Chapter 105: Furious

Shangguan Huanling, however, didn’t see this as any kind of serious test for Master Danqing.

She repeated it again in her heart:

It’s just an innate spirit treasure.

In her past life, she wouldn’t even glance at something like this if it were tossed in front of her.

She knew that the Mountain River Pagoda was the most important treasure of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect. Even Lu Ye had once seen it and remarked, “Such a fine item... it’d be a shame to destroy it. Best to leave it.”

Master Danqing’s eyes were bloodshot as he finally brought forth the Mountain River Pagoda.

Its design was exquisite beyond compare—flying eaves and curving ridges, brilliant cinnabar and jade, ornate paintings shining with elegance, all coming together in a masterpiece of Eastern artistry.

But in Shangguan Huanling’s eyes, there was no such thing as beauty.

The moment she got her hands on the Mountain River Pagoda, she immediately began refining it.

The treasure dimmed at lightning speed.

Shangguan Huanling’s expression changed.

“Why does this treasure have so little origin essence?!”

Under the operation of the Origin-Swallowing Heaven Scripture, the Mountain River Pagoda rapidly withered, decayed, and crumbled into dust.

Shangguan Huanling’s aura rose—slightly.

She had not reached perfection.

She had not reached... completion...

Panic gripped her instantly.

“Quick! Is there any treasure left?! I’m just one step away from breaking through! Isn’t the Mountain River Pagoda your sect’s greatest treasure? Why is it so useless?!” she shouted frantically.

Master Danqing looked at the ashes of the pagoda—then up at Shangguan Huanling’s furious face.

A deranged smile crept across his expression.

“Gone... it’s all gone... hahahaha... all of it is gone...”

He had become the sinner of the Mountain River Pagoda Sect.

Every spirit treasure, including the sect’s symbol itself, had been destroyed by his own hands.

More treasures?

Hahahaha... More treasures?

Even the Mountain River Pagoda—the spiritual pillar of his sect—had been given to her, and now she still dared to ask him if there was anything else?

Shangguan Hongtian was nearly about to collapse, almost passing out from sheer fury.

“I told you! Stop compressing your cultivation! I told you to stop, and you still did it!” he roared.

Shangguan Huanling, equally enraged, snapped back:

“And I told you! Heavenly tribulation isn’t some joke! I have to be in peak condition!”

BOOM!

The entire imperial palace trembled violently.

A massive Buddha palm stretched across the heavens, slamming down upon the formation with earth-shattering force, drawing forth the wailing cries of the weakening barrier.

A divine spear tore through the sky, piercing the great formation. Cracks instantly spread across it.

“Hurry! Where are the treasures?! There’s no time left! One more innate spirit treasure and it will all be over!” Shangguan Huanling cried out sharply, panic lacing her voice.

Master Danqing stared at her with bloodshot eyes.

“I ask you—if there are no more treasures, can you still break through?”

Shangguan Huanling was taken aback by those crimson eyes—then grew indignant. Who does he think he is—Lu Ye?!

“If not treasures, then anything else will do! I’m only one step away from Tribulation Crossing!”

“Hahahahahaha—”

Master Danqing burst into maniacal laughter.

His white hair flew wildly.

The Mountain River Pagoda—gone.

The Purple Qi Heavenly Fire Cauldron—gone.

The Liuli Xuanhuang Sword—gone.

His beloved Obedient Heaven Jade Brush, his Pixiu Inkstone—all gone.

The entire Mountain River Pagoda Sect had offered everything to Shangguan Huanling.

Everything.

He had even gone and collected spirit treasures from every other elder in the sect and delivered them to her.

“I ask you again—can you break through?” Master Danqing repeated, his voice shaking.

Shangguan Huanling was utterly annoyed. She had already explained so clearly—

“No, no, no! I can’t!” she shouted, exasperated.

And that—was the last straw.

Master Danqing detonated.

“Then go to hell!!”

A burst of golden flame erupted from his palm, burning with the full might of his Dao. In a frenzy of rage and despair, he unleashed a devastating strike—

Heavenly Fire Skyburst Palm!

“Daoist Danqing!!”

