The second cultiva for immortality

In the early morning, the summit of Lianyun Mountain is already enveloped by thunderclouds, as if it were a scene at the end of the world. Xiang Tianxing, this young man with a slender yet extraordinary temperament, slowly opens his eyes. The light in his eyes is like the brightest star in the night sky. The corners of his mouth slightly rise as he shouts loudly, "Come on!" His voice echoes amid the dull thunder, exuding fearlessness and anticipation.

At the spiritual acupoint on the mountain summit, the rich spiritual energy seems to be on the verge of materializing and constantly surges. On a huge rock, Xiang Tianxing sits steadily like a pine tree. His slender figure, set against the raging lightning, appears even more resolute. His eyebrows are like ink paintings, and his eyes are like stars, as if they were masterpieces meticulously carved by the heavens. Beside him are two sets of formation flags. If someone who understands formations is present, they can tell at a glance that one set is used to gather spiritual energy, and the other is used to resist external forces. Looking at this abnormal celestial phenomenon, it is clear that he is about to undergo tribulation.

This astonishing celestial phenomenon of thunder tribulation has lasted for three days and three nights. At first, a glimmer of morning light could still barely peek through the gaps in the thunderclouds. But as time passed, the dark clouds grew thicker and heavier, constantly pressing down and rolling, like a giant black city on the verge of collapse. The purple arcs of lightning darted and jumped in the dark clouds. Each flash was like the bared fangs of a demon lurking in the dark, sending shivers down one's spine.

Xiang Tianxing remains unmoved. His mind is already immersed in the upcoming challenge of the thunder tribulation. After another three long days and nights, the thunderclouds have become so dense that it seems as if the entire sky has become a giant furnace, ready to melt everything in the world. The purple lightning has also changed from being faintly visible at first to thick and dazzling. It is like angry purple dragons tumbling and roaring in the clouds.

Finally, a purple lightning bolt carrying the power to destroy heaven and earth descends like a colossal axe, striking down towards Xiang Tianxing on the mountain summit. Xiang Tianxing's gaze is firm. His palms quickly turn upward, and spiritual energy surges in his palms, forming a visible shield. In this way, he catches that purple lightning bolt with his bare hands. In an instant, a brilliant light shines. The electric current meanders along his arms, and his clothes flutter loudly. But his body is as steady as a rock, without the slightest movement.

Several dozen miles outside Lianyun Mountain, a group of cultivators are nervously observing this thunder tribulation. When they see Xiang Tianxing catch the mysterious thunder with his bare hands, exclamations of astonishment rise one after another in the crowd. Someone can't help but sigh in admiration, "Catching the mysterious thunder with bare hands. Xiang Tianxing is truly amazing!" The person next to him immediately echoes, "Yes, the number one person in the cultivation world is certainly not someone with an undeserved reputation." However, among these exclamations of admiration, there are also some low murmurs: "Fortunately..." Everyone in their hearts understands the unspoken words - fortunately, this Xiang Tianxing, regarded as a "poisonous tumor," is finally about to ascend through tribulation.

A seemingly sincere voice says, "May he succeed in ascending." Everyone immediately responds, "Yes, what the fellow cultivator said is right." Just then, someone with sharp eyes suddenly exclaims, "Hey, look! Isn't that in Xiang Tianxing's hand the Gangfeng Shura Sword?" Everyone focuses their gazes and then confirms one after another, "Yes, it is indeed the Gangfeng Shura Sword. Isn't that the treasure that guards the sect of the Qingxu Sect?" Hearing this, everyone's gazes turn齐刷刷 towards a disciple of the Qingxu Sect. That disciple's face twitches, and his expression instantly stiffens for a moment. But soon, he forces a laugh and says, "Indeed it is. However, some time ago, it was borrowed by Ancestor Xiang. It was originally used for undergoing tribulation. If this sword can help him, it is also a chance for our Qingxu Sect and the ancestor. It's a small matter, haha, just a small matter." Everyone in their hearts understands Xiang Tianxing's actions and style, so they don't expose him. After all, in this cultivation world, almost no prominent sect can escape the fate of having their treasures "borrowed" by Xiang Tianxing.

At this time, someone else says with a smile, "I've seen this before. It's the Jinyang Cone of the Liehuo Sect. Last time, the young master of the Liehuo Sect showed off with this at the auction on Futu Island." Someone mischievously teases and asks, "Does the sect leader of the Liehuo Sect know about this?" The sect leader of the Liehuo Sect is standing at the back of the crowd. Hearing this, he gives a scornful smile and says calmly, "This object was requested by Ancestor Xiang himself. Since he has opened his mouth, we naturally offer it with both hands. It's just a magic weapon. To gain his favor is also the honor of the Liehuo Sect." Everyone secretly judges in their hearts that the self-restraint of this sect leader of the Liehuo Sect is much stronger than that of the person from the Qingxu Sect. But only the sect leader of the Liehuo Sect himself knows that his heart is bleeding at this moment. That unruly son! Showing off with the family's magic weapon everywhere is not good. Now he has been noticed by Xiang Tianxing. Just like a good meat bun being taken by a dog. He secretly vows in his heart that he must lock up that brat for ten years to vent his anger.

