1 Chapter 1: Tribulation

In a spacious cave hidden deeply in a valley, a girl sitting in a lotus position with a calm and gentle face is secretly going through her tribulation as her aura continued sharpening, her closed eyes abruptly opened revealing a pair of pure and bright eyes as they stared outside the cave with clouds slowly gathering on top of her cave.

Xia Ling hardened her small fist as she suddenly jumped and flew towards the gathering of clouds before sitting mid-air in a lotus position while thunders began to strike her. She wave her hand as the thunder make its way towards her before hitting a white transparent protection she cast before dissipating after the thunder touch it.

After half a day of going through the tribulation, Xia Ling grunted before blood slowly trickled down her lips while her brows still remain unfazed as she sustained injury from her core. Suddenly, she looked behind her as a silhouette of a person slowly making its way to her. She stared at the familiar man flying with a deep frown while her lips was pressed tightly.

In the cultivation world, it's widely known that no one should approach near the space of a person going through the tribulation or else both of the parties could be injured, or at worst, die from the cause of deviation in focus resulting in failure from ascending. A slight error in focus can lead into a huge consequences which cultivators may explode in worst scenario while in mild consequences, dropping of one's rank in cultivation. Just for that reason, focus is a very important thing for cultivators.

The man stopped in his track as he stood flying just outside of her domain while smirking as he arrogantly said. "Xia Ling, you must be surprised from seeing me, right! Don't worry, I will leave after I gave you this piece of good news!"

Xia Ling stared at this man who was her 'senior brother' from the same clan. Her face suddenly turn cold as she thought of how this senior brother have deep mind and schemes before speaking in her coldest tone. "Senior brother Fan, do you know you're not supposed to interrupt someone who is going through their tribulation? or are you purposely doing this to get revenge since you are now being chased because of 'that'".

Su Fan's face changed dramatically as his eyes poisonously stared at her wishing he could drink her blood and chewed her flesh! Yes, Xia Ling accidentally discovered him killing several of their clansmen before sucking their cultivation and making it his own. Such a thing is only a practice from the demon's clan and it's a method that is spurned and hated by all the cultivators! Their sect leader quickly learned about it, and Su Fan is now in a wanted list and facing only one end, and that is from being chased and be 'purified' which is death.

Su Fan cherished his only life so he quickly flee and escape before hiding deeply from the pursuers. He hated Xia Ling deeply from that day on and wishing to get revenge day and night. Finally, he got the news that Xia Ling is cultivating here and patiently waiting for this moment.

Su Fan growled and gnashed his teeth from hate as he furiously shouted. "You B*tch! If you didn't tell them about what happened I wouldn't be like this constantly getting chased and injured! Fleeing for my life like a rat in the street!" After thinking about something, he laughed crazily as he felt happy from finally getting rid of this woman. He hook his lips into a sneer as he cruelly said. "If you beg on your knees, lick my feet, and kowtow five times in front of me, maybe I will let you die with your body intact"

Xia Ling, as if she didn't hear what he said, completely ignored him while looking at him without emotion from her face. And finally said, "Are you done talking? If so, leave. You are getting in my way" she glance at his contorted face from the last time while continuing her focus as she swiftly evaded the thunders from injuring her.

Su Fan face became black before loudly saying, "Xia Ling, you are such an ingrate! I know master is biased and always give you the best of things while we get the left over you didn't want! Several of my brothers were already dissatisfied since then" thinking about it, he hated his master deeply in his heart and scolded him from being bias. Su Fan then looked at Xia Ling going through her tribulation before overbearingly continued, "To tell you the truth, master left his seclusion a month ago and the first thing that he asked was where you are. While waiting for you, he receives a lot of precious gifts from different sects and kept the valuable ones to leave for you! Since he only got you in his eyes, don't blame me for not considering him as my master anymore!"

