Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
"Return now." In the Dragon Burial Ground, Shan Wushuang raised his eyes, glanced at the seven people projected on the screen, and a voice slowly echoed.
He Xiuzhu and Li Xuan, who were in seven different locations within the Dragon Burial Ground, immediately looked up and vanished from their spots.
A few minutes later, Wang Kun, the last to arrive, panted as he looked at He Xiuzhu, Li Xuan, and the others, then collapsed onto the ground. His pale complexion clearly indicated he had been through a fierce battle.
"Not bad. All seven of you managed to endure. You've exceeded my expectations."
Shan Wushuang paused. "Among you seven, the one who has progressed the fastest is your junior brother, Li Xuan."
"In over three years, he has broken through to the intermediate stage of the Life God Realm. You all know about my five-year pact with the Moon Clan. There are less than two years left. Although your junior brother has progressed rapidly, the younger generation of the Moon Clan is not without exceptionally talented individuals."
"As Li Xuan's senior brothers and sisters, you also have the responsibility and obligation to help him."
"Please, Elder Shan, enlighten us on what you require of us," He Xiuzhu asked respectfully.
As He Xiuzhu finished speaking, Wen Boya and the others also turned their gazes to Shan Wushuang.
Shan Wushuang looked at Li Xuan and then slowly said, "Void Combat."
"Void Combat? Elder Shan, can Junior Brother bear it?" He Xiuzhu and the other six were taken aback, then asked Shan Wushuang. From their expressions, this Void Combat was not a simple matter.
Shan Wushuang glanced at Li Xuan and said, "I believe he can bear it. Unless, of course, he doesn't want to win this competition."
"Esteemed Senior Brothers and Sisters, although I don't know what Void Combat is, since Elder Shan believes I can bear it, please proceed. As Elder Shan said, I must win this competition," Li Xuan said to He Xiuzhu, Wang Kun, and the other six.
"Prepare yourselves," He Xiuzhu said after a moment of silence, then looked at Wen Boya, Song Qianyu, and the other five.
As He Xiuzhu finished speaking, Wen Boya and the other five moved, forming a circle around Li Xuan. Their auras surged, causing the very air in the space to tremble precariously.
He Xiuzhu's strength had reached the peak of the Eternal Realm.
Wen Boya's strength had reached the advanced stage of the Eternal Realm.
Shen Zi'an's strength had reached the intermediate stage of the Eternal Realm.
Song Qianyu and Lu Hanchi were both at the half-step intermediate stage.
Although Wang Kun had joined later, he had also reached the initial stage of the Eternal Realm.
The six auras of the Eternal Realm were exceptionally formidable, and their combined might was immense. Li Xuan, at the center, immediately wore a solemn expression. Although Li Xuan had broken through to the intermediate stage of the Life Soul Realm, he was undeniably far inferior to someone in the Eternal Realm. Even facing one of them alone would be unbearable, let alone all six working together.
For a moment, Li Xuan felt like a small boat adrift on a vast ocean, on the verge of capsizing at any moment.
"Focus your mind, firm your will. Activate your cultivation techniques and begin to cultivate! Though attempting to shake a tree with a mayfly's strength is presumptuous, it carries a grand ambition. If you wish to win against the Moon Clan, you must display your resolve!" Shan Wushuang roared as Li Xuan began to falter.
Li Xuan, whose mind had begun to waver, felt as if he had been jolted awake. While his body instinctively resisted, Li Xuan moved his hands, quickly circulating the spiritual energy within him to begin cultivating.
After failing more than ten times, Li Xuan finally found his rhythm and entered a state of cultivation. Seeing this, Shan Wushuang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly at He Xiuzhu, who hovered in the air around Li Xuan.
The six, seeing this, instantly channeled pure spiritual energy into Li Xuan's body. In an instant, a golden light erupted from Li Xuan, making him appear like a divine being. However, He Xiuzhu and the others soon stopped, and the oppressive pressure of their auras intensified.
...
Time flew by, and another year quickly passed.
*Boom!*
With a thunderous roar, Li Xuan's figure shot into the sky. An aura of the initial stage of the Profound Seeking Realm instantly spread outwards. After enduring a year of intense pressure, Li Xuan had finally broken through again.
"Thank you, Senior Brothers and Sisters," Li Xuan said, landing and bowing respectfully to He Xiuzhu, Wang Kun, and the other six. Li Xuan knew that without the assistance of He Xiuzhu, Wen Boya, and the other six over the past year, breaking through so quickly would have been incredibly difficult. Although the pressure from He Xiuzhu and the others was immense, it was still within controllable limits, allowing Li Xuan to barely endure it without being fatally injured. This effort had cost He Xiuzhu and the others significantly, and Li Xuan naturally kept this kindness in his heart. Furthermore, the bloodline power within Li Xuan seemed to recognize this, offering no resistance to the pressure from He Xiuzhu and the others. Instead, it hinted at a potential for another breakthrough.
