Xu Qing was very pleased with the shadow’s breakthrough. And the Shadow Fusion Secret Magic was definitely shocking. It could definitely be considered a trump card, and though it differed from the secret magic utilized by the red-garbed young woman, it led to a very similar result.

The difference was that the young woman summoned a battle soul to fuse with, while Xu Qing transformed into the pure, ultimate body cultivator.

Nowadays my life lamps and poisons aren’t any sort of secret. Therefore, my first layer of secrets is the shadow. The weapon wielded by the girl in red shows how effective it is to hide your assets openly. If the shadow’s revealed, I can do something like that.

My second layer of secrets is Within the Nine Springs and the Shadow Fusion Secret Magic. The first isn’t too difficult to keep secret. As for the second, I need to come up with some sort of mnemonic to say out loud so people don’t realize what’s really going on, and also catch people off guard when I use it. My third layer of secrets is my ability to produce mutagen. My fourth and final layer of secrets is, as always, the violet crystal.

Having organized his thoughts, Xu Qing looked at his coffin-shaped shadow.

I wonder if it will change form again next time it achieves a breakthrough.

He had the feeling it would. However, now wasn’t the time to ask for details, especially considering how difficult it was to communicate with the shadow.

At that point, Xu Qing remembered Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior, and turned to look at him.

The patriarch was truly in agony. He twitched as countless lightning bolts coursed over him and occasionally pierced through his body. It was so painful he couldn’t hold back from letting loose some screams now and then.

However, the patriarch had a sense of self-respect. When he saw the shadow looking at him scornfully, and then noticed Xu Qing looking in his direction, his eyes suddenly burned with madness. He was currently a lightning spirit, and would normally have needed some more time before building his way up to the point of transforming into a soul and provoking heavenly tribulation. That was when he should have attempted the baptism of tribulation.

But he didn’t have time to worry about all that now. By devouring the other spirit automatons, he was able to advance by leaps and bounds, thus activating all of the power of lightning within them. Throwing his head back and howling, he performed a double-handed incantation gesture and then pointed upward.

“Bring on the tribulation!”

Innumerable lightning bolts emerged from the patriarch, creating a blinding display as they shot up into the ceiling of the cave. They burrowed up through the soil, then shot out of the valley, converging into a huge river that rose into the dome of heaven.

Rumbling filled the black clouds overhead as the river of lightning pierced through them. Then, thunderous booming rang out as they exploded above the cloud cover. As the booms echoed out, red lightning bolts began to dance through the clouds, slowly gathering to form one gigantic band of red.

It even seemed to contain a will of its own as it suddenly shot down. It descended to the lands below, into the valley, and into the cave.

***

Somewhere else in Forbidden by the Sword, not too far away from the valley, the Captain fled madly through the jungle. Everywhere he passed froze over, leaving pure ice behind him. His face was flushed, his eyes shone, and he cackled madly as he sped along, taking occasional bites from a crimson fruit he held in his hand.

This thing is amazing! Totally amazing!! A truly holy fruit that grew out of the ultimate evil and the strongest mutagen. This thingy was born out of pure adversity. It’s definitely extraordinary. I could smell it from a mile away. Hahahahaha— oh crap!

A mysterious light suddenly rose up behind him, then became something like a sharp blade that slashed through all the trees in its path.

It closed in rapidly until it seemed like it was just on the verge of slicing into the Captain. He twisted in a bizarre fashion, leaping out of the way at the last moment. In that manner he dodged the blow, though a few hairs were severed in the process. Inhaling sharply, he threw the fruit into his mouth, and without looking back, fled even faster than before. That was when he saw some lightning in the distance, and heard the rumble of thunder. His eyes lit up.

Another precious treasure? Should I go check it out? My pursuers are dangerous, and I think I woke up their chieftain. I can’t believe they’re being so stingy.

The Captain hesitated for a long moment. If he didn’t take advantage of this situation, he would regret it later. Thus, it made sense to go have a look. Given the levels of speed he was capable of, it was entirely possible he could kill two birds with one arrow.

Gritting his teeth, he changed directions.

Besides, based on what he had sensed earlier, the chieftain of the species he had just encountered was suffering from an old injury, and couldn’t easily be awakened. What was more, there were warding spells in the area placed by numerous species. It seemed possible they had been put in place specifically for that chieftain.

Don’t tell me he’s actually the subordinate of this forbidden ground’s emperor? If so, maybe he was also defeated in the fighting with the countless species of Sea-Sealing County. Maybe he managed to flee back here to heal, only to be chased and sealed. With those warding spells in place, he’s basically a prisoner here. This place is called Forbidden by the Sword, but is it more appropriate to call it Imprisoned by the Sword? 1

The Captain recalled that this forbidden ground had actually been called by a different name in the past. As he continued running, he took out another crimson fruit and took a bite.

Behind him, loud rumbling sounds echoed out as a huge tree fell, knocked down by a group of six-armed giants that were angrily chasing him. The giants were all roughly 30 meters tall, with green skin and very large ears. What was most eye-catching about them, though, were their earlobes. They all had bells in their earlobes, which made melodious chiming sounds when they moved. The bells seemed to be a natural part of their body. What was more, the mysterious light from earlier actually came from the bells. These people were a species unique to this forbidden ground. Their eyes radiated madness and killing intent as they pursued the Captain.

Among their number were a few dozen who were in the Gold Core level. Most shocking of all was that, behind them in their ancestral land, which was where the Captain had fled from, there was a faint aura of awakening. Apparently, some very powerful cultivator was waking up there.

***

While that wild pursuit played out, Xu Qing was back in the valley paying very close attention to Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior.

