"Empty?"

The utter emptiness of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar left Qi Xiu feeling incredulous. Even though the An'ning Holy Nation was in chaos, it was inconceivable that the main altar, a place of such importance, would be completely deserted. If there were truly no one, then why deploy so many people to guard outside? It made no sense.

Sensing something amiss, Qi Xiu's mind raced. In his state of unity between spirit and flesh, his thinking speed was a hundred times faster than usual.

To use such a number of people to guard an empty main altar—even if the Golden Flower Maternal Sect had lost their minds, they wouldn't do something so illogical. If the situation didn't make sense following normal logic, then it was time to consider a different angle. For instance... perhaps those Golden Flower Maternal Sect disciples weren't there to prevent outsiders from entering the main altar. But rather... to stop or prevent something within this main altar from getting out?

His eyes narrowed, and Qi Xiu's expression shifted slightly. He felt he was grasping the strange reason behind the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar's condition.

Indeed! If it really was about preventing outsiders from destroying the main altar, then deploying so many Cultivators of Dao outside by the Golden Flower Maternal Sect would be utterly meaningless. Instead, they should consolidate their strength inside to secure their defenses. The reason for dispersing so many Cultivators of Dao outside was obviously to monitor this main altar from various positions, on guard against anything emerging from within, so they could report any such occurrence immediately. These Cultivators of Dao weren't guarding against outsiders, but their own people!

In an instant, goosebumps covered his body, and he instinctively felt a sense of unease. As he stared at the desolate and eerily silent Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar before him, Qi Xiu took a slow step back.

Whether it was the premonition of danger from the unity of spirit and flesh or the subtle warning from his Human Path Merit in the unseen workings of the Dao, both were reminding him to leave this place.

This place is extremely dangerous!

But...

Forcing his Observing Qi Skill open, Qi Xiu looked down at himself. Ashen-yellow calamitous qi had thoroughly enveloped him from head to toe. Only the area above his forehead remained uncovered. And right now, under the vision provided by the Observing Qi Skill, Qi Xiu could clearly see strands of ashen-yellow calamitous qi slowly drifting from the depths of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar, accumulating upon him.

The root of the calamity sequence lies deep within this main altar!

Having confirmed the source of his calamity sequence was deep within the main altar, the doubt and surprise in Qi Xiu's eyes gradually cleared, replaced by an expression of calm resolve.

Since the calamity sequence is here, there's nothing to hesitate about.

He had devoted nearly twenty years to unremitting cultivation, daring not to slacken for even a moment. Having come this far, he was not about to shrink back and run away.

Yes, if he just returned to the Shenxiao Sect, under the protection of Daoist Yunxiong, or even Patriarch Dongfang Qing, this mere Broken Mirror Calamity Sequence would naturally not trouble him. But what about after that? If he did not overcome the calamity, he would be trapped in the Dao-Entering Realm forever, powerlessly watching as his lifespan gradually depleted. The best outcome would be nothing more than to be reborn and start over. But if he couldn't transcend the calamity in this life, how could he possibly transcend it in the next? Cowardice in one's heart only serves to narrow the path ahead. In the end, everything returns to dust.

"Even if today leads me into a den of dragons and a nest of tigers, I, Qi Xiu, must still forge ahead."

With his will united and his Dao heart firm, Qi Xiu promptly followed the dissipating calamitous qi towards the deep recesses of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar.

The Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar was vast. It was complex and unclear, spiraling downward in its structure. The deeper Qi Xiu went underground, the more he felt the concentration of calamitous qi increasing.

Along the way, Qi Xiu also discovered many peculiarities within this main altar, such as scriptures that had been copied halfway before being abruptly stopped, newly opened Pill Furnaces, and books scattered all over the ground. It seemed the Golden Flower Maternal Sect disciples had not left the main altar prepared but rather, in a state of complete unawareness, even beyond their expectations, they had suddenly vanished.

What on earth happened here?

His frown deepening, Qi Xiu followed the calamitous qi downwards. He passed through a long, narrow corridor and arrived at the deepest part of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar.

This is...

Staring at a wall entirely covered with withered flowers, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly. The edges of these withered blossoms still retained traces of gold—not prominent, but striking to the eye.

They were probably the characteristic golden flowers of the Golden Flower Maternal Sect. But why is there a wall of entirely withered golden flowers deep within the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar?

He felt increasingly as if he were approaching an immensely vast truth. Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes and walked past the wall to find a large, open doorway, devoid of a door, presented before him. The calamitous qi was billowing out from within.

Standing before the doorless entrance, where only a cluster of "rust marks" lay on the ground, Qi Xiu looked up into its depths.

This is...

A dazzling expanse of infinite starry sky. The stars shimmered, vibrant and colorful. Directly in front of this starry realm stood an ancient altar. It towered over a thousand feet tall and was constructed from square golden bricks. The altar stood majestically within this sea of stars, emitting an extremely brilliant light that was difficult to look at.

Above the altar was the corpse of a man with closed eyes, half-submerged into the altar, wearing half of a wooden mask. And from this body, the calamitous qi was emanating.

