Chapter 725: Sacrificing the Body (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
Chapter 725: Sacrificing the Body (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!"
Yunxi Xianzi thanked him solemnly.
To sever oneself with a sword and transform into a ghost cultivator was the ultimate, desperate measure to preserve one's life.
If possible, she naturally wished to overcome the lightning tribulation and become a revered Return to Void cultivator.
"This isn't without recompense. . . I also wish to observe the fairy's tribulation, and I'd like to borrow a glance at that ghost cultivator's cultivation technique and secret arts."
Fang Xi chuckled.
"Naturally. . . " Yunxi exchanged a glance with Liu Xu, then readily agreed.
Fang Xi observing Yunxi Xianzi's breakthrough was akin to having an extra protector.
"Master. . ."
As for Shui Lingxin, her emotions fluctuated slightly: "Why not wait a bit longer? With a little more time to prepare, we might be able to gather more lightning-transforming treasures and secret arts. . ."
"The reason we ascended cultivators produce so many talents is that we possess a spirit of daring that ordinary cultivators lack!"
Yunxi Xianzi shook her head and sighed: "Right now, I feel my essence, qi, and spirit are perfectly complete, reaching a certain peak. If I delay any further, I fear I will decline from this peak. . . Even if I acquire some treasures then, a sense of decline will have settled in my heart, and the gains might not outweigh the losses. . ."
Such a feeling was profound and ethereal; only the cultivator themselves could accurately grasp it.
Moreover, for ascended cultivators, the pursuit of higher realms almost became an instinct.
Hearing this, Shui Lingxin found it difficult to persuade her further.
...
Several months later.
The Barrens.
Fang Xi transformed into a black streak of light, continuously descending along the canyon until he found an underground crevice.
After entering the crevice, threads of Yin fiend qi assailed him.
"So this is the Nine Nethers Absolute Fiend Yin Pulse?"
He sensed an inexplicable yet powerful aura flowing in the void, and couldn't help but murmur to himself.
At this moment, three streaks of light flew forth, revealing the figure of Yunxi Xianzi leading them.
Her facial skin was so pale it was somewhat transparent, faintly revealing the blood vessels beneath.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Yunxi has already perfected that cultivation technique and made her final preparations."
Seeing this, Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
After browsing that ghost cultivator technique, he naturally knew that Yunxi Xianzi's current state was precisely the precursor to the completion of that secret art.
"Next, I ask Fellow Daoist to protect Yunxi!"
Yunxi Xianzi said: "If all goes smoothly, then there'll be no need to convert to ghost cultivation. . ."
If it didn't go smoothly, there was nothing more to say.
Even among ascended cultivators, those who perished beneath the Great Heavenly Tribulation were countless.
"Mhm."
Fang Xi nodded, flew out of the crevice, and casually released a cyan palace.
This palace was originally contained within a cyan orb. After infusing it with magic power, the orb unfurled, forming a stretch of cyan clouds.
The palace then settled upon the cyan clouds, appearing exceptionally crafted by divine hands.
Fang Xi directly entered the palace and lightly took a seat beneath a month laurel tree.
Shui Lingxin followed behind Fang Xi and poured him a cup of spirit tea: "Uncle-Master. . . Master, she. . ."
"Given Yunxi Xianzi's aptitude and preparations, she should have a fifty percent chance!"
Fang Xi took a sip of the spirit tea and said indifferently: "Moreover. . . she still has a final fallback plan, so why do you need to worry?"
Hearing this, Shui Lingxin couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Not long after, Liu Xu also arrived, riding a streak of light, and gracefully took her seat.
The three of them enjoyed tea and discussed the Dao for over ten more days.
The Heaven and Earth Origin Qi outside suddenly changed!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Between heaven and earth, five-colored spiritual power emerged, transforming into balls of light, then unfurling like petals of flower buds.
The Heaven and Earth Origin Qi surged forth, forming a tide that poured into the crevice.
Immortal music lingered, and an inexplicable, strange fragrance diffused through the void.
