Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 267 265: Peng Sword Immortal, Have You Fallen in Love With Me?

"Breaking through here? All right. This area is nothing but wilderness for dozens of miles, so it should do..."

"Ji Xichan, go down and get ready. I'll lay down an array for you to weaken the Celestial Tribulation!"

In response to Pei Yuhang's words, which were finally tinged with a hint of concern, Ji Xichan simply shook her head, her expression serene.

"There's no need. Pei Sword Immortal, I only need you to stand guard for me. I have great use for the power of this Thunder Tribulation."

Her voice was cold and tranquil, as if she were discussing something utterly mundane. She showed no trace of fear for the roiling tribulation clouds overhead.

At her words, Pei Yuhang's brow furrowed even deeper. Sensing the ever-densifying storm of Spiritual Qi gathering overhead, a flicker of anxiety crossed his eyes, and his tone grew heavier.

"Don't be so reckless! Prodigies often die to their Celestial Tribulations!"

His voice held a trace of suppressed fury. The memory of Ye Liyuan Crossing the Tribulation years ago surfaced in his mind unbidden—that blood-red Thunder Tribulation had possessed world-ending might, nearly consuming his Dao Companion entirely.

The memory still sent a chill down his spine, leaving him with a lingering fear.

Ji Xichan, however, remained unfazed. She even raised an eyebrow with a hint of flippant disdain.

"Pei Sword Immortal, you really underestimate me."

"I've already told you, the power of this Celestial Tribulation is of great use to me, so there's no need to persuade me further... Besides, are you really that worried something might happen to me? I thought you were hoping I'd get into trouble~"

Ji Xichan suddenly pressed herself against Pei Yuhang, her slender, pale fingers slowly tracing the hilt of the sword at his waist.

"Looks like things have heated up between us rather quickly these past few days~ Pei Sword Immortal, no matter how cold this sword of yours is, I can still warm you right up~!"

As she spoke, a playful smile graced her cool features. Her rosy lips parted as she whispered, "Pei Sword Immortal, you haven't actually fallen in love with me, have you?"

"What are you talking about? If you hadn't used such despicable means to bind my youngest disciple's life to your own, I couldn't be bothered with you!"

Pei Yuhang grunted and pushed her alluring figure away.

As she was pushed away, Ji Xichan's exquisite lashes fluttered. The blush at the corners of her eyes only grew more vivid in the deepening twilight.

She stumbled back half a step on purpose. Her gossamer skirt rippled in the astral winds, and as she tilted her head, the jade tassels by her ear chimed softly.

"It seems the Pei Sword Immortal's heart was truly stirred~ Pushing me away so hastily... are you afraid you won't be able to stop yourself from betraying Sister Ye? Tee-hee-hee~"

The girl's peals of laughter echoed in the wind, only to be torn apart by the chaotic gales.

Pei Yuhang's brow furrowed, then relaxed in resignation.

"Say what you will. I'm not bothering with you anymore!"

Since Ji Xichan was determined to face the Celestial Tribulation head-on, Pei Yuhang said no more. He could only hope this arrogant little demoness truly had an ace up her sleeve and wasn't just marching to her death...

He let out a soft sigh. In the end, he flew away on his sword, leaving Ji Xichan to face her tribulation alone.

As Ji Xichan watched Pei Yuhang's departing figure, the corners of her lips curled upward into a sweet smile she couldn't suppress.

'That blockhead... All he ever does is spank me, and he doesn't even know how to be gentle about it. But I never would have guessed he actually cared about me this much~'

'Guess that playboy Pei Sword Immortal has a conscience after all!'

After teasing him a bit more in her thoughts, Ji Xichan looked up at the dense black clouds. The smile vanished from her lovely eyes, replaced by a serious expression.

"The Celestial Tribulation... is about to begin."

"Hey, are you ready? The energy from my Divinity Transformation Celestial Tribulation should be more than enough to satisfy you~"

As soon as Ji Xichan finished speaking, her shadow began to bubble like a pool of water. A moment later, a Divine Maiden Statue emitting a faint glow rose from within it.

The Divine Maiden Statue could not speak, but Ji Xichan understood its intention.

Her eyes sharpened. She shot upward on her sword, flying straight into the heart of the black clouds where a torrent of lightning was brewing.

Like a tiny fish in a raging ocean, the young woman plunged into the clouds and vanished, leaving behind but a small ripple.

If Pei Yuhang had witnessed this, there's no telling how he would have cursed this arrogant little she-devil.

Most Cultivators would stand obediently on the ground and wait for the Thunder Tribulation to strike. Who in their right mind would charge directly into its center?

Did she think riding her sword into a sea of lightning was as thrilling as surfing?!

But Pei Yuhang didn't witness this. He stood far from the black Cloud Sea, his heart filled with worry for the young woman as he listened to the first thunderclap crash down.

RUMBLE—!

An earth-shattering roar tore through the sky, as if an invisible, colossal hammer had slammed into the firmament, making heaven and earth resonate and draining the world of color.

Crossing the Tribulation had begun!

Pei Yuhang gazed up at the black clouds, which grew ever denser. It was as if an Ancient Divine Mountain were descending from the heavens, bearing down with an endless Suppression, threatening to grind the very earth beneath it to dust.

"A Thunder Tribulation of this magnitude... even your master Chen Tiansheng's wasn't this outrageous back in his day. Truly, each new generation surpasses the last... When it's Yueqiu's turn to face her tribulation, she'll surely surpass me as well."

Thinking of his first disciple, Pei Yuhang couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy.

He hadn't seen her in so long... and yet, she used to cling to him every single day.

'Perhaps she's truly run into some trouble. Maybe I should find her and have a serious talk?'

...

...

Qing Yueqiu opened her eyes, a flash of crimson light flickering within their depths.

She looked up at the faint patch of black on the horizon. Recalling the traces of her master's hasty departure, she immediately understood.

'That woman, Ji Xichan... is she about to break through to the Divinity Transformation realm?'

'Tch. I was planning to find an opportunity to get rid of her soon. This makes things a bit more troublesome.'

A gentle, swirling breeze from the window scattered her silver hair. The young woman recalled the scene of the Vital Spring Palace she had witnessed outside the Cold Spring Secret Chamber, and a dark, restless flame once again ignited in her heart.

'That hussy, seducing Master! Hmph!'

A torrent of negative energy surged through Qing Yueqiu's heart, causing the butterfly-shaped Curse Seal to emit a dark red glow. Her blood began to race as the Power of Killing Momentum circulated rapidly through her body.

This was something Qing Yueqiu had recently discovered by chance. When she harbored malicious thoughts, the Curse Seal left by Ji Shenyun would strengthen the Power of Killing Momentum within her. This method was even more efficient for her cultivation than simply killing.

To feed on malicious thoughts, to nourish herself...

Qing Yueqiu didn't understand Ji Shenyun's purpose in doing this, but she didn't mind using this method to make herself stronger.

'With the residual power from when Ji Shenyun's True Essence possessed me, I'm not far from breaking through to the Divinity Transformation realm myself.'

'Once I break through, I won't spare a single one of those wicked women around Master!'

Perhaps from enduring the torment of her murderous thoughts day and night, the young woman's way of thinking had become increasingly extreme.