Chapter 91
For most cultivators, the Thunder Tribulation is a disaster that could easily lead to annihilation if one is not careful enough.
However, for some cultivators, it is a great opportunity.
Qin Ran is one such person.
When his cultivation was still very low, he came up with the idea of the Tribulation Thunder Pill. With the help of his master, Wang Yuanyi, the Tribulation Thunder Pill became a reality.
So when he had to cross his own Tribulation, Qin Ran was determined to make good use of the heavenly tribulation.
The Thunder Tribulation is a punishment from heaven, but what exactly is it? Essentially, it is a massive energy form with the lightning attribute.
Such a thing can be used to temper one's body, captured for other purposes, or directly refined to improve one's cultivation.
There are many other uses - these are the opportunities below the Thunder Tribulation.
Qin Ran spent years searching for various cultivation methods before finding one for tempering the body with the lightning of the tribulation... This shows that he is not the first person trying to make use of the heavenly tribulation.
He integrated various methods and eventually created a suitable path for himself called the Divine Firmament Body Refining Art.
This art does not bother with fancy stuff. It focuses solely on strengthening one's physical body... specifically researching how to use the lightning tribulation to temper the body.
This exactly matched Qin Ran's intentions. Since he had never been good at fighting and did not plan to engage anyone in direct combat. He did not need a tribulation lightning combat art. All he wanted was the strongest possible physical body.
A powerful physique brings many benefits for cultivators...such as faster cultivation speed, faster spellcasting, faster movement speed, greater endurance, etc. These are what Qin Ran was after.
Now, the first lightning tribulation was about to descend. Qin Ran wanted to seize this chance while the first wave was not too overpowering yet to test out his idea of capturing the lightning to temper his body.
It is well known that each wave of tribulation lightning is stronger than the last. The first is the weakest, so it is the most suitable for experimentation. Even if he could not withstand the first wave, the damage would not be too great, and he would know not to try again for subsequent waves.
As the first tribulation lightning descended, Qin Ran circulated his movement technique to fly upward. At the same time, he shouted to Chasing the Wind: “Go hide at the edge over there, don’t get struck by the lightning!”
He could no longer worry about Chasing the Wind. Qin Ran directly started circulating the Divine Firmament Body Refining Art, internal qi flowing through his body as a faint golden light emerged on his skin...
Crack!
The first lightning bolt struck Qin Ran’s body hard as he did not try to evade it at all. He took the hit directly before getting blasted down by the lightning, smashing fiercely onto the giant boulder he had prepared to aid his breakthrough. The boulder was instantly smashed into pieces.
“What is he trying to do?” The peerless beauty, Lady You, possessed remarkable eyesight. Peering through the clouds, she saw Qin Ran withstand the tribulation lightning with his physical body. She was very puzzled. “Is he a body cultivator? Doesn’t seem like it!”
“He is borrowing the power of the tribulation lightning to temper his body. A rather good idea...” The handsome man explained: “Whether he is a body cultivator or not, having a stronger body is always beneficial.”
“I see...” Lady You was knowledgeable and soon understood. “Using the tribulation lightning to temper the body is indeed ingenious for those capable of it. But forcibly tempering the body could easily lead to immediate death. To die under the tribulation lightning, with one's soul scattered and form extinguished! The price is too great.”
The crowd in the sky looked towards Qin Ran in the dust clouds, waiting to see if he had died directly or succeeded in tempering his body.
Cough!
Qin Ran could not endure. He spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to get up from within the gravel and debris, his entire body charred black and tattered.
“He held on but not completely... He has failed!” Lady You shook her head. “As expected, forcibly tempering the body prevents one from even crossing the tribulation... Greed exceeding one's limits.”
“No... Look closely.” The handsome man smiled.
Only then did Lady You examine more carefully. She saw that the scorched skin on that battered body cracked and peeled, revealing shiny white flesh radiating golden light underneath.
“He actually succeeded. His physique is incredible... Either a body cultivator or a sword cultivator.” Lady You appraised.
Qin Ran took deep breaths as qi rapidly circulated within his body, quickly repairing his damaged flesh. He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power flowing within him, a smile on his face.
“Success...”
“Dad...Dad...”
Suddenly, Chasing the Wind’s weak voice sounded out. Qin Ran was startled, then realized something as his expression changed drastically. Following the voice, he saw Chasing the Wind lying twistedly at the edge of the dark clouds, the cub’s snowy white fur charred black with arcs of bloody lightning still crackling over him occasionally.
Chasing the Wind had still been affected by the tribulation lightning despite obediently retreating to the side as told.
“Why did he bring his spirit beast along to cross the tribulation?” Lady You was mystified. “Does he not know that all living beings are equal under the heavenly tribulation? What a pity that his ignorance and foolishness has harmed such a cute little white tiger.”
In a flash, Qin Ran appeared by Chasing the Wind’s side. He took out two pills - one Dispel Lightning Pill, one supreme-grade healing pellet. He fed both to Chasing the Wind.
No need to elaborate on the healing pellet’s purpose. As for the Dispel Lightning Pill, it was specially used to dispel the lighting within one's body, very useful if struck by lightning - whether ordinary lightning strikes, a cultivator’s lightning abilities, or the heavenly tribulation.
Naturally, Qin Ran had prepared this pill ahead of crossing his tribulation. He just did not expect to have to use it on Chasing the Wind first.
Rumble...
More thunderous roars echoed from the sky, signaling that the next wave of tribulation lightning was imminent and reminding the cultivator below to prepare himself.
Glancing upwards, Qin Ran saw dense clusters of bloody electric snakes slithering about the dark clouds, giving the appearance of a nest of snakes.
He felt something amiss about this situation. Although the power of tribulation lightning waves were supposed to increase, the level shown already seems far too much stronger than the first wave considering this was still only the start.
“This won’t do. There will definitely be more affecting Chasing the Wind later...” But there was no time to analyze the situation. He had to figure out how to save Chasing the Wind first. “If nothing is done, Chasing the Wind will undoubtedly die under the tribulation.”
“That’s right - the Divine Firmament Body Refining Art!”
A flash of inspiration hit him. Although that was a human cultivation method, perhaps he could modify it for Chasing the Wind’s use...
“No... There’s no time left!”
The heavenly tribulation crackled ready to descend above.
There was no time left to modify it. He simply pointed and sent an imprint containing the original version of the Divine Firmament Body Refining Art directly into Chasing the Wind’s consciousness via his divine sense.
“Chasing the Wind, this is a body refinement art that can dispel the tribulation lightning within you!” He rapidly explained to Chasing the Wind. “But you’ll need to comprehend it yourself to adapt it to your own body.”
Chasing the Wind blankly gazed at Qin Ran with bloodshot eyes.
“Chasing the Wind, Dad believes in you!”
Qin Ran painfully tore his eyes away from Chasing the Wind’s dazed appearance... How could that silly cub transform a human cultivation method into one suited for a tiger's body in such a short amount of time?
The second wave of tribulation lightning struck.
Glancing up, Qin Ran froze in shock...
“Three waves? Why are there three waves!?”
A thought he should not be worried about flashed across his mind - “Can I withstand this?”
Normally, there should only be a single bolt for the second wave, slightly stronger than the first.
After the first wave, Qin Ran had planned to continue using the second bolt to further temper his body.
Yet... who could expect the second wave to be three bolts, with each clearly perceivable to be much stronger than the first wave?
“I won’t... die, will I...”
An involuntary notion crossed his mind.
But with the tribulation lightning already descending, he had no choice but to face it head-on...