Chapter 193

Chapter 193: Beautiful as a Fairy, Yaoruoxian

Though he spoke lightly, Zhang Yang knew deep down that the hundred-meter green mountain was far too extraordinary. Unless absolutely necessary, it was best not to wield it carelessly. The consequences of invoking its power were beyond imagination.

Especially after the harrowing ordeal he had just endured—one that left him deeply shaken.

He retrieved a storage bag and carefully placed the miniature green mountain inside.

Glancing around, he found himself alone.

The Flower Phantom had left in pursuit of Ghost King Wudao, but the outcome remained unknown.

Earlier, the strange disturbances from the green mountain had drawn many cultivators, but they had been driven back by the overwhelming Holy Might that surrounded it. Now, the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins were brimming with holy treasures, Saint Path inheritances, and even more enigmatic artifacts. No one was willing to linger too long over an opportunity they could not seize.

Having reached the second level of the Ascending to Heaven realm and sensing no immediate threats, Zhang Yang decided to focus on his cultivation.

The green mountain was not something to be taken lightly.

Fortunately, he still had a considerable stash of Spirit Stones.

These had been plundered from Ghost City, and later, he had acquired more from the storage bags of King Ghost Wuyou, Ghost Wind, Ghost Tiger, and others. Though a vast amount had been consumed during his first Ascending to Heaven calamity, he still had a substantial reserve.

This was the foundation of his current strength.

All he needed now was time—to break through in peace.

He turned toward a towering mountain to his left.

The mountain loomed majestically.

Ancient trees stood like sentinels among the dense forest, their canopies merging into a green ocean. Jagged rocks jutted out like fangs, steep cliffs rose sharply, and a silver waterfall cascaded down from above. Monkeys leaped nimbly through the trees, their cries echoing through the wilderness. The entire scene was breathtaking.

Zhang Yang began his ascent.

This was his way of seeking inner tranquility.

The ordeal with the green mountain had left his heart in turmoil. Even though he appeared calm on the surface, he was far from ready to enter a state of closed-door training.

Regaining his optimal state of mind was no simple task.

He had witnessed things that should never have been seen—things even the Immortal Capital could not fathom. The impact was immense. He was forced to suppress his thoughts—he must not dwell on them, must not speak of them, must not forget them.

It was a grueling struggle.

The more one tried to suppress a thought, the more it consumed the mind.

The more he tried to silence it, the louder it echoed within him.

It was an internal trial by fire.

He knew that true mastery over his thoughts would mark his spiritual maturity.

With great willpower, he restrained himself and redirected his focus. He walked along the mountain path, inhaling the fresh, untamed scents of the forest. His gaze followed the birds soaring through the sky and the beasts prowling through the underbrush, as if communing with nature itself.

Gradually, the storm within him began to subside.

After an hour of climbing, he had only reached the mountain’s midpoint.

He made his way to the edge of a steep cliff.

Not far ahead, a silver waterfall plummeted from the heavens, crashing into the rocks below with a deafening roar.

Cool mist splashed against his face, refreshing him and sharpening his thoughts.

He sat down, listening to the rhythmic sound of the waterfall, watching the clouds roll by in the distance.

Time passed unknowingly.

He had no idea how long he remained there when, suddenly, he woke from his deep contemplation.

The chaotic thoughts in his mind had faded.

For the first time in a long while, his heart felt truly at peace.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“I suppose this is a form of tempering,” he murmured to himself.

He continued his climb.

With a heart as calm as still water, he felt lighter—more carefree. He had no need for strong emotions to dictate his path.

Step by step, he ascended.

For now, he allowed himself this moment of tranquility.

He ambled to the summit.

The mountain reached into the clouds.

The wind howled.

Standing there, he felt as if he could overlook all living beings, making everything below seem insignificant.

Only one enchanting figure stood at the edge of the steep cliffs, her white dress fluttering gently in the wind. Her fair skin shimmered like ivory under the sunlight, and her hair, cascading like a waterfall down to her waist, swayed elegantly with the breeze. Her alluring back, swan-like neck, crystal-clear ears, and flawless profile were on full display.

She was truly beautiful.

In Zhang Yang’s memory, if beauty had a definition, Bing Yuyan would be at the top.

Even Qiu Yinong, known as the most beautiful woman in the Southern Region, paled in comparison.

