Chapter 222

The purple Calamity Lightning split the night sky and tore through the wind and snow before the two cultivators.

The partnership hastily raised their defenses, but Xiao Yize spotted an opening. With a swing of the black wooden roaming dragon’s tail, he sent them flying back dozens of yards.

With no remaining threats to Guhui Town’s formation, Qiu Ran finally emerged to join the fight.

After over an hour of undisturbed recovery, she had expelled all residual toxins from her body, restoring her combat strength to nearly eighty percent.

Landing beside Xiao Yize, she said, "My thanks for your aid."

"Ah, no need for formalities! Given our ties, supporting each other is only right."

Xiao Yize seized this rare moment of gratitude to ease tensions, though his efforts proved unnecessary.

Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Ran shifted topics: "This journey taught me much. After returning to the mountains for secluded cultivation, we’ll settle our duel upon reaching Condensing Essence."

"Must we fight? Can’t I concede now?"

Xiao Yize’s face fell. Scanning the battlefield for his absent junior brother, he swallowed his frustration alone.

Qiu Ran’s arrival turned the tide instantly. The Listening Snow Tower partnership retreated under relentless Calamity Lightning strikes, completely overwhelmed.

Seeing the Tiger-Chasing faction stabilize their position, Zi He guarding Yang Lingrui breathed easier. The Path Competition between the two had reached its climax, yellow wind gradually overpowering black.

"Hold a little longer, and Lingrui claims victory!" Zi He thought.

While chaos reigned outside, Yang Lingrui and Bai Songran sat peacefully beneath an opera stage within their shared consciousness. The performance depicted "Tiger-Chasing Heroes Gather at Cheng Tian, Lingrui Gains Enlightenment Through Yellow Wind."

Unlike physical combat, Path Competitions manifested through symbolic confrontations shaped by each participant’s cultivation journey – more philosophical debate than martial clash.

Some competitors might debate over wine or wander forests, but these two observed pivotal moments from their respective paths played out onstage.

As the curtain fell to audience gasps, Bai Songran finally broke the silence: "You’ve practiced the Yellow Wind Taoist tradition merely two years?"

"Correct."

Yang Lingrui’s confirmation made Bai Songran’s head droop. Having received the Black Wind Inheritance upon entering cultivation, he’d spent over a decade reaching his current level.

He’d always considered himself peerless in wind techniques across the northwest. Yet witnessing Yang Lingrui’s journey shattered this arrogant self-image.

As a Great Clan Relative taught by a Spirit Communication Realm master, this humiliation cut deep.

Since entering the Path of Cultivation, Bai Songran had never worried about resources. Whatever rare herbs or heavenly treasures he required, his sect would spare no effort to obtain them.

As for spiritual crystal expenses, Bai Songran never cared – flashing the "Sect Master’s direct disciple token" anywhere ensured all costs fell upon Xisuo Sect, without him needing to spend a single coin.

But Yang Lingrui came from an ant-like Gathering Qi family in Tiger-Chasing.

In the opening act of this drama, when Yang Lingrui first embarked on cultivation, the Yang Family couldn’t even afford spiritual crystals for a basic storage bag – worlds apart from Bai Songran’s privileged upbringing.

Yet through sheer grit, Yang Lingrui had climbed his way into Tiger-Chasing’s second-tier genius ranks.

After merely two years studying the Yellow Wind Taoist tradition, he’d already reached minor mastery of the Book of Rising Winds technique.

Bai Songran himself had needed over ten years to reach intermediate mastery.

Comparing talent, willpower, comprehension, and even destiny – Bai Songran couldn’t measure up.

This realization drew a long sigh as he slumped defeatedly in his chair.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined his resolve would shake twice in one day.

Now that resolve wasn’t just wavering – it crumbled completely.

Given equal resources, Shen Yue’s power had crushed him utterly.

With vastly superior resources, he’d failed to outpace Yang Lingrui.

His past achievements? Mere products of sect backing.

Yang Lingrui in his place would have achieved more.

Perhaps Xisuo Sect might’ve gained a true prodigy that way.

Bai Songran shook his head with bitter laughter.

"Ah… I’m truly inferior…"

Below the stage, Bai Songran refused to watch further. Admitting defeat, his consciousness-body dissolved into ashes that drifted from floorboards to stage.

Yang Lingrui straightened attentively, eyes locked on Bai Songran’s unfolding performance.

