Chapter 1068 - Breakthrough to the Heaven Profound Realm

Since returning from Northern City, Liu Wuxie hadn't faced any real crisis, except for the conflict in Astral Glory City. But even that had ended swiftly, thanks to the Ten-Sided Annihilation Array.

Now, for the first time, he could finally unleash his full strength, enough to shake the heavens.

Just moments ago, the sun blazed in a scorching sky. In the blink of an eye, the world plunged into bone-piercing cold. The abrupt shift was so jarring, it left the onlookers breathless.

Weaker cultivators trembled uncontrollably, unable to endure the cold that seeped into their bones.

"I can't take it anymore! It's freezing!" a True Profound Realm disciple cried out, fleeing in panic. If he stayed a moment longer, he would be frozen solid.

Northern City had already been cold, and only True Profound Realm cultivators could survive there. But now, within tens of thousands of meters around Liu Wuxie, the cold was unbearable for anyone.

Ice sealed every tree, flower, and blade of grass, transforming the entire landscape into a pristine, frozen world.

The Four Phase Sword Slash froze midair, locked in place by Liu Wuxie's Frost Dao Art.

And then, he vanished suddenly, as if melting into space itself. It was the mysterious power of the Spatial Dao Art.

His voice rang out. "Miao Hanxuan, take my punch!"

Caught entirely off guard by the freezing storm, Miao Hanxuan reeled. He had never anticipated Liu Wuxie's Frost Dao Art to suppress the mighty Great Five Elemental Palm.

No one had expected this outcome. It was only because of the Frost Bead's power that the Frost Dao Art had reached such an astonishing level.

Liu Wuxie reappeared just three steps away, emerging as if from thin air.

He threw his punch.

Ripples exploded outward, distorting space with sheer force.

Miao Hanxuan had no time to evade. He unleashed the full might of his Earth Profound Realm aura, attempting to meet the blow head-on.

A thunderous crash rang out as Liu Wuxie's fist slammed directly into Miao Hanxuan's chest, the impact echoing through his body and rattling his organs.

Blood sprayed from his lips as the impact flung him backward.

The disciples watching from afar stood frozen, their faces blank with disbelief. "How is this possible? How did Liu Wuxie injure someone at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm?"

At best, they had thought Liu Wuxie would manage a draw.

However, none had imagined he would injure Miao Hanxuan, relying on the combined might of his dao techniques and the Spatial Dao Art.

Rage and humiliation surged through Miao Hanxuan's chest. He hadn't just failed to kill Liu Wuxie, but Liu Wuxie had struck and disgraced him publicly before the entire sect.

"Liu Wuxie, I swear I'll kill you today!" Miao Hanxuan roared.

His true essence exploded outward. The force tore his robes into tatters. His hair whipped wildly around his face, and he looked more like a deranged beast than a human.

This was Miao Hanxuan unchained, no longer holding back, no longer restrained by pride. Everything until now had merely been a warm-up.

Yet, for someone of his status, to go all out against a junior still at the Spirit Profound Realm was already a humiliation he could barely contain.

After taking Liu Wuxie's punch, Miao Hanxuan knew one thing with absolute certainty: if he didn't kill Liu Wuxie today, the world would destroy his reputation forever.

Liu Wuxie understood that as well. His punch hadn't been enough to kill Miao Hanxuan; it had merely struck at his pride. But that had always been his intent: to shatter Miao Hanxuan's dignity and fracture his dao heart.

Now, deathly energy lingered in his body, ready to torment him for life.

Rage consumed Miao Hanxuan. His aura surged violently as he began forming seals, preparing to unleash his full strength.

The crowd only realized the severity of the situation then. Miao Hanxuan was going all out. Even a Heaven Profound Realm expert would hesitate to face someone at the peak of the Earth Profound Realm in this state.

A thunderous voice rang out across the sky, halting the battle. "Miao Hanxuan, that's enough!"

