If not for her duty to protect the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, she would have ascended more than twenty years ago.

For all these years, she lived in seclusion on the back mountain, never once stepping outside the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

Her solitary life had never chilled her heart, but the reactions of the crowd today left her utterly dismayed.

’Even if I have no great achievements to my name, surely my hard work counts for something?’

But the reality was that not a single person was happy for her.

Instead, all she heard were accusations.

Liu Lan Yi’s expression grew somber, and she couldn’t help but glance at Song Wanning.

At that moment, she finally understood what Song Wanning had meant: ’The Heavenly Inquiry Sect isn’t worth it...’

’So be it.’

Her connection to the Heavenly Inquiry Sect had run its course. It was better to sever these mortal ties and ascend without any lingering attachments.

Liu Lan Yi straightened her collar, then raised her eyes to sweep her gaze across the crowd. Unhurried, she spoke, "I have watched over the Heavenly Inquiry Sect for decades without a moment of laxity, painstakingly suppressing my cultivation."

"However, my cultivation can no longer be suppressed. I have no other choice but to follow the natural course, face the Heavenly Tribulation, and ascend!"

"From now on, the Sect will be protected by my two martial brothers and all of you, my martial nephews and nieces. I can leave with my mind at ease..."

"I trust that in your hands, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect will surely rise to new heights."

She wore a smile, rattling off the pleasantries with ease, and the faces of the crowd shifted through various shades of expression.

Their Martial Aunt had made it very clear. Her cultivation could no longer be suppressed, and the Heavenly Tribulation was imminent. Could they possibly stop it?

Impossible!

The situation was now set in stone. Ascension was Liu Lan Yi’s only path. If she were forced to remain in the Lower World, she would suffer a backlash instead...

Yet it was truly difficult for anyone to muster a smile. Only the Second Elder beamed as she stepped forward to offer her congratulations. "Congratulations, Martial Aunt! This disciple wishes you success in passing the Heavenly Tribulation and ascending in broad daylight!"

’The leadership of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect has changed, somewhere along the way.’

’They’ve become opportunistic, obsessed with their own interests, with not a shred of human decency left.’

’As one of them, I’m sometimes forced into situations against my will. Now, seeing Liu Lan Yi break free from her shackles, I am genuinely happy for her.’

The Second Elder’s words slightly lifted Liu Lan Yi’s spirits. It seemed not everyone was an ungrateful wolf.

She smiled and nodded at her. "I’ll take you up on those auspicious words."

Then, she patted Song Wanning’s hand. "Take care! We will wait for you in the Upper Realm!"

’Any more words are meaningless now. I just hope Wan Ning can protect herself.’

"Martial Aunt, you may go without worry."

Song Wanning gave Liu Lan Yi a tight hug, feeling not sorrow but resolve.

She firmly believed that they would be reunited soon enough.

"Mm."

With a flash, Liu Lan Yi’s figure shot into the sky, speeding toward the depths of the back mountain to avoid involving the Sect’s disciples.

The Heavenly Thunder instantly locked onto her, rumbling as it descended upon her.

Song Wanning and the others watched from a distance.

Regardless of what had happened before, everyone now hoped Liu Lan Yi would successfully pass her tribulation.

The Sect’s disciples, in particular, had eyes shining with reverence and longing, hoping that one day they too could be like their Ancestor, facing a tribulation and ascending.

"RUMBLE—"

"BOOM—!"

The bolts of the Heavenly Tribulation fell one after another, yet Liu Lan Yi remained composed, not a hint of panic on her face.

It turned out that the stone was a Void Boundary Stone, an artifact capable of splitting the heavens and earth to create a new world.

By the time she realized what it was, it was too late. She was inextricably bound to the Void Boundary Stone; unless her soul was shattered and her Dao perished, it could not be removed.

This Boundary Stone was also incredibly powerful. At this moment, it directly manifested a "Domain" that shielded her completely. Not even the Heavenly Thunder could shake it.

And just like that, she easily passed what was said to be the most dangerous of tribulations—the ascension Heavenly Tribulation.

The Heavenly Tribulation dispersed, and a brilliant light showered down.

