Before long, news of the Arid Province battle spread like wildfire across the remaining thirteen domains.
"What the hell?! Ye Junlin from the Xuantian Sect is actually at the Great Ascension stage? And he took down all eighteen Venerables from the Yuhua Sect?"
"You're kidding! An entire army of one hundred thousand cultivators wiped out?! That's insane! My brother was part of that force… Damn, I guess my sister-in-law will have to rely on me now…"
"With that kind of bloodlust, that white-haired old demon is definitely doomed to face divine retribution! He's the top butcher of the Eastern Domain!"
In the Buddha Province, mourning monks chanted sutras in an attempt to guide the souls of the fallen.
The once-lively Hanging Temple fell into stunned silence after hearing the news.
Meanwhile, in an attic in Lingzhou, a sharp cry of disbelief rang out.
"No way! That guy from the Arid Province is actually this powerful? Could he be the reincarnation of some ancient Immortal Realm powerhouse?!"
Xue Tianyi's intense workout was once again interrupted. Upon hearing the report from his guard, the wicked grin on his face turned into one of sheer shock.
The guard looked grim. "Young Master, it's all true."
Xue Tianyi broke into a cold sweat. He felt a chill crawl down his spine. Thankfully, he hadn't acted that day—otherwise, not even his father could've saved him!
"Hurry! Get me a few female cultivators. I need to blow off steam!"
"Huh?"
"What, you don't understand words? Move it! Or I'll drag your mom here instead!"
The guard's face turned pale. He quickly fled—he didn't want his mother tortured to death by this madman.
Xue Tianyi let out a heavy sigh before violently hurling himself back onto the bed to resume his "relaxation."
From behind the curtain, shrill cries echoed like those of a pig being slaughtered.
Meanwhile, back at the Yuhua Sect, the devastating news caused a shockwave of disbelief. Disciples and elders alike were struck speechless.
When was the last time the Yuhua Sect had suffered a defeat in open conflict?
No one could recall.
But this time, it was undeniable—and catastrophic.
The death of the eighteen core elders dealt a devastating blow to the sect's foundation. Each of them had been revered like demigods, holding absolute authority over life and death within the sect.
Now, they were all dead.
Ding… Dong… Ding…
The funeral bells rang solemnly through the sky.
A heavy gloom settled over the sect as soft sobs echoed through the halls.
"Is this true?"
In the True Transmission Hall, Chen Xiao, still recovering from injuries, bolted upright with a face full of disbelief.
"Saint Son! Every word is true! The news is all over the Eastern Domain. The Yuhua Sect has suffered a complete, humiliating defeat!"
Elder Mo from the Law Enforcement Hall had bloodshot eyes, his voice trembling.
Chen Xiao staggered backward and collapsed to the floor. He gave a bitter smile. "Ye Junlin, you cunning bastard… You hid your cultivation level just to play me, didn't you?"
He had thought that reaching the Unity Stage would make him a worthy rival to Ye Junlin.
But he was sorely mistaken.
Ye Junlin wasn't at Unity stage—he was already at Great Ascension!
"Saint Son, don't be discouraged. That white-haired demon has lived for tens of thousands of years. How else could he be that strong? You're still young. For him, Great Ascension is the end. But for you, it's just the beginning!"
"You… you were born to become an Immortal!"
Seeing Chen Xiao in despair, Elder Mo quickly tried to lift his spirits.
Chen Xiao's dazed expression gradually sharpened with resolve. "You're right. I'll survive my tribulation and rise to the Immortal Realm. How could I accept defeat now? Great Ascension? Hah! I'll break through it sooner or later!"
"Exactly!"
Elder Mo nodded encouragingly.
Then, as if making up his mind, Chen Xiao gritted his teeth. "Elder Mo, report this to the upper ranks—I've decided to refine the Sun True Fire ahead of schedule. I need to increase my cultivation as fast as possible!"
"What?! Saint Son, are you serious?" Elder Mo looked utterly shaken. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.
