Chapter 44: Surviving the Tribulation, Reaping Transformation

Xiao Fan didn't notice the sudden appearance of this person—the searing pain deep in his soul had seized all his senses.

Moreover, if this person did not wish to be seen, even if standing right before him, he would be utterly incapable of perceiving him.

"Ughhh!!!"

That drop of blood, upon entering his forehead, sank straight downward—his flesh, muscles, and bones seemed to vanish entirely before it.

In just a few seconds, the vibrant, faintly pulsing drop reached Xiao Fan's dantian; brilliant red light blazed in all directions, vast and profound as an ocean, its boundless will surging, the blinding red radiance extending endlessly, as if seeking to invade every corner of his body.

Soon, his dantian, meridians, even his bones, appeared coated with a thin layer of blood-film, eerily uncanny.

Only that delicate and fragile Dao foundation floated uncertainly, emitting a faint glow that resisted the red radiance, preventing it from seeping in.

Upon the Dao foundation, a single drop of blood, translucent as red jade, hung motionless, shining brightly like a fiery wheel.

But as Xiao Fan, wracked by agony, lost consciousness and slipped into coma, the faint resistance of the glow dimmed considerably.

The blood drop hovering above the Dao foundation seized its chance and plunged violently! Chii! Like a red-hot branding iron thrust into snow, the faint glow was effortlessly pierced—the fiery, brilliant blood drop struck the Dao foundation without mercy.

Success!

A surge of elation emanated from the blood drop—the cultivation foundation of humanity shall be seized today!

Crack! A sharp snap, as if something had shattered.

The elation in the blood drop froze, then twisted into utter terror and rage—on the mysterious Dao foundation, a massive, grotesque crack had split through it, as if unable to bear the pressure, on the verge of collapsing.

How is this possible!

How could the cultivation foundation be so fragile!

Crack! Crack!

As the snapping sounds multiplied, countless fissures spread across the Dao foundation, which now seemed ready to shatter at any moment.

The red radiance grew even more blinding and uncanny, filled with fury and resentment—but all these emotions ceased abruptly in the next instant.

It was a gaze.

A gaze, woven from Dao and principle, descended from afar, from above, from the ineffable depths.

In an instant, the red radiance ceased; the vast, oceanic will beneath this gaze flickered like a candle in the wind, ready to be snuffed out.

Outside.

The ordinary-looking, gentle figure stilled his smile, rose, and bowed solemnly.

"Brother Dao, this was my scheme—not an alien race seizing the human cultivation foundation."

His voice drifted faintly, as if carried to some unknowable, distant realm.

The dying will within the blood drop trembled under the pressure of that gaze, on the verge of dissolving.

The next instant—perhaps his words had taken effect—the gaze vanished.

The nearly extinguished will within the blood drop quivered, attempting to flee from the crumbling Dao foundation—but it was already too late.

Boom! The shattered Dao foundation unleashed an utterly terrifying shockwave; had the blood drop been at full strength, it might have withstood it—but now, it could not.

The last trace of will within the blood drop was annihilated almost instantly by the shockwave of the collapsing foundation.

Xiao Fan's body, too, was rendered utterly shattered by this destructive force.

Tendons snapped, bones broken, all six viscera wounded.

Though not yet dead, he was barely a breath away from death.

"The tribulation has passed; now, transformation awaits," said the figure standing beside Xiao Fan softly.

Then he extended a finger; mysterious spiritual light sank into Xiao Fan's body—the blood film coating his meridians, bones, and dantian slowly receded, transforming into a vast, pure surge of vitality.

His body, once like a tattered sack, began to heal rapidly under this surge of vitality.

Tendons reknit, bones rejoined, all six viscera restored.

"Had it not been for that old ghost who died so early, this plan might never have succeeded."

With that Brother Dao guarding him, who in the Tai Xuan Realm would dare covet humanity's cultivation foundation? Truly ignorant.

"It's fortunate he was so ignorant," said the gentle figure, gazing at Xiao Fan. "You've gained part of that alien race's foundation—you should now be able to contend with those favored by Brother Dao."

…………

Amidst swirling steam, Zhang Yunlu lay back, eyes closed, letting the hot water cascade over her. The water slid past her delicate collarbones, continuing downward.

She took a step forward, lowered her head, opened her eyes—a faint violet aura flickered and vanished; her pale, slender fingers curled slightly, as if sensing something.

The enemies she faced in trials grew stronger each time, causing her to "die" many times each night.

Yet she was not afraid—she even reveled in the sensation of dancing on the edge of life and death.

Sigh~ She let out a long breath.

'I've truly become abnormal.'

She turned off the water, stepped barefoot to the side, where a full-length mirror stood.

She picked up the towel, wiped the mist from the mirror's surface, and stood before it, expressionless, studying her reflection.

Her once slightly chubby face had shed the last traces of childishness; her eyes, clear as a spring, now carried a chill edge.

Tall and slender, with not an ounce of excess fat, droplets of water clung to her pale, smooth skin; her arms, though slender, radiated explosive power.

How long had it taken her to become like this? A few days?

When she recalled, images flashed in her mind—the battles with the sword cultivator's phantom, the calmness and fulfillment she felt when gripping the sword.

She understood: she could never return to who she was before.

Zhang Yunlu's lips curled slightly: "But I do prefer this version of myself."

…………

"You don't even reply to your senior sister's messages, yet you still send her cotton candy?"

Shenji Express, founded by the Youxian Sect—Shenji Refining Pavilion, is one of the most renowned courier companies in the Tai Xuan Realm, its services covering the entire Central Continent and even parts of the Starfield Battlefield.

The only rival is Jishi Express, founded by the Youxian Sect—Jishi Valley.

Alchemists and artifact refiners, a group of very wealthy… squishies, was how Chi Jiuyu put it.

She filled out the form, handed the deceptively light enormous box to the staff member, then turned back to look at Xu Xing.

"One thing at a time — I'm a disciple with a very filial heart!"

"Heh, I hope Ye Shijie feels the same way."

"Aiya! Uncle-Master, can't you just let me be happy for a little longer?"

"Fine, I won't say another word."

Having spent so long with this abstract Ye Shijie of his, Xu Xing felt his own mindset had grown a little younger.

After sending off the delivery, the two of them headed outside.

"Are we continuing tonight?" Xu Xing asked.

"Of course!" Chi Jiuyu answered without the slightest hesitation.

That one called Zhang Yunlu gets 'killed' every single night and she still hasn't given up.

"Sooner or later I'll endure that first sword… no, wait! Sooner or later I'll endure those three swords!"

"Tomorrow I might not necessarily come out with you again."

"I'm not that fragile."

She muttered something under her breath, and after walking a while suddenly tilted her head to glance at Xu Xing.

When she'd come, she'd assumed that after Uncle-Master had been in closed-door cultivation for so long, he'd be an extremely rigid, fossilized old-style cultivator.

Turned out he wasn't.

"Uncle-Master, let me ride you back on the bike, it'll be faster that way."

"I refuse."

"Why? Wasn't it pretty fun last time?"

"That's what you think."

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