Lu's breakthrough was understated.

  Advancing from Qi Refinement Layer Eleven to Twelve went unnoticed by most—no one realized he had broken through. Compared to previous ones, this was utterly low-key.

  No spiritual energy vortex enveloping the entire Five Phoenixes, no dazzling heavenly phenomena like special effects.

  Just Lu Jiulian's bored lament.

  Lu's advancement inadvertently spurred Lu Jiulian's.

  After breaking through, Lu checked on Zhulong. Seeing her stabilize, he paid it no more mind and resumed repairing the Five Phoenixes Bow.

  With the Fire Origin Beast Ancestor statue, he could infuse pure Fire Origin profound truths—combined with Golden Origin, granting devastating dual-truth power.

  A trump card for the Five Phoenixes—Lu wouldn't use it lightly.

  He'd planned to test an arrow somewhere, but considering the bow's might, one shot would likely alert Elemental Gods in the Primordial Star Sky instantly.

  So he held back.

  As for sparring with the giant beast Qu Si—Lu reconsidered. Forcibly elevated to Great Dao-tier god-demon, Qu Si tanked hits well but lacked real combat prowess.

  The bow's power would reduce him to ash in moments.

  Qu Si still had uses—dying without shining would be wasteful.

  After embedding half the Star Tear Wood, Lu stored the rest.

  Its value was high—the only extra reward besides the inevitable Indestructible Demon Body for reaching Layer Twelve.

  Supreme material enhancing treasure resilience—delightful.

  Carefully stowing it, Lu grew bored.

  Breakthrough done, bow repair paused.

  Nothing to do.

  He descended the White Jade Capital pavilion, strolled Lake Heart Island, then inspected the maidens' progress.

  In the alchemy pavilion,

  Ni Yu hugged Little Yinglong over a golden cauldron brimming with pills. Constant alchemy and standardized recipes earned her much destiny—barely Golden Immortal now.

  Lu's appearance nearly choked her on a pill.

  “Young Master!”

  Ni Yu scrambled up, uneasy—never expecting him here.

  Lu stared speechlessly at her snacking on pills.

  Somewhat disappointed.

  Had this girl forgotten why she stayed petite?

  Overdosing on body-tempering pills fixed her figure. Without that, she'd likely be plump by now.

  Imagining piglet-like Ni Yu, Lu shook his head. Good thing it set.

  Little Yinglong had fattened a bit.

  Lu tore open the origin universe, tossing the teary dragon in.

  Salty fish time over—train with Five Phoenixes immortal sources.

  Done, Lu steered his Thousand-Bladed Chair out.

  Ning Zhao cultivated quietly, powerful energies swirling.

  She'd reached Golden Immortal—diligent from the start, not wanting to embarrass the Young Master.

  Lu knew his three maidens' talents weren't exceptional.

  Without managing the Destiny Tower for vast destiny blessings, Ning Zhao and Yi Yue's Golden Immortal entry would be near impossible.

  Unlike Ni Yu, rewarding her pills via the tower for easy destiny.

  They relied on diligent management for strength.

  “Young Master…”

  Ning Zhao and Yi Yue bowed.

  Behind Lu, Ni Yu blushed—comparison highlighted her laziness.

  “Good.”

  Lu smiled.

  After checking assignments, he returned to the pavilion.

  Leaning on the rail, enjoying the breeze a while,

  Lu prepared to open the Fire Origin star.

  Grant Fire Origin profound truth comprehension access.

  Snap!

  Sleeve rolled, piece picked—Lu placed it firmly. It ignited, endless flames soaring skyward.

  …

  Like a pebble in a pond.

  On Heavenly Secret Peak,

  Lü Mu and Mo Tianyu chess mid-game.

  Lu's move alerted them. Eyes met, they smiled.

  Heavenly Secret Pavilion's purpose? Convey White Jade Capital's will.

  Fire Origin star opening—Young Master Lu's intent. They must announce.

  Mysterious yellow paper, Old Lü's blood.

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  Soon, Heavenly Secret pigeons fluttered off the peak, informing all Five Phoenixes cultivators.

  The world buzzed.

  Many frustrated with Golden Origin shifted to Fire Origin. Cultivators streaked skyward, heading beyond the continent to the Fire Origin star.

  Human prodigies Chai Feng and Luoyang appeared.

  “Brother Luo, your Fire Origin talent should be exceptional, right?”

  Chai Feng eyed Luoyang—a prodigy selected for the Land of Enlightenment.

  Specialization mattered—some excelled in Golden, others Fire…

  Few mastered multiple; greed hindered mastery.

  Chai Feng came to try—but recalled Lu tricking him into nurturing thirty Emperors.

  Now, urge to drag Luoyang in.

  Cultivating Emperors for Five Phoenixes wasn't bad.

