"Empress," Wang Man transmitted, his voice resonating with fierce loyalty, "once we establish contact with the other two factions, we will transmit the news to you immediately."
Hearing this, a profound light flickered in Ji Fuyao's eyes.
In the blink of an eye, three millennia had passed since the downfall of the Fuyao Dynasty. In that fateful war, her three most powerful loyalist factions managed to escape, concealing themselves in the Southern Barrens. Now, having re-established contact with the Imperial Dragon Guards, she wondered about the fate of the other two forces.
Once the Inner Sect Trial concluded, she would leave the sect and finally reunite with her old subordinates!
Moments later, Ji Fuyao put away her Fuyao token and resumed her cultivation. Earlier, in the humble hut, Lu Xuan had offered guidance on her Path of Spirit Fire, leading to a fresh wave of insights.
A resounding boom echoed as Ji Fuyao activated the Heaven-Burning Art, simultaneously cultivating and immersing herself in the power of Spirit Fire. The potential of her Heaven-Burning Saint Body surged to its peak! Terrifying, infernal flames erupted around her, their scorching aura spreading outwards, instantly raising the temperature within her cave dwelling.
Ji Fuyao murmured, "Perfected Mastery of Spirit Fire, the natural Dao…"
Meanwhile, in his own cave dwelling, Lu Xuan leisurely indulged in a storybook. Suddenly, the System's familiar chime rang out:
"Ding! Your senior disciple, Ji Fuyao, is cultivating! Syncing now!"
"Ding! Syncing Ji Fuyao's Spirit Fire insights!"
As the notification faded, a pure surge of spiritual energy transformed into a warm current, washing over Lu Xuan's limbs and bones. That delightful, comfortable sensation returned. His cultivation base soared! And his understanding of the Path of Spirit Fire deepened exponentially!
Feeling the rapidly expanding cultivation foundation within his Dantian, Lu Xuan mused internally, "Just one disciple provides such terrifying cultivation and insight feedback. What about two disciples, three disciples… wouldn't that be absolutely insane?"
Lost in thought, Lu Xuan couldn't help but ask, "System, when can I take on a second disciple?"
The System replied, "Host, you're getting impatient again."
Lu Xuan: "…"
At the same time, across the other spirit peaks of the Grand Dao Sect, numerous top-tier true disciples emerged from seclusion, boldly declaring their intent to participate in this Inner Sect Trial! These elite true disciples were all late-stage Profound Sovereigns, some even at the peak of late-stage Profound Sovereign! Ji Fuyao's astonishing performance in the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds had left these true disciples unable to sit still! They were all prodigious talents of the Grand Dao Sect; how could they possibly let a junior sister who had just joined the sect overshadow them?
On Ethereal Peak, where mists perpetually swirled and lingered, countless stunning female disciples sat cross-legged, cultivating within a shimmering spirit pond. Steam rose, and through the ethereal shadows, one could glimpse alluring figures. Each woman, like a painting brought to life, possessed captivating curves, their perfect physiques subtly revealed by the swirling mist. All were unparalleled beauties!
Suddenly, an incomparably profound aura permeated the heavens and earth, accompanied by a faint, exquisite fragrance. With a soft shimmer, a streak of ethereal light erupted, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful woman ascending into the air. Petals of brilliant light scattered beneath her feet, formed from shimmering radiance. Dressed in a flowing white gown, her slender, elegant legs moved gracefully as she arrived at the pinnacle of the spirit pond.
Instantly, the numerous female disciples bowed in deference, their thoughts shifting as light garments materialized from thin air, draping their delicate bodies. "Senior Sister Liu Xuan!"
"Senior Sister Liu Xuan has emerged from seclusion!"
The stunning woman offered a faint smile. "I heard that a junior sister named Ji Fuyao joined the sect recently. It's a pity she didn't choose Ethereal Peak."
The many female disciples immediately recounted Ji Fuyao's impressive feats. Liu Xuan nodded, her chest subtly rising with a sigh. "I understand. I, too, shall journey to the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds and break some records!"
With that, she departed, treading on the shimmering petals, a streak of exquisite radiance shooting towards the distance. Her destination: the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. Soon, from Ethereal Peak, a multitude of beautiful female disciples followed in Liu Xuan's wake.
