After darting through the air of the Thousand Heavens Sect like a ridiculous projectile, the Heavenly Silk cocoon wrapping Zhi Xuan finally reached its destination: Heaven Sword Peak. The Peak was enveloped by a silent aura of thunder and blade edge, a desolate and wild place, contrasting with the luxury of Immortal Jade Peak. Sharp sword energy resided in every rock, preserving its purity from mortal intrigues.

  WHUMPH!

  The cocoon struck the jade courtyard at the peak with a dull impact, bouncing once before rolling listlessly beside his Flying Artifact, the Seven Stars Boat, which had just hovered listlessly following it. The inelegant landing immediately dispersed ancient stone dust. Zhi Xuan, still unconscious, felt nothing.

  Inside the Sea of Consciousness, which was calm and cool thanks to the Seven Spirit Purifying Jade, the spiritual Zhi Xuan lay recovering beneath the Devil Tree of Life. The pure essence of the Jade worked diligently, cleansing the remnants of Devil contamination released by the Devil Blood Sword and closing the spiritual cracks caused by the battle of wills.

  The Three Ages Divine Furnace, which sheltered Xiao Die’s dark purple silk cocoon, whirred softly beneath the Tree’s roots. A subtle Four Seasons Resonance mingled with the cold Purifying Jade energy, creating a dual protection circle around Xiao Die.

  Ruo Xianxue, the Ancient Devil, sat cross-legged across from the Tree of Life, his dark robe wrapped tightly around the fragmented Ancient Devil Monument. His sacred and cold aura was now calmer, as if contemplating the madness that had just occurred. He stared at the spiritual Zhi Xuan, who was slowly recovering, and snorted coldly.

  "You owe your life to that beautiful woman you hate, Monkey," Ruo Xianxue hissed, his voice sharp and piercing. He did not care about the Seven Spirit Purifying Jade; he cared about the fact that the vessel carrying his soul was nearly destroyed. "She is indeed cruel and full of intrigues, but she used the Thousand Night Grass Root and the Seven Spirit Purifying Jade. You truly have troublesome thick karma."

  The spiritual Zhi Xuan, who could now breathe more easily, opened his cold sapphire eyes. He did not answer, letting Ruo Xianxue absorb the silence. He knew the price of the fight. Not only drained essence, but also the shame of having to beg for help and be slapped by the woman he was supposed to protect.

  "An anchor," the spiritual Zhi Xuan murmured, his voice hoarse. "The promise and mission are anchors for me not to fall into Devil madness. She is a pure anchor, Great Saint. If she were not there, I would have fully taken control of the Devil Soul."

  Ruo Xianxue laughed, a cold and disdainful laugh, echoing the weight of an era. "You call innocence an anchor? That is foolishness! Her Five Elements are pure, but her Dao Heart is still too mortal. You will stain her, Monkey. That is the Devil's destiny."

  "I am not interested in destiny," Zhi Xuan countered. He began to force his divine sense to scan his physical body in the outside world, making sure he was not killed while unconscious. "I am only interested in survival. And about that woman... she slapped me. Twice. Once with ridiculous silk, and once with her real hand."

  Ruo Xianxue fell silent. His dual-pupil gaze sharpened, passively analyzing the memory Zhi Xuan had just accessed. Then, the Ancient Devil let out a strange snort—a sound slightly touched with hidden amusement.

  "She has insane courage," Ruo Xianxue hissed, his tone returning to cold arrogance, but with a slight surprise lingering. "A mortal in the Five Element realm dares to slap the vessel of the Devil Seed implanted by an Ancient Devil. Her courage surpasses the arrogant Great Saints of the Nine Heavens Fall Era. That slap, Monkey... it was the Supreme Law of Mortality. She slapped your madness."

  Zhi Xuan snorted spiritually, concluding his internal recovery. Ruo Xianxue was right; the slap was not a physical attack, but an attack of will. It was Zhu Qinglan's absolute rejection of sudden chaos.

  "I will repay her," Zhi Xuan murmured, not out of revenge, but because of wounded Devil pride. "In a way she will remember for a lifetime."

  Amidst the slow recovery, Zhi Xuan suddenly felt a small tremor outside, on his physical body. He focused his divine sense outward. He realized his body was wrapped in sky-blue heavenly silk—the silk used to clean his face—and lying on the courtyard of Heaven Sword Peak.