"Not bad, not bad. . ."
Fang Xi's face immediately lit up with joy upon seeing this scene: "With this auspicious phenomenon, it means Fellow Daoist Yunxi has successfully condensed her magic power into Immortal Source Qi!"
Yunxi Xianzi originally cultivated water-attribute techniques, but later joined the Heavenly Charm Sect and acquired supplementary cultivation methods.
As an Integration Stage sect, the cultivation techniques bestowed upon its Soul Transformation disciples naturally encompassed all five elements, having long met the requirement of 'all paths merging into one', thus posing no barrier when impacting the Return to Void bottleneck.
In fact, there was even a certain bonus for condensing Immortal Source Qi.
Coupled with the aid of the Heaven and Earth Strange Treasure, 'Glazed Immortal Dew', Yunxi Xianzi's successful breakthrough to the Return to Void bottleneck was entirely reasonable.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Boundless Heaven and Earth Origin Qi converged, even automatically drawing in the surrounding Heaven and Earth spiritual power, causing Fang Xi's eyes to light up: "This place. . . will surely gain an extra spirit pulse in the future!"
In the Human World, a fifth-tier spirit pulse was considered top-tier.
But in the Earthly Immortal World, the situation was slightly different.
Although high-grade spirit pulses also existed, their benefit to cultivators was not as significant.
Because Return to Void cultivators could draw upon Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, the places where they broke through and cultivated would, over time, automatically draw in nearby spiritual energy pathways, forming one spirit pulse after another!
Not to mention, there were also secret methods to relocate spirit pulses.
"With her Immortal Source Qi refined, drawing Heaven and Earth Origin Qi into her body, Sister Yunxi is now a true Return to Void cultivator."
Liu Xu's expression, instead, became unprecedentedly solemn: "Next, comes the tribulation!"
The successful condensation of Immortal Source Qi and breakthrough past the Return to Void bottleneck meant that the cultivator truly had no retreat.
Either overcome all calamities and achieve Return to Void.
Or. . . only death!
"After breaking through, it should be the Heart Demon Tribulation. . ."
Shui Lingxin murmured, and it seemed as if she heard Sanskrit chants echoing in her ears.
Wherever the crevice extended, golden lights appeared, displaying a scene of celestial flowers falling and golden lotuses springing from the earth.
"No need to worry, Sister Yunxi used a sect spirit pill. . . With that, the Heart Demon Tribulation shouldn't be a major issue. It's the subsequent lightning tribulation. . ."
Liu Xu felt a bad premonition in her heart.
When exchanging sect contributions back then, Yunxi Xianzi actually had two choices: first, a treasure to resist the Heart Demon Tribulation, and second, a lightning-transforming treasure that could be exchanged for three years of usage rights.
Yunxi Xianzi considered it for a long time, and ultimately chose the spirit pill.
Clearly, this indicated that she had already made her choice, or at least had some premonition in her heart.
The Heart Demon Tribulation, though spanning thousands of lifetimes in a cycle, was but an instant in the outside world.
In the void, thunder rumbled faintly, and golden lightning bolts, like chains, even suppressed the earlier Sanskrit chants. . .
"The Great Heavenly Tribulation, it's here!"
Fang Xi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Most cultivators made all the preparations they could for their breakthroughs, but primarily, the most common cause of death was being struck down by the Great Heavenly Tribulation!
Crackle!
A golden lightning bolt struck down, resisted mid-air by the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A sound like ocean tides seemed to echo in the void, followed by the appearance of a blurred female figure.
This colossal image was entirely condensed from Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, holding a trident in its hand, which it brandished towards the sky!
Crackle!
The second heavenly tribulation descended, and the colossal image along with the trident instantly exploded, shattering into pieces. . .
Whoosh! Whoosh!
From within the crevice, a black wooden staff flew out.
This staff instantly became incredibly massive, releasing gusts of dark, strange winds with each swing.
The fierce winds blew, sending sand and stones flying, yet they managed to entirely block the next three lightning bolts.
"Truly worthy of being a Return to Void Treasure!"
