Amidst the roaring thunder, Zong Shou hastily returned to his courtyard, A-First. His expression remained somewhat altered, for when those one hundred and thirty-four people swore their oaths, a full nine of them broke through to the Seventh Tier realm on the spot.

The rest, over a hundred individuals, had all made breakthroughs, stepping onto the very threshold of the Seventh Tier! Most of them had been those with dead hearts, yet at that moment, their fighting spirit was galvanized.

And when the vital energies of the hundred-plus people converged, the effulgence of their vital blood was so immense that even the Formless God and Demon had to retreat far, shaken to their core. “My Lord!

That Senior Brother Xue is truly an extraordinary figure—” The speaker was Zong Yuan, and even his eyes now held a measure of admiration. Zong Shou merely grunted, offering no comment.

Originally, when he first saw those captured disciples returned by the Grand Spirit Sect, his first thought was that the vast majority of them would be utterly broken. Twenty years of imprisonment and torment had bent their spines; even if their cultivation remained, they would surely flounder.

Yet today, that Xue Xi, with just a few words and gestures, had enabled these people to find new reliance, new support, reclaiming their vigor and shedding all previous despondency. Xue Xi’s three great vows were clearly not solely born from his own deeply etched hatred.

No wonder Han Fang valued this man so highly. The Dao of the Common People was indeed teeming with talent.

Perhaps, in the years to come, the Grand Spirit Sect might truly fall by this man’s hand. He secretly felt a flicker of anticipation, knowing that Xue Xi’s return was due to his involvement.

Following the butterfly effect of later ages, the wind stirred by this butterfly—himself—was growing ever stronger. The Qiantian Mountain had not declined into chaos; instead, it had risen.

The Dao of the Common People had not failed at Yancheng Pass, resolving Yuan Jiuchen years ahead of schedule. And now, there was the addition of Xue Xi, sworn to destroy the Grand Spirit Sect.

What would this future truly transform into? Zong Shou himself felt no apprehension, nor any trace of guilt.

Let history be chaotic; why worry? A completely different era of the Divine Emperor was precisely what he desired; he only feared the cultivation world remaining too calm.

Squinting, he glanced at the illusory ‘Azure Sky’ above. The lightning had gradually dissipated, and the gathering storm clouds had vanished without a trace.

Zong Shou suddenly let out a soft laugh. Coming to this era and living in the world as ‘Zong Shou’ meant he was fated to struggle fiercely, to fight against his own destiny!

The journey so far had, at least, spared him the fate of his previous life—beheading and public display, with no one to collect his body. However, the burdens he carried seemed to be growing heavier.

Yi Ren, Chuxue, Ruoshui, Zong Yuan—he could not be unconcerned about them. He could never abandon Qiantian Mountain City.

Having joined the Dao of the Common People, he could not stand idly by regarding the sect's rise or fall. The weight on him grew, feeling like a chrysalis, threatening to wrap around him tightly, overwhelming him.

For a swordsman, whether this was fortune or misfortune, he could not tell. As his thoughts began to drift into confusion, Zong Shou suddenly heard a sharp shout beside his ear: “At such a young age, why ponder such tangled thoughts?

We cultivators, unless one has fully grasped the ultimate path of the Great Dao, can never truly control our own fate. A person like you is still merely an ant before the vast Dao.

There is no need to deliberately let go of anything, nor to deliberately carry burdens that are not yours. Just do your utmost, follow your heart completely, and see where you end up—” Zong Shou’s spirit snapped awake.

He looked toward the sky in astonishment. The old man who had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Han Fang moments ago was now poised in the void, looking down with a slight sneer.

Though his tone carried a hint of mockery, his gaze was profoundly cold. “Awake?

Good that you are awake! You are merely a small fish struggling to leap out of a great river.

You have no idea how minuscule, how laughable you appear in the eyes of those on the shore! Do you know of the Profound Whale?

In its youth, it was barely three fingers long, diving deep into the river, growing steadily and going with the current. But after a thousand years, it can stretch a thousand feet long, capable of stirring up storms, swallowing mountains and rivers, and furthermore, soaring through the Great Void, unrivaled.

A person like you, lacking sufficient power, even if you truly manage to jump out of the river, you’ll just be picked up and eaten!” Zong Shou’s heart leaped. This old man seemed even more formidable than Han Fang, truly able to perceive his thoughts.

He quickly retracted his mental state and consciousness, pulling his Primordial Spirit in his Sea of Consciousness deep within. In the next instant, he saw the old man casually toss a crystal bead over.

“Take this. I, Wei Tiansu, dislike owing favors to anyone!

For what little Hee’er required, this old man thanks you!” Having thrown the item, the elder was about to depart, but before leaving, he paused, chuckling softly, “You child are rather interesting. If you truly wish to leap out, then learn from the way of this Profound Whale—stabilize your own foundation first.” Zong Shou’s lips curved slightly, and he bowed respectfully, “Many thanks for the guidance, Senior Brother!

However, this junior brother has also heard that the Profound Whale in the great ocean devours millions of bloody meals every day!” Wei Tian burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this: “That is precisely how we cultivators should be! Contending for spiritual herbs, spiritual treasures, destiny, and the Great Dao.

Big fish devour small fish; it is all the same. That is all for today.

