Chapter 511

Chapter 511: The People of Demon Suppression Peak

The Spiritual Pond had opened a year and a half prior. To reopen it now, at least three disciples needed to challenge sectmates whose cultivation levels were three full ranks above their own. If two succeeded, they could request the sect to fulfill a demand—in this case, opening the Spiritual Pond, as Kun Huazi had mentioned.

Shu Anshi initially had no intention of joining. With his peak Golden Core cultivation, he could shatter his core and form a Nascent Soul at any time. Yet when he witnessed Ye Yun condense ordinary Ice Spirit Qi into a False Pill within mere days, he found it unbelievable.

Curiosity drove Shu Anshi’s decision. He wanted to observe Ye Yun’s cultivation up close, particularly how the youth absorbed spiritual energy within the pond. But for someone at the peak Golden Core stage like Shu Anshi, entering required challenging a Third Level Nascent Soul Ancestor—a near-impossible feat.

“Elder brother, are you truly participating? If you join, what chance do the rest of us have?” Kun Huazi muttered after Tian Yunzi departed, skepticism plain.

Zhuge Chong added, “Golden Core against Third or Fourth Level Nascent Soul? Even for you, isn’t that like crossing an impassable chasm?” He knew Shu Anshi’s strength defied ordinary metrics, but the gap between Golden Core and Nascent Soul was vast.

Ye Yun marveled silently. While he himself often fought above his rank—a Foundation Establishment cultivator clashing with Fifth Level Golden Core experts—he knew challenging even a First Level Nascent Soul was beyond him. His old reliance on the Thundercloud Lightning Sword’s explosive strikes had limits; one missed blow risked defeat. Though his Ice Spirit Barrier and Great Demon Body now let him endure attacks from Fourth or Fifth Level Golden Core foes, Nascent Soul remained unthinkable.

Shu Anshi’s audacity stunned him.

Kun Huazi and Zhuge Chong, however, buzzed with excitement. If anyone in the Divine Grace Palace could bridge the Golden Core-Nascent Soul divide, it was Shu Anshi—the sect’s greatest prodigy in a millennium.

“Which Nascent Soul elder will you challenge, elder brother?” Kun Huazi pressed.

Shu Anshi smiled vaguely. “I’ll decide when the time comes.”

The trio exchanged doubtful glances but held their tongues.

Days later, as dawn painted the eastern clouds crimson, the four awoke. They’d spent the time calming their minds rather than training—for high-stakes battles, mental clarity trumped last-minute preparations.

“Let’s go,” Shu Anshi said, rising. His gaze pierced the cloud sea toward the distant Divine Grace Palace.

They flew swiftly, landing half an hour later before a mountain whose peak vanished into the heavens.

“Junior brother, this is Divine Grace Peak,” Kun Huazi said proudly. “8,800 zhang tall—the Great Qin Empire’s highest, even topping Misty Sect’s Cloud Mist Peak by 200 zhang.”

“Nascent Soul or below must climb on foot here,” Zhuge Chong noted.

Shu Anshi began ascending, each deceptively relaxed step covering dozens of zhang. The others followed, straining to match his ease.

Emerging above the clouds near the summit, they encountered a carved platform. Two smirking men and a red-robed woman with fox-like eyes awaited.

“So the boast about challenging Third Level Nascent Souls wasn’t a joke?” one man sneered.

Shu Anshi landed gracefully. “Zheng Shaoqiang. Jia Hua. Here for the challenge too?”

The woman, Ding Qian, stepped forward with a coy smile. “Demon Suppression Peak’s Ding Qian greets Senior Brother Shu.”

Shu Anshi’s gaze flickered. “Junior Sister Ding. I trust you’ve been well these past months?”

Kun Huazi snorted. “He’s asking about Senior Sister Su, not you.”

Ding Qian’s smile chilled. “Find her yourself.”

Shu Anshi inclined his head. “My oversight.”

“Who will you challenge, Senior Brother?” Ding Qian pressed.

“Elder Yin of your peak recently reached Fourth Level Nascent Soul. If she attends, I’ll test myself against her.”

Ding Qian’s face darkened. “You’d dare challenge my master? Seeking death?”

Shu Anshi’s expression remained unruffled. “There’s no harm in trying.”