Feng Yi, who had been waiting to meet the figure of the Black-Haired Devil, was shocked by this appearance. She had imagined someone savage, wild, and full of a wicked aura after the experience in the Primordial Ancient City. However, before her stood a youth in a black robe layered with red silk, his face pale from spiritual exhaustion, but his aura was cold and controlled.

  Her sharp eyes swept over the faint burn scars on Zhi Xuan's neck, and then fixed on the embarrassing blazing red slap mark on his cheek. Her forehead furrowed deeper upon seeing the miserable appearance of the man who had once led her and Fei Sheng to kill three Golden Azure Kings.

  “You look like you just went through a Heavenly Tribulation,” Feng Yi hissed, her voice filled with unconcealed arrogance and annoyance. She disliked Zhi Xuan’s weak appearance. A true genius, a Herald of the Devil, should not appear at an important event with a trace of humiliation on his face. “I don’t know which cultivator dared to tarnish your honor, Brother Zhi Xuan.”

  Beside her, Fei Sheng closed his jade fan, his sharp gaze more focused on Zhi Xuan’s aura than the slap mark. He felt this youth’s essence, though drained, was now much purer and thicker—as if the burning fire had purified the jade. He knew the heavenly herbs used for Zhi Xuan’s recovery must have been expensive.

  “Welcome back, Brother Zhi Xuan,” Fei Sheng said with a respectful nod, his tone calm and diplomatic, ignoring the tension Feng Yi had created. “I know the Primordial Ancient City is not a friendly place. However, your arrival is timely. The Dao Testing Tournament is about to begin.”

  Zhi Xuan nodded at Fei Sheng’s calm greeting and ignored Feng Yi’s sharp look. He knew the fire phoenix girl’s arrogance stemmed from disappointment at seeing him in a less-than-honorable state. The red mark on his cheek felt hot, not from residual pain, but from the humiliation instilled by Zhu Qinglan’s will, who was both walking medicine and the creator of destruction.

  "The Primordial Ancient City is indeed not a friendly place," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice hoarse yet filled with cold composure. He did not explain his battle against the Five Element realm, nor his recovery. "I completed the mission and settled a debt. Now, let's enjoy this Annual Disciple Celebration."

  Zhi Xuan clasped his hands again to the three cultivators whom he acknowledged, and who were also from the Southern Continent, becoming his friends in this cruel Central Continent. He nodded before turning back, heading towards the row of disciples who occupied the Nine Main Peaks.

  There, his seat was still empty, and among them was a face he recognized as the Jealous Dog, Xu Sheng. The man in the white robe from Sky Cloud Peak, who had once clashed Dao with him in the Immortal Jade Garden during Zhu Qinglan's meeting with him to discuss karma.

  "Zhu Qinglan’s dog tail," Zhi Xuan muttered with a slight smile; although Xu Sheng was a senior disciple in the Five Element realm, he did not feel fear but a challenge. "Let's see, what will you show me."

  Zhi Xuan walked calmly, his face cold and flat although adorned with the reddish mark that was gradually disappearing. He stepped past other Main Peak disciples with a faint nod as a form of acknowledgment. After all, he was only the lowest in the ranks of the Five Elements as Main Peak disciples.

  Zhi Xuan dropped onto the sandalwood chair carved with the Heaven Sword Peak emblem, an emblem that felt silent and isolated among the glittering emblems of the other Peaks. His movement felt smooth, yet there was a deep weight of arrogance in it—as if he were an emperor who had just returned to the throne.

  The silence around him was so thick, as if the Celebration's merriment itself was forced to dim in the presence of the cold Consciousness Transformation aura and the embarrassing slap mark. Hundreds of pairs of observing eyes did not just see a core disciple; they saw a Phenomenon who had been wounded and humiliated.

  Next to him was a disciple from Stone Mountain Peak, and next to him was a disciple from Star Dragon Peak. They were two brothers who entered the same sect. And next to them, Zhu Qinglan sat gracefully. Her face was still covered with a pearl veil that concealed her beauty, yet it did not neglect how her blood rushed when Zhi Xuan walked past her.

