Published: February 25, 2025
In the central region of the Heavenly Punishment Mountain Range, besides the ancient Huangfu Sacred Sect, there are numerous first-class, second-class, and third-class cultivation sects, totaling over a thousand.
These sects are scattered across the mountainous terrain, each vying for territory, resources, and disciples.
Some are large and well-established, while others are smaller and less influential, but each has its own unique traditions and practices.
Among them, the Ascension Pill Sect and Holy Symbol Immortal Sect are particularly prominent, attracting many aspiring cultivators with their renowned techniques.
The region is vibrant, bustling with activity as practitioners engage in various training, competitions, and exchanges of alchemical arts.
It is said that within the Heavenly Punishment Mountain Range, the opportunities for enhancement in cultivation are plentiful, making it a hotspot for those looking to elevate their skills.
However, the competition is fierce, and the rivalry between sects often leads to conflicts, which can escalate quickly.
Despite the dangers, many young cultivators flock to this area, eager to prove their worth and make a name for themselves.
As the sun sets over the mountains, casting an orange glow across the landscape, a group of practitioners gathers at the foot of the mountain, preparing for an upcoming competition.
Their excitement is palpable, as they discuss strategies and the strengths of their respective sects.
In the midst of this vibrant scene stands Tan Yun, a talented young cultivator known for his exceptional skills in sword control and formation techniques.
With determination in his eyes, he gazes towards the peak of the mountain, envisioning the challenges that lie ahead and the glory that awaits him.
As night falls, the atmosphere shifts, and the practitioners begin to disperse, each heading back to their sects to prepare for the trials that await them in the days to come.
There’s also the Ascension Pill Sect, known for its alchemical arts, the Holy Symbol Immortal Sect, which specializes in talisman arts, the Mysterious Dao Formation Palace, which practices formation techniques, the Supreme Demon Sect, focusing on corpse refining, and the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, known for puppet techniques.
The Dragon Cloud Sect is located in the central part of the Heavenly Punishment Mountain Range, nestled among majestic peaks in the east, covering an area of fifty thousand miles.
A towering Protective Sect Formation envelops the sect, resembling a giant bowl turned upside down, making the Dragon Cloud Sect as solid as a fortress.
In the midst of the surrounding mountains, a peak soars into the clouds, where a colossal sword standing a thousand feet tall is inscribed with the words “Dragon Cloud Sect.”
Three days later.
In front of the Mountain Gate, two disciples at the eighth layer of the fetal soul realm show signs of distress, each bearing blood marks on their faces, likely from being slapped.
Their left ears have mysteriously vanished, and from the gory wounds, it appears they were cruelly torn off!
At this moment, their expressions change dramatically as they see a purple and a green long rainbow shooting down from the sky, transforming into the forms of a Golden Boy and Jade Girl in front of the Mountain Gate.
The man, dressed in a purple robe and about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, is accompanied by a woman in her early twenties wearing a green long dress.
At this moment, Tan Yun and Tuoba Yingying are not wearing the attire of the Huangfu Sacred Sect.
“May I ask what brings you two seniors here?” the two disciples cautiously bow and inquire.
“I am Tan Yun, and I have matters to discuss with your sect's sovereign; please relay my message,” Tan Yun replies calmly.
“Senior, please wait a moment; I will inform them right away,” one of the disciples says nervously, hurriedly running towards the Mountain Gate.
“Wait a moment,” Tan Yun calls out, observing the scars and bloody traces left from their missing ears, his brows furrowing. “Who did this to you? Don’t be afraid, I am a friend of your dragon sovereign, not a villain.”