Junior Brother, take care of yourself—” As Wei Tian finished speaking, he had already vanished without a trace. Zong Shou felt deep gratitude; Wei Tian’s words had completely dissolved his internal conflict and removed the knot in his chest.

In the next instant, in the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw Chuxue, tightly clutching the young black Qilin beast, glaring at him with extreme grievance. Zong Shou’s heart pounded.

He swiftly flashed away, proclaiming, “I am entering seclusion today! Do not disturb me unless it is urgent!” Without waiting for Chuxue’s reaction, he dashed into the quiet chamber like the wind and slammed the door shut with a loud peng.

Having just sat down, Zong Shou saw Chuxue already standing just outside the window frame, pouting slightly, her bright, watery eyes wide open, staring fixedly inside. Zong Shou felt increasingly guilty.

Pretending not to see, he took out the crystal bead Wei Tian had thrown. It was the size of a thumbnail, emitting faint streams of ethereal blue spiritual light that scattered around.

“A Inheritance Crystal?” Zong Shou was secretly astonished. Tentatively, he placed the blue crystal against his forehead.

After a long while, Zong Shou removed the stone, his eyes filled with shock. Within it lay all of Wei Tian’s experiences and insights regarding the Art of Spiritual Mastery—a complete Spiritual Master inheritance.

Having joined the Dao of the Common People, he no longer lacked texts on Spiritual Mastery, nor could he find people to teach him when he encountered difficulties, but it was far from being as comprehensive as this Inheritance Crystal, which contained the drawing of every talisman, the key points of Spiritual Art combat, and insights into the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Furthermore, it detailed every process Wei Tian underwent when he formed his Dharma Body in the Divine Realm.

“This object is truly a timely gift; I’ve made a fortune!” Sighing, Zong Shou put it away. He then took out a jade pendant, one he had requested from the King of Han.

That Royal Highness lacked knowledge, but Zong Shou had seen this very item among the vast classics in the library. He crushed it with one palm, and true to expectation, a few drops of milky jade-colored fluid floated out from the core of the pendant.

Zong Shou gathered them with his true essence, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes. It was indeed this thing—Jade Core Spiritual Nectar!

Then, in the next moment, three golden pills appeared in Zong Shou’s hand. They were precisely one of the twenty-four lotus seeds from the Qianli Violet Gold Lotus.

Unfortunately, Yi Ren was absent; if that refining genius were present, refining these two spiritual substances into pills would surely multiply their efficacy! Then again, whether the medicinal properties of the Jade Core Spiritual Nectar and the Qianli Violet Gold Lotus were compatible, and if they might neutralize each other, he did not know.

Zong Shou hesitated for no reason and swallowed them consecutively. This was precisely the time for him to strive fiercely, exert himself for breakthroughs, and plan the condensation of his Dharma Body; he had no time to waste waiting.

As soon as the two spiritual substances entered him, Zong Shou felt a cramping pain in his abdomen, which then spread throughout his body. The Geng Metal spiritual energy dissolved from the Qianli Violet Gold Lotus directly seeped into his flesh and bones.

While it mercilessly destroyed all flesh and sinew, it simultaneously spurred his body to constantly recover. The Jade Core Spiritual Nectar dissolved more slowly, but once dispersed, it promptly suppressed the agony while continuing to reinforce the tissues that had been ravaged dozens or even hundreds of times by the Geng Metal spiritual energy, enhancing them gently and comprehensively.

Zong Shou thought, As expected, and his expression relaxed as he fully guided the medicinal power towards his limbs and bones. This time, among all the spiritual substances he had consumed, this was the easiest and most obvious in its effect.

The sun set and the moon sank. Zong Shou only opened his eyes when he felt no further changes within his body, realizing from the light outside that it was the morning of the seventh day.

He looked at his hands again. Besides the original ivory white, his skin surface now held a faint golden sheen.

The three Qianli Violet Gold Lotus seeds had left traces of extremely pure Geng Metal spiritual energy within his flesh and bones. The Jade Core Spiritual Nectar had not only strengthened his physical body and mended all hidden injuries but had also repaired a considerable portion of his damaged Primordial Spirit.

Zong Shou smiled, knowing that his physical body at this moment was likely comparable to a Seventh Tier spiritual weapon. With his physical body solidified and his spirit recovering, the next step was to break through the Ninth Layer of the World-Shaking Spiritual Art and begin preparations for condensing his Dharma Body.

Just as Zong Shou was about to take out the Glazed Fire Fierce Pearl and the Dark Extreme Cold Origin Pearl, the dragon-shaped totem on his arm suddenly felt intensely hot. Zong Shou rejoiced instantly.

He flashed away like a swift shadow. In just over a hundred breaths, he arrived outside the Dao Palace of the Common People.

Controlling the Thunder Winged Flood Dragon, he flew for over three hours to reach the Boundary Abyss. Upon arrival, he saw a young man in a green robe waiting there, hands clasped behind his back.

Zong Shou raised his eyebrows slightly in confusion. “You are Ao Kun?” Ao Kun was the name of the Fiend Dragon that the Old Man of Dragon Shadow had informed him about.

“Indeed!” The youth smiled and turned around, holding something in his hand. Zong Shou’s gaze sharpened.

In Ao Kun’s hand was a young Azure Flood Dragon beast.