Chapter 3564: Five Hundred Years

Five hundred years passed.

On Canghai Island, in a secret chamber, Wang Yingjie sat cross-legged on a blue meditation cushion, his eyes slightly closed and his hands forming a seal. A dazzling five-colored aura enveloped his body.

A sound transmission talisman flew in and landed before him.

The five-colored aura around Wang Yingjie dispersed. He opened his eyes, grabbed the talisman, and crushed it. Liu Hongxue's voice announced, "Husband, I'm back."

A look of joy spread across Wang Yingjie's face. He hurried out, and as he stepped from his residence, he saw Liu Hongxue standing at the entrance, smiling broadly.

After Wang Ruyan had refined three Qiankun Demon Suppressing Talismans, she entrusted them to Liu Hongxue. Liu Hongxue was instructed to pilot the Azure Lotus to Canghai and deliver the talismans to Wang Yingjie. The instruction was that one talisman should be given to any clan member who reached the late Integration Stage and intended to attempt the Mahayana Stage.

Upon reaching the vicinity of Canghai, Liu Hongxue deployed the Cross-Sea Thunderboat, navigating through the treacherous thunderstorm sea to successfully arrive at Canghai.

"My dear, why have you come? Has Patriarch Qingshan returned?" Wang Yingjie asked. He had been immersed in comprehending the Spirit Domain since Liu Hongxue and Wang Mengbin departed, but had yet to make any significant progress.

Liu Hongxue provided a detailed update on the family's situation, mentioning that she would be staying in Canghai for a period.

Wang Yingjie frowned. "It wasn't Patriarch Qingshan who made contact," he noted. "The Ye family has invited other Mahayana cultivators for assistance, which suggests their losses are significant."

As Liu Hongxue was about to respond, countless multicolored points of light materialized in the void, stretching as far as the eye could see and engulfing the entire Canghai.

"Someone is attempting the Mahayana Stage!"

Wang Yingjie's expression turned serious. Wang Qingfeng, Dong Xueli, and Duan Tongtian had all reached the late Integration Stage, but there was only one Qiankun Demon Suppressing Talisman, which had been given to Duan Tongtian.

The myriad five-colored points of light converged rapidly in one direction, coalescing into an enormous, swirling five-colored cloud mass that continuously expanded.

The sudden shifts in spiritual energy caught the attention of the island's cultivators. Many rushed out of their dwellings, as they had witnessed this phenomenon twice before and were well accustomed to it.

Dong Xueli and Wang Qingfeng flew out from their residence, landing atop a high peak. They gazed at the distant five-colored cloud mass, their faces etched with worry.

Duan Tongtian carried profound guilt over the deaths of his wife and children, a deep-seated obsession that was detrimental to him. It would be exceedingly difficult for him to overcome the inner demon trial. Even with the Qiankun Demon Suppressing Talisman, there was no guarantee he would overcome the inner demon trial.

Wang Qingfeng tightly grasped Dong Xueli's right hand and gently put his arm around her shoulder, reassuring her, "He should be fine, don't worry."

A colossal, hazy azure blade phantom materialized high in the sky. The five-colored cloud mass churned violently, releasing a torrential downpour of large, five-colored raindrops, which were steadily absorbed by the ethereal blade.

Duan Tongtian sat cross-legged on a large, white-flecked bluestone circular platform, a blue long saber held in his right hand. The colossal blade phantom slowly descended, merging with his life-bound magical treasure. The blue saber’s spiritual light surged, emanating a blade aura dozens of feet long.

Duan Tongtian’s vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself in a secluded courtyard with blue-tiled roofs. Inside, a beautiful young woman in a white dress was guiding a boy and a girl in their cultivation. "Husband, come quickly and guide Xueli and the others in their cultivation," the young woman in the white dress said, smiling broadly.

"The inner demon trial!" Duan Tongtian gazed at the young woman, his eyes welling up.

