The Divine Wheel did not merely spin; it resonated with the Laws of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter from the Heaven Samsara Wheel. These four Seasonal Laws acted as perfect balancers and catalysts. They protected Zhi Xuan's cultivation foundation from total destruction while accelerating the integration of the Thunder Law.

  WHIRLL! ZZZT! BOOOM!

  Flashes of deep blue lightning enveloped Zhi Xuan's body, leaping from his skin to the basalt stone walls. The narrow corridor was instantly filled with the aura of Lightning destruction. The surrounding walls cracked slightly under the pressure of the pure Thunder Law intended for a cultivator seeking a realm breakthrough.

  "He... He wants to use Lightning as the beginning of the Five Elements," Zhao Xue murmured, instinctively waving her hand to create a protective barrier around Zhi Xuan. "Lightning is the most oppressive Natural Law; why did he start the Five Elements with the Thunder Law?"

  Zhao Xue, despite feeling uncomfortable with the Devil and Lightning aura radiating from Zhi Xuan, channeled the Pure Ice Law into the air, creating a curtain of cold ice mist. The mist served not only to hide Zhi Xuan's Lightning fluctuations but also to soothe the turbulent spiritual essence in the narrow corridor. She could not ignore the fact that the Devil before her was in a critical condition—breaking through to the Five Element realm with the Thunder Law was no trivial matter.

  FZZZZT!

  The Pure Thunder Law and the Pure Ice Law clashed, creating a subtle hissing sound. It was an impossible blend: the heat of Lightning's destruction meeting the cold of Ice's purification. But instead of destroying each other, the two Laws seemed to reach a fragile balance. Zhao Xue's Ice Law did not extinguish the Lightning; instead, it gave it boundaries, a controlled path so that the lightning only churned within Zhi Xuan's body rather than damaging the environment.

  She glanced at the Thousand Winters Sword sheathed on her back. The sword was an extraordinary treasure, yet at this moment, she admired Zhi Xuan's iron will. The Thunder Law—the Law of ultimate destruction and judgment—was a Law feared by most cultivators. Few dared to choose it as their primary foundation in the Five Element realm due to its uncontrollable nature and its demands on both physical and mental foundations.

  Zhao Xue shook her head. She did not understand this Devil. Normally, a cultivator would choose a Law with lower destructive potential like the Wind or Earth Law to begin the Five Elements, and then use more destructive Laws like Lightning or Fire as support. Starting with Lightning was an act of pure arrogance, a direct challenge to Fate.

  "Arrogant man," Zhao Xue hissed, but her cold eyes radiated a hint of admiration. She knew that if Zhi Xuan succeeded in condensing the Thunder Law as his first Five Element foundation, his potential for destruction and power would surpass most ordinary Five Element cultivators, especially since he already possessed the Thunder Law as a unique bridge.

  "No wonder... Holy Fairy Zhu even has a bond with him," Zhao Xue murmured to herself with a subtle tremble, her hand clenching slightly in her cultivator's robe before she turned her back on the silently meditating Zhi Xuan. "Zhao Xue, what are you thinking?"

  Zhao Xue immediately dismissed her swirling thoughts about Holy Fairy Zhu Qinglan, focusing on her duty as a guardian. She allowed the Pure Ice Law to flow out of her, stabilizing the ice mist around Zhi Xuan, who was now enveloped in increasingly intense flashes of blue lightning. She knew that this moment was the most critical for Zhi Xuan; a single mistake in assimilating the Thunder Law could cause his Divine Wheel to shatter and his Consciousness Transformation cultivation foundation to collapse.

  She sat cross-legged, letting her back serve as a shield for the meditating Devil, while her Divine Sense expanded backward, scanning Ao Sheng's presence and ensuring the Core Stone Gate remained tightly sealed. In the silence punctuated by hissing sounds and the ZZZT of lightning, Zhao Xue suddenly heard a faint hiss in her own Sea of Consciousness.

  "Pure Ice Law, holding back the destruction of Lightning... An interesting combination," The voice was cold and majestic, yet contained a hint of hidden spiritual excitement. Zhao Xue was startled. Her Divine Sense shot toward the source of the voice, and she saw the Thousand Winters Sword on her back vibrating slightly.

  "Thousand Winters Sword?" Zhao Xue whispered in her Sea of Consciousness, sensing the fluctuations of a female voice originating from the Thousand Winters Sword itself. "You can speak?"

