In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

“This can’t go on.” Senior Sister’s voice was even weaker. “The evil thoughts are getting stronger and stronger. Neither Qingxin Pei nor I can hold on for long. You must find the ‘Soul Purification Crystal’ as soon as possible. It is the only treasure that can completely purify the evil thoughts.”

"Where is the Soul Purifying Crystal?" Su Han asked anxiously.

"I don't know," the senior sister said with a wry smile. "It's a legendary divine object, something that can only be encountered by chance. Ancient records say that it may be born in an extremely yin place or appear in an extremely yang place, and it can't be found anywhere."

Su Han clenched his fists. His senior sister had exhausted much of her soul power saving him; if this continued, she wouldn't survive until he found the Soul Purifying Crystal.
"There's another way," the senior sister suddenly said. "If... if you can comprehend the 'Sword Intent of Compassion,' and wield the sword of slaughter with a compassionate heart, perhaps you can coexist with it without eliminating evil thoughts."

"Compassionate Sword Intent?"

"There are three thousand ways of the sword, and killing is only one of them. The true pinnacle of the sword is to embrace everything—to have both the sharpness to cut through the void and the compassion to nourish all things." Senior Sister said slowly, "If you can comprehend the sword intent of compassion, you can suppress evil thoughts with your mind and even turn them into an advantage."

Su Han fell into deep thought. The Sword Intent of Compassion... it sounded even more ethereal than the Soul-Purifying Heavenly Crystal.

As dawn broke, Ye Wuhen's injuries had mostly healed, and Mu Qingxue had also finished recuperating. The three of them returned to the lakeside to discuss their plan for harvesting lotus roots.

“The Crocodile Dragon is probably recuperating at the bottom of the lake. If we go into the water, we will definitely be ambushed,” Ye Wuhen analyzed. “It would be best to lure it out and deal with it on the shore.”

“I have a plan,” Mu Qingxue said. “The Azure Winged Crocodile Dragon prefers cold and dampness and hates fire the most. I can set up the ‘Nine Yang Burning Heaven Formation’ to force it out of the water with yang fire. At that time, Junior Brother Su can suppress it with his sword intent, and Senior Brother Ye can attack with his Dharma Form. We might have a chance of winning.”

“This plan is feasible.” Su Han nodded.

With the plan settled, the three immediately took action. Mu Qingxue took out nine crimson array flags and planted them in specific positions along the lake, arranging them into a formation. Ye Wuhen, on the other hand, prepared to unleash the strongest attack of the Azure Cloud Dharma Form.

Su Han closed his eyes and focused his mind, adjusting himself to his peak condition while comprehending the true meaning of the "Earth-Splitting" sword intent.

An hour later, everything was ready.

"Activate the formation!" Mu Qingxue shouted, and nine formation flags lit up simultaneously, transforming into nine blazing suns suspended on the lake's surface. The intense heat steamed the lake water, and white mist filled the air.

The lake began to boil, and countless fish and shrimp floated to the surface, turning white.

"Roar--!"

An angry roar came from the bottom of the lake, and the Azure-Winged Crocodile Dragon broke out of the water, its scales scalded red. Its eyes were bloodshot as it stared intently at Mu Qingxue, who was setting up the formation, and was about to pounce.

It's now!

"Splitter the earth!" Su Han unleashed a sword strike, and an invisible mountain reappeared, pressing the Crocodile Dragon firmly onto the lake surface.

"Nine Heavens Thunder Descend, All Laws Return to One!" Ye Wuhen's Dharma Image behind him solidified to the extreme. He held up the sky with both hands, drawing down nine cyan divine lightning bolts, which merged into one and transformed into a lightning pillar as thick as a water bucket, crashing down!

Boom! ...
The lightning struck the crocodile's head squarely. This time, the sturdy scales shattered completely, the skull exploded, and brain matter splattered everywhere.

The crocodile dragon's massive body convulsed violently for a moment before finally sinking helplessly into the lake, its blood staining a large area of ​​the lake surface red.

"Success!" Mu Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief, her face pale. Maintaining the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Formation was extremely taxing, and she was nearing her limit.