Dong Xueli, Wang Qingfeng, Wang Yingjie, and Liu Hongxue stood atop a high peak, their expressions grave.

In Liu Hongxue's right hand rested a red-glowing orb. Through this artifact, she could perceive Duan Tongtian's current state.

Over an hour passed, yet the lightning tribulation had not descended.

Dong Xueli's expression tightened. Her hand gripped Wang Qingfeng's so tightly that her palms grew sweaty.

Another hour elapsed, and still no lightning tribulation descended.

Liu Hongxue sighed. "Patriarch Tongtian has failed," she said. "He succumbed to the inner demon trial."

"Please accept our condolences." Wang Yingjie let out a soft sigh, then departed with Liu Hongxue.

Dong Xueli leaned into Wang Qingfeng's embrace, her face etched with profound sorrow.

"If I hadn't changed my name, if I hadn't made things difficult for Father, he might have overcome the inner demon trial." Dong Xueli's face was filled with self-reproach, and her eyes were red-rimmed. She knew well that Duan Tongtian's inner demons stemmed from his wife and children. For years, he had been plagued by self-blame whenever his deceased family was mentioned.

"This isn't your fault," Wang Qingfeng consoled her. "It's simply that the inner demon trial is too formidable. Perhaps Father-in-law falling to the inner demon trial means he has finally apologized to Mother-in-law there."

Wang Yuyan flew over from a distance. Dong Xueli released Wang Qingfeng, composing herself with a forced calm.

"Ancestor Xueli, Senior Duan instructed that if he were to fall during his Mahayana tribulation, this item should be given to you." Wang Yuyan produced an exquisite blue jade box, affixed with a silver talisman.

Dong Xueli took the jade box, opened it, and found a memory crystal inside.

"What else did my father say?" Dong Xueli asked, her voice tinged with grief.

"He said you would understand once you watched it," Wang Yuyan replied truthfully.

Dong Xueli nodded, then dismissed Wang Yuyan.

She infused the memory crystal with spiritual power. A beam of azure light shot out, materializing into a phantom image of Duan Tongtian.

"Xueli, Qingfeng, by the time you see this memory crystal, I will surely be gone. Don't be sad; this isn't your fault. I have lived with guilt for all these years. Thankfully, Xueli, you've found happiness. Otherwise, I would have even less courage to face your mother in the afterlife. Xueli, I couldn't face you and your mother and brother. When the extraterrestrial demon took your forms, I couldn't tell them apart, and I didn't want to. I didn't know which of the three of you it would become, but for me, it was actually a form of release. I will apologize to your mother and elder brother during the inner demon trial. Our family will stay together, never to be separated. Your father will never again seek challenges or spar with others. If time could be reversed, I truly would not have gone around challenging others. Qingfeng, you have a stubborn temper, unyielding in your beliefs; learn from your elder brother in how to deal with people. If there is reincarnation, I will repay your Wang family well and take good care of Xueli. Xueli, please don't blame yourself. Your father brought this upon himself; it has nothing to do with you. I have found my release."

With those words, the phantom of Duan Tongtian dissipated.

Dong Xueli collapsed into Wang Qingfeng's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

After many years of cultivation, she had endured numerous separations and deaths, and had long become numb to such losses. Yet, Duan Tongtian's passing and the loss of his cultivation still deeply saddened her.

Wang Qingfeng sighed deeply and gently patted Dong Xueli's shoulder.

Duan Tongtian had lived with profound guilt for years. If an extraterrestrial demon were to manifest as his wife and children, he would easily succumb and be unable to free himself. This was precisely why the inner demon trial was so difficult to overcome, and throughout history, many cultivators had fallen before it.

Sky Dome Realm, Wanlong Continent.

In a hidden underground cave within the Wanyun Mountain Range, Wang Chuanming, Wang Zongyun, Lan Fukong, and over a dozen other Integration cultivators were gathered. Before them lay a blue beast hide, which served as a topographic map.