu Qinglan.

  "Save your energy," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice calm, yet there was a veiled threat beneath it. "I have no time for your drama. Heavenly Sword Peak has been assigned to me by the Elder of the Registration Hall. If you do not mind, I have to cultivate."

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  Li Jian laughed coldly. "Heavenly Sword Peak is indeed allocated for geniuses. But, we have a tradition here. Every new disciple who takes this Peak must prove their worthiness." He moved his hand, and the white jade sword at his waist trembled, radiating a sharp sword aura. "We will test your 'worthiness', Zhi Xuan."

  Hou Lin also sneered, drawing a black steel sword from its sheath. "Do not misunderstand. We do not intend to kill you. We are just going to give you a small lesson about your place in the Thousand Heavens Sect. Especially when it concerns... Holy Fairy Zhu."

  Zhi Xuan let out a long sigh. The air around him felt cold as his Cleaving Metal Lungs worked. The red circle around his sapphire pupils pulsed brighter. He had avoided conflict with Zhu Qinglan, but this conflict, forced by their Karmic Bond, he could not avoid.

  "I see," Zhi Xuan murmured. "Do you not understand that I have just escaped a Heavenly Calamity? My body is still stabilizing the new realm. Do you really want to test me at this moment?" His voice was flat, but there was a layer of ruthlessness beneath it, a barely detectable threat.

  Li Jian and Hou Lin exchanged glances, then laughed loudly. "That is just your excuse, Devil! We know you have reached Peak Consciousness Transformation! If you are truly a genius, you should be able to face us even in suboptimal condition!" Li Jian mocked, his tone growing more contemptuous.

  "Just because you gained a little attention from Holy Fairy Zhu, you think you can act arrogantly on Heavenly Sword Peak?" Hou Lin added, his eyes radiating clear jealousy. "We will show you what true power means."

  Zhi Xuan did not reply further. He let his cold gaze sweep over both of them. His divine sense unraveled their strength—both were in the early Consciousness Transformation realm, with solid but not extraordinary foundations. However, it was two against one, and Zhi Xuan had just completed a brutal realm breakthrough.

  He smiled faintly, a cold and cruel smile, without the slightest warmth. His Peak Consciousness Transformation aura, which carried the weight of the Tainted Perfect Five Divine Organs and the towering Devil Tree of Life, began to radiate. The aura did not explode; it condensed, like a slowly sharpened sword blade, but the pressure released was enough to make the grass around them wither.

  "I see. You want to test my Dao," Zhi Xuan hissed, his voice low and hoarse, now filled with a promise of cruelty. "Very well. I will test you with my newborn Devil-Heavenly Dao. And you will be the first witnesses of the Refinement of Savagery."

  Xiao Die on Zhi Xuan's shoulder fluttered its soft rainbow wings, as if responding to its master's threat. Its jet-black jade-sized eyes radiated a sharp gleam.

  Li Jian and Hou Lin felt the pressure of Zhi Xuan's aura. Their smiles faded, replaced by serious frowns. Zhi Xuan's aura felt denser, more oppressive than they had anticipated. It was not an ordinary Consciousness Transformation aura; it was an aura that carried the weight of a newly formed universe, an aura that unified contradictions.

  "Do not just stand there like statues, cowards!" Li Jian roared, trying to cover his nervousness. He drew his white jade sword, and the sword shone with a sharp Metal light. "Attack him, Hou Lin! The two of us can definitely handle him!"

  Hou Lin nodded, his black steel sword also drawn. Both took fighting stances, their auras surging. Li Jian, focusing on speed and sharpness, shot forward like a shadow, his jade sword piercing the air with a sizzling sound. Hou Lin, focusing on power and defense, followed close behind, his sword slashing with the weight of a mountain.

  This was a coordinated attack from two Consciousness Transformation cultivators. Even an ordinary Consciousness Transformation genius would find it difficult to face an attack like this, especially after just leaping a realm.

  Zhi Xuan did not move. He let the two approach, his eyes remaining calm, his sapphire pupils encircled by a red ring spinning slowly, analyzing every movement, every intent. His divine sense projected the entire energy net around them, seeing their attack as if in slow motion.

