A bolt of tribulation lightning had been successfully devoured.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly fluttered her wings gently, descended a short distance, and hovered in midair.
After a brief rest, the butterfly flapped her wings and soared upward once more. Qin Sang let another bolt of tribulation lightning slip past at just the right moment, creating a safe opening for her.
Fortunately, the first wave of tribulation lightning was comparatively weaker. Qin Sang held off the heavenly tribulation using only the Jinchen Sword and his sword array; there was no need to deploy the Mysterious Mirror Chill Gale Array just yet.
Soon, the first wave drew near its end.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly had only managed to devour two bolts in time.
Faint arcs of lightning flickered across her wings. Her pair of heavenly eyes looked like eyes of thunder, radiating a wondrous light and a soul-shaking aura of tribulation lightning.
Apart from that, no obvious changes could be seen in the butterfly herself.
Bai had once remarked that devouring heavenly tribulations proved she possessed boundless potential. However, to truly mature enough to aid Qin Sang through a tribulation, she still had a long road ahead.
During the lull in the heavenly tribulation, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly settled back onto Qin Sang's shoulder, focusing all her strength on absorbing the power of the tribulation lightning within her.
Qin Sang gazed into the firmament.
The tribulation had stirred the celestial phenomena. The tribulation clouds stretched beyond sight, and fierce gales tore turf straight from the ground, reducing the surrounding wasteland to a scene of utter devastation.
Cloud vapor churned at the heart of the storm as the tribulation lightning gathered strength. Earth-shattering rumbles echoed continuously from high above, and the center of the cloud grew ever brighter as arcs of lightning flashed without pause.
The arcs tore through the clouds, revealing a mere glimpse of what lay within—countless lightning pythons coiled there, harboring terrifying power.
Seeing this, Qin Sang's expression grew solemn.
The thunderous rumbles droned on, and the lightning arcs in the tribulation clouds grew increasingly dense. Before the next lightning had even fallen, its momentum already far surpassed that of the first wave.
Countless arcs of lightning choked the sky, converging upon the surface of the clouds to form snakes of electricity as thick as a thumb. Breaking free of the clouds, they plummeted toward the ground.
Every bolt pointed straight at Qin Sang. Countless electric snakes surged in the same direction, gathering above his head. To the naked eye, it was impossible to tell whether they had truly fused before a massive pillar of lightning crashed down with a deafening roar!
Qin Sang's scalp tingled. Not daring to be careless, he swiftly formed an incantation to activate the Mysterious Mirror Chill Gale Array.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A freezing gale sprang up within the spirit array, causing the temperature to plummet.
Thick mystic ice condensed across the ground, plunging the area into deep winter in an instant.
However, the power of the array remained confined to the space surrounding Qin Sang. The freezing wind took on tangible form, and grim white vapor swirled around him.
The gale formed hundreds of whirlwinds positioned ingeniously—exactly three zhang above Qin Sang and distributed with immaculate precision to form a hemisphere centered upon him.
The whirlwinds rapidly solidified, suddenly freezing into circular ice mirrors facing up toward the clouds, sparkling as they reflected the arcs of lightning.
The freezing winds within the array grew increasingly fierce, nearly obscuring Qin Sang's figure as an endless stream of chill qi sustained and reinforced the ice mirrors.
The moment the array took shape, the tribulation lightning struck!
Repeating his earlier technique, Qin Sang quietly channeled his sword mantra. A beam of sword light soared into the sky. The space illuminated by the lightning suddenly turned dim as countless sword threads wove into a dense sword net, which was immediately illuminated brilliantly as the aggressive lightning slammed into it.
The sword net and the lightning instantly became entangled. Crackles rang out incessantly as countless bolts scattered within the sword array, though the net was also torn through layer by layer.
Moreover, the lightning was not limited to this single blast; a relentless stream of electric snakes continued to rain from above.
With a thought from Qin Sang, the sword array descended of its own accord, nearly fusing into one with the Mysterious Mirror Chill Gale Array. Sword threads and ice mirrors intertwined seamlessly before being submerged together beneath the tribulation lightning.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Struck by the lightning, the ice mirrors trembled violently. Bursts of cold light erupted across their surfaces like blooming ice blossoms, breathtaking and chilly.