Liu Xu exclaimed in admiration, looking towards Fang Xi.
She felt that when she eventually broke through, she would also need to prepare such treasures for self-defense beforehand.
Alas. . . how precious were six-tier treasures?
She feared she'd still have to shamelessly borrow one.
"I'm afraid. . . this isn't good!"
Fang Xi gazed at the lightning, but an ominous premonition faintly rose in his heart.
He was, after all, a genuine Return to Void cultivator who had undergone the Great Heavenly Tribulation and knew the tribulation's might.
Yunxi Xianzi had used that black wooden staff, a Return to Void Treasure, a bit too early.
Roar! Roar!
At this moment, the black wooden staff let out a roar, transforming into a monstrous black snake with a single horn, coiling into a ball to meet the sixth heavenly tribulation.
Thud!
A golden lightning bolt struck the colossal black python, making it shriek in agony as its scales cracked inch by inch.
Innumerable black energies dispersed, revealing the black wooden staff's true form.
However, at this moment, those golden electric arcs falling upon the staff directly ignited a ball of golden flame.
Within the flames, the black wooden staff let out a mournful cry, suddenly snapped, and turned into several charred fragments, falling to the ground.
Meanwhile, above the sky, an even more powerful spherical lightning bolt was forming.
Innumerable golden seal script characters drifted within it, exuding a terrifying aura.
"No. . ."
A trace of sorrow swiftly flashed across Shui Lingxin's face upon seeing this scene.
"Alas. . ."
A mournful sigh suddenly echoed from within the crevice.
Beneath the earth, Yunxi Xianzi's hair bun was disheveled, blood seeped from the corner of her lips, and a trace of resolute determination appeared on her face: "As expected. . . it's come to this."
With a delicate finger, she pointed, and a pure, flawless flying sword, seemingly yet to be sharpened or taste blood, emerged.
This was a 'Dharma Sword'!
It was specifically used by high-tier cultivators for 'sacrificing the body', meticulously crafted by Yunxi Xianzi according to a secret art within the ghost cultivator technique.
She had no time to hesitate; with a delicate finger, she pointed.
Pfft!
The sword's edge swept across her swan-like, fair and delicate neck, and a spray of fresh blood directly spurted forth. . .
Amidst the bloody light, a Nascent Soul flew out, its appearance identical to Yunxi Xianzi's, a bitter smile appearing on its face. It formed hand seals, merging with the Nine Nethers Absolute Fiend Yin Pulse behind it!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sounds of boundless ghost wailing emerged, and large amounts of Yin fiend qi surged forth, actually dissolving Yunxi Xianzi's Nascent Soul, leaving behind only a trace of her purest divine soul.
This divine soul rapidly absorbed the Nine Nethers Yin Qi, immediately becoming tangible and substantial.
It was truly strange to say.
When Yunxi Xianzi performed 'sacrificing the body', the golden spherical lightning bolt above the sky suddenly hesitated, lingering and not descending.
Later, the destructive intent within the heavenly tribulation continuously shrank. Finally, the spherical lightning bolt disintegrated, transforming into a golden lightning bolt as thick as a water bucket, which violently crashed down!
The eighth and ninth heavenly tribulations were likewise.
'This ghost cultivator secret art only weakens the Great Heavenly Tribulation. If one still can't pass it, the only outcome remains soul dispersion. . . '
Seeing the ninth golden lightning bolt descend, Fang Xi's heart stirred. He transformed into a streak of light and arrived at the bottom of the crevice.
There, a woman of peerless grace, dressed in a white gown, appearing ethereal and transcendent, was continuously drawing in the Yin Pulse Qi of the Nine Nethers Absolute Fiend to reshape her ghost body.
Fang Xi's eyes moved. He felt that Yunxi's current body actually bore little difference from a living person's fleshly body.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on successfully overcoming your tribulation and achieving the Return to Void ghost cultivation realm."
He smiled, observing Yunxi Xianzi, who now had an extra Yin pattern on her brow, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.
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