Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Ascension to Second Rank

Mu Ning Zhu raised her hand and released the distress firework unique to Grand Righteous Sect. A purple-edged bloom burst open, illuminating the sky.

Zhou Lang Chen quickly followed, sending up his own call for help. A sharp sword soon shimmered above Twin Peaks City.

The other surviving cultivators hastily released their distress signals as well, some even sending message talismans. City Lord Li moved to stop them, but he was already too late.

Although the tribulation clouds had scattered, no spirit rain had fallen yet, indicating Dian Dian’s heavenly lightning tribulation was not yet complete.

Within Yun Xi’s Sea of Consciousness, Dian Dian’s weak groans grew softer and softer. Yun Xi felt panic rise in her heart, and she hurriedly called through their soul bond: “Dian Dian, the heavenly lightning tribulation is over! Wake up now, or all that lightning you endured will have been for nothing. You just broke the evil array and saved all these cultivators. You’ll surely earn merit, and they’ll thank you with wonderful treasures. If you don’t wake up, all those treasures will just become mine.”

Yun Xi continued painting a tempting future, desperate to coax Dian Dian awake.

Dian Dian’s consciousness was fuzzy, and it longed to keep sleeping, but that persistent voice kept nagging in its ears, irritating it endlessly. At last, it murmured unhappily: “Quiet… just let me sleep a little longer.”

Yun Xi relaxed a bit upon hearing Dian Dian’s reply. At least it was conscious enough to respond. She quickly resorted to threats instead: “Dian Dian, you think your wings are strong enough now that you dare talk back to me?”

Dian Dian jolted awake at that. Recognizing its master’s voice, its scattered soul quickly returned to its body. Dian Dian shifted its tail, which had been severed by the tribulation lightning, and the next instant, spirit rain cascaded from the sky.

Only then did Yun Xi fully relax. Qin Tong Shuang, who had been standing anxiously nearby, sighed with relief: “Dian Dian has survived.”

“Yes!” Yun Xi agreed wholeheartedly. “If it really had been killed by the tribulation lightning, I’d regret making it endure such conditions.”

These were Yun Xi’s honest feelings. In her eyes, all living things had spirit, especially a spirit beast like Dian Dian, who had accepted her as its master. To her, Dian Dian had long been a companion, not to mention an incredibly useful one.

The moment spirit rain fell onto Dian Dian, it knew it had survived the terrifying heavenly lightning tribulation. It began greedily absorbing the Heavenly Dao’s gift, quickly healing its body, which had been severely damaged by lightning.

As it absorbed the rain, Dian Dian’s charred fur fell away, replaced by sleek, pristine white fur. Its tail, which had been struck into three segments, regrew, and even its bones strengthened, gleaming faintly with a lustrous white glow.

Finally, a golden spark sank into Dian Dian’s forehead, making it tremble slightly. An immense surge of information flooded its mind—it had awakened its bloodline inheritance and knew it must soon enter deep sleep.

Yet, before sleeping, Dian Dian still informed Yun Xi: “Master, Dian Dian has successfully passed the tribulation and awakened the bloodline inheritance. I’ll need to sleep for a while. Don’t worry about me.”

Yun Xi’s eyes lit up at the news. This was truly a fortunate event! She quickly replied: “Focus on absorbing your inheritance and consolidating your realm. I’ll handle everything else.”

Even without Yun Xi’s encouragement, Dian Dian understood the immense importance of its bloodline inheritance, and promptly fell into a deep slumber after its message was delivered.

Yun Xi had long waited for this moment. Seeing Dian Dian sleep, she swiftly scooped it up from the ground and tucked it safely into her robes.

Mu Ning Zhu, who had remained beside Yun Xi, finally breathed a sigh of relief, whispering cautiously: “Let’s regroup with the other cultivators. City Lord Li has returned to his residence with his son, and we have no idea what they might do next. We’d best be careful.”

Yun Xi nodded. The multitude of distress signals in the sky earlier suggested that this matter could not be resolved peacefully.