  When Li Jian and Hou Lin were only a few meters away, Zhi Xuan raised his right hand. In his palm, dark purple light began to condense. It was not spiritual essence; it was the fully manifested technique of the Heavenly Annihilation Palm. From the air above Zhi Xuan, a Palm appeared and immediately shot towards Li Jian and Hou Lin.

  The Heavenly Annihilation Palm, a technique that he previously had to desperately melt his essence just for one move. Now, he could easily create a manifestation channel and the Realm obeyed his will to manifest the Heavenly Annihilation Palm.

  BOOM! CRACK! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

  The sound was the sound of the rocks around them cracking, proof that his Heavenly Annihilation Palm was now not just the size of a small palm, but was fully manifested and capable of collapsing anything in its way. But Zhi Xuan did not use it with killing intent. Instead, he swept the two Consciousness Transformation cultivators away with ease, sending them flying far from Heavenly Sword Peak.

  The dark purple Palm, a manifestation of the Absolute Destruction Law now supported by the Perfect Five Divine Organs foundation, did not strike them with full force. Instead, the Palm swept like a controlled cosmic storm, respecting the fact that this was the territory of the Thousand Heavens Sect. The Palm deflected their sword energy and hit them with enough weight to tear their robes and shatter a few ribs, but not fatally.

  Li Jian and Hou Lin screamed, their screams muffled by the Palm Sweep. They were thrown backward, sliding down the steep mountain path at an unhonorable speed, crushing grass and bushes. Their white jade sword and black steel sword were flung from their grasp, falling among the rocks below.

  Zhi Xuan retracted his Heavenly Annihilation Palm. The dark purple manifestation faded, leaving vibrating air. He stood tall, his black robe fluttering slightly from the shockwave, but his hair remained neatly tied. His Peak Consciousness Transformation aura, which carried the weight of the Five Devil Organs, was completely unaffected by this display of power.

  "Small ants," Zhi Xuan hissed, his voice containing cold mockery. He did not glance down to see the fate of Li Jian and Hou Lin. To him, they were just pebbles blocking the road. "Tell your master that if he wants to test my strength, he should at least restrain his childish desires first."

  Zhi Xuan stepped forward, passing the spot where Li Jian and Hou Lin had just stood. His right foot stepped on the remnants of the Heavenly Annihilation Palm's impact, and he felt the traces of cold destruction energy seep into his Devil Metal. He did not waste time; the lesson had been given, and his Dao had been asserted.

  He reached the entrance to the main rock path of Heavenly Sword Peak, an ancient stone gate carved with worn Sword Runes. Zhi Xuan raised the ancient bamboo scroll from the Elder and pressed it against the gate. The scroll quickly shone, and the Sword Runes on the gate rumbled softly, acknowledging his authority. The stone gate shifted, opening a dark passage that led into the Peak's Grand Formation.

  Zhi Xuan stepped inside, and the gate immediately closed behind him. Instantly, the sharp Metal aura around him increased tenfold. He felt a constant spiritual pressure, as if thousands of invisible sword blades were pointed at him, ready to cut down every impurity in his aura.

  "This is the perfect cultivation environment," Zhi Xuan murmured, he channeled energy into his Cleaving Metal Lungs. The Devil Organ roared, absorbing the Metal pressure from the Grand Formation, transforming it into sharp and cold spiritual essence. He felt his Consciousness Realm tremble in excitement, and the Devil Tree of Life towered straighter, its roots growing stronger.

  He followed the winding rock path, penetrating the eternal mist filled with sword aura. Minutes later, he reached the core of the Peak—a Cultivation Cave located beneath a spiritual essence waterfall. The Cave was not magnificent, but radiated pure and dense Metal Law. Outside the cave, there was a small pavilion made of jade wood, surrounded by a pool of clear water reflecting the sky.

  Zhi Xuan entered the Cultivation Cave. Inside, there was a jade stone platform radiating a High-Level Spiritual Gathering Formation. He sat cross-legged on the platform, and let out a long breath. The exhaustion from the Heavenly Calamity he had just endured finally set in, but the pain was now the pain of growth.

  "Foundation Stability," Zhi Xuan murmured calmly. He closed his eyes and sank into meditation to recover and condense.