Seeking Survival

Thunderclouds gathered. Above the sinkhole, clouds surged. A heavenly tribulation! Being closer to Yin Changsheng than the cultivators outside, Qin Sang felt it all the more distinctly. Even knowing full well the tribulation was not aimed at him, an instinctive dread still gripped him. "It's finally here!" Qin Sang breathed a secret sigh of relief. He had played a part in orchestrating all of this. Once he realized escape from the cavern was impossible, Qin Sang had wracked his brains. While fending off Yin Changsheng's attacks, he had pondered relentlessly what he could do, searching for an opportunity to turn defeat into victory. Initially, his target had been the Luyin Blood Pool. That had been a desperate measure. It would have infuriated Yin Changsheng, but it would not have altered their trapped predicament—they still would have had to fight. Moreover, Yin Changsheng never left the blood pool's side, making it impossible to succeed easily. It was only when Yin Changsheng unleashed the Suspended Sword Tower that, amidst what appeared to be certain doom, a glimmer of hope had secretly emerged. Qin Sang had keenly perceived that Yin Changsheng's signs of madness were growing more pronounced. The vile art was eroding his mind; as long as Qin Sang held out, Yin Changsheng was not far from succumbing to demonic possession. Having noticed this, Qin Sang had finally found a breakthrough and immediately pivoted his strategy. Yin Changsheng had used an evil technique to evade tribulation, clinging dishonorably to life. The thing he feared most was the heavenly tribulation. The heavenly tribulation was his inner demon! The Heavenly Eye Butterfly's tribulation lightning divine ability was merely a hollow facade, yet it was enough to draw out his inner demon. However, to succeed, the timing had to be impeccable to prevent Yin Changsheng from seeing through it. Using himself as bait and acting through Liuli, Qin Sang had successfully launched a sneak attack with the solar divine birds. Even if the blast failed to kill Yin Changsheng, it would allow them to unleash the tribulation lightning amid the chaos. And it had indeed succeeded! Relieved though he was, Qin Sang felt utterly exhausted in body and mind. Both his external incarnation and Liuli were completely spent, down to the last drop. The true essence within his own body was likewise running dry. Ever since reaching the Nascent Soul stage, Qin Sang had always prepared a retreat before engaging in battle. This was the first time he had faced such a perilously dire situation, one where no leeway remained. *As expected, it went straight to a lightning tribulation.* Sensing the majesty of the heavenly tribulation, the thought flashed through Qin Sang's mind. Breakthroughs across major realms entailed the three tribulations of wind, fire, and lightning, as well as an inner demon tribulation. The heavenly tribulation faced once every three hundred years, however, consisted solely of lightning—yet its power was bound to be extraordinarily terrifying, aimed purely at striking one dead. Above all, Yin Changsheng had used evil arts to evade tribulation, delaying it for countless years. This heavenly tribulation was destined to shake the world. At the thought that he was also inside the cavern and so close to Yin Changsheng, a chill ran down Qin Sang's spine. Daring not delay, he flickered in a flash and appeared beside Liuli and his incarnation. With a sweep of his hand, Qin Sang stowed the external incarnation into the corpse puppet bag and recalled the Sun God Tree. Without so much as a glance at this chief contributor to the battle, he shoved it straight into his Qianjun Ring. He had no strength left to wield this treasure now. Then, Qin Sang helped Liuli up, retreated to the cavern's edge, swallowed a handful of spirit pills whole, and activated the Ruyi Orb to shield them both. Pressing tightly against the stone wall, he wished he could sink his entire body right into the stone. Qin Sang noticed that Liuli's delicate frame was trembling uncontrollably. A flicker of emotion showed on his face, and he sighed inwardly. Just moments ago, Liuli had willingly relinquished her imprint, submitting completely to his control. At that point, no matter what Qin Sang wished to do, Liuli would have been powerless to resist. It would have been child's play even to plant some suggestion deep within her mind. She had chosen to trust Qin Sang. Naturally, Qin Sang would not exploit her vulnerability. What was more, Liuli had played a monumental role in driving Yin Changsheng into demonic madness. He had kept scrupulously to proper bounds. After launching the three divine birds, he had immediately severed the connection between them without making any extraneous moves, never encroaching upon Liuli's mind in the slightest. Yet did that truly mean there were no lingering