On the edge of the cliff, a gnarled ancient pine tree stood, a perfect spot to pause and appreciate the view.

Banjie descended from her mechanical flying contraption with several maidservants, landing beneath the ancient pine.

The pine tree’s roots clung to the rock crevices, its branches thrusting diagonally into the sky, forming a canopy of emerald green that filtered the sunlight into fragmented gold.

Banjie had come here specifically for this, shedding her usual luxurious attire for a plain, moon-white loose-fitting shirt, topped with a translucent jiaoxiao gauze of the same color, giving her a relaxed appearance.

The mountain wind stirred her wide robes and sleeves, making them flutter as if she might float away with the breeze.

Banjie gazed into the distance, seeing a vast expanse of clouds, rolling like waves, at times gathering into snowy peaks, at others dispersing like flying feathers. Sunlight poured upon them, gleaming with the luster of molten gold and shattered jade.

Banjie showed her delight. “What a beautiful scene, perfect for a tea ceremony right here. Arrange it, all of you.”

She gave a faint command, and her maidservants responded softly in unison.

They moved simultaneously, coordinating their actions skillfully to set out the futons, tea table, tea sets, and incense burner.

Banjie sat cross-legged on a futon, with the ancient pine forming a stately canopy above her head, and the shimmering, golden cloud sea before her eyes.

She took a deep breath and began to light the incense.

Her movements were slow, seemingly leisurely, but in truth, her mind was elsewhere.

“I wonder how Banjie is doing right now?”

“I specifically came here to be close to Xuanjia Dong, so I can react quickly and correctly as soon as I get any news.”

Banjie finished lighting the incense, watching the smoke curl upwards, while waiting for the latest news, she also fell into a reverie.

The scene before her departure replayed in her mind.

The Ban family’s Supreme Elder had summoned her alone in a secret chamber.

His face was solemn as he gazed at Banjie, stating directly, “This time, sending you to the main gate of Wanxiang Zong is to secretly assist Banji in successfully activating his Wangming.”

“Yes,” Banjie had already learned this news before arriving, her eyes gleaming with determination and fighting spirit. “I will do my utmost, use every means possible, for the family, even if it means sacrificing myself to achieve the goal!”

The Supreme Elder’s expression softened slightly. “Excellent, Banjie, you are a good child.”

“But I called you here this time for a more urgent matter to instruct you — you must not overexert yourself, otherwise, too much is as bad as too little, and it would harm Banji and our entire clan.”

Banjie immediately looked puzzled and quickly asked for guidance.

The Supreme Elder sighed softly. “To activate Wangming is a complex matter.”

“You need to help Banji, but not excessively. You need to let Banji undergo trials, and even setbacks, for these are the flints that ignite Wangming.”

“Only through the trials of fate can Wangming be activated and enter a state of burning.”

“Just like Yehuang Mu, Jingsha Liu, Changsheng Yuan, Daolang, and so on.”

Hearing the four examples cited by the Supreme Elder, Banjie suddenly understood.

Yehuang Mu are trees that accidentally absorb phoenix blood, or whose own seeds inherently carry such bloodlines. After enduring a great fire, burning away their old bodies, they activate the power of rebirth within their bloodlines. Thus, they shed their old forms, reshape new bodies, and their entire life essence undergoes a leap, much like a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

Jingsha Liu are a unique variant among sand willows. Countless sand willows gradually fall in harsh environments plagued by sandstorms, drought, water scarcity, and shifting sands. The resilient ones that endure until the very end rapidly sprout new adventitious roots from their nodes, while their stems grow upwards to break through the sand layers, forming new plants. Their roots delve deeper, developing a more extensive root system that can eventually stabilize an entire desert.

Changsheng Yuan are salamanders that have endured calamities, repeatedly severing their tails to survive. Those that persist eventually develop stronger regenerative abilities due to the constant regrowth of their tails, enabling them to precisely restore bones, muscle groups, and skin, and reshape more complex body structures. Through repeated tail-severing and regrowth, the salamander’s entire body and mind are tempered and enhanced, eventually overcoming their tribulation, and their lifespan dramatically increases to tens of thousands of years.

Daolang are also quite unusual. This wolf species is not naturally occurring but was specifically cultivated by cultivators who master beast-taming techniques. Daolang are fierce and belligerent, with naturally short lifespans, as if they are meant to burn themselves out from birth, constantly rushing into battle. Before dying of old age, Daolang will consume various blade fragments.

