The heavenly phenomena signaled to Lu that something momentous was about to happen.

  In fact, it wasn't just Lu.

  Across the entire Five Phoenixes Continent, many cultivators sensed the changes in the world—a cascade of auspicious signs, as if heaven and earth themselves were celebrating.

  Even the birth of Golden Immortals in the Five Phoenixes had never triggered such omens.

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  Outside Buzhou Peak,

  sounds of flight filled the air. The void tore open as figures stepped out one after another.

  Human Heavenly Emperor Chai Feng, accompanied by his thirty newly accepted disciples whom he aimed to nurture into Emperor realm, stood in the void, gazing toward Buzhou Peak.

  Heavenly Emperor Luoyang did the same, along with numerous human geniuses and countless Five Phoenixes cultivators.

  Lu Jiulian, Overlord, Tang Yimo, Sima Qingshan, and other Five Phoenixes Golden Immortals hovered in the air, eyes fixed on Buzhou Peak shrouded in purple.

  At this moment, Buzhou Peak seemed to gather the essence of the entire Five Phoenixes world.

  The immortal sources of the Five Phoenixes flickered in and out of visibility, fluttering their wings as they circled the peak endlessly…

  “Is this an attempt to break through to Daluo Immortal?”

  “Miss Zhulong might become the first in the Five Phoenixes to step into Daluo Immortal realm—this is a blessing for our world.”

  “Daluo Immortal should be comparable to human Heavenly Emperors—top-tier powerhouses in the immortal martial level.”

  Human cultivators sighed in awe.

  Many gazed at Buzhou Peak with gleaming eyes. The Five Phoenixes had risen from a weak low-martial world to a powerful immortal martial one—it had been no easy path.

  Zhulong too had grown from those low-martial days to become one of the Five Phoenixes' strongest.

  The former Buzhou Peak demoness who single-handedly slew seventeen Tianyuan Nascent Souls—her feat felt like yesterday's glory.

  But in today's context, it paled in comparison.

  “Breaking through to Heavenly Emperor isn't that simple… one needs to comprehend a profound truth.”

  “Miss Zhulong hasn't comprehended any profound truths. If she attempts Heavenly Emperor realm, there's a high chance of failure.”

  “True, but since she's confident enough to try, perhaps she has some secret we don't know.”

  Chai Feng and Luoyang, as Heavenly Emperors from the human ancestral land, had insights into such breakthroughs.

  Their words deepened the solemn expressions among the Five Phoenixes crowd.

  Indeed… Zhulong hadn't comprehended Golden Origin or Fire Origin profound truths.

  Did she truly have a shot at Daluo Immortal?

  For a moment, everyone's hearts tightened.

  But no one spoke up or shifted their gaze from Buzhou Peak. If Zhulong succeeded, she would be the Five Phoenixes' first Daluo Immortal.

  It held profound significance—they might witness history.

  For many Five Phoenixes Golden Immortals, it was also a valuable lesson.

  …

  Lu leaned back in his Thousand-Bladed Chair, making no further moves.

  His fingers lightly tapped the armrest.

  His eyes fixed on Buzhou Peak.

  He saw clearer than others: atop the peak, Zhulong sat cross-legged on a bluestone with eyes closed. Vast innate purple qi swirled endlessly around her.

  She was on the verge of assaulting Daluo Immortal realm.

  But Lu frowned. Even he wasn't certain of her success—the breakthrough to Daluo was unprecedented.

  As Chai Feng and Luoyang noted, Zhulong lacked Golden or Fire Origin truths, making it hard to predict.

  Why had Tonggu Daoist been so excited when Lu acquired the Golden and Fire Origin statues?

  Simply because they aided comprehension of profound truths.

  Comprehending one was crucial for breaking into Heavenly Emperor.

  Without it, success was rare—ancestral land experience proved that.

  Self-comprehension without aid was far harder.

  Lu said nothing, nor did he intervene. This breakthrough required her own effort—if successful, it would be her fortune.

  The higher the cultivation, the less he could help.

  Moreover…

  Lu felt it inwardly.

  If Zhulong succeeded, his own Qi Refinement layer… might also advance.

  He even felt a quiet anticipation.

  …

  Outside Buzhou Peak,

  Zhulong sat cross-legged, feeling as if immersed in chaos.

  Innate Yin-Yang qi coiled endlessly around her.

  She knew what she faced—what she intended: assaulting Daluo Immortal. She had resolved to do so, aware of the failure risk.

  Yet a strong impulse drove her.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The surrounding void seemed to collapse; her aura climbed relentlessly.

  Purple qi descended from the heavens. As immortal sources circled her, more purple qi cascaded down.

