Chapter 27: The Disciple Emerges from Seclusion

[Ding dong! The host has successfully slain Lei Yao, a ninth-tier Refining Void cultivator, destroyed the superior earth-grade treasure Prison Thunder Pagoda, and annihilated a thousand sacred guards of the Purple Cloud Sanctuary!]

[Reward: The Flowing Purple Lightning Sword has been upgraded to a lower-tier celestial grade, with seventy-two lightning-attracting runes along its spine, capable of summoning thunder within a ten-mile radius!]

[Reward: The exotic flame “Heaven-Scorching Imperial Flame”! This fire was born from the primal chaotic fire core during the creation of the world, refined through countless tribulations by thunder and fire, and when unleashed, it carries the domain of “Heaven-Scorching and Earth-Overturning”!]

[Reward: Fifty “Mind-Concentrating Qi Gathering Pills” (high-grade elixirs)! These pills can increase spiritual energy absorption speed by thirty percent during cultivation, lasting six hours, ideal for Refining Void cultivators to stabilize their realm!]

[Ding dong! The host has successfully slain four cultivators including Xue Wuchang of the Blood Shadow Hall, crushing the core power of the Blood Shadow Hall!]

[Reward: Earth-grade superior defensive treasure “Mystic Turtle Prison Armor”! Forged from a millennia-old mystic turtle shell mixed with star iron, it possesses a “counter-shock” effect that reflects thirty percent of damage back to the attacker, able to withstand five full-power strikes from a ninth-tier Fusion cultivator!]

[Reward: Ten “Marrow-Cleansing Vein-Expanding Pills” (top-grade elixirs)! These pills purify impurities within the body and expand the meridian capacity, proving miraculous for breaking through the Refining Void bottleneck!]

Seeing such an array of rewards, Ye Chentian’s fingers caressed the phantom image of the Mystic Turtle Prison Armor, his eyes brimming with uncontainable joy! As soon as he obtained the armor, a heavy counter-shock force radiated from it. Imagining reflecting thirty percent of damage back to his opponents, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“This system’s rewards are truly powerful!” Ye Chentian clenched his fist tightly, unaware that his knuckles had turned white.

The renown of the Xuantian Sect exploded throughout Lingwu Kingdom!

“Did you hear? In the Battle of Black Wind Valley, Sect Leader Ye pinned that old Fusion monster against the wall with a single sword. That Xue Wuchang’s Nascent Soul practically burst like a water balloon!”

“Purple Cloud Sanctuary is now like a pack of stray dogs. I heard they can barely hold their mountain gate, and three small sects that once relied on them have switched allegiance directly to Xuantian Sect!”

“My uncle saw it with his own eyes in Wuwei City—some reckless wandering cultivator cursed Xuantian Sect and was struck down by a bolt of lightning and turned to charcoal the same day. Who dares doubt Sect Leader Ye can annihilate Blood Shadow Hall?”

Rumors grew more and more exaggerated until even toddlers knew: “Whoever you provoke, don’t provoke Xuantian Sect.”

Those forces once oppressed by Purple Cloud Sanctuary now came bearing lavish gifts, kneeling outside the sect’s gate, begging to become peripheral vassals of Xuantian Sect.

Yet Ye Chentian paid them no heed.

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In contrast, Purple Cloud Sanctuary was filled with daily wails within its ancestral hall.

With Lei Yao dead and the Prison Thunder Pagoda destroyed, half the sect’s combat strength was lost. The Holy Lord Ziqing Cang was so furious he coughed up three pints of blood, yet lacked even the courage to retaliate.

Blood Shadow Hall fared even worse.

The remaining Refining Void elders cowered like dogs bereft of a home, hiding in secret caves like rats, not daring to light a single lamp.

Early that morning, two surges of soaring spiritual light suddenly erupted from the back mountain of Xuantian Sect!

Xiao Yi’s closed-door cultivation chamber’s stone door melted into molten iron by flames. Bare-chested, he stepped out, his bronze skin patterned with fiery markings, a Nascent Soul phantom hovering above his head. With every breath, he resonated with the fire spirits of heaven and earth. “From Foundation Establishment third layer to Nascent Soul first layer, a three-month breakthrough to the fourteenth tier!” He clenched his fist and struck the Sword Testing Cliff beside him; the entire cliff trembled and shrank three feet under the shockwave!

Meanwhile, Su Wan’s closed-door chamber exuded thousands of sword shadows. Her white robes were purer than snow, and the spiritual energy sword at her fingertips shimmered with a faint golden glow—her innate sword body had fully awakened under the nurturing of the spiritual veins!