"Junior Brother, you are too kind. As your Senior Brothers and Sisters, this is what we should do," He Xiuzhu and the other six replied with smiles. Although it seemed they were wasting their time helping Li Xuan cultivate, it also served as a test of their control over spiritual energy and pressure. Over the past year, their comprehension and insights had also improved considerably. Most importantly, Li Xuan was their junior brother, the only one in the entire Saint Origin Peak.
"Alright, it's not suitable to continue cultivating immediately after a breakthrough. Little Six, you and Little Seven are of similar strength. Have a spar. Remember to go all out," Shan Wushuang said, waving to stop Li Xuan and the others from chatting, and directly addressed Wang Kun.
"Yes, Elder Shan." Wang Kun moved at once, appearing before Li Xuan, and said, "Junior Brother, let's begin."
"Good." Li Xuan nodded, understanding that Elder Shan wanted Wang Kun to help him consolidate his realm. Without delay, he lunged at Wang Kun.
*Bang bang bang!*
After more than ten exchanges of punches, Li Xuan's power grew increasingly formidable. Even though Wang Kun was stronger than Li Xuan, he began to struggle. As he retreated, Wang Kun's spiritual light flashed, and he unleashed a palm strike.
*Boom!*
With a roar, Li Xuan and Wang Kun, who had been locked in combat, were separated.
"Junior Brother, your physical body is too powerful. Senior Brother admits defeat. Let's use spiritual energy," Wang Kun said with a wry smile.
"Alright." Li Xuan nodded. After the previous exchange, his physical body had been somewhat consolidated. Now, a spiritual energy battle would be a good test of his current strength.
"Heaven is Qian, Earth is Kun. Qian Kun Yin Yang, formation diagram, revolve!" As Wang Kun finished speaking, an octagonal formation diagram descended from the sky.
"Slash!" Seeing this, Li Xuan immediately drew his sword and slashed.
*Boom!*
Four terrifying sword energies shot towards the octagonal formation diagram above. Under this force, the octagonal formation diagram shattered. With a flash of spiritual light, the formation diagram vanished.
The first round: a draw.
"Not bad, you actually managed to break my Qian Kun formation diagram. Junior Brother, try my second move," Wang Kun said with a slight smile. He changed his hand seals, and the previously vanished octagonal formation diagram reappeared.
"Yin Yang reversal, invert Qian Kun!" Li Xuan's pupils contracted sharply. The newly reappeared octagonal formation diagram was clearly more powerful than before. Li Xuan took a deep breath, his hands quickly forming seals.
"Thunder, come!"
*Boom!*
As Li Xuan spoke, a thunderous roar echoed from high above. He Xiuzhu and the others' expressions changed, and they all looked towards the sky. It wasn't just He Xiuzhu and the others; even Shan Wushuang's gaze flickered towards the sky upon hearing the roar.
*Crack!*
The already dim and overcast sky suddenly brightened with a crack. A lightning bolt as thick as an arm descended from the heavens, as if charging down from the Ninth Heaven. It was so blinding that even He Xiuzhu and the others had to shield their eyes.
"Go!" Wang Kun naturally noticed the power of Li Xuan's attack. His expression became solemn as he pressed his hands down, and the octagonal formation diagram glowed brightly. It then rapidly shrank to a size of about ten feet before hurtling towards the descending lightning pillar.
*Boom!*
A crisp cracking sound was heard. The octagonal formation diagram was directly pulverized. The lightning pillar remained undamaged and continued its descent towards Wang Kun.
"Junior Brother, stop!" He Xiuzhu's face paled, and he hurriedly shouted at Li Xuan.
"Sixth Senior Brother, dodge quickly!" Li Xuan's face was also extremely pale, and he shouted at Wang Kun in panic. He Xiuzhu and the others understood then that Li Xuan could no longer control the lightning pillar.
"Disperse." As the lightning pillar was about to strike Wang Kun, Shan Wushuang's eyes narrowed, and he waved his hand. As Shan Wushuang spoke, the lightning pillar, which had reached Wang Kun's face, froze in mid-air. Then, with a flash of light, it slowly dissipated, and the momentarily brightened space returned to its original state.
*Phew!*
As the lightning pillar vanished, Wang Kun and Li Xuan both collapsed onto the ground. Beads of sweat covered their foreheads, clearly showing their lingering fear.
"There is still one year left until the five-year pact. Li Xuan, you will practice here. As for the rest of you, continue your trials," Shan Wushuang said, nodding, then addressed He Xiuzhu and the other six.
"Yes, Elder Shan." He Xiuzhu and the others bowed respectfully and then departed in unison.