Chapter 386: On the Verge of Void Refinement

The night of the Immortal Palace Fragments was silent as death.

The light of the seventy-two formation bases slowly flowed above the ruins, like seventy-two stars that never fall, shrouding this anchored land in a faint halo of chaotic light. That light was warm and gentle, yet could not dispel the faint unease in everyone's heart.

Three days have passed since the first group of evacueants left.

During these three days, Wang Ping hardly slept.

He guarded beside Jiu Er, one side adjusting his breath to recover, the other using his Chaotic Divine Sense to constantly watch the distant void. The distress signal sent out before the emaciated Void Refinement cultivator fell was like a thorn, deeply piercing his heart. He knew that the response of the Purifying World Court would only be faster than expected, and would certainly not give them much time.

But he hadn't expected it to come this fast.

On the third evening, the setting sun's afterglow had just dyed the ruins gold when Wang Ping suddenly opened his eyes.

His Chaotic Divine Sense had caught something in the depths of the void.

It was the aura of Order's power.

Ice-cold, rigid, absolute—like the silver flood that annihilated the myriad phenomena stargazers thirty thousand years ago, like the Void Refinement pressure that hunted them outside the Law Corridor three years ago. But this time, that aura was vaster, more terrifying, more……unstoppable.

"They're here."

He stood up, his voice low yet clear, reaching everyone's ears.

Cangxuan was the first to appear beside him, hand on sword hilt, face stern.

Yuliuli arrived floating, cradling an ancient zither, the Immortal Sound Bell at its head swaying gently.

The Venerable Black Tortoise dragged his still-unhealed body, gritted his teeth and stood up, a earth-yellow light flowing around him.

The Immortal of Hundred Herbs gently placed the sleeping Jiu Er beside the Jiu Mu sapling, rose, formed seals with both hands, and a verdant light gathered in her palms.

Youying walked to Wang Ping's side, said nothing, and merely lightly grasped his hand.

Her hand was still icy, but she gripped it tightly.

The five stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the silver light approaching in the distance.

That light drew nearer and brighter, finally stopping abruptly a hundred li from the Immortal Palace Fragments.

Within the silver light, two figures slowly emerged.

They were two Void Refinement cultivators.

One was burly, his body wrapped in dense silver runes that slowly rotated like rings around a planet. His aura was mountain-like, heavy and oppressive—clearly a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator.

The other was tall and thin, his expression cold, eyes tightly shut, but a vertical silver fissure marked his brow—similar to the previous emaciated Void Refinement cultivator, yet deeper and more terrifying. His aura was abyssal, unfathomable, also a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator.

Two mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators.

Behind them, thirty Order Apostles stood in neat ranks, each exuding the terrifying pressure of a Nascent Soul Great Perfection. These apostles were stronger than those encountered before, their bodies blazing with silver light, runes flowing—clearly the elite of the Purifying World Court.

Thirty Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

Plus two mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators.

This force could utterly erase the Immortal Palace Fragments ten times over.

Wang Ping's heart sank to the bottom of the valley.

But his face showed no fear.

He merely watched those silver figures silently, gripping his Chaotic Tribulation Sword tightly.

The burly Void Refinement cultivator slowly spoke, his voice like metal grating, sharp and icy.

"Three days ago, one of our clan's Void Refinement cultivators fell here."

His gaze swept over the six figures, over the anchored ruins, and finally landed on Wang Ping.

"Was it you who killed him?"

Wang Ping did not answer.

That Void Refinement cultivator, however, smiled—a cruel, icy smile, like a cat toying with a mouse.

"Nascent Soul Great Perfection killing an early-stage Void Refinement—interesting."

He paused, a flash of cold light crossing his eyes.

"But that's all there is to it."

He raised his hand and gave a light wave.

The thirty Order Apostles simultaneously dispersed.

They were not attacking; instead, they spread in a strange formation around the void surrounding the Immortal Palace Fragments. Each apostle formed seals with both hands, and silver rays flew from their bodies, intertwining in the void into a vast net.

The net grew larger and denser, finally——

enveloping the entire Immortal Palace Fragments and the void within a thousand-li radius completely.

Wang Ping's pupils contracted sharply.

That net was not an ordinary seal, but an "Order Seal"—far larger, stronger, and more terrifying than any before. It could isolate all spiritual energy, block all laws, and "separate" this void from the universe, turning it into an isolated prison.

The tall, thin Void Refinement cultivator opened his eyes—no, it was the silver fissure on his brow that suddenly opened.

