novelraw Chapter 597 - 596: The Thunder Tribulation with a Grand Momentum
Chapter 597 - 596: The Thunder Tribulation with a Grand Momentum
Watching members of the small courtyard make obvious advancements while she remained stagnant, Hu Zhile felt uneasy.
Even the Beauty Puppet had learned to become a Talisman Master, yet she couldn’t advance even one Realm.
Although the principle of Natural Daoist Technique suggests fullness leads to overflow, recently she clearly felt powerless, as if something was missing, just at the threshold for advancement but stuck at the final step unable to progress.
"Don’t rush, don’t rush, everyone has their own talents and pace, take it step by step and maintain peace of mind..." Hu Zhile silently advised herself, trying to calm her mind and advance solidly according to her own level of cultivation.
But somehow, her mood today was in disarray; she couldn’t calm her thoughts.
After breakfast, traditionally Bai Yunqi would teach the Cultivation Technique, and Qingniao called everyone to her mushroom house to cultivate around the Enlightenment Stone.
Hu Zhile quickly swallowed a Calm Heart Pill given by the Venerable Family, finally pushing all troubling emotions behind.
Yun Shu was seeing the starry sky mushroom for the first time; after a brief curiosity, she refocused her energy on Talisman Painting. She didn’t need cultivation or food, preferring to conserve energy by entering a dormant state anywhere safe, indifferent to having her own residence.
Yet, she was still together with everyone else in the mushroom house’s living room, while others sat cross-legged to operate their Cultivation Technique, Yun Shu quietly sat aside painting talismans.
"Since it’s the Enlightenment Stone, Talisman Dao is also a Dao, perhaps it might influence, increasing the success rate of painting talismans." She pondered, cautiously moving forward to ensure herself closer to the Enlightenment Stone.
Outside the window, the cicadas on the big tree were loudly buzzing in the heat; inside the mushroom house, only Yun Shu’s pen tip moved silently across the paper, like spring rain nourishing silently.
Immersed in cultivation, time was completely lost on Hu Zhile, the Calm Heart Pill worked remarkably, she gradually entered a profound state, her being felt like a drop merging into the sea, a burst of light entering a vast brilliance, freely receiving relentless energies flooding into her body.
It was unknown how long had passed, when the calm lake waters suddenly stirred into turbulent waves, earshot of flowing water roared, Spiritual Power within her meridians surged like a flood washing away all barriers!
"Finally made it!" Ecstatic, Hu Zhile opened her eyes; outside, storm clouds had rapidly gathered, the sky gradually darkening.
The Thunder Tribulation had arrived, now it was time to test the fruits of her diligent cultivation!
However, the "flood" in her body seemed slightly uncontrollable, though obeyed commands, yet the Spiritual Power was overly wild.
"Boom~"
The thunder roared violently, prompting Hu Zhile to hurriedly flash out of the mushroom house, she looked up, her heart pounding intensely.
Only to see the oppressive sky full of dark clouds, rolling like a black sea with dragons of lightning emitting a ghastly white light, clearly indicating a tough battle ahead.
"Senior Bai, Senior Hu’s Thunder Tribulation, how come..." Yun Mo looked up, his heart born timid, quietly asked, "Is advancing to the Body Forging Realm always such a grand show?"
Thinking to himself, Senior Bai advanced twice without encountering such a dreadful Thunder Tribulation.
"Everything requires a sense of balance, as they say, a balance between work and rest. This kind of Thunder Tribulation, unmatched by one’s strength, might indicate a hasty stage of cultivation overly reliant on Elixir power, creating weak points which invoke the strict Heavenly Dao Laws, where eager achievements lead to more setbacks." Bai Yunqi pondered, explaining in the mildest way possible.
Typically, encountering such Thunder Tribulation indicates a person crossing Tribulation lacks virtue, needing reliance on personal strength to withstand, failing means perishing.
Cultivators taking shortcut via consuming pills for Thunder Tribulation often face being struck into oblivion for this reason;
Moreover, engaging in harmful deeds between advances, the Tribulation serves as a reckoning, survival depends on one’s ability to offset committed sins with strength.