The thunder tribulation has lasted for a full ten days and ten nights. At this time, the thunderclouds finally show signs of gradually subsiding. But whether it is Xiang Tianxing who is undergoing tribulation or the onlookers dozens of miles away, their nerves are stretched to the extreme and they dare not relax at all. Because they all know that there are a total of eighty-one mysterious thunders in tribulation, and now, only the last one is missing.

The thunderclouds slowly gather. From a distance, it is as if a naughty child has dotted a huge ink blot on the gray sky curtain. In that ink mass, purple electric lights flash and jump, as if they will break free from their restraints at any moment and choose someone to devour. Everyone's hearts are in their throats as they nervously stare at the sky. Suddenly, everyone's eyelids jump violently. The last purple electric light is like a beast that has been imprisoned for a long time and finally breaks free. Carrying a momentum that can tear apart heaven and earth, it suddenly tears the sky curtain as if cutting the entire sky in half. That powerful pressure makes it seem as if even the air has solidified even from a great distance, making people unable to muster the slightest thought of confronting it head-on. The onlookers immediately drive up their own magic weapons without a word and quickly retreat dozens of miles before looking back with lingering fear.

But Xiang Tianxing, who is right below the purple lightning, remains calm. He quickly makes hand seals with his fingers and chants incantations. Dozens of streams of spiritual energy shoot out like meteors. In an instant, a buzzing sound rings out around him. The formation flags move without wind, rustling like a strong wind blowing. A sudden burst of cyan spiritual light rises up and quickly gathers to form an arc-shaped shield, completely enveloping Xiang Tianxing. This is the living formation of the Piaomiao Sect. In the early stage, it can absorb external attacking forces. When the final layer of the formation is activated, it can counterattack with several times the force of the absorbed attacks earlier, catching the enemy off guard. This is the essence of the living formation.

In the blink of an eye, that huge purple lightning bolt crashes down on the shield. The powerful impact makes the shield instantly concave in several places, as if it will break at any moment. Xiang Tianxing's expression turns solemn. Without hesitation, his slender fingers make hand seals like a blooming lotus. Silently chanting incantations, a dazzling blue light suddenly bursts out from his body, directly striking at the purple lightning!

"Primordial Tripod!"

With a loud clang, all living beings within a hundred miles of Lianyun Mountain feel as if their heads are dizzy. It is as if their heads have been hit hard by something heavy. Their bodies sway and almost fall down. The onlookers, suppressing their dizziness, hold their heads and look into the distance. They see the clouds disperse and the sun, which has been covered for a full ten days, finally emerges completely. Golden rays of light like countless sharp swords spill down on Lianyun Mountain. That magnificent scene is like a fairyland descending to the mortal world, as if reborn after a long separation. At the same time, a light and ethereal fairy music comes from nowhere. That music is so melodious and graceful that it makes people feel a sense of clarity and enlightenment as if they have had a sudden realization.

Everyone secretly breathes a sigh of relief, thinking that Xiang Tianxing should have ascended successfully. However, just when they are about to put their hearts at ease, the fairy music suddenly stops abruptly. The air is instantly filled with a deathly silence. After a long time, someone exclaims, "This... Has Xiang Tianxing ascended or not?" This sentence voices the doubts in everyone's hearts. After all, they have never seen a real successful ascension through tribulation. But in any case, it should not be such a calm situation. Just now, Xiang Tianxing even sacrificed his life-bound magic weapon, the Primordial Tripod. With his personality and strength, this last move must be a killer move. How could he possibly fail? Moreover, if he hasn't ascended successfully, how could there be fairy music?

A voice says hesitantly, "In this situation... Is it successful?" However, before he can finish speaking, a sudden shout comes from the crowd, "Look!" Everyone's hearts tighten. They quickly look up and see that the sun, which had already emerged halfway, is actually covered by clouds again. Thick shadows quickly spread like a tide. The rumbling thunder shakes the earth, making people's hearts tremble.

"This, this, this... Is this another tribulation?!" Someone shouts in disbelief. The sect leader of the Lie Ri Sect has a solemn expression and says in a low voice, "I'm afraid it's not tribulation. This is falling into demonic possession." Everyone focuses their gazes and sure enough, they see red lights flashing in the heavy clouds. That light is completely different from the previous purple lightning. Everyone is shocked at the same time. A question emerges in their hearts: Didn't Xiang Tianxing almost ascend? How could he fall into demonic possession?

After a while, someone suddenly shouts, "Don't you all forget that there is another person on Lianyun Mountain?" As soon as these words are spoken, everyone suddenly realizes. Yes, there is not only Xiang Tianxing on Lianyun Mountain. He also has a Dao companion.

As if to confirm their speculation, a bright sword light flashes. That light is so intense that it seems as if it will cut the thickly covered clouds in half! Immediately after, a loud explosion comes from the summit of Lianyun Mountain. The place where Xiang Tianxing was undergoing tribulation and ascending originally begins to collapse slowly like a dilapidated building...

Lianyun Mountain, which has stood for countless years, has fallen.

Xiang Tianxing is awakened by someone pushing him. Accompanying his ears is a voice clamoring, "Tianxing, Tianxing! Wake up! Why are you still sleeping? If you delay things, be careful that the elder in charge scolds you."