Chapter 221: Breakthrough (Part 1)
Tian Sisi had been preparing for this breakthrough for a long time. When she learned of the Flood Dragon's appearance, her mind was made up. However, she didn't dare to appear too eager, so she refrained from interfering and simply waited for the Flood Dragon to be delivered to the Qiankun Realm.
The reason Tian Sisi was able to reach the Inner Realm Peak in less than sixty years and maintain her youth was a secret she kept. It was this secret that gave her the courage to break through by eating the Jiao Heart raw.
The Evil Flood Dragon had nearly ten thousand years of cultivation, and the energy contained within its heart was terrifying. A single bite sent a violent storm churning in Tian Sisi's stomach.
Tian Sisi shut down her five senses to make the Jiao Heart seem less nauseating. Forcibly suppressing the astonishing energy within her, she continued to chew.
Meanwhile, outside Liu Family City, people were waiting quietly. In a dense forest to the south, a group of figures clad in black monitored every movement within the city.
Their leader's face was hidden, completely shrouded by a black cloak. One of the men in black stepped forward and asked, "Director, are we not making a move yet? Tian Sisi has been in the city for hours. According to a message from the Maid who defected to our side, Tian Sisi has already begun her breakthrough!"
Beneath the cloak was a Director of the Divine Department!
This Director said coolly, "No rush."
He possessed excellent composure, but his subordinate did not. "That woman, Tian Sisi, is dangerously unpredictable," the subordinate said anxiously. "If she successfully breaks through this time, she'll instantly shatter the balance of power in the world. Then, the Tian and Liu clans will truly be the supreme authorities!"
The cloaked Director chuckled softly. "Someone else will make a move for us. Based on my understanding of Pu Huo from the last hundred-odd years, he will not allow Tian Sisi to successfully break through."
The subordinate was stunned. "But isn't Director Pu always very good to Tian Sisi?" he asked, baffled. "He's one of her most loyal supporters. How could he possibly attack her? He'd be rushing to protect her, surely!"
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the mysterious Director's face. One half of his majestic face was covered in black inscriptions, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes. "Pu Huo is no saint. Anything he sets his sights on must be under his absolute control!"
"B-But... wasn't he the one who secured the Jiao Heart for Tian Sisi?"
The Director sneered mockingly. "That's precisely what makes him so insidious. Tian Sisi is at the Inner Realm Peak, same as he is. It's impossible to get his hands on her through ordinary means now. And the best opportunity is when she's in the middle of her breakthrough!"
Just as the Director had predicted, a coarse voice boomed across the entire city, "Director Tian, I, Pu Huo, have come to see you!"
The voice was deafening, clearly audible even to them in the dense forest.
The cloaked Director cursed under his breath. 'Fool! Fine. Let this fool scout the path for us.'
His subordinates looked at the Director with admiration. Just as he had said, Pu Huo had really come.
Tian Sisi, who had just consumed the entire Jiao Heart, was about to begin her breakthrough when the roar interrupted her. A chill instantly rose in her eyes. 'Who comes to visit someone like this, roaring at an entire city with their True Qi?'
Understanding dawned on Tian Sisi. 'So, my breakthrough was anticipated after all.' She had been extremely low-key, doing her utmost to conceal her intentions—even choosing to perform the breakthrough in her own residence—precisely to avoid arousing suspicion.
But since they had figured it out, she wasn't entirely unprepared. Circulating her True Qi, she responded, "Director Pu, since you've graced me with your presence, I naturally welcome you. Please, enter my residence for a chat!"
The coarse voice once again echoed throughout the city, laughing heartily. "Haha! Excellent!"
The towering figure of Pu Huo appeared in the sky above Liu Family City. He flew brazenly to the front gate of Tian Sisi's residence and strode inside, still laughing.
Sensing Pu Huo's arrival, Tian Sisi picked up a piece of jade and infused it with True Qi. The jade instantly lit up, and at the same moment, countless curtains of light flared to life, sealing the entire residence within.
Blocked by the curtains of light, Pu Huo showed no hint of panic. Instead, he laughed loudly and called out, "Director Tian, am I not welcome? Or is it just an inconvenient time for guests?"
His voice, similarly infused with True Qi, was blocked by the Trapping Array, echoing only within the confines of the residence.
Tian Sisi paid him no mind. She was fully confident in this Array; trapping Pu Huo for ten days or so would be no problem, which was more than enough time for her to break through.
She immediately stabilized her mind and began to refine the Flood Dragon's berserk energy.
Back in the dense forest outside the city, a scout flew down from the treetops to report. "A massive curtain of light has enveloped Tian Sisi's residence inside the city. It's impossible to see what's happening inside from out here."
"Director, it seems Pu Huo has fallen for Tian Sisi's trick. He's caught in the Array. Should we make our move?"
The Director said coolly, "I already told you, there's no rush. Don't underestimate Pu Huo. Anyone who has honed themselves at the Inner Realm Peak for a hundred years is no pushover."
As the Director's words fell, a series of massive impacts rang out from the curtain of light, like the beating of a giant drum. THUD! THUD! THUD!
Inside the curtain of light, Pu Huo had been shouting for a long time. Getting no response and seeing no one, he finally dropped the pretense. He began to hammer his fists, one after another, against the barrier, attempting to break the Array with brute force.
But after a barrage of attacks, the curtain of light remained completely unchanged.
Pu Huo let out a wild laugh. "Director Tian, this Trapping Array of yours isn't half bad! To think it can withstand attacks from someone at the Inner Realm. But just how long do you think it can hold me!"
As he spoke, Pu Huo began to circulate his True Qi. His muscles bulged, and a brown halo swirled around him. His already massive fists seemed to grow even larger as the brown light flowed into them, and he smashed one fist into the curtain of light.
BOOM! A tremendous explosion rocked the area, making it feel as if the entire residence was being shaken to its foundations!