Chapter 73: Du Xian Sect 31 Part 2

Breaking through to Soul Transformation, a realm cultivators sought but rarely attained, meant only death for Xun Ji.

“No… Shizun… you can’t break through…” Lu Yun Ting murmured, his body suddenly stiffening as a thick chain bound him entirely.

The Coiling Dragon Lock—the item Yulan Zhenren had used to bind Xun Ji at the Immortal Alliance Conference, which Xun Ji had conveniently pocketed.

Lu Yun Ting collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing unnaturally, his face pale as paper.

The Pain Transfer talisman from Wei Luoheng, given to Lu Yun Ting, was now hidden in Xun Ji’s collar. The agony Xun Ji endured from his spiritual veins rupturing and reforming was amplified hundreds of times by the Pain Sensitivity skill and projected onto Lu Yun Ting, making him wish for death, unable to take a single step.

“Immortal Lord, what is the meaning of this?” Wei Luoheng helped Lu Yun Ting up, his eyes complex. “Do you know what the consequences will be if you continue like this?”

“Wei Luoheng, remember what you promised me.” Xun Ji didn’t look at him or Lu Yun Ting. “Take good care of him.”

Xun Ji focused entirely, channeling the massive spiritual power into the Chijun Sword. The flames around the female cultivators deepened to scarlet, slithering like serpents into each of their bodies, incinerating the Malicious Curse Marks that had tormented them for lifetimes.

The Chijun Sword clashed against thousands of Malicious Curse Marks. As one waned, the other waxed, rapidly depleting Xun Ji’s internal spiritual power. It even stalled the body that should have exploded from lifespan exhaustion.

Soon, however, the vast spiritual power absorbed by the Merit Dao poured in endlessly, refilling his body. Then, just as quickly, the Chijun Sword drained it all away.

For a moment, Xun Ji’s body fell into a bizarre balance.

His lifespan had been entirely burned away by advancing to Soul Transformation, yet with his spiritual power depleted, he couldn’t explode and die. Every time external spiritual power surged in, on the verge of detonation, the Chijun Sword would absorb it all to combat the thousands of Malicious Curse Marks within the female cultivators.

This cycle repeated endlessly. Xun Ji concentrated on controlling the Chijun Sword, trying not to heed the sounds from Lu Yun Ting behind him.

His spiritual veins shattered and reformed ceaselessly, the endless pain borne by Lu Yun Ting in his stead.

“Don’t do this… Shizun, please…”

But Lu Yun Ting never cried out in pain from beginning to end—not once. He didn’t care about his own suffering; he simply understood too well the consequences of Xun Ji’s actions and why he was doing this.

Thus, he pleaded desperately, begging him to turn back, to not gamble his life.

But the arrow had been loosed; there was no turning back. It was already too late.

“Hold on just a bit longer.” Xun Ji murmured silently, unsure if he was speaking to himself or to Lu Yun Ting.

He knew this was somewhat cruel, but as his master, he had to protect his disciple at a time like this.

“Boom!!”

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, lightning snaking like pythons. Xun Ji’s breakthrough had been too sudden; the advancement thunder tribulation arrived belatedly.

The Soul Transformation Stage tribulation thunder was grandiose, hurtling toward the Biluo Sect’s Sect Leader’s Grand Hall with heaven-shattering momentum. At the altar’s edge before the hall, Xun Ji didn’t stop controlling the Chijun Sword. He smiled bitterly inwardly. With no spare attention for the thunder tribulation, he could only endure. He hoped to eradicate at least a few more Malicious Curse Marks before he collapsed.

The black-purple tribulation thunder crashed down with immense force. Xun Ji prepared to close his eyes and brace himself when ice walls suddenly rose around him! A familiar Ice Blue Long Sword flew up, using its blade to block the thunder!

Lu Yun Ting, bound by the Coiling Dragon Lock, knelt on one knee. Vast spiritual power overflowed from him, all converging toward Xun Ji. But at merely Nascent Soul Early Stage, resisting a Soul Transformation Stage thunder tribulation was too much. The thunder paused briefly before exploding in myriad lightning bolts, shattering the ice walls to powder!

Ferocity flashed in Lu Yun Ting’s eyes. He bit his tongue tip, a thread of blood connecting from his body to the Zhenliu Sword, intending to consume his essence blood to boost its power.

Frost power on the Zhenliu Sword surged dramatically, defiantly meeting the thunder. The two forces collided mid-air with a devastating roar! Everyone heard a violent cracking sound and looked up in shock to see the first tribulation thunder cleaved in half by the Zhenliu Sword, dissipating completely!

“Yunting Lord, you actually blocked a Soul Transformation Stage thunder tribulation.” Wei Luoheng said incredulously. “Truly…”

But before he finished, the smoke cleared. The Zhenliu Sword hovering mid-air let out a crisp ring, cracks spiderwebbing across its blade before it shattered into segments!

Lu Yun Ting spat a mouthful of blood, his face visibly ashen. But before anyone could react, the second tribulation thunder gathered overhead and pressed down!

Lu Yun Ting barely mustered his remaining spiritual power. Threads of blood extended toward the Zhenliu Sword’s fragments, trying to reassemble them.

“Enough!” Xun Ji scolded sternly. “Even if you drain your essence blood, you can’t block nine tribulation thunders. Lu Yun Ting, stop wasting your effort.”

“Why…” Lu Yun Ting’s eyes burned red, his body trembling from excruciating pain. “Wasn’t I supposed to be the True Dragon Curse tormenting the Cultivation World for millennia? Wasn’t I supposed to make the entire Cultivation World tremble in fear? I’ve killed so many—why can I only save one person now, yet fail!”

He showed that pleading expression again, like a dog about to be abandoned by its master.

“Those sins should be mine to bear. Why must Master atone for me…” He gazed at Xun Ji, hoping for affirmation. “Shizun, don’t do this, okay? Shizun… don’t leave me, okay?”

The tribulation thunder crashed down, drowning out Xun Ji’s soft sigh. He couldn’t give any promises now; he no longer wanted to lie to him.

The shattered Zhenliu Sword could no longer resist. Yet an ancient, robust protective barrier suddenly lit up around Xun Ji. It was the Biluo Sect’s Mountain-Protecting Grand Formation!

With this array activated, not even a Tribulation Transcendence Realm thunder tribulation could be blocked easily, let alone Soul Transformation Stage. Xun Ji looked at Linglan in surprise, but she remained impassive.