Ice blossoms, sword threads, and tribulation lightning together painted a rare, marvelous spectacle.
The seemingly frail ice mirrors proved extraordinarily resilient. Constantly absorbing the freezing wind from below and coordinating with the sword array, they reflected countless bolts of lightning back into the sky. Seeing that the situation was stable, Qin Sang finally let some of the lightning slip through for the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to absorb.
While he was focused on undergoing his tribulation, in the northern reaches of the wasteland lay a scattered mountain range.
Within an unnamed valley there, mist perpetually cloaked the land, concealing an immortal cultivation clan of considerable strength.
Of course, that was only relative to the immediate vicinity. The clan patriarch was merely a late Core Formation cultivator, entirely unremarkable when compared against the wider Central Plains.
Due to their proximity, the commotion of Qin Sang's tribulation alerted the cultivators within the valley.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Beams of escape light in various colors surged out of the mist one after another, finding an old man already standing there.
"Greetings, Patriarch!"
Following the patriarch's gaze, the group looked toward the center of the wasteland.
Though still far away, they could faintly see the abnormal gathering of cloud vapor on the horizon. The oppressive weight of celestial might was unmistakable, leaving them trembling with fear.
"Which senior is undergoing a tribulation over there?" a young woman murmured, covering her mouth in a mix of dread and curiosity.
Zhongzhou was full of preeminent figures; even if they had never seen one in person, they had heard countless legends.
"The wasteland is sparsely inhabited, free from the threat of great powers. If I remember our clan's records correctly, a senior once underwent a tribulation here in the past as well. For this senior to choose the wilderness rather than a sect... could he be a rogue cultivator?" the middle-aged man beside the young woman spoke up.
He wore a Daoist robe and bore a resemblance to the young woman. Holding considerable standing among the group, he looked toward the patriarch with an inquiring gaze.
The patriarch nodded. "Those in the Core Formation stage will come with me. The rest, return to the valley!"
Though the young men and women looked reluctant, they did not dare disobey the patriarch's order and flew back into the valley.
The remaining cultivators followed the patriarch, deliberately landing on the ground and employing their movement techniques to approach the site of the tribulation.
As they advanced, the old man shared an untold clan secret with his descendants for the first time: "Three thousand years ago, a senior passed through the wasteland, heavily injured for reasons unknown. He was forced to undergo his tribulation in haste and perished beneath the heavenly lightning. Our founding ancestor acquired the relics of that Nascent Soul cultivator and established our clan's rise... The Hengming Sect and the Lu family have likely mobilized as well. If an opportunity arises to fight for a Nascent Soul expert's relics, it will be a bitter battle, so prepare yourselves. But remember this above all: unless you are certain the one undergoing the tribulation has perished, you must not draw near!"
"May this senior perish and his Dao be extinguished!" The middle-aged cultivator sneered, his face brimming with anticipation.
Weaving through the wild grass, the group looked up at the tribulation clouds in the sky. Shocked by the terrifying lightning, they stopped at a safe distance.
"So this is a heavenly tribulation... Truly capable of destroying heaven and earth..." The middle-aged cultivator stared blankly at the lightning, filled with reverence and fear. As he muttered to himself, a whistling howl suddenly startled him. Looking up sharply, he saw a saber beam streaking toward them from the high sky ahead.
Terrified, the kinsmen reacted with practiced coordination, each summoning identical spirit swords that encircled the patriarch to form a sword array.
Boom!
The saber beam pierced clean through the sword array. Its residual force gouged a trench several hundred zhang long across the ground, instantly encasing both the trench and the surrounding wild grass in ice.
The sword array shattered on the spot. The flying swords scattered across the ground, frozen into blocks of ice, with some snapping then and there.
"Get lost!" a cold bark echoed in their ears.
The Core Formation cultivators stared dumbly at the broken swords, a chill running down their spines. Without even catching a glimpse of the figure, they fled northward in panic.
***
Upon the Feiyun River.
