Chapter 32: A Resounding Reputation

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

The prestige of the Xuantian Sect had long transcended the borders of the Lingwu Kingdom, resounding like a thunderclap throughout the entire Great Qian Dynasty. It was rumored that Sect Master Ye could slay a Spirit Transformation expert with a single sword strike and flatten ten thousand miles of mountains with a wave of his palms. The Purple Heaven Sacred Land, the Biluo Sect, and the Blood Shadow Hall—factions that had once dominated their respective regions—could not even last a single incense stick's time under his hand. Furthermore, it was said that the two disciples under his tutelage were prodigies capable of challenging those far above their own rank. Xiao Yi’s Burning Heaven Emperor Flame could incinerate mountains and boil seas, while Su Wan’s Innate Sword Body could sever the galaxy itself.

For a time, the sects of the Great Qian Dynasty lived in perpetual fear. Those small and large factions that had once relied on the Purple Heaven Sacred Land now queued outside the gates of the Xuantian Sect with lavish gifts, begging only to hang a plaque declaring themselves a "Xuantian Sect Affiliate." As for the evil cultivators who had colluded with the Blood Shadow Hall, they fled the Great Qian Dynasty overnight, fearing the total annihilation of their lineages.

"Have you heard? That old fool from the Purple Heaven Sacred Land, desperate and foolish, sent Great Elder Lei Yao with the Prison-Suppressing Thunder Pagoda to destroy the Xuantian Sect. Sect Master Ye shattered the pagoda with one sword strike, turning both the man and the tower into fireworks!"

"That's not all! The disciples of the Biluo Sect insulted his student, Xiao Yi. Enraged, Sect Master Ye wiped out their entire sect, even grinding their mountain gate plaque into dust!"

A nearby cultivator gasped, "Good heavens! Isn't Sect Master Ye's method a bit too ruthless?"

"And don't forget the Blood Shadow Hall! Those demons were using cultivators as cauldrons to resurrect the Blood Demon and even tried to steal the Xuantian Sect’s spirit veins. Sect Master Ye burned their main altar to the ground in one stroke, drying up the blood pools deep underground and purifying a hundred thousand wronged souls and bones into nothing but ash!"

"I hear that the two disciples are even more terrifying. Senior Brother Xiao crushed the Sword-Testing Cliff with a single punch, and Senior Sister Su instantly slew a Void Refining expert with one strike. Their strength is simply monstrous!"

The rumors grew increasingly fantastical, until even three-year-old children knew the saying: "Better to provoke the King of Hell than the Xuantian Sect."

Meanwhile, in the back mountains of the Xuantian Sect, two formidable auras surged toward the heavens.

***

Xiao Yi stood shirtless, his bronze skin covered in flowing, flame-like patterns. The Burning Heaven Emperor Flame condensed into a three-inch-tall golden-red lotus in his palm. He threw a punch, and the void before him rippled from the heat—a sign of the "Burning Heaven Battle Body," a technique only mastered at the first level of the Void Refining realm. Xiao Yi was quite satisfied with his progress, having broken through ten consecutive realms in the past half-year. The "Burning Heaven Battle Body" taught by his master was truly domineering; his physical strength was now such that he could withstand the magical artifacts of a ninth-level Void Refining cultivator unscathed.

On the nearby sword platform, Su Wan stood in robes as white as snow, the Flowing Light Purple Lightning Sword in her hand emitting a clear, dragon-like hum. With a flick of her fingers, thousands of sword shadows swirled around her; wherever they passed, deep, fine marks were carved into the hardened black iron floor. Her Innate Sword Body had fully awakened under the nourishment of the spirit veins, and her sword speed was ten times faster than it had been half a year ago, her cultivation now reaching the ninth level of the Nascent Soul realm.

Inside the main hall, Ye Chentian watched the two walking toward him side-by-side. His fingertips brushed the jade box before him, which contained two glowing jade slips and two pouches radiating spiritual light.

