When the black and white that shrouded the Firmament Dome completely faded away. Inside the Seventh Scripture Hall, Yuan Fei finally managed to calm himself.

The disciples of the Cangsheng Dao here were the elite of the elite. They might not be able to maintain an unchangeable expression if Mount Yuan collapsed before them, yet they could all strive to keep their composure in moments of crisis.

Thus, during that brief interval when sight was impossible and spiritual sense could not probe outward at all, no one panicked. They all remained seated quietly, awaiting resolution.

However, once the anomaly completely dissipated, they inevitably gathered in small groups, murmuring amongst themselves. “What in the world was that?

First, an unprovoked heavy snow, and then this white light. Why do strange occurrences keep piling up in the Cangsheng Firmament?” “I’d wager it was at least a fifth-tier ‘Dharma Rank’ spiritual technique, perhaps even approaching the ‘Immortal Rank’—” “Anything that can devour spiritual sense cannot be of a low rank!” “I felt a strange tightness in my chest just now; did anyone else feel that way?” “That light was so intense, it nearly blinded me.” Yuan Fei also felt a sharp sting in his eyes.

The Seventh Scripture Hall had been instantly engulfed in that white light. It was not only impossible to see, but it was also unbearably dazzling.

If he hadn't closed his eyes in time, the damage could have left him sightless for three days. The scorching heat surrounding them was equally uncomfortable.

And that pounding sensation in his chest made everyone feel restless and uneasy. He wondered in stunned silence just who could cause such a commotion.

The next moment, a voice echoed through the void. “Do not be alarmed!

A senior elder of the Divine Realm within the sect was demonstrating a spiritual formation that briefly lost control. You are all to remain in your seats and not be alarmed—” As the voice faded, the assembled disciples in the Scripture Hall experienced a wave of realization.

“So, it was indeed a spiritual formation.” “There is an expert of the Divine Realm within our Firmament Dome—” “That stands to reason. With so many people outside our Firmament Dome who might harbor ill intentions toward the Cangsheng Dao, the presence of a Divine Realm expert is the only way to ensure absolute safety.” “Speaking of which, I wonder how long that Jueyu intends to wait.

It has been ten days already. Why hasn't the sect done anything to expel him?” “How can they easily drive him away?

He challenged us openly. If it were me, even if Tan Qiu didn't accept the challenge, he should at least show himself once.” The conversation drifted, while Yuan Fei’s expression carried a faint hint of cold disdain.

If it were him, he too would avoid an unnecessary confrontation with Jueyu. Just as he was thinking this, his expression abruptly shifted; he suddenly felt a spiritual pressure permeating from all directions, enveloping him.

This soul pressure was not overwhelming, nor could it be called vast, but even for him, a peak seventh-tier expert, it felt slightly taxing. He felt his spiritual consciousness utterly freeze, completely sluggish and impossible to command freely under the oppression.

The lecturer, a cultivator of the Spiritual Realm, slightly furrowed his brow and looked toward the east. That direction seemed to be where the Academy disciples resided.

At this point, all the other listeners whose strength had reached the seventh tier also perceived it, and they all traced the source of the soul pressure. Then, gasps erupted again within the Scripture Hall.

“It’s the First Institute of Character A!” “It seems to be Tan Qiu! This situation—he must be advancing in rank—” “He is undergoing Body Shaping and Manifestation—how is this possible?

Could it be that he leaped directly to the peak of the eighth tier?” “Even at the eighth tier, there shouldn't be such imposing pressure. What exactly is happening?” Though they couldn't see, the furthest reaches of their spiritual senses perceived an incomparably brilliant entity coalescing into form.

A sensation devoid of heat or cold, pure soul intent, was slowly condensing into a human shape. The features were clear, perfectly resembling Zong Shou.

It was not exceptionally powerful, only at the level of an eighth-tier expert, yet it made everyone feel unable to approach, held subtly suppressed. Within their minds, they even felt a flicker of awe.

Even their ability to manipulate the spirits of heaven and earth seemed to be cut off. It was as if this nascent Yuan Soul, nearing true form, was inherently superior, meant to gaze down upon them.

Yuan Fei could only stare, momentarily stunned. The distance between the Seventh Scripture Hall and the First Institute of Character A was at least twenty thousand zhang!

To exert such suppression on a peak seventh-tier expert like himself across such a vast distance meant only one thing— That Zong Shou's core essence, in its fundamental nature, vastly surpassed Yuan Fei’s own! “After remaining silent for a year, he astonishes everyone with a single feat?” “Even before truly stepping into the eighth-tier Body Shaping, for him, the eighth and ninth tiers are likely no obstacle.

He only needs to condense sufficient Heavenly Talismans, and success will follow naturally.” “I wonder how this Tan Qiu managed it—” “The position of Chief Scholar is likely his by right this time!” “I truly wonder what the fundamental origin of this young man’s Dao is, to be so domineering!” The Spiritual Realm lecturer also frowned deeply, seemingly bewildered by the distant change. As time passed, the figure above the courtyard grew clearer.

The features were distinct, and there even appeared to be a lifelike ‘robe’ draped over the form. Just as Yuan Fei’s face was turning pale, a deep, clear voice suddenly resonated through the Firmament Dome beside his ear: “Tan Qiu!

