Chapter 16: The Half-Year Struggle (Please add to favorites! Please keep reading!)

“Tianbai, such arrogance!”

Among the three cultivators who had previously been repelled by the purple-robed female cultivator, a middle-aged man with a long beard bellowed sternly.

His entire body surged with brilliant radiance, appearing as if he were cast in gold.

Surging dharmic power erupted from his body, transforming into a Dharma Manifestation. A massive palm of pure energy immediately struck toward True Monarch Tianbai while simultaneously attempting to seize the thunder dragon.

Cultivation techniques are divided into three grades. As the grade reaches the High Grade, the profound mysteries within become increasingly difficult to replicate.

True High-Grade Daoist Scriptures, which can truly be called top-tier techniques, contain content that cannot be carried by mere words; they are the physical manifestations of the Great Dao's laws. Furthermore, they possess uniqueness—there can only be one successor in the world at any given time.

The Three Scriptures and Five Classics inherited by the Zhenyi Yuan Sect were exactly like this. The thunder dragon before them was the manifestation of the *Mystic Profound Jade Pivot Thunder Scripture*, serving as the perfect example.

By subduing the thunder dragon, one could seize this peerless Daoist Scripture.

Behind Tianbai, the totem grew increasingly vivid. Images of blade lights, sword shadows, weapons, and warhorses leaped forth from it, engaging in a direct, chaotic struggle with the Dharma Manifestation.

She curled her lips into a smile, her eyes brimming with confidence.

“I specialize in the arts of slaughter, and I am at the late stage of the Sixth Realm. How can these three compare to me?”

Sure enough, after several rounds of combat and entanglement, the thunder dragon was eventually rolled up by the scroll behind Tianbai. The dragon form shattered, and the white lightning was continuously compressed until it finally condensed into a single page of golden paper, upon which ancient runes pulsed with arcs of lightning.

The Three Scriptures and Five Classics—eight peerless scriptures in total—were hidden within the Zhenyi Yuan Sect. They had long since transcended the realm of inanimate objects, developing spiritual intelligence; they would manifest in the world on their own and then choose a master.

“Currently, only four people in the Sect practice the Three Scriptures and Five Classics. Although this *Mystic Profound Jade Pivot Thunder Scripture* is not the most top-tier of the scriptures, it is still a preeminent treasure of the world. Combined with the fierce nature of lightning arts, it complements the arts of slaughter perfectly.”

Since she had succeeded, the other three could do nothing but harbor resentment. They could not ignore the sect rules to engage in a life-and-death struggle, so they could only depart in frustration.

Tianbai regulated her internal breath slightly before traveling via light, eventually arriving at a celestial peak and walking toward a cloud-shrouded cave dwelling.

“Congratulations, Master, on seizing the *Mystic Profound Jade Pivot Thunder Scripture*. I wish you a swift advancement to the Seventh Realm.”

A youth wearing a lotus-shaped jade hairpin and plain white robes embroidered with silver eagles bowed respectfully to True Monarch Tianbai in congratulation.

Aside from Jiang Yunjiang, three other strikingly elegant young faces also offered their congratulations to their master.

Tianbai placed her hands behind her back, snorted with pride, and curled her lips.

“The *Mystic Profound Jade Pivot Thunder Scripture* has emerged today and been seized by your teacher. Once I have comprehended the profound mysteries of its lightning arts, I shall use them to attempt my breakthrough to the Seventh Realm.”

“However, such a domineering scripture must be practiced starting from the first three realms to exert its maximum power. I have cultivated for a thousand years and have already established a divine foundation; changing my cultivation technique now would involve too many variables. The cost and risk are not worth it. Therefore...”

Tianbai’s gaze swept over her four disciples.

“In the Profound Moon Secret Realm six months from now, whoever among you retrieves the most ‘Moon Shards’ will be given the opportunity by me to subdue this scripture.”

For a moment, the hearts of all four surged with excitement, and they all nodded in agreement.

The earliest disciple, a male cultivator named Chen Yu, tried his best to hide it, but traces of pleasant surprise and confidence still leaked from the corners of his eyes and brows.

Once Tianbai entered the cave dwelling to enter seclusion and comprehend the mysteries of the scripture, Chen Yu smiled at his junior brothers and sisters. “The Profound Moon Secret Realm opens once every sixty years. It is rumored to be formed from a fragment of the Lunar Star. The spiritual energy within is incredibly abundant, making it a rare treasure land for cultivation, and it also scatters cultivation treasures like ‘Moon Shards.’ It will be of great benefit to your cultivation when the time comes.”