On Body Tempering Peak, from a cave dwelling overgrown with weeds, a terrifying aura exploded outwards. The long-sealed cave entrance burst open with a boom.
A bearded young man slowly emerged from the dwelling. His upper body was bare, radiating a golden glow, his skin adorned with mysterious, profound patterns. He seemed to embody an ancient power. With every step, the ground trembled. More than that, waves of sound emanated from his inner world—the booming roar of blood surging like tides within his veins, a sign of perfected body tempering!
Immediately, Body Tempering Peak erupted in commotion. Countless disciples exclaimed, "Senior Brother Fang Yan has emerged from seclusion!"
A disciple looked up and said, "Senior Brother, Junior Sister Ji Fuyao broke your record in the first layer of the Fire Abyss!"
Fang Yan merely smiled. He recalled that when he was a Profound Emperor, he had traversed sixty li into the first layer of the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds, earning a spot on the Profound Emperor Rankings! Now, Ji Fuyao had broken his record. A slight smirk played on Fang Yan's lips. "It has been a long time since I entered the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. Today, I shall suppress my cultivation to the Profound Emperor Realm, enter the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds, and challenge the Trial Guardian Fire Beast of the first layer."
The next instant, on Body Tempering Peak, Fang Yan stomped his foot with immense force, shaking the ground. He ascended into the air, a divine rainbow appearing beneath his feet, as he shot towards the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. Immediately, the disciples of Body Tempering Peak were stunned, and all followed. Senior Brother Fang Yan was going to break Ji Fuyao's record! And suppressing his cultivation to the Profound Emperor Realm! Truly worthy of being Senior Brother! In a flash, hundreds of figures soared from Body Tempering Peak.
On Sword Peak, a sharp clang of a sword echoed through the void, terrifying sword qi radiating outwards. The numerous disciples of Sword Peak looked with utmost shock towards a particular cave dwelling—Senior Brother Luo Lingkong's! Someone exclaimed, "This is the Ninefold Sword Sovereign Realm!" Ninefold Sword Sovereign!
The next instant, a green-robed youth, with sharp, intelligent eyes and a subtle sword intent emanating from him, emerged from his dwelling, soaring on his sword. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down upon the disciples of Sword Peak. Buzz! Buzz! In that moment, the spirit swords at the waists of countless disciples vibrated continuously. Luo Lingkong's sword intent had actually resonated with their own spirit swords! Everyone was utterly awestruck. One must know, Senior Brother Luo Lingkong had only been in seclusion for two and a half months, yet he had broken through from Five-Star Sword Sovereign to Nine-Star Sword Sovereign! This was simply outrageous! A truly unparalleled sword Dao genius!
Luo Lingkong bowed remotely towards his master's cave dwelling, then offered a faint smile. "Junior Sister Ji Fuyao… quite interesting. Our Grand Dao Sect has produced yet another prodigy."
A Profound Emperor realm disciple respectfully reported, "Senior Brother, the record you once set for killing Fire Beasts in the first layer of the Fire Abyss has been broken by Ji Fuyao! Furthermore, Ji Fuyao instantly annihilated the Trial Guardian Fire Beast with a single strike!"
Luo Lingkong nodded. "I know. Today, I shall suppress my cultivation to the Profound Emperor Realm and proceed to break Junior Sister Ji Fuyao's record!"
With that, Luo Lingkong's will stirred, and he soared on his sword, flying directly towards the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. Moments later, on Sword Peak, hundreds of divine rainbows surged forth as countless disciples followed Luo Lingkong closely on their flying swords.
In an instant, the Grand Dao Sect was abuzz with excitement. The top-tier true disciples had all emerged from seclusion, each intending to enter the first layer of the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. These true disciples all declared their intention to suppress their cultivation to the Profound Emperor Realm, specifically to break Ji Fuyao's records!
Upon hearing this, the Sect Master and the other venerated Saints couldn't stop smiling. He chuckled, telling them, "Ji Fuyao has truly ignited the fighting spirit of these true disciples! It seems this Inner Sect Trial will be exceptionally intense!"
The Sword Peak Saint remarked, "With so many prodigies emerging, Fuyao might struggle to even make it into the top twenty this time!"
