Dongbo Xueying stepped into the garden with a faint smile, humbly saying, “Great Venerable Pusu, Sword Venerable Yao, Great Monarch Guxiao, Black Monarch, and the Hunter—what an honor it is for me, Feixue, to encounter all five of you here.”
“Hmph.”
A gaunt, red-eyed elder clad in loose crimson robes sneered coldly. Through the gaps in his robes, one could see his body was composed entirely of dark-red jade-like bones, devoid of flesh or skin, with wisps of dark-red mist swirling around them. Only his head appeared somewhat normal. “Boy Feixue, since you’ve managed to draw the five of us here, you must have guessed that there’s something of great value here. But the greater the reward, the greater the danger. I advise you to leave now, or you’ll soon be killed and expelled.”
“Great Monarch Guxiao, where in the Heart Palace of the Realm isn’t dangerous?” Dongbo Xueying replied with a smile. “I’m already fortunate to have made it this far. If there’s an opportunity here, I’ll naturally take my chances. If I fail, so be it. But if I gain something, that’s just a stroke of luck.”
“Well said,” Sword Venerable Yao nodded. “The Heart Palace is perilous at every turn. Taking risks here might be for the best. Emperor Feixue, stay by my side and assist me and Brother Pusu with your Illusory Realm techniques. We’ll do our best to protect you.”
Venerable Pusu frowned slightly, glancing at Sword Venerable Yao and transmitting a message: “Sword Venerable, the Eighteen Tribulation Passes are fraught with danger. You want him to assist us? We’ll have to split our focus to protect him!”
“Pusu, his soul techniques are useful,” Sword Venerable Yao replied via transmission.
“Hmph. I think the two of us are enough. Splitting our attention to protect him… might cost us dearly,” Pusu countered. He wasn’t overly concerned for himself—as a master of the Time Dao, his survival skills were arguably the best among those present, even surpassing the Hunter of the Allworlds Ancient Nation. His worry was for Sword Venerable Yao, the youngest Great Venerable of the Cang Clan, whose swordsmanship, while peerless, lacked in defensive prowess.
Was it wise to divide their focus in such a dangerous place?
“Don’t worry. We’ll prioritize our own safety first, then lend him a hand. Besides, he’s still one of ours from the Summerwind Ancient Nation,” Sword Venerable Yao reassured.
“Fine,” Pusu relented, saying no more.
He cast a cold glance at Dongbo Xueying. “Later, just focus on using your soul techniques to assist me and Sword Venerable Yao. Ignore the others from different nations.”
“Come here,” Sword Venerable Yao beckoned with a smile.
Sensing the goodwill, Dongbo Xueying didn’t refuse. “Thank you, Sword Venerable Yao,” he said, moving to stand beside him.
Though confident in his own abilities, he wouldn’t turn down the chance to ally with two Great Venerables like Pusu and Sword Venerable Yao. The further he progressed, the greater the potential rewards. Despite his recent gains in the Hunyuan Tower, he wasn’t about to complain about more opportunities.
—
Dongbo Xueying stood quietly beside Sword Venerable Yao and Venerable Pusu, observing.
Great Venerables, wielding peak treasures, possessed combat power comparable to the ultimate realm of Cosmic Gods. Yet, their strengths varied based on their individual attainments and the nature of their treasures. Among those present, the most formidable threats were Venerable Pusu and the Hunter from the Allworlds Ancient Nation—both ancient and seasoned Great Venerables.
“Emperor Feixue,” Sword Venerable Yao transmitted, “we’ve now entered the Eighteen Tribulation Passes, a rather infamous trial within the Heart Palace.”
“Eighteen Tribulation Passes?” Dongbo Xueying was puzzled.
His master, the Lord of the Southern Cloud Nation, had only entered the Heart Palace a few times. While the Eighteen Tribulation Passes were well-known among the core elites of the Six Ancient Nations, Dongbo Xueying had never heard of them.
“The Eighteen Tribulation Passes consist of successive trials. Every three passes cleared yields rewards, with the final pass granting a Supreme Treasure,” Sword Venerable Yao explained.
Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
A Supreme Treasure?
