Chapter 359: Who? It's You

In the northern ice plains of Yinghuang Province, beside the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar, Blood Refiner, Xu Qing, and Chen Erniu were just about to depart.

Just then, hundreds of brilliant lights suddenly erupted from the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar, shooting directly towards him. The appearance of these lights instantly made the crowd below gasp in awe.

Blood Refiner reacted swiftly, sweeping his sleeve to collect the lights before they could even draw near. He then turned and rapidly departed.

Meanwhile, the competition for ranks was drawing to a close, with Xu Qing and the captain having successively dropped out.

Although others were still participating, none could possibly claim the top spot.

The most likely contender was Qingqiu, who was still pressing on, gritting her teeth, at an altitude of over 2,900 zhang.

As for the Sword Holder Elders in the Sword Holder Tribunal who were observing the event, their eyes gleamed as they looked at Xu Qing and Chen Erniu, whom Blood Refiner had taken away.

"These two boys must have each gained a wisp of the totem's aura," one elder mused.

"We've studied the totem's aura for years; it's quite mysterious. Unfortunately, it cannot be absorbed, only used externally."

"This isn't something they can control. According to the Sword Holder's internal mechanisms, we'll arrange for someone to retrieve it later and add to their military merits. If they disagree, there's no need to force them."

Following the Sword Holder Elders' decision, Qingqiu, who had climbed to 2,930 zhang, was forced to stop. She had reached her absolute limit.

Climbing any higher, even if it were only a few tens of zhang, would shake her foundation, and reaching 3,000 zhang was simply impossible.

Though regretful, Qingqiu decisively released her grip.

With her cessation, the struggle for ranks on the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar should have concluded. However, in the next instant, just as half of the three-hour time limit had passed, a figure emerged from within the Great Divine Immortal Sect.

This individual was tall and imposing, with a dignified appearance and a completely composed demeanor. His blue long robe seemed to be encircled by flowing water, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.

His eyes, in particular, were profound, and his pupils flickered with runic marks.

Wherever he passed, the surrounding void seemed to twist, as if caused by a unique cultivation technique, making him appear to move by traversing the void.

Such a sight was exceptionally rare for a Heavenly Palace Golden Core cultivator.

His emergence immediately captured everyone's attention.

They gasped, and their expressions shifted to reverence, as they instinctively cleared a path for him.

It was none other than Zhang Siyun, the Dao Child of the Great Divine Immortal Sect.

He walked forward calmly and unhurriedly. He disliked associating with what he considered "ants," so he had not bothered to appear while Xu Qing and the others were climbing.

Only now, when most had given up, did he finally step out, calmly walking all the way to the base of the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar.

Finally, under the gaze of thousands, he lifted his foot, stepped onto the pillar before him, and leaped upwards!

The moment he touched the pillar, he shot forward with incredible speed, almost without a pause, directly reaching a height of 1,000 zhang.

Such momentum immediately made the eyes of all observers gleam with wonder, yet there was no discussion or uproar. It seemed they all considered his feat to be perfectly normal.

After all, he was the foremost human disciple of Yinghuang Province of this generation!

Concurrently, the Sword Holder Elders in the Tribunal also directed their gazes towards Zhang Siyun.

"Zhang Siyun is impressive; he's practically a quasi-Sword Holder already," one elder remarked.

"His grand-master, Daoist Nansi, is one of the four deacons in the Shangjun Sword Palace. Although his rank is equivalent to ours, given his position in the Sword Palace, we must address him as 'Your Excellency' when we meet him."

"I heard Daoist Nansi once asked him if he wanted to use his ten-year exemption privilege as a deacon to bypass the assessment. However, this young man refused, preferring to participate in the assessment himself to officially become a Sword Holder, and then use his grand-master's authority to increase his Sword Holder rank."

"This shows extreme self-confidence. Even though there are only three spots, he believes he is guaranteed to get one."

"The prodigies this time are all extraordinary. With only three spots, let's see who can secure them."

Under the watchful eyes of the Sword Holder Elders, Zhang Siyun maintained his speed, leaping from 1,000 zhang to 1,700 zhang, until he effortlessly reached 2,000 zhang.

At this height, his speed decreased slightly, with occasional pauses, but overall, he remained remarkably fast, reaching 2,200, 2,400, and then 2,600 zhang.

If one looked closely, they could see that he was slightly breathless at this height, as the impact of resentment was immense. However, in the very next instant, a magnificent canopy appeared above him, and his entire body glowed with a brilliant white light – it was his life lamp.

Unlike Xu Qing's black umbrella or the Seven-Colored Phoenix Cry, this life lamp was entirely white, exuding a sense of sanctity, and its flames were pure white.

It resembled an inverted mountain, imbued with profound sacredness.

This was the White Mountain Sacred Fire Lamp!

One could see vast quantities of white flames spreading from the peak to the edges, flowing downwards, incinerating the void wherever they passed.

With Zhang Siyun standing beneath the White Mountain Sacred Fire Lamp, surrounded by burning white flames and emitting white light, combined with his blue Daoist robe, handsome features, and calm gaze, an aura of sacred transcendence naturally arose around him!

Furthermore, a roar emanated from behind him.

The void behind him fractured, and a colossal white dragon extended its body from the rift, coiling around him, its presence intimidating all directions.