Ye Wuhen also landed on the ground, his Dharma form dissipated, his breath was weak, but his eyes were full of excitement.

Su Han sheathed his sword and walked to the lakeside. The crocodile dragon's corpse slowly floated to the surface, and not far from the corpse, a lotus root, its entire body as green as jade, lay quietly at the bottom of the water. The lotus root had nine segments, each radiating a rich life force and stellar energy fluctuations.

"It really is a nine-section jade lotus root!" Ye Wuhen exclaimed excitedly. "This is the best of the best!" Su Han went into the water to retrieve the lotus root, and the three of them gathered around this rare and precious plant to discuss how to distribute it.

“Senior Brother Ye lured out the Crocodile Dragon, and he also delivered the fatal blow. The lotus root should rightfully belong to Senior Brother Ye,” Su Han said first.

“No.” Ye Wuhen shook his head. “Without Junior Brother Su’s suppression and Junior Sister Mu’s formation, I alone would be no match for the Crocodile Dragon. This creature should be divided equally among the three of us.”

Mu Qingxue nodded in agreement.

In the end, the lotus root was divided into three equal parts, three sections for each person. As for the crocodile dragon's corpse, its scales were excellent material for crafting armor, its flesh contained abundant star power, and its bones could be used in medicine; these were also distributed according to contribution.

After dividing the spoils, the three looked at each other and smiled. This battle had largely dispelled the barriers between them, and they had truly developed a bond as fellow disciples.

"The secret realm's opening time is running out, we should head back." Mu Qingxue glanced at the sky.

The three hurried towards the exit of the secret realm. Along the way, they collected some more spiritual herbs and ores, but they didn't encounter any more treasures of the level of the Jade Lotus Root.

Finally, as the time limit was about to expire, they returned to the entrance.

The chaotic vortex reappeared, and the three stepped into it one after another.

After the familiar dizziness subsided, Su Han found himself back in the Qingyun Palace. Yun Qingzi and several elders were there, and they all showed satisfaction upon seeing the three of them return safely.

"It seems you've made quite a bit of progress." Yun Qingzi's eyes were sharp, and he could tell at a glance that all three of them had broken through their cultivation levels. "Especially Su Han, who actually stepped directly into the Star Palace Realm. Very good."

"Thank you, Sect Master." The three bowed.

"Your cultivation in the secret realm has come to an end. Go back and digest what you've learned. Three months from now, the Hundred Sects Conference of the Eastern Region will be held in 'Tianxing City,' and the three of you will represent the Qingyun Sect in the competition." Yun Qingzi said solemnly, "The Hundred Sects Conference is related to the ranking of sects and the allocation of resources, so it cannot be taken lightly."

"We will do our utmost!" the three replied in unison.

After leaving Qingyun Palace, Su Han bid farewell to Ye Wuhen and Mu Qingxue and returned to Tianya Peak alone.

Along the way, he pondered his next plan—to consolidate his Star Palace Realm cultivation, practice the second form of the Nine Swords of Tianya, find the Soul Purifying Crystal or a way to comprehend the Compassionate Sword Intent, and prepare for the Hundred Sects Conference three months later.

He knew that the Hundred Sects Conference would be a bigger stage, and he would encounter stronger opponents. But it would also bring more opportunities.

Upon returning to Tianya Peak, Elder Lin had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Su Han break through to the Star Palace Realm, the old man was overjoyed and exclaimed "Good!" three times.

That night, Su Han secluded himself in his courtyard. He consumed a section of jade lotus root, and the pure medicinal power not only consolidated his cultivation level but also raised the purity of his star power to a higher level.

Under the moonlight, he gently stroked the Tianya Sword: "Senior Sister, wait a little longer. I will definitely find a way to let you see the light of day again."

A slight tremor emanated from the sword, as if in response.

Su Han gazed at the starry sky outside the window, her eyes resolute.

The road to the pinnacle of martial arts is long, but once you've made the choice, you'll keep going.

No matter what lies ahead, whether it be a path strewn with thorns or a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire. (End of Chapter)