On the other side, Li Jian and Hou Lin, who had just retreated from Heavenly Sword Peak, staggered away with ashen faces radiating anger and shame. They arrived at Cloud Heaven Peak, the peak where the Man in the White Robe resided.

  Cloud Heaven Peak was a domain dominated by the Law of Wind and Ice, radiating a controlled cold aura, a stark contrast to the aggressive Metal of Heavenly Sword Peak. On the main peak, there was a pavilion made of transparent ice essence crystal.

  The man, Xu Sheng, was sitting on a silk cushion, his meditation appearing calm and profound. His silver hair almost blended with his white robe, radiating a dominating Five Element aura and a deep foundation.

  Xu Sheng, known as one of the strongest senior disciples with the Five Element realm, opened his crystal eyes. His movement was serene, as if he was not bothered in the slightest by the arrival of the two severely injured disciples. The controlled cold aura surrounding him pulsed, responding to the emotional chaos brought by the two Consciousness Transformation cultivators.

  "You have failed," Xu Sheng said, his voice as cold as a sweeping winter wind. It was not a question, but an absolute statement. He did not ask why they were injured; he knew the answer.

  Li Jian and Hou Lin immediately knelt before Xu Sheng's silk cushion, their physical pain overshadowed by fear and shame. Their faces were dull, and their spiritual auras were in disarray.

  "Senior Brother Xu," Li Jian hissed, his voice hoarse from the pain in his ribs. "We... we did not expect it. That Zhi Xuan... he is not just an ordinary Peak Consciousness Transformation. His aura and strength... transcend logic. It was like the clash of two Realms!"

  "He used the Earth-level Heavenly Annihilation Palm technique," Hou Lin added, his eyes filled with genuine horror. "Just one Palm. Just a concentrated manifestation. He did not use his full strength. He swept us away as if we were mere dust!"

  Xu Sheng sighed, his breath coming out as an essence mist. He showed no anger, only deep disappointment. He was a cultivator who always valued efficiency and unexpected strength.

  "An Earth-level Heavenly Annihilation Palm, yet its manifestation is driven by a Perfect Divine Organ foundation," Xu Sheng murmured, his crystal eyes radiating a sharp analysis light. He did not need to witness the fight; the information gained from their pathetic defeat was enough. "He no longer fights as a Mortal. The Five Organs he forged are the furnace, and his Consciousness Realm is the Anchor. His strength is now a Law that unifies contradictions, no longer simple spiritual essence."

  He raised his hand, and from his fingertips, two strands of pure spiritual essence shot out, enveloping Li Jian and Hou Lin's injuries. The strands felt cold, but immediately seeped into their meridians, stabilizing their essence and closing the external wounds. Li Jian and Hou Lin sighed in relief, feeling the miraculous recovery driven by Xu Sheng's Five Element Law.

  "Senior Brother, he... he is too arrogant," Hou Lin hissed, suppressing the remaining pain. "He even left a message for us to tell our 'master' to restrain his childish desires."

  Xu Sheng closed his eyes for a moment, his face remaining expressionless. Zhi Xuan's arrogance was not a surprise; every genius with a heaven-defying Dao would always be arrogant. What caught Xu Sheng's attention was the childish detail. Zhi Xuan was indirectly attacking his relationship with Zhu Qinglan.

  "You may leave," Xu Sheng said, opening his eyes. "Rest yourselves. Never try to disturb that Heavenly Sword Peak disciple again. The first defeat is a valuable lesson. The second defeat is unforgivable foolishness."

  Li Jian and Hou Lin bowed deeply, their fear and gratitude mixed. They knew Xu Sheng was a calculating senior disciple who never acted impulsively. If Xu Sheng told them to retreat, then they must retreat.

  After the two disciples left, silence returned to Cloud Heaven Peak. Xu Sheng rose, his white robe fluttering slightly with the wind aura. He walked to the edge of the crystal pavilion, looking towards the towering Heavenly Sword Peak in the distance.

  "Peak Consciousness Transformation. Perfect Divine Organ Cycle. Such deep comprehension of the Heavenly Annihilation Palm. A phenomenon," Xu Sheng murmured. "Indeed worthy of being an opponent, Zhi Xuan."

  Xu Sheng did not see Zhi Xuan as a threat, but as a target worth measuring. He was a Five Element cultivator with a stable foundation. He had absolute confidence in the power of the pure Five Element Cycle. The contrast between his Purity and Zhi Xuan's Taint promised a deadly Dao clash.

  He smiled faintly, a smile that contained cold anticipation. "Jade Immortal Garden, tonight. A perfect place to measure this newborn Devil. I want to see how far the Devil strength you boast can last in the face of Pure Purity."