He watched as countless red lightning bolts, filled with the ultimate expression of will, shot through the soil and toward the patriarch. The patriarch shivered and screamed in agony. Red lightning bolts assailed him, piercing into his spirit body, and creating a bright red glow. This was the process of him transforming from a spirit automaton into a soul automaton.

Within that blinding light, the patriarch’s body was already riddled with damage, making him look very bedraggled. He was even gasping for breath.

Meanwhile, the red lightning caused the shadow’s narrowed eyes to fill with a very serious expression. However, it quickly realized that reacting in that way wasn’t ideal, and it went back to looking smug and derisive.

Xu Qing could tell that this was no ordinary lightning, and his eyes glittered.

Eventually, the lightning started to fade, and the patriarch’s shrieks of anguish turned into roars of rage. At the same time, the madness in his eyes grew more intense. He had successfully passed the first round of tribulation, and thus he dropped into a cross-legged position and began circulating the red light within him. He needed to prepare for the second round of tribulation. At the moment, he was incredibly weak, to the point where he was having trouble not falling over. In that state, it was going to be very difficult to pass the second round.

Xu Qing looked on thoughtfully. Meanwhile, more rumbling sounds echoed out from the sky, almost like shouts of rage. Then more red streaks filled the clouds as the second round began. Countless red lightning bolts created a blood-colored river that shot down through everything to land on the patriarch.

The patriarch opened his eyes, and they were filled with despair. That was when Xu Qing took action.

Stepping forward to the patriarch, he shoved his right hand up into the air. Instantly, two umbrellas appeared, which then transformed into heavenly palaces. When they blocked the lightning, rumbling sounds echoed out, and Xu Qing shivered. He could sense the powerful will of destruction in the lightning, and as his defenses fought back against it, both opposing forces began to diminish. He tried to absorb the lightning, but was unable.

“This heavenly tribulation has red lightning that can destroy both the soul and the body. What an interesting breakthrough, Master Freespirit.” Xu Qing had never seen anything like this before. Looking down at Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior and seeing that he had largely recovered, Xu Qing asked, “Ready to continue?”

“Milord, I—”

The patriarch had been just about to say that he couldn’t go on. But then he noticed the disdain and hostility in the eyes of the shadow.

Gritting his teeth, he howled, “I can do it!”

Xu Qing nodded and stepped back, allowing the lightning, which had been reduced by about half, to continue falling. In the blink of an eye, it slammed into the patriarch.

The patriarch gritted his teeth and faced it. As red lightning pierced into him, he trembled violently. His body dimmed, to the point where it looked like it might disappear. Apparently, he just couldn’t deal with the tribulation.

The sensation of imminent death filled the patriarch. He smiled bitterly. He had always been a careful person who planned things out. If he provoked an enemy, he would pay any price to wipe them out. If he wasn’t able to wipe them out, he would move his entire sect somewhere safe. And if that didn’t work, and he faced death, he would always have a backup plan to survive. He wouldn’t even balk at offering himself as a slave, as long as he kept on living.

Now he was in complete despair. As the lightning engulfed him, he began to laugh with bitter madness. He couldn’t accept this result, and yet, had no choice but to feel deep regret. He didn’t regret attempting the breakthrough. Instead, he regretted not taking more risks when he was young. Because he had been so focused on staying alive, he had never dared to risk his life to seize resources. Because of that, he never managed to ignite his life flame.

When he read books, he would always imagine himself in the shoes of the main character. In fact, he would fantasize about being the main character. He would dream of starting as a mortal and eventually rising to the highest heights.

Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior looked up at Xu Qing and bitterly shouted, “Get it in your head that Master Freespirit also has natural aptitude! Get it in your head, Fiendish Xu, that Master Freespirit is also a person with destined opportunities! Get it in your head, Ol’ Devil Xu, that Master Freespirit wasn’t born to be a slave!!!”

So why… did things end up like this…? As he thought back on his life, he just couldn’t accept what was happening. His emotions stirred, filling him with despair, madness, and regret. It was especially bad because, being on the verge of death, there was so much he wanted to say, yet couldn’t. It didn’t matter.

With death imminent, his despair reached the pinnacle. It was the same with his madness and regret.

Xu Qing looked at Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior and sighed inwardly as he prepared to step in and save him.

But then, as the patriarch’s emotions reached the most extreme level, the red lightning bolts within him suddenly lurched to a halt. Apparently, they had reached a sudden sympathetic resonance with the patriarch. It was as if… the requirements for them to become a part of him had been met. .𝙘𝒐𝒎

Instantly, the lightning converged within him, circulated once, and then caused the vanishing parts of the patriarch’s body to appear once again.

And now they were red!

The patriarch’s body was seventy percent red, with thirty percent remaining the same as before. It indicated that his breakthrough was seventy percent complete. Thirty percent of him was spirit, seventy percent was soul. The heavenly tribulation vanished. His breakthrough had been both a failure and a success. Stunned, the patriarch looked down at his body.

First he felt confused, but then that confusion turned into elation. Then he thought back to what he had yelled moments ago, and his face turned pale. Feeling incomparably nervous, he slowly turned to Xu Qing, an expression on his face that looked more unsightly than if he were crying.

“Er… milord, I was just saying that because I had to. For a special technique I was using. In the key moment of a breakthrough, the technique requires you to say things like that…. Truth be told, your humble servant’s time following you, milord, has been the happiest time of my life! Seriously, milord… you really can’t take anything I said seriously.”

Off to the side, the shadow grinned maliciously and shook its head.

1. In Chinese, the two different names he’s thinking about are very similar in Chinese. The pronunciation is almost the same, with the difference only being in the tone. The characters are totally different though. 👈