A hundred miles away, Mo Su Zhēnjūn had a narrow but successful passage through his Divine Transformation tribulation. He owed his success to this trial.
By fighting relentlessly in the small space, his blade techniques and Taoism had reached full maturity, allowing him to cement his foundation. Most importantly, the concentrated demonic qi in that pocket realm meant a single day of cultivation equaled thirty days in the outside world.
Blessed with massive amounts of pure demonic qi, his meridians were widened, enabling him to store greater reserves. When Jian Dan's breakthrough sent a giant demonic qi flow his way, it was enough to trigger his transformation. Fortunately his master had prepared a high-grade defensive formation disk ahead of time, ensuring his triumph.
When the spiritual rain fell, it immediately healed his tribulation burns. Mo Su Zhēnjūn emerged from his shattered defense formation, exuding Divine Transformation–stage presence. Every nearby cultivator, sensing his power, scattered away.
Only one person remained near the tribulation zone. After the tribulation subsided and Mo Su Zhēnjūn's aura spread, the figure rode atop a flying sword and rushed in.
Mo Su Zhēnjūn took a moment to cleanse himself with a Purifying Technique, then hovered in the air, observing Jian Dan's transformation.
"Congratulations on reaching Divine Transformation, Your Majesty," Ma Rong's voice called out from behind.
"Thank you. You've been standing guard here all along? Much appreciated."
"It's no burden. Your rise is the Heavenly Demon Palace's honor. My master has waited twenty years, and I kept watchers around the area."
"Twenty years? Not two hundred?"
Ma Rong paused, then recalculated. Indeed, it had been only twenty.
Mo Su Zhēnjūn realized the strange truth. In the spatial pocket, he and Jian Dan had endured only twenty years—but according to their soul-age they had experienced 278 years of trials.
Meanwhile Jian Dan was still seated in the pit. She had been battered mercilessly by the final wave of galactic lightning. Her body was shredded, yet her cultivation robe remained intact. The silver beetles adorning it had been fried and tumbled off.
Her own interior was in chaos. Every channel had been scorched, and streams of lightning were still rushing into her dantian.
Deep inside, the merged Yuányīng Jian Dan used her Taiji disk as a shield. When the refined lightning bolt hit, it was partially absorbed; one third struck her Yuányīng directly. Pain flickered across her face, but she surrendered to the energy, refining it slowly.
Around them three hundred cultivators watched, serums in hand—waiting to claim any fallen mastery or stolen treasures.
One Nascent Soul–stage master couldn't resist. He strode forward to loot Jian Dan's formation disk or storage ring. But before he could stand, a rotating crescent blade blew through him from below. His body fell, and after a moment, only a faint Yuányīng drifted free—and then that too was cleaved in two, dissipating into the air.
Mo Su Zhēnjūn arrived nearby. His divine sense confirmed the fallen master's Yuányīng was also split and gone within three breaths.
"Reckless fool," he murmured. Meanwhile Mó Yuè Zhǎn did not reappear—after felling the intruder, it silently returned to Jian Dan's side.
The merged Yuányīng within Jian Dan's dantian finally completed its refinement of the last lightning bolt. The Taiji disk retracted back into her soul. Along its edge a black-purple ring glowed and flickered before quieting.
Spiritual rain fell and colored the horizon. Above Jian Dan's head, an enormous projected image of Mó Yuè Zhǎn silently rotated, emitting sharp silver light. It then condensed into stars and was absorbed into Jian Dan's body along with the rain.
The spirit rain entered her meridians, rapidly healing her lightning scars. The fallen silver beetles on the ground also absorbed energy from her victorious tribulation transformation.
Half an hour later, Jian Dan opened her eyes. Her body brimmed with power. Her divine sense extended outward—her perception had advanced to early Divine Soul. She felt sharper, more in tune.
With a wave of her sleeve, the silver beetles returned to her cuffs and hem, settling quietly, ready for her command.
Her divine sense brushed the magnolia flower in her spiritual consiousness sea. The Cotton Candy spirit gently floated nearby. Sensing her mind, it paused and cried:
"Master, why are you ignoring me? I haven't felt you in so long!"
Its voice trembled with longing.
"Cotton Candy, be calm. I was trapped in an isolated realm. I couldn't contact you. Now I've ascended to Divine Transformation!"
"Congratulations, Master, congratulations!"
Cotton Candy spun joyfully. It pleaded to be released to accompany Jian Dan. She made it smaller and hung it from her earlobe. With her ascension now evident, any cultivators lingering here left swiftly. Those seeking friendship stayed back, wary of Mo Su Zhēnjūn's presence.
Jian Dan flashed in front of Mo Su Zhēnjūn. They clasped hands in congratulations. Mo Su Zhēnjūn spoke decisively:
"Jian Dao You, we've both just broken through. We need to consolidate our cultivation. Would you return to the Heavenly Demon Palace with me? The sect will provide full resources."
"Is that appropriate?"
"Of course. Your sect lineage is under Heavenly Demon Palace. You wield Mó Yuè Zhǎn—my sect's lineage artifact. And your techniques are part of our orthodox system."
Jian Dan lowered her gaze. She did not immediately refuse. She understood that once she revealed Mó Yuè Zhǎn, she would attract attention from Heavenly Demon Palace disciples. Fortunately, Mo Su Zhēnjūn was nearby.
After a moment's thought, Jian Dan looked up and smiled:
"In that case, I'll need your recommendation, Mo Su Zhēnjūn."
"So be it."
"I'm curious—how is Divine Transformation Palace Lord Meiyan? Is she well?"
"Meiyan Zhēnzūn is now a Mahayana Zhēnzūn of Heavenly Demon Palace. She is secluded in the forbidden zone, only emerging for major matters."
Jian Dan's question confirmed for Mo Su Zhēnjūn that she had indeed inherited from the Demon Enchantress Zhēnzūn. No matter what, he needed to recommend her return to the sect—especially since her combat strength matched his.
"Mo Su Zhēnjūn, the young palace lord learned of your breakthrough. She's on her way here." Ma Rong, who had remained quiet, stepped forward holding a communication talisman to report immediately.
"Return to Huanle City."