Though the final reward couldn’t compare to the Hunyuan Tower’s offerings, the Tower was a one-time opportunity for holders of the Realmheart Token. The Eighteen Tribulation Passes, however, seemed to be a recurring challenge.
“Thank you for the insight, Sword Venerable Yao. I’d have been lost otherwise,” Dongbo Xueying transmitted.
“It’s nothing. You’d have learned soon enough. The next trial we face is the Eighth Tribulation Pass,” Sword Venerable Yao continued. “Pity you arrived so late. The earlier passes are easier. Had you come sooner, you might have reaped more rewards. By the eighth pass, the danger is considerable. Stay vigilant.”
“Understood,” Dongbo Xueying replied, inwardly grateful.
He could tell Venerable Pusu was reluctant to protect him. Among the three great clans of the Summerwind Ancient Nation, the Xia and Cang Clans typically looked down on outsiders. Venerable Pusu was from the Xia Clan, Sword Venerable Yao from the Cang Clan—while Dongbo Xueying was merely an upper guest of the Fan Clan. By all logic, they shouldn’t bother with him. Yet Sword Venerable Yao was extending a hand.
To the outside world, Dongbo Xueying’s strength still paled in comparison to these renowned Great Venerables.
Moreover, Sword Venerable Yao had shared the secrets of the Eighteen Tribulation Passes, even mentioning the Supreme Treasure. Such generosity made Dongbo Xueying wonder—was this kindness excessive? While grateful, he couldn’t help but suspect ulterior motives. Would he be exploited at a critical moment during the trials?
“Best to stay cautious,” Dongbo Xueying mused. Until any deceit surfaced, he’d remain appreciative of Sword Venerable Yao’s aid.
Time flowed silently.
“Don’t rush. Each tribulation pass is typically spaced a thousand years apart. The Seventh Pass just ended before you entered the garden. The next trial won’t come for nearly a millennium,” Sword Venerable Yao informed him.
“I see.”
Dongbo Xueying wasn’t in a hurry.
The six in the garden had split into four factions. Dongbo Xueying’s group of three stood together, while the others kept their distance. Great Monarch Guxiao had even retreated to a corner, sitting cross-legged.
Dongbo Xueying likewise sat on the stone floor beside Venerable Pusu and Sword Venerable Yao, quietly cultivating. In his mind, he reviewed the *Seven Strikes of Hunyuan*.
The *Seven Strikes of Hunyuan* had indeed unveiled a gateway to loftier realms for him. At his present stage, it granted him mastery over Hunyuan Force—a power that eclipsed even his Shadow Clone Technique, Great Void Transference, or the Path of Hunyuan. Techniques such as the Crimson Cloud Combat Art, Heaven-Piercing Strike, or Beauty Like a Painting appeared rudimentary by comparison.
Thus, Dongbo Xueying resolved to refine his techniques—Red Cloud Combat Art, Piercing the Heavens, Beauty Like Painting—by incorporating insights from the *Seven Strikes of Hunyuan*.
The “Red Cloud Domain,” being a spatial manipulation technique, had already been improved shortly after mastering the First Strike of Hunyuan. Others, like Beauty Like Painting, diverged too much from the First Strike, allowing only partial enhancements.
“Given enough time, I’ll refine both Great Void Transference and the Path of Hunyuan,” Dongbo Xueying mused.
The Path of Hunyuan was exceedingly complex. Having mastered the first layer of Hunyuan Body Refinement, the second layer—the pinnacle of Emperor Xia’s creation—would elevate his physical prowess to near Cosmic God Tier Three. Perfecting it would take ages, far longer than the Heart Palace would permit.
In contrast, refining simpler techniques like Red Cloud Combat Art, Piercing the Heavens, or the Five-Phase Seal Art was more feasible. Having fused six meridians—especially the five of the Five-Phase Seal Art—he could now execute the seal art flawlessly even without the Five-Phase Orb, making refinement far easier.
—
Time slipped away unnoticed. A millennium passed in the blink of an eye. Venerable Pusu, Sword Venerable Yao, and Dongbo Xueying had long since risen, standing vigilant and ready.
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