At the same time.
Jianghai Martial Arts Academy.
Public Training Hall.
The pendant lights on the ceiling cast a brilliant glow.
Beneath them was a group of students, both male and female, all dressed in training uniforms.
A Sword Dao cultivation class was in session.
"...The final step is a downward diagonal strike to the southeast. That concludes the general principles of the Taiyin Moonlight Sword Technique. Everyone, pay close attention to the path of my sword as I demonstrate."
Li Zixuan, clad in white, executed a flourish with a wooden practice sword. As she moved through the forms, the bright light reflected on her gentle, beautiful face, making her look like a celestial fairy under the moonlight, her aura transcendent.
Every strike was fluid and exquisite, having reached the pinnacle of Sword Intent.
Below, many students gazed at her, whispering among themselves.
Flowers bloom and fall, fall and bloom again; the youths of the martial world grow old.
The years had flown by in a flash.
Li Zixuan, once a senior student at the academy, had long since graduated.
Upon graduation, she had achieved the outstanding level of the Grandmaster Realm, earning her the status of a distinguished alumna.
Right after she graduated, countless factions vied for her, offering her lucrative positions and high status in hopes that she would join their clans as a Guest Scholar.
Even the Imperial Capital Martial Arts Academy sent an invitation.
They cordially invited her to become their youngest professor in history, making an exception just for her.
But unfortunately, every single one of these invitations...
...was politely declined by Li Zixuan.
She simply said she was waiting for someone and returned to her alma mater to become a teacher.
Seeing this, everyone had a vague idea of the reason.
"Teacher Li is the disciple of the Jianghai Sword God. I heard the True Dragon Martial God is her senior brother."
"I’m so envious of the True Dragon Martial God. I wonder if he knows that Teacher Li has been waiting for him for years. The disciples from the Imperial Capital Families who came to propose marriage have practically worn down her doorstep."
"I want to be a female disciple of the Heaven-Blasting Gang too..."
"Several years have passed. How much longer can she wait without having a change of heart?"
"..."
The noisy chatter reached her ears.
Li Zixuan’s brows furrowed slightly. Listening to the trivial gossip, her heart still skipped a beat and her breathing grew a little uneven. She puffed out her cheeks, feigning anger.
"All of you, quiet down! Continue your Visualization of the Sword Formulas I just demonstrated!"
"If I find anyone who hasn’t practiced well, I’ll deduct twenty points from your participation grade for the semester!"
Her voice echoed through the hall.
The boisterous crowd immediately fell silent.
"Yes, Teacher."
The students all began to sit in meditation for their Visualization.
As her voice faded,
Calm Heart Incense burned in the corner,
its light smoke curling through the air, leaving a hazy mist.
But just then, CLANG—
Multiple swords suddenly rang out inside the hall.
’Have they broken through?’
Li Zixuan’s beautiful eyes focused as she looked toward the several students in the corner.
She recognized those who were breaking through. They were always ranked among the top few in the class, individuals with limitless potential who had long since touched the threshold of the Innate Realm.
But to actually break through should have taken them at least two more months.
Yet here they were.
Not only had they broken through,
but they had all broken through at the same time!
’This easily?’
Seeing this, Li Zixuan seemed to realize something. She turned her head to look at the black hole in the sky. ’Is it because of the Heaven and Earth Star Force?’
...
...
「A moment later.」
The office in Tengfei Building.
"What?"
"Commander, are you sure? Someone at the Police Chief’s office broke through again?"
"...How many?"
The fragmented phone conversation continued nonstop.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, Elder Li looked down at the campus below. After hearing the report from the other end of the line, his white eyebrows shot up, and pure ecstasy appeared on his face.
Suddenly, THUD! A loud noise!
Li Zixuan had burst in, hair disheveled, in a frantic hurry.
"Xuanxuan, what’s the rush?"
Elder Li was in high spirits. He wasn’t surprised to see Li Zixuan barge in like this. Instead, he chuckled and asked, "Are the students causing trouble again?"
"No, Teacher..."
Li Zixuan clenched her fists, her expression excited. "It’s my class! Just now, more students broke through to the Innate Realm!"
"Is that so?"
Elder Li was overjoyed at the news. He stroked his white beard, grinning from ear to ear. "Excellent! This is excellent news! The nourishment our Jianghai City is receiving from the Star Force far exceeds that of other regions.
For the students to be able to break through... it’s like watching dragons and phoenixes soar. Their future is bright!"
"Yes, this sudden surge in Star Force must have something to do with Senior Brother!"
"I imagine so. The Young Master has done so much for Jianghai City."
Elder Li’s finger rested on the phone. His white eyebrows twitched as he said with gratification, "The Commander just called to congratulate us. He said another ten people at the Police Chief’s office have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm!"
"More people have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm..."
Li Zixuan murmured to herself, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear as she gazed out the window. The clouds drifted and unfurled, seeming to sweep the blue sky clean, leaving the heavens boundless and vast.
As one piece of good news followed another,
it was clear this was the greatest era for martial cultivation!
...
...
「Da Li Mountain Range」
Under the blazing sun and clear blue sky, a howling gale infused with Star Force swept slowly across the region.
Myriad beasts thrived and multiplied, presenting a scene of resurgence. One by one, the Star Beasts stood tall and proud, absorbing the Heaven and Earth Star Force.
Within the mountain range sealed by the Ten Directions Sealing Demon Array,
rumbling thunder crashed down upon the Beast God, sending sparks of electricity flying. His Blood Sea Domain rose and fell, mending his ravaged physical body.
Day after day, year after year.
Amidst the deafening roar,
CRACK—
a faint, almost inaudible cracking sound suddenly erupted, only to be drowned out by the noise.
’Hm? Did it loosen?’
But the Beast God’s ear twitched. Catching that subtle sound, his eyes snapped open. He instantly teleported to the edge of the Sealing Demon Array, reaching out to feel the spot where the crack had appeared.
A trace of astonishment flickered in his eyes.
Just a moment ago,
this inscription wall had actually formed a crack, allowing a few wisps of Star Force to rush in.
Even though it was only for a fleeting instant,
he had still caught it!
’No, that shouldn’t have happened.’
The Beast God frowned, his eyes darting as his thoughts raced.
After Qin Yang’s modifications, the Ten Directions Sealing Demon Array should have been able to last for thousands of years without cracking. For something like this to happen, there was only one possibility!
The stars had shifted, and the world had changed.
The Heaven and Earth Star Force outside the Array had undergone a world-altering transformation, far exceeding the environmental Star Force levels from when the array was first formed.
Furthermore, there had to be an enormous difference in Star Pressure.
At this thought, the Beast God was suddenly horrified!
A terrifying idea flashed through his mind.
There is no water without a source.
To cause such a massive increase in Star Pressure, it must be related to the Celestial Gate’s passage!
’Could it be... he did it!?’
’That guy, Qin Yang, actually opened the Celestial Gate?’
Through the Ten Directions Array, the Beast God caught a wisp of the dissipating Star Force with his fingertips. As he carefully perceived its essence, his pupils abruptly contracted, and a tidal wave of shock crashed through his mind.
’So dense...’
’It’s almost identical to the Star Force I perceived back when I was in the Upper Realm!’
"I see. So, Qin Yang, you brat, you still fell for my trap. You couldn’t resist the temptation and opened the Celestial Gate."
The Beast God let out a sinister laugh, dissipating the wisp of Star Force at his fingertips. He then looked up toward Jianghai City, a venomous, dark light flashing in his eyes.
"The day the Celestial Gate opens is the day you die, Qin Yang!"