A girl in a green dress looked at him with a half-smile, her lips curling into a sneer. “Why bother putting on an act, Senior Brother? Why talk about the benefits of Moon Shards? What I want is that *Mystic Profound Jade Pivot Thunder Scripture*! We shall see who has the superior skill to obtain the opportunity for enlightenment from Master.”

She did not wish to say more and turned to leave, ignoring Chen Yu’s darkened expression.

Jiang Yunjiang bid them farewell with a gentle smile. “Eldest Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, I have only recently completed my Qi Induction. I shall go and consolidate my cultivation first.”

Her assigned cave dwelling was located near the foot of the mountain. She performed a Wind-Riding Technique she had only learned for two or three days and departed.

The voice of True Monarch Danhua rang in her ear: “That *Mystic Profound Jade Pivot Thunder Scripture* is indeed a peerless scripture. Your three senior brothers and sisters possess Mid-grade aptitude; even the best among them is far inferior to you. It is a pity they entered the sect before you and have received the dedicated guidance of Sixth Realm cultivators, having already reached the late stage of the First Realm.”

“I also participated in the Profound Moon Secret Realm when I was young; it only allows First Realm cultivators to enter. Now that you have only just condensed two cauldrons of dharmic power, even if I assist you by refining spiritual pills on the side, you can at most barely reach the middle stage of the First Realm in six months. You will not be their match.”

Jiang Yunjiang’s footsteps were light as she responded through her mind.

“Master insists on using the number of Moon Shards retrieved in the secret realm to decide who can attempt to comprehend this scripture. What else can I do? I can only do my utmost to increase my cultivation as quickly as possible without destabilizing my foundation. It is impossible to remain unwilling while simply surrendering to fate.”

She clenched her fists, a rare hint of ferocity appearing in her eyes.

“Furthermore, competing for Moon Shards is not a direct combat of techniques; I may not necessarily lose. Besides, Chen Yu, Jiang Churong, and Song Feisheng—those three with mere Mid-grade aptitude—how could they ever gain the recognition of the scripture? How could they compete with me?!”

Jiang Yunjiang suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Since she had successfully completed her Qi Induction, her Heart-Confusing Pupils had been fully activated. Now, a purple hue swirled within her amber-like clear pupils, looking quite eerie.

“I almost forgot. I must go to the Outer Sect to take a look.”

...

Because she was too far away, Shaoheng could only manage to see the massive white thunder dragon being wrapped and restrained by something before it vanished into the sky.

The soul-shaking thunder ceased to roar.

Shaoheng pulled her head back from the window, rubbed her chin in thought, and stored the pen holder and rice seedlings on her desk into her storage ring before pushing the door open and walking out.

Only then did she realize that in the disciples' courtyard, many disciples lay unconscious on the ground, likely affected by the shockwaves of the thunder.

Shaoheng kept her gaze straight ahead, passing quietly by these disciples. She thought to herself thoughtfully, *“They must have worked hard on their cultivation; look at them, sleeping so soundly.”*

She headed straight for the Hall of Profound Laws. According to the schedule, the lecturing Elder should still be on the fourth floor teaching the disciples.

As a newly admitted Outer Sect disciple who had just been frightened, her first instinct was, of course, to seek help from the teaching Elder. She was truly curious about what had happened in the Inner Sect and hoped to glean some useful information from Elder Zhao Tang.

The Hall of Profound Laws was visible in the distance. Although the gatekeeping disciples looked somewhat lethargic, they still stood straight, performing their duties diligently.

She stopped her footsteps and sent her intention toward the small gray cocoon within her sea of consciousness and dantian.

*“Can you release a bit of my aura suppression? Make it so that when others look at me, they think I have only just completed my Qi Induction.”*

Under the thunderous roar, everyone else had lost consciousness, but Shaoheng had not.

The excuse she had thought of was that she had just completed her Qi Induction and marrow cleansing, which allowed her spiritual platform to barely remain conscious.

Moreover, it wasn't just for that; Shaoheng also wanted to appropriately display a portion of her talent to avoid too much trouble.

After a moment of reflection, she understood the reason why Xia Huan in the Law Enforcement Pavilion had been so sycophantic before and respectful afterward; after all, this was a rule of the game she had understood back in the Kunfan Domain.

Respectful etiquette is difficult to use to earn the respect of others, but status and power can achieve it easily.

In the cultivation world, cultivation and strength are the very foundations of all rules!