382: Chapter 382 The Radiance of Motherhood

On a solitary peak, a figure stood proudly beneath the churning tribulation clouds.

He wore a black cloud-patterned robe, his face majestic as if carved by a blade, and stars seemed to flicker in his eyes as they opened and closed.

Above the Nine Heavens, the tribulation clouds churned like an overturned sea of ink, and the final purple heavenly lightning was frantically coalescing.

The lightning was as thick as a Dragon, winding for a thousand miles, and every flash made the world lose its color.

Ji Xuanming had dealt with the earlier Lightning Tribulations quite calmly.

He had even easily blocked the first few bolts with just his protective spiritual light, drawing bursts of exclamation from the Disciples watching from afar.

“Supreme Elder Mingxuan truly has profound cultivation!”

Although he struggled slightly in the middle, he neutralized it by merely manifesting a High Grade Magic Treasure.

Ji Wujiu stroked his beard and smiled, exchanging pleasant looks with the several Elders beside him.

However, toward the end, the situation took a sudden turn—

When a bolt of lightning crashed down, the Lifebound Treasure he had used for many years actually shattered on the spot.

Fragments of the Magic Treasure flew in all directions, causing Ji Xuanming's expression to instantly turn extremely grim.

The low-level Disciples watching let out a wave of suppressed gasps.

When another Lightning Tribulation descended, he had to use three defensive Talisman treasures in a row and set up seven layers of spiritual energy shields around him just to barely withstand it.

Once the lightning dissipated, everyone saw from afar that the always majestic and composed Grand Elder now had disheveled hair and blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.

“This Lightning Tribulation... how can it be so fierce?” a young Disciple whispered.

A flash of worry crossed Ji Wujiu's cloudy old eyes, but he immediately spoke in a deep voice that echoed everywhere:

“What a powerful Lightning Tribulation! This might... is clearly far beyond an ordinary Mahayana tribulation!”

The sinister Elder Wan beside him understood the hint and quickly chimed in loudly:

“Correct! Ancient records state that the laws of the Heavenly Dao changed after the ancient era, making the strength of Lightning Tribulations vary. What Supreme Elder Mingxuan encountered is clearly the Supreme Lightning Tribulation that only ancient powerhouses had to undergo!”

“Precisely!”

Another Ji Faction Elder also spoke up loudly,

“If it were an ordinary Mahayana Lightning Tribulation, the Grand Elder could have broken it with a wave of his hand! The fact that this tribulation is so strong proves that the Grand Elder's Aptitude is heavenly, drawing the ultimate test of the Heavenly Dao!”

Hearing this, the surrounding Disciples showed expressions of realization, and their gazes toward the figure on the solitary peak became even more reverent.

Only Chi Wanhe curled her lips; what Supreme Lightning Tribulation? It wasn't even as good as the Ninety-Nine Small Heavenly Tribulation that Clan Chief Bai Ling had undergone!

Lightning Tribulations fell one after another, and now the final bolt was brewing within the clouds.

The lightning grew brighter and thicker, turning a purple so deep it was almost black!

Roars echoed from the tribulation clouds, like the bellows of an ancient God of Thunder.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within a thousand miles frantically converged here, only to be torn apart and crushed by the terrifying lightning pressure.

Ji Xuanming looked up at the sky, his face as pale as paper.

He bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, his hands quickly forming seals—

A simple bronze mirror flew out from between his brows; it was his long-treasured life-saving treasure, the "Profound Light Mirror";

Three ancient Talismans glowing with golden light were manifested simultaneously, turning into three layers of golden light shields to protect his body;

The jade belt at his waist shattered, and twelve protective jade pendants exploded together, turning into twelve streaks of light that merged into his body;

Finally, a small Substitute Puppet slid from his sleeve, which he gripped tightly in his hand.

The lightning descended!

In that instant, only a blinding purplish-white remained between heaven and earth.

