Deep within the Yuan Martial Academy in Stone Country's Imperial City, a maid clad in plain clothes hurriedly walked, a portrait in her hands.
In no time, she entered the bamboo-fenced courtyard.
Chen Shixian slowly opened her eyes.
The maid said, "Miss, something terrible has happened!"
"Speak!"
"A challenger from the Wuji Sect has already entered the borders of Stone Country." She handed over the portrait. "This is from the Grand State Master for you."
It was Guang Xiaoyu. Remarkably lifelike, vivid in every detail.
Had Guang Xiaoyu been there, she would undoubtedly have declared magnanimously, Who drew this? This Emperor shall reward them!
Below were a few lines of text: Wuji Sect's Qingfeng Disciple Guang Xiaoyu, 18 years old, Fifth Heaven of the Breaking Sun Realm, cultivation technique unknown, below-average aptitude, below-average talent, and no Destiny God Weapon.
She had recently clinched first place in the Wuji Sect's rookie contest, but the achievement was highly inflated.
Chen Shixian was speechless. Has the Wuji Sect truly run out of people? I am a Divine Body, after all! My cultivation is at the Sixth Heaven of the Condensed Soul, vastly superior to the Breaking Sun Realm. And this challenger... her aptitude and talent are rated 'below-average,' she has no Destiny God Weapon, and her cultivation technique is unknown! To send someone like that to challenge me—isn't that simply sending her to her death?
Or does this mean the Wuji Sect has no intention of winning at all? Could it be... they want to use my hand to kill Guang Xiaoyu?
"Go investigate Guang Xiaoyu's identity and background." Chen Shixian sensed the matter wasn't as simple as it appeared. This girl named Guang Xiaoyu must have something unusual about her.
After the maid left, news of the Wuji Sect Disciple's challenge against the Divine Body spread rapidly—throughout the academy, the imperial city... Everyone was astonished, and discussions abounded.
Having cultivated as a Divine Body for just two years, she had already reached the Sixth Heaven of the Condensed Soul. Such an achievement truly paralleled that of a Young Emperor. It was no exaggeration to call her invincible among her peers.
And yet, the Wuji Sect still chose to challenge, still chose to honor the appointment.
Truly admirable courage!
But when they learned that the one arriving for the duel was just a young girl at the Fifth Heaven of the Breaking Sun Realm, everyone was stunned.
Yu Chang'an also found it unbelievable. "The Fifth Heaven of the Breaking Sun Realm?" he muttered. Have they gone mad?
Indeed, it seemed they had.
Basic cultivation equals Body Refining? Shi Yi found it incomprehensible. I'm just a mortal. How can anyone believe such nonsense?
Yet, Guang Xiaoyu believed it.
Several days passed quietly in the mountains, with no sign of activity from her.
Chen Pingping remained calm, showing no signs of worry. The little black dog, Hei, circled him, while the Earth Chicken occasionally rolled its eyes, eager to escape but kept in place by his power.
Dragging the old yellow ox, Guang Xiaoyu ventured alone into the depths of the mountains. She intended to slay several mighty fierce beasts barehanded.
It should be easy enough, right?
But from the moment she restrained her powers, she realized the gravity of the situation.
Without her power, she was no different from an ordinary person.
To confront formidable fierce beasts as a mortal was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, or a mantis attempting to stop a chariot.
When she faced the first ferocious beast, she was nearly eaten. An unprecedented mix of sensations enveloped her—tension, fear, the chilling specter of death—all swirling within her.
Guang Xiaoyu had never imagined that the world of an ordinary Cultivator could be so arduous.
Fierce beasts she could have once suppressed with a mere wave of her hand now seemed like insurmountable mountains, utterly unbeatable.
Finally, she escaped the battlefield by the skin of her teeth.
How could this be? Why? I, the dignified Demon Emperor, can't even kill a single low-level fierce beast! This is absurd!
Guang Xiaoyu clenched her small fists, her expression grim and crestfallen. She couldn't accept this reality.
The world as she understood it was collapsing, one piece at a time.
Basic cultivation? What exactly is 'basic'?
But the Demon Emperor's mental fortitude was not for show. She calmed down after a brief moment and began to contemplate her path forward.
If Senior Brother didn't deceive me... if consolidating my foundation truly can defeat a Divine Body... if this is the only choice... then I shouldn't feel fear.
Guang Xiaoyu slowly opened her eyes, a strong confidence shining deep within her dark pupils—a confidence she had never felt before.
It was different from the past. The path she had to take was also the exact opposite.
At this moment, she began to understand the 'Dao' Chen Pingping had spoken of. It was the Heart of the Dao.
Guang Xiaoyu charged directly into the depths of the great mountain.
Senior Brother wouldn't deceive me. He wants to temper my Heart of the Dao, to make me fearless and relentless. Only someone with a sufficiently strong Heart of the Dao can defeat the lofty Divine Body. So that's it. Senior Brother, I understand now.
Behind her, the old ox, Lao Huang, started in alarm. She had just escaped danger, and now she was rushing back in!
HUH! It let out a low moo and followed her.
「Outside the mountain.」
"It's been seven days already, aren't you worried?" Shi Yi couldn't help but ask.
"My Junior Sister is very strong," Chen Pingping said with a smile.
Yes, the Fifth Heaven of the Breaking Sun Realm is indeed strong... for a mortal like you, anyway, Shi Yi thought derisively. But at that level, facing those powerful fierce beasts, she's like an ant. And he even asked her to kill several fierce beasts bare-handed! What a joke!
He had suspected several times that this fellow was trying to get Guang Xiaoyu killed here.
Shi Yi was frustrated. He looked at the Earth Chicken and asked, "Is it a Spiritual Beast?"
Just then, a putrid stench of blood wafted from the mountains, and a figure accompanied by an ox emerged.
Moreover, the old ox dragged several massive, severed heads, leaving a trail of gore that slicked their path with fresh blood.
Guang Xiaoyu's smile was radiant, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.
When Shi Yi lifted his head and saw them, he was suddenly breathless.
"So fast?" Chen Pingping was astonished. He had thought it would take at least several months, or that she might even give up halfway.
Yet in just seven days, Guang Xiaoyu had emerged.
"Senior Brother!" Guang Xiaoyu called out, beaming.
"Well done. You've killed several second-tier fierce beasts," Chen Pingping said, rising. "It seems you've understood my meaning."
The Heart of the Dao.
Even a mortal with no talent for cultivation, if they were diligent enough, would find it worthwhile even if it took a hundred years to reach the Breaking Sun Realm.
Because in the world of cultivation, being the fastest doesn't guarantee becoming the ultimate winner.
Shi Yi's breath quickened as he stared intently at the emerging Guang Xiaoyu. He sensed that this girl was somehow different than before, yet... her cultivation realm hadn't changed in the slightest.
"Channel your cultivation for me to see," Chen Pingping said.
BOOM!
The One Qi Turns into Three Clarities technique activated once more. Deep within her Dantian, immense power began to surge, coursing through her body and forming an intricate network.
Of course, the Nine Revolutions Demon God Skill was active as well.
In that instant, Shi Yi's pupils contracted sharply. Her cultivation realm was unchanged, but the power emanating from her was several times more potent than before.
Is this basic cultivation?
Her Essence Qi Spirit had reached an inconceivable level.
In his daze, he felt as if he were seeing another undefeatable Divine Body.
Inconceivable.
Chen Pingping smiled. "Very good. Next, we move on to the second stage."