Xiao Lei felt as if she had been forgotten on Lingxue Peak. Aside from the cultivation resources delivered on schedule each month, she was not allowed to take a single step off the peak. Even the disciples who dropped off resources never saw her. She did not even know about the righteous versus evil war in the Central Region. She simply cultivated, and only recently did she break through to Golden Core.
During her tribulation she had been sent to Tribulation Peak by a silver-haired Divine Transformation Zūnzhě. Once she successfully formed her core, she was sent straight back to Lingxue Peak. In all that time, she had not exchanged a single word with another cultivator.
After finishing the day's cultivation, Xiao Lei wanted to stretch her legs. She knew her range was limited and did not wish to cause trouble, so she strolled inside the courtyard. This time, though, two majestic Snow Wolf Kings appeared outside her gate.
Xiao Lei's eyes lit up, but when she sensed the pressure rolling off the pair, her face changed. She cupped her hands. "Two seniors, may I ask why you have come to Lingxue Peak?"
Xue Li twitched his nose and asked with disdain, "This is your peak?"
"No. I am only cultivating here temporarily."
Xue Ying spoke bluntly, "With such a good cultivation ground, why is your realm so low? Ran Xi Zūnzhě is nearly ready to ascend."
Xiao Lei's salute faltered. She slowly drew her hands back and cleared her throat. "I am not qualified to compare with Ran Xi Zūnzhě. But I will work hard."
At that moment, Yunxi flashed to the wolves' side and swept her sleeve, sending the pair into her space to reunite with their cub.
Seeing Yunxi, Xiao Lei brightened and bowed. "Xiao Lei greets Zūnzhě. You have finally returned."
Yunxi nodded and glanced over Xiao Lei. "Not bad. You have formed your core."
Sensing Yunxi's good mood, Xiao Lei hesitated, then asked, "Zūnzhě, is my elder brother well?"
Yunxi had not yet had the time to contact Xiao He, but she answered, "I do not know. For your brother's safety, I have not reached out since returning. Barring accidents, he should have advanced to Nascent Soul. You are still some ways off. When you reach Nascent Soul, I will let you descend the mountain for tempering."
Xiao Lei's mood rose and fell with Yunxi's words. Learning that Xiao He had likely condensed a Yuányīng, she was sincerely happy. The stronger Xiao He grew, the better his chances of surviving danger.
Hearing she could only leave Lingxue Peak after condensing a Yuányīng, her face fell despite herself.
"Do not think yourself incapable. If your brother can do it, so can you."
After those words of encouragement, Yunxi continued, "I will receive many visitors now that I have returned. You should not be exposed. I will temporarily seal your residence. Bear with cultivating in the training room for a while."
Xiao Lei straightened at once. "Yes, Zūnzhě."
Yunxi swept her sleeve and sealed Xiao Lei's abode. Then she went to the summit of Lingxue Peak. Using the restriction token her master had given her, she opened the peak's main hall. It was as cold and quiet as ever, with no trace of the former peak lord.
Too lazy to tidy up, she simply moved everything from her midslope dwelling into the hall, made a few quick arrangements, dropped another layer of restrictions, and sat to meditate.
As usual, she held a soul stone, pitting herself against that thread of soul thunder in her spirit. Until she refined it, it would remain a hidden danger.
Back in the space, the Snow Wolf King pair smoothly found their cub. The little wolf tumbled three steps at a time toward its parents, first enduring Xue Ying's loving licks before being picked up by Xue Li to go train.
Li Li sensed the wolves' return and knew Ran Xi Zūnzhě must have made it back to the sect safely. He relaxed, returning to his territory to resume being the boss.
Dian Dian was showing signs of waking. This time it had gathered power and, if it broke through, might rise more than one rank. To seize the chance, it continued accumulating strength.
Because he had helped Yunxi fight the evil soul, Cong Shan was badly injured. He still lay unconscious, healing himself without the slightest sign of waking. Fortunately, the space was safe and rich in aura. He would open his eyes again soon enough.
After hatching her brood, the Flying Mist Butterfly pressed the little butterflies hard in cultivation. They would serve as their master's eyes. Without enough strength, they could not even be eyes. Frustrated, she drove herself just as hard, eager to break through to fourth rank.
Xianling Grass, once back in the space, sank roots again in Yixian Gate's planting grounds, its favorite place. Before being stored away, though, it reminded its master not to forget the promised search for a spirit vein.
Yunxi actually had two quiet days. On the third, the first visitors to Lingxue Peak were Ran Yang (Lin Keyang), Ran Rui (Zhang Lingrui), and Ran Yi (Cao Yi), teammates from days past.
Seeing Yunxi again felt unreal, as if they had only been apart a short while and yet Yunxi had broken through once more.
"Ran Yang, Ran Rui, Ran Yi pay respects to Ran Xi Zūnzhě."
Before they could bow fully, Yunxi lifted them with a thread of spiritual power and smiled."There is no need to be so formal. That would only make us strangers."
Ran Rui chuckled. "Senior Sister Ran Xi, congratulations on your breakthrough. Ran Yang, Ran Yi, and I all regret not going north with you. If we had, we might have gained another unforgettable tempering."
Ran Yi laughed. "Then my guts should be green with regret. At least the two of you fought shoulder to shoulder with Ran Xi inside the Shanhe Scroll for ten years. I missed it entirely."
Ran Yang replied with a smile, "That is because you focused on formations. Though you were not with us, you gained a legacy in a senior's estate and broke through to Divine Transformation in one stroke. Your own fortune found you."
Ran Yi's mouth quirked up. He could not argue. His chance had been real.
Yunxi's eyes turned thoughtful. She drew a blank jade slip from her storage bangle, pressed her divine sense into it, and recorded the formation diagram of the Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Demon-Execution Grand Array. She handed it to Ran Yi. "Ran Yi, please take a look at this array."
Ran Yi nodded, took the slip, and sent his divine sense inside. A moment later he withdrew, eyes bright. "This formation is exquisitely wrought. Whose hand is behind it?"
"It is a demon-execution array preserved at Yunmen Temple. In the Central Region war, Han Lian, Xun Kun, Yun Chen, the Buddhist cultivators of the Eastern Region, and I used it to destroy the channel the Upper Realm evil cultivators used to transmit forces down to us.
At the time we were pressed. In order to shatter the channel, we forcibly reversed the formation's flow to reach the goal. But I feel this array's power is greater than that. So I ask you to examine whether, given Weiyu Realm's current strength, we can arrange a complete Heavenly Gang Big Dipper Demon-Execution Grand Array."
Hearing her, Ran Yi's mouth fell open. He stared in disbelief. "You actually reversed this array by force?"
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We've made it to Chapter 600!!! ＼(*≧▽≦)／🎉
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