Shangguan Huanling’s eyes went wide in shock—but her reflexes were sharp. She instantly lashed out with a fist—

Heavenly Venerable Fist!

A strange aura flared into the air.

The true essence around Shangguan Huanling surged toward her fist, clashing violently with Master Danqing’s Heavenly Fire Skyburst Palm.

BOOM!

Master Danqing didn’t budge an inch.

Shangguan Huanling was blasted backward, unable to stop herself from retreating.

“Hahahaha!”

Master Danqing let out a slightly deranged, manic laugh.

“This strength—this strength is supposed to belong to a reincarnated Great Emperor? This strength is supposed to save us from destruction?”

Shangguan Hongtian was stunned as well.

He stared at Shangguan Huanling in disbelief.

“Why... why are you so weak?”

Well, maybe not weak. Shangguan Huanling’s strength in the Path Integration realm was still quite decent. But it was nowhere near what they had expected.

In their minds, someone wielding such a domineering cultivation method—someone suspected of being a reincarnated Great Emperor—should be able to crush opponents across realms with ease. Passing heavenly tribulation should’ve been like reaching into a sack for candy.

But now she couldn’t even beat Master Danqing?

In that moment, even Shangguan Huanling herself was dazed.

She had just used the Heavenly Venerable Fist—one of the peerless skills of the Nine-Life Heavenly Venerable, Lu Ye.

She was at the very peak of the Path Integration realm, just a step away from perfection. How could she be pushed back after one exchange with someone from the Tribulation Crossing stage?

Back then, Lu Ye had never supported her participating in fierce battles or acting recklessly.

There were only three combat techniques he had taught her:

One was the Demonic Blood Escape Technique.

One was the Silken Heaven Nine Transformations.

And one was the Heavenly Venerable Fist.

Lu Ye had told her—if she ever encountered a strong opponent, she should first unleash the Silken Heaven Nine Transformations and try to scare them off.

If that didn’t work, then she should use the Heavenly Venerable Fist.

If even that didn’t work, then she should use the Demonic Blood Escape and run for her life.

At the time, Shangguan Huanling hadn’t understood. If she was already using the Nine Transformations and the Heavenly Venerable Fist, who could possibly stand against her?

Why would she ever need to run?

“I’LL KILL YOU!”

Master Danqing was completely losing his mind.

He was about to cough blood.

Thousands of years of accumulated treasures from the Mountain River Pagoda Sect—used to raise this useless thing?

The Mountain River Pagoda was gone!!!

That was the symbol of the entire sect!

Even if the Mountain River Pagoda Sect were destroyed, the Pagoda itself would’ve ensured the sect’s name survived—leaving a trace in the world.

But now?

All of it—GONE!

And it was all because of this woman!

Master Danqing erupted with full force. His aura exploded like a volcanic eruption.

Golden fire clouds churned in the sky. The heavens sensed his Tribulation Crossing aura and even began to form a tribulation cloud.

But Master Danqing didn’t care anymore.

He was going to kill.

He was going to kill!

“Nine Heavens Mystic Fire Finger!”

“Father Emperor!!”

Shangguan Huanling turned to Shangguan Hongtian.

Shangguan Hongtian took a deep breath, his voice low and thick with rage he could no longer suppress.

“Supreme Imperial Seal!”

He roared—and swung the Supreme Imperial Seal straight toward Shangguan Huanling.

Yes—he threw it AT her.

He was truly about to explode. How... how did I ever raise such a stupid daughter?!

Who did she take after?!

Shangguan Huanling’s eyes filled with stunned disbelief.

Her own father... wanted to kill her too?

At that moment, the imperial palace’s final protective formation completely shattered.

Shangguan Huanling activated the Silken Heaven Nine Transformations, both hands morphing into fists to intercept the dual attacks.

BOOM!!

She was sent flying once more. Her face turned crimson, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.

“STOP! No more fighting! My Mountain River Pagoda Sect is willing to surrender—so long as you let me kill this wretched bitch, I’ll surrender gladly!” Master Danqing roared.

At this point, even Shangguan Hongtian let out a pained howl.

“I’ll surrender too—just let me kill her!”