“Nascent Soul first layer!” She lightly swung her long sword; a distant mountain peak silently split in two, the cut smooth as a mirror, the sword’s ringing sound soaring into the heavens, causing the clouds to form sword shapes!

The two descended side by side before Ye Chentian, their auras far stronger than three months prior.

“Master! Your disciple has emerged from seclusion!” Xiao Yi’s voice boomed like a bell, his Nascent Soul pressure causing the air to tremble slightly. He hurried forward, deliberately suppressing most of his aura, and knelt three steps away from Ye Chentian, sweat beading his forehead from the effort but maintaining utmost respect.

“Greetings, Master!” Su Wan bowed with her sword in hand, her eyes full of reverence.

Watching these two disciples now capable of standing on their own, Ye Chentian laughed aloud: “Excellent! Such progress in three months, worthy disciples of the Xuantian Sect!”

He looked at their surging auras with a trace of approval, then raised his palms, summoning two beams of light.

“Xiao Yi, your Fire Spirit Saint Body has just formed; you need exotic flame refinement.” With a snap of his fingers, the purple-gold imperial “Heaven-Scorching Imperial Flame” floated toward Xiao Yi like a living creature.

“This flame can burn through immortals and refine the Dao, perfectly complementing your ‘Heaven-Scorching Fire Scripture’. From now on, it will be your destined flame.”

Xiao Yi’s pupils constricted sharply as he felt the imperial majesty suppressing all eternity within the flame. Hastily, he knelt on one knee to receive it. The flame touched his fingertips and surged through his meridians, instantly fusing with his Fire Spirit Saint Body.

“Thank you, Master, for the gift of fire!” Xiao Yi’s voice trembled with emotion.

Ye Chentian then turned to Su Wan, raising his hand as the Flowing Purple Lightning Sword and Mystic Turtle Prison Armor hovered before her.

“Su Wan, your innate sword body has awakened and requires divine weapons for protection.” With a light tap, the seventy-two lightning-attracting runes along the sword’s spine suddenly lit up. “This Flowing Purple Lightning Sword has advanced to lower-tier celestial grade, capable of summoning thunder within ten miles, perfectly complementing your sword techniques. The Mystic Turtle Prison Armor can withstand three strikes from a ninth-tier Fusion cultivator and reflect thirty percent of damage, protecting you from harm.”

Su Wan gazed at the suspended sword and armor, utterly amazed. The lightning power of the Flowing Purple Lightning Sword resonated strongly with her innate sword body. The star iron on the Mystic Turtle Prison Armor shimmered with a defensive might of ten thousand pounds. She took the sword and armor with both hands, bowed deeply, and said, “Disciple thanks Master for this generous gift! I will not fail your trust!”

Before her words finished, the Mystic Turtle Prison Armor automatically donned her body. The turtle patterns on the armor fused with her sword body’s spiritual energy, forming a faint golden protective shield. The Flowing Purple Lightning Sword transformed into a streak of azure light, settling into her hand, its clear ring echoing and summoning faint thunder in the sky.

[Ding dong! Detected host gifting disciple Xiao Yi the celestial flame “Heaven-Scorching Imperial Flame,” triggering tenfold return!]

[Congratulations, host has obtained the “Nine Heavens Mystic Thunder Flame Origin Crystal Core”! This allows the host to master thunder and fire dual attributes to perfection, automatically multiplying the power of any thunder-fire spell by one hundred times!]

[Ding dong! Detected host gifting disciple Su Wan the lower-tier celestial treasure “Flowing Purple Lightning Sword” and superior earth-grade treasure “Mystic Turtle Prison Armor,” triggering tenfold return!]

[Congratulations, host has obtained the “Purple Lightning Heavenly Dragon Sword (upper-tier celestial grade)!” Its blade is forged from heavenly dragon reverse scales mixed with star iron, sealed within is the remnant soul of an ancient thunder dragon, capable of directly summoning the Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon Breath!]

[Congratulations, host has obtained the “Myriad Phenomena Glazed Armor (upper-tier celestial grade)!” Crafted from millennia-old glazed crystal marrow mixed with phoenix feathers, it carries a nine-layer spiritual shield, each layer able to withstand a single strike from a Divine Transformation cultivator. When the shield breaks, it releases glazed heavenly fire that burns enemy formations within a ten-mile radius!]

Ye Chentian’s heart swelled with joy as he absorbed the system’s notifications.

Though this tenfold return was less extravagant than previous hundredfold rewards, each treasure was capable of shaking the balance of power in the Eastern Domain.