Shouldering the greatsword, Jiang Ye swaggered outward.
Watching “Bai Zhirou’s” confident stride, Sect Master Song Changfeng furrowed his brows in deep thought. The origins of this Meteorite Greatsword were exceedingly mysterious; he had only heard his master mention it by chance during his youth:
This greatsword was left behind by the sixth-generation Sect Master of the Azure Mystic Sect. However, sect records contained scant information about this Sixth Sect Master. It was only known that he had emerged out of nowhere without any family backing, crushed his entire generation, and ultimately ascended to the position of Sect Master.
Yet the stranger thing was that he served as Sect Master for merely one month. After leaving the greatsword behind in the secret realm, he vanished into thin air. The sect speculated that he had likely met an untimely end.
Later, many disciples at the peak of Foundation Establishment attempted to pull the greatsword out, but without exception, all failed. Even a few body-refining geniuses who could barely lift it were unable to swing it around, and ultimately chose to give up.
His thoughts flashed by, and Song Changfeng could not help but offer a gentle reminder:
“Bai Zhirou, although you can lift the greatsword, ‘being able to lift it’ and ‘being able to wield it nimbly in actual combat’ are two entirely different matters.”
“Combat is ever-changing. Do not pick such an unwieldy greatsword merely out of greed for weapon tier. What suits you best is most important.”
Jiang Ye waved a hand dismissively, clearly not taking his words to heart at all.
After all, how could he explain something like “I have cheats” to a “tutorial village chief” like him?
Seeing this, Song Changfeng urged no further.
That he had bothered to offer a word of advice was already out of consideration for Bai Zhirou being the most talented disciple the Azure Mystic Sect had seen in a century.
Nangong Yue, on the other hand, acting as Jiang Ye's master, appeared exceptionally composed.
Only when Jiang Ye lifted the greatsword with one hand did a flicker of sharp light pass through her cold, clear eyes.
Below the platform:
Many True Disciples turned red with envy, yet they still spoke with sour grapes:
“Tch, what’s the point of being able to shoulder a greatsword? Weapons are meant for fighting, not for show!”
“Exactly, carrying it around is just a hindrance. I think she’s just suffering for the sake of saving face!”
“Yeah! Even if that’s a high-grade Spirit Tool, greatswords are extremely niche weapons. It won’t even sell for a high price!”
...
As soon as these few spoke, the entire crowd fell silent once again.
Because no matter how niche or dumpster-tier a greatsword was, that damn thing was still a genuine 【High-grade Spirit Tool】!!
Naturally, Jiang Ye didn't care in the slightest about their remarks. Why should a player explain their actions to NPCs?
Shouldering the greatsword, Jiang Ye casually sauntered back to the top ten ranks.
The few disciples who were originally standing there instantly felt as if... night had fallen.
Looking at the greatsword from afar, it didn't seem so terrifying.
But now that Jiang Ye approached while shouldering it, the overwhelming sense of pressure radiated by the greatsword was staggering!
Those disciples involuntarily took several steps back in unison.
They were terrified that this young girl's hand might slip and drop the giant sword, instantly flattening them into human pancakes right on the spot.
...
The Main Peak Elder swept his gaze across the crowd.
Seeing that four among them had empty hands and had clearly returned empty-handed, he said nothing more.
With a simple wave of his right hand,
Swoosh! The scenery before everyone shifted in an instant.
When they materialized again, they were standing atop another mountain peak.
The concentration of spiritual energy here had almost condensed into physical liquid!!
Every single breath felt like inhaling pure spiritual liquid!
Clearly, this was the dedicated Foundation Establishment grounds prepared by the Azure Mystic Sect for its genius disciples.
The elder's voice echoed down from midair:
“The previous two trials were designed to temper your essence, qi, and spirit, polishing them to seamless harmony!”
“Over the next day, bring your condition to its peak before attempting your breakthrough. I hope none of you waste this opportunity bestowed by the sect.”
With those final words, the elder's figure vanished on the spot.
Jiang Ye couldn't be bothered with small talk.
He walked straight to the center of the mountain peak where spiritual energy was thickest, casually slamming the Meteorite Greatsword into the ground with a resounding BOOM, before planking himself down cross-legged in a domineering posture.
