In just a moment, a terrifying fluctuation of Divine Soul Power, accompanied by a vast wave of True Qi, instantly began to sweep through the entire cave.

Yu Zhengnan let out a miserable cry and quickly fled the cave. Yun Hao, however, sat down cross-legged with a grave expression, circulating all the True Qi in his body to resist the powerful Spirit Shock.

In moments, fine beads of sweat had formed on his forehead, and his face was frighteningly pale.

"Boy, do you have any idea what you’re doing?"

An old voice berated him with extreme displeasure from within Shouzhuo’s sea of consciousness.

"Get out of this young Daoist’s body!"

Zhao Rui shouted sharply, all the Acupoints in his body opening as he assaulted Shouzhuo’s sea of consciousness with his full power.

"Bastard! I am an Elder of the Qingcheng Sword Sect! How dare you offend a superior?"

The old voice cried out, a note of anxiety in its tone.

"I’m a fucking Elder of the Qingcheng Sword Sect too!"

Zhao Rui couldn’t care less who he was. If a person’s sea of Divine Soul Consciousness was completely occupied, it meant their soul was shattered and scattered.

’Does being an Elder of the Qingcheng Sword Sect give him the right to wantonly slaughter innocent disciples?’

’What kind of Elder is that?’

’I won’t acknowledge him!’

"You bastard."

The barrier formed by the old voice was already on the verge of collapse. He hadn’t expected Zhao Rui’s mastery of Divine Soul Power to be so formidable.

"Just wait until my true body arrives! I will flay you alive and pull out your tendons! Only that will appease the hatred in my heart. Ahhh!"

The old voice let out a fierce howl and abruptly vanished from Shouzhuo’s sea of consciousness.

At the same time, a hazy mist, like a bolt of silk, instantly vanished into the void-like mirror surface by the Crystal Stone Pool.

"E-Elder!"

Shouzhuo weakly opened his eyes. Just a boy of about ten, his gaze was filled with terror.

"Just now, someone in my head said he was the Martial Hall Elder of the Qingcheng Sword Sect... I’m so scared."

"It’s okay now."

Zhao Rui patted the boy’s small head, his expression somewhat complicated.

"Zhao Rui, that oppressive fluctuation just now... what was that?"

Yun Hao asked, looking at Zhao Rui with a solemn expression.

"A Divine Soul Consciousness claiming to be an Elder of the Qingcheng Sword Sect! It used some method to invade Shouzhuo’s sea of consciousness."

Zhao Rui said, frowning slightly.

"Divine Soul Consciousness? How did he cast a spell from such a distance?"

Yun Hao froze for a moment. Then, his pupils suddenly dilated as he looked with a hint of terror at the mirror-like space above the Crystal Stone Pool. "It came from there."

Zhao Rui nodded silently.

’The Phantom Demon escaped through here before, and now a so-called Qingcheng Elder has emerged from it.’

’This thing is most likely a bridge connecting two realms.’

’Other sects besides the one on Qingcheng Mountain must have them too, right?’

Zhao Rui spoke with a grave expression, "From now on, forbid all disciples from approaching Longevity Cave! Uncle Master Yun Hao, I have already organized the Cultivation Techniques. Of the eleven Martial Arts manuals, three are top-tier techniques of the Qingcheng Sword Sect. Uncle Master, you can cultivate one or two of them when you have the time..."

"Among these techniques, five can be cultivated rapidly using Crystal Stones. I’ve described the specific methods in the books. You will be responsible for transporting these Crystal Stones out of the cave for the disciples to use..."

Hearing Zhao Rui’s words, Yun Hao understood his meaning. A great change was imminent, and the Qingcheng Sword Sect had to increase its strength as quickly as possible.

"I’m going into seclusion to break through to the Divine Void Realm. Do not disturb me unless it is absolutely necessary!"

Zhao Rui’s gaze was heavy. ’Although I don’t know what the deal is with this so-called Qingcheng Sect Elder...’

’But as long as my strength is sufficient, I don’t care if they are righteous, evil, Buddhist, or demon. I follow the Dao in my own heart, and with it, I can go anywhere under heaven.’

"Don’t worry, I’ll make the arrangements!"

Yun Hao immediately nodded in agreement. In the current Qingcheng Sect, although Yu Zhengnan was the acting Sect Leader responsible for all matters big and small, he, Yun Hao, was the Sect’s core fighting strength, in charge of all Martial Dao Cultivation.

But when it came down to it, the only one who could change the Qingcheng Sword Sect’s policy with a single word was this "outsider" standing before him.

"Mm, time waits for no one, so I’ll say no more. Let’s each attend to our duties!"

With that, Zhao Rui strode out of the cave.

"The Divine Void Realm!"

Zhao Rui muttered. After leaving Longevity Cave, he ignored the saluting Daoists and took to the wild mountain paths. He deliberately chose the most difficult terrain: sheer cliffs, steep precipices, and gorges thick with dense forest and rushing streams.

He didn’t know why he always had to walk aimlessly whenever he wanted to achieve a breakthrough. Perhaps it was related to his habit from his previous life of running laps around the track whenever he was in a bad mood.

It allowed him to quickly forget himself and the world around him.

In any case, whatever the reason, Zhao Rui had set out once again!

This time, his destination wasn’t a city or a village, but desolate mountain ranges and canyons, a primeval forest where human footprints were scarce.

Zhao Rui forged a path through every mountain and built a bridge across every river. His eyes saw only one thing: the path forward and his breakthrough.

Just as Zhao Rui was single-mindedly focused on his breakthrough, in a certain strange land...

「In a majestic grand hall.」

An old voice roared again and again, filled with resentment and disbelief.

"How dare they!"

"If I find out who it was, I will never spare them!"

Just as the old voice finished speaking, another, more refined middle-aged voice spoke in a low tone.

"Cangwu, this attempt to cross the boundary has failed and consumed a great deal of resources. Another attempt will likely not be possible for at least half a year. You have handled this matter poorly. Go to the Forget Sorrow Cave and reflect on your misdeeds."

"Yes, Uncle Master!"

The old voice responded, helpless and resentful, and slowly withdrew from the grand hall. A clear trace of blood hung from the corner of his mouth.

’Since crossing the boundary is no longer feasible, our Qingcheng Sect can only wait for the great tide to arrive before making our move. But by doing so, we have already lost the initiative.’

After Cangwu departed, the middle-aged man’s voice sounded again.

"According to Cangwu Zi’s description, the people of the Ancient Land not only have formidable Power, but their Spirit Soul Techniques are also surprisingly potent. And he even said that man was also a Qingcheng Elder! Could it be that the Ancient Land’s Qingcheng Sect is particularly flourishing in this generation?"

"It’s not impossible. It’s just that if this is the case, I fear it will be difficult for us to subjugate them easily after we cross over..."