Chapter 216: Suddenly the tribulation arrives (Making up for the additional update promised yesterday)

Tempering the elixir with the "Supreme Secret Method" for several months caused Cheng Xinzhan's first tribulation to arrive four years early. He was very satisfied with this number because, after all, it was a thunder tribulation, a tribulation of heaven, and it was not easy to shorten it by four years using such a clever method.

But it was only four years!

It should have been forty-five years until his first elixir-washing tribulation. Why did the tribulation arrive suddenly?!

Cheng Xinzhan couldn't understand.

He hoped the elixir-washing tribulation would come early, but he didn't want it to come this early! This suddenly!

"Did it come early? How early? How much longer?"

Daoist Tianzhen asked urgently.

Cheng Xinzhan's own expression was very ugly, but at the same time, this was also the first time he saw Daoist Tianzhen's expression so solemn.

Right, Daoist Tianzhen only knew he hadn't washed his elixir, but he hadn't asked in detail when he formed the elixir.

He smiled bitterly, "It's early. The disciple only formed the elixir at the beginning of the year. It's forty-five years early."

And as for the last question, he looked inside himself. At this moment, in the Huang Ting, the tribulation clouds had already completely shrouded the Jin Dan. He looked up at the sky and said,

"It has already arrived."

Daoist Tianzhen's hand trembled, and then he looked toward the sky following Cheng Xinzhan's gaze.

The autumn sky was clear and refreshing, ten thousand miles without clouds. But at this moment, above the True Martial Temple, to be precise, above Cheng Xinzhan, strands of yellow tribulation Qi slowly emerged from the void, gradually condensing into clouds.

Daoist Tianzhen had been at the Third Realm for hundreds of years, so he naturally knew what this meant. He was both surprised and happy.

What surprised him was that Cheng Xinzhan had formed the elixir for less than a year!

But looking at the thickness of his magic power and his understanding of Daoist techniques, he clearly looked like an old hand who had been immersed in Jin Dan for many years!

At the same time, he was even more astonished that the elixir-washing tribulation would descend so long in advance. He naturally understood what it meant for a tribulation to arrive forty-five years early. This likely meant that the tribulation-blocking treasure hadn't been refined, the tribulation-crossing place hadn't been determined, and the person protecting the tribulation hadn't been decided or wasn't by his side.

If these three things weren't prepared, the risk of crossing the tribulation was extremely great.

But at the same time, he was also overjoyed. The first washing tribulation clouds of this child were actually yellow clouds!

Tribulation clouds are divided into five grades: purple, yellow, green, white, and lead. Among the five grades of tribulation clouds, the yellow grade ranks second, which is truly rare.

Generally speaking, before the first washing, there are many deficiencies in the Jin Dan, and there is still a considerable gap from perfection, so white-grade tribulation clouds are mostly seen in the first washing. The name of this kind of thunder tribulation will be prefixed with the two words "White Cave."

The first washing has a great improvement on the quality of the Jin Dan, so as long as the first washing is prepared and no hidden injuries are left, the second and third washings will usually be green-grade tribulation clouds. The name of this kind of thunder tribulation will be prefixed with the two words "Green Cloud." The first three tribulations are also collectively referred to as the first three tribulations. In the world's three realms, the vast majority stop here.

After the third washing, the quality of the Jin Dan goes to a higher level, so the fourth to sixth washings will generally be yellow-grade tribulation clouds, which is very rare. The name of this kind of thunder tribulation will be prefixed with the two words "Yellow Heaven." These three tribulations are also habitually called the middle three tribulations.

Those who can cross the middle three tribulations are often local powerhouses, occupying a mountain and claiming to be ancestors, or great sect elders, who are pillars of the sect.

After the sixth washing, the Jin Dan shines brightly, almost without leakage, only waiting for extreme perfection, so the seventh to ninth washings will appear purple-grade tribulation clouds. The name of this kind of thunder tribulation will be prefixed with the two words "Purple Firmament." These three tribulations are also called the upper three tribulations. Those who can cross the upper three tribulations are the scarcest of the scarce.