  "I am an Artifact that has possessed a spiritual soul, an Ancient Will that has been slumbering," the Sword replied, its voice sounding like freezing water yet also radiating deep curiosity. "I have been observing the man trying to break through the Five Elements with the Thunder Law from the Black Dragon Tomb; you as the wielder of the Thousand Winters Sword are truly clever in choosing a man."

  Zhao Xue instantly felt a shockwave much larger than the clash of Lightning and Ice. Her sword, a Heaven-Grade Artifact, had an awakened Spiritual Will. This was an extremely rare phenomenon that only occurred in very powerful artifacts. However, her shock did not stop there.

  "Choosing a man?" Zhao Xue asked, her tone sounding confused and slightly pressured. She pulled the blade of the Thousand Winters Sword and stared at it blankly, then looked back at Zhi Xuan and back at the sword blade. "No, he is not—I am not!"

  Zhao Xue shook her head quickly, thinking that the Artifact in her hand had mistaken her and Zhi Xuan's presence here for some kind of choice or, even worse, a bond. Zhao Xue immediately projected a brief memory in her Sea of Consciousness, showing that she and Zhi Xuan were here to help Ao Sheng claim his heritage.

  The Will of the Thousand Winters Sword, now burdened by the memories Zhao Xue showed—memories of blood, the slaughter of Consciousness Transformation cultivators, the brutality of the Devil, and the sincerity of intent toward the rising Golden Dragon—fell silent. The surface of the silver blade radiated a more intense glow, as if processing that contrasting reality.

  "See?" Zhao Xue murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly from panic and confusion. "We are not like that; I and that Devil just met and my brother—that Devil is helping my brother, Ao Sheng, to awaken the Golden Dragon Bloodline. We are not bound; that... That kind of bond is not!"

  The Will of the Thousand Winters Sword ignored Zhao Xue's panic. Its focus returned to Zhi Xuan. As an artifact woven with the Pure Ice Law, it possessed a deep understanding of balance and destruction. It could feel the intensity of the Thunder Law being absorbed by Zhi Xuan, and how quickly that lightning was being processed by the Heaven Samsara Wheel and the Devil Life Tree.

  "Do not help him too much," the Will of the Thousand Winters Sword hissed, as if giving a sign that Zhao Xue should be careful. "You will be bound by a great karma if you continue to cross paths with him, a karma that will either shatter you or lead you toward a path filled with blood."

  "Silence!" Zhao Xue replied in her Sea of Consciousness, her tone now firm and sharp, a command that tolerated no rebuttal. She immediately sheathed her Thousand Winters Sword again with a loud and decisive click. "I do not need advice from you! My task is to guard here, not to judge the destiny of others!"

  Zhao Xue closed her eyes, refocusing her Pure Ice Law. She realized that the Heaven-Grade Artifact she had just acquired possessed a strong will, a will capable of reading the spiritual vibrations around it. This only made her more vigilant. She did not want the sword's will to constantly disturb her focus or spread speculation about the relationship between her and Zhi Xuan.

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  Five days passed in a silence punctuated by the hiss of confined Lightning. Inside the narrow corridor, time felt like a frozen river. Zhao Xue, with unwavering composure, maintained her position.

  Her Pure Ice aura continued to flow, forming a stable shield for Zhi Xuan, who was enveloped in an increasingly fierce storm of Lightning. The deep blue flashes were no longer leaping wildly; they now moved in an orderly pattern, as if being forced by an iron will to dance within the meridians.

  On the third day, a majestic fluctuation flowed from the Core Room. Ao Sheng had awakened. The Stone Gate had opened slightly, and Ao Sheng, who no longer radiated the blinding golden light, stood in the gap. His young face looked more mature, though traces of fading innocence remained.

  On his beautiful forehead, where his horns had once been cut, a pair of faint small dragon horns began to grow, radiating a pure golden aura. His body, though not yet fully mature, now emitted an oppressive Bloodline pressure.

  Despite his more oppressive physical aura, Ao Sheng still looked wary and worried. He stood behind Zhao Xue, who still had her back to him, guarding the meditating Devil. Ao Sheng observed the deep blue lightning flashes enveloping Zhi Xuan, his eyes radiating deep gratitude and respect.

  "Sister Zhao Xue," Ao Sheng whispered, his voice, which used to sound awkward and innocent, now possessed a deeper resonance, a faint vibration of Golden Dragon dignity. "Senior is undergoing a critical period, right?"