The Profound Light Mirror lasted only three breaths before it was covered in cracks and exploded; the three layers of golden light shields were torn through like paper; the twelve streaks of protective light were annihilated one after another.

Ji Xuanming was sent flying, his body charred black and spraying a mist of blood. He used his last ounce of strength to crush the Substitute Puppet—

The puppet turned into a streak of profound light, blocking the final wisp of lightning power for him.

The lightning dissipated.

A deathly silence filled the world.

Everyone held their breath, looking toward the solitary peak that had been nearly leveled. Among the charred rubble, a figure knelt on one knee; his robes were burnt to cinders, his hair was disheveled, and his aura was withered to the extreme.

Only his aura, which was now frantically skyrocketing, proved—

He had succeeded.

A moment later, cheers like a mountain tsunami erupted!

“Congratulations, Supreme Mingxuan!”

“Congratulations, Supreme, on achieving Mahayana and shaking the eight directions!”

Wild joy erupted in Ji Wujiu's cloudy old eyes, and he shouted excitedly: “Supreme Mingxuan! His Divine Might covers the world!”

Elder Wan beside him was even “moved to tears,” his voice trembling:

“Two Supremes in one Sect! Why should our White Rock Holy Land fear the Erosion Beast Tide of the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest!”

Cheers like a mountain tsunami erupted throughout the Holy Land, with cries of “Congratulations, Supreme Mingxuan” rising and falling, shaking the mountains.

Shi Qingxuan stood in the distance, a slight smile forced onto her face, but her eyes were cold.

Chi Wanhe and Lin Xiwei stood side by side, quietly watching this shocking scene. Chi Wanhe tilted her head slightly and whispered:

“Fifth Junior Sister, look at the power of this Mahayana Lightning Tribulation. How does it compare to the Void Tempering tribulation we underwent together last time?”

Lin Xiwei's gaze was as calm as water as she said indifferently, “Back then, several of us underwent it together, and the Heavenly Tribulations stacked, more than doubling the power. Although the tribulation clouds before us are grand and the lightning is brilliant, in terms of danger and the true intent of destruction, it falls far short of what you and I experienced that day.”

Chi Wanhe nodded gently: “Mm, I feel the same way.”

Although their voices were soft, how could they escape the ears of the high-cultivation Elders nearby?

Elder Wan immediately let out a piercing sneer,

“Heh! You green youngsters certainly talk big! The power of that Lightning Tribulation just now far exceeded an ordinary Mahayana tribulation; it was clearly the ultimate test of the Heavenly Dao! You Void Tempering juniors dare to discuss it so recklessly?”

Elder Liu, who had been shut down by Shi Qingxuan earlier, sneered:

“Exactly! Do you think that just by joining forces, you can rival a true Mahayana Supreme?”

Hearing this, Chi Wanhe only gave them a lazy glance, the corners of her lips curling into a half-smile:

“Oh? And why not?”

“Hmph! Nonsense and drivel!” Elder Wan and the others were full of disdain, not believing her at all.

Even Shi Qingxuan frowned slightly, feeling that the Disciples of Supreme Moonshadow seemed a bit too arrogant.

Beside her, Shen Yunjie's brows furrowed slightly, while Cen Xi's eyes widened in surprise as she muttered, “They actually dare to say that?” Jiang Shiyu's cold eyes flickered, her belief or disbelief unclear.

Ji Xuanming stood high in the air, his robes charred and his aura unstable. He looked down at the crowd in front of the main hall, taking in the reverence, fervor, indifference, and suspicion on their faces—

Shi Qingxuan was cold and distant, the Disciples of the Moon Shadow Holy Land were neither humble nor arrogant, and the members of the Ji Faction were all smiles...

And even more people were secretly sizing up his current appearance.

He nodded slightly as a response to the congratulations from all sides, and then his figure vanished like a bubble.

The surrounding Elders and Disciples bowed in salute, though the sounds of congratulations did not stop.

