Deep in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, Tang Xiaoqi forcibly suppressed the magnificent energy surging within him like a tide, about to break out of its shell. The Nascent Soul opportunity had arrived, but he knew deeply that shattering the core to form the Nascent Soul was no small matter. It required not only profound personal foundation but also an absolutely safe place for seclusion with abundant spiritual energy that could handle the heavenly tribulation, as well as the full support of his sect as backing. Qingxu Temple was undoubtedly the best choice.
He did not delay. With a slight movement of his spiritual sense, he instantly locked onto Zhao Tiezhu who was "sparring" in body techniques with a spirit monkey in a nearby forest, and the rabbit spirit dozing on a tree branch, clutching a night pearl it had obtained from who knows where.
"Tiezhu, Brother Rabbit, we're returning to the sect." Xiao Qi's voice directly rang in both their minds.
Hearing this, Zhao Tiezhu punched away that screeching spirit monkey, scratched his head, and said in a muffled voice: "Return to the sect? Brother, I just got warmed up..."
The rabbit spirit gave a start, its little paws tightly clutching the night pearl, its ruby-like eyes flashing with a trace of excitement as it whooshed onto Xiao Qi's shoulder, squeaking as if asking if something good was happening.
Xiao Qi didn't explain much, only saying: "I'm preparing to condense the Nascent Soul."
This simple sentence made Zhao Tiezhu instantly widen his bull-like eyes, all thoughts of sparring thrown to the nine heavens, his face showing only shock and wild joy: "Na... Nascent Soul?! Brother, you're going to form the Nascent Soul?! That's great! I knew Brother would definitely make it!" He was so excited he didn't know what to do with himself, even happier than if he had broken through himself.
The rabbit spirit also stood upright on its hind legs, vigorously patting Xiao Qi's neck with its little paws, squeaking and chattering, its excitement overflowing.
Xiao Qi smiled slightly. With a sweep of his sleeve, a gentle spiritual power wrapped around Zhao Tiezhu and the rabbit spirit. In the next moment, the three of them transformed into a nearly transparent stream of light, tearing through the clouds at a speed far beyond what ordinary Golden Core cultivators could imagine, rushing like wind and lightning toward Qingxu Temple.
With Xiao Qi's current preliminary mastery of spatial power and profound cultivation, the journey that would normally take over a month took only a few short days before the familiar mountain gate outline appeared before his eyes.
From a distance, Qingxu Temple was wreathed in clouds and mist, its seventy-two peaks like swords pointing to the sky, magnificent in spectacle. The mountain protection formation operated ceaselessly, its spiritual light flickering, appearing even more solid and substantial than when he left, clearly indicating that the sect had developed excellently over these years, with strength steadily improving.
Xiao Qi did not conceal his aura. When his unhidden, magnificent pressure that had already triggered faint resonance with heaven and earth spiritual energy approached the mountain gate, the entire Qingxu Temple was instantly alerted.
"Boom—!"
The warning bell before the main peak's Lingxiao Hall tolled unprompted, ringing nine times in succession, the sound traveling a hundred li! This was the highest specification bell toll that only rang when the sect encountered great changes or when extremely distinguished guests visited.
Before the bell sound faded, countless figures shot up into the sky from various peaks. Some rode sword light, some flew on boats, some directly flew through the air, all gathering toward the mountain gate direction. The leading few, with particularly powerful auras, were the Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng who was acting sect master, the Enforcement Hall Head Third Senior Sister Liu Yun, and the Artifact Hall Elder Second Senior Brother Luo Feng (though his cultivation hadn't recovered, his status was high).
When they saw that figure on the clouds, green-robed and unrestrained, his aura deep as the sea, everyone froze, then erupted into earth-shaking cheers!
"It's Little Junior Brother! Little Junior Brother has returned!"
"Purification True Monarch! Tang Sect Uncle Ancestor has returned!"
"Wonderful! Sect Uncle has finally returned to the mountain!"
Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng quickly stepped forward. Though his face remained steady, his eyes couldn't hide the excitement and relief. He grabbed Xiao Qi's arm, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor: "Xiao Qi! You... you've finally returned! No news for years, the entire sect has been worried!"
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun still had that cool and beautiful appearance, but the look in her eyes toward Xiao Qi softened considerably, the corner of her mouth slightly curving upward: "At least you know to come back." Though her tone was light, her concern was deep.
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng limped forward (his injuries caused slight mobility issues), forcefully patting Xiao Qi's shoulder, hehe laughing: "Good kid! This aura... unfathomable, truly unfathomable! Quick, tell your senior brother, what good treasures did you get? Any new curious things suitable for my research?"
Xiao Qi looked at the familiar and intimate faces before him, a warm current rising in his heart. This was his root, his home. He smiled and exchanged greetings with his senior brothers and sisters, then nodded to the many gathered disciples.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xiao Qi's expression turned serious. He said to Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng: "Senior Brother, I've returned this time because I've sensed the Nascent Soul opportunity has arrived. I need to enter seclusion immediately to attack the Nascent Soul realm!"