The ascension passage opened, and a dazzling, warm beam of light fell upon Liu Lan Yi.

She looked down upon the entire Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

’My duty is done. It is time to leave.’

Finally, she gave Song Wanning one last, distant look before turning and stepping into the passage without hesitation.

In a single breath, she was gone.

The brilliant light faded, leaving behind only the ravaged landscape of the back mountain.

The disciples were captivated, unable to tear their gazes away for a long time, their hearts filled with yearning for the new world beyond the sky.

The Sect Master watched the ceremony with a complicated expression, his heart a mixture of envy and worry.

He was envious that Liu Lan Yi could ascend, and worried for the future of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

Without a Late-stage Divinity Transformation cultivator presiding over the Sect, there was no guarantee that other powers, upon learning the news, wouldn’t stir up trouble in the shadows and try to carve up the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s resources.

In the Cultivation World, the weak were prey to the strong; might made right. Coupled with limited resources, the various sects and families were all locked in a state of mutual constraint and secret contention.

’Right now, I need to find a way to keep this quiet and send a message to the other two Divinity Transformation Ancestors, telling them to return to the Sect at once.’

The Sect Master’s greatest hope at this moment was that one of the two Divinity Transformation Uncles would advance to the late stage...

With a heavy heart, the Sect Master departed, his brow furrowed.

The other elders sighed and also left with mixed feelings.

The Second Elder lingered behind, her gaze fixed on Song Wanning. Her intuition told her that this matter was definitely related to Song Wanning.

Recently, Song Wanning’s own cultivation had advanced at a shocking pace, and now she had appeared by Liu Lan Yi’s side. It was hard not to have suspicions.

Song Wanning sensed the stare and turned her head.

’This isn’t the first time the Second Elder has spoken up for us,’ Song Wanning thought, quite surprised.

Ever since they had joined the Sect, neither of them had been willing to submit to the other, always wanting to prove who was superior.

They fought from the Inner Sect tournament to the Heavenly Pride Battle Platform, and from the Golden Core Competition to the Battle of the Gods, with wins and losses on both sides.

Even now, it was difficult for the two of them to exchange a single pleasant word.

The Second Elder seemed to notice Song Wanning’s confusion. She clasped her hands behind her back and snorted coldly.

"Don’t get the wrong idea. I can’t stand you!"

’Hmph! I can’t stand Song Wanning!’

Hearing this, Song Wanning pursed her lips and gave her a disdainful look from head to toe. "And you think you’re so likable?"

’When it comes to popularity in the Sect, aren’t we just two peas in a pod?’

"Get lost—!"

The Second Elder’s composure shattered instantly. She stormed off in a huff.

Song Wanning watched her go, a smile dancing in her eyes. She then turned, entered the courtyard, and uprooted the house where her Martial Aunt had lived, storing it in her Storage Ring.

Even though her Martial Aunt no longer lived there, she was unwilling to let anyone else defile it or taint this sacred ground.

*

News of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s presiding Ancestor’s ascension spread in less than half a day. The Sect Master couldn’t have hushed it up even if he’d tried.

The event was so sudden that neither the Heavenly Inquiry Sect nor the other powers had anticipated it.

"Haha—so does that mean the Heavenly Inquiry Sect is now a dragon without a head?"

"We don’t know the status of those two Divinity Transformation Venerables. Let’s lay low for now and wait and see..."

The various powers were all spying from the shadows, waiting.

Now that the Heavenly Inquiry Sect was down one Divinity Transformation cultivator, if the other two had not reached the Late-stage Divinity Transformation, then the Heavenly Inquiry Sect would be forced to surrender a portion of its resources.

They would be removed from the ranks of the Seven Great Sects and Four Clans, relegated to a mid-tier sect.

Because of this, a sense of panic spread throughout the Heavenly Inquiry Sect. Everyone was waiting for the two Divinity Transformation cultivators to return successfully!

*

"Are you certain of what you just said?"

An Ze shot up from his seat, his voice filled with emotion, and walked toward the neighboring table.

He had been sitting in the inn, drinking his sorrows away, when he suddenly overheard the table next to him mention "Hundred Ghost Grass."