Originating in the Northern Barrens, emptying into the South Sea, and cutting through the Central Plains, the Feiyun River served as a vital waterway across the continent. Countless vessels plied its waters, from the treasure ships of immortal cultivators to the merchant vessels of mortals, each keeping to their designated channels.
At that moment, a green-canopied treasure ship was sailing from north to south.
It traveled down the dead center of the river at lightning speed.
Not only did mortal merchant ships give way, but even other treasure vessels took the initiative to steer clear upon encountering it. This was entirely because an old man sat cross-legged at the stern.
The old man wore a sinister expression and made no effort to conceal his cultivation—he was a Nascent Soul forefather!
The ship was draped in light gauze curtains, from within which came the exquisite music of pipes and strings alongside the silhouettes of graceful dancing. Yet an esteemed Nascent Soul cultivator remained outside the canopy. If even such a person lacked the qualification to enter, how terrifying must the identity of the person within be?
A rare few cultivators also noticed the blood-moon mark between the old man's brows. Recalling a certain legend of the cultivation world, they could not help but suck in a breath of cold air, daring not show the slightest disrespect.
The green-canopied treasure ship traveled downstream unimpeded.
Though the gauze curtains were not thick, outsiders could only make out hazy silhouettes that stirred the imagination.
Inside the canopy,
two tables were arranged to the left and right, laden with fine nectar, jade wine, spirit fruits, and immortal delicacies that gave off intoxicating fragrances.
A man sat cross-legged behind each table.
A wide open space was left in the center.
A woman plucked the strings of a zither. Clad in green with an unadorned face, she possessed an otherworldly aura. Not only was her zither playing superb, but she was also a peerless beauty of breathtaking grace.
Yet as she played, the woman in green did not look at her strings; her lustrous eyes remained fixed upon the white-robed man seated behind the left table.
Beside her, six dancers no less attractive than the woman in green danced gracefully. Each cast playful, longing glances at the man, their deep affection almost overflowing.
The man wore a white robe and a jade belt, radiating suave refinement. He was none other than Su Zinan, the foster son of the Deity Transformation cultivator!
The woman in green was the female Core Formation cultivator who had luckily escaped with her life more than twenty years ago, while the other women were beauties Su Zinan had gathered along his journey.
His taste was undeniable; every one of them was an exceptional beauty.
Su Zinan had actually left Luye to appear in the Central Plains. Moreover, he made no attempt to conceal his identity, brazenly having a Nether Moon Guard steer the ship outside.
Unrestrained in his indulgence, Su Zinan drained a cup of fine wine and beckoned with his hand.
The woman in green glided joyfully into his embrace, leaving the zither strings to vibrate on their own.
Wrapping an arm around the beauty's slender waist, Su Zinan inhaled her scent deeply before looking at the man across from him. "Fellow Daoist Mo, how do you find this Rainbow Skirt and Feather Coat Melody?"
The man opposite him was no less imposing or handsome than Su Zinan, yet he remained stern and unsmiling, projecting an aura that kept others at a distance.
He spared no glance for the beauties and touched no wine. With his eyes closed, he seemed to be regulating his breath in cultivation as he shook his head slightly. "I have no appreciation for romance. I must apologize for disappointing you, Fellow Daoist Su."
Su Zinan sighed. "Beauties are the finest things in this world. In my eyes, they are just as important as the Great Dao and cannot be forsaken. You must not focus solely on cultivation, Fellow Daoist Mo, and neglect the scenery along the way."
"I am all alone, walking on thin ice, and dare not slacken in the slightest. Unlike you, Fellow Daoist Su, who enjoy Senior Lu's protection and live free of care."
A trace of mockery was concealed in the man's tone.
Su Zinan took no offense, instead voicing his admiration: "That is precisely what I admire most about you! Mo Xingdao, ever since you began your cultivation, you refused all restraint and never joined any sect or power. Hunted multiple times by sects, you not only survived, but single-handedly slaughtered the demonic sects of the Northern Barrens until rivers of blood flowed, earning everyone's awe and winning the title of the Northern Barrens' foremost rogue cultivator... What magnificent spirit!"
Facing such praise, Mo Xingdao's expression did not change in the slightest. Showing no sign of pride, he said impassively, "It is not that I am unwilling to accept restraint, but simply that no one has ever offered a price worthy of my freedom."