  And beside Zhu Qinglan, sat Xu Sheng with an aura of the majestic Righteous Path, the snow-white robe fitting well with the foundation of righteousness he upheld. While the other disciples mostly only wore sky-blue robes which were the sect standard. Zhi Xuan, on the other hand, looked like a Devil walking among White Swans.

  Zhi Xuan ignored the curious stares and piercing whispers; he only focused on looking straight ahead and did not need to turn his face away. He felt Zhu Qinglan’s cold aura hidden behind the pearl veil, and he also felt Xu Sheng’s sharp gaze. Xu Sheng’s aura of hatred and judgment towards him felt like a blade directed straight at his chest.

  "Dog of Righteousness," Zhi Xuan thought, the smile at the corner of his lips widened slightly. He knew Xu Sheng was a senior Five Element realm disciple who greatly admired Zhu Qinglan, and seeing him in this tattered and embarrassing state must have satisfied his jealousy. That was something that would trigger a big event in this Annual Disciple Celebration.

  “Let us continue with the main agenda,” said Elder Yan Shen in a golden robe, his voice carrying a soothing rhythm. “Young geniuses, today is the time for you to test your Path. The Dao Testing Tournament will begin. Main Peak disciples, show the Path you have walked!”

  The air of the Great Hall trembled. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for. Dao Testing. It was a golden opportunity for Consciousness Transformation disciples like Feng Yi, who had just stabilized her realm and ascended to the Consciousness Transformation realm, to challenge Five Element disciples like Xu Sheng, or for older disciples to strengthen their position.

  Feng Yi, sitting a few rows in front of Zhi Xuan, suddenly stood up. Her sharp eyes radiated spiritual fire, full of determination. She had found her target. She was not interested in the newly recovered Zhi Xuan, but in her first demonstration of power in the Thousand Heavens Sect.

  “Elder Yan Shen,” Feng Yi said in a loud voice, filled with confidence and burning arrogance. Her upper-level Consciousness Transformation aura immediately swept over the crowd. “Disciple Feng Yi, from Phoenix Fire Peak. I request permission to issue a Dao Testing challenge to Senior Disciple Xu Sheng, from Sky Cloud Peak!”

  The entire Great Hall held its breath. The first challenge issued by Feng Yi was shocking. Xu Sheng, the respected Five Element realm and unofficial Dao Protector for Zhu Qinglan, was a bold target. Zhu Qinglan, beside Xu Sheng, merely sat calmly, her pearl veil showing no emotion, but the Five Element aura around her swirled slightly in surprise.

  Xu Sheng, who had just received a cold stare from Zhi Xuan, was now faced with another challenge from an arrogant junior disciple radiating burning determination like the Fire Phoenix. He turned toward Feng Yi, his elegant eyebrows slightly raised.

  “A late-stage Consciousness Transformation disciple challenging me? Is this a joke, Junior Sister Feng Yi?” Xu Sheng countered, his tone calm but filled with hidden contempt.

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  “A joke?” Feng Yi laughed coldly, a laugh like a fiery metallic clang. Her crimson robe seemed to ignite, and behind her, the faint manifestation of a Fire Phoenix soared, radiating a dense and aggressive Consciousness Transformation essence aura. “The Path is the Path, Senior Xu. There is nothing funny about gauging Dao. I want to see if your Path of Righteousness can truly withstand the embers of the Phoenix Path!”

  Xu Sheng narrowed his eyes. He was accustomed to the arrogance of geniuses, but this raw aggression from Feng Yi was truly unusual. He glanced sideways, toward Zhu Qinglan, who still sat quietly, her silence feeling like silent approval. Then, his gaze shifted to Zhi Xuan, who now sat motionless, radiating cold composure with a reddened slap mark on his cheek. Xu Sheng felt a double humiliation: being challenged by a junior disciple, and being ignored by the Devil he hated most.

  He rose from his seat, his white robe fluttering with the elegance of a Saint. An early-stage Five Element aura swept over the Great Hall, radiating a deadly and majestic pressure—a great contrast from Feng Yi’s Consciousness Transformation realm.

