I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

On the road, they encountered a group of black-robed cultivators, their chests embroidered with black skulls. Bai Ling's expression changed slightly. "The Dark God Cult, the mortal enemy of the Heavenly Mystery Cult." The black-robed cultivators blocked their path, their leader a bald, burly man at the ninth level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm. "Leave that brat behind, and I'll spare your life." Qin Yuan drew his bone blade and decapitated the bald man with a single strike. The other black-robed cultivators pounced, but Qin Yuan killed several in quick succession. Bai Ling was astonished. "Your strength is greater than it was in the Desolate Region," Qin Yuan said, "because of saving people."

The two arrived at the gate of the Heavenly Mystery Sect. The gate was a thousand feet high, entirely golden, with the four characters "Heavenly Mystery Sect" carved on it, the strokes as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe. Bai Ling led Qin Yuan into the sect. The lowest level of disciples in the sect was the ninth level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm, and most of the elders were at the Creation Realm. Qin Yuan's eighth level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm was still considered low here, but his eyes did not have the eyes of someone at the bottom.

Qin Yuan asked about the seven women's whereabouts. Bai Ling said, "They have been chosen as goddesses and are undergoing the 'Goddess Trials.' After passing the trials, they will become holy maidens of the Divine Cult." Qin Yuan asked where the trials were held. Bai Ling said, "The Goddess Hall; outsiders are not allowed to enter." Qin Yuan said, "I want to see them." Bai Ling shook her head. "The Cult Leader will not allow it." Qin Yuan said, "Then I will see the Cult Leader."

Bai Ling took Qin Yuan to see the cult leader. The cult leader was a middle-aged man with an ordinary face, but his eyes were as deep as the sea. He was at the first level of the Creation Realm, and his aura made it difficult for Qin Yuan to breathe. The cult leader looked at Qin Yuan and said, "You want to see your women? You can. Pass the cult's three tests, and I will let you see them."

The first test: passing the "Tower of Ten Thousand Refinements." The tower has nine floors, each guarded by someone below the Creation Realm. Qin Yuan must reach the top within a day. He entered the tower. On the first floor, a guard at the ninth level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm confronted him with a sword. Qin Yuan killed him with three strikes. On the second floor, two guards at the ninth level of the Chaos Heavenly Monarch realm. Qin Yuan swept his bone blade across, decapitating them. From the third to the sixth floor, Qin Yuan killed dozens of guards, his body covered in wounds, his robes stained with blood. He burned his lifespan, and two thousand five hundred patterns lit up on his bone blade. On the seventh floor, a guard at the half-step Creation Realm realm. Qin Yuan fought fiercely for a thousand moves, sacrificing an arm, before his bone blade pierced the guard's heart. On the eighth floor, two guards at the half-step Creation Realm realm. Qin Yuan desperately pierced one's heart, while he smashed the other's skull with his head, splattering his brains.

On the ninth floor, an elderly man at the first level of the Creation Realm stood atop the tower. He had white hair and a white beard, and wore a white Daoist robe. Looking at Qin Yuan, who was covered in blood, he said, "Having made it this far, you are qualified to take one of my attacks." The old man struck down with his palm, the force containing the power of creation; space itself twisted and shattered under his blow. Qin Yuan burned all his remaining lifespan, the three thousand patterns on his bone blade lighting up, and unleashed a full-force slash. The blade's energy collided with the palm force, sending Qin Yuan flying, crashing through the tower wall and plummeting from the ninth floor to the ground, his bones shattered. The bone blade left his hand and remained embedded in the ground some distance away.

The old man withdrew his palm, floated down from the top of the tower, and stood before Qin Yuan. "You've passed. I am Xuan Qing, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Mystery Sect." Qin Yuan asked, "What is the second test?" Xuan Qing said, "You will know tomorrow." Qin Yuan was carried away to heal his wounds, Bai Ling keeping watch by his bedside. Before he lost consciousness, he asked, "Are they alright?" Bai Ling said, "They are also fighting desperately." Qin Yuan closed his eyes. In his dream, seven women reached out to him. He grasped one, then another, and another. He grasped them all.

The wind was strong atop the Guixu Palace. Qin Yuan sat on the ridge, watching the seven women busy with their own tasks. Su Yao brewed tea to his left, the white steam rising from the teapot being dispersed by the wind. Yan Lingji sat on the railing to his right, wiping her longsword with a red silk cloth; the blade reflected the light of nine suns. Mu Hongyi flipped through an ancient scroll, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly searching for something. Jian Wushuang closed his eyes, his sword resting across his lap, his breath synchronized with the vibrations of the sword. Bing Ji stood at the corner of the palace, gazing at the distant sea of ​​clouds, the wind unable to stir her robes. Hongyue practiced spear techniques in the plaza in front of the palace, the sound of the spear tip piercing the air like a heartbeat. Yueyao picked flowers in the garden behind the palace, strands of her hair falling onto the petals as she bent over. Qin Yuan watched them, a slight smile playing on his lips. He thought these days would last a long time.