As for lead-colored tribulation clouds, they are mostly seen in demon-path practitioners with heavy blood evil and karmic obstacles. The power of the thunder tribulation is also extremely strong. That is not aimed at washing and refining essence, but at refining, killing, and destroying form. So the name of this kind of thunder tribulation will be prefixed with the two words "Lead Haze."

If the demon doesn't repent after crossing the tribulation and continues to commit killing sins, the color of the tribulation clouds will not change to white, green, yellow, or purple. As long as the killing sins exist, lead clouds will always descend.

Precisely because heaven's principles are clear and retribution is not missed, there are relatively few demon-path high cultivators. But at the same time, this also means that those who can survive from the lead clouds are definitely not bad in ability.

And what Daoist Tianzhen didn't expect was that Cheng Xinzhan's first washing tribulation clouds were yellow grade. This meant that the color of Cheng Xinzhan's Jin Dan, which hadn't been washed by tribulation thunder, was already equivalent to the fourth or sixth washing of an ordinary person. In that case, it was not impossible to resist the first washing tribulation thunder.

"Have you prepared a tribulation-blocking treasure?"

Daoist Tianzhen still asked.

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head, "Count, or not count. I haven't specifically prepared one, but I have two that can serve as tribulation-blocking treasures."

After all, who prepares treasures to block a tribulation just after forming their Golden Core? Moreover, such treasures must be meticulously refined and nurtured for a long time so they become imbued with one's own aura. He had not even been at the Golden Core stage for a year yet. However, it could not be said that he had absolutely nothing; the Supreme Purity Talisman and the Crimson Purple Life-Substitution Mirror he had been nurturing on his person should also be able to serve the purpose of blocking the tribulation.

Daoist Tianzhen's heart hung up when he heard this, not knowing how much certainty there was. Afterward, he seemed to suddenly remember something, stomped his feet in a hurry, and cursed,

"Those who can make the heavenly tribulation arrive so long in advance must be a Dragon Curse, it must be the curse cast by that Cao Jin! I said why he let people go so happily that day, it turns out he was making trouble here! Still not right, how could he cast a curse from thousands of miles away? And such a secret mantra to trigger the heavenly tribulation?"

Then, he looked up at Cheng Xinzhan again, "Do you have essence, blood, hair, or skin in his hands?"

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head, "The disciple doesn't know."

That day, Cao Jin fought him closely. He was so fast and at ease, and he was busy resisting, so he truly didn't pay attention to whether that demon dragon took the opportunity to take his hair.

However, he couldn't care about that now. He bent down and said, "Master Wen, you should hurry up and leave!"

Although Cheng Xinzhan hadn't crossed the heavenly tribulation, he also knew common sense. The heavenly tribulation cannot be received on behalf of others, and even less can it be blocked by others. It is aimed directly at the person crossing the tribulation. Moreover, if there are others present when crossing the tribulation, the power of the thunder tribulation will only be greater and harder to cross.

And those who break into the tribulation clouds of others will anger the tribulation clouds and descend killing divine thunder.

Daoist Tianzhen had no choice now, so he could only leave quickly. Before leaving, he took something from his bosom and stuffed it into Cheng Xinzhan's hand, saying,

"This is an elixir for hanging life. I don't know if it will work. You take it first. You cross the tribulation right here. This poor Daoist will be your tribulation protector. You can rest assured!"

Fortunately, the True Martial Temple itself was an extremely hidden and quiet place. Within a hundred miles, it was all primitive forest, and no one was here, so it was barely suitable as a place to cross the tribulation. It was just that after this battle, the location of the legendary True Martial Temple would probably be widely known to the world.

In addition, the mountain demons and water monsters practicing nearby had already sensed something wrong. They didn't need Daoist Tianzhen to expel them, and fled in the direction away from the True Martial Temple, startling bursts of birds.

And the tribulation protector in the mouth of the True Martial Daoist cannot be done by anyone other than those extremely close to the person crossing the tribulation, and the responsibility is heavy.

