Chapter 14: Chapter Fourteen: Split into Charcoal

Lightning flashed, and a giant python emerged from underground, its brow rugged with two small horns faintly visible; the snake flicked its tongue, and a bolt of lightning shattered a black cavalryman into pieces. Another black cavalryman, terrified out of his wits, turned and fled. The thunder python coiled its body, then launched itself — the fleeing black cavalryman was swallowed in a single gulp.

Seeing the enemies before it eliminated, the thunder python's rage did not abate; its massive body thrashed about, smashing stones flying in all directions. The wolf pack that had not run far became the next victims; a streak of blue lightning flashed, the lightning bouncing among the wolves like a chain, and a whole swath of them dropped dead. The Wolf King let out a low, mournful howl, tucked its tail, and fled desperately. The thunder python raised its head and flicked its tongue; under the clear sky, heavenly thunder crashed down from nowhere, striking the Wolf King charred black and dead.

The fortune-telling old Daoist and Ning Ze's group had not gone far — they were right behind a huge boulder beside the thunder python. Strangely, the thunder python seemed not to have noticed them; Ning Ze and the others hid there, not daring to breathe, and the timid Han Yu's legs were trembling. This was everyone's first time seeing a demonic beast — venting its fury madly, every living thing beside it was an ant; the black cavalrymen who had chased them fleeing in all directions died on contact without even exchanging a blow.

The fortune-telling old Daoist's face was flushed red from holding his breath, looking extremely pained. Fortunately the thunder python rampaged a bit without discovering them and headed straight for the valley depths. Ultimately he could not hold on; the old Daoist spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his face pale without a trace of color, and fainted directly.

Ning Ze hurriedly supported the old Daoist; thunder rumbled again from the valley depths, and everyone hurriedly left, running to where Han Er was hiding.

After a round of care, the fortune-telling old Daoist woke up. Ning Ze couldn't wait to ask: "Old Daoist, how are you? Was what you used just now your ability?" The old Daoist coughed twice, his condition still not good; he struggled up and said: "Correct, it is indeed my ability — killing the black cavalrymen before was the same."

Ning Ze witnessed inhuman power again, especially seeing the demonic beast rampage; power took root in his heart — so this world was something he had never understood; he yearned to possess such power, staring fixedly at the old Daoist, countless questions in his eyes. The fortune-telling old Daoist rolled his eyes at him and said irritably: "This old man risked his life to protect you lot, not a word of concern, just wanting me to answer your doubts."

The young men and women blushed with shame — indeed it was improper; just now it was the old Daoist who saved their lives. Ning Ze made a signal; Liu Lv'er and Lan Yue ran behind to massage the old Daoist's back and shoulders, Wang Pangdun and Han Xian massaged his legs below; everyone busily attended to him, coaxing the fortune-telling old Daoist into a soft-hearted mood completely.

The comfortable old Daoist opened his golden mouth; his squinting look was annoying yet he opened a new world's door for this group of youths. The demonic beast just now was a Thunder Python, innately able to wield lightning arts; judging by its appearance it was close to transforming into a Thunder Jiao. It appeared because the Thunder Python was hibernating underground; the great fire burned the ground scorching hot; snakes by nature prefer yin and dislike yang — its cultivation was disturbed, so it erupted onto the surface and killed all who disturbed it. As for why only Ning Ze's group went undiscovered, it was because of the old Daoist's art.

The world's cultivators are roughly divided into two kinds: one is Qi Refiners, the so-called Immortals. The other is State Scholars — the kind the fortune-telling old Daoist is. Immortals exist to transcend themselves, for longevity, seeking the Dao to exist. State Scholars are for the masses; what they seek is also the path of the masses, transforming Dao into art. The old Daoist's cultivated art is purely for survival; as for what art exactly, the old Daoist did not elaborate. Besides these, there also exist inhuman demons and monsters and all sorts of strange existences.

