Chapter 261: This Time, Confirm Crossing Tribulation?

Wasn't it just a matter of giving a few instructions? Why did you bring these two nosy junior sisters along?

In the skies above San Xian Dao, Xuan Du Shi looked at the three infamous and notorious junior sisters from Jie Jiao standing before him, feeling a slight hesitation in his heart.

He had only intended to bring Yun Xiao;He knew that Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao had playful temperaments...

Yun Xiao said softly, "Xuan Du Shi Xiong, my two sisters also want to come and have a look. Why not take them along as well?"

It was clear that Yun Xiao was a bit troubled, unable to resist her sisters' pleas.

"Don't worry, Xuan Du Shi Xiong!" Qiong Xiao quickly added, "My fourth sister and I won't cause any trouble. We'll just hide in the shadows and observe.We're just curious at heart, wanting to see what kind of disciple could make you go to such lengths."

Beside her, Bi Xiao nodded obediently, her large eyes sparkling with anticipation...

"Very well."

Xuan Du Shi smiled and agreed, not at all afraid that the two of them would stir up trouble in his presence.

"In that case, let's set off. We don't want to keep him waiting."

With that, yin and yang energies swirled in Xuan Du Shi's palm, forming a wisp of lingering clouds around him.

Xuan Du Shi placed his left hand behind his back and made a inviting gesture with his right, then stepped into the clouds first.

His figure vanished, but the clouds remained in place.

This was not just a divine ability; it also borrowed the power of the Tai Ji Tu.

As Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao moved to follow, Yun Xiao gestured for them to wait and stepped in first. Sensing no anomalies, just a passage through space, she then signaled for her sisters to join.

Xuan Du Shi let out a soft chuckle, and the clouds swiftly converged, disappearing into thin air above San Xian Dao.

At the same time, at the site Li Chang Shou had chosen for his tribulation—above the barren mountain where his true body was—the clouds quietly appeared, from which four figures emerged.

No sooner had they arrived than they sensed the vast heavenly might gathering in the sky!

Had the tribulation already begun?

The four instinctively prepared to move away to avoid inadvertently provoking heavenly punishment, but then they detected a profound Dao rhythm fluctuation and turned their gazes toward the great array on the barren mountain below.

Among them, one was Xuan Du Shi, the sole disciple of Tai Qing Lao Zi and the senior brother of Daoism.

The other three were the renowned fierce figures of the prehistoric world: the three San Xiao Niang Niang, who ranked among the outer disciples of Jie Jiao...

The single great array Li Chang Shou had set up here could block Jin Xian probes, but it couldn't conceal anything from their eyes.

As they probed, Xuan Du Shi furrowed his brow, Yun Xiao let out a soft exclamation, and Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao blinked in surprise...

There, within the array, in an unassuming crevice of rock, the young cultivator who was about to undergo the tribulation gripped a golden sword and smashed it fiercely toward his own forehead!

Yun Xiao almost blurted out, "The method of the Zhan Dao Realm?"

Xuan Du Shi acted even faster, his figure vanishing in a flash and reappearing directly within the great array below!

Fearing he might accidentally harm Li Chang Shou, he didn't dare act recklessly at that moment and hurriedly shouted:

"Don't do it—I'm here!"

But the golden sword in Li Chang Shou's hand had already struck his forehead with full force!

It was as if he held a grudge against himself.

In an instant, sparks flew and golden light scattered everywhere. The 'Zhan Dao Realm sword' that Li Chang Shou had condensed shattered, and his forehead, which was still quite full, remained unharmed.

Then, the Dao rhythm that Li Chang Shou had perfected transformed into three lotus flowers, each the size of a sea bowl with twelve petals, now trembling gently around him.

From the clean, almost transparent petals, faint impurities were shaken out...

Li Chang Shou's aura slowly declined, dropping by roughly one part in ten thousand—or even less.

Immediately after, the three lotus flowers vanished, and his Dao rhythm quickly retracted around him.

Even the usually composed Xuan Du Shi stood there somewhat stunned, his mouth twitching slightly...

Heaven above, what had he just witnessed?

