Breakthrough

Zhuo Mingyuan recalled the past moments, his sword almost slipping from his hand.

Even in this situation, he was still hesitating, though just a moment ago he had been resolute.

"Qin San, were all the experiences we shared in the past fake?"

"Fake."

"We were so happy when we divided the treasures together."

"I secretly took seventy percent while you weren't paying attention."

Ah, Lin Xuan widened his eyes, wondering how he did it. It felt like something worth learning.

Zhuo Mingyuan, however, shook his head: "None of that matters. In your heart, was I ever your brother?"

"No, never. In my heart, there has only ever been the Heavenly Demon Sect."

Lin Xuan felt something was off and said to Zhuo Mingyuan, "Senior Brother, it's time to make a decision."

But Zhuo Mingyuan hesitated even more: "Qin San..."

"Trash, your inner demon was right about you. You're too weak," Qin San mocked.

By now, Qin San had prepared himself, ready to unleash his final power at the cost of his life.

He pretended to attack Zhuo Mingyuan, but his true target was Han Ying'er.

"Come with me."

However, his move had already been seen through by Lin Xuan. Although Lin Xuan, with his current strength, couldn't do much to harm Qin San, Elder Yan lent him a bit of power, allowing him to barely block the attack.

Lin Xuan gritted his teeth and said, "Don't just stand there. This isn't the time to hesitate."

Zhuo Mingyuan thrust his sword forward, but his heart was torn with conflict.

Su Luo, seeing this, was disappointed.

With a casual swing of his sword, he ended Qin San's life.

With the crisis resolved, Su Luo didn't bother with what the others thought and left.

Lin Xuan, having taken a hit, even with Elder Yan's help, couldn't help but turn pale from the pain.

He said to Zhuo Mingyuan, "I'm just a junior brother, and I don't mean to boss you around, but if you ever want to have a heart-to-heart with an enemy, make sure to break their limbs first."

"If you lose Senior Sister Ying'er again, you'll regret it even more."

After saying this, Lin Xuan went to rest on the side.

Elder Yan was fine, having only used a little bit of power, so he didn't fall into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Mingyuan knelt on the ground, still unable to accept Qin San's death.

The other two were already weeping uncontrollably.

An enemy, yet once a close friend.

Why did it have to end like this?

......

After Su Luo left, his inner demon also disappeared.

On his way back, he ran into Li Siyi.

She immediately started circling around him, eyeing him with a mischievous look.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone's hiding their true self. I won't say who."

"Oh? Who?" Su Luo played dumb, something he was always good at.

"Don't tell me that wasn't you just now."

"It was my inner demon. His strength has nothing to do with me. You have no idea, I was almost controlled by him and couldn't come back."

"Really?"

"Yes, you know how flawed I am—lazy, gluttonous, jealous. The inner demon had me in his grasp in no time."

"That excuse is so fake."

"Believe it or not."

"Hey, wait for me."

Even though Li Siyi knew Su Luo's secret, she wouldn't spill it. She felt that having a secret between the two of them was truly special.

Then they reunited with Lin Xuan and the others.

The group was still grieving over Qin San's death.

But no matter how sad they were, it was time to leave, as the secret realm was collapsing.

Even after leaving the secret realm, the group lingered for a while, staring at it.

Lin Xuan went about his own business.

Su Luo and Li Siyi, on the other hand, didn't feel much sorrow. They hadn't been close to Qin San, and since he was from the demonic path, they felt even less remorse.

......

After they left, Nangong Xiyun, who had been watching everything from the beginning, wasn't without gains.

Having observed Su Luo and his inner demon, she felt greatly inspired.

Moreover, she now had the necessary conditions to proceed. It was entirely feasible.

So, it was time to settle things with her own inner demon.

Nangong Xiyun leaped into the sky, stopping amidst the clouds.

Closing her eyes, her consciousness delved into the deepest part of her soul, a place she had once avoided facing. But now, she had come to understand.

A seal existed there.

With a gentle wave of her hand, Nangong Xiyun broke the seal.

From within the seal emerged another version of herself, but this one radiated an overwhelming sense of ferocity.

"Nangong Xiyun, you've finally come to your senses. Let's join forces and turn this meaningless world upside down."

"I'm here to make peace with you."

"Peace? Hahaha, impossible. The only reason I'd join forces with you is to destroy the world."

"My appearance has been restored."

The inner demon's laughter stopped abruptly: "Really?"

"Yes, you should be able to see it now."

The inner demon had been sealed for too long, and it wasn't an ordinary seal, so she had no knowledge of what had happened outside.

Now that her true self was showing her, she could see it clearly.

"It's true, hahaha." Tears streamed down the inner demon's face.

The destruction of her appearance had been the root cause of this inner demon's birth.

"So, help me," Nangong Xiyun pleaded once more.

"Hahaha, you've changed, Nangong Xiyun. Proud as you are, you'd actually ask for help, even if it's from yourself. You'd never beg yourself before."

The inner demon didn't know whether to feel relieved or something else. Since her birth, Nangong Xiyun had always sought to destroy her.

If she hadn't exhausted all means to no avail, she wouldn't have resorted to sealing her away.

And now, this Nangong Xiyun was asking for the inner demon's help?

Nangong Xiyun didn't deny the inner demon's assessment.

In the past, even if her appearance had been restored, she wouldn't have thought of reconciling with the inner demon. Instead, she would have continued to seek ways to defeat her.

Through force.

But now...

"I learned it from the younger generation."

"What do you mean?"

"Let me show you."

Nangong Xiyun thrust her sword into the inner demon, and memories flowed from her into the inner demon.

"So that's how it is. How interesting."

"So, will you help me?"

"I have no objections. With your appearance restored, I no longer have the desire to destroy the world. And since you've humbled yourself enough to ask for help from yourself, I'll grant you this."

The heavens and earth changed colors, dark clouds gathered, as if the apocalypse was approaching.

Then, thunder and lightning erupted.

Deep within the Heavenly Demon Sect, an ancient voice spoke.

"How long has it been since someone reached that realm?"

On the throne of the beast army.

"Humans, truly favored by the heavens. Another supreme expert has emerged. But we beasts won't fall behind."

At the highest point of the Divine Sky Sect, the number one sect in the cultivation world.

"The heavens have changed."

"Indeed. Whether it's for better or worse, we don't know."

"We must prepare ourselves."

Hidden experts across the land couldn't help but turn their gazes toward Nangong Xiyun's direction.

They all wondered who had made the breakthrough.

Su Luo looked up at the sky. This feeling—someone was breaking through. Judging by the scale, they must be quite powerful.

But Su Luo didn't pay it much mind. Breakthroughs of this magnitude were rare in the cultivation world, but not unheard of.

Su Luo didn't recall any figures that matched, but then again, with so many events and people in the cultivation world, it was impossible for him to remember everything.

Whatever, it had nothing to do with him. Time to head back.

The sky cleared.

Nangong Xiyun's breakthrough was seamless, her cultivation reaching a qualitative leap after many years.

The Mahayana realm.