dangers? Qin Sang glanced at Liuli's pale, pretty face. Judging by her current reaction, it clearly wasn't that simple. To open oneself completely and surrender control to another—the mere thought was horrifying. Even the faintest trace would become an indelible nightmare for Liuli. What lingering consequences it might leave behind, no one could foresee. Qin Sang thought of the cicada slough in the Qianjun Ring, which he hadn't yet had the chance to hand over to her. With this treasure, would she still be able to break through to the middle Nascent Soul stage as anticipated? Amid these swirling thoughts, the pressure grew heavier and heavier. Amidst the dense thunderclouds, rumblings of thunder rolled without cease. Azure electrical arcs, like wild horses breaking free of their reins, leapt continuously within the tumbling clouds. Waves of power surged madly toward the center, aimed directly at the sinkhole. The speck of lightning at the core of the clouds suddenly blazed brilliant, and arc upon arc of electricity plunged from the sky, descending in an instant like a violent tempest. The mountain quaked violently. Within the black mist, waves surged and tumbled. This was the breakthrough site Yin Changsheng had chosen, equipped with preparations made to withstand tribulation. Yet having now fallen into demonic madness, and with the tribulation descending so abruptly, he had no time to enact any further counters. Under the endless barrage of tribulation lightning, the cavern's ceiling was finally breached. *Rumble...* Qin Sang watched with his own eyes as the ceiling was pierced through by the lightning storm. Thunderous claps erupted inside the grotto, so deafening that all other sounds were drowned out. The azure light was blinding. Qin Sang narrowed his eyes, shock flashing deep within them. He didn't know which heavenly tribulation this was for Yin Changsheng, but its sheer power was terrifying to behold. The stupor on Yin Changsheng's face had not yet faded when he snapped his head upward. This time, it was the real heavenly tribulation. "Damn you, heaven!" Yin Changsheng's enraged roar was swallowed by the rolling thunder. He did not simply sit and wait for death. Slapping the Suspended Sword Tower forcefully, the treasure soared upward amid crisp chimes. Multi-colored radiance arched like a rainbow, springing up violently and bursting forth to intercept the tribulation lightning. In an instant, azure brilliance and multi-colored radiance intertwined in chaotic clash. Incessant booms resonated as the two forces annihilated each other in collision, giving rise to myriad phenomenal spectacles. Thin threads of azure danced amidst the multi-colored rays, creating an eerie, peculiar beauty. The tribulation lightning had been dampened a layer as it passed through the ancient restriction on the ceiling. Even so, the multi-colored rays collapsed and disintegrated one after another beneath the azure lightning. This heavenly tribulation seemed like the wrath the Heavenly Dao had pent up over countless years, all venting out in a single fury. *Rumble!* The tribulation lightning bombarded incessantly. Azure lightning surged down in a torrent. The Suspended Sword Tower hung high above Yin Changsheng's head, faithfully shielding its master. Displaying awe-inspiring might, Yin Changsheng battled the tribulation lightning with all his strength, only for the lightning to smash both him and the tower into the ground. The thunderclouds did not disperse; he was actually still alive! Remnant lightning power roamed erratically throughout the cavern. The entire underground cave was stained with a layer of azure. Yet this was only the first tribulation bolt. The tribulation clouds churned faster and faster, the arcs of electricity noticeably thicker and stouter than before. At this sight, Qin Sang had no leisure to marvel at Yin Changsheng's tenacity. Wrapping an arm around Liuli, he kicked off hard and flew up along the stone wall toward the outside of the sinkhole, preparing to flee the cavern while he had the chance. Just as they were about to fly out of the sinkhole, Qin Sang caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. At the center of the cavern, the ice coffin had been blasted away by the lightning at some point, cracks had opened across the Luyin Blood Pool, and the sole ice platform exposed outside had vanished. Blood trickled and flowed out. Within the blood pool, a figure was struggling desperately to break free. Tong Lingyu's injuries were not life-threatening. What had restricted her was partly the restriction Yin Changsheng had placed upon her, and partly the blood pool itself. The shattering of the Luyin Blood Pool had also shielded her from the lightning's aftershocks. Part of the restrictions binding her had finally loosened, and she was doing everything she could to break free from the pool's hold.