  He calmly crawled back out of the Sea of Consciousness; the internal pain had slowly vanished, but the physical wound still felt sore; there was no significant physical injury as it had vanished due to the effect of the heavenly herbs, but Zhi Xuan's face was still red from the slap mark that seemed to transcend the law of space and time, not easily erased.

  He forced himself back to full consciousness, opening his sapphire eyes. The first thing he saw was the bright blue sky of the Thousand Heavens Sect and the sky-blue Heavenly Silk wrapping him like a log. Zhi Xuan lifted his trembling hand, tearing the layer of silk that restricted him.

  He sat upright in the middle of the courtyard; his body, bare-chested to the waist, was now clean, but two slap marks—one faint, one blazing red—still adorned his face. He took a deep breath, feeling the cool energy of the Seven Spirit Purifying Jade flowing within him. He scanned his surroundings. The Seven Stars Boat lay listlessly beside him, its aura drained. He realized that he did not walk home; he was thrown.

  "That Five Element Bastard," Zhi Xuan hissed, his voice hoarse. He did not need to ask who did it. There was only one person in the Thousand Heavens Sect who dared to treat him like heavenly waste. He touched the blazing slap mark on his cheek. The physical pain was gone, but the feeling of humiliation lingered, a trace of the Law of Mortality slapping the Devil.

  He stood up, took the torn robe wrapped around his waist, and wrapped the sky-blue Heavenly Silk he had torn around his waist to cover his body. With cold steps, he walked to the edge of Heaven Sword Peak, staring down at the crowd in the Thousand Heavens Sect's Great Hall. The view from the peak was stunning. Hundreds of geniuses, thousands of core disciples, all gathered in the courtyard adorned with golden lanterns and red banners. The Annual Disciple Celebration had begun.

  Zhi Xuan ignored the merriment. He only felt a familiar spiritual wave radiating from the Great Hall—the aura of Fei Sheng, Feng Yi, and most importantly, Zhu Qinglan’s aura. There was also the white-robed man who a few days ago made him look like a criminal, Xu Sheng. He had already received a challenge for a second Dao testing with that Five Element jealous dog.

  "Throw me like a log," Zhi Xuan murmured, his lips curving into a cold smile filled with recovering Devil arrogance. "You want me to be ashamed, Holy Fairy Zhu? I will repay it by humiliating that Jealous Dog."

  Zhi Xuan stepped back into the middle of the Heaven Sword Peak courtyard; his cold hand touched the blade of the Ocean Breaker Thunder Sword lying beside the Seven Stars Boat. The half-broken Heaven-Grade Artifact whirred softly, radiating a bloodthirsty resonance. Heaven Sword Peak, with its silent sword aura, felt like the perfect cage for the Devil's recovery.

  "I no longer have a Sect Robe," Zhi Xuan muttered; he waved his hand and the Black Robe with Red silk that was his original robe floated out from his Cultivation Cave shelf. "I will ask for a new robe later, after handing over this Thousand Heavens Sect Formation and collecting my reward."

  He took the jet-black robe with a red silk lining that was symbolic of himself, which now radiated a deep aura of darkness and arrogance. He put on the robe with a casual movement, covering his tattered body and the shameful slap mark on his face. The red rings in his sapphire pupils had completely vanished, replaced by a cold and sharp pure sapphire.

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  "Mission Hall," Zhi Xuan muttered; he carved a cosmic step rune on the ground and in an instant stepped with a string of shadows towards the Mission Hall, to hand over the Formation that had collected Taiyin Holy Water for four full days.

  In a fraction of a second, he arrived at the Thousand Heavens Sect Mission Hall, an ancient building located somewhat away from the hustle and bustle of the Annual Disciple Celebration in the Great Hall. The place was quiet, only guarded by a few outer disciples tasked with recording and supervision. The Hall was dominated by jade panels that radiated dim light, listing the available missions.

  Zhi Xuan stepped inside; his jet-black robe layered with red silk radiated an aura of darkness that contrasted with the calm jade light. The slap mark on his face was still visible, blazing red under his pale skin, a stubborn trace refusing to disappear. an outer disciple on duty at the nearest jade table, a young man who looked simple in the early stage Blood Change realm, immediately raised his head, startled by the fierce aura.

