Cheng Junie seemed to sense something too. His fingertips curled slightly, and he subtly increased the distance between himself and Qi Xiu.

"It looks like Little Brother Qi has already made up his mind. All banquets must end. It seems we're about to part ways." With one hand behind his back, the corners of Cheng Junie's mouth lifted slightly.

"Indeed, Old Brother Cheng. It's time for us to go our separate ways." Wearing a similar smile, Qi Xiu's eyes shone like torches as he gazed at Cheng Junie.

Their journey to the Crystal Palace had been a roller coaster. It began with a life-and-death struggle; they were as incompatible as water and fire. Later, under pressure from the Flood Dragon King and a host of Demonic Cultivators, they were forced to join forces. Then Qi Xiu offered medicine, and Cheng Junie blocked the malevolent hand of Yong Jue Monk. They collaborated to trap and kill five Blood-Stained cultivators. Cheng Junie acted as his protector, and they stood together against the Golden Armored Corpse Demon Nie Biao. Their intertwined gratitude and grudges were already too complex to unravel.

But now that a chance at survival had appeared, there seemed no reason for them to continue together. If they continued, their past grudges would inevitably erupt, leading to a fight to the bitter end.

I'm still no match for this Blood-Stained sword cultivator; I can't defeat him, Qi Xiu admitted to himself.

Cheng Junie was likewise wary of Qi Xiu. This Daoist Qi Xiu, with his almost demonic cunning... is he still hiding some trick up his sleeve?

Thus, the best plan for them now was to part ways and go their separate roads. As for their past grudges…

"With today's farewell, all debts and grievances are cleared. When we next meet, whether as enemies or friends, will be up to fate," Qi Xiu said gently, slowly clasping his hands in salute.

"Heh, agreed. Then let's say, 'Until we meet again'!" With a solemn expression, Cheng Junie smiled faintly, straightened his back, and returned the gesture.

"Until we meet again!"

With that, the two parted, each heading into the vortex of their choice, leaving the Nu River Palace behind.

「…」

The water rushed violently; the world seemed upside down.

Choosing a medium-sized, unremarkable vortex that radiated a faint yellow light, Qi Xiu leaped into it. Inside the vortex, the water flowed more than ten thousand times faster than in the Myriad Dragon Well.

Qi Xiu felt a blur before his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw vast expanses of aquatic plants and silt, as well as crimson, murky river water.

Crimson?

Startled, Qi Xiu suddenly looked up. Dozens of meters above the river's surface, numerous bodies continuously plunged into the water. Severed limbs mingled with struggling cries, filling the river with a deathly, desolate chill.

Is this... a battle?

Narrowing his eyes, Qi Xiu transformed into an invisible water mist and shot up from the riverbed, observing from above.

Below, women wielding swords and longspears covered the mountains and fields. Dressed in plain clothes with pale yellow headbands, they roared furiously as they charged forward. These women were filled with killing intent, moving swiftly with exceptional agility. Despite their feminine frames, they were stronger and more ferocious than men—an eerie sight. An almost imperceptible aura, like armor, enveloped their bodies, making them fearless as they charged directly into battle.

Golden Flower Maternal Sect? Qi Xiu's brows twitched slightly as he looked down at these female soldiers, their war cries thundering and a floral aura swirling around them.

This evil sect hasn't perished yet?

Before he had entered the Initiate Realm, this sect in Baoho County had terrified him so much that he had fled in all directions. Later, in Qingliu County, under Daoist Qingya's guidance, he had foiled their plans to siege the city. He had a deep and complicated history with this sect.

But after joining the Shenxiao Sect, he had lived in seclusion, seldom venturing into the world. He had assumed that after so many years, with Dianchuan Province invaded by three hundred and sixty demonic factions and the situation deteriorated as Demons and the Human Race fought for territory, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect should have been eradicated in that demonic tide. Unexpectedly, it still existed. And from the looks of it, the sect seemed not only to have survived but to have grown stronger.

During a time of rampant demon attacks, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect isn't focused on progress but instead seeks to delude the populace and fight for territory. Such an evil sect truly deserves death!

Although not some paragon of saintly virtue, upon personally encountering these villains who manipulated hearts for their own gain, Qi Xiu scoffed. Both the Shenxiao Sect's doctrines and his own Dao Heart emphasized a clear conscience.

Since I've encountered them today, no matter who is resisting this evil sect, I, Qi Xiu, will definitely lend a hand!

Without attacking these ordinary people, Qi Xiu's eyes, gleaming with a proud purple light, scanned the surroundings and suddenly locked onto the aura of a group of cultivators ahead. With a thought, Qi Xiu transformed into a water mist and swiftly moved towards them.