Thus, Evil Cultivators fear Thunder Tribulation the most, either dragging it out or desperately seeking ways to bolster combat power for tough resistance.
As companions who fought side by side, he knew little about Hu Zhile’s past and didn’t wish to presumptuously judge, thus chose the least disharmonious explanation.
Qingniao was more direct, "It might also be sowing evil seeds reaping evil fruits. Didn’t she formerly work under Ghost Cultivators? Logically, Netherworld’s official Ghost Cultivators can only be Yin Messengers, those unrecognized Ghost Cultivators even sneaked into towns, naturally without proper heritage, leading to knowledge lapses and unruly conduct.
Plus, during the end of the Dharma era, Evil Cultivators ran rampant, even orthodox cultivation realms abound in distorted theories, causing many Cultivators to not grasp proper etiquette, blindly pursuing aggression and violence. Miss Hu lacked reliable elder guidance from childhood, and followed Ghost Cultivators ignorant of Daoist techniques, inevitably incurring killings."
"Ah?" Yun Mo heard and immediately worried for Hu Zhile, she seemed so gentle and frail, fearing her facing such terrifying Thunder Tribulation might risk danger?
He didn’t know if Senior Hu ever committed wrongs, but since she joined the small courtyard and followed their teacher, she had been understanding and tender, warmly caring for companions during nightly hunts in Carefree City.
No matter the reason, he hoped no harm would come to Senior Hu.
However, the teacher was not home at this time, Yun Mo watched the increasingly dreadful storm clouds and softly asked, "Should we call the teacher back?"
"No need to disturb the Venerable Family over this matter." Bai Yunqi held a fan with a solemn face, "If things go awry, I will find a way to disperse the storm clouds, at least ensuring no fatal harm comes to her. Even if the teacher is called back, it wouldn’t aid Miss Hu in crossing the Tribulation, dispersal and postponement is all that can be done."
Yun Shu looked up briefly and gently said, "I believe there’s no need to worry, Miss Hu can handle it."
"I appreciate your good words; if she crosses this tribulation, past deeds will be erased, avoiding Elixir-reliant cultivation, future tribulation wouldn’t be so difficult." Qingniao sat atop the mushroom house, feet swinging, playing with a green feather from her head, ready to toss it if mishap occurs for a lifesaving measure.
At that moment, the snake would scatter the storm clouds, temporarily settling this for possible brotherly assistance later.
"Crack!"
The first Thunder Tribulation finally struck down.
Hu Zhile couldn’t understand why, after being diligent and thorough over the years, she was facing such a formidable tribulation. With indignation in her heart, the familiar tenacity not to lose fueled her anger further. She grasped the Soft Sword and charged against the wind.
This time, I will fight against the heavens!
Why is this happening?
I’ve never done anything utterly reprehensible!
I’ve always honored the elders and cared for the young, striving for perfection in everything. But since following the Venerable Family into the small courtyard, I’m the one with the slowest cultivation, the least willing to swallow Elixir, yet facing the largest Thunder Tribulation. I refuse to accept it!
With surging anger, Hu Zhile seemed less like she was crossing a tribulation and more like she was contesting with the Heavenly Dao Laws. Her graceful silhouette flickered in the rolling black thunderclouds, her Soft Sword flashing coldly as it joined the battle with lightning and thunder.
"Not bad, not bad. This girl usually looks gentle and charming, but I didn’t expect she has a part like me." The bluebird excitedly stood up, looking up at the thunderclouds with eyes full of battle spirit, "Crossing a tribulation should be like this, forging an unparalleled path for oneself to the heavens!"
Bai Yunqi leisurely fanned himself, glancing at the little girl. He thought this girl must have concealed her true identity, suspecting the Venerable Family had seen through it long ago. No wonder they let her cultivate separately from everyone else.
And then there was that little dog, Fangti. After Xiaochuan left, it also disappeared, with the Venerable Family casually mentioning they sent it on some errands. In hindsight, it mysteriously appeared at the doorstep, and the Venerable Family’s attitude towards it was also quite peculiar.