I, Jueyu, come with the utmost sincerity, seeking only to compare swordsmanship and temper my Dao of the Sword. If you dare not respond to the challenge, you truly dishonor the title of Sword Wielder!” It was Jueyu, employing some unknown method to pierce the outer spiritual formations and send his voice directly into the Firmament space.

The reverberation shook, lingering for a long time. The next moment, a light chuckle emanated from Tan Qiu’s soul-form.

“Since that is the case, then let us fight a match!” The voice seemed slightly unaccustomed, echoing with some distortion as it came from a soul-body, but by the final half of the sentence, it had returned to clarity. The entire Cangsheng Dao Palace immediately erupted in commotion.

Within the Seventh Scripture Hall, all the listening disciples displayed reactions ranging from excitement and anticipation to worry. Yuan Fei, however, frowned in confusion, unsure whether to feel pleased or concerned.

Pleased because after waiting so many days, Tan Qiu was finally going to fight. Worried because in less than ten days, Tan Qiu had made such a breakthrough.

Not only could he manifest a true form, but the strength of his soul power was no less than that of an eighth-tier Spirit Master! Could he actually defeat Jueyu this time?

How could that be possible? With a self-comforting smile, Yuan Fei’s face became even paler.

※ ※ ※ ※ Zong Shou, at this moment, was entirely free of extraneous thoughts. He waved his hand and kicked his legs in the mid-air, feeling that everything was satisfactory.

It was said that when a ninth-tier Spirit Master transforms into their true form, they are virtually identical to a real person, save for the lack of actual flesh and blood. Experiencing it today, it proved true.

However, his strength was still somewhat lacking compared to a martial cultivator of the same rank. But at this moment, he possessed a full forty million jin of strength, which was by no means inferior to a martial cultivator in the middle stage of the seventh tier who possessed two Heavenly Meridians.

It was more than enough to handle this fight! With a flicker of his divine sense, the Yin Fire Sword below made a sharp clanging sound as it suddenly left its sheath and flew up into the air.

He glanced down once more at Zong Yuan Ruoshui. Han Xi also flew out from his large sleeve, looking up with a complex expression.

Strangely, the Saint Fire Ant Queen’s face was capable of showing such rich emotion— Astonishment, unwillingness, and deference were all clearly visible mixed within her eyes. Besides those, there was an added layer of reverence, a degree of cautiousness that had never been present before.

“Guard me! Protect my physical body—” With a slight smile, Zong Shou casually commanded, then mounted his sword and ascended.

A streak of brilliant sword light shot out like a meteor, plummeting directly toward the exterior of the Cangsheng Firmament. In that instant, whether low-ranking disciples or the still high-flying Han Fangwei Tian, all couldn't help but fix their gaze upon him.

Exiting the Firmament, he entered the spatial rift. Here, it was also dark.

Zong Shou carried the sword light downward, descending directly before Jueyu. In that very moment, a majestic and boundless Sword Intent suddenly pressed down in all directions.

It was like the descent of Mount Yuan, forcefully crushing everything around it—peerlessly formidable and overwhelmingly domineering! Instantly, within a radius of two hundred thousand zhang, all sixth-tier Spirit Masters turned ashen-faced and tumbled from their swaying spiritual artifacts.

The majority of the seventh-tier cultivators cautiously lowered their forms, retracted their spiritual artifacts, and dared not remain suspended in the air, cold sweat appearing on their faces, unable to extend their spiritual senses. Though possessing only the soul power of an eighth-tier expert, it compressed them utterly, making nearly three hundred peak seventh-tier experts practically bow in submission!

This pressure stemmed not only from the Sword Intent but also from the soul pressure, an oppression nearing the source itself. Only the eighth and ninth-tier martial cultivators and Spirit Masters directly chose to resist.

Some hot-tempered ones even counterattacked with their soul thoughts. But the figure in the sky was completely unaffected.

That Sword Intent remained as glorious as a dragon! After landing steadily, Zong Shou’s sword pointed directly at Jueyu.

“Cangsheng’s Tan Qiu. Brother Jue, please draw your sword!” Once his form was set, Zong Shou seemed to have completely merged with this space, or perhaps, conversely, he was ‘controlling’ this spatial rift, uniting with the sword in his hand to press forward!

As the words fell, all the cultivators waiting there erupted in astonishment. “Is that Tan Qiu?

Why does he look as if he has already undergone Body Shaping?” “Rumor had it this person hadn't even broken through the sixth tier?” “The pinnacle of Sword Intent, truly the pinnacle of Sword Intent! On par with that Demon King Zong Shou of Qiantian Mountain!” In these few breaths, the complexions of nearly half the onlookers paled slightly.

Regardless of the outcome of this battle, simply by the pressure exerted upon thousands of cultivators present when Zong Shou descended, the name of this young man was guaranteed to rise higher. The prestige of the Cangsheng Dao had not waned; they indeed produced geniuses!

“You are Tan Qiu?” Jueyu scrutinized Zong Shou, finding that though his features were distinct and his bearing elegantly transcendent, strangely, no matter how he tried to recall or piece together the memory in his mind, he could not hold onto the image. Giving up, Jueyu focused his mind solely on the sword in Zong Shou’s hand.

That potent Sword Intent was something even he could only resist with great effort at this moment. So strong!