  Above her head, her sea of destiny boiled—refined through nine turns to perfection.

  She wasn't sure how destiny manifested at Daluo.

  Zhulong's lashes trembled. As her aura rose, a Yin-Yang millstone soon emerged overhead.

  Her self-forged innate treasure Yin-Yang Millstone also appeared, rising and falling in the purple qi, bathed in it—evolving under its blessing.

  Time passed; Zhulong lost track of how long she meditated.

  She felt touching the world's fundamental truths—countless energies vividly before her. The world turned vibrant, dazzling.

  Colors shifted like ink blots bleeding on paper.

  Everything in heaven and earth seemed to sublimate. Strands of purple qi entered her body, transforming it—her spirit leaping forward.

  But lacking a profound truth, at the breakthrough's climax, she felt rootless—like drifting duckweed, unsure how to anchor.

  Struggling in the endless purple qi ocean.

  Her aura fluctuated wildly, as if on the verge of collapse—failure imminent.

  …

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  On Lake Heart Island,

  Lu frowned, sensing something wrong with Zhulong's state.

  Space shattered around him.

  He appeared atop Buzhou Peak.

  In the boundless purple ocean, Zhulong furrowed in pain, body trembling slightly.

  Without a profound truth, she couldn't systematically harness the innate purple qi or surging energy. Continuing risked explosion…

  “No wonder Beast Ancestor statues are so prized… with them, comprehending truths equates to capital for Daluo breakthrough.”

  Lu inhaled deeply.

  His hands formed seals.

  He intended to impart his comprehended truths to Zhulong, helping her organize the power.

  At least prevent her from being overwhelmed by chaotic energy.

  As his cherished little cotton jacket, how could Lu watch her burst and perish?

  Humm…

  Golden Origin truth flowed like water—a golden heavenly river cascading from the skies.

  To cleanse her body.

  Yet…

  Lu's eyes narrowed.

  Zhulong's mind seemed adrift—drawn by something?

  “What's going on?”

  Lu frowned. At such a critical moment, how could reliable Zhulong make such a novice error?

  Something must have happened.

  Knowing her, she wouldn't slip like this.

  “Heart demon?”

  “Or… someone influencing her?”

  Lu's eyes sharpened, killing intent surging.

  Interfering during breakthrough could doom her eternally.

  A slight misstep—and death.

  Humm…

  Lu's primordial spirit trembled, then flooded into Zhulong's will space like a torrent.

  …

  Outside Buzhou Peak,

  when boundless terrifying pressure spread from the summit, everyone's expressions changed.

  “Something's wrong!”

  “Miss Zhulong's breakthrough seems interfered with…”

  “Energy rampage—without a profound truth to order the surge, trouble as expected.”

  Human geniuses paled.

  Five Phoenixes cultivators grew grave.

  Daluo breakthrough was indeed arduous.

  Even a prodigy like Zhulong faced mishaps.

  But knowing the issue, they were helpless.

  They couldn't even intervene.

  They couldn't pinpoint the source—rash action would worsen it.

  …

  Outside Buzhou Peak, the Heavenly Dao Tree swayed, faintly forming a worried human face.

  Helpless.

  Atop Buzhou Peak, Lu's mind entered Zhulong's will space.

  Upon entry,

  Lu frowned. In the space, a pair of massive eyes…

  Loomed overhead, exuding endless pressure.

  Zhulong's autumn-leaf-like figure drifted uncontrollably toward them—pulled by mysterious force.

  No wonder failure loomed—some powerful entity meddled in her will space.

  “Dare scheme against my little cotton jacket…” Lu's eyes blazed with killing intent.

  He felt lingering fear—if discovered later, it might have been irreversible.

  In the will space, Lu's phantom manifested, crossing the void toward the enormous eyes.

  …

  Zhulong felt dazed, pulled by immense attraction.

  Eyes closed, lashes trembling, she looked up—at massive eyes in the sky, gleaming with myriad lights.

  Mysterious power—and a soul-deep tremor.

  Whose eyes?

  Zhulong wondered.

  Vaguely, she sensed a connection.

  But now, she had no time for that. Even if related—so what?

  At the critical Daluo assault, she must escape the pull. Failure aside, death loomed.

  She struggled.

  Lashes quivered, trying to open her eyes.

  But lids weighed heavy—like sandbags glued on. Opening was excruciating.

  Repeated attempts finally tore the darkness.

  Zhulong's eyes opened.

  Black-and-white pupils burst with dazzling light.

  Innate Yin-Yang qi intertwined into a ferocious beast, charging the heavenly eyes.

  Yet…

  To her shock, those eyes turned black-and-white too.

  Identical to hers.

