Chapter 1112 – The Storm Before the Dragon Ridge (3)

“…It might take him a hundred years to fully recover.”

As this piece of news spread, the entire Jiang Country cultivation world fell into a strange silence.

At first glance, it seemed like a great victory.

But anyone with a bit of foresight knew—

This was only the calm before a storm.

Deep within the Liang Country borderlands, a massive mountain range stretched endlessly like a coiling dragon.

At its core—

Golden Dragon Ridge.

Inside a dark underground hall, a faint, flickering Nascent Soul hovered in midair.

Its aura was unstable, its form fragmented.

It was none other than—

Heavenly Fiend Zhenjun.

“Damn it… Xuanjian… Yun Jianfeng…”

His voice was hoarse, filled with resentment that seemed to seep into the very air.

Below him, several figures in black robes knelt silently.

Not daring to speak.

Not daring to breathe too loudly.

“Two Nascent Soul cultivators… ambushing me…”

He laughed coldly.

“A newly advanced Nascent Soul… and he dares…”

His aura surged violently for a moment—

Then suddenly weakened again.

The hall fell into silence.

After a long while—

One of the black-robed elders cautiously spoke:

“Zhenjun… your injuries…”

“Silence.”

The Heavenly Fiend Zhenjun’s voice turned icy.

“My injuries are not your concern.”

“…Yes.”

Another elder stepped forward.

“Zhenjun, now that Jiang Country has two Nascent Soul True Monarchs… should we temporarily withdraw our plans?”

“Withdraw?”

The Heavenly Fiend Zhenjun let out a low, chilling laugh.

“You think… this is the end?”

His Nascent Soul flickered—

And a terrifying aura of malice spread through the hall.

“They destroyed my body.”

“They think I will hide for a hundred years?”

“Fools.”

A faint, eerie light appeared in his eyes.

“This time… I only lost a shell.”

“But I gained something far more interesting…”

The elders exchanged glances.

None dared to ask further.

Inside a quiet cultivation chamber—

A sudden tremor spread through the air.

“Boom—!”

Spiritual energy surged violently, forming a vortex that spiraled into the sky.

Within the vortex—

A figure sat cross-legged.

Her aura—

Was rising.

Rapidly.

Unstoppably.

“Condense!”

Lu Changsheng’s voice echoed within the spiritual sea.

At that moment—

Chu Qingyi’s inner core, which had been forming steadily, suddenly underwent a drastic transformation.

The two streams of energy—

Qingyun Sword Technique.

Seven Luminaries Great Freedom Sword Scripture.

No longer merely coexisting—

They began to fuse.

Completely.

—

“Hummm—!”

A clear, resonant sword hum rang out.

Inside her Qi Ocean—

A golden core began to take shape.

But unlike ordinary Golden Cores—

This one shimmered with dual radiance.

One side—clear and ethereal like flowing clouds.

The other—sharp and dazzling like starlight.

“Dual-aspect Golden Core…”

Even Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but feel shocked.

“This…”

“This is already approaching a superior-grade core…”

Chu Qingyi’s brows trembled slightly.

Her consciousness was fully immersed in the transformation.

Sword intent surged.

Dao patterns intertwined.

At that moment—

Her Sword Heart resonated.

—

“Crack…”

A faint sound echoed.

Then—

“Boom!!!”

The Golden Core fully condensed.

A terrifying surge of sword intent erupted outward—

Even Lu Changsheng’s soul trembled slightly.

“This power…”

He narrowed his eyes.

“She didn’t just form a Golden Core…”

“She advanced beyond it.”

The sky above Qingyun Sect suddenly changed.

Clouds gathered.

Lightning flickered faintly.

“Is someone breaking through?!”

“Such terrifying sword intent—could it be an elder?!”

“No… this aura feels… unfamiliar…”

Several elders appeared in midair, their expressions grave.

One of them suddenly widened his eyes.

“…It’s coming from Chu Qingyi’s residence.”

“What?!”

Chu Qingyi slowly opened her eyes.

Her pupils—

Now carried a faint trace of starlight.

Her aura had completely transformed.

Elegant.

Sharp.

Unfathomable.

She looked at Lu Changsheng.

For a moment—

Neither spoke.

Then—

She lowered her gaze slightly.

“…Thank you.”

Her voice was soft.

But this time—

There was something different.

No longer just gratitude.

But something deeper.

More complicated.

Lu Changsheng smiled faintly.

“You did it yourself.”

Chu Qingyi shook her head slightly.

“If not for you… I wouldn’t have reached this step.”

A brief silence followed.

Then—

She spoke again.

“…About what I was thinking earlier…”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

Chu Qingyi’s cheeks flushed slightly.

But this time—

She did not avoid it.

Instead, she met his gaze directly.

“…Forget it.”

“…We’ll talk about it later.”

At the same moment—

The Heavenly Fiend Zhenjun suddenly opened his eyes.

A strange smile spread across his face.

“…Another one…”

“A new Golden Core… with such sword intent…”

“…Interesting.”

His voice turned cold.

“Very interesting.”

“Perhaps…”

“This will be my opportunity.”