These blade fragments cut their mouths, tongues, throats, and even their intestines and stomachs, leading many Daolang to cough up blood and die. However, a small portion endure this arduous test, eventually absorbing the blades into their bodies, transforming into a new species with greatly increased power, thus extending their lives!

The Supreme Elder clarified the key to Banjie: assisting Wangming is very complex. It is crucial to be mindful of the degree; one cannot shield completely from all the wind and rain. Without tempering, life cannot blossom into a more brilliant form, and Wangming will never be activated!

But if too little help is given, and Wangming suffers too much loss, it will be even worse.

Striking the right balance is extremely important!

Banjie understood in her heart: “No wonder the family only provided limited help to Banji before. For example, the family only began divining for this year’s Wanxiang Zong Feiyun Grand Assembly a few years ago.”

“The related precious materials for divination have long been stored in the family treasury.”

This meant that although the Ban family had calculated various opportunities suitable for Banji, such as Qinghuang Zi, Chezhu Zi, Xiyuan Yugong, Xuanjia Dong, and so on, Banji was left with only a few years to prepare.

“You only understand part of it.” The Supreme Elder shook his head, continuing to instruct, “Divination is a very subtle act.”

“Divination is the most mysterious of the hundred arts of cultivation, bar none.”

“On the surface, this skill is about foreseeing the future and helping cultivators make changes in the present. But in reality, it is a challenge to fate!”

“Every living being has a destiny, a position bestowed by Heaven. When cultivators repeatedly change the future through divination, they will inevitably deviate from Heaven’s positioning.”

“While this is a good thing for individual cultivators, Heaven will not allow it. This is because if everyone were to do this, all living beings would break free from the constraints of destiny, and the entire world would fall into chaos, leading to mutual slaughter in endless turmoil, rapidly heading towards decline and destruction.”

“Therefore, the art of divination has always been difficult to pass down, and most people find it hard to acquire. This is because Heaven, for the stability of the entire cultivation world, is secretly and constantly obstructing it in various ways.”

Pausing for a moment, the Supreme Elder continued, “Our clan possesses the Zuzuo Shuji Chain, a vital mechanism that can detect luck, manage the fortune of family members, and perform divination for each clan member. It is our clan’s protective treasure.”

“And the guidance our clan received from Dunyi Sanren decades ago was an immense opportunity for the entire clan.”

“Combining these two, our clan then gained the ability to link Banji with Wangming, allowing for some manipulation of his fate.”

“Although Dunyi Sanren left behind a large number of precious materials, he specifically cautioned that divination concerning Banji was of great importance and should be done late rather than early. Do you know why?”

The Supreme Elder was testing Banjie.

Banjie furrowed her brow. She was quick-witted, and after a moment’s thought, she realized that the Supreme Elder had already given her the answer.

She replied, “Since Heaven conceals the art of divination and prevents cultivators from inheriting this skill, then it will naturally re-evolve and suppress cultivators who foresee the future through divination.”

“In Banji’s case, Heaven’s attention is undoubtedly very high.”

“If our clan divines in advance and predicts the future, that future is likely to change under Heaven’s alteration. After this result, not only will our clan waste precious divination materials for nothing, but we will also expend energy and time in the wrong direction, mistakenly believing that we have made sufficient preparations.”

The Supreme Elder stroked his beard, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face. “The child can be taught!”

“Banji carries Wangming. According to the destiny Heaven has given him, he will walk a lonely path, towards the demonic way, accumulating conflicts with the family step by step, eventually becoming sworn enemies. In this process, he will use various hardships to activate Wangming and become a new king.”

“And our Ban family will become the fuel for his royal journey, an opportunity to help him solidify his demonic heart and sweep away weakness.”

Banjie immediately felt a sense of pressure from the Supreme Elder’s grave tone.

On one hand, the Ban family sought a better transcendence, so they needed to use Wangming. On the other hand, they were also worried about Banji’s unbridled development harming the entire family. Combining these two points, the Ban family exerted its full strength as a clan, launching a risky grand plan—to closely link the clan’s destiny and Banji, so that they would prosper or suffer together.

This was both self-preservation and self-strengthening, both danger and opportunity.

The Supreme Elder then asked Banjie, “Do you know why you were arranged to go and help Banji?”

This time, without waiting for Banjie’s answer, the Supreme Elder directly stated, “You grew up with him; you are childhood sweethearts, so to speak. On one hand, you are familiar with his temperament and character, allowing you to help him better without incurring his dislike or aversion.”

“On the other hand, your destinies are more closely intertwined, which is more conducive for you to help him activate Wangming.”

