In the Ice Soul Cave of Xuanji Sacred Land, cold air had solidified into tangible ice crystals floating slowly through the air. Mu Xue sat cross-legged on a cultivation platform made of ten-thousand-year profound ice, surrounded by pale blue ice-attribute spiritual power. Her aura had reached the peak of middle Nascent Soul stage, but she remained just short of that threshold for the final breakthrough.
"Still not working." She slowly opened her eyes, a trace of fatigue flickering in her gaze. Since returning from the Northern Wasteland exploration, she had felt unprecedented pressure. The terrifying beings in the void, the demonic entity's increasingly grave threat, Xiao Qi's rapid progress in spatial laws... all this made her realize that middle Nascent Soul cultivation was no longer sufficient to face future challenges.
Xiao Qi silently appeared at the cave's entrance, holding a lotus from the Qinglian Purification Origin: "Sensing your aura fluctuation, I came to see you."
Mu Xue gently shook her head: "The bottleneck is harder to break through than imagined. That step from middle to late Nascent Soul truly isn't easy to cross."
Xiao Qi sat opposite her, placing the lotus before her: "Try this. The Qinglian Purification Origin can purify inner demons and stabilize the Dao heart. Perhaps it can help with the breakthrough."
Mu Xue took the lotus, the pure purification power refreshing her spirit. After pondering, she finally made her decision: "I'm preparing to go into seclusion to late Nascent Soul."
This news quickly spread to Alliance high command. As Xuanji Sacred Land's representative, Mu Xue's strength improvement held significant importance for overall combat capability. Xuanji True Person specially sent a bottle of "Nine Revolutions Infant Condensing Pills" from overseas—these were precious spiritual medicines in Penglai Immortal Sect's treasure vault, having miraculous effects on breaking through Nascent Soul realms.
Before seclusion, Mu Xue temporarily handed sacred land affairs to several elders and came alone to the dedicated seclusion cave behind Qingxu Temple. This place was with the top Spiritual Energy Gathering Array, connected to a superior-grade spiritual vein below—it was one of the Alliance's best seclusion sites.
Xiao Qi personally laid three layers of protective formations outside the cave: the outermost was Qingxu Temple's Heavenly Cycle Star Array, the middle was an overseas spatial restriction, and the innermost was a purification barrier he set up using the Qinglian Purification Origin. Such protection would require considerable effort even for Spirit Transformation stage cultivators wanting to forcibly break through.
"Begin." Xiao Qi sat cross-legged outside the cave. "I will be here guarding you throughout."
Mu Xue nodded, took the Nine Revolutions Infant Condensing Pill, and began her long seclusion.
The first three months passed peacefully. The aura from within the cave was steady and resolute, showing Mu Xue's cultivation was proceeding smoothly. But in the fourth month, changes began to appear.
The spiritual energy above the cave suddenly fluctuated violently, forming a massive vortex. More terrifying was that various bizarre illusions began emerging from the vortex: scenes of Mu Xue's childhood training at Xuanji Sacred Land, moments of fighting side by side with Xiao Qi, even fragments of futures she had never experienced...
"The inner demon tribulation has begun." Xiao Qi's expression was grave. Every major realm breakthrough at the Nascent Soul stage carried inner demon trials, and this step from middle to late Nascent Soul was particularly.
He operated the Qinglian Purification Origin, gentle purification power seeping through the barrier into the cave. But this power, upon contacting the ice-attribute spiritual power surrounding Mu Xue, was actually!
"This is... Ice Soul Divine Light?" Xiao Qi was surprised to find Mu Xue had somehow mastered the supreme secret art of Xuanji Sacred Land. This divine light could freeze all things, temporarily sealing even inner demons, but it also made external assistance extremely difficult.
Inside the cave, Mu Xue was experiencing unprecedented trials. Demons took shape from her deepest fears: seeing Xiao Qi devoured by the demonic entity in the void, seeing Xuanji Sacred Land collapse in demonic energy, seeing herself walking the endless path of cultivation alone...
