Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

Innate Qi cannot be extracted. It can only be extended slowly or refined through one's own existing Innate Qi.

Like a spark of fire, with enough raw materials, it will slowly burn on, until it evolves into a roaring blaze.

This is the Qi Refiner.

The "Qi" in the Yuan World actually belonged to Princess Zi Ji herself. This Divine Weapon was also her Companion Divine Weapon.

From the moment Princess Zi Ji was born, the Divine Weapon began to solidify.

Therefore, Princess Zi Ji's Innate Qi had always been preserved in the Yuan World, carried by the Yuan Knight.

Her pressing down just now awoke the Yuan World, leading to the scene that followed.

Unlike other Qi Refiners, the Innate Qi preserved in the Yuan World was exceptionally rich, and this absorption took nearly an hour.

Her meridians, bones, and blood felt as if they had been awakened.

She felt an overwhelming power filling her entire body, as if a single wave of her hand could cleave the heavens.

BOOM!

Princess Zi Ji cautiously controlled the Innate Qi, directing it to impact her Dantian. She had thought it would be intricate, but to her surprise, she broke through with a single strike.

The once-solidified Dantian instantly transformed into a vast, surging ocean.

It was also at this moment that she saw the black mist in the depths of her Dantian, flowing with an ominous presence...

Princess Zi Ji felt uneasy.

Her cultivation realm was rapidly advancing, but she did not know what level she had reached, as Qi Refiners do not have distinct ranks.

In the Netherworld, there is only strong and weak.

At the same time, the black mist surged out, growing more intense.

She tried to control her Qi to suppress the mist.

But that power was too strong; she couldn't contain it. She opened her eyes to look at her senior brother, her tone full of urgency, "Senior Brother, I can't hold it down."

Her voice held a hint of tears and helplessness.

Before Chen Pingping could speak, the black mist burst out, penetrating Princess Zi Ji's limbs and bones. The Power of Destruction within it transformed into fiercely burning flames.

Princess Zi Ji screamed in agony.

Seeing this, everyone shuddered, thinking Princess Zi Ji had suffered a backlash from her cultivation.

But... it clearly wasn't that.

A backlash shouldn't look like this.

Even the Saintess was visibly moved. "Is this the curse?" she murmured.

Liu Changqing remained silent.

Nearby, the Moon God slowly opened her eyes. A trace of unusual light flickered within them as she said, "The oldest curse of the Netherworld. It truly is you."

I had guessed it, but I had no evidence. she thought. Now, seeing this curse, I can confirm Princess Zi Ji's identity. After years of pursuit, my mission is finally about to be accomplished.

"Senior Brother! I am in so much pain..."

"Senior Brother! Save me!"

"Senior Brother, I..." Her body was engulfed in black flames, her Vitality Power rapidly draining away, and she was suffering terrible agony.

If nothing unexpected happened, she would soon perish.

The old yellow ox, Lao Huang, was somewhat at a loss.

The Earth Chicken shook its head, evidently recognizing the curse as unbreakable.

Chen Pingping strode forward. "Don't be afraid! Your Senior Brother is here!" he declared. With these words, he picked up Mao Qiu from his shoulder and placed it into Princess Zi Ji's arms.

Mao Qiu, the Devouring Sky Beast, possessed only one ability: healing—in other words, Vitality Power.

It must be known that Mao Qiu had lived for eons; its Vitality Power was as vast as the sea, as boundless as a galaxy...

The moment Princess Zi Ji touched Mao Qiu, a relentless stream of Vitality Power surged into her, alleviating the burning of the Power of Curse.

It was a terrifying sight.

If it had been anyone else, they would have likely burned to death long ago.

If anyone else had intervened, they probably would not have been able to save Princess Zi Ji.

The Power of Curse is unresolvable unless the one who cast it is killed; otherwise... the curse will persist until its victim perishes.