  “Very well, Junior Sister. Since you are so eager to light the embers in front of everyone,” Xu Sheng countered, his tone returning to sharp elegance, “then I will be the storm that extinguishes it. Accept the challenge, Elder Yan Shen.”

  Elder Yan Shen, sitting on the main podium, smiled slightly. “Good. Challenge accepted. Disciple Feng Yi and Senior Disciple Xu Sheng, ascend to the Dao Testing Arena. Let the Path you have walked speak!”

  The Dao Testing Arena was a large, circular jade platform, enveloped by a defense formation radiating golden light. Xu Sheng and Feng Yi stepped onto the platform with opposing strides. Xu Sheng was calm and graceful, while Feng Yi moved with explosive speed, her aura blazing.

  Zhi Xuan remained seated, his hands resting on his knees. He watched the battle with the composure of an observer. The battle between Consciousness Transformation, Feng Yi, and Five Element, Xu Sheng, was a perfect example of the realm gap.

  “Xu Sheng will win in ten moves,” Zhi Xuan murmured softly, his voice only audible to himself; he had experienced direct combat with a Five Element cultivator, which allowed him to gauge the realm gap. “Her Phoenix Fire foundation is solid, but her Path is too aggressive and direct. Xu Sheng will use the Laws of Nature to restrain and overturn it. The Five Elements always devour lower essence.”

  In the arena, Xu Sheng did not waste time. He unsheathed his Five Element Disc from his hand; the disc radiated a subtle yet deadly Five Element aura, exactly like the one he had unleashed on Zhi Xuan some time ago. “Just because you possess a burning Fire, the realm gap is something you cannot overcome with shallow Laws, Junior Sister,” Xu Sheng hissed.

  Xu Sheng’s Five Element Disc immediately spun, radiating a harmonious essence vortex. It was not a reckless attack, but an affirmation of the Law of Nature. A thick Earth vortex restrained movement, and strands of cold Water spun, ready to extinguish Feng Yi’s embers. It was a calm combination of defense and offense, reflecting the Path of Righteousness that prioritized stability.

  Feng Yi was not deterred. Her sharp eyes radiated spiritual fire. She knew the realm gap was real. She did not plan to challenge the Law of Nature, but to challenge Xu Sheng’s foundation with wild aggression.

  “Then let’s see how solid your Laws are, Senior Xu!” Feng Yi roared.

  The Fire Phoenix manifestation behind her soared with a spiritual roar. Instantly, her Consciousness Transformation essence solidified into blades of fire. She did not use an artifact; she used her body as a blade.

  WHUSSHH!

  Feng Yi shot forward, the speed driven by her spiritual fire transcending the limits of Consciousness Transformation. The fire blade slashed straight toward Xu Sheng’s Five Element Disc.

  BOOM!

  The clash produced a spiritual explosion that shook the arena defense formation. Phoenix Fire met the cold fusion of Earth and Water. The Earth cracked, and the Water instantly evaporated, but the Five Element Disc only moved back a fraction of an inch. Xu Sheng stood firm, his white robe untouched, his expression calm.

  "Good aggression, Junior Sister," Xu Sheng hissed. "However, it is still raw!"

  He spun his hand. Wind and Thunder essence immediately merged into the Five Element Disc. The Wind pushed the Phoenix Fire back, and the whirring Thunder enveloped Feng Yi. Xu Sheng used four elements to restrain one.

  Feng Yi staggered back. The Thunder and Wind slapped her body, leaving faint burns and scratches on her skin. Her arrogant expression cracked slightly, replaced by surprise. She had underestimated Xu Sheng’s Five Element composure.

  “You want to see the Path?” Feng Yi hissed; her aura exploded. She channeled all her essence, ignoring the wound. The Fire Phoenix behind her now radiated a dazzling crimson light. “This is the Path forged only on the battlefield!”

  She did not retreat. Instead, she leaped high, avoiding the Five Element Disc. She manifested a countless series of spiritual fire blades. Thousands of fire blades rained down like burning meteors, an enveloping and unavoidable attack.

  Xu Sheng snorted coldly. "Burning foolishness."