  “Welcome, Senior Brother,” the disciple said, his voice trembling slightly from the essence pressure radiated by Zhi Xuan. He recognized Zhi Xuan’s inner robe—the precious Core Disciple robe, but Zhi Xuan’s tattered appearance and the faint burn scars on his neck indicated that he had just gone through a life-and-death battle.

  Zhi Xuan ignored the pleasantries. He stretched out his right hand. From inside his jade ring, a softly whirring Gathering Formation floated out. The Formation, which looked full and was one of high-efficiency gathering artifacts, now trembled, radiating a cold and thick Taiyin Holy Water aura.

  "Taiyin Holy Water, from the Primordial Ancient City," Zhi Xuan said calmly; he gently floated the Formation to the outer disciple's hand. "Five hundred high-grade spiritual stones, and one Yin Crystal. Give them to me."

  The outer disciple stared at the Gathering Formation in his hand; his eyes widened in disbelief. The Taiyin Holy Water aura was so thick, so cold, that he felt the blood in his veins almost freezing. Taiyin Holy Water was a rare treasure, usually only collected in small amounts. This Formation, which looked full, meant Zhi Xuan had collected Taiyin Holy Water for several full days, challenging the dangers of the Primordial Ancient Tomb.

  “S-Senior Brother Zhi Xuan?” the disciple whispered, recognizing the robe and the strong Consciousness Transformation aura, although his face was filled with terrifying scars and bruises. He immediately took a deep spiritual breath, trying to calm his heart.

  “One Yin Crystal and five hundred high-grade spiritual stones,” Zhi Xuan repeated, his tone cold and impatient, leaving no room for pleasantries or curiosity.

  The outer disciple snapped back to reality. He hurriedly pressed runes on the jade panel on his table, verifying the mission. His eyes widened once more. This mission had hung for years, known as a suicide mission due to the dangers of the Primordial Ancient City, and now, here he was, the newly arrived youth, completing it in six days.

  "Senior Brother... this is a very high mission. I must call the Formation Elder or the Treasure Elder to verify and release the reward," the disciple explained tremblingly.

  Zhi Xuan snorted coldly. He had no time for slow sect bureaucracy. The Annual Disciple Celebration had begun.

  “I don’t have time. The Celebration has started. Teleport me to the responsible Elder, now,” Zhi Xuan commanded. The pressure from his aura—which had just been purified by the Seven Spirit Purifying Jade and filled with recovered arrogance—was enough to make the disciple sweat coldly.

  The outer disciple clenched his jaw; fear overcame etiquette. He quickly activated the internal formation of the Mission Hall; a small blue light vortex appeared before Zhi Xuan.

  “Treasure Elder Li is currently in the Grand Formation Pavilion! Good luck, Senior Brother!” the disciple whispered.

  Zhi Xuan stepped in without saying a word. The blue light vortex spun, and in a fraction of a second, he disappeared from the Mission Hall.

  He reappeared in a room filled with intricate jade formation arrays and technique scrolls radiating spiritual light. In the center of the room, a gray-robed elder, Elder Li, was busy tinkering with a complex healing formation. Zhi Xuan did not have time to stabilize himself.

  The intricate Grand Formation immediately resonated with his body. The burns and slap marks on his face felt highlighted by the formation light, and the newly calmed Devil essence softly swirled. Elder Li, who had a Soul Transformation realm, started in surprise. He turned, his old eyes narrowing sharply.

  “Who allowed you to enter—!” Elder Li stopped his sentence. His experienced eyes immediately swept over Zhi Xuan—Core Disciple robe, tattered appearance, solid Consciousness Transformation aura, and most strikingly, the gathering formation radiating Taiyin Holy Water in his left hand.

  “Disciple Zhi Xuan, Elder Li,” Zhi Xuan said calmly; he stepped forward and floated the Gathering Formation onto the nearest jade table. “I am submitting the Taiyin Holy Water from the Primordial Ancient City Mission. I request the Yin Crystal and spiritual stones that are my reward, immediately. I am in a hurry.”

  Elder Li hovered over the jade table. He touched the Gathering Formation with his divine sense. His old expression immediately changed from surprised to amazed.

  “Such thick Taiyin Holy Water!” Elder Li hissed. He had seen this Gathering Formation before; no one had ever returned it full. “This… you actually completed it. And in such a short time?”

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw; the slap mark on his face flushed red from exhaustion. “I am not interested in praise, Elder. The reward. Now.”