Qu Su stepped forward, placing himself firmly between Liu Wuxie and Miao Hanxuan.

"Qu Su, you dare stand in my way?" Miao Hanxuan roared, his voice filled with madness.

He had lost all reason. If he couldn't kill Liu Wuxie today, he would no longer be able to show his face in the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy.

"Miao Hanxuan, have you still not repented?" Qu Su shouted, his expression stern, trying to jolt Miao Hanxuan back to his senses.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The surrounding crowd looked at one another in confusion. No one understood why Qu Su was suddenly protecting Liu Wuxie. But it was clear now that Miao Hanxuan wouldn't stop unless Liu Wuxie lay dead at his feet, even if it meant self-destruction.

And if pushed to the brink, Liu Wuxie wouldn't hesitate to unleash the Annihilation Fist to take Miao Hanxuan down with him.

"Repent?" Miao Hanxuan sneered. "Qu Su, I don't care what you're trying to do. Anyone who stands in my way today is my enemy!"

He had completely lost his grip on sanity. There was no turning back. Only killing Liu Wuxie could extinguish the fury burning inside him.

The truth could not be hidden forever. Now that the truth had come out, no one could pretend anymore.

"Miao Hanxuan," Qu Su shouted, voice ringing with righteous indignation, "is imprisoning a female disciple and treating her like your personal plaything, the behavior of a dignified elder?"

The question struck like a thunderclap. Both men had lived for centuries, and both stood at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm, yet Miao Hanxuan had committed a shameless act beneath the lowest standards of decency.

The surrounding disciples were stunned. Disbelief filled their faces.

"Rubbish!" Miao Hanxuan snapped, panic flashing in his eyes. The words struck a nerve. Only he knew the guilt that gripped his heart.

"Bullshit?" Qu Su repeated coldly. "Then look at the proof!"

He pointed directly at Ji Lu'an and Shao Qian.

Countless gazes turned in unison.

"Wait... isn't that Shao Qian?" one disciple whispered. "She joined the sect the same year I did. She was incredibly gifted and got accepted into White Dragon Peak. Didn't Miao Hanxuan take her in as a personal disciple?"

"That's right! And then she vanished without a trace. I thought she died..." Another voice trailed off.

Now, the pieces fell into place.

"He imprisoned her? All this time?" A wave of disgust swept through the crowd like wildfire.

Disciples who once supported Miao Hanxuan now looked at him with contempt. "An elder at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm, imprisoning his female disciple? How low can someone fall?"

"I courted Junior Sister Shao Qian back then," said a disciple who had joined the sect with her. "She was the number one beauty in our entrance year..."

Many had admired her. However, her sudden disappearance had crushed it all.

Now, the truth left them stunned.

Miao Hanxuan felt every scornful gaze like a blade to the skin. Whispers closed in from all sides, dragging his dignity through the dirt. He had carried the secret for years, but now, the truth was laid bare for all to see.

Liu Wuxie landed calmly on the ground. He knew the battle had ended with Elder Qu Su's intervention. There was no need to throw another punch. Miao Hanxuan's fall had already begun.

Even if Shao Qian hadn't been imprisoned, the sect's higher-ups would never have let the conflict escalate into a fatal battle. It was only a matter of time before they would have intervened.

That said, Qu Su understood Liu Wuxie's true intent; he had been using Miao Hanxuan as a whetstone to refine his dao techniques.

"Liu Wuxie, do you think you can destroy me with that? How naive," Miao Hanxuan sneered coldly. "In the cultivation world, I'll face no more than a little moral rebuke. But from now on, I'll stop at nothing to kill you."

He wasn't wrong. For someone at the pinnacle of the Earth Profound Realm, the consequences would be light. At most, they would criticize him. No one would dare to punish someone of his standing.

As for the Heaven Profound Realm cultivators, they had long since transcended worldly concerns. Matters like these would not earn their attention.

"I'll be waiting," Liu Wuxie replied calmly before turning to walk toward Ji Lu'an and Shao Qian.