The green lotus was a symbol of Daoism; three flowers forming a lotus shape indicated the practice of orthodox Daoism, blessed by Daoism's destiny.

The more petals on the lotus, the more perfect the Dao foundation, the greater the potential, and the higher the future limits.

The more translucent and radiant the lotus, the more stable the Dao foundation and the deeper the understanding of the Dao...

But these three nearly transparent twelve-petal green lotuses...

Weren't they a bit excessive?

In that moment, Xuan Du Shi understood why his teacher paid such special attention to this junior disciple.

This guy, Li Chang Shou, wasn't just clever, eloquent, strategic, and good at planning—he also had the potential to rank among Daoism's top experts!

In the blink of an eye, before Li Chang Shou could even speak, Xuan Du Shi's thoughts had shifted in another direction.

—I need to find a way to let Yun Xiao Shi Mei know about Li Chang Shou's potential!

Meanwhile, Li Chang Shou felt a bit embarrassed.

If Xuan Du Shi had arrived a few breaths earlier, he wouldn't have struck that sword blow.

Nine was the ultimate odd number;

Performing the Zhan Dao Realm nine times to deceive the heavens nine times meant that the tenth time triggering the tribulation would likely bring down heavenly punishment.

Uh... and who were these other people?

Li Chang Shou looked at the three figures descending from the air, question marks forming in his mind.

At that moment, using his array and paper effigy outside, as well as his own immortal sense, he detected the three graceful figures.

They weren't hiding their forms or using any obscuring techniques; they simply descended openly on the clouds.

The fairy on the left caught Li Chang Shou's eye first;

She was slightly tall, her simple white dress fitting perfectly, her fair skin like moonlight, and her face captivating.

It was Yun Xiao.

Beside Yun Xiao, one girl wore a light green dress, and the other a light red skirt; both had lovely faces and were quite adorable.

Naturally, they were Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao.

To be honest, Yun Xiao Xian Zi always appeared in slightly different attire and accessories each time, but she was always so beautiful, a sight that never grew old.

However, the main issue right now was...

Why were the three San Xiao here?!

Li Chang Shou quickly said, "I acted a bit too hastily just now, Shi Fu, please don't blame me... I'll need you to wait a couple of hours while I meditate and prepare for the tribulation as soon as possible.

But, Shi Fu...

What's going on up there?"

"Cough, it's like this," Xuan Du Shi laughed, "To ensure you can undergo the Jin Xian Jie smoothly and gain its benefits, I specially invited Yun Xiao Shi Mei to lend you a hand.

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao Shi Mei are just here to watch the excitement.

Yun Xiao Shi Mei's Hun Yuan Jin Dou is extraordinarily powerful..."

Xuan Du Shi then briefly explained the functions of the Hun Yuan Jin Dou to Li Chang Shou.

Li Chang Shou's heart was filled with gratitude, so much so that he felt like complaining to Xuan Du Shi...

When the tribulation came later, he might have to reveal all his trump cards. That was fine if Xuan Du Shi saw them, since he was his own pillar of support.

But if the three San Xiao Xian Zi saw them...

Wouldn't that be a huge loss?

On second thought, Li Chang Shou realized that any of his trump cards before becoming a Jin Xian were just jokes in the face of experts like them, so exposing them wouldn't matter much.

For Xuan Du Shi to go to such lengths for a junior disciple like him, what more could he ask for?

Li Chang Shou bowed to Xuan Du Shi and sighed, "I'm useless, causing you so much trouble."

"Hahaha, no need for formalities."

Xuan Du Shi laughed a bit guiltily, waited for the three San Xiao to enter the array, and introduced them to Li Chang Shou.

Fortunately, at that moment, Li Chang Shou's true body was using the appearance of a minor Human Teach cultivator, so his final origin from Du Xian Men wasn't exposed yet...

But during the tribulation later, he would almost certainly—definitely—have to reveal his true face to the three San Xiao Xian Zi.

This made Li Chang Shou feel a bit uneasy...

He stepped forward and performed a disciple's salute, which Yun Xiao acknowledged with a slight turn and a smiling nod.

Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao also responded kindly, knowing that Li Chang Shou was a valued disciple of the Grand Master and Xuan Du Shi Xiong.

—Compared to when the old immortal's paper effigy first visited San Xian Dao, the treatment was worlds apart.

Yun Xiao asked with some concern, "Fellow Daoist, did you just sever your Dao realm because you felt unsatisfied with your own Dao?"

"Not at all," Li Chang Shou replied hastily, "I cultivate the Tai Qing Wu Wei Dao and was fortunate to receive a wonderful method from my teacher, allowing me to reach the Tian Xian realm.

I only used the Zhan Dao Realm method earlier because my Dao foundation was still a bit unstable, to solidify it."

He couldn't possibly say it was to delay the tribulation...

Qiong Xiao chuckled lightly from the side and sighed, "So, our trip was in vain? Who knows when your next tribulation will be."

Li Chang Shou hesitated slightly, not daring to say he could do it again soon, lest the three San Xiao Xian Zi think he was boastful and leave a bad impression.

However, just as he was formulating his response, he heard Xuan Du Shi laugh and say,

"Qiong Xiao Shi Mei, please rest assured. In just a couple of hours, he can undergo the tribulation again."

"Huh?" Qiong Xiao was immediately puzzled.

Xuan Du Shi laughed, "Li Chang Shou, show them your three flowers that haven't fully bloomed yet."

Li Chang Shou: ...

Shi Fu, did you just use my real name?

And can something like the three flowers, which are just manifestations of the Dao foundation, really be shown off like this?

Appreciating flowers?

Upon hearing Xuan Du Shi's words, the three San Xiao were curious, especially Yun Xiao, whose eyes held a gentle smile as she watched Li Chang Shou, wondering what surprise he might bring.

Xuan Du Shi urged, "Why are you hesitating? It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Yes, I'll do as you say."

Li Chang Shou agreed, thinking Xuan Du Shi must have some other intention.

But overall, he felt like he'd been subtly set up...

A moment later,

Li Chang Shou sat cross-legged in meditation within the array, a jade talisman in his left palm.

This was the latter part of the Wu Wei Jing from Du Xian Men.

If the Tai Qing Dao Han was considered the high-level cultivation classic of Human Teach, then the Wu Wei Jing was still of upper-middle quality.

Li Chang Shou only needed to activate it to trigger the tribulation again.

Most of the content in the Wu Wei Jing was covered in the Tai Qing Dao Han, so what he needed to comprehend wasn't the Wu Wei Jing itself, but...

The subtle evolutions of the Tai Qing Great Dao from the Wu Wei Jing to the Tai Qing Dao Han.

These contained the slight changes from when the saint comprehended the Dao, perfect points for seeking enlightenment...

Enlightenment wasn't something that came without a trace; it wasn't just about accumulation leading to breakthrough.

The most important things were sweat and inspiration.

Li Chang Shou hadn't even finished half of the text when a slight smile crossed his mind, and he closed his eyes, entering a state of enlightenment.

There, he was:

Five energies condensing into pearl rings in his chest, three flowers gathering true essence on the verge of blooming.

His precious body pure and untainted, awaiting the tribulation to become a Jin Xian.

Outside the array, Xuan Du Shi and the three San Xiao Xian Zi conjured a wooden table and four chairs, quietly sipping tea on the clouds.

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao kept praising the deep foundations of Human Teach, amazed that this disciple's Dao base could be so stable;

Yun Xiao and Xuan Du Shi, however, both frowned slightly, deep in thought.

In terms of strength and insight, Xuan Du Shi and Yun Xiao were several levels above Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao.

At that moment, the two experts had realized a problem—

Li Chang Shou's Dao foundation was extraordinarily stable!

In fact, almost too stable!

"With a Dao foundation like this, I wonder what kind of tribulation it will attract," Yun Xiao Xian Zi sighed softly. "Throughout history, so many geniuses who astounded the heavens have fallen to the Jin Xian Jie."

Xuan Du Shi nodded slowly and said, "Perhaps we'll have to call upon the power of Teacher's treasure this time."

Yun Xiao replied, "If it's just the Jin Xian Jie, my Hun Yuan Jin Dou can assist him. Xuan Du Shi Xiong, you can rest easy."