  Zhi Xuan’s impatient arrogant aura slightly offended Elder Li. However, the Elder was an experienced cultivator. He immediately ignored his emotion and nodded.

  “Very well, Disciple Zhi Xuan. This Taiyin Holy Water is very valuable. I will add one hundred high-grade spiritual stones as a bonus for its purity,” Elder Li said. He waved his hand, and a black jade box radiating a cold aura appeared; inside lay a Yin Crystal the size of a baby’s fist. “Five hundred spiritual stones, plus a hundred bonus stones. And your Yin Crystal.”

  Zhi Xuan took the jade box and the storage ring containing six hundred high-grade spiritual stones. He did not check the contents. He knew the Thousand Heavens Sect Elders would not cheat their disciples.

  “Thank you, Elder,” Zhi Xuan replied briefly. He channeled his divine sense into the jade box and immediately stored the Yin Crystal into his ring. The Yin Crystal was a treasure that would help suppress and calm the newly tumultuous Devil essence.

  “Disciple Zhi Xuan, where are you going? The Celebration has started. I advise you to rest. You look—”

  “The Celebration,” Zhi Xuan cut him off. A cold smile filled with Devil madness appeared at the corner of his lips. He had gotten his medicine and his reward. Now it was time for the show. “I have a debt to pay to someone.”

  He stepped back, not waiting for Elder Li’s answer. In an instant, he activated a larger cosmic step rune, aiming it at the Thousand Heavens Sect Great Hall.

  The Thousand Heavens Sect Great Hall was filled with peaking merriment. Hundreds of geniuses stood in groups, each radiating a thick and deadly essence aura. Fei Sheng and Feng Yi stood near the main podium; beside them was Su Baolian who had now returned to their group.

  On the podium, the Elders and Sect Leader of the Thousand Heavens Sect were giving an opening speech, celebrating the arrival of new geniuses and announcing the upcoming Dao Testing Tournament—battles between Core Disciples and Senior Disciples to gauge their progress.

  Feng Yi, wearing a blazing crimson robe, stared impatiently toward the silent Heaven Sword Peak. He had seen the ridiculous object thrown, and his heart was filled with doubt. Was the Herald of Devil he sought really just a disciple so weak he had to be thrown back?

  “Senior Brother Fei Sheng, that Zhi Xuan… he’s really coming, isn’t he?” Feng Yi hissed, his voice filled with doubting arrogance.

  Fei Sheng, holding his jade fan, smiled faintly. "Patience, Junior Sister. Elegance often comes late. And, I am sure he will arrive."

  Amidst the conversation, whispers spread again among the crowd. The whispers no longer contained the silk projectile, but about an approaching aura, as if something drawing all eyes was nearing the Great Hall.

  “That… such a cold Consciousness Transformation aura!”

  “That aura is coming from the Great Hall Entrance! But, why does its aura feel so aggressive?”

  Hundreds of heads turned. At the Great Hall entrance, where the main teleportation formation was located, the air swirled coldly. Zhi Xuan stepped out of the formation; the Consciousness Transformation aura purified by the Seven Spirit Purifying Jade enveloped him like an ice mist.

  He wore a jet-black robe with a red silk lining, covering his tattered body, but contrasting with the colorful robes of the other geniuses. His pale and handsome face radiated cold calmness. But, the thing that made everyone hold their breath was the slap mark on his cheek. The slap mark was so clear, so red, that it looked like a trace of divine wrath.

  Zhi Xuan ignored the hundreds of pairs of eyes. He stepped forward with cold and arrogant steps. Every step felt like a hammer hitting the silence in the Great Hall. He did not head toward the disciple ranks; he headed toward the group of Fei Sheng, Feng Yi, and Su Baolian.

  “Brother Zhi Xuan!” Su Baolian called, stepping forward with a relieved and worried face. He saw how tattered Zhi Xuan’s appearance was. "You're injured! What happened in the Primordial Ancient City? And… what happened to your face?"

  Zhi Xuan nodded calmly; Su Baolian was a brother he acknowledged and also came from the same region as him, as were Feng Yi and Fei Sheng who were his allies. He was not foolish enough to be arrogant in front of them and ruin a relationship not based on grudges.

  "I am fine, Brother Su," Zhi Xuan said calmly, clasping his hands in greeting, then turning toward Fei Sheng and Feng Yi behind, giving a nod. "Brother Fei, Sister Feng."