"Disciple brother, your true form is too weak," Yun Ranran's voice echoed in Chen Xiao's mind.
"If you didn't have the shadow clone, defeating Nangong Qi and Xiao Yueqing would have been impossible. Now, this master will give you special training."
Although Chen Xiao's cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, his actual strength was still somewhat lacking compared to other cultivators at the same level.
He had defeated Liu Ruyan only because her cultivation was artificially bolstered by elixirs.
Hearing Yun Ranran's words, Chen Xiao's eyes sparked with determination.
Ever since he had seen the tampered fate of himself and his family in the Book of Heaven, orchestrated by the villain system, his mindset had shifted completely. He was no longer lazy, no longer afraid of hardship, no longer unwilling to train.
Now, he was eager to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage—swiftly, decisively. He would seize the heavenly tribulation of the immortal cultivators, overcome it, and ascend. Not only to strengthen himself, but also to help his ancestor succeed in the tribulation and rise to immortality.
"You come to the heavenly tribulation first and seize the opportunity," Yun Ranran's voice instructed.
Chen Xiao nodded. Without hesitation, he left the prison and rushed back to his room.
Immediately, the Nine Heavens Thunder Scripture for Controlling Disasters surged, roaring within him.
Chen Xiao arrived above the heavenly tribulation. Below him, a vast canyon yawned. At the center, a colossal refining furnace—hundreds of feet tall—blazed with divine flames. Within it, a faintly glowing light-blue sword began to slowly take shape.
So this was the sword that had helped mortals and immortals alike endure tribulations.
"Ninth-grade Immortal Sword?" Chen Xiao murmured, taking in its aura. Information flooded his senses immediately.
Immortal artifacts were graded from first to ninth. First grade was the strongest, ninth the weakest. Above the first grade existed the super-grade. Even the weakest ninth-grade immortal weapon could summon calamities in the world of immortal cultivation.
"The man below," Yun Ranran continued beside his ears, her tone tinged with sadness, "is Gu Yan, the number one weapon-refining master of the Dayu Immortal Cultivation Dynasty. This is the first immortal sword he has ever forged. Originally, he was assigned to you as your exclusive weapon master. But the villain has corrupted him; he now serves Tianyang Hou. When we acquire the sword, should we strike him with thunder?"
By the rules of Heaven, Yun Ranran could not directly interfere with the tribulation. Everything must follow the natural order. But Chen Xiao, as a living mortal empowered by her, could manipulate the tribulation—a rare anomaly.
Chen Xiao observed closely. Indeed, Gu Yan sat cross-legged before the furnace, forming hand seals and casting refining techniques onto the nascent sword.
Chen Xiao shook his head. "Why kill him? Better to let him refine weapons… for us."
Yun Ranran's eyes widened in surprise.
Chen Xiao laughed lightly. "It's his first time forging an immortal sword. Mistakes are inevitable. Why not let him try again… under my guidance?"
Yun Ranran's expression brightened. "Clever, my apprentice brother! We can make him your exclusive weapon master. I have a mind-confusing technique capable of infiltrating his consciousness. During the tribulation, it will turn sword refinement into his obsession!"
A secret technique formed, flowing from the void into Chen Xiao's sea of consciousness. Standing above the heavenly tribulation, in harmony with its energy, he absorbed it instantly. Of course, this mastery applied only during the tribulation event.
---
"It's done!" Gu Yan exhaled, rising slowly.
Above, calamity clouds churned and roared. Gu Yan whispered, almost to himself, "The ancients were not deceiving me. Refining immortal artifacts in the world of cultivation brings about heavenly tribulation. The final step… tempering with lightning and fire."
Confidence shone in his eyes. "Lord Tianyang gifted me immortal material, the Mist and Snow Stone. Today, I will repay him with my immortal sword!"
Seals formed, the sword in the furnace whistling with terrifying energy. Misty sword shadows spiraled upward.
Rumble! The heavenly tribulation began.
"Sixty-nine heavenly tribulations," Chen Xiao observed, noting each one carefully. A test of resilience. Only an immortal sword able to withstand all sixty-nine would be true. Among them lurked the inner demon tribulation.
Above the clouds, Chen Xiao pointed subtly. An almost invisible ripple spread, weaving into Gu Yan's consciousness. The red-haired master's focus remained on the sword, unaware he was now in an illusion.
"What's happening?!" Gu Yan's eyes widened as cracks appeared along the sword's edge amidst the lightning.
Bang! The sword shattered, fragments dissolving into fluorescent dust.
"It failed?!" Gu Yan staggered, struck by lightning, disoriented.
"No… the final step remains!" he insisted. "Temper with thunder and fire… then it will be perfect! I, Gu Yan, will forge a true immortal sword in this lifetime!"
---
Above the tribulation, Chen Xiao held the newly formed sword in his hand. Mist curled along the blade, soft and lingering.
"In that case… I shall call you Wuguang," he whispered. He refined the misty aura further, merging it into his body, attuning with its energy in harmony with the tribulation itself.
"Master, is there another opportunity like this?" Chen Xiao asked, surveying the void.
Yun Ranran, seated cross-legged with a blade of dogtail grass in her mouth, counted opportunities on her fingers. "Yes. Another exists. An Immortal Emperor, reincarnated in the mortal cultivation world, retains his memories. He is currently gathering spiritual herbs, refining Chaos Anti-Spiritual Pills, and forging Chaos Spiritual Roots for himself."
Chen Xiao's eyes gleamed. "Chaos Spiritual Root?!"
His own mutated thunder spiritual root was powerful, but not top-tier—half a step below Nangong Qi's fire spiritual root.
Yun Ranran nodded. "This reincarnated Immortal Emperor is another major threat. Not the destined villain, but a formidable future enemy. When his Chaos Anti-Spirit Pill emerges, I will inform you. For now… your priority is training. Trigger the inner demon tribulation. Transform into the inner demon. Invade the consciousness of those undergoing tribulation. Fight the Tribulation Survivor."
"Actual combat… is the fastest path to improvement. Become a demon of body and mind. Immortal, with endless chances to test, fail, and fight. Every time… a battle of life and death."
Chen Xiao nodded solemnly, then vanished above another heavenly tribulation, ready to continue his ascent.