No! Impossible!
Yun Ze had actually seen it before. The seemingly overbearing person was just a pretense. After being beaten by Senior Sister Mu, he didn't dare to mention 'I' in front of her again.
From this alone, one could tell she wasn't an overbearing person.
Li Po had merely spoken a few ill words unintentionally. A small punishment would suffice; she didn't deserve death!
Even for the sake of her taking care of Xiao Shu for so many years, that person wouldn't have acted!
Even if that person had truly killed Li Po, they wouldn't have left the corpse lying here.
If Xiao Shu saw it, she would surely cause a scene.
Could it be that Li Po was only faking her death?
Yun Ze tentatively reached out, intending to check Li Po's breathing.
But just as he was about to touch Li Po's philtrum, a cry suddenly echoed in his ears!
Clang!
This is…
A phoenix cry!
Yun Ze instinctively took a step back!
Immediately after, he saw a blazing sun rise above Li Po's head. He instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, conjuring a water sword in his right hand, ready to strike at any moment!
The blazing sun transformed into a crimson-gold fire phoenix, standing directly above Li Po's head!
The surrounding temperature instantly rose, but its eyes coldly gazed at Yun Ze, filled with disdain and a hint of contempt.
Yun Ze dared not act rashly!
He had heard of it when he was studying with Zu Changdao some time ago.
Besides humans, there were many other types of spirit beasts that could cultivate by absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Spirit beasts had no spiritual roots; their cultivation depended solely on their bloodline.
The higher the bloodline grade and the purer it was, the more boundless their future potential. Some Heavenly-tier spirit beasts were even born at the Golden Core stage!
The crimson-gold fire phoenix before him was a Lower-grade Earth-tier spirit beast. Although far from as terrifying as a true phoenix, it was born at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Now, after cultivating with Wei Huang for over a hundred years, it had already reached the Golden Core stage and could cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage, far surpassing many cultivators!
He was definitely no match for such a being!
With Senior Sister Mu and Sect Master Zu not by his side, it was best for him to retreat.
Yun Ze stared intently into the other's eyes and continuously retreated.
But at this moment, the crimson-gold fire phoenix seemed to sense something, spread its wings, and pounced directly at him!
Yun Ze instinctively unleashed a rain of swords!
Sword energy and spiritual energy condensed into raindrops,扑向 the fire phoenix!
But the fire phoenix did not dodge. When the sword rain landed on it, it didn't even leave a mark, nor did it extinguish its flames in the slightest.
It pierced through the sword rain, flew over Yun Ze's head, and headed behind him!
Yun Ze instinctively turned his head and saw a person standing behind him.
Wei Huang.
She wore that crimson robe, which made her appear noble and gave off an oppressive, condescending aura.
The crimson-gold fire phoenix landed slowly on her shoulder, looking at Yun Ze with the same expression, as if to say…
You useless trash, you couldn't even seize the opportunity!
"Why are you here?"
Wei Huang walked over slowly, her gaze not on Yun Ze but fixed on Li Po's back. "I recall you were studying under Zu Changdao?"
"I studied for a month and took a day off to relax."
Yun Ze answered truthfully.
He watched as Wei Huang walked to Li Po's side and placed her hand on Li Po's head.
Instantly!
A ball of golden flame ignited on Li Po's body!
Yun Ze, who was less than a meter away from Li Po, felt no heat whatsoever.
"Oh?"
Wei Huang simply responded indifferently, as if she didn't take the scene to heart. She continued, "Looking for Xiao Shu?"
"Yes, Senior, could you…"
"No."
Wei Huang replied calmly, cutting off Yun Ze's unfinished sentence.
Such a resolute attitude.
In truth, it was not appropriate to linger in such a situation, but… he still wanted to see what Wei Huang was going to do to Li Po.
Yun Ze cupped his hands towards Wei Huang, then took a step back, standing a meter away and watching silently.
He stayed out of curiosity, but his step back was out of caution!
Curiosity aside, his life was the most important thing!
As the golden flames continued to rise, Li Po's skin began to char, emitting wisps of white smoke.
Yun Ze couldn't help but cover his nose and mouth, but he continued to watch.
Wei Huang glanced at him, but did not drive him away. She let him stand there, a faint smile on her lips, continuing to watch Li Po, who was enveloped in golden flames.
After about fifteen minutes, Li Po's body was covered in charred skin, her entire form as black as charcoal. The golden flames gradually subsided.
She just… burned to death?
A flicker of shock crossed Yun Ze's eyes, but in the next instant.
A storm of spiritual energy suddenly struck!
Yun Ze almost lost his footing!