  So Chai Feng bet him.

  Luoyang paused, refusing outright.

  “Brother Chai, you don't know—Five Phoenixes cultivators seem innately sensitive to Fire Origin beyond imagination… You didn't see Brother Jiulian's fifty-thousand-mile profound sea spectacle in the Land, or Miss Bai reaching the finish while others started…”

  “I fall short. In Fire Origin, I can't match Five Phoenixes geniuses.”

  Luoyang waved it off.

  Chai Feng stifled frustration—old Luo wouldn't bite.

  Soon, Fire Origin star opened.

  Rules mirrored Golden Origin—flame mountain like the pyramid, Fire Origin Beast Ancestor statue atop.

  Chai Feng dropped persistence without trapping Luoyang.

  Cultivators ascended the flame mountain, enduring scorching heat on its steps.

  Chai Feng lacked Fire Origin talent—decent in Golden, mediocre here. Barely two thousand steps before Beast Ancestor pressure forced descent.

  But overall Fire Origin comprehension fared better than Golden—fire's popularity perhaps.

  Dozens in Five Phoenixes reached five thousand steps…

  Five thousand meant grasping ten percent profound truth power.

  Golden pyramid? Mere handful.

  Comprehending truths was positive.

  Those failing weren't rushed—with the statue, daily meditation as cultivation—five thousand steps eventual.

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, Sima Qingshan, and other Five Phoenixes Golden Immortals felt dejected.

  Hoping average Golden talent meant strong Fire.

  Overlord fared worse in Fire than Golden.

  Tang Yimo little better.

  Micah showed some Fire talent—four thousand steps, short of five thousand.

  But far surpassed Overlord's one thousand.

  Three thousand offered hope—with effort, ten percent grasp.

  One thousand start? Talent ceiling low—effort futile.

  Profound truth contests were cruel.

  Realistic.

  Talent decided—you lacked, you lacked.

  Prodigies started where others toiled lifetimes unreachable.

  Lu watched the flame mountain bustle, amused.

  Like a farce.

  …

  Lu Jiulian felt stronger—but Daluo still distant.

  Unsure how, now bottlenecked—he needed effort.

  No more “I don't want to try.”

  Wrong—effortless like salty fish?

  He, Lu Jiulian, no salty fish.

  How to advance?

  Eyes on Destiny Tower.

  He arrived, accepting Golden Immortal zone heavenly-tier task…

  Tower's hardest.

  Lu Jiulian aloof—his fame in Five Phoenixes soared, rivaling even White Jade Capital's Young Master Lu.

  Slaying fourteen Great Dao-tier god-demons in the Land—heralded by Luoyang's congratulations, echoed everywhere.

  Yet fame unchanged his cool demeanor.

  Taciturn by nature.

  Task accepted—no flirting with cute destiny maidens, not a word extra—teleported directly.

  “Green Lotus Golden Immortal took heavenly-tier Golden Immortal task? Tower's toughest!”

  “Worthy—slaughtered in god-demon Land, glorifying Five Phoenixes!”

  “Heard god-demons retreated at his name… too strong!”

  “Green Lotus Golden Immortal… too strong!”

  Destiny Tower hall buzzed with awe.

  Lu Jiulian heard none.

  Tower apex.

  Eyes opened.

  Task backdrop: Great Xuan Academy.

  Lu Jiulian appeared, calm. Far off, giant beast Qu Si awoke from slumber.

  Post-Lu beating, Qu Si grew vigilant—any stir alerted him.

  “Great Dao-tier god-demon!”

  Lu Jiulian inhaled, staring. Destiny Tower imprisoned one?

  “Worthy of Young Master Lu—unfathomable strength.”

  “Subduing Great Dao-tier god-demons.”

  Lu Jiulian slowly drew his waist-hung Green Lotus Sword.

  Boom!

  Feet erupted air waves.

  Green lotuses bloomed around him. Sword swept—qi crisscrossing thirty thousand miles, scarring earth instantly.

  Lu Jiulian versus Qu Si—intense.

  Fourteen Great Dao-tier slain under Green Lotus Sword Immortal—but no arrogance, no laxity.

  He knew himself—without special state, Great Dao-tier meant death.

  Few exchanges confirmed: Qu Si bottom-tier Great Dao.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Fierce clash.

  Qu Si vented rage—post-advancement, few chances to fight.

  Immortal-tier for Five Phoenixes Golden Immortals practice.

  Great Dao-tier? Beyond them.

  Qu Si fought seriously—unleashing dominance, ferocity!

  Long after,

  Lu Jiulian blood-soaked, wounds riddling him.

  Green lotus attire crimson.

  Sword gripped, he sat heavily. Qu Si afar, battle-weary.

  Eyes ferocious, baring teeth at Lu Jiulian.

  Lu Jiulian ignored.