The Sun True Fire—a supreme Yang artifact said to have fallen from the heavens a million years ago—had scorched all of Qingzhou when it first landed. Countless powerful cultivators tried to claim it, but all were reduced to ashes. It was only through the divine intervention of a Yuhua Sect elder that it was sealed away in the sect's forbidden zone.
It wasn't until Chen Xiao was born with the Sun Immortal Body that the sect realized he was its destined wielder.
Still, the sect had decided to wait. The artifact was too powerful, and refining it without reaching the Great Ascension stage was practically suicide.
Failure would mean annihilation.
Chen Xiao wasn't even at the Unity Stage yet, and now he wanted to attempt refining it?
It was madness.
But Elder Mo also understood—Chen Xiao was the sect's greatest hope for achieving Immortal status in a million years. If anything happened to him, it would be a devastating loss.
"Saint Son, I understand how you feel… but please reconsider…"
"Elder Mo, believe me! This is my fate. The Sun True Fire and I are meant for each other!"
Chen Xiao's voice was firm, his eyes ablaze. "I will be reborn from this fire!"
Elder Mo was deeply moved by his determination. After a long pause, he sighed and said, "Very well. I'll report this immediately. Please begin preparing yourself, Saint Son."
As Elder Mo left, Chen Xiao sat back down, collecting his thoughts. It felt like a rebirth was already beginning.
In his mind, the image of the red-clad figure that had humiliated him flashed again.
Resentment twisted his features.
"Next time… I'll take your life with my own hands."
To avenge his father's death, he would start by killing the apprentice!
---
The battle at Arid Province shook the entire Eastern Domain.
The Xuantian Sect's status soared, officially ranking among the top ten Immortal Sects—and even breaking into the top five.
As for Ye Junlin, his reputation exploded.
People called him many things: the white-haired demon, the killing god, the white reaper—the names kept stacking up.
His blood-drenched legend spread like wildfire.
It was said that even crying children would fall silent if his name was whispered.
He had killed one hundred thousand cultivators—Golden Cores, Nascent Souls, Unity experts, even Transformation Stage elites—and yes, the eighteen Venerables at Great Ascension.
His terrifying record sent chills through the entire region.
The fourteen Eastern domains buzzed with speculation. Everyone waited to see how the wounded Yuhua Sect would respond.
But strangely, perhaps due to the crushing losses, the Yuhua Sect made no move at all.
---
Three Months Later
Xuantian Sect, Mysterious Peak
The midday sun bathed the land, and birds chirped in the breeze.
Ye Junlin, wearing sleek sunglasses, reclined in a deck chair. Holding a goblet carved from thousand-year-old jade, he called out lazily:
"Hong, pour me a glass of '82 Lafite~"
"Yes, Master Ye," Hong Qianye replied calmly. Clearly used to this routine, he placed a hand over his chest and gave a slight bow. He took out an obsidian bottle and carefully poured the deep red liquid into the goblet.
The aroma was rich and alluring.
The wine—fermented from ten-thousand-year-old blood grapes—was immensely beneficial for cultivators.
Ye Junlin took a slow sip and sighed in bliss. "Oh yeah... that's the stuff!"
Hong Qianye kept a neutral expression, though his thoughts churned. He's acting like a lunatic again. When will this madness end?
Still, given Ye Junlin's strength, Hong Qianye had no choice but to obey.
Ye Junlin ignored the disdain in his gaze. He swirled the goblet, closed his eyes, and began humming to himself, lost in his own world.
Just then, the system notification chimed:
[Ding! Daily sign-in attempts have been refreshed. Would the host like to sign in?]
"Sign in."
Ye Junlin answered immediately, intrigued.
[Ding! Congratulations, host's luck has exploded! You've received a supreme-level mount!]
Clink!
The jade goblet slipped from Ye Junlin's hand and shattered, red wine pooling at his feet.
"Disciple, I'm so sorry!" Hong Qianye panicked and knelt down, assuming he had somehow angered his master.
But Ye Junlin didn't even notice. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he demanded:
"System, show me the details! What kind of mount?!"
---