CBGC - ch157

Chapter 157: Xiao Gen (Little Gen= Su Tingyun left a soul mark on this guy, back when she visited the Wang Family shop)

Bai Chengyu and Wang Ningxi sit on the bed, dressed neatly, their heads touching as they both look at the jade slip placed before them.

Two people, with combined ages of several hundred years, are seriously studying a dual cultivation manual? Are they really treating this as part of their training?

Even Little Bai has more ’experience’...

Seeing the couple gradually turning red like boiled crabs, Su Tingyun decides not to continue watching. Just as she is about to retract her Divine Sense, she hears Bai Chengyu whisper, "I'll lower the curtain."

The newlyweds’ bed has red gauze curtains, layered like lotus leaves in a pond. When lowered, the fabric drapes not only onto the floor but also forms a thick layer around the bed, resembling flowers adorning the edges.

"Do you think someone might be spying on us?" Bai Chengyu looks up and mutters, "Granny, don't watch."

Those words make Su Tingyun's face flush with embarrassment. Retracting her divine sense, she feels her own face heating up, as if caught before even doing anything wrong. It's incredibly awkward.

Hey, after all, she has been an old maid for many years. Even sneaking a peek is not allowed. Maybe she should buy a dual cultivation manual herself for fun? Then she thinks about how many old bachelors there are in the Obliteration Sword Tower, which provides her some comfort. There might have been hundreds of old virgins here over these thousands of years, making her situation seem minor.

After retracting her divine sense, Su Tingyun knocks on Big Bai’s head. "No more spying, understood?"

"Okay." Big Bai replies sullenly and goes back to playing with her ball.

Su Tingyun returns to the ring's inner world, where the spiritual energy is even more abundant than in the Upper Realm. She can train inside, and the speed is faster than staying in the Upper Realm.

But for a cultivator, significant progress usually requires prolonged seclusion. Her current routine of training at night and wandering during the day won't be enough. Once things settle here, she will also need to enter seclusion for training.

The emergence of the Demon World is undoubtedly terrifying, but as long you’re strong, everything can be overcome. She hopes that the seals and barriers she and Xiao Mei set up can contain the demons for a longer period, giving everyone time to grow stronger.

The next day, Su Tingyun informs everyone that she will be entering seclusion for an indefinite period. However, she will leave a wisp of her divine sense to monitor the outside world and will exit seclusion immediately if something goes wrong.

As a result of her announcement, the cultivators of the Obliteration Sword Tower also decide to enter seclusion. Since they lack nothing, with plenty of spiritual stones and pills, everyone can focus on advancing to the next level, so they all agree to go into seclusion at the same time.

Even Bai Chengyu and Wang Ningxi decide to enter seclusion to diligently study the dual cultivation techniques. With Wang Ningxi's poor aptitude and low cultivation level, dual cultivation can benefit her, allowing her to advance and narrow the gap between them.

With the decision made, Master Zhan Yu seals the Obliteration Sword Island. Everyone returns to their respective pavilions, and Su Tingyun sets up a barrier, taking Big Bai and Little Bai into the ring's inner world for training.

Inside the ring, the spiritual energy is getting stronger and stronger.

It is a pity that she cannot bring everyone inside. Perhaps it's due to the rules of heaven that this world, which is exempt from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao, can only be accessed by Big Bai and Little Bai, who have recognized her as their master and are connected to her soul. She has tried to bring other living beings inside but has failed. In comparison, some high-grade immortal storage treasures can contain living things, even people!

Su Tingyun selects a powerful technique from Big Bai’s stomach, the Tiangang Five Thunder Technique, an enhanced version of the Golden Thunder Technique she previously learned. It can unleash lightning with immense power.

Many cultivators from the True Immortal Realm practice this technique. The jade slip contains a message from Bai Su, explaining that as the penalties from Heavenly Tribulations become more severe, this technique, created by a powerful immortal based on the patterns of heavenly tribulations, is highly effective for countering them. Cultivating it to the ninth level allows one to absorb the tribulation lightning for personal use, making it highly recommended for Su Tingyun.

Currently, the ways in which Su Tingyun could attack are limited. The Haoran Zhenqi Sword, with its single move, is too simplistic. She cannot rely on it for every situation, so she needs to learn more techniques. Additionally, the Tiangang Five Thunder Technique is beneficial for future tribulations, making it essential for her to learn.

Su Tingyun sits cross-legged and begins to absorb spiritual energy into her body.

Following the method taught in the jade slip, she channels the spiritual energy through her meridians, eventually releasing a small bolt of lightning from her fingertip, leaving her body numb and trembling.

…

This tingling sensation, should it really be this unbelievable?

As Su Tingyun continues to channel spiritual energy, there's a look of reluctance on her face. The feeling of lightning striking intensifies. She never expected that the initial stages of practicing the Tiangang Five Thunder Technique would involve repeatedly striking herself with the Golden Thunder Technique.

