The news of Tang Xiao Qi's return to Qingxu Temple was like a boulder splashing into a calm lake, causing quite a stir among the Three Realms Alliance's upper echelons. Countless message talismans and spiritual sense communications crossed the void, expressing concern and anticipation. However, after an in-depth discussion with Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng and several core close friends, sharing his insights from tempering in the mortal world and judgment about the Spirit Transformation opportunity, Xiao Qi declined all visitors and celebrations.
His goal was clear and unwavering—the Back Mountain Forbidden Zone.
That was the turning point of his destiny. Back then, when he was the talent-ordinary youth mocked as "Littlewaste," it was near that ancient medicinal garden area designated forbidden zone that he first truly awakened the ancestral jade pendant's power, saved the Heart-clearing Grass, and formed an inseparable bond with the rabbit spirit. It was also there that he began to realize the seemingly ordinary frying pan's extraordinary nature.
That place carried his earliest confusion, exploration, and hope.
Now he was the renowned True Lord of Purification throughout the Three Realms, Nascent Soul peak and great completion, just one step from breakthrough. He chose to return here not for nostalgia but from the Dao's mysterious guidance. He needed at the place where his dream began to draw the most complete circle on this long cultivation journey and open a new chapter.
Outside the forbidden zone, Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng had personally arranged layers of the most stringent protection formations. Led by Third Sister Liu Yun commanding elite disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall, and Zhao Tiezhu commanding body cultivation guards, they took shifts guarding twenty-four hours, ensuring not even a bird could intrude without reason. Throughout Qingxu Temple and all alliance upper echelons aware of the situation, everyone understood what was occurring, all holding their breath in silent attention.
Inside the forbidden zone, it remained that desolate and ancient scene. Rubble and weeds, only that long-dried spirit spring eye and the land that once nurtured Heart-clearing Grass retained traces of the past. Time seemed to have left little new mark here.
Xiao Qi walked alone, steps light, gaze slowly sweeping every familiar corner. Finally, beside that dried spirit spring eye, he found a flat blue stone and sat cross-legged.
He didn't immediately begin breaking through the bottleneck, but first performed final "settling the heart."
He closed his eyes. In his consciousness sea, past scenes played like a carousel: from Xu Lan Mountain Manor's destruction night, to accidentally entering Qingxu Temple; from being accepted by Master Xuan Lin to daily banter and intense training with senior and junior brothers; from firstdescend the mountain mission to life-and-death battles and inheritance in secret realms; frompast revelation to heartrending final duel with his father; from Qingxu Temple's fierce defense to ultimate collision with the demon head in the void; then later tempering in the mortal world, traveling everywhere, experiencing life's various conditions, nature's might, the weight of faith, the maze of power...
Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hatred, passion; protection and sacrifice; hope and despair... countless emotions, countless scenes, ultimately settled into tranquility, becoming his Dao heart's most solid foundation.
The Nascent Soul in his body no longer trembled but emitted a warm and complete brilliance, achieving unprecedented harmony with his spirit and body. Before his complete heart state, the Spirit Transformation barrier's every fine crack was clearly visible.
The time had come.
Xiao Qi slowly opened his eyes, gazecalm like an ancient well yet containingthe resolve to create all. His hands naturally hung over his knees, forming an ancient seal.
No earth-shaking momentum eruption, no vast spiritual power surging. He merely used his flawless heart state as guide, with his ultimate understanding of the "protection" Dao as core, lightly touched the barrier blocking countless geniuses from Spirit Transformation.
hum—
A slight hum from deep within his soul, as if from the beginning of heaven and earth.
Instantly, centered on the blue stone where he sat, the entire back mountain forbidden zone, even the entire Qingxu Temple mountain range's spiritual energy began subtly trembling in an arcane rhythm. Above, wind clouds gathered silently, the clear sun dimming somewhat. An indescribable, as if from a higher dimensional realm's pressure, slowly permeated like mercury filling the ground.
This pressure wasn't domineering but carried a solemnity commanding all things, causing laws to manifest.
Third Sister Liu Yun, Zhao Tiezhu and others guarding outside the forbidden zone sensed this change first, faces instantly extremely grave, instinctively gripping weapons, scanning surroundings vigilantly. Though they knew the real test was inside, they had to ensure no external interference affected the person within.
In the main hall, Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng handling official duties suddenly raised his head, gazing toward the back mountain direction, eyes full of anticipation and uncontainable worry. He could sense this wasn't spiritual power level impact but a deeper-level transformation concerning life's essence.
At Alliance headquarters, Second Brother Luo Feng's virtual image monitoring Qingxu Temple's energy fluctuations instantly solidified, numbers representing energy levels began rising slightly yet continuously. He murmured: "It began... the true Spirit Transformation tribulation, the first step isn't thunder or fire, but 'inquiring the Dao'..."
Throughout Qingxu Temple, ten thousand disciples, regardless of awareness, simultaneously felt their hearts tighten, as if something important was occurring, all stopping what they were doing, unconsciously gazing toward the back mountain forbidden zone.
Tang Xiao Qi had officially begun secluding for Spirit Transformation breakthrough.
No one knew how long this process would take, nor what dangers it contained. Everyone could only wait, holding their breath in anticipation. Anticipating he would take that legendary step, becoming the first Spirit Transformation cultivator in this realm since ancient times!
In the back mountain forbidden zone, on the blue stone, Xiao Qi's figure grew increasingly blurred and mysterious amid the gathering celestial phenomena. A critical transformation concerning personal and Three Realms destiny was beginning in this silence.