Su Fan's eyes revealed a crazed expression as he recounted the story. "Master continued waiting for you whilst not knowing that the demon clan prepared a gift for our Mount Xia Sect. The banquet prepared for him turn into a bloodbath as our clansmen died one after another while master, grandmasters and the sect leader tried to protect them. But alas, they also fell and buried in the mountain of corpse." He bent his back as he laughed madly before looking at the crack of Xia Ling face which shows disbelief and despair. Feeling satisfied at the emotion finally appearing on her ever emotionless face. Su Fan continued to recount the event while smirking as he look at her. "Master saw me and my several brothers thinking that we're still a part of the sect. He tried to help us but in the end, he fell on his knees as his face filled with regret and blame.. yes blaming himself!" Su Fan face contorted maliciously as his master still thinks of this woman even at his last breath, "He didn't blame us and even at his last breath told us to spare you... Ha!" The tone of his voice was lace with contempt and endless hatred while Xia Ling face was filled with pain, regret, self-blame and also hatred which she hadn't experience before.

Xia Ling was an orphan and was picked up by her master at the age of seven. Ever since then, she regarded her master and senior sisters and brothers as her family. Growing up, she uses her action to show her affection and care. Her seniors sisters and brothers always like to tease her to see her reaction. Her master knowing her past, gives her more care and attention. They didn't know what her past is, but as long as they remembered she's already like this when she was brought up with their master.

But some people felt dissatisfaction with how their master took care of this 'youngest sister who is emotionless and not adorable in their opinion. Which give rise to their situation right now.

Xia Ling's eyes who never shed tears finally have some wetness in her eyes as she painfully closed it while listening to what happened to her beloved master, seniors sisters, brothers and clansmen. Opening it again, she resolutely moved forward as thunders strike her body while her face was back to calmness as if she didn't feel the pain from the strike

Seeing this, Su Fan finally felt scared and look in horror as Xia Ling make her way to him. He knows he's not a match for this genius younger sister so he immediately tried to run away but before he could leave, he was strike in his back and painfully screamed as he fell to the ground. Xia Ling tried to land but the tribulation was still ongoing, despite her calm facade, she already feels like her consciousness fading as her core had been damaged beyond from saving. The news earlier was big blow to her and she was greatly shaken making her sustained grave injuries. She finally land on his back as he groan from pain while he was fuming and angry, "Xia Ling, you B*tch! I'll kill you before throwing your corpse to feed the wolves! As long as you apologize and slit your own throat, I can give you a proper burial!"

Xia Ling suddenly laughed loudly before looking at her 'senior brother' "Su Fan, not only you bit the hand that fed you, you even colluded with the enemies. Do you think the demons will appreciate what you did? Did you forget their nature and insatiable greeds? You must be an idiot for believing their promise, not knowing you are now a useless piece of chess that they disregard!"

Su Fan face changed from shocked to furious. "You are lying! They promised to give me the 'Profound Immortal Pill'! Xia Ling stop trying to sow discord, I won't believe you!" Xia Ling snorter before waving her hand as a bottle of pill appeared out of nowhere

"Do you need this? Unfortunately, I'm the only one except from master can refined this pill. Master gave me all of his remaining pills before he went to his seclusion." Saying this, Xia Ling opened up the lid and the refreshing smell of the pill came out making Su Fan's face crumbled. He furiously swung his hand as he tried to steal the bottle of pill while Xia Ling grabbed his hand and twisted it. Su Fan screech loudly while Xia Ling shoved his face on the hard ground. Her face turning pale as she clutch her chest while her eyes revealing regret 'Master forgive me as I'm not able to get revenge for you and my senior sisters and brothers.' and also a relief as she will be able to see them again in the afterlife.

Xia Ling flew up in the sky while dragging Su Fan with her, enough distance from the land so it won't accidentally harm any living things in the mountains and forest before closing her eyes while Sun Fan hysterically screamed in fear knowing what she's about to do, without hesitation, Xia Ling calmly and decisively blew up her core before losing her consciousness.