Chapter 2916

With Chen Yueying's advancement to the Mahayana stage, Zhao Yunxiao's status, as her senior disciple, will naturally rise, and Zhenhai Palace will also benefit.

The war between the races has not yet ended, and no matter how much territory the human race expands, Zhenhai Palace is guaranteed a significant portion of any territorial gains.

"Is Senior Martial Brother Sect Master about to undergo his Great Heavenly Tribulation?" Chen Yueying's voice was tinged with weakness. To survive the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation, most of her defensive treasures had been ruined. Had it not been for the robust defense provided by her cultivation technique, she would have perished under the Great Heavenly Tribulation.

The nine nine-colored divine thunderbolts possessed immense power; even a formation enhanced with a low-grade seventh-tier thunder-absorbing pearl couldn't withstand them. The final nine-colored divine thunderbolt was repelled solely by her innate defensive abilities, leaving her injured. Any other cultivator would likely have perished under the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation.

Zhenhai Palace possessed top-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures, though they were primarily offensive. Defensive top-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures were considerably rarer and highly coveted even by Mahayana cultivators.

The Xuantian artifact that Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan retrieved from the Xuiling Grotto-heaven was a shield. If cultivated into a Xuantian Treasure, it would be exceptionally effective in withstanding the Great Heavenly Tribulation.

Song Yiming had consistently mediated conflicts between the native and ascendant factions, preventing their escalation. Both Lin Tianlong and Chen Yueying held him in high regard.

"Senior Martial Brother Sect Master will not survive his sixth Great Heavenly Tribulation," Li Yan sighed, his expression filled with sorrow.

Chen Yueying's brows furrowed deeply as she instructed, "Nephew Li, you will temporarily assume the role of Sect Master. Seal this news, and dispatch someone to inform Nephew Lin. I require a period of recuperation and am currently unable to engage in combat with other Mahayana cultivators."

She had only managed to survive the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation this time thanks to the protection of Xiao Wentian and two others, and also to Lin Tianlong's significant contribution. He had promptly acquired a seventh-tier thunder-absorbing pearl and had it delivered to her. Without this pearl, and relying solely on ordinary mid-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures, Chen Yueying would have been utterly incapable of passing the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation and would have been struck down long ago.

As a spirit physique wielder with considerable power, she faced an Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation far more potent than those experienced by ordinary cultivators. Most cultivators attempting to reach the Mahayana stage, if adequately prepared with several defensive mid-grade Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures and multiple seventh-tier formations, still have a high probability of passing the Eight-Nine Thunder Tribulation.

While cultivators with superior aptitude progress faster, the difficulty of breaking through to higher realms is correspondingly greater for them.

The native faction had contributed significantly. It was commendable that Lu Wei and Li Yan, upon hearing of the Lizard Tribe's combined assault on the Yu Xi Mountain Range, had rushed to the scene with utmost speed.

Only then did Chen Yueying appoint Li Yan as interim Sect Master, intending to formally select a new Sect Master once Lin Tianlong and the others returned.

Now that she had entered the Mahayana stage, the ascendant faction would benefit regardless of who assumed the position of Sect Master.

"Yes, Martial Aunt Chen," Li Yan and the others responded. With Chen Yueying's advancement to the Mahayana stage, it was natural for them to address her as Martial Aunt.

Xiao Wentian and Chen Yueying shared the same master, and thus, regardless of the disparity in their cultivation levels, they continued to address each other as senior and junior martial siblings.

Chen Yueying was currently very weak, so the news of her advancement to the Mahayana stage had to be kept strictly confidential. Otherwise, if the other races learned of it, they would likely seek to cause trouble.

Chen Yueying teleported back to Piaoyun Island for recuperation, while Lu Wei personally hastened to the front lines.

On the front lines, above a vast green grassland, a streak of red light shot across the sky with incredible speed.