Still, after thinking carefully, Yun Xi said softly: “Senior Sister Mu, we’d better avoid any involvement in the aftermath. Let’s explain clearly what happened here and leave quickly. Being entangled with demonic cultivators is never a good thing.”

Mu Ning Zhu instantly understood Yun Xi’s concern. They’d already attracted enough attention due to Yun Xi’s spirit beast breaking the evil formation. If Li Cang Yuan had powerful backers whose plans had been disrupted, Yun Xi would definitely become a target.

Thus, Mu Ning Zhu promptly agreed: “I understand. As soon as Grand Righteous Sect’s Golden Core Daoist Masters arrive, we’ll depart.”

“Yes.”

The two returned to the group of cultivators, many of whom stepped forward immediately to thank Yun Xi. Mu Ning Zhu handled the greetings smoothly, allowing Yun Xi to simply wave modestly, claiming it had all been coincidence, thanks to her spirit beast’s timely advancement.

Zhou Lang Chen, Zuo Die’er, and Ming Ya also came forward to offer thanks. They had been transported here together, so they exchanged a few more words. Yun Xi kept smiling until her cheeks grew stiff, and eventually received heartfelt thanks from Zi Jing as well. Before leaving, Zi Jing even exchanged communication talismans and warmly invited Yun Xi to visit Blossoming Harmony Sect.

“Yun Xi, you’re still young and don’t yet understand the pleasures of intimacy. Yin and Yang harmony aligns perfectly with Heavenly Dao. When you reach Golden Core stage, I’ll introduce you to a few talented, handsome, and well-mannered junior brothers to help make your cultivation smoother.”

Yun Xi’s mouth twitched. Were female cultivators in the cultivation world always so forthright? They didn’t even spare a child of ten years!

Mu Ning Zhu’s face darkened considerably, but due to her inferior cultivation, she could only grit her teeth and reply stiffly: “Fellow Daoist Zi Jing’s goodwill is deeply appreciated by Junior Sister Wei.”

Zi Jing flashed an alluring smile, then sashayed gracefully away.

Only once Zi Jing had left did Mu Ning Zhu softly advise Yun Xi: “Junior Sister Wei, you shouldn’t take Fellow Daoist Zi Jing’s words to heart. Everyone’s Dao is different; I won’t say she’s wrong, but your Dao-heart isn’t fully established yet, so don’t easily accept everything you hear. The Blossoming Harmony Sect focuses on dual-cultivation partnerships, maintaining intricate ties with major sects and clans. It’s precisely through these networks that their sect, despite lower martial prowess, maintains its position among the great sects.”

Yun Xi understood immediately. They expanded their influence through social connections, finding multiple strong supporters, ensuring that if disaster struck, allies wouldn’t easily abandon their sect.

Just then, a flying sword streaked rapidly through the sky, landing directly before the city lord’s mansion. Zhou Lang Chen hurried forward, respectfully greeting the newcomer: “Senior Uncle, you’ve arrived.”

The man wore pristine white robes, a single jade pendant hung from his waist. With starry eyes and sword-like brows, his upright bearing was as noble as a pine. He nodded and greeted Zhou Lang Chen in return, scanning the surroundings with his divine sense. His brows immediately knit together:

“Lang Chen, why are you so disheveled? What forced you to send a distress call?”

Zhou Lang Chen quickly recounted everything, adding his private suspicions through voice transmission.

Shi Jun’s brows rose sharply, and he gave a cold laugh: “To collude with demonic cultivators—utter foolishness!”

He then ordered clearly: “Lang Chen, compile the list of disciples who fell due to this evil formation. I will personally demand an explanation from City Lord Li.”

“Yes, Senior Uncle.”

The arrival of this Nascent Soul True Lord immediately boosted the confidence of all gathered cultivators, even if he wasn’t from their own sect or family.

Moments later, a second wave of cultivators arrived, this time from Grand Righteous Sect—Sheng Yu Hong among them.