Perhaps they were all drawn by the allure of the secluded paradise of the small courtyard. After the starry mushrooms were erected, the courtyard was brimming with Spiritual Energy, attracting more individuals who watched it covertly.
One had to constantly strive to elevate one’s Realm, or risk being outdone!
The Thunder Tribulation was ferocious. Hu Zhile, relying on her formidable willpower, barely held on halfway through. Feeling her strength waning, she hurriedly swallowed a Spirit Core Pill to replenish her Spiritual Power, then heightened her energy to vigorously continue the battle within her somewhat uncontrollable Spiritual Power.
The number of Thunder Tribulation Crossings in the small courtyard wasn’t few, but this time seemed exceptionally lengthy.
Just as Yun Mo was nervously wiping his sweaty palms for the third time, the vast thunderclouds finally dispersed after the final gigantic lightning bolt struck.
"Watch out!" The bluebird couldn’t help but shout as Bai Yunqi summoned a stream of water, catching Hu Zhile, who was falling mid-air.
After gritting her teeth and enduring the last Thunder Tribulation, she could no longer hold on and passed out. Gentle streams laid her on the bed in the mushroom house as a few people gathered around the bed, their brows furrowed.
"Did Senior Hu successfully advance her Realm?" Yun Mo was the first to inquire.
Bai Yunqi and the bluebird nodded simultaneously, "She succeeded, but..."
"But after a successful Realm advancement, one’s meridians should be clear, and one’s aura invigorated," the bluebird pondered, perplexed, "Yet despite having reached the Body Forging Realm, why does her aura appear even weaker?"
Yun Mo softly asked, "Should we call the mentor back?"
Before, some subordinates dominated parts of the world independently. He, too, was once an overbearing ruler who, after entering the small courtyard, realized his previous arrogance and ignorance. Therefore, he gradually became humble, fearing to act presumptuously.
When venturing into unfamiliar realms, it was comfortingly reassuring to have the mentor as a leading light.
"No need, Miss Hu succeeded in the tribulation with her body unharmed; she might just need some rest," the bluebird waved off, "We’ll see if she feels discomfort after waking up, then reach out to the brother as required."
Hu Zhile had a lengthy dream.
In the dream, she returned to her childhood, becoming the newly Foundation Established little demon.
The raging winds howled, and the earth trembled. She witnessed the sky collapse, and the earth split apart, her sixth brother grievously injured by a rolling boulder, his once bright eyes turning lifeless and finally shrouded with a layer of deathly gray.
So hungry, so hungry, the entire Fox Race consumed all the food. The younger ones, not yet cultivating to Fasting, were so famished they began attacking their smaller, weaker siblings.
Famished, Hu Zhile needed to avoid becoming prey and protect her youngest sister from being devoured.
Where were her parents? Her other siblings? She stood alone, surrounded by fierce, hungry eyes, finding no one to rely on.
Then she’d have to rely on herself, shielding her little sister behind her with no Weapons, baring sharp teeth and claws to fight, until everywhere she looked was drenched in blood.
The more Hu Zhile fought, the braver she became, determined to fall before her sister even if battle-worn, steadfast to remain a warrior, not prey.
The wounds hurt, the stomach ached with hunger, but she survived.
She saw a vast, endless land, vivid green hills, and vibrant rivers.
She thought salvation was in sight, but upstanding human cultivators sought higher Realm powers and more valuable slaves.
Parents brought the four clean, cherished children they had protected to the land. She watched many High Realm fox demons having their kin taken away, remaining fox demons dwindling on the scattered remains of the snow mountain. Swallowed by deep despair, Hu Zhile couldn’t hear her own hoarse cries on the mountain’s edge, simply feeling the overwhelming cold...
"Miss Hu, you’re awake!" Yun Shu, on guard, exclaimed when seeing her eyes open, "How do you feel now? Everyone was really worried about you but didn’t dare disturb as you seemed to sleep deeply. Are you alright?"