"You're quite fast, but last time I was the one being chased by you. This time, I'm the one chasing you. Let's see if you can make it back alive to the Myriad Flame Mountain Range," a cold male voice resonated from high above, spanning tens of thousands of miles. No sooner had the words faded than the ground began to shake violently, as if an earthquake had struck. The void vibrated and warped as a torrential blue river surged rapidly from the distance.

Wherever the blue river flowed, the void ripped open, leaving behind long, thick fissures, as if space itself were on the verge of collapse.

Before long, the blue river caught up to the red light, which then halted, revealing Yan Que. His face was pale, his left arm was gone, and he was covered in blood, appearing severely weakened.

In his earlier years, Yan Que had clashed with the Heavenly River Sword Venerable and had the upper hand. However, with the Heavenly River Sword Venerable's recent significant advancement in cultivation, Yan Que had suffered a minor setback in their latest exchange, losing an arm and sustaining damage to his natal magic treasure.

Yan Que had merged with his Dharma Idol, consuming a considerable amount of spiritual power, and had also employed the Nine Flame Spirit Separation Great Technique. Yet, his cultivation was still inferior to that of the Heavenly River Sword Venerable, making him no match at all.

Yan Que slapped his right hand towards the void, which hummed and twisted, deforming as countless crimson flames erupted. The fiery light intensified, forming a crimson fire wall hundreds of *zhang* high, which surged forward to meet the blue river.

With a tremendous roar, the crimson fire wall collided with the blue river, exploding into a voluminous cloud of white mist.

The blue river suddenly solidified, transforming into a colossal, shimmering azure sword that, with effortless precision, cleaved the crimson fire wall in two. The towering sword then sliced Yan Que himself in half, his body dissolving into scattered specks of fire before vanishing.

A thousand *li* away, the void glowed with crimson light, revealing Yan Que's figure once more.

A loud whooshing sound rent the air as a long, blue arc of light pierced through space. Wherever it passed, the void tore open as if sliced in half. The blue arc instantly appeared before Yan Que, who, scared out of his wits, hastily conjured two golden sickles to intercept it.

The blades of the two golden sickles had several fingernail-sized nicks, and their spiritual glow was noticeably dim, indicating they were clearly damaged.

"Clang! Clang!" With two dull clangs of metal, the two golden sickles were deflected by the blue arc of light.

With a flash of blue light, the blue arc revealed its true form: a shimmering, azure flying sword, three *chi* three inches long and about an inch wide, its surface etched with water patterns.

Yan Que's face drained of color in alarm. He repeatedly cast secret arts, rapidly depleting his spiritual power.

Just as the blue flying sword was about to cleave Yan Que in two, a pungent wind swept by, and a muscular youth in golden robes materialized. The golden-robed youth had exposed fangs and a pair of golden wings on his back, and his aura was even more powerful than Yan Que's.

This was Luo Xiao, a Mahayana cultivator of the Yaksha race.

The moment Luo Xiao appeared, his right fist flared with brilliant golden light as he unleashed a powerful punch.

With a loud "clang" of metal, his right fist collided with the blue flying sword, sending it flying backward.

A torrent of blue river surged forward, tearing open the ground. The Heavenly River Sword Venerable stood atop the flowing blue river, his expression indifferent.

Seeing Luo Xiao, he expressed slight surprise: "You've advanced to the mid-Mahayana stage?"

"If you can reach the mid-Mahayana stage, then so can I!" Luo Xiao retorted dismissively, his face full of confidence.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Luo," Yan Que said gratefully. Had Luo Xiao not arrived this time, he would likely have met a grim end.

Luo Xiao nodded. The Yaksha and Blazing Fire tribes were natural allies; a shared proverb stated that if the lips were gone, the teeth would feel cold. If Yan Que were to be eliminated by the Heavenly River Sword Venerable, the Yaksha tribe would inevitably be impacted.

"Fellow Daoist Lin," Luo Xiao said, "our three tribes are all currently engaged against the Lizard tribe. Even if we intend to fight each other, it wouldn't be too late after we eliminate the Lizard tribe, wouldn't you agree?"