Volume 8, Chapter 514 – Immortal Stele Suppresses Immortal Stele (Part 3)

The Grand Elder of the Huarong Sect did not sit idly by. It seemed she had taken further action, as the Immortal Stele suddenly trembled violently, releasing an overwhelmingly powerful wave of divine sense. The surrounding space distorted and bulged upward, forming a massive bubble-like barrier that enveloped an area of dozens of miles beneath it.

BOOM!

The “Milky Way” cascaded down with the force of a collapsing sky, slamming violently against the “bubble”. Terrifying spatial fluctuations rippled outward, dispersing the clouds for dozens of miles and shaking the earth violently. Gigantic fissures crisscrossed the ground, and many buildings within the Huarong Sect collapsed. Cries and screams erupted everywhere.

CRACK! CRACK!

As the Milky Way continued its assault, cracks began to spread across the celestial “bubble”.

The Grand Elder of the Huarong Sect darted around the Immortal Stele, releasing layer after layer of divine sense fluctuations to reinforce the barrier above.

As the final segment of the Milky Way descended, the “bubble” shattered completely, and both forces dissipated into the air.

“We’re saved! We’re saved!”

The entire Huarong Sect erupted in celebration, with disciples weeping tears of joy.

CRACK!

Yet, at that very moment, the massive Immortal Stele atop Tiandu Peak underwent a sudden change. A portion of its summit exploded without warning, the thunderous sound reverberating deep into the soul.

“The Immortal Stele exploded! What’s going on?”

Qi Huang hurriedly sent a mental message to her main body.

“I don’t know, but it’s definitely not good,” Cheng Hongling replied grimly.

“What’s happening with our Immortal Stele? We need to check immediately!”

Shi Yuqi, panicked and disoriented, grabbed her disciple and flew back toward the Huarong Sect.

When master and disciple arrived at the sect’s entrance, they found the Lü family still lingering.

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“I warned you, those who touch what’s mine will pay tenfold, a hundredfold.”

Cao Yang looked down at the devastated Huarong Sect with a smug grin.

“Is this what you wanted to see?”

Hua Ruyi turned and coldly questioned Hua Yu beside her.

Hua Yu’s face was deathly pale, making the bright red slap mark on her cheek even more pronounced.

“Sect Master Hua, stop shifting blame. Before the end of the month, you must send Hua Yu to the Cao family in a proper bridal procession. Otherwise, the next time Immortal Might is unleashed, your Huarong Sect won’t be so lucky.”

With that warning, Cao Yang turned and left with his entourage.

“Come with me!”

Hua Ruyi commanded Hua Yu.

Hua Yu reluctantly tore her gaze away from Cao Yang and followed her master with visible reluctance.

“Let’s go check on the Immortal Stele too!”

Shi Yuqi motioned to Cheng Hongling.

But just then, Cao Yang suddenly turned his gaze toward them, his eyes icy.

“Daring to interfere in my affairs? I’ll remember you two.”

“Fine. Whatever you want, I’ll face it head-on.”

Shi Yuqi responded fearlessly before pulling Cheng Hongling toward Tiandu Peak.

Meanwhile, Qi Huang observed the situation within the Huarong Sect through the “window of the heart”. The collision of the two Immortal Steles had caused many buildings to collapse. The only silver lining was that this was an immortal sect, most of the people here were cultivators, so casualties were minimal, though the economic losses were unavoidable.

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Shi Yuqi and Cheng Hongling soon arrived at the summit of Tiandu Peak. The plaza surrounding the Immortal Stele was already packed with people inspecting the damage. Hua Ruyi and her disciple had arrived just ahead of them.

Qi Huang, who had never seen an Immortal Stele before, eagerly emerged from her sea of consciousness to examine it.

Due to the damage, the Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele now stood only about twenty zhang tall ¹ ~60 meters/197 feet , fifteen to sixteen zhang wide ² 45-48 meters/147-157 feet , and over two zhang thick ³ 6 meters/20 feet . Though massive, it had been passed down for over ten thousand years, and its surface was densely inscribed with the names of the most important figures in the sect’s history. Ordinary elders and disciples were not qualified to have their names recorded here.

