Translator: AnubisTL
"Roar—"
As soon as these words were spoken, the previously cool and quiet alchemy room was instantly filled with a surge of scorching flames.
This time, the flames were more intense and violent than ever before. Gu Feng could feel an overwhelming passion and boldness emanating from them.
"Hahaha—"
Before Zhu Qingyan's figure had fully materialized, her hearty laughter already echoed through the room, shaking Gu Feng's eardrums and causing his soul to tremble. He quickly shouted:
"Senior Zhu, I was severely injured while searching for a suitable body for you. I can't withstand your laughter."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Feng felt two pairs of scorching eyes on him, causing his body temperature to skyrocket. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Zhu Qingyan stopped laughing, as if using some secret technique to examine Gu Feng's injuries.
"Even the Myriad Tribulations Physique, known for its physical resilience, is this badly injured. It seems you really went all out for my sake. It was worth it to pass on my most powerful martial skill to you..."
Zhu Qingyan smiled at Gu Feng, her eyes filled with satisfaction. "I'm sorry for earlier. I was too excited and didn't notice your injuries."
"Do you know? I've been trapped in this dark, sunless underground for five thousand years. Although I was asleep for most of that time, every time I woke up, I couldn't help but feel lonely and desolate.
I once gazed at the stars, praying to the heavens, hoping that one day I could stand in the world again...
But I knew it was a futile hope. In this barren region, no one could cultivate to the level of triggering a Thunder Tribulation...
I cursed the Divine Master countless times... It was he who left a trace of my soul here, waiting for a future revival...
Who would have thought that the old man's calculations would come true... and that the rare Myriad Tribulations Physique would appear!
I'm sorry, Divine Master!
I was wrong. Please forgive my past ramblings. I was driven mad by loneliness and spoke out of turn!"
Perhaps too overwhelmed by emotion, Zhu Qingyan began to shout. She alternated between wild laughter and melancholy, finally kneeling and bowing in a certain direction.
Gu Feng's heart stirred, finally understanding some of the mysteries he had pondered. Zhu Qingyan's soul existed here due to the guidance of the Great Ming Divine Master. Even the establishment of the Sunset Glow Sect was because of a single sentence from the Divine Master. Zhu Qingyan was Luo Qingyan—a conclusion that made sense yet was amusing.
To have foreseen today's events five thousand years ago, this Divine Master of the Great Ming Dynasty was truly a mythical figure, worthy of being one of the continent's top experts.
Gu Feng felt a sense of longing, imagining himself one day becoming a figure like the Divine Master.
"Gu Feng, show me what kind of body you've prepared for me."
These words snapped Gu Feng out of his reverie.
Looking at Zhu Qingyan, who had leaned in close with bright eyes, he couldn't help but shrink his neck.
He couldn't help but worry—if he took out the 'Thunder Spirit Grass' now, would he be beaten to death on the spot?
"I... I didn't bring it with me," Gu Feng said in a low voice, his eyes darting around as he lied on the spot. He absolutely couldn't take it out now. He had to go out and find a more suitable body for Zhu Qingyan.
"Hahaha, my mistake. I was too excited.
Your storage ring isn't high-grade enough to hold a living spirit beast!"
In her excitement, Zhu Qingyan didn't notice the change in Gu Feng's expression. She propped her chin on her hand, deep in thought, and began muttering to herself:
"What could it be? Don't tell me, let me guess!
It can't be a thunder-attribute cultivator... probably a thunder-attribute spirit beast... but what could it be... Ah, there are so many thunder-attribute spirit beasts, how could I guess...
Gu Feng, give me a hint. How many spirit stones did you spend on this body?
As long as prices haven't changed much in five thousand years, I should be able to guess!"
By the end, Zhu Qingyan was squatting right in front of Gu Feng, her eyes burning with confidence.
"Uh—it wasn't too expensive, just..." Gu Feng felt his scalp tingle under her gaze. How could he answer? Say that the 'Thunder Spirit Grass' was originally free, but Chu Youhuan reneged and demanded seven thousand spirit stones?
Heaven help him. If he said the words "seven thousand low-grade spirit stones," next year today would be his death anniversary.
"Quick, tell me!"
Under Zhu Qingyan's pressure, Gu Feng finally held up seven fingers.
"Seven million low-grade spirit stones? That's only seventy thousand mid-grade spirit stones. That's a bit low, but you could still buy some thunder-attribute spirit beasts!"
Zhu Qingyan squatted on the ground, propping her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
"I know! Is it the 'White Jade Thunder Rabbit'? This spirit beast has low attack power, so it's relatively cheap. Seven million low-grade spirit stones should be enough to buy one!"
"N... no!" Gu Feng felt a headache coming on and wished he could leave immediately.
But obviously, Zhu Qingyan wasn't going to let him go.
"Not the White Jade Thunder Rabbit? I quite like rabbits. I even raised one back in the day... Then it must be the 'Extreme Cold Snow Goose.' This spirit beast's name doesn't have 'thunder' in it, but it's a genuine thunder-attribute demon beast..."
"Not that either!" By now, Gu Feng was fidgeting uncomfortably. He had to find an excuse to leave.
"Senior Zhu, my injuries haven't fully healed yet. I'm not ready to face the Thunder Tribulation. Let me adjust my body to its peak condition first, then I'll come back to you!"
With that, Gu Feng bolted for the alchemy room door.