  Zhao Xue, without turning, nodded slowly. "He is trying to condense the Thunder Law as his Five Element foundation. He has been meditating for five days. This process is dangerous and could destroy his foundation if it fails."

  Ao Sheng bit his lower lip, staring at the back of the Devil who risked his life to restore his Golden Dragon Destiny. He knew that the pain his Senior experienced went far beyond any physical pain.

  "I will wait here," Ao Sheng murmured. He did not move closer, as the pressure of the Lightning and Ice Laws meeting in the narrow corridor felt too strong. He chose to lean against the frame of the spatial rift, allowing his newly awakened Pure Golden Dragon Bloodline aura to spread, creating an additional layer of protection for the narrow corridor.

  The fifth night arrived, shrouding the Black Dragon Tomb in dense silence. Outside the spatial rift, Ao Sheng and Zhao Xue waited patiently. The blue lightning light around Zhi Xuan, which had been vibrating and irregular, now began to solidify, forming a perfect circle of lightning around his body.

  ZWING! ZWING! ZZZT!

  Suddenly, Zhi Xuan's Divine Wheel roared. It was not a roar of pain, but a roar of victory. The aura of Lightning destruction in the corridor was instantly absorbed, as if forcibly pulled into the Divine Wheel. Zhi Xuan's Five Element fluctuation exploded, radiating a brutal and destructive spiritual pressure.

  The wall of the Lightning Formation that Zhi Xuan had tapped into crumbled into spiritual powder, and the narrow corridor shook violently. However, Zhi Xuan paid it no mind. He stood up, his body radiating sharp flashes of blue lightning, as if he had just forged his physical foundation with pure Lightning essence.

  His sapphire eyes opened, radiating a fierce blue-purple light, a blend of Lightning's destruction and Devil's blood. Zhi Xuan was no longer at an ordinary Peak Consciousness Transformation. He had officially broken through to the Five Element realm, with the Pure Thunder Law replacing the Thunder Law as his Superior foundation.

  Zhi Xuan raised his hand. Flashes of Lightning flowed from his fingertips—no longer the wild and unstable Thunder Law, but a controlled, dense Thunder Law filled with heaven-defying power of annihilation.

  "Five Elements," Zhi Xuan hissed, his voice hoarse yet filled with new power. He felt his Divine Wheel now rotating with the foundations of the Thunder, Blood, and Spiritual Laws. His combat power had surged manifold, far surpassing Five Element cultivators who had only reached one Element. "Perfect."

  Zhi Xuan waved his hand, and immediately the Sea-Breaking Thunder Sword floated out of his storage bag. The Ancient Thunder Wood that formed its blade was now enveloped in subtle lightning from Zhi Xuan. The Heaven-level Artifact vibrated loudly as Zhi Xuan attempted to channel the Pure Thunder Law into the sword.

  ZZZZTTT! ZZZTTT! ZZZTTT! ZHRINGG!

  The flash was no longer ordinary thunder, but a Pure Lightning emanating from the sword, making the sword's pressure incredibly oppressive. Although the Sea-Breaking Thunder Sword was still in a semi-damaged condition, at least Zhi Xuan now had the Hellish Black Iron he could use to restore the Sea-Breaking Thunder Sword to its original state.

  ZHRINGG! ZHRINGG!

  The Sea-Breaking Thunder Sword floated and vibrated in front of Zhi Xuan, as if absorbing all the remaining lightning flashes in Zhi Xuan's body. Zhi Xuan raised his hand and clenched his fingers as if about to squeeze, causing the air around his fist to crack and become shrouded in oppressive blue lightning flashes.

  "So this is it," Zhi Xuan murmured. All this time, he had often seen Five Element cultivators who used the Fire Law as their primary element, but had never seen a Five Element cultivator with the Thunder Law as their primary element. "The Thunder Law as the foundation of the Five Element Cauldron."

  Zhi Xuan took a long breath, a cold satisfaction radiating from his eyes. He glanced briefly at the Sea-Breaking Thunder Sword, which now seemed much more spirited, as if the pure Thunder Law newly born in Zhi Xuan's Dao was the very energy it needed. The sword shot quickly into Zhi Xuan's storage bag, resting for a moment while processing the newly channeled Thunder Law.