  Xu Sheng raised his hand, and the spiritual essence around him spun calmly, forming a ball of pure ice essence crystal in his palm. The ball did not radiate heat or cold; it radiated absolute calmness, a representation of his controlled power.

  He stared at the essence ball, then turned towards Immortal Jade Peak, Zhu Qinglan's domain. He understood, Zhi Xuan was a karmic thread he had to measure, not just for the Sect, but also for Zhu Qinglan's honor. He was one of Zhu Qinglan's invisible Protectors, maintaining tranquility from other senior disciples who did not like Zhu Qinglan's closeness with Zhi Xuan.

  "He cannot be allowed to get too close to the Holy Fairy," Xu Sheng whispered, his voice now containing absolute firmness. "If he is a Devil, then the Purity of the Sect must bind him to his limits. I will be the thread that binds him. Purity must prevail, even in the face of a Phenomenon."

  The essence ball in his hand faded, and Xu Sheng stepped forward, his white robe fluttering gracefully. He did not fly; he walked with tranquility, but every step crossed spatial boundaries, moving towards Immortal Jade Peak.

  He did not go directly to the Jade Immortal Garden. He went to the meeting area outside the main Pavilion of Immortal Jade Peak, where Zhu Qinglan often met with the top senior disciples.

  Upon arriving, Zhu Qinglan was already standing there, surrounded by a pure water and wood aura. She wore an elegant sky-blue silk robe, and her delicate face veil could not hide the contours of her perfect face. Near her, there was a young red-haired woman with a strong fire aura—Feng Yi, the Fire Phoenix Girl, who had just returned from the Refinement Pool.

  Feng Yi looked slightly uneasy, but her aura had stabilized in the Organ Transformation realm. She clearly saw the incident of the Karmic Slap. And as a woman who once formed an Alliance with Zhi Xuan, Feng Yi was invited by Zhu Qinglan herself.

  Xu Sheng bowed gracefully. "Holy Fairy Zhu," he greeted, his voice polite and controlled. "Feng Yi."

  Zhu Qinglan nodded briefly. Xu Sheng's Wind and Ice aura seemed to calm the turmoil around Zhu Qinglan, but there was firmness in her ocean-like eyes.

  "Xu Sheng," Zhu Qinglan replied. "You came just in time. We will be going to the Jade Immortal Garden soon. I want you to accompany me."

  Feng Yi looked at Xu Sheng with a slight confusion, but she did not dare to ask.

  Xu Sheng maintained his calm expression. "I am honored, Holy Fairy Zhu. I also have a few things I need to measure tonight."

  "Measure?" Zhu Qinglan asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you need to measure, Xu Sheng?"

  "A newborn Phenomenon," Xu Sheng answered, his voice flat. "He has disrupted the Sect's tranquility, and his Dao contradicts the Purity of the Thousand Heavens Sect. I want to ensure that his Peak Consciousness Transformation aura, which carries the weight of the Five Devil Organs, will not interfere with the Sect's Five Element Cycle. And, I will ensure that he understands his place in the face of the Five Element realm."

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  Zhu Qinglan stared at Xu Sheng in a long silence, the water aura around her rippling slightly, as if responding to Xu Sheng's firmness. She knew, Xu Sheng's intention was not solely for the Sect. Xu Sheng was a cultivator who was highly protective of her.

  Finally, Zhu Qinglan sighed, a subtle exhale like a spring breeze. "Very well, Xu Sheng. You may come. But remember, he is a guest I invited. Do not act excessively."

  Xu Sheng bowed. "Your honor is Law to me, Holy Fairy Zhu."

  With Xu Sheng beside Zhu Qinglan, the pure aura of the Sect's Purity surrounded Holy Fairy Zhu, a shield ready to face the Devil's arrogance. The three of them—Zhu Qinglan, Xu Sheng, and Feng Yi—stepped forward, heading towards the Jade Immortal Garden shrouded in the spiritual aura of the night. That night, under the sky of the Thousand Heavens Sect, the promise of karma and the clash of Dao were about to begin.

  In the middle of the silence of Heavenly Sword Peak, Zhi Xuan opened his eyes. Night had arrived with the count of time. He sat cross-legged on the jade platform, the entire Cultivation Cave buzzing with essence like a beehive. The constant Metal pressure from the Ancient Sword Formation had worked tirelessly, purifying every strand of essence drawn by his Cleaving Metal Lungs.

