Chapter 88
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Chapter 88: The Realm of Celestial Beings
"Du Jianming, Sect Master Sun, I won’t interfere with your grudges. Set them aside for now. If anyone delays the opening of the Secret Vault, don’t blame my Divine Sword for showing no mercy," Ouyang Wentian declared coldly, his eyes gleaming as he glanced at the towering light beam. He turned sharply toward Du Jianming, his voice sharp.
"Ouyang Wentian, you dare order me?" Du Jianming snarled, whirling around like a mad dog.
Ouyang Wentian remained silent. A violent burst of purple light erupted from his body, piercing the sky. The light solidified into an overwhelming aura, faintly shaping into the form of a colossal Divine Sword.
An indescribable pressure radiated outward, suffocating everything within several kilometers. The murderous intent was palpable, as though the blade had already tasted blood.
Du Jianming’s pupils shrank. "Celestial realm… This is the celestial realm! You’ve survived the human tribulation and reached the Sixth-layer Foundation Establishment celestial realm! And you’re already at its peak!"
Sun Yidao and Elder Yin sucked in sharp breaths.
The celestial realm—the sixth level of Foundation Establishment—marked the threshold where Dan Fluid within the body condensed to its limit, nourishing the elixir cavities before coalescing into a core resembling a Golden Pill. Perfect refinement would shatter the False Pill, ascending one to the Golden Pill stage.
Elder Yin had overcome one of the three disasters over a decade ago, reaching the Fifth-Level human tribulation stage. Yet even now, she’d failed to grasp the celestial realm’s principles.
The gap between human and celestial was vast—a tenfold chasm in power.
Awe filled the crowd as they stared at Ouyang Wentian.
His gaze swept over them, all traces of gentleness gone. The authority of the Absolute Sword Peak’s master radiated from him.
The Heavenly Sword Sect, Jin Kingdom’s foremost sect, boasted four Peak Masters rivaling each other in strength. Once top contenders for the Sect Leader position, their status had dimmed five years ago when Murong Wuqing—a twenty-year-old prodigy—achieved Foundation Establishment, becoming the sect’s greatest talent in millennia.
Though Murong Wuqing was groomed as the next Sect Leader with endless training resources, his current cultivation still lagged behind the Peak Masters. Ouyang Wentian, master of the Absolute Sword Peak, stood at the Sixth-Level celestial realm—a pinnacle expert in the Jin Kingdom.
Under Ouyang Wentian’s oppressive aura, Du Jianming fell silent. Despite his own Fifth-Level human tribulation cultivation, provoking a celestial realm expert would be folly.
"Sun Yidao, I’ll spare you today on Ouyang Wentian’s account. But expect the Du family to cleanse your Ba Dao Sect soon," Du Jianming spat, sheathing his golden spear.
Sun Yidao’s hair bristled. "Try it, and I’ll see your corpse buried!"
Du Jianming sneered but clamped his mouth shut under Ouyang Wentian’s sword-like glare.
"Now that the second layer’s passage is open," Ouyang Wentian’s voice boomed, "decide how to proceed."
"By prior agreement," Sun Yidao called, approaching with his disciples, "the Heavenly Sword Sect opened the path. They should enter first, followed by the rest."
"Agreed," Elder Yin croaked, hobbling forward unsteadily.
Ouyang Wentian smiled. "Unwise. Let’s form teams. The treasures are already allotted—no one would dare steal under watch. Allowing one sect first risks greedy hands."
"Peak Master Ouyang jest!" Sun Yidao laughed, his silver battle knife strapped to his back. "The Heavenly Sword Sect is our kingdom’s pride. Who would doubt your elite disciples?"
"Exactly!" Elder Yin wheezed.
Their feigned sincerity met Ouyang Wentian’s polite refusal. All three were cunning. What if the passage led to death, not treasure? Sending elites recklessly could doom their sects. Even the mighty Heavenly Sword Sect hesitated—why wouldn’t the others?
"Enough dithering!" Du Jianming scoffed. "If you cowards won’t go, the Du family will. But don’t whine if we claim the best treasures!"
Ouyang Wentian, Sun Yidao, and Elder Yin exchanged glances. Sending this fool first was a blessing.
"Perhaps we should enter together," Ouyang Wentian mused, pretending reluctance.
"No," Sun Yidao insisted. "The Heavenly Sword Sect deserves precedence."
Elder Yin nodded. "Respect where it’s due."
Du Jianming flushed. "Since you’re all spineless, the Du family leads! Block us, and face our wrath!"
The trio feigned hesitation, inwardly rejoicing.
"Very well," Ouyang Wentian sighed. "Clan Leader Du may proceed. We’ll follow shortly."
"Remember our pact," Elder Yin rasped between coughs. "Restrain your disciples from hoarding treasures."
Sun Yidao glared but stayed silent.
Du Jianming laughed, beckoning his disciples toward the rippling portal. Dozens entered—Qi refining disciples and two Foundation Establishment elders—vanishing instantly into the watery light.
Ouyang Wentian’s group watched, lips twitching with suppressed smiles, before calmly directing their own disciples to wait and observe.
*
Within the Hualun Secret Vault’s great tomb…
Ye Yun and Su Ling clutched each other’s hands, palms damp with sweat. Darkness enveloped them, timeless and suffocating.
Ye Yun tried counting seconds but lost track almost immediately. His mind fogged, as though time itself had warped.
Suddenly, the darkness shattered. Blinding light revealed two blazing suns scorching the sky, heat distorting the air.
Yellow sand stretched endlessly, whipped into swirling storms by the furnace-like wind.