“Respectfully seeing off Supreme Mingxuan!”

“Congratulations, Supreme, on achieving Mahayana and shaking the eight directions!”

Ji Wujiu and the other Elders of the Ji Faction were all smiles, surrounding the empty space in the sky—

“The Supreme's Divine Might is peerless; it truly shakes the heavens and earth!”

“Now that Supreme Mingxuan has attained the Dao, our White Rock Holy Land will rule over the Shi Continent...”

Ji Wujiu glared at Elder Liu. “I told you to flatter him, but is this how you do it?”

“Peerless Divine Might” was fine; it was a vague concept that everyone shouted. But to say “rule over the Shi Continent” was such a broad claim—if a serious Supreme were to attack...

Elder Liu shut his mouth resentfully; this time, he was being silenced by one of his own.

The Elders and Disciples gradually dispersed, but the excited discussions did not stop.

The Outer Sect area of the White Rock Holy Land.

Several Outer Sect Disciples gathered together, incredibly excited.

“Supreme Mingxuan! Our White Rock Holy Land has another Mahayana Supreme!”

A round-faced Disciple beside him looked proud to be part of it,

“That's right! Our White Rock Holy Land now has two Supremes! Supreme Mingxuan plus Lady Shi Ji—two! Mahayana! Supremes!”

“Right, right, right!”

The few of them smiled at each other, their faces filled with the pride of being Disciples of the White Rock Holy Land.

“But... I've been in the Sect for so long and yet I've never seen Lady Shi Ji! She is the true stabilizing force of our Holy Land!”

“Lady Shi Ji? She almost never shows her face; few people even know what she looks like...”

The round-faced Disciple lowered his voice mysteriously: “I heard that Lady Shi Ji is the Incarnation of ‘Maternal Radiance’; she must be exceptionally gentle and kind!”

Not far away, Shui Liuli listened with utter boredom.

She wasn't very interested in the recent tribulation or the Supreme, but the term “Maternal Radiance” triggered a memory.

She remembered that back in the Sect, she had accidentally overheard several Senior Sisters arguing about what “Maternal Radiance” should look like.

A plump Senior Sister puffed out her chest and said:

“Maternal Radiance? Naturally, it's being broad-chested like me, warm and approachable!”

A flat-chested Senior Sister beside her immediately sneered in rebuttal:

“Give it a rest! What does Maternal Radiance have to do with chest size? I think it should be someone petite and dainty, no more than 1.2 meters tall, and even if she's flat-chested, her eyes are full of motherly love!”

“Pah! 1.2 meters is called a little loli!”

“But the Sect Master mentioned it; he said that's called a ‘Loli Mama’!”

...

Shui Liuli tilted her head, looking into the depths of the White Rock Holy Land, her heart filled with curiosity.

Which kind of “Maternal Radiance” would this Lady Shi Ji be?

Shi Qingxuan suppressed the turmoil in her heart and turned to instruct Cen Xi and Shen Yunjie: “Yunjie, Cen Xi, take our Fellow Daoists from the Moon Shadow Holy Land to Canglan Peak to rest. Make sure to arrange everything properly; do not be negligent.”

Cen Xi hid her previous expression and put on a perfectly warm smile as she approached Chi Wanhe.

“Fellow Daoist Chi, and Fellow Daoists of the Moon Shadow Holy Land, please follow me. The scenery of Canglan Peak is excellent, especially the sunrise over the sea of clouds; it certainly won't disappoint you.”

Chi Wanhe nodded and followed her as they turned to leave.

Before leaving, she glanced back.

She saw that the always majestic and upright White Rock Sect Master now had a trace of fatigue on her face, and... worry?

Once the figures from the Moon Shadow Holy Land vanished, Shi Qingxuan took a deep breath. Her body turned into a streak of light, and she sped directly toward the deepest part of the Holy Land, toward Starfall Cold Jade Peak, which was shrouded in cold mist year-round.