  In a short time, he had condensed his Devil Tree of Life, its roots now penetrating deeper into the foundation of the Consciousness Realm. The Perfect Five Divine Organs spun in a more harmonious cycle, and the red circle around his sapphire pupils had faded to a faint shadow, controlled beneath a newly formed layer of heavenly essence.

  Zhi Xuan had achieved absolute stability at the Peak Consciousness Transformation.

  I am a Devil who traverses the Path of Heaven, and I will not be a chess piece thrown by others, Zhi Xuan thought. He stood up, his black robe embroidered with cosmic dust from his Short Cosmic Step fitting perfectly. He stepped out of the Cultivation Cave, absorbing the last essence of the cold night air.

  "Great Saint," Zhi Xuan murmured in his Sea of Consciousness, his tone flat. "What do you see from the cultivation at Heavenly Sword Peak?"

  Inside, Ruo Xianxue, now bound and silent atop the Devil Tree of Life, snorted. Her Robe of Eternal Black Embers emitted a dim light, her energy stable.

  "Efficient earthworm cultivation," Ruo Xianxue hissed, her voice containing cold annoyance. "This Metal Peak is a perfect furnace for your Devil Lungs. You have absorbed the Law of the Ancient Sword Metal. Your vessel is getting harder. I will not deny it, Monkey. Your Formation is stable. But all that means nothing in the face of higher realms."

  "Higher realms, like Five Element?" Zhi Xuan countered, walking casually down the steep rock path.

  "Precisely," Ruo Xianxue answered. "The puppies you chased away earlier were a reminder. Out there, in the Jade Immortal Garden, you will face a genuine threat. Not from jealous junior disciples, but from stable Five Element cultivators, who have asserted their Dao for decades. They have Law. You only have a perfect foundation and a little bit of decaying Destruction Law."

  "I understand," Zhi Xuan replied. He had seen Xu Sheng's aura from a distance. Five Element was not a realm to be ignored. It was the gateway to higher realms, realms that allowed cultivators to manipulate the fundamental Laws of the Realm.

  He arrived at the Heavenly Sword Peak stone gate, looking towards the Immortal Jade Peak shrouded in a soft and captivating water aura. The night was late, and the spiritual essence of the Thousand Heavens Sect felt calmer, yet also denser. Zhi Xuan sighed, the breath exhaled by his Cleaving Metal Lungs felt cold and contained the weight of sharpness.

  He no longer cared about the realm gap. He had passed the impossible Heavenly Calamity; the Five Element realm was just the next mortal challenge.

  “I have a perfect foundation and a little bit of decaying Destruction Law,” Zhi Xuan repeated, a cold sneer twisting his lips. “That is more than enough to face the Five Element puppies.”

  He raised his hand, and the ancient bamboo scroll shone, opening the stone gate. Zhi Xuan stepped out of Heavenly Sword Peak. He did not channel essence for a Cosmic Step; he wanted to enjoy this calm night journey. He walked along the jade path, his black robe embroidered with the darkness of the night blending with the tranquility of the environment.

  Every step carried a measured weight, a harmony between his Five Divine Organs and his Consciousness Realm. He walked towards the heart of Immortal Jade Peak.

  The Jade Immortal Garden was a magnificent oasis, located on the middle slope of Immortal Jade Peak. Surrounded by a gentle spiritual essence mist, the garden was filled with heavenly flowers radiating a sweet and calming scent. Crystal pools reflected the moonlight, and a white jade pavilion stood tall, as if made of eternal dreams.

  The contrast between the sharp Metal and his Devil Metal of Heavenly Sword Peak and the softness of Immortal Jade Peak dominated by Wood and Water felt so real, like the clash of two opposing Dao concepts. However, it was precisely this clash that made the Devil Metal inside him tremble subtly, attempting to absorb and balance the different Laws.

  He walked along the path adorned with Eternal Moon Flowers. The intoxicating sweet scent did not affect him; his Cleaving Metal Lungs immediately filtered the softness, transforming it into sharp and cold air.

  Zhi Xuan soon saw the three of them.

  In the center of the main pavilion, Zhu Qinglan sat on a jade silk cushion, radiating a pure and controlled Five Element aura, like a calm ocean harboring a storm. At her side, Xu Sheng stood, his aura as cold as frozen wind, radiating a Five Element Purity that dominated all five Elements. Meanwhile, Feng Yi sat in the corner of the pavilion, her crimson robe looking like contained embers in the midst of ice, her aura stable, but her gaze tense and curious.

  Zhi Xuan walked closer. Every step felt measured. His Peak Consciousness Transformation aura, now stable, clashed with Xu Sheng's Five Element aura, creating invisible spiritual waves that made the heavenly flowers around them tremble.