"Come back!" Zhu Qingyan's fiery hand grabbed him like a little rabbit and pulled him back.
"With me here, do you really need to heal yourself?"
"That's not necessary, Senior Zhu. You're in a weakened state now. There's no need to expend your soul power for me." Gu Feng just wanted to curse. From Zhu Qingyan's excited expression, he knew she wanted him to recover immediately so she could undergo the Thunder Tribulation and reappear in the world.
"Haha, you underestimate me. My realm is beyond your comprehension. Even in my current state, with just a trace of my soul, I can restore your body in an instant.
It will cost me a bit, but it's not a big deal. Once I have a new body, I'll only retain the soul power matching that body's realm. Rather than letting most of my soul power dissipate, I might as well use it to heal you!" Zhu Qingyan said with a smile.
"Then... then I'll trouble you, Senior." Gu Feng's mind raced as he felt his body rapidly recovering under Zhu Qingyan's soul power. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan and tentatively asked:
"Senior Zhu, if the body I found for you is too low-grade, will it affect your future?"
"It will, but not much!" Zhu Qingyan replied softly. Perhaps in a good mood, she began to lecture Gu Feng while healing him:
"Gu Feng, you need to understand one thing—there are no trash physiques, only trash people!
For me, the body is just a temporary vessel. At a certain level, I'll need to condense my own true body.
The strength of the current body isn't important. It's just a matter of how long it takes to recover. A longer recovery time is even better, giving me enough time to perfect the shortcomings of my previous realms. In this life, I will surpass my past self and reach for the highest realms!"
As she spoke, Zhu Qingyan's aura surged with boundless ambition.
"R... really?" Hearing this, Gu Feng felt a bit more at ease but still asked uncertainly.
"Of course!
Your realm is still low, and your perspective is limited. You naturally think that the stronger the physique, the greater the future achievements.
Broadly speaking, that's not wrong, but it's not absolute!
Even a mortal physique can defy the heavens and reach the imperial realm, becoming invincible in an era... The most legendary emperor in history was originally a hybrid ginseng that accidentally fell into a spirit pool. It didn't feel inferior about its origins and step by step, walked the path of defying the heavens.
This emperor is a highly legendary figure and my idol. Unfortunately, the era is too far removed, and I never had the chance to meet them!"
As she spoke, a look of longing appeared on Zhu Qingyan's face, showing that this hybrid ginseng emperor was indeed her idol.
Gu Feng's worries diminished by half. Even if the 'Thunder Spirit Grass' was trash, it was still a pure breed, likely a grade or two above that hybrid ginseng. When Zhu Qingyan learned the truth, she probably wouldn't fly into a rage and kill him.
About an hour later, Gu Feng felt the scorching hand on his back disappear. His entire body felt clear and comfortable, and the injuries from his secret realm journey were completely healed.
"You're in good shape now, and based on your current physical indicators, breaking through this Thunder Tribulation will be a breeze. You'll definitely succeed."
Zhu Qingyan said with a smile. She knew a lot about the Myriad Tribulations Physique, and Gu Feng didn't doubt her words. If she said it was 100%, then it definitely wouldn't fail.
But—
Was it really appropriate to use a spirit grass as her body?
"Senior Zhu, let me adjust for a bit. After some time, we..."
Gu Feng's words were cut off as he saw Zhu Qingyan seemingly peeling away the spirit fire from her body. Her fiery form gradually became illusory, and faintly, he could see the image of a peerless female cultivator.
Her long black hair reached her waist, her figure was graceful, and she exuded an aura of authority.
"What are you waiting for? Go get my body now. I'll undergo the Thunder Tribulation today. I can't wait any longer."
"Senior Zhu, why don't you go back first? I've been thinking, and I feel the body I found for you is too low-grade. Let me look for another one?"
"I can't go back. Once I separate from the spirit fire, I must undergo the Thunder Tribulation within twelve hours, or I'll dissipate!" Zhu Qingyan shook her head.
Gasp—
"You... you can't go back?" Gu Feng's mouth hung open in disbelief.
This was bad. Things had just gotten out of hand.
"Did you not find a thunder-attribute body?" Seeing Gu Feng's stunned expression, Zhu Qingyan's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked.
"I did find one, but it's very ordinary!" Gu Feng silently cried inside. Ordinary? It was downright trash.
"Let me see it!"
"No need to go out. I have it with me."
At these words, Zhu Qingyan was stunned, her face filled with confusion. She clearly didn't sense any other life force on Gu Feng!
Then she saw Gu Feng trembling as he pulled out a spirit grass with three narrow leaves, planted in a broken bowl, from his storage ring. The roots of the grass still had some soil clinging to them.
Perhaps because the storage ring was airtight, two of the grass's leaves had already started to yellow and looked like they might fall off.
Silence. Dead silence!
Zhu Qingyan blinked at Gu Feng, her eyes filled with inquiry. Gu Feng helplessly nodded.
"You little brat, this is the body you found for me?" The next moment, a thunderous roar shook the entire alchemy room.
"Senior Zhu, spare me! This 'Thunder Spirit Grass' is both thunder-attribute and alive, perfectly meeting your requirements!" Gu Feng crouched on the ground, one hand covering his head, the other holding out the Thunder Spirit Grass in the broken bowl to Zhu Qingyan!
(End of the Chapter)
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