The Ethereal Peak Saint offered a charming smile. "Our bet with Lu Xuan is as good as won! He's had his fun playing the master, at least."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The Sect Master nodded, saying, "I should transmit this news to Lu Xuan. He's currently on Azure Mystery Peak, completely oblivious to outside affairs; he probably knows nothing about this."
The many Saints chuckled faintly. "Indeed! Lu Xuan as a master… well, it's hard to put into words!"
Soon after, the Sect Master sent a voice transmission to Lu Xuan. "Lu Xuan, good news."
Lu Xuan paused, shifting his position on the Mysterious Ice Bed. "Sect Master, what good news are you referring to?"
The Sect Master replied, "Fuyao has broken many records in the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds, which has now spurred numerous top-tier true disciples from other spirit peaks to emerge from seclusion, all intending to break those records."
Lu Xuan blinked. "And how exactly is that good news?"
The Sect Master continued, "This time, these elite true disciples will also participate in the Inner Sect Trial! So, Fuyao will probably struggle to even make it into the top twenty."
Lu Xuan calmly stated, "Fuyao will undoubtedly be first."
The Sect Master merely chuckled dismissively and cut off the voice transmission.
Moments later, Lu Xuan relayed this information to Ji Fuyao. Ji Fuyao smiled sweetly. "Master, I will certainly achieve first place in the Inner Sect Trial and never disappoint you!"
Lu Xuan nodded. "Good."
A brilliant light shimmered in Ji Fuyao's eyes. "I am truly grateful for Master's guidance during this period."
Lu Xuan chuckled. "Honestly, I haven't really done anything."
A warmth spread through Ji Fuyao's heart. Her Master was always so humble. How could he say he hadn't done anything? Not to mention the Heaven-Tier Dao Foundation Pill and the six-star Emperor-tier cultivation technique, even his seemingly unintentional pointers on Azure Mystery Peak had benefited her immensely. She knew deep down that her decision to join Azure Mystery Peak was absolutely correct. In just one month, her strength had undergone a qualitative leap. She dared not imagine what heights she would reach in this life, continuing to cultivate under Lu Xuan's tutelage!
With these thoughts, Ji Fuyao refocused her mind and resumed cultivation. At this rate, she could break through to mid-stage Profound Sovereign by the time of the Inner Sect Trial!
Elsewhere, Lu Xuan lay leisurely on his bed, savoring the continuous increase of his cultivation foundation within, the spiritual energy rushing through his limbs and bones, creating a wonderfully tingling sensation. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "Fuyao is truly a cultivation fiend! Nothing but cultivating, cultivating, cultivating!" Lu Xuan secretly wished in his heart that all his future disciples would be just like Fuyao… absolute cultivation fiends!
The Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. Here, the power of Spirit Fire surged uncontrollably, manifesting as towering pillars of flame. Its scorching might illuminated the entire void, and a terrifying aura continuously spread outwards. Liu Xuan, clad in her flowing gown, her delicate feet treading on dazzling petals, her curvaceous figure outlined in perfect grace, was the first to descend upon the first layer of the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. The surrounding disciples gasped, "It's Senior Sister Liu Xuan!"
Liu Xuan offered a charming smile, nodding slightly to the crowd. With a boom, Body Tempering Peak's Fang Yan, Sword Peak's Luo Lingkong, and other elite true disciples arrived. Liu Xuan swept her gaze across them, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "After the Inner Sect Trial, I'll have my master arrange for Junior Sister Fuyao to join Ethereal Peak for her cultivation."
Fang Yan retorted gruffly, "No way! You Ethereal Peak disciples are hogging all the female disciples! Our Body Tempering Peak hasn't gotten a single female disciple in ages! Junior Sister Fuyao belongs to our Body Tempering Peak!"
Liu Xuan's eyes flashed, her chest rising and falling visibly in irritation. "Do you honestly think Junior Sister Fuyao is suited for the Path of Body Tempering?"
Fang Yan merely snorted, saying nothing more.
Moments later, these elite true disciples all suppressed their cultivation to the peak of late-stage Profound Emperor. With an unspoken understanding, they fanned out, their forms transforming into streaks of light as they surged deeper into the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds. Their goal: to break Ji Fuyao's records, all while maintaining their Profound Emperor cultivation!