It was a silver eye, without pupil, only endless silver light. Wherever that light passed, all laws were "revealed"—the flow of the Chaotic domain, the flickering of formation-base runes, the swaying of the Jiu Mu sapling—all lay bare beneath its gaze, nowhere to hide.

"Space Anchoring Formation." He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse and low, "Using the Jiu Mu descendants as core, the seventy-two formation bases as pivots. Not bad craftsmanship."

He looked at Wang Ping, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Did you set it up?"

Wang Ping still did not answer.

That Void Refinement cultivator, however, nodded.

"To be able to lay this formation, your attainment in formation arts has reached perfection. Unfortunately——"

He paused, the corner of his mouth hooking into a cold smile.

"No matter how exquisite the formation, it also needs energy to sustain. When the energy is exhausted, the formation collapses on its own."

He raised his hand and gave a light wave.

The enormous silver light net began to contract slowly.

It's not an attack, but oppression.

It shrinks little by little, draws near little by little, compressing the activity space of the immortal palace fragments inch by inch.

The voice of the towering Nascent Soul cultivator sounded again, icy and ruthless.

"You have three days. Within three days, the energy will be exhausted and the formation will break on its own. Then——"

He didn't continue, but everyone knew what he meant to say.

At that point, without the formation's protection, they will be turtles in a jar, at anyone's mercy.

Silver light flowed slowly in the void.

The huge light net, like a giant hand closing in, firmly trapped the immortal palace fragments. Every hour it shrank by one li; at this rate, in three days it would shrink to the edge of the ruins, grinding everything to powder.

Wang Ping stood on the highest point of the ruins, gazing at the approaching light net, his face extremely solemn.

Cang Xuan walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Can it be broken?"

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"This is an order seal, set up jointly by two mid‑Nascent Soul cultivators. My Chaos Domain can permeate it, but to break it open I would need at least Nascent Soul cultivation."

Cang Xuan frowned tightly.

"Nascent Soul..."

Wang Ping nodded.

He turned around and looked at the five people behind him.

"Everyone, I have an idea."

The five looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Wang Ping took a deep breath and said slowly, "I will go into seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to Nascent Soul."

As soon as he said that, everyone was stunned.

Xuan Gui Zunzhe was the first to speak, his voice full of shock.

"Little friend, are you mad? Attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough takes months at least, often years. We only have three days! In three days we can't even reach the threshold."

Bai Cao Xianzi also frowned, saying, "Moreover, breaking through to Nascent Soul requires undergoing a tribulation, needs vast spiritual energy, and a stable environment. Here the order seal cuts off spiritual energy almost entirely—how could we undergo the tribulation?"

Yu Liuli spoke softly, "Wang brother, I know you're thinking of everyone, but…"

Wang Ping raised his hand, cutting her off.

"I know. Under normal circumstances, breaking through to Nascent Soul in three days is absolutely impossible."

He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"But my situation is different."

You Ying looked at him and suddenly spoke.

"You want to… borrow the power of the Fusang tree?"

Wang Ping nodded.

"The Fusang sapling has taken root here, fused with Jiu'er. Although Jiu'er is asleep, the will of the Fusang has awakened. That power is enough to support me through the heavenly tribulation. Moreover——"

He looked at the approaching silver light net.

"The order seal blocks outside spiritual energy, but it also blocks the spread of the heavenly tribulation. As long as I undergo the tribulation inside the seal, the tribulation's power won't leak out or affect you. On the contrary, those two Nascent Soul cultivators are outside; they dare not intervene—for if they do, they'll be drawn into the tribulation and suffer heavenly backlash."

A gleam flashed in Cang Xuan's eyes.

"You mean to use the heavenly tribulation to break the seal?"

Wang Ping gave a faint smile.

"Exactly. No matter how strong the order seal, it cannot withstand the heavenly tribulation. As long as I trigger the tribulation, those two Nascent Soul cultivators can only watch helplessly as the seal is torn apart by the tribulation. If they dare to intervene, they'll be seeking their own death."

Xuan Gui Zunzhe drew a sharp breath.

"Little friend, your idea… is too bold. The power of the heavenly tribulation is no joke. One slip and you'll be blasted to ashes."

Wang Ping looked at him, his gaze calm and resolute.

"I know. But this is our only chance of survival."

He turned, gazing at the silver light net and at the two tiger‑like Nascent Soul cultivators outside it.

"They think that by trapping us for three days they can force us to wait for death. But they don't know——"

He paused, his voice low and powerful.

"A cornered beast's fight is the most terrifying."

After the decision was made, the six of them delayed not a moment.

Wang Ping needed a safe place to go into seclusion and attempt a Nascent Soul breakthrough. You Ying cleared out a deep underground chamber in the immortal palace fragments—the cultivation retreat left by the myriad‑phenomena observers of old; though dilapidated, it was barely usable.