Then the sky cracked. Not slowly, but as if ripped open from both sides by two unseen giant hands. Seven-colored light poured down from the crack, illuminating the entire Guixu Palace. Qin Yuan stood up, his bone blade springing from his waist, ten thousand golden patterns lighting up simultaneously. He looked up and saw a gigantic golden hand emerge from the crack. The hand blotted out the sky, its five fingers spread wide, the lines on its palm clearly visible, each line like a river. The hand didn't strike down, but gently grasped. Su Yao's teapot slipped from her hand, crashing to the ground and shattering. Yan Lingji's red silk fluttered from her hand, blown into the sky by the wind. Mu Hongyi's ancient book closed and flew away. Jian Wushuang's sword leaped from his knees, hovering in mid-air. Bing Ji turned around, her face showing surprise for the first time. Hong Yue's spear slipped from her hand, embedding itself in the ground. The flowers in Yue Yao's hand scattered across the ground. The seven women were simultaneously enveloped in golden light, their bodies rising into the air like seven leaves blown away by the wind. Qin Yuan drew his sword and slashed at the golden palm with all his might. The sword energy struck the palm, sparks flying, but the palm remained unmoved. The golden palm retaliated, sending Qin Yuan flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing through the wall of the Guixu Palace, bouncing twice on the rubble, and rolling onto the plaza outside the palace. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, three ribs were broken, and the patterns on his bone blade were mostly dimmed. The power of a Dao Ancestor was like a baby throwing a punch before this palm strike.

A voice echoed from the crack. Deep and resonant, it seemed to come from eternity, or surge from the depths of the earth. Each word reverberated, making Qin Yuan's eardrums ache. "The seven women possess special physiques—Chaotic Saint Body, Heavenly Fire Saint Body, Limitless Sword Body, Profound Ice Saint Body, Purple Thunder Saint Body, Azure Wood Saint Body, and Taiyin Saint Body. I will take them; they will be of great use. If you wish to save them, come to the Chaotic Origin Realm." Qin Yuan rose from the ruins, wiped the blood from his mouth, and looked up at the crack. Apart from the seven-colored light, nothing else could be seen within. "Where is the Chaotic Origin Realm?" he asked. The voice replied, "You don't even know the Chaotic Origin Realm? Truly a person from a lowly world. The Dao Ancestor here is merely the beginning." With that, the crack closed. The seven-colored light dissipated, the sky returned to its normal color, and the nine suns rearranged themselves. The ruins of the Guixu Palace remained, as did the blood from Qin Yuan's mouth. The seven women were gone. Qin Yuan stood there, looking at the spot where the seven women had just been. Su Yao's teapot shards were scattered all over the ground, tea seeping into the cracks in the stones. Yan Lingji's red silk hung on a distant tree branch, fluttering in the wind. Mu Hongyi's ancient book lay on the ground, its open pages rustling in the wind. Jian Wushuang's sword was stuck in the stone slab of the plaza, its blade trembling slightly. At the corner where Bingji had stood, the frost on the stone slab had not yet melted. Hongyue's spear was still embedded in the ground, its shaft swaying gently in the wind. The flowers Yueyao had picked were scattered on the stone path in the garden, blown up and falling again by the wind. Qin Yuan walked over, picked up the ancient book, closed it, and put it in his bosom. He drew Jian Wushuang's sword and hung it at his waist. He drew Hongyue's spear and stood by the palace gate. He put away Yan Lingji's red silk and folded it neatly. He picked up the shards of Su Yao's teapot one by one and wrapped them in cloth. At the corner where Bingji had stood, the frost had melted, leaving a puddle of water. He picked up the most intact flower from Yueyao's collection and tucked it between the pages of his book. He entered the hall and began packing. The Old Man of Ten Thousand Paths stood at the hall's entrance, his white hair fluttering in the wind, hesitant to speak. Qin Yuan didn't look at him. "They've been captured. I'm going to find them," the Old Man of Ten Thousand Paths said. "The myriad realms need you." Qin Yuan replied, "Without them, the myriad realms mean nothing to me." The Old Man of Ten Thousand Paths remained silent for a long time before stepping aside to let him pass.