Xuan Du Shi calculated with his fingers and whispered, "I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Qiong Xiao thought for a moment and asked, "Xuan Du Shi Xiong, is this the rumored state of ultimate great perfection before establishing the Dao?"

"That's likely it."

Xuan Du Shi said calmly, "I overlooked this earlier, thinking that after just a few hundred years of cultivation, he'd at most face nine Jin Xian Jie paths and have the potential for Da Luo.

I never expected Li Chang Shou to quietly achieve a foundation of ultimate great perfection.

Now, I'm starting to suspect if this guy is the reincarnation of some ancient great power, to reach such a level..."

Yun Xiao said, "If he were a great power reincarnated, the Grand Master probably wouldn't tolerate him."

"Just a joke," Xuan Du Shi chuckled.

Qiong Xiao muttered quietly, "Isn't it said that cultivators with such ultimate great perfection are not tolerated by the heavens...?"

"No problem," Xuan Du Shi laughed. "Let's just watch Li Chang Shou's good fortune."

With such confidence in his words, Xuan Du Shi was naturally prepared to act with full force and snatch Li Chang Shou from the tribulation if needed.

Just then, a wave of Dao rhythm emerged from the array.

Like a stubborn sprout breaking through the soil after rain, a great Dao born from Tai Qing but unique to Li Chang Shou burst forth, piercing the array!

Bi Xiao exclaimed joyfully, "It's really happening again! Is his enlightenment that fast? It hasn't even been half an hour!"

No sooner had Bi Xiao spoken than thunder rumbled in the sky, and vast heavenly might surged from above and all directions!

This might alone made Xuan Du Shi and Yun Xiao frown slightly, causing all living beings within tens of thousands of li to tremble in fear.

Li Chang Shou leaped onto a large rock, standing with his hands behind his back, about to recite a pre-tribulation thank-you speech, when an anomaly appeared in the high sky—a gray cloud a hundred zhang in diameter materialized, forming the vague face of an elder gazing down at Li Chang Shou...

Yun Xiao wondered, "Why is there a shadow of the Dao Ancestor...?"

However, this was already Li Chang Shou's second encounter with such a phantom...

Before Li Chang Shou could speak, he had a sudden insight, as if someone had asked him a question, though he couldn't hear the voice or sense any Dao rhythm—he only knew what the question was.

"Mm!" Li Chang Shou nodded firmly. "Tribulation!"

The gray cloud dissipated in an instant, and darkness enveloped the entire area within ten thousand li, with boundless spiritual energy rushing in.

The tribulation clouds were impossible to see clearly; they seemed to appear out of nowhere, and in the blink of an eye, the sky was filled with black clouds spanning nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine li in diameter, pressing down ferociously!

A surge of heavenly might locked onto Li Chang Shou, as if afraid he might escape.

Li Chang Shou took a deep breath and recited the thank-you speech he had memorized flawlessly, with carefully considered expressions, tone, pauses, and accents.

At the same time, a thousand li away, a family of black leopards crouched in the forest.

They had been startled by the heavenly might and instinctively tried to flee, but after running just a few hundred li, another overwhelming might descended, freezing them in place.

Among this family, the black leopard with the highest cultivation, which had formed a demon pill, struggled to stand and gazed toward the epicenter of the heavenly might.

Its eyes were full of complexity.

Another Jin Xian Jie? Are tribulations in the prehistoric world this casual? There was one just before.

This heavenly might is terrifying... Could it be one of the top three rumored Jin Xian Jie disasters?

Uh, where did I even learn that from...?

If it's one of those legendary Jin Xian Jie, it's basically impossible to survive—it's essentially heavenly punishment for those envied by the heavens.

Envied by the heavens... That phrase sounds so familiar. Where did all these memories and knowledge come from?

Whatever, it doesn't matter.

With a tribulation this severe, the one undergoing it is surely doomed. If they survive, I'll eat tree bark for three years!

(Thank you to the new alliance leaders 'Da Jiang You De Xin Ren Ah' and 'Qing Ning Zi' for their strong support!)