The shockwave from Gao Fan’s defeat faded into the mountain winds, but the ripples of astonishment among the sect members were only beginning. High above, the Heavenly Horizon Farm pulsed with a radiant, golden-blue aura, its floating boundaries expanding as more cosmic qi poured directly into the soil.
Li Xian stood near the edge of the island, casually tossing a second spiritual fruit in his palm. Below him, the sound of tearing air signaled the arrival of true power. Three beams of light—crimson, azure, and gold—landed on the rocky peak with earth-shattering force.
The dust cleared to reveal the three supreme elders of the Sword and Cloud Sect. At the center stood Grand Elder Yan, his robes embroidered with swirling cloud patterns and his eyes blazing with ancient fury.
— Li Xian! — Grand Elder Yan’s voice boomed like rolling thunder, shaking the very foundations of the cliffside. — You dare commit such heresy?! For decades, your spiritual dimension was bound to the sect’s foundational array as a collective asset in secret! To pull it out of your consciousness and claim it as private property is an act of treason against the Dao! Surrender the sovereignty of the floating island immediately, and perhaps the sect will spare your physical body!
The other two elders stepped forward, releasing an overwhelming pressure that forced the remaining disciples miles away to their knees. The atmospheric pressure alone threatened to crush the rocks beneath Li Xian’s feet.
Li Xian didn't flinch. Instead, a calm, mocking smile played on his lips. He took a bite of the spiritual fruit, letting the rich, sweet nectar flow through his meridians.
— Treason? — Li Xian’s voice carried effortlessly across the heights, amplified by the resonant hum of the floating farm. — For twenty years, you treated my mar de consciência as a dumping ground for rejected resources while calling my talent mediocre. You drained my spiritual veins to feed your elite inner disciples. Now that the farm has outgrown your cages, you call it 'collective property'?
— Insolent brat! — roared the golden-robed elder, drawing a massive halberd wreathed in lightning. — A mere mortal vessel thinks he can defy the heavens?! Let's see if your island can withstand the Judgment of the Three Peaks!
With a synchronized roar, the three elders unleashed their ultimate techniques. Three titanic pillars of destructive energy—lightning, sword qi, and crushing gravity—merged into a massive vortex hurtling straight toward the floating island.
BOOM! CRACK!
The impact shook the entire region, creating a blinding flash of white light that lit up the skies for miles.
When the dust finally settled, the three elders stood panting, their expressions turning from arrogant confidence to sheer horror.
The floating island hadn't even a single scratch. Instead, a translucent barrier etched with ancient agricultural runes shimmered brilliantly. From the center of the farm, a massive golden beam shot downward, enveloping Li Xian and pushing his cultivation past the bottleneck, straight into the Spirit Severing Realm.
— Is that all your collective power can muster? — Li Xian asked softly, his eyes glowing with ethereal golden light as he floated gently down from the island, standing face-to-face with the supreme elders. — You wanted to harvest my soul. But today... I am going to harvest your arrogance.
With a wave of his hand, the vines of the Heavenly Horizon Farm descended from the sky like living chains of light, binding the three elders before they could even draw another breath. The era of secret cultivation was officially over.