Crossing the elixir-washing tribulation requires offering the Jin Dan and Primordial Spirit externally. Besides guarding against people approaching intentionally or unintentionally, causing the thunder tribulation power to increase, the tribulation protector must also guard against sudden dark arrows injuring the person crossing the tribulation.

Sometimes, this kind of sudden dark arrow has no reason. Some people just don't like to see you cross the tribulation and don't want you to succeed. This has nothing to do with enemies or grievances, only with the sinister nature of the human heart.

Cheng Xinzhan put away the elixir and watched Daoist Tianzhen leave. At this time, he looked at the top of his head again. The tribulation clouds had already formed, dozens of acres wide, and that bright yellow color was so conspicuous in the clear sky of ten thousand miles.

Cheng Xinzhan sighed long, then kicked the ground and rose from the ground. This was the elixir-washing tribulation, which couldn't be escaped. Crossing the tribulation in a hurry, he had to raise his spirit to twelve points.

However, Cheng Xinzhan wasn't discouraged. His soul was extremely tough, and his Jin Dan had already been tempered by thunder. His physical body was a bit worse because the apertures hadn't been fully opened before, but he had been practicing the True Martial body technique in recent months, and it had become much stronger, so he wasn't without certainty.

It was just unknown how many thunder tribulations would descend for his first elixir-washing tribulation?

"Boom-rumble———"

In the tribulation clouds, thunder began to breed. The low-pitched sound unique to tribulation thunder rolled over the peaks of the Xiangxi mountains, shaking the wilderness.

Xiangxi was vast. A single piece of tribulation cloud couldn't attract others' attention. Even if it was a clear sky thunderbolt, everyone was used to it. But this suddenly sounded tribulation thunder sound, all those who were at the Jin Dan first washing and above could hear it.

————

Downstream of the You River, within the territory of Xiangxi.

A trade caravan of the Wuling Water Gang was going down the river. The Water-Land Thoroughfare Assembly had ended, and the Water Gang had made a fortune again this time.

The Drinking River Toad leading the caravan jumped ten or twenty zhang at a time. On top of the giant toad's head, the caravan leader Shi Buyu was motionless, and the vibration caused by the giant toad's jumping didn't affect him at all.

This caravan set out from the northernmost part of Shizhou in the spring, passed by Mount Tulong in the middle of the year, and then entered Xiangxi along the You River. By the time it reached the border between Xiangxi and the Southern Wilderness, it was almost the time when the ice and snow melted. This caravan would turn around and walk from south to north again.

Year after year, year after year.

The Wuling Water Gang had many such caravans, large and small. The Wuling Water Gang was gradually growing in such year-after-year trading. The scattered cultivation small sects in the Wuling mountains relied on such water gangs and land gangs to survive and develop, and the two had long been inseparable.

As the second leader of the Water Gang and a Second-Washing cultivation base, Shi Buyu was also famous in the Wuling mountain area. He was a good hand at cultivation and a good hand at doing business.

This trade, plus the transactions of the once-in-a-decade Water-Land Thoroughfare Assembly, had all been very smooth, which also made him make a fortune. The goods and gold and silver full of the Burden-Mountain Turtle and Drinking River Toad of the caravan were proof.

However, the only thing that made him feel a bit prickly was those two young Daoists, who truly gave him a fright and forced him to break the rules and reveal the source of the goods.

Actually, selling things of great sect disciples wasn't the first time for him. He had even sold the magic sword of a Mount Longhu disciple. So what? In the dark, as long as the goods left his hands, he would deny it to the death.

This time it was just too blatant, taking it out for bidding. In the future, such things still couldn't be done, and he had to be careful.

But those two Daoists were truly powerful!

Before the Water-Land Thoroughfare Assembly ended, Shi Buyu heard that the Soul-Lost Ravine was gone!

Completely gone. Many people had gone to see it. The ravine was full of broken stones, the top was beaten into a large hole, and the green mist and fierce ghosts in the ravine were all gone.

