Chapter 42: Body Refining, Tribulation Crossing
The grand formation dispersed, and when everyone saw the headless corpse beneath your feet, they were all struck with disbelief.
“A dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, dead just like that?”
“Who exactly was this person!”
“The Cloud Mist Sect has lost another Sect Master, tsk tsk!”
“Fellow Daoists, see you at the Cloud Mist Sect in one month!” Qingyunzi announced loudly, then left with the disciples who had emerged from the Secret Realm.
Only the Elders of the other three great sects remained, gazing at the corpses of Cloud Mist Sect Elders strewn across the ground, their hearts unable to settle for a long time.
After returning to the sect, Shangguan Lan told you everything that had happened in the Secret Realm over the years.
When she first entered the Secret Realm, Shangguan Lan was hunted by Cloud Mist Sect disciples. With her weak cultivation, she was forced to flee for five years.
Five years later, Shangguan Lan reappeared with the cultivation of the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment and began hunting down the Cloud Mist Sect disciples!
Until every Cloud Mist Sect disciple in the Secret Realm was dead!
The experiences of these years had made Shangguan Lan increasingly cold and ruthless. Only when facing you would she show a smile.
“Ninth layer of Foundation Establishment. Once we return, I’m afraid she’ll be able to transcend tribulation and condense her Golden Core, won’t she?” Qingyunzi sensed Shangguan Lan’s cultivation from the side and said to you, “As her Master, your cultivation is about to be caught up to by your disciple.”
“Heh, then you bastard should provide me with cultivation resources!” You looked at Qingyunzi with a half-smile.
“Cough cough.” Sensing your unfriendly gaze, Qingyunzi hurriedly said, “In one month, the four great sects will join forces against the Cloud Mist Sect. You can seize the opportunity to plunder the Cloud Mist Sect’s resources.”
As he spoke, Qingyunzi even took out a map, marked with the Cloud Mist Sect’s distribution of power.
“I’ve already marked the wealthiest locations of the Cloud Mist Sect for you. When the time comes, you can just go and rob them directly.”
“As long as you have the strength, take as much as you can!”
“Doesn’t the Cloud Mist Sect still have a Spirit Transformation ancestor? How do you plan to deal with him?” You studied the map, pondered for a moment, and asked.
Of the entire Cloud Mist Sect, the one you worried about most was still that Spirit Transformation ancestor. With your current cultivation, if you faced this person, you wouldn’t have the slightest chance of victory!
“Don’t worry, when the time comes, someone will naturally keep an eye on him.” Qingyunzi indicated that the Spirit Transformation ancestor needed no concern.
You nodded, indicating you understood.
After returning to the sect, Qingyunzi immediately announced that the entire sect would enter a state of first-level combat readiness. The whole sect was under strict lockdown!
Back in your cave residence, you looked at the obedient Shangguan Lan beside you. After thinking for a moment, you asked, “Do you want to refine your body?”
“Refine my body?”
“That’s right. Your Master cultivates both body and law, invincible among peers!”
“Alright!” Shangguan Lan agreed without the slightest hesitation.
In order to ensure that Shangguan Lan could safely pass her upcoming Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, you decided to pass the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art to her.
After all, the peril of your own tribulation back then was still vivid in your mind even now.
If not for the Life-Seizing Origin-Restoring Art, you likely would have died beneath the Heavenly Lightning long ago.
You extended your right hand, and a trace of Heavenly Lightning power immediately appeared in your palm.
By cultivating the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art to a profound level, one could grasp the power of Heavenly Lightning! This was the might of this technique.
With this trace of Heavenly Lightning power, you could help Shangguan Lan get started.
You pressed two fingers together and directly touched the position of Shangguan Lan’s dantian. Threads of Heavenly Lightning power entered Shangguan Lan’s body.
Sensing the position of your finger, Shangguan Lan’s cheeks flushed bright red, her face full of shyness.
“Concentrate your spirit and hold your breath. Immediately circulate the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art!” You said in a deep voice, looking at the flustered Shangguan Lan.
Hearing your voice, Shangguan Lan quickly calmed down and circulated the technique as you instructed.
A week later, under your guidance, Shangguan Lan successfully got started with the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art.
“Master, I did it!” Shangguan Lan opened her eyes and said in delight.
“Mm, not bad. Go wash up.”
Hearing this, Shangguan Lan looked down and saw her body covered in blood and filth, giving off a foul stench. Her face flushed red again.
Without even taking the time to bid you farewell, she quickly turned and left. As she went, she muttered about how utterly embarrassing this was.
A week later, you brought Shangguan Lan to a sparsely populated place to prepare for tribulation.
“Go. Do as your Master said. I will stand by and protect your cultivation.”
“Mm!” Shangguan Lan glanced at you, then triggered the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation!
Facing the Heavenly Lightning descending from the sky, Shangguan Lan left herself completely undefended, circulating the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art on the spot.
As the first wave of Heavenly Lightning fully descended, Shangguan Lan’s Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art successfully advanced to the first layer, minor accomplishment.
Having successfully withstood the first wave of Heavenly Lightning, Shangguan Lan was overjoyed. She stood up excitedly and waved at you.
You only glanced once before quickly turning your head away, looking elsewhere.
Shangguan Lan was somewhat bewildered, not knowing what you meant by this.
Then something occurred to her. She looked down and saw that her clothes had been blasted away by the heavenly tribulation…
“AH!!!!” Shangguan Lan screamed. In that moment, she wished she could die. She hurriedly took clothes from her storage bag and put them on.
“Cough cough. I forgot to tell you. Beneath a heavenly tribulation, ordinary clothing cannot be preserved.” You transmitted your voice to Shangguan Lan somewhat awkwardly.
“Don’t say another word. Master, you definitely did that on purpose!” Shangguan Lan was furious.
“You can wrap yourself in spiritual power. That way you won’t have to worry about having no clothes on.” You looked at Shangguan Lan, who had put her clothes back on, and reminded her.
“The second wave of heavenly tribulation is coming. Don’t get distracted!”
As soon as the words left your mouth, the second wave of heavenly tribulation arrived, and the tribulation continued!
With the help of the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art, Shangguan Lan passed the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation very smoothly.
The Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation was gone. A heavenly tribulation even more terrifying than the Purple Heaven Divine Lightning had arrived!
As the new heavenly tribulation arrived, a hint of solemnity flashed through your eyes.
Shangguan Lan followed the method you had described. Taking advantage of the fact that the Heavenly Lightning had not yet condensed into form, she plunged headfirst into the tribulation clouds!
In theory, as long as Shangguan Lan’s speed in absorbing Heavenly Lightning power exceeded the speed at which the Heavenly Lightning condensed, she could pass this tribulation!
“Master, help me!” Shangguan Lan’s voice suddenly rang out from within the lightning tribulation.
Shangguan Lan, having only recently cultivated the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art, ultimately could not prevent the Heavenly Lightning from condensing.
You immediately soared into the air. At a position relatively close to the tribulation clouds, you circulated the Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art, absorbing the Heavenly Lightning power from all around!
Your physical body, which had not been strengthened for twenty years, greedily absorbed the Heavenly Lightning power in this moment.
Your Heavenly Lightning Body-Refining Art began advancing toward the third layer!