"The Fallen Immortal Secret Realm is perilous. Factions like the Ten Thousand Thunder Valley, the Ghost Gu Palace, and the Azure Blade Sect covet your constitutions and opportunities; they will stop at nothing to take them." Ye Chentian’s voice was calm but heavy. He first handed the jade slip engraved with flame patterns to Xiao Yi. "This is the advanced mental cultivation for the 'Burning Heaven Battle Body.' It allows you to burn your battle body in moments of crisis, increasing your combat power by fifty percent for a short time, though you will be weakened for three days afterward. Use it only in life-or-death situations."

He then handed over a crimson pouch. "Inside are three 'Explosive Flame Talismans.' Once detonated, they create a ten-mile sea of fire, capable of trapping a ninth-level Void Refining cultivator."

Upon hearing "Explosive Flame Talismans," Xiao Yi was overcome with excitement. "Talismans containing the origin of the Southern Bright Profound Fire... Master’s generosity is such that one could not find a second example in the entire Great Qian Dynasty!" He accepted them with both hands, his Burning Heaven Emperor Flame resonating with the pouch. "Disciple will take Master's teachings to heart."

Ye Chentian turned to Su Wan and handed her a jade slip glowing with azure light. "This is the supplement to the 'Sword Heart Clarity Record,' detailing the ultimate form of the 'Flawless Sword Domain.' It can purify all evil." He then passed her a blue pouch. "Inside is a 'Void Sword Talisman'; crush it to teleport a hundred yards."

Su Wan accepted the items, the Flowing Light Purple Lightning Sword at her fingertips humming in response. She bowed. "Disciple understands. I will not fail Master's gift."

***

"Remember," Ye Chentian said, his gaze sweeping over them, his tone suddenly deepening. "While the Fallen Immortal Secret Realm offers many opportunities, your lives are more important. If you are truly outmatched, crush the transmission talisman, and I will come for you."

"Understood!" the two replied in unison, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Three days later, at the "Abyss of the Fallen Immortal," a forbidden area of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The edges of the abyss were already crowded with cultivators from various factions; a dense sea of people stretched for ten miles. Among them were ancient sects with ten thousand years of history, rising newcomers like the Xuantian Sect, and even reclusive old monsters, all staring intently at the spatial rift gradually taking shape at the bottom of the abyss.

Suddenly, two figures descended on rays of spiritual light, instantly drawing the attention of the crowd.

Xiao Yi, with crimson-gold flame patterns flowing across his body, made no effort to conceal his seventh-level Void Refining aura. The pressure emitted by his Fire Spirit Sacred Body caused nearby cultivators to instinctively retreat. It was the absolute suppression derived from his constitution.

"It’s Xiao Yi of the Xuantian Sect! His Fire Spirit Sacred Body has condensed to such a level—he is only a step away from manifestation!" a knowledgeable old cultivator exclaimed. His finger trembled as he pointed to the fire lotus in Xiao Yi's palm. "That is the manifestation of the Burning Heaven Emperor Flame! Rumor has it that this fire can burn through the protective spiritual light of a Spirit Transformation expert!"

Beside him, Su Wan stood in white, her Innate Sword Body radiating a faint golden glow. The Flowing Light Purple Lightning Sword hung at her wrist, its chime as clear as a crane’s cry in the high heavens. Though her sixth-level Void Refining spiritual power was not as domineering as Xiao Yi’s, it was refined and pure. As she deployed her Sword Domain, the loose stones at the edge of the abyss hovered automatically, arranging themselves into a sword formation.

"Senior Sister Su’s Innate Sword Body is even better than before! Look at her Sword Domain—it can resonate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!" a cultivator who had witnessed her combat before exclaimed in awe.

The two stood side-by-side at the edge of the abyss, their gazes sweeping calmly over the crowd. Their invisible presence made the noisy crowd grow quiet.