Is he my Broken Mirror Calamity Sequence? How could a corpse be my tribulation? And how am I supposed to transcend such a tribulation?

With a heart full of doubts and confusion, Qi Xiu slowly stepped forward, entering the gate of this starry world.

SMACK.

The moment his foot touched the ground, the dense calamitous qi on Qi Xiu's body suddenly surged. Instantly overshadowing his head, it enveloped his entire body.

BOOM.

His mind roared. Qi Xiu's face flushed, and his body shook. The calamitous qi that wrapped around his body rushed into him in that instant.

From this moment on! His tribulation had officially begun!

He honed his vigilance in an instant. His skin circulated with strands of ancient and indestructible colors, elevating him to his pinnacle state. Qi Xiu's eyes burst with purple vigor as his gaze swept around. Even enemies hidden in the deepest depths could not escape these eyes.

After surveying his surroundings thoroughly, Qi Xiu furrowed his brows.

It seems... nothing has happened?

Just as he was about to turn around and exit the gate to inspect the outside, Qi Xiu's just-raised foot suddenly paused.

Something's not right!

Swiftly turning around, Qi Xiu looked up at the altar above, his eyes solemn, and he called out in a low voice, "You're not dead!?"

That's right! At this moment, the man's corpse above the altar, its eyes tightly closed and showing no signs of breath, had suddenly opened its eyes. A pair of distinct black-and-white eyes were looking down at Qi Xiu from on high.

"Dao-Entering Realm?" the man slowly spoke, his voice clear and emanating a peace that eased the heart. "I never thought that after waiting so many years, I would actually encounter someone from the Dao-Entering Realm."

Looking down at Qi Xiu, the man's expression and tone were not of disappointment, but held an incomprehensible curiosity.

"What's wrong with the Dao-Entering Realm? Were you born a Dao Expert?" Being stared at by this man who had come back to life, Qi Xiu felt a strange unease. After all, just a few minutes ago, this guy had been a thoroughly dead corpse, but now he was eerily alive again. Anyone would feel a chill run down their spine.

"Hehehe, you have a point, young friend." Without getting annoyed by Qi Xiu's retort, the man simply smiled and said, "I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Li, with a single given name of Tan. Golden Flower Sect Leader."

"Li Tan? You are the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Leader?" Upon hearing the man's self-introduction, Qi Xiu's expression was one of surprise. This strangely resurrected man was actually the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Leader.

"Not the Golden Flower Maternal Sect, the Golden Flower Sect." Correcting Qi Xiu's mistake, Li Tan's eyes revealed a trace of reminiscence. "Back in the day, I was the only scholar in my village..."

"Stop!" Interrupting Li Tan's trip down memory lane with a raised hand, Qi Xiu slowly approached. "Please, Sect Leader Li, make it short. I'm pressed for time and really can't indulge in your reminiscences."

The longer he stayed at the Golden Flower Maternal Sect Main Altar, the heavier the unease in his heart and the warning of the Human Path Merit became. It seemed that a tremendous danger was rushing towards this place at an alarming speed. If the delay continued for too long, a catastrophe would be inevitable!

"My apologies. I haven't spoken to anyone for a long time and got a bit carried away." Showing a hint of apology, his demeanor turning serious, Li Tan looked intently at Qi Xiu and spoke, word by word, "Young friend, your arrival here is guided by the will of heaven. If you are willing to do me a favor, grace shall return to you. You will then gain a great opportunity."

The will of heaven? Frowning, Qi Xiu didn't quite understand how his own Broken Mirror Calamity Sequence could be linked to something like the will of heaven. But his Broken Mirror Calamity Sequence pointed directly to this Li Tan. The task he spoke of might well be the clue to transcending his tribulation.

"Tell me, what favor is it? If it's not too difficult, I can give it a try."

"I wish to ask you, my friend,"

"to kill me."

"What?" Qi Xiu looked at Li Tan oddly, somewhat not understanding. "You want me... to kill you?"

"Yes, kill me. Thoroughly and completely kill me. Eradicate all traces, including my soul!" Nodding firmly, Li Tan's eyes were resolute, without a hint of impurity.

"I need a reason." Li Tan's words were without basis. Killing him would be easy, but Qi Xiu did not want to unknowingly bear the guilt of a life just because of this man's few words. He wasn't a homicidal maniac. Killing someone without cause would leave doubts in his mind, affecting his own Dao heart.

"A reason, you ask..." Nodding, Li Tan reached up to grip the half-wooden mask on his face. Amidst a low growl of suppressed pain, he ripped the mask from his flesh.

That is...

Seeing the half of Li Tan's face beneath the mask, Qi Xiu's pupils constricted. In the area covered by the mask, there was another face. It was a woman's face, one of extreme beauty and conveying a touch of pitiable charm. At that moment, her eyes were closed and her breathing even, as if she were in a deep sleep.

But as he observed this face, Qi Xiu's expression turned solemn, and he uttered a name: "Outer Realm Evil God, Golden Flower Old Mother!"

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