He pulled out a 【Tier Three Eight-Patterned Foundation Establishment Pill】 from his spatial ring and popped it straight into his mouth like a candy drop, tilting his head back to swallow it down.
Afterward, Jiang Ye closed his eyes, putting on an earnest act of meditating and comprehending.
But in reality, he was totally faking it.
The moment he swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill and mentally clicked "Use,"
a window immediately popped up on his game panel:
【Attempt immediate breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage?】
【Yes / No】
Just as Jiang Ye was pondering how to deal with the incoming heavenly tribulation,
the top ten disciples around him exchanged subtle glances.
Seven of them let their lips curve into subtle, barely perceptible sneers.
They appeared to casually shift their steps, searching for suitable spots to make their breakthroughs.
But in truth,
the positions where they sat down actually formed an encirclement, tightly locking Jiang Ye directly in the center.
Only Du Ziteng glanced at the surrounded Jiang Ye with a complex expression.
A trace of struggle and hesitation flickered in his eyes.
But in the end, he gritted his teeth and turned away without looking back!
He walked straight to the edge of the mountain peak, sitting cross-legged in a remote corner furthest from everyone else.
Clearly, he wanted no part in the conspiracy of these seven individuals.
High up in the sky, an elder from Beast-Taming Peak looked down at Du Ziteng, who had backed far away, frowning slightly with flickering eyes...
Right at that moment,
a sudden turn of events erupted!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! ...
Seven consecutive pillars of violent spiritual power shot up into the sky like seven sharp swords, piercing straight through the clouds!
These seven people had actually triggered their Foundation Establishment heavenly tribulations simultaneously at the exact same moment!
The sky instantly darkened as violent gales howled. Terrifying thunderclouds, churned like rolling ink, directly blanketed the entire mountain peak.
The spectating True Disciples erupted into uproar.
“This heavenly lightning! Something’s wrong... why is the color shifting from white toward five-colored?!”
A well-informed True Disciple gasped in horror, his voice trembling:
“It’s the aura of the Five Elements Divine Lightning! These seven lunatics actually used a secret art to forcibly elevate the grade of their heavenly tribulation! They’re stacking the power of heaven and earth!”
The disciple didn't say what came next out loud, as the objective was self-evident: they were clearly out to shatter Bai Zhirou’s Dao Heart!
The faces of many high-ranking elders turned unsightly.
They could naturally tell this was a deliberate ambush using heavenly tribulation to target Bai Zhirou.
Because Foundation Establishment prioritized the "unification of essence, qi, and spirit" above all else, making interference strictly taboo.
Furthermore, once a heavenly tribulation began, intervening suddenly risked drawing the lightning onto oneself, and the tribulation's power would escalate according to the cultivator's power level.
The only way to stop this tribulation now was to strike and kill these seven people directly.
Yet these seven were merely making "normal breakthroughs" and had not attacked anyone directly, meaning they hadn't violated sect rules. This was an open scheme specifically targeting “Bai Zhirou”!
Beneath the thunderclouds, the seven individuals exchanged glances, their eyes overflowing with wild ecstasy and smug triumph.
What they had feared most was Bai Zhirou breaking through early. Now that their formation was set, as soon as this heavenly pressure descended, she would be ruined today!
At the thought of the lavish rewards promised by a certain big shot afterward, the seven trembled with excitement.
They all pulled out top-grade magic tools given as part of their advance reward, channeling their true qi as the tools instantly transformed into brilliant light shields enveloping their bodies.
This was the confidence behind their daring to forcibly invoke the Five Elements Divine Lightning!
Right at that moment, terrifying power of heaven and earth crashed down upon Jiang Ye like Mount Tai pressing down.
Facing this heavenly pressure that could throw a cultivator's internal spiritual energy into chaos and collapse their Dao Heart in a matter of seconds,
Jiang Ye remained completely unfazed. Upon that exquisite, lovely face, the corners of the lips slowly curved into a mocking arc.
“Good grief, there really are scrubs who aren't afraid of death jumping out to seek their own demise.”
Rate on N.U.
