Xie Zhaolin slowly opened her eyes. A sharp light flashed across them and vanished as she felt the surging yet perfectly controlled power within her body. Her heart finally settled.
But that calm didn't last long.
She knew all too well that the outside world must've already descended into chaos.
The nine layers of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, especially that seventh bolt of black lightning, were enough to shake the entire Cultivation Realm. Right now, countless eyes were fixed on this region, desperately searching for any trace of the mysterious tribulation-crosser.
Even though her realm had stabilized at the peak of early Golden Core and her strength far exceeded those of the same rank...
"If I leave now…" Xie Zhaolin frowned, quickly running through countless calculations in her mind.
"To completely leave this mess behind, the nearest and safest route must go through several major hubs like Tianxing City.
Tianxing City…" Her gaze darkened slightly.
It was the main transit hub connecting the Endless Beast Plains and the human territories, a place where all kinds of people gathered—cultivators, spies, and power-hungry rogues alike.
By now, news about the mysterious tribulation-crosser must've spread like wildfire. Tianxing City would definitely be under heavy surveillance. The great sects and noble families would've already laid their nets there, inspecting every suspicious early Golden Core cultivator.
"The peak of early Golden Core is still only early-stage," Xie Zhaolin thought quietly, her expression calm yet sharp.
"The searchers, especially those from major sects and clans, will use every means to check recent breakthroughs to the early Golden Core stage. I might be able to fool ordinary scans, but there's no guarantee I won't encounter someone with special secret arts or powerful treasures."
The risk was still there.
And once she was marked in Tianxing City, escape would become almost impossible.
By then, she'd be surrounded on all sides.
In contrast…
Her eyes drifted toward the vast wilderness beyond the cave.
"Staying deep in the Beast Plains might be dangerous too, filled with powerful beasts, but at least the initiative stays in my hands."
The threat of beasts was straightforward. She could fight or outsmart them. But people—people schemed in shadows where no one could see. mNot to mention, the Endless Beast Plains stretched endlessly, with complex terrain perfect for hiding and maneuvering.
Most importantly—
"If I can break through to mid-stage Golden Core here…" Her heartbeat quickened.
Mid-stage Golden Core!
Compared to early-stage, it wasn't just a leap in strength, but a complete shift in status and power. If she succeeded, not only would her strength soar, but she'd also shed every trace of suspicion.
Even if someone guessed that the tribulation-crosser hadn't died, no one would ever believe someone could advance from fresh Golden Core to mid-stage so quickly.
Their search would focus on Foundation peak or early Golden Core cultivators. In their eyes, she—an established mid-stage cultivator—would have nothing to do with that mysterious tribulation.
She'd vanish from every wanted list, and her safety would skyrocket. That would be the perfect disguise and the surest way to survive. Then, when the time came, she could change her identity again and leave with ease.
The temptation was too great to ignore.
But…
She could clearly feel that the barrier toward mid-stage Golden Core had loosened, yet it still remained firm. Just meditating and cultivating step by step wouldn't be enough. It would take time—and time was exactly what she didn't have.
She had to break through fast.
But before that, there was something far more critical she needed to confirm.
Xie Zhaolin's divine sense sank into her jade slip. "You You."
"Master!" You You immediately emerged from the jade slip, holding the jade box that nurtured the Hun Yu. Her respectful expression carried a hint of nervousness. "What are your orders?"
"How well is the Rebirth Flower's aura being concealed now?" Xie Zhaolin asked directly, her tone serious. "If I go deeper into the Beast Plains and run into a Nascent Soul beast or a plant-type beast with sharp sensitivity to botanical energy, will it detect me?"
This was a matter of life and death.
If her aura couldn't be hidden, she'd rather risk crossing Tianxing City than step into the Beast Plains' core. That wasn't cowardice—it was pure survival instinct. The deeper regions of the Endless Beast Plains hid terrors that even Nascent Soul cultivators avoided.
A divine treasure like the Rebirth Flower was irresistible bait to those beings.
With her current cultivation, even if she threw everything she had, once she was targeted by such a creature, her only option would be to flee for her life. The risk was too great to leave untested.
You You's face turned solemn at her words. She carefully examined the aura around Xie Zhaolin, then looked at the tiny green sprout inside the jade box before finally speaking with certainty.
"Master, please rest assured! After being tempered by the tribulation, especially that final black thunder infused with annihilation intent, the Rebirth Flower's aura within you has been heavily suppressed and purified. It's now almost completely merged with the Annihilation Yinsha Core, becoming extremely subtle!
Also…" She pointed at the jade box. "The Condensed Soul-Nurturing Flower essence this Hun Yu offered before has a natural effect of soothing and disguising plant auras. It's like adding another layer of natural camouflage over the concealment.
In short, the Rebirth Flower's aura has been perfectly hidden! Even ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators won't notice unless they're deliberately probing with focused effort."
As if to prove You You's words, Hun Yu in the box wiggled its leaves in excitement, sending out a wave of flattery and assurance through its spiritual sense.
You You thought for a moment, then added, "If you're still worried, Master, you can keep using the Breath Concealing Wood Transformation Art. It's especially good at mimicking plant vitality and suppressing one's presence. Combined with your current condition, it'll guarantee absolute safety!"
Xie Zhaolin quietly felt her own state, then activated the Breath Concealing Wood Transformation Art again. Sure enough, her aura became even fainter, blending almost perfectly with the surrounding vegetation.
Her heart settled. The biggest hidden danger had finally been handled.
"Good." She nodded slightly, her gaze softening as she looked at the jade box. "Seems keeping you around wasn't a waste after all."
The little green sprout swayed happily, sending out ripples of delight and gratitude.
Xie Zhaolin's eyes flickered slightly.
"You contributed your essence this time, so take this spiritual energy as your reward. Use it to stabilize your core and recover faster." Her tone was calm but brooked no argument.
The sprout trembled with excitement as it sensed the pure spiritual energy. For a plant-type beast, energy infused with the Rebirth Flower's essence was far more tempting than any promise. It immediately extended a thin tendril, carefully brushing against her fingertip to absorb the energy.
"You You, watch it closely. We're heading out."
"Yes, Master!" You You quickly replied, carefully holding the jade box.
With the biggest danger resolved, the last trace of hesitation vanished from Xie Zhaolin's eyes.
"Let's go."
She didn't waste another moment and shot out of the cave, fully activating the Breath Concealing Wood Transformation Art. In an instant, her aura vanished almost entirely, blending seamlessly with the plants around her.
She picked a direction—the deeper part of the Beast Plains. According to her memories, that area teemed with thick demonic qi and housed several powerful beasts whose strength rivaled mid or even late-stage Golden Core cultivators.
That would be her battleground.
Amid life-and-death combat, she'd find her chance to break through!