Qi Huang scanned it from top to bottom, her gaze inevitably drawn to the largest characters at the center:

“Monument to the Ancestral Master of the Huarong Sect, Immortal Hua Yan.”

This was the inscription, revealing that the stele’s owner was named Hua Yan. Perhaps because she was a woman, the one who erected the stele had thoughtfully omitted the word “Old” before “Immortal”.

Aside from the stele itself, the most eye-catching sight was the white-robed figure seated at its base. This was the Huarong Sect’s Grand Elder, Hua Man, the most powerful cultivator in the sect.

Like most Heavenly Tribulation Realm experts, Hua Man had lived for five or six hundred years. However, due to meticulous self-care, the wrinkles on her face were barely noticeable. She appeared to be a middle-aged beauty in her forties or fifties, making her snow-white hair seem strikingly out of place. This stark contrast lent her an ethereal, transcendent aura.

“Master, how are you?”

Hua Ruyi stepped forward anxiously.

“I’m fine. Just lost too much blood. I’ll recover soon.”

Hua Man forced her eyes open. A gruesome wound marred her right wrist, and her white robes were stained with blood. This was the price she had paid for activating the Immortal Stele’s power.

“And the Immortal Stele?”

Hua Ruyi cautiously pressed.

“See for yourself. Resisting the Cao family’s Immortal Might destroyed one-tenth of it. Its strength has dropped from Master-grade Six Tribulations to Master-grade Four Tribulations.”

Hua Man shook her head helplessly.

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“What?!”

Gasps of shock erupted from the surrounding disciples.

“How could this happen?!”

Qi Huang turned to her main body in agitation.

Cheng Hongling’s delicate lips parted slightly, her beautiful face filled with disbelief. If the Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele had fallen to Master-grade Four Tribulations, how could they possibly counter the Lü family’s stele?

“Be grateful. The Cao family clearly only wanted to teach us a small lesson, they didn’t go all out. Otherwise, forget Master-grade Four Tribulations, the stele might not have survived at all.”

Hua Man let out a self-deprecating laugh.

The crowd silently nodded, the gloom on their faces gradually lifting. As long as the Immortal Stele remained, the foundation of the Huarong Sect would stand firm.

“No wonder the Immortal Might felt underwhelming, the Cao family wasn’t serious.”

Qi Huang finally understood. How laughable that she had dared to look down on Immortal Might, she had truly been courting death. Her original plan would have to proceed as intended.

“Master, can the stele be repaired?”

Hua Ruyi ventured to ask.

“The physical damage can be mended, but the loss in Immortal Might is irreversible. It will forever remain at Master-grade Four Tribulations.”

Hua Man sighed.

Hearing this, Hua Yu’s face paled further, guilt and unease written all over her.

“That damned Cao Yang.”

Qi Huang couldn’t help but curse. With the Huarong Sect’s stele now weaker than the Lü family’s by one tribulation, her entire plan might collapse.

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“Exactly! That man is utterly unreasonable. First, he demands our Holy Maiden in marriage, then he bullies us like this. As if we’re nothing in his eyes!”

Shi Yuqi agreed, assuming Qi Huang was simply furious on behalf of the sect.

Qi Huang had no energy to explain. She sent a mental message to her main body:

“What do we do now? The Huarong Sect’s stele is weaker than the Lü family’s by one tribulation!”

“Don’t panic yet. Let’s find an opportunity to ask Master. A difference of one tribulation might still leave room for recovery.”

Cheng Hongling pondered briefly before responding.

Hearing this, Qi Huang clung to a sliver of hope and forced herself to calm down.

“Everyone, disperse. The clash of the steles has caused significant damage, and there’s still a mess to clean up.”

Hua Man waved her hand, dismissing the crowd.

The disciples of the Huarong Sect dared not disobey and quickly scattered in groups. Shi Yuqi also led Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang back to Biyu Peak.

“Master, I have a question I’d like to ask.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Qi Huang spoke up.

“What is it?”

Shi Yuqi looked at her curiously.

“Now that the Huarong Sect’s Immortal Stele is damaged… if, hypothetically, if a Master-grade Five Tribulation stele were to suppress ours in the future, what would happen?”

Qi Huang probed carefully.