“You are the best candidate!”

“Remember, the heavy responsibility of the family’s rise and fall rests on your shoulders.”

Banjie took a deep breath, her heart filled with a sense of responsibility and honor. “Elder, rest assured, I understand. I will do my utmost to provide Banji with the most suitable assistance.”

She had thoroughly understood the situation.

To help Banji activate Wangming, her opponents were not only Ning Zhuo, the overt human tribulation, but also Heaven, and even Banji himself!

A sudden gust of wind from the cliff scattered the incense smoke rising a foot in front of her, also interrupting Banjie’s recollections.

As Banjie arranged the tea set, she analyzed the current situation.

“Our clan divined several years in advance, preparing famous martial artists for Banji to help him improve his close combat abilities with swords and blades.”

“However, upon entering Xuanjia Dong this time, Banji inexplicably didn’t encounter a single blade or sword.”

“The grand formation of Xuanjia Dong randomly drew Xuanbing Jia and distributed them to the cultivators participating in the trial. This fairness, under Heaven’s interference, caused our clan and Banji’s plans in that regard to fall through.”

Upon learning of this situation, Banjie immediately dispatched people to implement countermeasures, successfully bribing. “However, even so, Banji only managed to obtain a bronze blade, and in the subsequent battle against the bronze sword, he was completely suppressed and did not win.”

Banjie had now learned that the blade and sword Banji faced had significantly greater combat power than those of the same level.

Banji’s poor performance was one reason. Second, he had expended too much energy in the previous battles. Banji’s physical body was not comparable to Ning Zhuo’s; he cultivated the “Tanji Moxingong,” focusing on the upper Dantian.

“Even though I initiated remedial measures, Heaven’s changes still suppressed Banji.”

Subsequently, the third trial began.

Although Banjie was not physically present, the personnel she had arranged earlier had already conveyed intelligence several times.

This allowed Banjie to have a clear understanding of the situation in the third trial.

Thinking of this, Banjie placed the tea tray, teapot, fair cup, tasting cups, aroma-smelling cups, tea holder, tea scoop, tea spoon, and other items one by one on the table before her.

As she looked at these tea utensils, she seemed to see the battle unfolding in the cave.

“Now the three Jindan cultivators are locked in battle; they won’t easily stop before a victor is decided.”

“Lu Zeng will most likely be eliminated.”

“Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, it’s difficult to unite, and they shouldn’t unite now. This is a good opportunity to probe Ning Zhuo and try to weaken him!”

It was with this thought that Banjie activated the second wave of her forces, having Zhang Wangxing and other acquaintances put on a public performance to lure Ning Zhuo into relaxing his guard, aiming to deliver a powerful blow to him!

Zhang Wangxing’s expression was grim and murderous, a far cry from his earlier pitiful plea for help.

The bronze chain he flung flew straight towards Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo, no longer the same as before, continuously retreated, his figure elusive, dodging the chain.

But the attacks of the others had already arrived.

A heavy bronze mountain-opening axe swept horizontally, cutting across Ning Zhuo’s waist with a fierce gust of wind.

A bronze sword and a pair of water-splitting daggers attacked from behind, one aiming for his back, the other for his kidney!

And three bronze flying shuttles, silent and swift, shot through the air, targeting Ning Zhuo’s upper, middle, and lower vital points, sealing off his escape routes!

Clearly, these cultivators who made their moves must have practiced coordination; from the moment they attacked, their various assaults echoed each other, showing great synergy.

Ning Zhuo suddenly found himself encircled, the situation taking a sharp turn for the worse.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes; after a moment of shock and anger, came an icy calm.

He continuously retreated, and with a shake of his body, several Xuanbing Jia flew out from his sleeves and other places.

The Xuanbing Jia materialized in the air, transforming into a bronze spear, a bronze blade, a bronze sword, and a pair of bronze gauntlets, respectively.

Clang! Clang! Clang—

A series of sparks flew as Ning Zhuo’s bronze weapons precisely blocked the attacking Xuanbing Jia.

But Ning Zhuo’s retreat speed was greatly disrupted by this delay, and he was already surrounded by the cultivators from all directions.

“You all—” The outsiders who had been tricked into attacking Zhang Wangxing earlier showed expressions of surprise and suspicion, stopping in their tracks, at a loss.

Meanwhile, the second round of encirclement against Ning Zhuo began again.

Various weapons attacked in turns, and Ning Zhuo, deflecting left and right, was completely on the defensive.