Princess Zi Ji's commencement of cultivation had awakened the curse. This was a surely fatal situation. However, due to Chen Pingping's presence and the Devouring Sky Beast's vast Vitality Power, the curse was temporarily suppressed.

She began to recover, and the flames on her body gradually subsided.

High above, lightning flashed and thunder roared, layers of dark clouds densely packed, as if a terrible calamity was about to descend.

Having just regained consciousness, Princess Zi Ji struggled to look up. "Senior Brother!"

"It's okay. Your Senior Brother is here!" He smiled, still appearing completely carefree.

Since there's no choice left, then... I'll just have to protect her with all I have!

Glancing back at Lao Huang and Mao Qiu, he adjusted his condition and strode towards the thunder tribulation. "You are not the Heavenly Dao," he declared.

Though he had never witnessed a true Heavenly Dao calamity, he was certain that the tribulation before him was not the work of the Heavenly Dao.

If he wasn't mistaken, it had likely been triggered by the mist within Princess Zi Ji's body.

Not of the Heavenly Dao, but pure slaughter. The curse's second killing blow.

Below, Princess Zi Ji trembled, her eyes red-rimmed. She wanted to call out to Chen Pingping, but something seemed to be stuck in her throat.

She couldn't speak; she could only watch helplessly as her Senior Brother walked into the thunder tribulation.

BOOM!

The first bolt of lightning struck down.

Although it wasn't a Heavenly Dao calamity, this kind of thunder tribulation was not something a Divine King could withstand.

A single strike pierced Chen Pingping's body, heavily injuring him on the spot.

Blood spewed from his mouth, and his face turned pale. A sense of helplessness filled his heart. Master! What kind of disciple did you take in?

He swallowed several Spirit Pills to alleviate his injuries.

The second bolt of lightning descended swiftly. It was broader than the last, and the Power Path it contained was as heavy as mountains.

Brilliance erupted, illuminating the world in an instant.

The Power of Destruction pierced directly through Chen Pingping, its target clearly Princess Zi Ji...

His expression changed drastically.

Onlookers not far away subconsciously held their breath.

It was too powerful.

If even a Divine King could be so easily and grievously injured, what chance did Princess Zi Ji have of surviving this calamity? The answer was obvious: none.

"Damn it!" Chen Pingping roared. "I don't care who you are! If you dare lay a finger on her, I'll kill you!"

The massive bolt of lightning pierced through Lao Huang's aura and struck Princess Zi Ji, rekindling the extinguished cursed flames once again.

Chen Pingping was overwhelmed with rage, his Hetero Pupil fixed on the tribulation above. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a figure, but... the next instant, it vanished.

Very quickly, the third bolt of the thunder tribulation descended. It was as thick as a mountain and slammed Chen Pingping deep into the earth.

Lao Huang's aura finally shattered.

Princess Zi Ji suffered the most severe injury she had ever experienced. Even with Mao Qiu there, recovery might take a very long time.

"Is he dead?" someone finally voiced, their mouth still agape in disbelief...

It was said that Princess Zi Ji had some underlying issue. As long as she didn't cultivate, she would be fine, but if she did, disaster would inevitably strike. And sure enough... those black flames from earlier were terrifying, weren't they?

And now, a tribulation had descended.

Just who is she?

What shocked them more was that Chen Pingping had blocked the tribulation three times in a row.

Was he dead? That was the question on everyone's mind.

What was terrifying was that the tribulation persisted, which meant Princess Zi Ji had not yet perished.

From within the deep pit, Chen Pingping's low voice sounded, "Damn it..." He swallowed a few more Spirit Pills, and his injuries significantly eased, allowing him to regain some strength.

Dragging his weary body out of the pit, he prepared to withstand the fourth strike.

But after a long wait, the tribulation did not descend. He instinctively looked up...

Amidst the dark clouds stood a figure. With several sword strikes, this person obliterated the terrifying tribulation.

Chen Pingping's mouth fell slightly agape, his mind filled with confusion. Who is this person?