The Void Realm

“Disciples, you have all witnessed the battle between your Third Senior Sister and Zhang Jia just now,” Bai Yiren said slowly.

“It perfectly demonstrates the difference in the use of Sword Wind.”

“Your Third Senior Sister relies purely on physical strength, while Zhang Jia relies on spiritual power.”

“Although the two methods appear similar, in a prolonged battle of endurance, the Sword Wind supported by spiritual power simply cannot last as long.”

“Therefore, when you return, you should cultivate your physical strength more diligently.”

Bai Yiren did not demand that they immediately abandon their current path.

Instead, she merely advised them to increase their physical training.

Of course, she had already said similar things many times before.

If they truly intended to change, they would have done so long ago.

They would not be waiting until today.

“We understand, Master,” the disciples replied in unison.

However, their response was largely perfunctory.

In truth, none of them intended to change their cultivation path.

For them, cultivation was a process of constant advancement.

Starting over was simply too costly.

Returning to the path of pure Sword Dao would mean abandoning years of accumulated progress.

They believed that their time was better spent pursuing breakthroughs to the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms.

In this world, nearly half of all cultivators could not even reach Foundation Establishment.

Those who reached the Golden Core or Nascent Soul realms were already considered exceptionally talented.

Furthermore, most cultivators shared the same mentality.

If there was an easier path available, why would anyone deliberately choose the more difficult one?

Meanwhile, Bai Lan continued to demonstrate her extraordinary talent within the Immortal’s Abode.

The disciples who had previously doubted her gradually began to change their attitudes.

The semiannual practice assessments themselves were mostly symbolic.

They rarely revealed anything truly significant.

For most cultivators, noticeable progress typically appeared only after ten years or more.

After the assessment concluded, Bai Yiren left the Sword Pavilion.

However, just as the disciples were preparing to disperse, Ximen Xue suddenly stood up.

“Junior Sister Gao, remain here.”

“The rest of you may leave.”

Her words caused Gao Qiuxia’s expression to stiffen immediately.

To be honest, the person the Immortal’s Abode disciples feared most was not Bai Yiren.

It was Ximen Xue.

Most of the daily management of the inner disciples was handled by her.

Once everyone else had left, only Gao Qiuxia remained in the Sword Pavilion.

She looked somewhat uneasy.

“Senior Sister… why have you asked me to stay behind?” Gao Qiuxia asked nervously.

“Do you have any instructions?”

“Instructions?” Ximen Xue replied coldly.

“I am not your master, so how could I dare instruct you?”

She paused briefly.

Then in the next instant, her figure flashed.

She appeared directly in front of Gao Qiuxia.

Before Gao Qiuxia could react—

Smack!

A loud slap echoed through the pavilion.

“Ah!”

Gao Qiuxia cried out as she was sent flying backward.

She crashed heavily onto the wooden floor of the Sword Pavilion.

The strike was clearly not light.

Gao Qiuxia had actually sensed Ximen Xue’s movement.

But Ximen Xue was simply too fast.

The slap had already landed before Gao Qiuxia could defend herself.

“Senior Sister… you…!” Gao Qiuxia said in shock.

She lay on the ground, clutching her burning cheek.

“As I said before, I am not your master and I will not instruct you,” Ximen Xue said coldly.

“But Gao Qiuxia, I will warn you this once.”

“Put away your petty schemes.”

“Do you really think I didn’t know that Zhang Jia was acting under your instructions?”

Her gaze turned icy.

“If something like this happens again, the consequences will not end with a simple slap.”

After delivering her warning, Ximen Xue turned and left the Sword Pavilion.

Gao Qiuxia remained on the floor.

Her eyes burned with fury.

Yet she did not dare say a single word.

She could only watch Ximen Xue leave.

Only after Ximen Xue had completely disappeared did Gao Qiuxia slowly stand up.

Her expression twisted with anger.

But she still dared not curse aloud.

She feared that Ximen Xue might still hear her.

She understood exactly why she had been punished.

Ximen Xue had clearly seen through her plan.

She knew Gao Qiuxia had secretly instructed Zhang Jia to provoke Bai Lan.