Only then did Ning Ze feel he had always been trapped in a small world; the companions around him also had desire flash in their eyes, letting them temporarily forget their grief. Ning Ze stared at the old Daoist wanting to continue asking, but before he could speak the fortune-telling old Daoist interrupted: "I know what you want to say — you want me to teach you cultivation, right? Hehe, why are cultivators few? Not because everyone hoards their secrets; cultivation inherently depends on aptitude, and to obtain these you must also pay a price. The mediocre majority will always be the majority; this old Daoist wasted many years and only learned a bit of survival skills."

The youths' eyes instantly filled with disappointment; Ning Ze was also embarrassed by these words. Indeed, why should others teach them? The fortune-teller didn't extinguish their hope either: "Don't be disappointed; my skills aren't suitable to teach you, and moreover this old Daoist carries the identity of a 'remnant evil' — once involved, your troubles will be even greater."

Ning Ze understood the old Daoist wasn't unwilling to teach but afraid of excessive involvement; he hurriedly comforted: "At least we know these things now; later there's still hope to seek them out, no fear of no opportunity." Hearing Ning Ze's comfort, everyone perked up a little.

Thunder rumbled inside the valley; outside the sky was pitch black; lightning kept striking the same spot. The fortune-telling old Daoist ignored his injuries and gazed at the valley depths, muttering: "This Thunder Python looks like it's going to succeed; didn't expect this appearance wasn't just disturbance — it still wants to cross the tribulation and become a Thunder Jiao."

Ning Ze worried: "Then do we need to leave quickly? If it succeeds in crossing the tribulation, Old Daoist, can you still hide us?"

The fortune-telling old Daoist, used to being retorted at, wasn't angry and explained: "Rest assured; heavenly tribulation isn't so easy to cross; even if it crosses, the injuries brought by the tribulation will make the demonic beast find a place to recuperate first — it won't have time to deal with us."

Hearing this, Ning Ze's eyes lit up; he grinned at the fortune-telling old Daoist. The old Daoist was stunned — this kid couldn't be this bold, right? One breath from a demonic beast and you're done; just now we barely survived with our lives on the line. Ning Ze glanced at the youths beside him, made a two-finger gesture, and nodded toward where the heavenly tribulation was descending.

At this, the fortune-telling old Daoist thought a moment and was also quite tempted. Normally, during a demonic beast's tribulation the surroundings are devoid of all life, fearing disturbance; this time relying on the old Daoist's art to slip past, the Thunder Python simply didn't know of their existence — going to take a look seemed harmless.

Thus, Ning Ze and the old Daoist sneaked to the valley depths. Heavenly thunder rolled in waves; the surroundings were charred black by lightning strikes; the Thunder Python had wounds all over, lightning splitting its flesh open, a faint scent of meat detectable. As the tribulation descended, the Thunder Python's two horns grew more prominent; each time tribulation struck, the python coiled its body, using its horns to catch the heavenly thunder, its tail moving slowly to guide the lightning into the ground. Good fellow — this is using lightning to temper the demonic body; plus the Thunder Python's affinity for lightning, it channels the irresistible heavenly thunder into the earth to bear it.

The sky's lightning snake trembled, as if detecting the python's actions, bearing an aura of heavenly wrath; the subsequent tribulation grew even more massive. A bucket-thick bolt struck directly on the snake's tail; the tail ultimately couldn't withstand the heavenly might — the Thunder Python severed its own tail to survive. The fortune-telling old Daoist gloated: "This Thunder Python is too young; Heaven isn't so easily deceived." Ning Ze was immersed in this heavenly might — if this struck a human body, could they still live? That thick heavenly thunder simply leaves no way to live. So such power exists in the world; if a person could possess it, wouldn't they be invincible?