Two long white dragon whiskers dangled to Zhang Siyun's left and right, swaying irregularly.

The fur around the dragon's neck also moved with the wind. All of this made Zhang Siyun appear like an ethereal immortal, standing between heaven and earth, having subdued a colossal dragon.

He gazed upwards, speaking faintly in his mind.

"That group of lesser beings before were unworthy to stand above me. Watch how I crush you all."

Then, he moved.

He abruptly advanced towards an even higher position.

He ascended rapidly, reaching 2,700 zhang, 2,800 zhang, 2,900 zhang, until he surpassed Qingqiu's previous height, leaping directly to 3,000 zhang.

He intended to continue, but in the next instant, the peculiar moon totem at that 3,000-zhang height, after two previous flashes, illuminated for a third time, becoming fully activated!

Zhang Siyun's body shuddered.

Simultaneously, in the extreme western reaches of the Wanggu Continent, an immense distance from Yinghuang Province, the red moon hanging high in the endless night sky still emitted faint, indistinct murmurs.

"Who plundered a wisp of my divine essence? Hm?"

"Is it you?"

The moment this voice rang out, Zhang Siyun, standing at 3,000 zhang on the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar in Yinghuang Province, watched his composed expression instantly contort into one of profound shock.

The tranquility in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by horror.

Disbelief contorted his face as he felt an indescribable, earth-shattering power, as if a deity had descended, engulfing him with annihilation and fury!

It was all too sudden. He was like an ant beneath a giant's finger, utterly defenceless and incredibly fragile!

A horrifying shriek escaped his lips as he spurted a large mouthful of blood. His body then emitted loud thumping sounds, and blood erupted from every pore.

The life lamp above his head instantly dimmed, almost flickering out. The white dragon behind him let out a ghastly, tragic wail as its body violently exploded, most of its white form turning scarlet.

Zhang Siyun suffered similarly; his legs instantly crumbled, and half of his body shattered into a mass of flesh and blood. His arms and torso followed suit, and this disintegration continued to spread. For the first time, despair appeared on his face, accompanied by an overwhelming bewilderment.

He had no idea what was happening. This entire ordeal was far too sudden.

In a flash, a figure rapidly burst forth from the Great Divine Immortal Sect. Even the Sword Holder Elders in the Tribunal were moved, and immediately intervened.

This wasn't favoritism; it was simply that while Xu Qing and Chen Erniu had been seriously injured earlier, their injuries were clearly not as severe and did not threaten their lives.

Zhang Siyun, however, for some unknown reason, appeared to be on the verge of complete annihilation.

They could not stand by and watch such a prodigious talent perish there without offering aid.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, a total of four Grand Immortals of the Return to Void Realm, including the figure who arrived from the Great Divine Immortal Sect, simultaneously appeared beside Zhang Siyun, all extending their efforts to heal him.

The elder from the Great Divine Immortal Sect, moreover, produced a large quantity of rare celestial and earthly treasures, even utilizing an incomparably precious Great Divine Pill.

This pill was originally intended for Zhang Siyun's critical breakthroughs, but now, he disregarded all else. Utilizing the terrifying life force it contained, combined with countless other elixirs, he finally suppressed Zhang Siyun's injuries and saved him.

After accomplishing this, the elder from the Great Divine Immortal Sect, supporting the weak and unconscious Zhang Siyun, looked helplessly at the Sword Holder Elders before him.

"Esteemed sirs, why did this happen?"

The three Sword Holder Elders were equally perplexed. They looked at the 3,000-zhang mark on the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar, shaking their heads with bitter smiles.

"We will investigate this matter thoroughly," they replied.

The Great Divine Immortal Sect elder sighed, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and departed with Zhang Siyun.

The incident concluded here. The Sword Holder Tribunal acted swiftly, immediately sealing the Primal Chaos Separation Pillar, prohibiting further climbing, and then began a thorough inspection of it.

As for Zhang Siyun, amidst the ensuing uproar, he was taken back to the Great Divine Immortal Sect's outpost by the elder, who spared no expense to heal him and ensure his injuries were completely stabilized.

Zhang Siyun himself was also extraordinary; after his injuries stabilized, he fully recovered in just two days.

However, neither Zhang Siyun, nor the elder from the Great Divine Immortal Sect, nor the Sword Holder Tribunal noticed the true reason why Zhang Siyun, who should have died, had survived.

In a deeply concealed corner of the recovered Zhang Siyun's sea of consciousness, a red moon had appeared.

The figure sitting on this moon, who had been covering its face, now slowly lowered its hands, revealing a bizarre face.

It was bizarre because the face had no discernable features.

Instead, it was covered in countless tiny pores that were now contracting and wriggling, continuously oozing red blood.

An ominous aura emanated from it.

"It's not him," the figure murmured.

"The plunderer must be one of my kind..."

"Once I descend, I will find and devour it."

"This body is weak and still needs nurturing. Before that... I will continue to slumber."

The figure on the moon whispered softly, its voice growing fainter and fainter.

Zhang Siyun, however, had no way of knowing any of this. He believed everything had returned to normal, yet in reality, this was the sole reason for his survival.

But in the Eight Sects Alliance outpost, Xu Qing suddenly opened his eyes from his cross-legged healing posture. With a pounding heart and an expression of astonishment, he looked towards the Great Divine Immortal Sect's outpost.