Chapter 103: Xuanhuan Cultivation BL (XIX)

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Chapter 103: Xuanhuan Cultivation BL (XIX)

For the long-lived members of the Spirit Clan, these past few months would remain unforgettable. They had gone from being a “free-range” people to a “domesticated” one. The Spirit Realm now possessed its first structure resembling those of the mortal world, though far more magnificent and exquisite. It was the palace of the Spirit Emperor, and it would also become the only place the noble spirits could enter. Built upon a massive spiritual vein drawn together through the secret arts of the Phoenix tribe, it was a blessing bestowed upon all spirits.

Although cultivating so close to the Spirit Emperor’s residence meant they would inevitably be subject to certain restrictions, the phoenix had always stood at the head of spirits since ancient times. Such restrictions were only natural. Regardless of how near or far they lived, if they heard the Spirit Emperor’s command, who among them would dare disobey?

To construct this first grand structure of the Spirit Clan, which would later be known as the Holy Mountain of the Spirit Clan, nearly every tribe lent a hand. It was the first true cooperation between the various races, and it also displayed the true strength of spirits to humanity. Countless flying swords and streams of multicolored light intertwined across the sky. Even the stingiest spirits contributed rare treasures, determined to make this first imperial palace worthy of its name. The once-scattered settlements of the spirits gradually transformed into concentric rings surrounding the Holy Mountain, with the palace where Miao Lichen resided at its center, where spiritual energy was at its most abundant.

At that moment, Miao Lichen stood within the vast red maple forest. Amid the magnificent palace grounds, the drifting maple leaves created a uniquely beautiful sight, but he had no mood to appreciate it. Above his head, thunderclouds rumbled, streaked with dazzling violet light. This was no artificial neon spectacle of the modern world, but genuine heavenly lightning. No matter how much Miao Lichen had suppressed his cultivation for the sake of the Spirit Clan to delay the heavenly tribulation, it had still arrived when it was destined to. Fortunately, he had already prepared for everything.

Yan Yangxi stared fixedly at the tribulation clouds above Miao Lichen. After months of tempering, he now carried the murderous aura of a demonic cultivator, while the aloof purity of a righteous disciple had faded considerably. His reputation as the Demon King had gradually spread throughout the demonic cultivation world, not because of slaughter, but because of plundering treasures. The once-detached senior disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, who had seemed devoid of worldly desires, had developed an extraordinary obsession with defensive artifacts. Every renowned defensive treasure had become his target. Anyone unwilling to surrender their treasure willingly could simply lose their life instead.

Naturally, every treasure Yan Yangxi seized eventually ended up in Miao Lichen’s possession. Looking at the tribulation clouds, which did not appear especially formidable, he felt a little more confident. Yet his heartbeat refused to calm. Resting a hand over his chest, Yan Yangxi watched the red figure without blinking. Standing beneath the tribulation clouds, Miao Lichen still wore the faint smile he had learned after coming to the Spirit Realm. The golden markings across his body shone with a sacred brilliance, though Yan Yangxi thought he could detect the slightest trace of solemnity.

“Your Majesty.” Hè Liancheng stood beside Yan Yangxi, one hand resting over the feather marking on his collarbone. He could still feel the lingering heat flowing through his blood. If Miao Lichen had known he was about to face the heavenly tribulation, why had he still given him his blood? Why had he concealed the news of his impending tribulation and made all the preparations alone? Why did even a demonic cultivator know things that had never been shared with him, his own subordinate? Was it because he could not be trusted… or because he simply was not strong enough? Countless questions filled his heart, but at this moment he wished for only one thing—that Miao Lichen would safely survive the tribulation. Only then would he finally receive the answers he sought.

Ever since the phoenixes had lost the ability to wield the Phoenix Flame freely, every use of it had become an act of self-destruction. The truth behind the extinction of the phoenix tribe was that they could no longer endure the agony of being consumed by their own flames. Some even claimed that what had vanished was not only their bodies, but their souls as well, because the Phoenix Flame burned everything without exception. Yet His Majesty had already survived one Nirvana. If he could endure that, then surviving the heavenly tribulation was surely not impossible.

The first bolt of heavenly lightning descended with a deafening roar, but the formation tightly confined it within the small area. Even the phenomenon of the heavenly tribulation itself was concealed beneath an illusion, so that no one knew their Spirit Emperor was undergoing tribulation. The Spirit Clan had only recently been unified. If the spirits learned that their Spirit Emperor had already reached the Mahayana stage and could ascend to the Immortal Realm at any moment, those spirits that had never been entirely obedient would undoubtedly begin stirring once more.

However, this arrangement also had an obvious drawback. Explosions within an enclosed space became far more destructive, and heavenly lightning was no exception. Yet no one had ever managed to change Miao Lichen’s decisions. Though dangerous, it was also the safest choice in another sense. After all, the most dangerous force in the world was never heaven itself, but living beings whose desires knew no limits.