Each illusion was extremely realistic, striking her Dao heart. But remarkably, her gaze remained clear, the Ice Soul Divine Light freezing all inner demons outside three feet of her body.
"Fake, all fake." she murmured softly, her tone firm as ice.
Just then, an especially realistic illusion appeared: Xiao Qi, covered in blood, collapsed before her, using his last breath to say: "Sorry... can't be with you anymore..."
This illusion struck the softest part of Mu Xue's heart. A fluctuation appeared in the Ice Soul Divine Light, and demons seized the opportunity to invade!
Outside the cave, Xiao Qi acutely sensed the abnormality. Without hesitation, he injected all his Qinglian Purification Origin into the barrier, the pure purification power forcibly breaking through the Ice Soul Divine Light's obstruction and protecting her spirit platform at the moment her Dao heart faltered.
"Stabilize your mind!" His voice directly transmitted into Mu Xue's consciousness. "Remember, these are all illusions!"
Mu Xue jolted awake, the Ice Soul Divine Light regaining stability. She gratefully glanced toward outside the cave, then completely released her suppression on her cultivation.
"BOOM—"
The entire Qingxu Temple could feel this powerful spiritual fluctuation. The spiritual energy vortex above the cave suddenly expanded, ultimately transforming into a thick pillar of spiritual energy pouring down! The mountain rocks above the cave shattered under this force's impact, revealing Mu Xue seated within.
Her aura was rising at an astonishing rate. The middle Nascent Soul bottleneck shattered under the violent impact of spiritual power, the Ice Soul Divine Light surrounding her became more tangible, even faintly emanating fluctuations of laws.
"It will succeed." Xiao Qi relaxed slightly, then immediately tensed again—the most dangerous moment had just begun.
Breaking through to late Nascent Soul would trigger's tribulation. This process was even more dangerous than the inner demon tribulation. As expected, tribulation clouds began gathering in the sky. Though not as terrifying as the Spirit Transformation heavenly tribulation, it was enough to intimidate ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.
The first tribulation lightning struck, Mu Xue didn't dodge or evade, the Ice Soul Divine Light transforming into an ice shield to. The tribulation lightning exploded on the shield yet couldn't break through at all.
The second, third... seven consecutive tribulation lightnings were all easily received. But the eighth tribulation lightning showed an—this lightning actually contained inner demon power!
"Be careful!" Xiao Qi couldn't help but exclaim.
Mu Xue's expression grew solemn, her hands forming seals. The Ice Soul Divine Light an ice lotus before her, colliding head-on with the tribulation lightning. This collision was exceptionally fierce; fine cracks appeared on the lotus.
At this critical moment, Xiao Qi suddenly moved his mind. He operated spatial laws, transmitting a pure Qinglian Purification Origin directly into Mu Xue's body!
This risky move achieved remarkable results. With the Qinglian Purification Origin's boost, the ice lotus instantly repaired, not only blocking the tribulation lightning but also completely purifying the inner demon power within.
The final tribulation lightning descended at this moment. This lightning was no longer destruction but contained the of laws'. Mu Xue released her defense, allowing the tribulation lightning to pass through her body.
When the tribulation clouds dispersed, she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze no longer held the past but gained a depth that saw through worldly affairs. The aura she emitted was unmistakably late Nascent Soul stage!
"Congratulations." Xiao Qi dismantled the barrier, walking forward with a smile.
Mu Xue rose, feeling the powerful energy surging within: "Many thanks for your assistance at the critical moment. If not for that Qinglian Purification Origin, I fear I wouldn't have been able to withstand the inner demon tribulation lightning."
Xiao Qi shook his head: "This is the result of your own firm Dao heart."
The two looked at each other and smiled, both understanding what this breakthrough meant. In the approaching final showdown, the Alliance had gained another important combatant.
News spread, and the three realms were encouraged. Mu Xue's breakthrough gave everyone hope. In the increasingly serious demonic entity threat, every top cultivator's progress was precious.
And while Mu Xue consolidated her cultivation, Xiao Qi began planning the second void exploration. This time, he had more thorough preparation and clearer understanding of what he would face.
The of final battle drew ever closer.