Chapter 185: Crossing the Tribulation

Just one sword.

Han Lao's single sword changed the fate of Master Pang and the entire battlefield.

By the Lei Chi, the old man was short, his topknot loose and messy, his expression lazy.

He merely stared at the bronze coffin, a faint smile on his lips, as if unwilling to strike again.

He looked utterly lethargic.

The old demon sect elder inside the bronze coffin seemed to have encountered an unspeakable terror; the lid tightened another third, as if desperate to be welded to the bronze coffin.

The bronze coffin drifted through the air, fleeing at breakneck speed, wishing it had four wheels.

Master Pang was already utterly drained, his physical form hollow.

He could not move to stop it.

He glanced at the old man beside the Lei Chi.

The old man flicked a look at him, then at Yan Wushuang in the Lei Chi, sneered, and his face bore only three words:

Too lazy to move.

Master Pang pursed his lips, avoiding the expressions of the disciples in the Lei Chi, and refused to think of his own wretched Five Dragon Heavenly Palace; he teleported to the side of the Lei Chi and bowed respectfully to the old man:

"Are you the Residual Sun Sword Immortal, Han True Person?"

"It's me." The old man glanced at Master Pang and nodded.

"Your life-saving grace is beyond words…"

"... didn't save you for free." Han True Person's face was sour, bluntly stating: "Don't you have a junior disciple named Zheng Fa?"

"Yes."

"He paid already."

…

Zheng Fa inexplicably felt Master Pang's gaze at him was slightly odd—

Gratitude mixed with a hint of resentment, but the resentment was stuck, unspoken.

"This Han True Person?"

Sun Daoyu spoke up: "The Residual Sun Sword Immortal—I've heard of him… a famed late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, said to be just one step away from Soul Transformation."

His tone held disbelief, even his gaze toward Yan Wushuang grew cautious.

Zheng Fa could not help but revere Yan Wushuang.

Can this guy even command someone this powerful?

"Han Lao is an elder of our sect." Yan Wushuang smiled. "I'm currently traveling, so he accompanied me all the way, worried I'd get into danger."

Sun Daoyu's expression grew even more envious.

"Do all True Disciples traveling get escorted by a great cultivator? Is this what the Five Great Sects of Xuanwei are like?"

Zheng Fa also felt a sense of awe.

Late-stage Nascent Soul—his own master, when boasting about his talisman arrays, dared only claim he could kill someone before late-stage Nascent Soul…

Bringing a powerhouse along everywhere has always been Zheng Fa's dream!

"Don't misunderstand—I don't have one."

Chu Tianque from Hao Ri Mountain frowned and explained.

"I don't either."

Xue Zhenchuan from Tai Shang Dao added.

Zheng Fa inexplicably felt their tones carried the same envy, jealousy, and bitterness as his own.

"Then…" Zheng Fa guessed, "is it because Yan Brother's talent is extraordinary, and Tianhe Sect values you so highly?"

Yan Wushuang nodded vigorously.

The two scoffed.

"All the elders in the sect and my father say I'm talented! I must be careful when I travel." Yan Wushuang said proudly.

"... our father?"

"My father? Oh, he's the Sect Master of Tianhe." Yan Wushuang waved dismissively. "Not important, not important—what matters is they say I'm talented."

…Not important?

You should've said so earlier!

If you'd said we're adoptive brothers from the start, why bother with any talk of cooperation?

…

"Then, Yan Brother…"

Zheng Fa couldn't help but wonder—he remembered this guy was always broke.

"My father doesn't want me to travel outside, nor does he want me to start any organization." Yan Wushuang spoke as if he'd explained this a thousand times. "Han Lao rarely intervenes."

Zheng Fa began to understand.

A rich heir rebelling, trying to break away from his sect and start his own venture.

His father won't support him, but fears he'll get himself killed.

"Then… this Han True Person today…"

"If he doesn't act, I have to." Yan Wushuang smiled proudly.

…A "I'll die right in front of you" plea tactic?

No wonder the Residual Sun Sword Immortal looked so sour.

…

After the battle, half of the Lei Chi marketplace had collapsed. Master Pang's Five Dragon Heavenly Palace appeared unchanged on the outside, but was in far worse condition.

The collapsed marketplace could be rebuilt in one or two days.

Restoring the Five Dragon Heavenly Palace might take a hundred years.

"Just surviving is enough." Master Pang sighed, then turned to Li Nuo and spoke gently: "I never expected you to save me."

Li Nuo had never been treated with such respect by a Nascent Soul cultivator before.

He stammered, unsure what to say.

Master Pang's disciples exchanged glances, then suddenly rose and bowed in perfect unison toward Li Nuo.

"This is too much…" Li Nuo panicked. "It was all Zheng's doing."

He looked at Zheng Fa, as if seeking help.

Zheng Fa shook his head.

Li Nuo had long endured scorn in the marketplace.

Now, at last, his suffering had ended.

"You deserve this," he whispered to Li Nuo. "And so does your father."

Li Nuo froze, silent.

He stared blankly at his fellow disciples, as if remembering something.

His eyes slowly reddened.

…

"Now that the Residual Sun Sword Immortal has arrived, the Great Freedom Demon Sect probably won't bother with Zhang's disciple anymore."

Zheng Fa didn't understand: "Han Lao is merely a late-stage Nascent Soul…"

"What do you mean 'merely' late-stage Nascent Soul?" Master Pang spat. "Your master, even with his talisman arrays, wouldn't dare claim he could escape from him."

"They're all Nascent Soul…"

Zheng Fa still couldn't grasp it.