Cang Xuan, Yu Liuli, and Xuan Gui Zunzhe took charge of the outer perimeter. They stationed themselves around the ruins, constantly watching the shrinking silver light net and the movements of the thirty order apostles outside it.

Bai Cao Xianzi guarded beside Jiu'er. She knew the key to Wang Ping's Nascent Soul breakthrough lay in the Fusang's power, whose source was the slumbering Jiu'er. She had to use wood‑secret arts to sustain Jiu'er's life force, ensuring the Fusang sapling remained stable.

You Ying stood guard beside Wang Ping.

She could do nothing; her cultivation was too weak, too weak even to act as Wang Ping's Dharma protector.

Yet she insisted on staying.

"I won't disturb you," she whispered, "I just want… to watch you."

Wang Ping looked at her, at her pale yet determined face, and a warm current rose in his heart.

He gently took her hand.

"Wait for me."

You Ying nodded.

"I will wait for you."

Wang Ping sat cross-legged in the center of the secret chamber, slowly closing his eyes.

Inside his dantian, the chaotic Nascent Soul sat cross-legged in stillness. The three years of secluded cultivation had let this Nascent Soul reach an unprecedented state of perfection. Its body flowed with chaotic light, and on a face identical to Wang Ping's, there flickered a faint smile.

The illusory sprout of the Divine Tree swayed gently above the Nascent Soul's head. That was a bond Nine formed with him at the cost of her sleep. Through this bond, he could at any time draw on the Divine Tree's power, providing endless energy for his assault on Divine Transformation.

The Heaven-Overturning Seal had shattered. That lifelong natal magic treasure that had accompanied him for years had completely disintegrated in the previous battle. But its fragments, carefully gathered by Wang Ping, might someday be reforged.

The Chaotic Tribulation Sword lay across his knees, its blade covered in cracks. These were the marks left from repeatedly clashing with Divine Transformation cultivators, testament to its battles alongside its master. Yet even now it still emanated a faint sword intent, as if saying—

I am here.

Wang Ping drew a deep breath, his mind sinking into his dantian.

He knew that to break through to Divine Transformation, there were three gates to pass.

The first gate: the Heart's Dao Tribulation.

The Heavenly Dao Society probed his heart's Dao in various ways—Why does he cultivate? Has he ever regretted? Would he be willing to abandon it?

The second gate: the Law Tribulation.

His Chaotic Dao was too special, so the heavenly tribulation he attracted would not be ordinary lightning tribulation, but the simultaneous descent of the two primal forces of order and chaos. He must survive in the interstice between these forces; a moment's carelessness would tear him apart.

The third gate: the Divine Transformation Tribulation.

After passing the first two gates, the Nascent Soul could truly transform into the Primordial Spirit. This step requires vast amounts of spiritual energy and a stable law environment. Yet in this void sealed by order, both are luxuries.

But Wang Ping had no retreat.

He must succeed.

Time, minute by minute, flowed.

Outside the secret chamber, that silver light net continued to slowly contract.

Until the seal closed completely, there were still two days.

Cang Xuan stood on the highest point of the ruins, gazing at that light net, his expression grim. His hand remained on the sword hilt, ready to draw his blade at any moment.

Yu Liuli sat on a nearby broken wall, her guqin resting across her lap. She did not play, merely stroking the strings silently, as if engaging in some wordless communion with it.

Venerable Mystic Tortoise sat cross-legged in the center of the ruins, a faint yellowish light slowly circulating around him. His wounds were not yet fully healed, but he desperately circulated his cultivation technique, striving to regain more strength before the final moment.

The Herbal Fairy guarded beside Nine, the emerald light in her hand continuously pouring into the small body. Nine remained asleep, but a hint of pain flickered across her face. The Divine Tree's power was being drawn by Wang Ping, and for her this was a great burden.

You Ying stood at the entrance of the secret chamber, motionless.

She gazed at the tightly shut stone door, at the faint light seeping through the crack, her hands clenched tightly before her chest.

She could do nothing.

All she could do was wait.

Wait for that person to emerge from behind the door.

The first day passed.

That silver light net had already contracted to within less than a hundred li of the ruins' edge.

In Wang Ping's secret chamber, there was not the slightest movement.

Cang Xuan's brows furrowed even tighter.

"How is Elder Brother Wang faring over there?"

Yu Liuli whispered: "I don't know. But breaking through to Divine Transformation inherently requires time; only one day has passed, so we cannot rush."

Venerable Mystic Tortoise opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

"I have recovered twenty percent of my strength. If I truly go all out, I can hold on for three breaths."