  Doubting how he'd slain fourteen Great Dao-tier in the Land.

  Struggling against bottom-feeder Qu Si—how elites died?

  Unfathomable—let it go.

  Battle accumulated, shattered bottleneck.

  Breakthrough imminent—true Daluo.

  Golden Origin long comprehended; Fire Origin in the Land too.

  Dual truths—high Daluo confidence.

  Sword propped ground, rising slowly.

  No slaying Qu Si.

  “Breakthrough assured—leave you for the next battling to prove Dao.”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  Qu Si kept baring teeth, snorting heavily.

  Lu Jiulian bloodied, sword-caned, turned—cool glance.

  “Glare what?”

  “I slew fourteen Great Dao-tier god-demons in the Land…”

  “You dare glare at me too?”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  Aura shifted—truly murderous god. Fallen Great Dao-tier parts materialized around him.

  Thick bloodlust, terrifying aura storming.

  Qu Si froze mid-mock—forced awkward friendly smile.

  Real Great Dao-tier auras—bloodline suppression silenced him.

  Lu Jiulian's erupting presence… overlapped Lu Ping'an's in Qu Si's eyes.

  Lu Jiulian left.

  Qu Si, alone atop tower, tears flowed aggrieved.

  Too miserable.

  Lu Ping'an tormented his main—now alt too!

  Qu Si… too bitter.

  …

  Lu Jiulian spared Qu Si—defeat completed task.

  Destiny blessed, returned to Ascension Ground.

  Boom!

  Aura uncontainable, piercing heavens like a beam.

  Eyes closed, purple qi condensed. Fire and Golden truths ordered rampant energy.

  Zhulong's precedent—his breakthrough seamless.

  Soon stabilized.

  Purple qi enveloped.

  Lu Jiulian looked up—thunder clouds rolled.

  Daluo tribulation.

  Unavoidable—he no heaven's favored like Zhulong.

  Thunder barrage endured—safely crossed, entering Daluo.

  Five Phoenixes' second after Zhulong.

  Daluo—destiny blessed, beyond Five Phoenixes, mind touring three realms, vast divine abilities.

  Lu Jiulian's breakthrough—joy for some, sorrow others.

  Overlord and Tang Yimo felt immense pressure.

  Always compared—catching up now distant.

  Lacking profound truth talent—Daluo hard without.

  Brief dejection—soon rallied, cultivating harder.

  Daluo births stimulated Five Phoenixes cultivators massively.

  Countless practiced frantically.

  Chai Feng and Luoyang sighed—Five Phoenixes' short low-to-immortal martial rise from such drive.

  Matched ancestral land geniuses under god-demon oppression.

  How embarrassing?

  In this atmosphere, Chai Feng and Luoyang joined the diligent ranks—no slacking.

  …

  Primordial Star Sky.

  Cold, silent.

  Ancient stars drifted like dust.

  Boom…

  Void muffled, twisting oppressively.

  Quiet stars shoved aside by vast force.

  But not destroyed.

  Soon, twisted void revealed a boundless great world.

  Migrating through the starry sky.

  Tonggu Daoist flickered, appearing above.

  Flushed, excited.

  Back in human ancestral land, Primordial Immortal Domain—after much persuasion, convinced stubborn elders for migration.

  Closer to Five Phoenixes—for aid if exposed.

  Two Beast Ancestor statues—profound for ancestral land.

  Reason elders agreed to migrate for a new immortal martial world.

  Historically, worlds migrated to ancestral land—never reverse.

  Ancestral land, human stronghold—monitored by many Celestial-tier god-demons.

  Migration drew attention.

  News reached Elemental Realms swiftly.

  Fire Elemental God still fumed over stolen statues.

  Scouts returned disappointments—enraging him.

  Ancestral migration news heightened Elemental Gods' urgency.

  “Only Beast Ancestor statues prompt ancestral migration…”

  “One might not suffice—two absolutely.”

  “Tonggu Daoist knows something—black-robed thief tied to him!”

  “If ancestral land gains two statues… humans rise! Strike first?”

  Elemental Gods debated heatedly.

  Previously, they'd swarm without hesitation.

  But now different.

  Humans no longer easy prey.

  Amid intense discussion,

  a Celestial-tier god-demon streaked in panicked.

  “The chaos entity holding Wood Origin Beast Ancestor statue awakened!”

  “Wood Origin profound truth Land of Enlightenment… opening!”

  News stunned Elemental Gods—then excitement surged wildly.

  …

  Lu unaware of Wood Origin Land opening.

  He pondered fusing Wood Indestructible Demon Body.

  Fire perfected—qualified for Wood.

  But hesitant…

  Gold body: golden hair, noble.

  Fire: crimson hair, dazzling…

  Wood: lush green—Lu oddly uncomfortable.