An ordinary inner sect disciple would never dare challenge a Direct Disciple without someone backing them.

‘Damn you, Ximen Xue.’

‘One day I will return this slap to you.’

Gao Qiuxia swore silently in her heart.

She then used spiritual power to erase the red handprint from her face.

Only then did she finally leave the Sword Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Bai Lan had already returned to her residence.

On the way back, Luo Yuyan had warned her to be cautious of Gao Qiuxia.

Although Bai Lan had not interacted much with the Ten Senior Disciples of the Immortal’s Abode, she still knew their identities.

As for Bai Yiren, after leaving the Immortal’s Abode, she went directly to Luoshen Palace.

She had an important matter to discuss with Luo Yan.

“Oh? Second Junior Sister has come to visit me?” Luo Yan said teasingly when she saw Bai Yiren.

“What brings you here today?”

“Have you come to deepen our sisterly bond?”

Among all her junior sisters, Bai Yiren was the one she enjoyed teasing the most.

“Senior Sister, must you always speak so improperly?” Bai Yiren replied helplessly.

“I came because I have a request I hope you will agree to.”

When she heard Bai Yiren’s serious tone, Luo Yan immediately stopped joking.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“I want Lan’er to cultivate in the Void Heaven Realm,” Bai Yiren said directly.

Luo Yan was momentarily stunned.

The Void Heaven Realm was an ancient trial world.

It was a small independent realm jointly controlled by the major cultivation sects of the Eastern Sea Region.

According to legend, it had once been created by an ancient god.

Countless treasures were hidden within it.

However, obtaining those treasures required passing through the many trials left behind by that ancient god.

The Void Heaven Realm possessed a unique characteristic.

Only one’s consciousness could enter it.

Inside, cultivators could freely explore, fight, and cultivate.

Any cultivation progress achieved inside the realm would be reflected in the cultivator’s physical body outside.

Likewise, any treasures obtained there could be brought back to the real world.

However, entering the Void Heaven Realm required the assistance of a powerful cultivator above the Spirit Transformation realm.

If someone died inside the Void Heaven Realm, their consciousness would return safely to their body.

But death came at a price.

Each death would cause the cultivator’s cultivation to drop by one minor stage.

For example, someone at the late stage of Foundation Establishment would fall to the middle stage after dying once.

The Void Heaven Realm was also divided into multiple layers.

Each layer corresponded to a different cultivation realm.

Higher-level cultivators had to enter the corresponding higher layers.

If they wished to descend to a lower layer, they had to suppress their cultivation.

Bai Yiren wanted Bai Lan to train there.

The Luoshen Sect did have the ability to send disciples into the Void Heaven Realm.

But only one person in the sect could accomplish this.

It was not their master, who was only at the Nascent Soul realm.

Within the Luoshen Sect existed a hidden supreme expert.

However, that person rarely interfered with the sect’s affairs.

“You want Bai Lan to go to the Void Heaven Realm?” Luo Yan said slowly.

“Yiren, are you certain?”

“You and I have both been there before. You know how dangerous that place is.”

Luo Yan fell into deep thought.

Back when they were disciples themselves, they had both entered the Void Heaven Realm.

But they had suffered major setbacks there.

After dying once inside the realm, neither of them had ever returned.

It was an extremely dangerous place.

Only truly exceptional geniuses could survive there.

“There will be no problem,” Bai Yiren replied calmly.

“Lan’er’s talent far surpasses ours.”

“A few years of cultivation there would be equivalent to decades of training in the outside world.”

Seeing Bai Yiren’s firm determination, Luo Yan sighed softly.

In truth, she would have preferred Bai Lan to cultivate safely within the sect.

The Void Heaven Realm was simply too dangerous.

“Very well,” Luo Yan said finally.

“I will speak with Grandmaster about it.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister,” Bai Yiren replied with a nod.

After saying this, Bai Yiren left Luoshen Palace.

Once she was gone, Luo Yan activated the spatial movement ability unique to Violet Palace cultivators.

Her figure disappeared from the palace.

She entered another hidden space to seek an audience with the sect’s Grandmaster.