In the vast Gu Province, the major sects gathered with great interest at the entrance of the Zhi Xian Cave, each one craving to monopolize the treasures within. However, the ancient city of the Earth Immortals was jointly conquered by the Righteous Dao Alliance and the Demon Sect. Moreover, Bai Qiuran was observing the situation carefully.
"Don't speak if you can't say anything nice!" Bai Qiuran remarked, his voice steady. To a certain extent, he understood the nature of the demoness Huangfu Feng, who had supported Su Xiangxue's rise to power and established connections with the elders from the Yin Ling Sect. His actions had significantly minimized the possible damages the Demon Sect could inflict.
Bai Qiuran waved his hand dismissively. "It's not like I haven't faced heavenly tribulations before. If I can build my foundation, let alone facing heavenly lightning, even if a swarm of Great Luo Golden Immortals stood before me, I would still march straight through them!"
Su Xiangxue giggled and teased, “Who said just now that they wouldn't compete for opportunities against the younger generation of the sect?”
Each senior of the various sects nodded in agreement. Bai Qiuran understood that allowing the Righteous Dao Alliance’s power to grow unchecked would only lead to ruin from within; after all, it was in human nature to be corrupted. Even cultivators could not escape this reality. In this world of cultivation, the presence of a Demon Sect playing the villain's role was essential to keep the Righteous Dao Alliance on the path of righteousness.
Just then, Bai Qiuran interjected, “Wait a moment! I want to enter too.”
A loud explosion rang out! Almost a thousand years ago, during the chaotic times before the War of Dao and Demons, the three sects had left devastation in their wake, and even the so-called most ‘gentle’ Yin Ling Sect had left no survivors. The elders of the sects had advised their disciples for half a day before they finally watched their disciples soar toward the towering inverted peak, harnessing their treasures.
The elders started giving their final reminders, and Bai Qiuran noticed that the bruised Jue Yunzi passed some talismans to Qing Dan Ying and the chief personal disciple of the Azure Nether Sect, Liu Chengyin, who had been in the sect the longest among those in the Nascent Soul Stage. These were likely given as life-saving measures.
"Everyone, let’s set up the barrier!" the elders declared. They were well aware that unchecked growth in the Righteous Dao Alliance would eventually lead to its downfall; it was human nature, and even cultivators couldn’t break free from it.
The disciples vanished from sight amidst those waves, as if they had entered another world, and no one was visible on the suspended peak. Su Xiangxue shot a glance at Bai Qiuran and then said to You Mei Qiao, “To avoid deceiving illusions created by the cave, I will teach you several methods to discern the true body..."
After a moment's thought, the serene tone of a guqin broke the air as the moisture within the clouds coalesced, forming a wide thick ice island, suspended five meters across in the ether.
“The wind is too strong to hear—" After a brief moment, Master Mi Chen touched his crew cut and remarked, "It seems this Zhi Xian Cave really believes that the Sword Ancestor only possesses qi refining abilities. I wonder whether he feels joy or sorrow about this."
Just then, Elder Xu from the Xuanfa Academy approached Bai Qiuran, presenting a spiked black pillar similar to what the Earth Immortals held before.
“There's no heavenly tribulation...” Bai Qiuran softly sighed, recalling the past battles between Daos and Demons where countless lives were lost. He sensed that this could not happen again.
After waiting for several days, when the distant Yin Ling Sect finally arrived with its disciples to gather, the elders of the various sects guided their disciples into the Zhi Xian Cave.
Bai Qiuran said, "If you ever encounter an insurmountable danger, toss these three jade slips away... Remember, the attack range is ten meters from where they land; my sword aura doesn’t distinguish targets, so you must watch yourselves!"
At that moment, the boundaries of the cave shifted, and the students’ figures disappeared as if entering another realm, leaving the towering inverted peaks devoid of any signs of life.
In the calm shadows, Bai Qiuran confidently proclaimed, “If I am to build my foundation, perhaps my whole life depends on this chance.”
The elders exchanged looks; truly, the Sword Ancestor commanded respect, even amidst the discussion on risks of lightning.
As the last instructions echoed across the clearing, Bai Qiuran chuckled knowingly, “Let’s just find out how deep this rabbit hole goes, shall we?”
The gathering was rife with anticipation, set against an impending adventure toward the unknown, with Bai Qiuran leading the way, unfazed by the dangers ahead. And thus, the story unfolds, where destinies intertwine, and legends await to be born within the Zhi Xian Cave.