Ning Ze recalled the saber technique the old man taught — that time was also in thunder and rain; saber cleaving, lightning emerging. Lightning illuminated the entire valley; terrifying heavenly might; the Thunder Python still coiled to meet it, its rugged horns bathing in heavenly thunder. Isn't this the essence of the first saber? The saber — fearless. Ning Ze recalled the birth of that power in his heart; the Thunder Python crossing tribulation, resisting, unafraid, confident, daring to face it. Then Ning Ze suddenly comprehended; the first saber's entry was thus stepped into.

Ning Ze involuntarily executed the first saber; the saber momentum drew a thread of heavenly thunder, cleaving a charred mark on the ground. The fortune-telling old Daoist watched Ning Ze use saber technique to attract lightning, hurriedly rubbed his eyes — seen a ghost; where did this kid cultivate this saber technique? Its power is nearly approaching the Weapon Master realm. After using the first saber, Ning Ze's whole body went limp; he was excited — so the first saber is this powerful; does this count as stepping into the extraordinary's first step?

Ning Ze used the saber to draw away a thread of heavenly thunder; the keen Thunder Python instantly discovered the two; its tongue flicked, vertical pupils fixed on Ning Ze. Excitement doused by a bucket of cold water; the cold gaze scared Ning Ze and the fortune-telling old Daoist into wanting to turn and run. The Thunder Python looked at the two ants, curious how they could intrude into its tribulation ground, also curious how they just drew away a thread of tribulation. Heavenly thunder above still locked onto the Thunder Python, making it dare not move rashly, not directly striking to kill. The old Daoist and Ning Ze also dared not flee; heavenly thunder descended again, lightning carrying a thread of red light, striking the python in pain; its massive body twisted wildly, rolling and sending rubble flying all around.

Then, the Thunder Python looked at Ning Ze in a very human way, used its severed tail stump to guide the heavenly thunder's power into the earth, then seemed to point at Ning Ze. Ning Ze was stunned by the python's action, asking uncertainly: "You want me to help you draw away the heavenly thunder? If yes, nod your head." The Thunder Python flicked its tongue and nodded its head a few times. Good fellow — using Ning Ze as a lightning rod.

The fortune-telling old Daoist watched a demon and a human communicate; good fellow — in the end, he was just here to watch the show; just wanted to show he could do it too, when a boom of heavenly thunder scared him back into shrinking. Mouth muttering "Heavenly Lord, I didn't do anything" and such. Ning Ze stood and executed the first saber again; the Thunder Python focused on resisting the tribulation; the red light grew thicker.

After nine rounds of tribulation, the heavenly thunder was already pure red; Ning Ze lay on the ground, no strength left to swing the saber, helplessly saying weakly: "Brother Thunder Python, I can only help you this far; truly no strength to swing the saber." The Thunder Python stared gravely at the tribulation in the sky; surrounding dark clouds began gathering toward the tribulation; the tribulation like a rotating millstone, heavenly thunder red with purple, flashing continuously in the air; heavy pressure made breathing nearly impossible — unknown what the Thunder Python in the middle felt. After brewing for half an hour, the heavenly thunder finally descended; clouds split, red thunder with purple enveloped the Thunder Python; light so bright the two couldn't look directly; Ning Ze used his last recovered thread of strength to execute the first saber, the drawn tribulation directly cleaving a gully in the ground. Hard to imagine the tribulation the Thunder Python endured; the lightning scattered, the two waited a good while before vision recovered.

Before them lay only a massive Thunder Python corpse; everything was leveled flat, nothing surviving. Ning Ze and the fortune-telling old Daoist gasped; the mud below was struck a tender red; the Thunder Python apparently still failed to cross the tribulation — too terrifying, simply leaving no way to live.

Ning Ze said with regret: "Seems cultivation isn't carefree; besides contending with people, you must contend with Heaven. This end is worse than mortals — not even bones remain!"

"Originally so; cultivation is inherently a process of contention; one misstep and there may be no survival! Pity this Thunder Python — if it evolved to Thunder Jiao, it could go anywhere in this world; didn't expect it would die in this remote corner." The fortune-telling old Daoist agreed.

"Crack—" What sound?