  He turned, ignoring the destroyed wall, and looked at Zhao Xue, who was now standing tall with cold eyes widened slightly in shock. Behind Zhao Xue, Ao Sheng stood in the spatial rift, radiating a calm and golden Dragon aura.

  "Five days," Zhi Xuan murmured. He stepped forward, and in an instant, flashes of lightning followed his steps, triggering a burst of lightning that caused the floor to crack. Zhi Xuan intentionally did not restrain his overflowing essence and stopped right in front of Zhao Xue. "I owe you my life for that Ice Shield."

  Zhao Xue, who had been stiff until now, felt the spiritual turmoil of the Lightning in Zhi Xuan's body almost burn the Pure Ice Law around her. She had to restrain herself from stepping back. That spatial step was even faster than her own use of the Water Element as her primary element. Zhi Xuan seemed to step in a fraction of a second and appear in a fraction of a second.

  That was what almost made Zhao Xue stumble because even her Pure Ice Law felt stung. She knew that an apology or a thank you from this Black-Haired Devil was a very rare thing. She only nodded coldly, maintaining a neutral expression.

  "I do not require repayment," Zhao Xue replied coldly, her tone back to being formal. "I only performed the necessary duty. My Pure Ice Shield maintained the corridor's stability, not you personally. Now, we must think of a way to exit this tomb. The Shi Clan, with Soul Transformation assistance, will not give up."

  Zhi Xuan smirked, a Devil smile now decorated with Purple-Blue Lightning flashes in his eyes. He ignored Zhao Xue's rejection. For a Devil like him, being in debt was something to be avoided; giving a reward was a way to erase karma. He turned to face Ao Sheng, who was now walking out of the spatial rift, his steps filled with new dignity. His Pure Golden Dragon Bloodline aura spread, calming the remains of the Lightning fluctuations left by Zhi Xuan's breakthrough.

  "Golden Dragon, you have awakened," Zhi Xuan murmured, his tone flat. "Incredible. Has your Heritage finished absorbing?"

  Ao Sheng lowered his head, an act of respect filled with deep gratitude. "Senior, thank you for restoring my Destiny. The Black Dragon Essence Crystal has merged with my Primordial Golden Core. I am now a Pure Golden Dragon. This tomb has given me strength, understanding, and most importantly... dignity."

  Zhi Xuan nodded, stepping forward and patting Ao Sheng's shoulder, which now felt more solid, patting it with a small smile full of meaning. "It was meant to be your destiny. Now, you must be the first person to obtain the heritage in this corridor."

  "Heritage?" Ao Sheng asked, his eyes widening. He saw the destroyed corridor behind Zhi Xuan and the empty shelves. "Did Senior and Sister Zhao Xue not harvest it already?"

  Zhi Xuan snorted, not bothering to explain about the divine herbal soup stolen by Ruo Xianxue. He merely waved his hand, and the spatial rift destroyed by his realm breakthrough began to heal itself.

  "I harvested some herbs and sideline artifacts. But this Black Dragon left a Heritage that can only be accessed by a Pure Bloodline," Zhi Xuan replied. He pointed toward the end of that narrow corridor. "Over there, there is a hidden passage that holds the Dragon King Spear and a priceless Ancient Dragon Body Technique. Those artifacts will only respond to pure bloodline compulsion, your Pure Golden Dragon Bloodline."

  Ao Sheng turned his head, his shining eyes filled with determination. He felt a faint call from the end of the corridor, a spiritual resonance that felt like a greeting from a majestic ancestor. He nodded firmly, without hesitation.

  "Senior, I will claim that Heritage. After that, we must immediately leave this tomb," Ao Sheng said.

  "Of course. We will stand guard here," Zhi Xuan replied. He turned his gaze to Zhao Xue, giving her a wordless signal.

  Zhao Xue sighed, sheathing her Thousand Winters Sword with a soft click. She stepped forward, now standing beside Zhi Xuan. Behind them, Ao Sheng shot toward the end of the dark corridor.

  "You plan to face the Shi Clan outside directly?" Zhao Xue asked, her voice containing a cold note of calculation. "They have at least two Soul Transformation experts, and dozens of Consciousness Transformations. Even with the new Thunder Law, facing them in an open field is—"

  "A foolish act," Zhi Xuan cut in, completing Zhao Xue's sentence. He smirked. "I know. But no Devil enjoys being hunted. They have laid siege; that means they want to kill us. We will not give them a chance to escape."