The Herbal Fairy's face turned pallid, the emerald light in her hand greatly dimmed. She gritted her teeth: "This old woman can still hold on for one day. After that—"

She did not continue.

You Ying remained stationed at the entrance of the secret chamber, unmoving.

Her lips had already been bitten until they bled.

On the morning of the second day, a sudden change occurred.

The burly Divine Transformation cultivator's voice suddenly rang out in the void.

"Three days' deadline, two days remain. Have you made your decision?"

His voice sounded like metal grating, harsh and icy, clearly transmitted into everyone's ears.

"Hand over the Divine Tree's descendant, hand over that Chaos inheritor, and I can spare your lives."

No one answered.

That Divine Transformation cultivator seemed to have expected this, and gave a cold laugh.

"Stubborn. Then just wait to die."

He paused, then suddenly added.

"By the way, I almost forgot to tell you. This order seal not only blocks spiritual energy, it can also seal time. Inside the seal, time flows at one-tenth the speed of the outside world."

Cang Xuan's expression changed in an instant.

Time flow, one-tenth speed?

That meant that what they thought was "three days" would, to the outside world, be only three hours?

That meant that Wang Ping's time to break through to Divine Transformation had been compressed to one-tenth of the original?

"Not good!"

He abruptly turned and rushed toward the secret chamber.

But just then—

A shaft of silver light shot from outside the light net, striking the ground directly before him.

"Boom—"

The tremendous roar shook the heavens, and shards of stone flew in all directions.

Cang Xuan was shaken back several dozen zhang, a surge of qi and blood churned in his chest.

The voice of that burly Void God sounded again, carrying a hint of mockery.

"Trying to leak the news? Too late. You think we can't see through your little schemes?"

He gave a cold smile.

"Chaos successors think they can break through in the heavenly tribulation? Think they can use the heavenly tribulation to break the seal? Not a bad idea, but——"

He paused, pausing between each word.

"I control the flow of time. Your 'three days' are merely our 'three hours'. When he emerges from the secret chamber, the seal will already have closed. He is sure to die."

Cang Xuan's face turned iron-blue.

Yu Liuli's lute string snapped.

Venerable Black Tortoise gritted his teeth and stood up, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The greenish light in the Immortal Maiden of Hundred Herbs' hand faded completely.

You Ying stood at the entrance of the secret chamber, trembling all over.

She did not move.

She knew she could not move.

Wang Ping was in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Void God stage, at the most critical moment. Any disturbance could cause his efforts to come to nothing.

She could only wait.

Wait for that person to come out.

In the secret chamber, Wang Ping knew nothing of the outside world.

His mind and spirit were completely immersed in his own world.

The Dao Heart Tribulation had begun.

He stood in an expanse of void.

There was no heaven and earth, no four directions, only endless darkness, and within that darkness a faint glimmer of light.

Within the light, a voice asked him.

"Why do you cultivate the Dao?"

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"To protect."

The voice continued to ask.

"Protect what?"

In Wang Ping's mind, countless images flashed—

Jiang Mingyuan's kind smile, the master's earnest expectations of him.

Cang Xuan's stern face, the sword light of their fighting side by side.

Yu Liuli's gentle smile, that ethereal lute melody.

You Ying's final glance, that voice saying "You've come."

Old Ancestor of Moving Mountain's hearty laugh, the path of life blasted open at the cost of his life.

Jiu Er's tearful words: "Big brother, Jiu Er can finally be of help."

Plus those refugee soldiers, those willing to die for their homeland.

He drew a deep breath, pausing between each word.

"Protect those worthy of protection. Protect those willing to give everything for me. Protect those who still believe in the light even in darkness."

The voice fell silent for a moment.

Then came the second question.

"Have you ever regretted it?"

In Wang Ping's mind, countless images flashed again—

Those life-and-death battles, those moments when he nearly fell.

The moment Old Ancestor of Moving Mountain died before his eyes, the feeling of helplessness that welled up in his heart.

You Ying slept for thirty thousand years, yet he was powerless for those three years.

Time and again he asked himself: If he had not chosen this path back then, would he not live more easily? Would he not suffer less? Would he not……

But he soon had an answer.

"Never."

His voice was firm as iron.

"If I had never cultivated the Dao, I would not have met Master, would not have met Brother Cang, would not have met Immortal Maiden Yu, would not have met You Ying, would not have met Elder of Moving Mountain, would not have met Jiu Er. If I had never cultivated the Dao, I would not have the ability to protect them, to avenge them, to rescue You Ying from her slumber."

He paused, his voice rising.