The remnants of the Soul-Lost Ravine who luckily escaped all changed their appearances, fearing that someone would come to the door. However, according to the wind revealed by those who survived, the two Daoists came from Mount Sanqing and Wan Shougong respectively, one named Cheng Xinzhan and one named Shen Zhaoming.

The Northern and Southern Kui Stars were them, and Yang Xuanla who died in the Miao territory before was also them. Their Daoist methods could be said to be heaven-piercing and earth-shattering, and they were not to be mentioned in the same breath as the demon path of the same realm. One was a bright moon, and one was a firefly.

The problem was, these two Daoists hadn't crossed the thunder tribulation yet!

How could they be so powerful?

In addition, it is worth mentioning that Bai Wuchang, who had been hiding in the mountain ditch for several months, was still found by his enemies, chewed and died by more than ten people, and the bone frame was dismantled and divided. As for Qin Tianzong who gave him the "Jingming Three Tribulations Finger," it was heard that there was no corpse left.

So Shi Buyu had always been glad that he was very cooperative that day and didn't dare to be arrogant.

"Boom-rumble——"

The low-pitched thunder sound echoed on both sides of the You River, and Shi Buyu suddenly opened his eyes.

Who is crossing the tribulation?

He jumped up from the top of the Drinking River Toad, suspended in the air, and looked in the direction where the thunder sound came from.

Looking at this, Shi Buyu widened his eyes.

Yellow-grade tribulation clouds!

It was actually yellow-grade tribulation clouds!

Who is crossing the middle three tribulations in Xiangxi territory?

Is it one of the Three Kings Temple? Is it the owner of the Ten Thousand Corpse Forest? Or is it that True Martial Temple Master?

The tribulation clouds were not very far from here. He exhausted his eyesight to carefully look at the figure under the clouds. After he truly saw it clearly, his eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

How could it be that evil star!

Last time we met, observing his aura and spiritual opportunity, I didn't see any tribulation intent on his body!

Both being Jin Dan, to say let myself distinguish between first washing and second washing, to tell the truth, with my eyesight, I might not be able to see it. But washing and not washing, whether there is that taste of tribulation thunder on the body, I can still distinguish!

This is that evil star's first washing tribulation!

The first washing is yellow grade!

Strange light flashed in Shi Buyu's eyes. He subconsciously turned the stone beads on his hand, thinking about what kind of gift he should prepare to send over after the thunder tribulation passed?

At this moment, not only Shi Buyu, but also other leaders of the Water Gang, the Lu Bang, the Three Kings Temple, and the Ten Thousand Corpse Forest, as long as they were at the Jin Dan first washing realm and above in Xiangxi territory, were all startled by this thunder sound, and flew up to the high sky one after another to look at the tribulation clouds.

They all saw that piece of yellow cloud, and also saw that young figure under the cloud.

Some people had watched the Battle of the Soul-Lost Ravine from afar, so they recognized it, and were astonished at the high quality of its tribulation clouds.

More people didn't recognize Cheng Xinzhan and were still guessing the origin of this unfamiliar young man. After all, in Xiangxi, a person who crossed the middle three tribulations could already change certain situations. If this was a scattered cultivator, it would be even more interesting.

Xiangxi is not small, and it is not big. Cheng Xinzhan's tribulation thunder was still brewing, but the people who rose from all directions and gathered around had already formed a circle around the yellow tribulation clouds.

There were people here calling friends and companions. After all, everyone crossed the tribulation in a desolate place, fearing being seen. Some great sect clans had special cave heaven secret realms for crossing the tribulation, which was to fear interference. It was truly rare to cross the tribulation in public like this.

This person was crossing the yellow-grade tribulation. How could one not take the opportunity to observe? Carefully look at this person's tribulation-crossing means, whether it is called touching the analogy or stealing a teacher to learn art, as long as one can have one or two gains, it can be used in one's own thunder tribulation, which is a great benefit picked up for nothing!

Of course, it was not that no one had bad intentions here, but it was just that when these people slowly approached, they saw another small figure like a child ten miles away from the yellow cloud, so they stopped their steps abruptly.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 217 =====