In the secret chamber.

As the voice faded.

A figure silently appeared at the entrance.

This was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man, tall and slender.

He looked to be around thirty, carrying an ancient sword on his back.

If there was anything special about him,

it was his shoulder-length silver hair, adding a sense of mystery to him.

Of course,

silver hair could make some look like celestial beings, but if he were in the real world, he'd just be called silver head at best.

Upon seeing this person,

whether it was Yang Bolin kneeling on the ground, or the few Mo clan elders seated on the main seat,

they all stood up almost simultaneously, actively going forward to greet him.

"Zheng Chu!"

"Fifth Brother!"

"Fifth Great-Uncle!"

Different titles came out from various mouths, reflecting the age and seniority among the elders.

The older Yang Wenbing had loving affection in his eyes, the bald elder of the same generation showed concern, while Yang Wanli and Yang Bolin looked at him reverently.

Apart from that, everyone also harbored another emotion in their eyes.

This emotion was filled with intense anticipation and pride, as if they were looking at a savior.

The reason for this emotion was simple.

Because the visitor was Yang Zhengchu, the clan member of the Yang Family most likely to condense a Nascent Soul in centuries.

If the Damo Realm represents the highest secret and future of the land, then Yang Zhengchu could also be described with these two terms regarding his importance.

"Clan Uncle."

Yang Zhengchu first respectfully saluted Yang Wenbing, then greeted the others one by one.

After the formalities, Yang Wenbing exchanged a glance with the others.

He gently pulled Yang Zhengchu aside, speaking with confusion and some sorrow:

"Zheng Chu, you are bewildered.

The Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation is of great importance; how can you entrust such a crucial matter to others?

Do you know that with one mistake, it would lead to eternal damnation, rendering hundreds of years of effort by the Yang Family in vain!

My old bones wouldn't mind dying, but how would you face our ancestors?!"

Yang Wenbing's words were heavy, but they were indeed his most sincere thoughts.

Yang Zhengchu was his most cherished junior, whom he had protected even before the Spiritual Root aptitude test.

In the year Yang Zhengchu was tested for a single Spiritual Root, Ziqiong City faced its greatest beast tide since its establishment.

Yang Wenbing was severely injured in that beast tide, losing the chance to advance to Nascent Soul completely.

Therefore, he devoted all his efforts to Yang Zhengchu, placing all his hopes on him.

He didn't deny that the Taoshu Commerce Association was extraordinary, with unique methods.

The Celestial Moon Mountain Range had always been separated from the central regions, to an extreme; it could even be considered a different civilization.

Therefore, he wasn't surprised by some mysterious methods from the powers behind the mountain range, like the previous Happy Stick, or the Antenna Array.

But assisting with crossing the tribulation surpassed Yang Wenbing's understanding and acceptance.

Moreover, although the Celestial Moon Mountain Range was mysterious, Ziqiong City had been established for over fourteen hundred years and had some contact with such foreign people.

Even, more than seven hundred years ago, the brother of the Yang Family patriarch married a woman from beyond the Celestial Moon Mountain Range.

This event was even recorded in the family's biographies.

Therefore, it couldn't be said that the Yang Family knew nothing about the Celestial Moon Mountain Range; they had at least a rough idea.

Just like the domestic deep-sea research field.

Although the current domestic understanding of the deep sea is only a few percent, they still know how many meters the deepest sea is, the flow directions of ocean currents each season, the deepest SpongeBob exists information.

Therefore, in Yang Wenbing's view,

that so-called Shopkeeper Ma probably never expected the Yang Family to believe them.

The initial purpose of the Taoshu Commerce Association was to demand a hefty hush fee.

Listening to Yang Wenbing's earnest persuasion, a complex emotion flashed in Yang Zhengchu's eyes, as he said:

"Clan Uncle, perhaps what you said is right; even I don't quite believe what that Shopkeeper Ma said..."

Hearing this, Yang Wenbing became even more puzzled and interrupted to ask:

"If that's the case, why are you seeking them out?"

Yang Zhengchu did not directly answer but glanced around at everyone, then sighed:

"Clan Uncle, because I have a premonition.

If I don't pass the Thunder Tribulation soon...

I may never condense a Nascent Soul in my lifetime."

At these words,

the entire secret chamber fell into a deathly silence.

Surprisingly, it was the youngest Yang Bolin who spoke first, so shocked that he didn't care if it was appropriate to interrupt:

"Fifth Great-Uncle, has something happened to your body?"

Yang Zhengchu gently shook his head and took the treasured sword from his back.

Cheng——

A sharp, cold sound echoed through the secret chamber.

Yang Zhengchu gently caressed the sword's blade, as if looking at a family member:

"You all should know, I am a Sword Cultivator.

Sword cultivation requires one to hold the Dao in the heart and treat the sword as a deity.

Faith must be as resolute as sword light, moving forward without hiding or dodging, fearless and unyielding.

Some minor practitioners may use soft swords, but anyone walking the grand path cannot have the slightest bend in their sword!

Either they return victorious, or they shatter their bodies, sacrificing themselves to the Dao."

Then he looked at Yang Wenbing, gave a bitter smile, and said:

"Clan Uncle, and now, what am I doing?

Not daring to face the Thunder Tribulation, retreating daily beneath the ancestral shrine.

Watching the entire Yang Family gathering resources for me, yet I do nothing.

In the early years, it was bearable, considered as seclusion cultivation.

But recently, I've increasingly felt my state of mind starting to have problems.

If I delay any longer...

I'm afraid my Dao heart might collapse."

Upon hearing these words, Yang Wenbing's pupils suddenly contracted.

He opened his mouth but found himself speechless.

Dao heart!

The Dao heart, colloquially known as faith, but a level higher than faith, considered an advanced concept.

Even an ordinary person knows how important faith is to someone.

A person with steadfast faith can rise in their darkest time of life, eventually achieving great things.

But if faith collapses, the individual is utterly ruined....

It's very likely some trivial matter can cause emotional turmoil, leading to extreme tragedies.

Desperate people jumping from rooftops to end it all are as numerous as sea sands both domestically and in the Damo Realm.

For a cultivator, the Dao heart is even more crucial.

Because each stage breakthrough requires great willpower to endure, to confront, and ultimately attain a new realm.

If a cultivator's Dao heart collapses...

At the least, their realm would fall, requiring a heavy price or great fortune to mend.

At the worst, they could experience cultivation deviation, leading to death and the fall of their Dao.

As an Eighth-Layer Core Formation Realm cultivator, Yang Wenbing quickly analyzed and realized what Yang Zhengchu said had merit.

He even vaguely sensed...

Under the immense pressure by the entire clan, Yang Zhengchu's Dao heart had already begun to crack!

Therefore, the Thunder Tribulation had to be crossed regardless, now or never!

Opposite him,

Yang Zhengchu looked at this elder who personally guided him into cultivation, eyes flashing with images of long-memories past.

That year's beast tide was unprecedented, led by a Tier Four Demon Beast, resulting in Ziqiong City losing three High-Level Core Formation Realm cultivators, concluding with a pyrrhic victory.

He witnessed Yang Wenbing sobbing uncontrollably at his wife's spirit hall.

At that moment,

he vowed that if he became a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, he must win everything.

Now with the Thunder Tribulation before him, he must consider whether this might be his only opportunity in life.

He believed Ziqiong City's past dominance was thanks to the efforts of predecessors.

To rebuild Ziqiong City's glory, it is the duty of our generation!

......

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