With a casual raise of his hand, Miao Lichen received the first bolt of heavenly lightning. His eyes narrowed as he solemnly sensed the information contained within it. This was the aura of the world’s laws themselves, something so elusive that even immortal cultivators rarely encountered it. What impressed him most was the force with which the lightning tore through space. Every time he crossed between worlds, he could feel the power of space itself, but this time it was incomparably clearer. Perhaps it was because of this world’s unique nature.

The second, third, and fourth bolts descended in succession, each stronger than the last, with longer intervals between them. Yet the preparation time allowed him only enough opportunity to swallow healing pills, not fully refine them. Fortunately, this was still considered one of the easier heavenly tribulations, so Miao Lichen had no intention of drawing his swords.

Only when the fifth bolt descended did Miao Lichen finally unsheathe his twin swords. Looking up at the tribulation clouds overhead, a smile curved his rosy lips as he charged directly into the lightning without hesitation. Even amidst the tribulation, his red robes fluttered gracefully without suffering the slightest damage, as though he were not enduring a heavenly trial, but performing a dance against the magnificent backdrop of thunder.

The sixth, seventh, and eighth bolts descended almost simultaneously. Countless experiences from his previous worlds flashed through Miao Lichen’s mind, along with the many targets he had once captured. There were scenes of affection, scenes of resentment. Like someone watching a film, he calmly observed their performances, only to watch those once-familiar faces, now strangely distant, transform into savage bolts of lightning because of his indifference.

Then came the ninth bolt—the final heavenly lightning. Miao Lichen extended his tongue and licked the trace of blood from the corner of his lips. His red robes had long since become tattered, though the bloodstains blended almost seamlessly into their color. Only his snow-white hair had finally taken on another hue, nearly indistinguishable from the red fabric. Tilting his head slightly as he sensed a familiar presence nearby, he narrowed his eyes and looked toward the final bolt.

Unlike the previous strikes, the tribulation clouds spent an exceptionally long time gathering strength for the last attack. The enormous cloud mass gradually shrank, while the lightning within grew darker and darker until it approached pure black. The massive bolt swallowed the red figure whole. At that very instant, the concealment formation shattered apart, sending dust billowing into the air. When the dust finally settled, not a single trace of him remained.

The already solemn atmosphere fell into an even deeper silence, one so oppressive it bordered on eerie. After a long while, measured footsteps finally broke the stillness.

Jiang Lingwen slowly walked into the formation. The red cloth strips stained with blood fluttered through the air. The smile that had formed on his lips in anticipation of their reunion remained frozen in place, as though it had forgotten how to become any other expression. He no longer knew what he was supposed to do. Suddenly, a mouthful of bright red blood spilled from his lips and trickled down the corner of his mouth.

∇ Capture Target Jiang Lingwen Favorability: 100.

∇ Main Mission: Capture the Male Protagonist, Jiang Lingwen (Complete).

∇ Capture Target Yan Yangxi Favorability: 100.

∇ Side Mission: Capture the Supporting Character, Yan Yangxi (Complete).

∇ Capture Target Hè Liancheng Favorability: 100.

∇ Side Mission: Capture the Spirit Clan’s Hè Liancheng (Complete).

Sometimes, only after something was lost did people realize its true value. Those who remained by one’s side were seldom cherished with one’s whole heart. But once they were gone, when every memory flooded back, regret served no purpose at all.

The cry of a phoenix echoed across the heavens. All three men looked up at once, hope rekindling within them. As the tribulation clouds dispersed, a red phantom danced where they had once gathered. Its aura continued rising, far surpassing the Mahayana stage it had just reached, advancing directly toward immortality before crossing the final threshold. The overwhelming pressure weighing upon the three of them vanished in an instant.

The last memory Miao Lichen left them was that red silhouette. Despite all three standing at the pinnacle of the cultivation world, none of them knew whether his tribulation had ultimately ended in success or failure.

Meanwhile, Miao Lichen found himself in a peculiar space. His body was being continuously reconstructed as a pink radiance flickered across him. At some point, a red thread had appeared around his wrist, resembling the prayer cords children tied while making wishes to the gods. The spiritual energy surrounding him became increasingly dense, yet this was clearly not the Immortal Realm. Had he failed the mission?

Originally, Miao Lichen had planned to perish beneath the final bolt of heavenly lightning. That would neither make him appear incompetent nor interfere with completing his objective. However, an unexpected twist had occurred at the last moment, though the ending remained perfect. Through his blood, he had successfully passed on the phoenix phantom to Hè Liancheng, who now carried his bloodline. The Spirit Clan would not lose its Spirit Emperor because of his departure.

Just before the final bolt struck his body, the System issued another mission.

∇ Mandatory Mission Activated: Ascend Through Heavenly Tribulation.

∇ Reward: 144,000 points.

∇ Failure: Body and soul annihilated. The System will initiate self-destruction procedures.

∇ Congratulations, Challenger. Mission complete. Body enhancement in progress. Upon completion, you will immediately return to the System Space.

Miao Lichen closed his eyes. The place where he now stood could not truly be called the Immortal Realm… yet in another sense, it was the Immortal Realm. It was the very core of immortal energy itself. The purest immortal energy flowed into his body, fused by the pink energy until it became power he could command with ease. Cultivating here would naturally bring him immeasurable benefits.

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