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"All disciples, heed the command—deploy the Azure Cloud Sword Formation at once!"

Several elders gazed up at the menacing purple lightning tribulation raging in the sky, their faces pale with terror as they roared in unison.

The sheer power of this tribulation was staggering. If not stopped in time, not only would the Scripture Pavilion be in peril, but even the Flying Sword Peak might be reduced to dust in an instant!

"As you command!" The disciples responded in unison, countless flying swords shooting from their hands like meteors streaking across the sky.

"Azure Cloud Sword Formation!" With another thunderous shout from the elders, the swords swiftly weaved through the air, forming an intricate and profound sword array in the blink of an eye.

The group focused their spiritual energy, channeling vast amounts of power into the formation in a desperate attempt to withstand the impending heavenly lightning.

"BOOM!" The sky rumbled like a stampede of ten thousand horses. Then, a bolt of violet divine lightning, carrying an aura of absolute annihilation, descended like a furious dragon, tearing through the heavens!

The devastating force was unstoppable. In mere moments, it shredded the Azure Cloud Sword Formation—the disciples' full-power defense—as easily as a blade slicing through paper.

"AHHH—!" The moment the formation shattered, the elders groaned, their bodies flung backward like broken kites. Their spirits and meridians were severely damaged, blood gushing from their mouths.

After this single strike, the dark clouds above finally began to disperse—as if an entire arsenal of destruction had been emptied.

"Cough!" Ziyun collapsed to the ground, his once-immaculate white hair and youthful face now covered in grime. Struggling to prop himself up, he scanned the surroundings.

Disciples lay dead or wounded all around.

The Scripture Pavilion was completely gone. In fact, the entire area had been flattened—no structure remained standing.

"How could this happen?!" Ziyun's charred beard trembled in disbelief.

The Scripture Pavilion—it was the very foundation of Flying Sword Peak!

WHY?!

Disciples from other peaks soon arrived, their faces paling at the horrific scene.

What…

What could have caused this?

"Quick, save the injured!"

"Hurry, move!"

Amid the ruins, Ye Chuan was helped up by a fellow disciple, his face blackened with soot as he clutched his chest in pain. "Thank you, senior brother…"

"Are you alright?" the other asked.

"I’ll live. Thanks to the elders holding back that heavenly lightning, I barely escaped with my life," Ye Chuan replied weakly, swaying unsteadily.

The moment Ziyun spotted Ye Chuan, his brows furrowed, and he immediately barked,

"Huang Haotian, where were you?!"

Something felt off—he suspected the root of this disaster lay with Ye Chuan. Why had all the cultivation techniques vanished the moment this guy entered the Scripture Pavilion?

And then this bizarre lightning tribulation struck!

Something wasn’t right!

"Master, when I reached the third floor, I was suddenly ambushed by a shadowy figure. I was knocked unconscious before I could fight back. When I woke up, that terrifying lightning was already descending," Ye Chuan explained innocently, his face a mask of lingering fear.

A shadow?

"You—" Ziyun still didn’t buy it. Such a coincidence was too convenient.

He reached out, intending to forcibly search Ye Chuan’s soul, but his weakened body betrayed him—another mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.

"Over there!" Ye Chuan suddenly pointed into the distance.

Ziyun followed his finger and indeed spotted a pitch-black figure darting away at incredible speed!

"Stop it! That’s the culprit!" Ziyun bellowed.

If they didn’t capture it, there’d be no explaining this to the sect master!

Disciples and elders alike summoned their artifacts and spells, launching attacks to intercept the shadow.

Yet, every strike passed through it harmlessly, not even causing a ripple.

Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the shadow burrowed into the earth and vanished!

"ARGH—!" Seeing the shadow escape, Ziyun’s rage flared, and with another spurt of blood, he collapsed unconscious.

"Master! Are you alright? Master!" Ye Chuan feigned concern, quickly calling for disciples to carry Ziyun away for treatment.

……

By the time Ye Chuan returned to his cave abode, several hours had passed.

"Senior Brother Huang, are you alright?" Jiu'er gasped at his disheveled appearance, clearly shaken.

The thunder and lightning outside had been so terrifying she hadn’t dared leave the cave.

Thankfully, the elders had managed to block most of it—though the Scripture Pavilion and surrounding buildings hadn’t been so lucky.

"I’m fine. Junior sister, you should head back now. I need to focus on recovering," Ye Chuan said, tossing her two spirit stones. "Here, payment for helping me earlier."

"Thank you, senior brother!" Jiu'er’s eyes sparkled at his generosity before she hurried off.

The moment she left, Ye Chuan’s pitiful demeanor vanished.

He plopped onto a chair, leisurely crossing his legs.

"Hmm~ So a Crystal Formation tribulation can wreck a bunch of Nascent Soul old farts this badly?" He pulled out his phone and checked the notification:

[You have reached Early Crystal Formation Stage]

[Status: Auto-cultivating. 30 days remaining until Mid Crystal Formation (affected by techniques, spiritual roots, physique, etc.)]

Ye Chuan focused inward—sure enough, a crystallized core now floated in his dantian.

This was the hallmark of the Crystal Formation stage. With enough spiritual energy, it would eventually condense into a golden core.

Breaking through a major realm left him feeling like his spiritual power was inexhaustible.

Good-quality Crystal Formation Pills really made a difference.

"Not bad. Next up—Qian Shuang’s Golden Core stage." Ye Chuan smirked in satisfaction.

Such rapid progress was undeniably exhilarating.

Then there was the new divine ability he’d unlocked:

[Divine Ability: Nine Flames Avatar

Upper-grade Divine Ability

Summons the Nine Flames Avatar, enhancing all techniques.]

Oh?

A pseudo Dharma Form?

Seemed like a handy trick—he’d test it out later.

"Old man Ziyun probably won’t suspect me for now. After all, my shadow clone is still out there causing trouble." Ye Chuan mused.

Even if they did suspect him, soul-searching techniques wouldn’t work.

He had innate magic resistance.

And even if he died? No big deal—he’d just respawn somewhere else on the Tianxuan Continent after returning to the real world.

Next time, he’d infiltrate the Qingyun Sect under a new alias—Green Haotian, maybe.

Gotta keep the "family" entertained.

For now, he’d stick around the Qingyun Sect.

When he broke through to Golden Core, he’d lure the tribulation lightning straight to the main hall and the elders. If it packed enough punch, he might even flatten the entire sect.

A Crystal Formation tribulation was strong, but not apocalyptic.

Sure, it could severely injure Nascent Soul elders and other disciples, but it wasn’t world-ending.

[Full-Dive Adventure: Day 1 completed. Return to the real world? (Leaving won’t interrupt the adventure.)]

"Nice. Time to head back."

Ye Chuan stretched lazily.

Wonder what expression Qian Shuang will make tomorrow when she sees my cultivation level.