「…」

The Chiling Saintess, holding an Array Plate, her feet like white jade, and wrapped in light red gauze with a red mark on her brow, had beautiful eyes that fluttered slightly. Below her, a vast expanse of rolling red sand, shrouded in swirling mist and dense toxic fog, formed a Great Formation. Tainted with murky miasma, it enveloped a mountaintop. It firmly trapped three cultivators, whom she intended to kill within.

"There's no point in struggling in vain. If you are willing to renounce darkness and turn to the light, I, the Saintess, can arrange a good outcome for you," the Chiling Saintess chuckled lightly from her high position.

She hadn't noticed a young Daoist with hands clasped behind his back, wearing a wide-sleeved robe, watching her expressionlessly from behind.

An acquaintance. Looking at the Chiling Saintess before him, Qi Xiu smiled faintly. He slowly raised his hand, fingers slightly curved, a stream of colors swirling in his palm. Since we're old acquaintances, I, Qi, shall then…

Just as Qi Xiu prepared to slay the calamitous Demoness before him, the Saintess uttered a name that made him startle.

"Yuan Baiyi! Will you surrender or not!"

"Chiling, don't waste your breath. My bones are too stiff for kneeling. If you want to kill me, then do it. Make me join your unnatural, evil sect? Heh, you're dreaming!"

His resounding and unyielding voice poured from the formation. Through the rolling red gauze, Yuan Baiyi could be seen standing ramrod straight, a cyan longsword in hand, a cold smile on his heroic face. His face showed no fear or cowardice, only intense killing intent and a hint of indignation.

"Fine! Since you're so intent on seeking death, I shall oblige. Even if the Grand Luo Immortals themselves came today, they couldn't save you." With an icy glare, the Chiling Saintess flipped the Array Plate. True Gang surged from her body, activating the formation to Refine and Assimilate Yuan Baiyi alive within it.

"Is that so? Just you?"

A calm, indifferent voice suddenly sounded beside the Chiling Saintess's ear.

The hairs on her body suddenly stood on end. The Chiling Saintess's pupils shrank. She activated her Body-Protecting True Gang and instinctively tried to teleport. But a fair, slender hand casually shattered her four layers of Body-Protecting True Gang and landed on her shoulder.

Instantly, Qi Xiu appeared, suppressing all of the Chiling Saintess's cultivation. His fingers tightened, nearly crushing her shoulder.

"Release them."

Sensing the abyss-like profound aura from Qi Xiu, the Chiling Saintess's expression tensed. Without daring to question, she activated the Array Plate and dispelled the formation.

Miraculously rescued, Yuan Baiyi looked up in surprise and was instantly stunned.

"You are… Qi Xiu?!" As one of the few who knew Qi Xiu's true face and name, Yuan Baiyi was utterly shocked.

More than a decade has passed, and this fellow has become so incredibly strong! Truly worthy of being a disciple from a great sect.

Pinioning the Chiling Saintess, Qi Xiu descended and looked at Yuan Baiyi, who was scrutinizing him with surprise and doubt. Qi Xiu chuckled lightly, "What's wrong, Lv Shuai Yuan? Don't you recognize me after more than a decade?"

"It's not that I don't recognize you; I hardly dare to believe it's you," Yuan Baiyi said, astounded as he looked at Qi Xiu.

Years ago, when he was stationed in Baoho County, he and Qi Xiu had fought side-by-side against a demonic calamity and slain a Fox Demon. At that time, Qi Xiu's cultivation was merely at the Common Realm. Now, more than a decade later, despite his own painstaking efforts and his family's resources, he had only managed to reach the Dao-Entering Realm Complete stage. But looking at Qi Xiu now, he felt as if he were gazing at a colossal mountain shrouded in dense clouds. He could glimpse its towering form but couldn't perceive its true immensity.

"Who would have thought that after all these years, our first meeting would have you saving my life." Laughing heartily, Yuan Baiyi stepped forward and playfully punched Qi Xiu's shoulder, about to say more.

But the other two Initiate Realm cultivators beside him tugged at his sleeve. "General, the Golden Flower Maternal Sect has breached Qianshan Pass. We shouldn't linger here."

Reminded by his subordinate, Yuan Baiyi immediately nodded. "Brother Qi, let's talk on the move. This place has been overrun by the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. A Blood-Stained Great Cultivator could arrive at any moment."

"It's not 'could arrive'; one is already here."

After knocking the smirking Chiling Saintess unconscious, Qi Xiu slowly turned. On the distant horizon, a golden radiance spanning a hundred miles was rapidly approaching.

Detecting this Blood-Stained Great Cultivator from the Golden Flower Maternal Sect, Qi Xiu was about to activate his Black Water True Skill to whisk Yuan Baiyi and the others away.

But the next instant, his mind suddenly jolted.

A mysterious and profound realization surfaced within him:

My breakthrough tribulation is here!

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