  He did not move. Beneath his feet, thick Earth essence appeared, forming a solid earth shield. At the same time, he manifested the Law of Water: strands of cold essence rain fell from the arena sky. Rain and Fire met.

  CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

  Feng Yi’s spiritual fire blades were restrained by the Earth Shield and extinguished by the Essence Rain. Only a tenth of the fire blades managed to penetrate, leaving shallow scratches on the shield. In an instant, Feng Yi’s massive attack had been neutralized.

  Zhi Xuan, sitting in his chair, nodded slightly. His prediction was correct. "She used aggression attacks too quickly instead of utilizing momentum. Five Element is about harmony and restraint. She lost," Zhi Xuan thought.

  As Feng Yi was stunned by the failure of her attack, Xu Sheng saw an opportunity. He shot forward, his speed calm and controlled. He did not use the Five Element Disc. Instead, he stretched out his palm.

  "Path of Righteousness, Calming Chaos!"

  A large hand seal made of a mix of Earth and Wind essence struck Feng Yi’s chest. This attack was not lethal, but extremely stabilizing. The attack pierced Feng Yi’s Phoenix Fire aura, hitting her Five Divine Organs.

  BLARE!

  Feng Yi was thrown backward, her body hitting the golden defense formation with a dull sound. She coughed up a mouthful of blood; her blazing aura suddenly dimmed. Xu Sheng’s Five Element essence had calmed and suppressed her Consciousness Transformation essence.

  Xu Sheng stood in the middle of the arena, his white robe clean, his fan gracefully reopened. "Junior Sister Feng Yi, your Path still needs refining. Consciousness Transformation will never surpass Five Elements without a deeper understanding of the Laws."

  Feng Yi tried to stand up, but the wound in her Five Divine Organs was too severe. She stared at Xu Sheng with eyes full of anger and frustration. She had failed. Xu Sheng, who felt this victory should be utilized, did not just stare at Feng Yi. His gaze shifted from the crimson robe lying on the floor toward Zhi Xuan, who sat calmly in the Main Peak row, with an embarrassing reddened slap mark on his face.

  Xu Sheng's calm and majestic face was suddenly adorned with a cold sneer. He glanced briefly toward Zhu Qinglan, who still sat quietly, then turned back to Zhi Xuan.

  “Junior Brother Zhi Xuan!” Xu Sheng called out in a loud voice that echoed throughout the Great Hall. His voice was filled with arrogance now fully directed at the Black-Haired Devil. “I have seen you. You have just returned from the Primordial Ancient City, and your face... tells many things about failure and humiliation.”

  Hundreds of disciples held their breath again. The attention of the entire sect shifted from the injured Feng Yi toward Zhi Xuan, who sat calmly, his long black hair neatly tied but what was striking was the black robe with red silk he wore, not reflecting that he was a disciple of the Thousand Heavens Sect but a wandering cultivator.

  Xu Sheng stepped to the edge of the arena, his Five Element aura radiating, trapping Zhi Xuan in a spotlight of judgment. "Junior Sister Feng Yi challenged me in the Consciousness Transformation realm, yet she had courage. You, who claim to be a Phenomenon, arrived tattered and humiliated! If you have completed your mission, show it! Or are you too afraid to gauge your Path after receiving that shameful 'Lesson'?"

  Zhi Xuan remained seated, letting the humiliation envelop him. Xu Sheng’s voice was a blade attacking his pride, targeting the reddened slap mark. He could feel Zhu Qinglan's gaze hidden behind the pearl veil, as if demanding a show. A faint and cold smile appeared at the corner of Zhi Xuan's lips. He rose from his sandalwood chair, his movement calm. He did not look at Xu Sheng; he looked at Feng Yi, who lay ashamed in the arena.

  “The Path walked is never shameful, Sister Feng Yi,” Zhi Xuan murmured. He stepped forward, his black robe fluttering. His steps were calm, yet each step felt like heavy pressure. Carrying the weight of the Dead Mist from the Primordial Ancient City. "The Great Path is for those who can survive when the world crumbles and step on the bones of other creatures.”