  Boom!

  Her unstoppable divine ability… extinguished utterly.

  This…

  Zhulong felt lost for the first time. The foe wielded Yin-Yang too?

  “My offspring…”

  Suddenly,

  an ancient voice echoed through every corner of the will space.

  Boom!

  Zhulong felt in boundless void—a terrifying colossal beast blotting sky and sun. One scale a world…

  Suffocatingly powerful.

  “No!”

  “I have a dad!”

  Zhulong's mind nearly yielded, but at the last moment, clarity returned. She gritted her teeth.

  Forcibly severing the link…

  The entity seemed stunned.

  Then Lu appeared, closing on the overhead eyes. Preaching platform swung like a hammer.

  Boom!

  Terrifying runes blotted the sky, enveloping the will space…

  “You dare eye my little cotton jacket?”

  Lu said.

  The massive eyes showed astonishment, then fixed on Lu—immense pressure.

  One could imagine the owner's strength.

  Crucially…

  Lu never expected such stealthy intrusion into Zhulong's will space.

  The black-and-white eyes stared at Lu.

  Lu, protective as ever, met the gaze fearlessly.

  Their stare-off brewed a strange atmosphere.

  Zhulong, seeing Lu arrive, was moved to tears—it was Dad!

  In that peril, Dad saved her.

  “You…”

  After long silence,

  a muffled voice boomed.

  Complex emotions. Then the eyes deeply regarded Zhulong, projecting black-and-white beams from the pupils before slowly closing. The overhead space turned pitch black.

  Lu exhaled slowly.

  The eyes' disappearance relaxed him.

  The entity's methods were enigmatic—a mere pair of eyes brought crushing pressure.

  Lu unsure of its full strength…

  If fight broke out—could he hold?

  But its final words—surprised, like meeting an old acquaintance.

  Puzzled Lu. He had no recollection of this beast—no prior intersection…

  “Who is he?”

  Lu frowned.

  Why act so familiar?

  The black-and-white beams from the eyes fell on Zhulong.

  Lu intended to block—but sensed profound truth fluctuations.

  He hesitated, allowing it.

  The lights stabilized Zhulong's aura.

  “Yin-Yang profound truth…”

  Lu narrowed his eyes.

  Black and white, rippling with truths.

  The eyes' owner… had aided her.

  This sharpened Lu's gaze.

  Thoughts raced, but he didn't linger in her will space—soon withdrawing to his body.

  Atop Buzhou Peak, Zhulong's surging energy stabilized.

  Yin-Yang truth—different from Golden or Fire Origin, but still a profound truth.

  With it mastered,

  the breakthrough flowed naturally.

  Purple qi merged into her; destiny enveloped her.

  Her aura soared like a plummeting waterfall—thrillingly fast.

  Lu watched satisfied.

  This breakthrough—thrilling but safe. She succeeded; a happy ending.

  “Zhulong's eyes black-and-white—and those in her will space too. Could the beast share bloodline with her?”

  “Coming to acknowledge kin?”

  Lu pondered.

  Space cracked; he returned to Lake Heart Island, seated in the pavilion amid gentle breeze.

  Picked a piece, resuming chess.

  Outside Buzhou Peak,

  powerhouses noted Zhulong's stabilized aura—excitement spread.

  She'd stabilized; rampant energies calmed. With their cultivation, they discerned the shift.

  Zhulong comprehended a profound truth in desperation—reversing fate, achieving Daluo!

  Boom!

  Thunder clouds gathered.

  But before striking, they dissipated.

  No Daluo tribulation fell.

  Many sighed—the Buzhou Peak demoness, heaven's favored daughter…

  Clouds parted; myriad auspicious rays shone down.

  Zhulong sat on bluestone, radiating destiny glow and faint purple qi.

  The Five Phoenixes' first Daluo Immortal—was born!

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, Lu Jiulian, and others sighed deeply.

  Lu Jiulian said nothing, turning to streak away. With Zhulong's success, it was his turn to assail Daluo.

  Her breakthrough showed the Five Phoenixes now had the foundation for Daluo births.

  Truly an immortal martial world.

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, and other Five Phoenixes cultivators silently departed.

  …

  On Lake Heart Island,

  tranquility reigned.

  Breeze rustled; peach petals danced, purple bamboo leaves whispered.

  Swish.

  Lu poured wine, sipped lightly, eyes slitting in contentment.

  On the chessboard, a tangled, hair-like mess gradually clarified.

  Final piece fell—as if dispersing Zhulong's Daluo tribulation.

  Lu smiled. All rounded out perfectly.

  As Zhulong achieved Daluo,

  Lu's mind stirred.

  System prompts flashed.