Now came the crucial moment to claim the Taoist tradition. Success meant another leap in cultivation and combat strength!

Outside Guhui Town, yellow wind surged suddenly, devouring the black wind whole.

Zi He grinned fiercely – Yang Lingrui had won the Path Competition. The inheritance transfer was moments away!

"Bai Songran… losing?"

On distant plains, Xue Qingluan’s eyes widened at the phenomenon. Her combat strength matched Bai Songran’s perfectly – their duels always ended deadlocked. Yet this nobody from Tiger-Chasing…

"Eyes on the fight!"

The roared warning came too late. Xue Qingluan barely summoned flowing moonlight technique to block the massive blade sweeping toward her. Retreating footsteps stumbled as war cries echoed – she twisted desperately to evade pursuing strikes.

"Martial Cultivators are truly troublesome!"

Li Qingwan commanded thirty thousand troops encircling her. The soldiers formed a battle array, empowered by Martial Cultivator’s Tao skills, merging into a single entity that radiated an intense battle spirit and murderous intent.

Both forces materialized into tangible forms—the formidable battle spirit leading the assault while invisible killing intent flanked from all sides. Even Xue Qingluan had to focus entirely to withstand their combined onslaught.

"This won’t do! Dragging this out is pointless. We can’t let them succeed."

While dodging attacks, Xue Qingluan’s mind raced. She retrieved a Thought Transmission artifact and crushed it decisively.

Shortly after the transmission dispersed, Wu Zhao—locked in combat with Han Mountain Sect’s direct disciples—sensed a familiar presence approaching. Since his defeat in the grand competition, he’d trained relentlessly, determined to surpass this very foe.

"Crescent Moon Strike!"

The same ambush tactic came again, but Wu Zhao was ready. Dislocating his left shoulder, he twisted his torso unnaturally and hurled a backward punch, shattering the technique.

"Lang Wuhen! You!"

After resetting his shoulder, Wu Zhao retreated several paces, glaring at the figure ahead.

Feng Lan’s face darkened with rage. "You dare show yourself? Does Solitary Moon Mountain crave annihilation by Tiger-Chasing?"

Lanyue Sect’s involvement was bad enough, but a minor sect like yours within Zhuhu Dynasty borders? Foolishness!"

"The upper sect’s decree cannot be ignored."

Lang Wuhen offered no further explanation. His failed ambush abandoned, he pivoted toward Yang Lingrui’s location.

Zi He noticed the movement and summoned his Golden Body to intercept. But Lang Wuhen, having defeated Wu Zhao before, far outstripped Zi He’s combat strength.

"A flimsy Golden Body? Shatter!"

Lang Wuhen unleashed his Spiritual Manipulation moonlight ribbons, sending forth techniques that splintered Zi He’s Golden Body instantly.

*Cough!*

Blood sprayed from Zi He’s lips, yet he stood firm. Drawing his longbow, he sacrificed more essence blood, coalescing a golden external manifestation arrow.

"Arrogant fool! Since you court death, I’ll oblige!"

Moonlight ribbons swirled around Lang Wuhen as he unleashed his killing move.

"Now!"

Zi He loosed the arrow, ignoring the incoming ribbons aimed at his chest.

*Boom!*

The moonlight technique struck Zi He, hurling him backward. Yet Lang Wuhen, sensing the arrow’s lethal force, chose evasion over confrontation—buying critical seconds.

"Impressive shot. But it ends here."

Lang Wuhen closed the gap in three strides, moonlight ribbons lashing out anew.

"Die!"

Tiger-Chasing allies couldn’t disengage. Though Xiao Yize sprinted toward them, he remained half a breath too slow.

"Lingrui…"

Zi He choked on blood, familiar despair resurfacing—memories of his fallen family.

Then, through his pupil technique, he glimpsed it: beneath churning yellow winds, Yang Lingrui’s eyelids twitched.

*Crash!*

Moonlight collided with dispersing winds.

Lang Wuhen’s smirk vanished. His ribbons hung immobilized mid-air.

As dust settled, the reason became clear—Yang Lingrui’s hand gripped the moonlight ribbons in an unbreakable hold.

Before Lang Wuhen could react, a voice colder than winter’s heart echoed:

"Solitary Moon’s path intertwines with mine. Today, I’ll celebrate seizing the Dao… with a direct disciple’s life."