He was already in the mid-stage of Qi Refining level six, yet he was still being pushed by the spiritual energy to the point of instability!
This showed how immense the spiritual energy storm was, and its source… was the now charred Li Po!
Yun Ze stared intently at the lump of charcoal.
Crack~
A crisp sound echoed from the charcoal, as if something had shattered.
The next moment!
A golden light burst forth from the lump of charcoal!
A phantom figure emerged from Li Po's sea of qi, resembling Li Po by about seventy percent.
Although it was only the size of a fist, it exuded a sense of dread!
Its facial features were particularly similar, but it appeared much younger than Li Po, at most seventeen or eighteen years old.
Could this be Li Po's soul?
No!
This should be…
The Nascent Soul!
She had broken through!?
Buzz!
A sword cry sounded!
Yun Ze turned to look behind him and found Zu Changdao standing beside him.
"Sect Master, this…"
"Hush!"
Zu Changdao's expression was extremely solemn. "I didn't expect your luck to be so good. Don't speak, just watch.
This 'shattering the core to form a nascent soul' is not something everyone gets to see. Observe carefully! No matter what happens later, do not speak. Just stand by my side, understand?"
Yun Ze nodded silently.
But in the next moment, the surroundings suddenly darkened!
He looked up at the sky and saw that it was covered by dark clouds. Although it was noon, not a trace of sunlight could be seen.
Could this be the legendary Heavenly Tribulation!?
Yun Ze looked down at Li Po and began to worry.
We're so close, won't the lightning strike us when it comes down later?
Suddenly!
The Nascent Soul opened its eyes and looked up at the sky, its eyes filled with determination!
It re-entered the charred body. With a surge of spiritual energy, the charcoal scattered completely, emitting a dazzling firelight!
Yun Ze was only momentarily stunned before he saw a young woman in her prime, wearing a green robe, standing before him, looking up at the sky.
This is… Li Po!?
Could the Nascent Soul stage also have the ability to revert to youth?
Before Yun Ze could be surprised, Li Po leaped into the sky, and a deep yellow thundercloud condensed in the air.
"Triple Thunder Tribulation!"
Zu Changdao smiled faintly and cupped his hands towards Wei Huang. "Congratulations, Valley Master Wei. It seems Phoenix Return Valley will have another Nascent Soul realm expert."
"There's nothing to congratulate."
Wei Huang frowned slightly. "Little Li had a Three-Patterned Golden Core and had been accumulating strength for many years. She merely wished to achieve a Three-Colored Nascent Soul.
But this is only a triple thunder tribulation. Even if she successfully passes the tribulation, she will at best have a One-Colored Nascent Soul."
Zu Changdao realized he had spoken out of turn and fell silent, as if he hadn't said anything.
Yun Ze, unable to understand what they were talking about, could only stand by the side and look up at the sky in silence.
Boom!
Suddenly, a crimson lightning tribulation descended, striking Li Po's head heavily.
Li Po spat out a mouthful of blood, her figure swaying unsteadily!
This lightning tribulation… is so terrifying!
Just one strike could make a Nascent Soul realm cultivator spit blood? If there were a few more, could Li Po truly endure it?
Yun Ze glanced at the expressions of the two beside him and found that their expressions were calm, as if they were not worried about this matter.
He could only continue watching.
Soon, the second lightning tribulation began to form!
A pillar of orange-red lightning descended, its thickness sufficient to envelop Li Po's entire body!
Yun Ze marveled at the power of heaven and earth!
But when he thought of the lightning tribulations he might face in the future, his heart trembled!
Before the second lightning tribulation had ended, the third lightning tribulation descended!
This time, it was not lightning, nor a lightning pillar, but…
A thundercloud!
The entire deep yellow thundercloud directly covered Li Po, enveloping her completely!
Countless small lightning snakes shuttled through the thundercloud, gnawing at Li Po's body. It was unknown when it would end!
This wait lasted for half an hour!
The deep yellow thundercloud gradually dissipated, and Li Po's figure swayed unsteadily in the air, yet she still forced herself to look up at the sky.
"Human, Li, thanks the grace of Heaven's Dao!"
As soon as the words fell, the vast dark clouds instantly dispersed, revealing a round sun!
It was over.
Yun Ze finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But in the next instant, a storm of spiritual energy swept through again!
This time, the storm was several times more violent than before!
Yun Ze's body swayed. If Zu Changdao hadn't supported him in time, he might have been blown over!
"This is the baptism of heaven and earth."
Zu Changdao's voice quickly echoed throughout the lonely peak, not just to Yun Ze.
"Everyone! Cultivate your techniques! Do not miss this opportunity!"