"If I had never cultivated the Dao, this life of mine would have been wasted. Though now I suffer and toil, though I have regrets and remorse, every step is my own choice. I have no regrets."

The voice fell silent again.

After a long while, the third question.

"Are you willing to let go?"

Wang Ping stared, stunned.

"Let go? Let go of what?"

The voice seemed to see through his doubt and spoke slowly.

"The path to the Void God lies in transcendence. The Nascent Soul is the 'self', the Primordial Spirit is the 'Dao'. To attain the Dao, one must discard the 'self'. Your obsessions, your emotions, your attachments—these are shackles. If you do not discard them, you cannot transcend."

Wang Ping remained silent for a long time.

A very long time.

Then, he laughed.

That smile was calm and composed.

"I don't want to."

That voice seemed somewhat unexpected.

"You don't want to?"

"Yes." Wang Ping, word by word: "I don't want to abandon them. My obsession is my driving force. My emotions are my warmth. My concerns are the meaning of my life. If I were to abandon them for transcendence, then what would remain of me after I transcend?"

He raised his head, gazing at the light within that darkness.

"My Dao is the Dao of Chaos. Chaos embraces all things, not the abandonment of everything. If my Dao demands that I abandon them, then this Dao—"

He paused, his voice like thunder.

"Forget it then!"

The moment his words fell, that darkness exploded with a boom.

Endless light surged from all directions.

The Dao Heart Tribulation, passed.

Outside the secret chamber, two and a half days had passed.

That silver light net was now less than thirty li from the edge of the ruins.

Thirty li.

At its current speed of contraction, it would fully close in at most three hours.

Cang Xuan, drenched in blood, stood at the edge of the ruins, staring fixedly at the light net. His sword had broken into three pieces, yet he did not retreat.

Yu Liuli sat slumped beside the broken wall, her guqin with two strings snapped, her fairy sound bell dim and dark. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she continued to play—the notes were intermittent, but never ceased.

Xuan Gui Venerable lay in the ruins, a deep wound exposing bone on his chest, blood staining the rubble beneath him. He was still smiling, that smile weak yet heroic.

"I... said... I could withstand three breaths... and I will withstand three breaths..."

Bai Cao Immortal Maiden clung tightly to Jiu Er, trembling all over. Her spiritual power was nearly exhausted, yet she still used her body to shield Jiu Er, using her own flesh and blood to block those silver lights.

And You Ying still stood at the entrance of the secret chamber.

Her face showed no expression.

Only her eyes, fixed firmly on that stone door.

One hour.

Two hours.

Two and a half hours.

The light net was now less than ten li from the edge of the ruins.

Just then——

Inside the secret chamber, a deep rumble suddenly sounded.

That rumble was like a slumbering beast awakening, like the first thunder of the primordial chaos.

You Ying's eyes suddenly brightened.

The stone door slowly opened.

A figure stepped out from behind the door.

Wang Ping.

His person was surrounded by a faint chaos light. That light was deeper and purer than before, with countless laws subtly flowing within it. His eyes were no longer pure chaos color, but seemed to contain an evolving starry sky.

His aura was stronger than before by more than tenfold.

But——

He was still at Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

You Ying froze.

"You... didn't break through?"

Wang Ping looked at her and gave a faint smile.

That smile was calm and warm.

"No. Just a little bit short."

You Ying's heart sank instantly to the depths.

No breakthrough.

Then what did he come out for?

To wait for death?

Wang Ping seemed to see through her thoughts, gently taking her hand.

"Don't be afraid. Although I haven't broken through, I have already touched that threshold. And——"

He raised his head, gazing at the approaching silver light net.

"They thought that by sealing the flow of time they could force me to die. But they forgot one thing."

You Ying looked at him.

Wang Ping spoke slowly.

"The Heavenly Tribulation is not under their control."

He raised his hand, palm facing the sky.

A streak of chaos-colored light shot up from his palm, straight into the silver light net.

Wherever the light passed, the void trembled, twisted, and collapsed.

The cold smile of that burly Nascent Soul cultivator came to an abrupt halt.

"He's gone mad?! He intends to undergo the tribulation here?!"

The complexion of that slender Nascent Soul cultivator likewise changed.

"Withdraw quickly! Once the heavenly tribulation descends, the seal will be torn apart! We'll also be swept in!"

But it's already too late.

In the void, a terrifying aura was rapidly condensing.

That is the heavenly tribulation.

It is a Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation.

It is a Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation that Wang Ping forcibly summoned by using himself as a guide.

It pays no heed to any order seal, any flow of time, nor the two Nascent Soul cultivators.

It knows only——

Someone, is about to undergo the tribulation.