It was now clear that they could no longer remain at the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy. Miao Hanxuan had entrenched a secret faction within the sect. With his secrets exposed, he would undoubtedly move them out in the open to eliminate any threats to his reputation.

"Brother Liu, thank you!" Ji Lu'an bowed deeply, his voice thick with gratitude.

"What do you plan to do now?" Liu Wuxie asked with a slight frown.

He had done all he could. The rest would depend on Ji Lu'an's choices. Ji Lu'an came from a minor clan, one far too weak to withstand Miao Hanxuan's retaliation. Returning home was no longer an option.

"The world is vast. There must be a place for us somewhere," Ji Lu'an said with a wry smile. Truthfully, he hadn't thought that far ahead.

For years, rescuing his junior sister had been his only purpose. Now that everything had happened, he found himself adrift, with no clear path forward.

"Go to Astral Glory City," Liu Wuxie said. "I can't promise wealth or power, but I can guarantee your safety."

The Heavenly Dao Society was expanding rapidly and was in desperate need of reliable people. Yet, those he could trust were few.

After everything that had happened, Ji Lu'an would surely remain loyal. And with his strength already at the higher levels of the Spirit Profound Realm, he was more than qualified to support the Society's growth.

"Brother Liu, I'll never forget this favor. From this day forward, our lives belong to you," Ji Lu'an said, bowing once more. His eyes shimmered with tears.

They had nowhere else to turn. Even if they fled to the ends of the world, Miao Hanxuan would hunt them down. On the other hand, joining the Heavenly Dao Society meant gaining a powerful shield, one that could ensure their survival.

"There's no time to lose. Go!" Liu Wuxie urged.

Miao Hanxuan would remain within the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy for now, and Liu Wuxie was his primary target. Ji Lu'an and Shao Qian had to leave before he could regroup.

"Brother Liu, farewell!" Ji Lu'an called, lifting Shao Qian to her feet. The two vanished down the winding mountain path.

Fate had crushed them, and anyone who tried to stop them now would provoke public outrage.

Their departure ended the farce.

Liu Wuxie returned to Heavenly Gate Peak in high spirits, having helped Ji Lu’an mend a crack in his dao heart, forging it stronger than before.

As for Miao Hanxuan, his downfall was inevitable. There was no need to rush.

Meanwhile, every peak across the academy buzzed with excitement and disbelief. The battle earlier had been nothing short of legendary.

Then, with a thunderous rumble, Heavenly Gate Peak began to tremble violently as if struck by a sudden earthquake.

Liu Wuxie dashed out of his chamber, only to freeze in astonishment as his gaze locked onto the distant thatched hut.

"Elder Madman's reached the threshold of the Heaven Profound Realm," he muttered. "He's about to break through."

After false news had spread that Liu Wuxie had died in the Sacred Ground, Elder Madman had gone into deep seclusion for nearly a year until, at last, the silence broke.

A terrifying wave of Heaven Profound Realm aura swept through the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, shaking even the highest-ranking elders to their core.

"Someone's making a breakthrough to the Heaven Profound Realm!" the shocked voices echoed across the academy.

Even the grandmaster himself stirred at the sudden and overwhelming outburst.

"So, he's finally taking that step," the grandmaster murmured, his gaze fixed on the distant Heavenly Gate Peak.

A black-cloaked figure appeared silently behind him, his voice low and calm. "If he hadn't failed back then, he would've been the one sitting here right now."

Once, the sect had chosen Elder Madman as the successor destined to inherit the grandmaster's seat. His talent had outshone all others, and no one rivaled his progress on the cultivation path.

However, fate had dealt a cruel blow.

No one could have predicted that a lightning tribulation would shatter his breakthrough and destroy his future in an instant. That single failure had messed up everything.

Centuries had passed without a single cultivator in the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy, breaking through to the Heaven Profound Realm. Without another cultivator strong enough to claim the mantle, no one had claimed the position of a successor.