  “From ground rises towering building. Congratulations, Host—spiritual energy reserves accumulated, meeting Qi Refinement advancement conditions. Advance?”

  As expected. Zhulong's Daluo entry provided enough spiritual energy share for his bottleneck leap.

  From Qi Refinement Layer Eleven to Twelve.

  After quasi-sage chimes accelerated the Five Phoenixes' transformation—birthing many Ninth-Turn Golden Immortals—plus Tonggu's additional chime at Lu's request, completing immortal martial evolution, fusing Ninth Heaven, and billions of souls reborn…

  Such vast spiritual energy surge enabled the leap upon Zhulong's breakthrough.

  Lu remained calm.

  All within his grasp.

  Qi Refinement to Layer Twelve; Fire and Gold Indestructible Demon Bodies perfected—his raw strength rivaled Great Dao-tier god-demons.

  Layer Twelve might elevate him to true Great Dao-tier.

  No need to hold back.

  “Advance.”

  Lu said faintly.

  He sought rapid growth—his advancement could drive the world's. Only stronger himself could strengthen the Five Phoenixes.

  Elemental Realm threats soured even green jade cakes.

  Urgent need for power.

  Upon confirmation, prompts dimmed.

  Like a whale spouting,

  Lu felt a stream explode in his mind, soaring skyward in myriad lights.

  Humm…

  Hazy, his soul transcended spatial dimensions.

  Entering a mysterious, profound realm.

  Far off, a figure shrouded in black approached step by step.

  Lu narrowed his eyes, trying to discern the face—clear yet unforgettable, no impression formed…

  Now at Qi Refinement Layer Twelve with perfected Fire and Gold bodies, Lu rivaled top Great Dao-tier god-demons.

  Yet this entity—unfathomable.

  Instinct urged: scrutinize—this person's identity tied deeply to him.

  As Lu strained,

  the figure smiled.

  Flicked his forehead.

  Lu's consciousness plummeted back, exiting the mysterious dimension.

  The black figure turned, hands behind back—where it passed, all twisted, annihilated…

  “Congratulations, Host—advancement complete: Qi Refinement Layer Twelve. Further along the path to excellent Qi Refiner.”

  “Reward: Indestructible Demon Body (Wood Origin Source). Material: Star Tear Wood.”

  Hm?

  Lu's consciousness returned; brows raised.

  Mind stirred.

  System panel appeared.

  Host: Lu

  Title: Qi Refiner (Permanent)

  Special Title: God-Demon Hunter

  Qi Refinement Layers: 12

  Spiritual Energy Reserves: 1/10 (trillion)

  Primordial Spirit Power: 10000 (ten thousand yuan)

  Innate Purple Qi: 1000 (strands)

  World Rating: Five Phoenixes Great World [Immortal Martial]

  Little change—except vast spiritual energy increase. Primordial spirit power shattered bottleneck—now terrifyingly potent.

  One thought could sweep the entire Five Phoenixes, forming devastating will storms.

  Innate purple qi growth less pronounced—harder to acquire.

  But gains substantial.

  Purple qi subtly fortified his body—key to rapid demon body perfection.

  Lu raised his hand, clenching slowly.

  Boom!

  Muffled void cracks echoed.

  Space Cutting activated; void layered, as if sliced by invisible blades.

  Now, Lu possessed true Daluo combat power.

  Actually, Fire body perfection already granted it—now merely elevated.

  No dwelling on the destructive shrouded figure in that space.

  Lu checked the reward.

  Ordinary enough.

  “Indestructible Demon Body, Wood Origin… after Fire, Wood?”

  Lu smiled.

  No rush to fuse—high success rate post-Fire perfection.

  But he waited.

  “Star Tear Wood: Supreme material, chaos-born companion treasure. Evolves wood-element god-demon bloodlines; enhances treasure resilience when forged.”

  Prompt appeared.

  Lu held a willow-stump-sized wood block—surprised.

  “Supreme material…”

  His eyes lit.

  He drew the Five Phoenixes Bow—already fused with Fire Spirit Stones. He planned to embed Star Tear Wood too.

  The bow's importance as world-suppressing treasure demanded maximal enhancement.

  Lu long sought materials—this arrived timely.

  As Lu repaired the bow,

  in the Ascension Ground.

  Lu Jiulian sat amid heavenly court ruins.

  Suddenly,

  his aura erupted. Eyes opened—bewildered, then bored.

  Mind stirred.

  Purple qi surged—like Zhulong, ready for Daluo assault.

  But bewildered: he'd just sat, not yet brewing breakthrough mood.

  Long sigh echoed in the Ascension Ground.

  “I… always grow stronger without realizing…”