The more she circulates her spiritual energy, the stronger the lightning becomes. After completing nine cycles, Su Tingyun finds herself scorched. Surprisingly, it's not particularly painful. Perhaps due to her celestial bones, the pain is… within the tolerable range, but this state is somewhat absurd. Every time she gets struck, Big Bai turns to look at her, initially amused, but eventually, both Big Bai and Little Bai start to worry.

"Has Granny's cultivation gone wrong? Her hair is standing on end," Little Bai comments.

"Granny won't have a cultivation mishap, but will she turn into a fool if she’s hit too much?" Big Bai wonders.

"You're the fool," Little Bai laughs heartily. Big Bai quickly extends a tentacle, yanking Little Bai out and throwing it to the ground. Big Bai then presses down on it, grinding Little Bai until it’s nearly lifeless, its leaves squeezed to the point of oozing sap.

Big Bai moves so fast that Su Tingyun can't stop her in time.

After the grinding, Big Bai swallows Little Bai into her stomach and snorts, "Do you get it now?"

Su Tingyun expects them to argue but is surprised when Little Bai fawningly says, "You're amazing, you're the best." Its voice trembles, not with fear, but with a hint of joy. Su Tingyun, deeply connected to Little Bai, knows it isn’t seriously hurt. What she didn’t know is that Little Bai has a masochistic streak; being beaten by Big Bai actually pleases it, completely overturning Su Tingyun's understanding...

Every pot really has its lid!

Time passes quickly in cultivation. Su Tingyun practices the Tiangang Five Thunder Technique until the third level, reaching the Human Immortal third stage. Ten years have flown by.

During these ten years, Su Tingyun has kept a wisp of her divine sense outside, knowing that the Obliteration Sword Tower remains peaceful, like a serene paradise. There is hardly any movement. Occasionally, Third Uncle Bai would stroll around, practice his sword techniques, then return inside.

In this decade, the Qilian Mountain seal remains undisturbed, as if Yan Yuqing is also in seclusion and has no thoughts of leaving the Dual Realms Mountain.

The one that caught Su Tingyun attention, Xiao Gen in Jinxiu City, hasn’t left either. However, his body weakens, seemingly nearing the end of his lifespan.

After ten years in seclusion, Su Tingyun wants to stretch her legs. She leaves the ring's world, glances around the pavilion, and notices her companions have made significant progress. Liu Feizhou is close to breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, and the Sect Leader and Second Uncle have reached the middle of the Golden Core stage. The latter two are average in terms of aptitude. Because it's only with the support of large amounts of elixirs that they're able to advance to the Golden Core stage, their future progress will be much slower. Unless they encounter a miraculous opportunity to reshape their foundations, there won't be much improvement. Reaching the Nascent Soul stage is the best they can hope for.

As her gaze sweeps, Su Tingyun accidentally spots Bai Chengyu and Wang Ningxi cultivating together, making her eyelid twitch and mouth curl involuntarily.

Of course, they haven't been dual cultivating every day for ten years, but to come out and immediately catch them in the act fuels endless imagination...

Su Tingyun plans to go out for a walk. As she steps out of the pavilion, Third Uncle Bai silently appears in front of her. He looks her up and down, "Human Immortal third stage in ten years, quick progress."

If not for cultivating the Tiangang Five Thunder Technique, Su Tingyun's progress would have been even faster. She doesn’t explain and instead says, "Thank you, senior, for guarding Obliteration Sword Tower all these years."

Third Uncle Bai nods, "It’s my duty." He smiles, "I visited home recently. That kid Bai Su is about to break through his bottleneck and face the tribulation. Do you want to go see?"

When cultivators face their tribulations, they usually won't let others watch. They choose a secluded place to avoid being sabotaged. However, if successful, the surrounding area will be blessed with auspicious signs and abundant spiritual energy. The rich spiritual energy is great for all nearby cultivators. So if she's lucky, there will be endless benefits if she goes there to observe.

"Sure." Su Tingyun is just about to agree, then she suddenly feels her eyelids twitch. Her soul shakes, and she becomes extremely tense!

Jinxiu City!

There really is something wrong with that Xiao Gen! The seal she set is broken, and the mark she left on his primordial spirit to control him is captured.

Initially, she thought she could crush his primordial spirit if he turned problematic. Now, it feels like an ice spike stabs into her soul to pour in icy winds, chilling her spine.

That primordial spirit’s aura is violent, with countless voices clamoring, rushing into her Dantian and Sea of Consciousness. Her face turns deathly pale.

"What's wrong with you?" Uncle Bai senses something amiss. His spiritual energy surges around him, disregarding the danger of celestial tribulation. His flying sword instantly ascends into the air, transforming into countless swords around Su Tingyun, forming a sword formation that firmly encloses her...

However, the opponent is attacking her soul. This person has followed the soul mark to approach. A powerful shadow crashes straight into Su Tingyun's Dantian and Sea of Consciousness. Because it's a mark left by Su Tingyun herself, even the pure flow within the ring can't resist the violent black shadow at this moment.

It's like a tiny spark swallowed by a raging torrent.

His primordial spirit is incredibly powerful.

"I've endured for over a decade."

"Since he's still alive, it's time have you as a substitute."

A chilling voice declares.