For the Mission of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox Clan...

As for what was happening on the surface—what did it have to do with Su Ji, who was hiding underground?

A familiar voice echoed in Su Ji's ears:

[The Heavenly Dao has taken notice. Cultivator Su Ji has forged a flawless Foundation Establishment through unorthodox means.]

[As a reward, he is granted a wisp of ‘Human Race Fortune,’ and this shall be proclaimed to the world!]

[Will you reveal your true name?]

Huh?

Foundation Establishment… succeeded?

But what about the inner demon?

Su Ji didn’t dare let his guard down for even a moment.

Nor did he have the mind to think about an alias.

He answered dismissively:

"No."

[Please choose an alias.]

"Same as last time—Su Daji."

After all, what was one more debt when he was already drowning in them?

Having slain a Nascent Soul cultivator before, wasn’t it only natural that he’d now achieved a flawless Foundation Establishment?

But…

This Heavenly Dao was truly peculiar…

It could detect his supreme Foundation Establishment—how could it not know he had "cheated" through the tribulation?

Or perhaps the lightning tribulation could only descend once?

A second strike would just be impolite.

Soon after, a voice that struck terror into the hearts of all Golden Core elders resounded in their ears:

[The Heavenly Dao has taken notice. Cultivator ‘Su Daji’ has forged a flawless Foundation Establishment through unorthodox means.]

[As a reward, he is granted a wisp of ‘Human Race Fortune.’]

[The path of immortality is long and arduous. To have such a blazing genius among us is a blessing!]

[May all strive diligently and emulate his example.]

"What?!"

"A Qi Refining cultivator surviving a lightning tribulation?"

"A true dragon guarding his path?"

"And why is this fellow’s name so… audacious?"

They wanted to investigate, but the dread of provoking the true dragon held them back…

Fortunately, these elders had been in slumber and hadn’t heard of Su Ji’s previous exploits.

In the end, they could only sigh in resignation.

Such was fate!

Such was destiny!

The little lifespan they had left shouldn’t be wasted here.

Since a glorious era was approaching…

As long as they lived, there would still be opportunities.

One by one, the figures retreated.

But before returning to their sects and sealing themselves back in their "coffins," they displayed an eerie unity of purpose:

"Investigate! From this moment onward, all disciples who have gone out for training but have yet to return!"

"The key trait—those breaking through from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment!"

"Likely surnamed Su!"

"Without alerting the individual, secretly examine their spiritual roots!"

"If any possess a unique spiritual root—summon me from seclusion!"

For a moment, countless sect leaders wore troubled expressions.

They, too, had heard the Heavenly Dao’s proclamation.

They understood their ancestors’ intentions.

But…

How were they supposed to "summon" them?

"Ancestor, I have procured a great halberd for you. Might you grace us with your presence to inspect it?"

How had things come to this?

……

Deep within the underground lava cavern.

Su Ji’s face was twisted into a grimace.

Beads of sweat the size of peas rolled down his forehead, only to evaporate instantly in the scorching air.

It was hot.

Unbearably hot.

Why was the ground burning his backside so badly?!

The heat crawled up his spine, searing straight to the crown of his head, making his scalp tingle.

Su Ji felt like a suckling pig roasting on a spit—and no one was bothering to turn him over.

Because the fire dragon had redirected the earth’s flames to clash with the heavenly tribulation,

even though the two of them were far from the epicenter,

the surroundings were still a churning sea of magma.

Just as Su Ji had foreseen in his [Heaven’s Insight].

Gritting his teeth, Su Ji endured this physical torment.

So…

Where was the inner demon?

Why hadn’t it come yet?

This Heavenly Dao was truly insidious—since the lightning tribulation couldn’t kill him, it was now trying to ambush his fragile Dao heart with an inner demon?

Hah.

It had underestimated his intelligence network!

Yet, to Su Jiu, this scene painted a very different picture.

Su Ji had clearly succeeded in his breakthrough.

His dantian housed a stable Dao platform, and his body brimmed with surging spiritual energy—he was now a genuine Foundation Establishment cultivator.

But his eyes remained tightly shut.

His handsome face was contorted in agony, his body trembling faintly.

His lips, cracked and dry, moved soundlessly.

Su Jiu’s expression darkened even more than when she had sensed the heavenly punishment earlier.

Her worst fear had come to pass.

Inner demon!

Su Ji seemed to be under attack by an inner demon—and no ordinary one at that!

For most cultivators, inner demons preyed on emotions, dredged up regrets, and sowed chaos in the mind.

But Su Ji’s current state suggested his soul was being scorched by an invisible fire!

"Senior Brother?"

She called out softly, careful not to startle him mid-struggle.

"Are you… alright?"

No response.

Su Ji remained deaf to the outside world, his brows furrowed into a knot.

Su Jiu’s heart sank.

This was bad.

Su Ji’s inner demon was far worse than she had imagined.

He must have been completely trapped in the illusion woven by the demon, his soul imprisoned with no way out.

If this continued, even if he wasn’t consumed by the demon, his Dao heart would be left with irreparable cracks—his path to immortality severed!

Su Jiu’s breathing grew ragged.

Her mind involuntarily replayed Su Ji’s solemn words from before:

[When I establish my foundation… an inner demon will also manifest.]

And her own response at the time:

[This method is called ‘Soul and Flesh Entwined.’ It is a secret art of my Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox lineage… To perform it, the caster and the recipient must achieve perfect mental and spiritual resonance—becoming one in mind and soul.]

Su Jiu’s cheeks burned hotter than the surrounding magma.

Back then, she had mentioned it offhandedly, thinking someone as carefree as Su Ji could never fall prey to an inner demon.

But now…

Watching his suffering intensify, a flicker of conflict passed through her clear fox-like eyes.

She couldn’t wait any longer!

Su Jiu bit her lower lip lightly, her fingertips trembling.

……

Meanwhile.

Su Ji was on the verge of losing his mind from the heat.

His organs felt like they were boiling.

Where was the damn inner demon?

Had his mental defenses scared it off?

Should he pretend to relax to lure it out?

Just as Su Ji was about to give up and open his eyes—

A warm breeze carried the unique fragrance of a young girl into his breath.

Su Jiu’s expression shifted—conflict, embarrassment, but ultimately, resolve.

So be it.

For the sake of…

For the sake of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox lineage’s duty…