  He stopped a few steps from the pavilion, bowing by cupping his hands, a brief and formal bow, showing respect for the realm and status, but refusing to submit.

  "Holy Fairy Zhu," Zhi Xuan greeted, his voice low and flat. He ignored Xu Sheng and Feng Yi for a moment, focusing his gaze on Zhu Qinglan.

  Zhu Qinglan looked up. Beneath her veil, her ocean eyes radiated a barely perceptible relief, followed by controlled anger. She had been waiting for the arrival of the Black-Haired Devil who dared to reject her and cast aside her honor.

  "Zhi Xuan," Zhu Qinglan replied, her voice as soft as flowing water, yet containing undeniable weight. "You came. I appreciate that. I worried you would need more time to recover from... your geographical leap."

  Zhi Xuan smiled faintly, a cold smile that only touched the corner of his lips. "That geographical leap was an invaluable lesson, Holy Fairy Zhu. It reminded me that in this universe, even Supreme Law cannot avoid the wrath of a humiliated woman."

  The cold and honest acknowledgment, spoken without a hint of apology, instead triggered a subtle blush behind Zhu Qinglan's veil. Her anger slightly subsided, replaced by hidden nervousness. However, before Zhu Qinglan could reply, Xu Sheng stepped forward.

  Xu Sheng's Wind and Ice aura intensified, forming a cold shield around Zhu Qinglan. He stared at Zhi Xuan with his crystal eyes, his expression calm, but the weight of his Five Element realm pressed down.

  "Zhi Xuan," Xu Sheng said, his voice as cold as frozen essence. "You are too presumptuous. Your arrogance is unbefitting in the presence of the Holy Fairy. The Dao you have just carved, tainted by Devil savagery, will never be able to surpass the Purity of the Thousand Heavens Sect."

  Zhi Xuan shifted his gaze from Zhu Qinglan to Xu Sheng, his sapphire pupils encircled by a blood-red ring narrowed. He showed no anger; only cold calculation.

  "You," Zhi Xuan retorted, his voice flat and full of mockery. "I remember you. You are the guard dog from Cloud Heaven Peak. If you want to talk about purity, why did you send those two weak Consciousness Transformation disciples to test me earlier? That is not purity; that is cowardly hypocrisy."

  The mockery was piercing. Xu Sheng's face remained calm, but his aura surged. In the Five Element realm, he was unaccustomed to being mocked as a guard dog by a lower-realm cultivator who had just reached Consciousness Transformation.

  "That is the Sect's tradition," Xu Sheng countered, trying to maintain his composure. "To test the foundation."

  "If the foundation you test is only capable of producing two ants who were flung away by one Heavenly Annihilation Palm, then that tradition is rotten," Zhi Xuan cut in, his eyes radiating cruel sharpness. He did not allow Xu Sheng to finish his words. "I came to fulfill a promise, not to argue with a jealous guard dog."

  Feng Yi, who had been watching, was startled. Although she disliked Zhi Xuan's arrogance, she had to admit that Zhi Xuan was daring. Taunting a Five Element cultivator who was one of the Sect's top geniuses in front of Holy Fairy Zhu was a crazy act that only someone with a Devil Dao could commit.

  Zhu Qinglan raised her hand, stopping Xu Sheng who looked ready to unleash his Wind and Ice Law. The soft water aura around her pulsed, calming the turmoil between the two men.

  "Enough," Zhu Qinglan said, her tone gentle, but containing undeniable authority. She looked at Zhi Xuan. "I invited you to talk, Zhi Xuan. Not to quarrel with Xu Sheng. Sit."

  Zhi Xuan smiled faintly and coldly. He ignored the deadly gaze from Xu Sheng and stepped into the pavilion. He took a seat across from Zhu Qinglan, his posture relaxed, his black robe blending with the elegance of the jade pavilion.

  "Thank you for your hospitality, Holy Fairy Zhu," Zhi Xuan said. "What do you wish to discuss, after you responded to my arrogance with Supreme Five Element Law?"

  "I have already taught you a lesson," Zhu Qinglan replied, her eyes radiating controlled tranquility. "I do not wish for you to repeat it. You are a Dao Protector I am considering. I do not want to see you die before you fulfill that promise."

  "Excessive worry," Zhi Xuan countered. "I have escaped a Heavenly Calamity. Death no longer has a claim over my Dao."

  "True," Xu Sheng interjected, unable to restrain himself. "You have escaped. But, you are still far from the Five Element realm. I want to test how stable your Peak Consciousness Transformation is. I will test you with one move, Zhi Xuan. If you can withstand my Five Element Law, then I will admit that you have the foundation to carve the Dao you boast of."