Even Xue Feishuang, whom he found stunning, and the increasingly charming Yuluan still fell short.

Bing Yuyan was a true beauty who overshadowed all others.

Yet, this woman’s back seemed almost capable of rivaling Bing Yuyan’s.

What was even more striking was how she appeared one with the heavens, floating gracefully as if she were about to ascend to immortality—unlike any ordinary person.

However, Zhang Yang’s keen intuition detected a killing intent.

She had come to kill him.

"A trial of the heart, a danger meant to erase one’s inner demons. The Mighty Battle God—his reputation is well deserved."

Her voice was as melodious as a song, drifting into Zhang Yang’s ears with the wind, pleasant yet carrying a subtle force.

Zhang Yang frowned, realizing that this woman had noticed him long ago and was aware that he was tempering his heart.

The Small Boundless Realm was a process of questioning one’s martial heart, a stage where inner demons could easily arise. Eliminating them now would prevent future obstacles. Thus, this seemingly simple experience was of immense significance.

The key was that Zhang Yang considered himself a "simple" person, making him think this trial, too, was simple.

"If you don’t take this opportunity to strike and disrupt my heart, perhaps you will regret it," he said.

He could tell that the woman’s cultivation level was not very high—only the fourth level of the Touching Heaven Realm.

At her level, she posed no real threat to him.

Once, Ye Kuanglan had been at this stage, but back then, Zhang Yang had only been at the first level of the Ascending to Heaven Realm. Now, he had reached the second level, and though it seemed like only a small difference in realm to others, for him, it was an immense transformation.

"I, Yaoruoxian, never attack from behind when I fight," she said, turning around.

Yaoruoxian!

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow in surprise—she was the unparalleled woman from the Demon Sword Forbidden Area.

A woman whose birth had shaken the entire Southern Region.

On the day she was born, immeasurable Immortal Light had illuminated the sky above the Demon Sword Forbidden Area, and a saint had once claimed to have seen celestial beings waging battle amidst the radiance.

She was born surrounded by Immortal Light.

Thus, she was named Yaoruoxian.

One saint prophesied that Yaoruoxian might Prove the Path to Immortality during the Eternal Night, when no immortals walked the world, and become an immortal herself.

Another saint claimed she would open the Immortal Path, allowing celestial beings to descend once more.

Regardless of the rumors, one fact remained undisputed—Yaoruoxian was extraordinary.

Her cultivation speed, combat prowess, and profound understanding of martial arts—even her insights into the Path of the Saint and the Immortal Path—were unparalleled.

At merely fifteen or sixteen, she had already reached the fourth level of the Touching Heaven Realm.

Her combat power was unmatched, effortlessly suppressing all within the Demon Sword Forbidden Area who were at the Ascending to Heaven Realm.

Starting from the Returning to Origin Realm, she had forged her own unique path, continuously evolving, never treading the footsteps of ancient predecessors.

She once declared that the path of a saint was flawed, and that flaw was directly connected to the Immortal Path.

Her many feats had already become legendary throughout the Southern Region.

And now, she had come to the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins to kill Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang finally saw her face.

Beneath her cascading hair, her delicate, palm-sized face was as flawless as fine porcelain. Her features were exquisitely proportioned, without a single imperfection.

She looked like a small celestial fairy who had descended from the heavens.

But who would have guessed that this divine beauty had already killed over a hundred geniuses, each one a stepping stone upon which she built her own legend?

"Since I began my martial journey, I have never fought anyone at the same level," Yaoruoxian said, stepping forward. Light swirled beneath her feet, resembling Immortal Light, further accentuating her enchanting presence. "I have always challenged those above me—without exception. And I have never lost."

Then, in an unexpected move, she began suppressing her own realm.

"I shall fight you at your level," she said, lowering her cultivation to the second level of the Ascending to Heaven Realm.

Zhang Yang’s eyebrows twitched.

He hadn’t expected this little beauty to be so arrogant and reckless.

Was she too confident?

Or simply too proud?

Zhang Yang blinked and said, "How about you lower your realm even further and fight me?"

"Didn’t you say you always challenge those at higher levels?" He smirked. "We wouldn’t want to break the rules, right? Staying true to oneself is a good thing, so why not suppress yourself to the first level of the Ascending to Heaven Realm? I’ll fight you then."