"It's hard to form a Nascent Soul, and even harder to reach Soul Transformation," Master Pang sighed. "Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators are called great cultivators because their power varies wildly—some are barely stronger than mid-stage Nascent Soul, while others are only held back by lack of opportunity."

"Then what about this Han Lao?"

"Think of him as the previous Zhang Shijie."

Zheng Fa suddenly understood.

That meant—

He was extraordinarily gifted, but like Zhang Shijie stuck at Golden Core, he was stuck at Nascent Soul.

Yet on the other hand, Zhang Shijie could rival a Nascent Soul cultivator with just a Golden Core…

"Does the Great Freedom Demon Sect have no Soul Transformation cultivators?"

"They do," Master Pang explained. "But Soul Transformation True Persons rarely intervene—they're bound by some taboo. For example, my Hundred Immortal Alliance also has a Soul Transformation cultivator, yet he rarely involves himself in worldly affairs; even I've only seen him twice."

"Then Zhang Shijie's Nascent Soul tribulation should be safe."

With a figure like the Residual Sun Sword Immortal roaming outside, the Great Freedom Demon Sect probably won't bother with Zhang Shijie anymore.

"Safe…" Master Pang sighed. "It still depends on her own strength."

…

The five-colored clouds in the sky gradually solidified into a glassy texture, their hue deepening until a massive purple-black eye emerged.

"Zhang's disciple's Nascent Soul tribulation has begun," Master Pang said.

Zheng Fa and Master Pang and others stood at the edge of the Lei Chi, closest to Zhang Shijie.

He activated his Void-Sight Spiritual Eye and gazed toward her location.

She lifted her eyes slightly, gazing at the purple-black tribulation clouds above, then as if sensing something, glanced toward Zheng Fa and the others, a faint smile on her lips.

After a stick of incense had burned.

A bolt of heavenly tribulation descended from the sky, striking straight at Zhang Shijie.

But it was blocked by Xuanguan Jian.

That giant eye seemed enraged by Xuanguan Jian.

The next bolt of tribulation grew much thicker.

Xuanguan Jian let out a mournful cry and was directly shattered, falling beside Zhang Shijie.

Without Xuanguan Jian's protection, Zhang Shijie's form was engulfed by the tribulation lightning—even the Void-Spirit Eye could no longer see her.

Zheng Fa's heart clenched.

Zhang Shijie's Nascent Soul formation was of great importance to Jiushan Sect.

But to him, it mattered even more—she was his most vital pillar, even his Dao companion, in the Xuánwēi Realm.

The bolts of tribulation came one after another, without pause.

Only after nine days and nine nights did they cease.

The giant eye in the sky slowly faded, revealing Zhang Shijie's form.

"Quickly, guard Zhang Shijie!" Pang Shushu's face turned grim: "Now that Xuanguan Jian is damaged, Zhang Shijie must face her heart demon tribulation—this is the Grand Zizai Demon Cult's final chance."

Zheng Fa had already prepared—he activated the Duyue Boat with full force, as planned, and rushed toward Zhang Shijie with his fellow senior brothers.

They felt relatively safe: during heavenly tribulation, no cultivator, regardless of realm, dared approach Zhang Shijie.

Added to that, the Setting Sun Sword Immortal stood nearby.

The Grand Zizai Demon Cult members dared only cower and hide—they could not move faster than this group.

Indeed, when they reached near Zhang Shijie, they encountered no bold demon cultivators.

But Zhang Shijie's appearance was dire.

Her eyes were closed, her brows slightly furrowed, as if enduring some nightmare.

Within mere breaths, her expression shifted wildly.

Surprise, anger, sorrow, despair.

Her face grew colder, more ruthless.

Finally, a look of utter resolve appeared.

"Is Zhang Shijie crying?"

Zheng Fa suddenly heard Yang Ju beside him say.

He looked up—and sure enough, two trails of clear tears streamed down Zhang Shijie's cheeks.

"Have you ever seen Zhang Shijie cry?"

"Never…"

"I never dared imagine it."

…

But Zhang Shijie seemed trapped in her heart demon tribulation, unable to break free—in the Void-Spirit Eye's view, Zheng Fa could even see her spiritual power gradually turning murky, showing signs of demonic corruption.

"Young brother, what do we do now?"

Yang Ju beside him cried out in panic.

Zheng Fa himself was uncertain—heart demon tribulation must be faced alone; how could anyone else help?

"What if you call out to Zhang Shijie a couple times?"

Yang Ju's suggestion left Zheng Fa speechless.

Could you even wake her like that?

"You two are closest—if anyone can help Zhang Shijie, it's you… I've heard that during heart demon tribulation, one isn't completely unaware; sometimes one can hear fragments from outside. If someone deeply cherished speaks, perhaps it might stir a powerful memory…"

As Yang Ju spoke, his voice grew quieter.

He himself seemed to think the legend sounded absurd.

Zheng Fa gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled out several books.

"Zhang Shijie, yesterday we reached…"

The other senior brothers exchanged glances, not understanding Zheng Fa's move.

But as they listened, their expressions grew pained.

They looked at each other and quietly stepped two paces away from Zheng Fa.

"Senior brother," one junior brother whispered beside Yang Ju: "Listening to this, I feel like Zhang Shijie hasn't overcome her heart demon tribulation—yet mine's already here?"

Everyone nodded.

They looked as if they wanted to plug their own ears.

"Look at Zhang Shijie!"

As Zheng Fa recited, Zhang Shijie's expression suddenly calmed—she seemed truly on the verge of overcoming her heart demon tribulation.

"Is this… poison countering poison, demon subduing demon?"

One junior brother murmured, stunned.

"Then Zheng Shidi's brand of demon is even more potent…"