On a rocky mountain in the hills of the Shanjiao Sect, there stands a fearless leader who has endured countless trials and tribulations to lead the sect to its current glory. He commands millions of cultivators, having brought the sect to the #1 position in the Fractured Jade Empire, a realm home to billions. The sect has grown so powerful that even the emperor himself wouldn't dare challenge him.
Xiao is currently in the process of ascending, with his most loyal followers, who have stood by him for hundreds of years, guarding him. For decades, he has carefully accumulated the materials and prepared for this monumental ascension.
During the process, Heaven's Wrath—lightning from the skies—strikes down, and Xiao is now enduring the strongest tribulation in the Fractured Jade Empire.
There are up to six strikes, with the number corresponding to one's position on the cultivation ladder. While it's possible to have someone shield you from these strikes, doing so results in flawed cultivation, preventing further advancement and causing one to stagnate at their current level.
After enduring the six lightning strikes, Xiao appears visibly weakened.
Liu Wei, seeing his opportunity, draws a sword he acquired from a higher world and strikes at Xiao.
"Why would you do this to me, LIU WEI?!" Xiao Zhaohui cries, the sword plunged into his chest. "What are the rest of you doing? Protect me!" he demands, but those around him only sigh. Guo Fu murmurs in a low voice, "If only you had trusted us with the stone, none of this would have happened."
"Give me the stone, and I will save you," Liu Wei says with a smirk, taunting Xiao, knowing that the celestial sword he used carries a hidden curse.
"Hahahahaha, all of this for the Obsidian Codex?" Xiao laughs as he draws qi toward his dantian.
"You really think self-destruction will save you, Xiao? We've been preparing for this for hundreds of years," Liu Wei sneers as he pulls out a formation artifact and tosses it toward Xiao.
The artifact lights up, forming a circle around Xiao and dispersing the qi he had gathered, rendering him powerless to use it any longer.
"You've bested me this time, Liu Wei. But know that if I survive, your fate will be a million times worse than what you've inflicted on me," Xiao warns, his strength fading.
In a last, desperate act, Xiao does something he never thought he would—he places the mysterious stone in his mouth and swallows it. Moments later, he succumbs to blood loss, and his body glows for an instant before disappearing.
Xiao is pronounced dead.
"A faint wisp, invisible to the naked eye, drifts out of Xiao's body."
As Xiao's soul enters the phase of reincarnation, back in the physical world, Liu Wei begins his takeover of the sect.
"Everyone will say that Xiao transcended and peacefully transferred power to me. Now, go carry out the orders of your new sect leader," Liu Wei commands.
The crowd disperses, and when Liu Wei is finally alone, he raises a concealment barrier to keep prying eyes from watching his next move.
He begins searching Xiao's body, but suddenly, a green smoke emanates from it, attacking Liu Wei. He hastily raises an Impenetrable Jade Wall barrier to fend off the smoke, but it somehow pierces the barrier, enters Liu Wei's body, and travels to his lower dantian, attaching itself there. Liu Wei remains frozen in shock. He quickly consumes the only Thousand-Year Ginseng Cure pill he has ever possessed.
The pill works, causing the green smoke to evaporate from within him.
But the damage is done—Liu Wei's cultivation is reduced to the first level of Nascent Soul.
"Damn you, Xiao!" Liu Wei curses, enraged. "Cursing me from beyond the grave... I'll make sure everything you left behind is destroyed, so no one will ever remember you!"