At these words, the originally noisy scene instantly fell silent, so quiet a needle could be heard dropping. Everyone held their breath, eyes wide as they looked at Xiao Qi, their faces filled with disbelief, wild joy, and shock!
Nascent Soul!
That was the true watershed on the path of cultivation. Once successful, one's lifespan would dramatically increase, supernatural powers would be boundless, and one could be called an ancestor of a region! How many years had it been since Qingxu Temple produced a Nascent Soul cultivator? The last Nascent Soul ancestor had to be traced back hundreds of years! Now, the most outstanding disciple of their Qingxu Temple's current generation, was about to attempt attacking this realm that countless cultivators dreamed of!
Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the excitement in his heart, his eyes instantly becoming sharp and determined. He looked around, his voice steady and powerful, spreading throughout the mountain gate: "Pass my command! From today, Qingxu Temple closes the mountain for a hundred days, relaxed externally but tight internally, activating highest alert! All disciples outside, except for essential posts, are to be recalled! Sect resources are to be prioritized for Little Junior Brother's Nascent Soul formation! The entire sect's strength is to help Little Junior Brother achieve Nascent Soul!"
"We obey the Sect Master's decree!" A mountain-and-sea-like response rose up, all Qingxu Temple disciples' faces showing the excitement and determination of sharing in the glory.
With the order given, the entire Qingxu Temple operated like a precision machine at high speed.
Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng personally took charge at Lingxiao Hall, coordinating the overall situation and deploying resources. He opened the sect's secret treasury, taking out one by one the precious materials accumulated over generations for assisting Nascent Soul formation: "Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Calming Wood Core" that could stabilize the soul and resist inner demons; "Nine Heavens Jade Dew" that could instantly replenish large amounts of pure spiritual power; "Diamond Thunder-Pattern Stone" that could strengthen the physical body and resist heavenly tribulation; and several ancient jade slips recording predecessors' Nascent Soul formation experiences and precautions.
Third Senior Sister Liu Yun was responsible for sect defense and the arrangement of the protection formation. She personally led Enforcement Hall disciples and Formation Hall elders to patrol the seventy-two peaks, reinforcing each formation node. Meanwhile, within the sect's forbidden ground "Ascension Valley," they began arranging an ancient "Zhou Tian Star Spirit Protection Formation" inherited from antiquity. This formation needed to mobilize the power of the stars, forming an absolute protective domain. It could not only gather massive spiritual energy to assist the breakthrough but also greatly weaken the heavenly tribulation's power. It was one of Qingxu Temple's most treasured protective formations, only used for sect survival or when someone attacked the Nascent Soul realm. Setting up this formation consumed enormous resources, yet no one raised an objection.
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng, though his cultivation wasn't high, had a flexible mind and profound knowledge of artifact refining. He led the Artifact Hall disciples, working day and night to inspect and perfect the earth fire spirit veins within Ascension Valley, ensuring stable energy supply. At the same time, he rummaged through everything, finding several ancient treasure fragments with unique functions, attempting to repair or modify them to see if they could be of use during the tribulation, even if only to block one tribulation lightning bolt.
Zhao Tiezhu wasn't idle either. He volunteered to lead the body cultivation academy disciples, responsible for the outermost perimeter alert and patrol. No movement of wind or grass could escape their eyes. The rabbit spirit put its treasure-hunting talent to use, wandering around the sect's storehouses and surrounding mountains, and actually found several extremely well-hidden spirit herbs that had wondrous effects on nourishing the soul, presenting them to Xiao Qi like offering treasures.
The entire Qingxu Temple, from Nascent Soul (currently none), Golden Core elders, down to Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment disciples, everyone was mobilized, sharing the same goal, the same hope—helping their Tang Xiaoqi successfully form the Nascent Soul!
Xiao Qi watched the busy figures of the sect for his sake, feeling the unreserved trust and support, his heart filled with warmth and strength. He knew he wasn't fighting alone; behind him stood the entire Qingxu Temple.
After all preparations were complete, Xiao Qi bid farewell to his senior brothers and sisters and fellow disciples. Under countless expectant and blessing gazes, he stepped into Ascension Valley, now shrouded by the Zhou Tian Star Spirit Protection Formation, with spiritual energy so dense it had become substantial mist.
The valley was silent, with only an ancient altar in the center emitting a gentle glow.
Xiao Qi sat cross-legged upon the altar, taking one last look at the many figures faintly visible outside the valley who were protecting him, then slowly closed his eyes.
In the next moment, he completely released the suppression on the magnificent energy within him, his mind sinking into his dantian, guiding that perfected Dao Seed and vast spiritual power to officially begin the attack on the most crucial checkpoint on the cultivation path—shattering the core to form the Nascent Soul!
Above Qingxu Temple, winds and clouds began to rise.