Hearing this, Su Zinan smiled. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Mo, I am a man of my word. Regardless of whether you can help me find my foster father, so long as you do your utmost to aid me, I will present you with my foster father's insights on breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage once the matter is settled. Furthermore, after his breakthrough, my foster father traveled to the Central Plains and uncovered the secret of ascension. If you are interested, I shall share that with you as well. Once you reach the Deity Transformation stage, you will have no need to plead before the Eight Views Monastery or the Ganlu Temple, sparing you from their coercion."
Mo Xingdao opened his eyes and looked straight at Su Zinan, a sharp light flashing within them. "After Deity Transformation, can one truly ascend?"
Rather than answering directly, Su Zinan countered, "Looking across Zhongzhou, among those who attained Deity Transformation over the years, how many have you heard of reaching the mid Deity Transformation stage and manifesting before the world? And which of them have you heard of perishing beneath a heavenly tribulation? You must realize that Deity Transformation cultivators, just like us, must face the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation once every three hundred years. If their cultivation fails to advance, they die!"
"If that is so, why have the Deity Transformation cultivators vanished?" Mo Xingdao pressed.
In his view, nothing mattered more than ascension.
If he were in their position and ascension were possible, he would naturally prioritize it above all else, secluding himself to build his foundation. What could possibly have lured all these Deity Transformation figures away to vanish without a trace?
Su Zinan's eyes flickered. "If I knew where my foster father went, I wouldn't need to recruit allies so openly and invite you out of seclusion. The Eight Views Monastery and Ganlu Temple certainly know something. I suspect my foster father was implicated because of them, and this journey is precisely to pay them a visit and demand answers!"
Mo Xingdao fell silent.
Ascension was a beautiful aspiration.
Other cultivators could only treat it as a wish, a source of motivation to spur their cultivation. But for them, it was different—they were separated from it by only the single hurdle of Deity Transformation!
It might be within reach, or it might be an insurmountable chasm.
The woman in green poured a cup of wine and gently brought it to Su Zinan's lips.
Su Zinan took a sip when his expression suddenly shifted slightly. In a flash, he flew outside the canopy, standing with his hands clasped behind his back as he looked toward the west.
Mo Xingdao's spiritual sense was no less acute than Su Zinan's; he emerged almost simultaneously, gazing in the same direction.
A moment later, the Nether Moon Guard at the stern finally sensed the anomaly, rising and hurriedly walking to the bow. "Young Master, someone is undergoing a tribulation to the west."
Su Zinan turned to look at Mo Xingdao. "It is a Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, though its might is not particularly formidable. Are you interested, Fellow Daoist Mo?"
Mo Xingdao shook his head. "I bear no enmity toward this person."
With that, he turned and walked back into the canopy.
Su Zinan gave a light chuckle and walked back as well. "Never mind! The distance is too great. By the time we arrive, that person will have long vanished without a trace."
***
Within the wasteland,
Qin Sang was entirely unaware of the ripples stirred by his tribulation.
Wave after wave of tribulation lightning descended. Toward the end, the bolts grew as thick as pythons, possessing earth-shattering might. Formidable as he was, he had to treat them with caution, no longer daring to let the Heavenly Eye Butterfly devour them directly.
The final bolt seemed to tear through the void as the lightning gathered in the clouds poured out without reservation. Concentrated to the absolute extreme, the power formed a colossal sphere of lightning.
Boom!
The earth shook.
Having merged with the demonic fire, the fire lotus seed had long since unfurled into a sea of flames in midair. The instant the lightning sphere slammed toward the Mysterious Mirror Chill Gale Array, the sea surged forward, its roaring demonic fire engulfing the sphere instead.
As expected, this heavenly tribulation posed no great threat to Qin Sang.
Standing inside the deep crater blasted open by the lightning, Qin Sang watched the rapidly dispersing tribulation clouds.
'The heavenly tribulation showed no signs of abnormality. Does this mean the Heavenly Dao has already accepted me, someone who possessed another's body?'
With this thought, he summoned his incarnation and immediately fled into the distance.
Chapter 1581