Chapter Eighty-One: Restless Without Being Struck by Lightning

Most of the blue-glowing arcs of electricity struck Chen Xiang. Yet when these arcs met the Negative Pole Cloak, not even a ripple was raised. Though both the cloak and the Banshee Veil could withstand most of the thunder's force, a few stray arcs still landed on his flesh.

“Ding! Thunder force detected. Heavenly Thunder Tribulation auto-activated. Current stage: Lightning Tempering Body, progress at 1%.”

Chen Xiang smiled inwardly. With anti-magic gear outside and a technique inside to absorb the power, the more lightning, the better!

“Haha, bring it on!” He laughed aloud, the shadow of his staff shifting and weaving as he met the remaining bolts, dispersing them with ease.

“Ding! Thunder force detected. Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Current stage: Lightning Tempering Body, progress at 5%.”

...

The five figures atop the high platform were utterly stunned, unable to believe what they saw.

“He actually put away that treasure that blocks thunder—and he can withstand it with his own body!”

“This is thunder that even Nascent Soul Grandmasters dare not take head-on! How can he disperse it so effortlessly?”

“Even if I tried, it couldn’t be done so easily!”

...

Only the Ancestor and the Sect Master, whose cultivation had reached the ninth stage of Soul Transformation, perceived the truth.

“The cloak on this youth is peculiar, absorbing lightning. And the scarf on his shoulder seems even more potent!” the Sect Master mused.

The three elders nodded in surprise; they too saw that Chen Xiang’s cloak absorbed lightning, though they hadn’t realized the scarf did as well.

“How have I never heard of such treasures? Could this be the latest creation of a renowned artifact master?” The Third Elder stroked his chin in contemplation.

“I haven’t heard of them either—but judging by their abilities, they must be formidable. Thunder that even Nascent Soul Grandmasters cannot withstand has little effect; does that mean it can resist thunder of Soul Transformation strength? Perhaps even...” The First Elder nodded, though he dared not voice the last few words.

The Ancestor remained silent, his face dark as coal, staring at the yawning, bored Chen Xiang below.

He saw not only the strange properties of the Negative Pole Cloak and Banshee Veil, but his vision at the Infant Transformation stage was unmatched.

Just now, he’d clearly seen a portion of the lightning strike Chen Xiang’s flesh, only to be instantly absorbed. Not only did he possess lightning-resistant garments, but also a technique that strengthened him by absorbing thunder’s force.

He’d brought Chen Xiang here out of curiosity, testing him with lightning of late Nascent Soul strength, his anger coloring the act, but he never intended to kill—the bolt was singular, and its aim was deliberately off.

Yet he hadn’t expected Chen Xiang to reveal his cards so openly. Seeing these hidden powers, the Ancestor instantly concluded that Chen Xiang was the sixth-grade senior alchemist he’d sensed.

With lightning-resistant attire and a technique that absorbed thunder, even the triple-nine thunder tribulation caused by sixth-grade pills could not kill him.

“This boy must be kept!” The Ancestor’s eyes gleamed as he watched Chen Xiang.

Beyond being a sixth-grade senior alchemist, his garments and lightning-absorbing technique were enticing.

The Ancestor, now at the third stage of Infant Transformation, had little lifespan left—barely a century or two. The sect had no new Infant Transformation cultivators; the strongest, Sect Master Chu Nan, was only at the ninth stage of Soul Transformation, not yet perfected.

If he could advance within three hundred years, all would be well; if not, their Hidden Frost Sect would fall to second-rate. But if he could advance one more stage, his lifespan would extend—yet his talent made such a breakthrough unlikely.

Ordinary fifth-grade pills barely helped; only advanced fifth-grade pills offered slow progress. He’d once acquired a sixth-grade intermediate pill recipe; such pills could increase his cultivation speed by thirty percent. If a sixth-grade alchemist could craft ten for him, he’d have a good chance at breakthrough—hence his keen interest.

He was determined to obtain Chen Xiang’s technique as well. With it, his chances of surviving tribulations would rise, perhaps even reaching the coveted Void Refinement stage!

Having thought through all this, the gloom on his face vanished, replaced by joy.

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” The Ancestor repeated, and the four leaders exchanged glances, sensing his true intent.

Was the Ancestor planning to confine Chu Liuxiang?

Upon reflection, they themselves harbored similar thoughts. They suspected Chen Xiang was indeed the sixth-grade alchemist and were intrigued by his cloak as well.

The Ancestor ceased summoning lightning, and after the second wave, Chen Xiang simply stood waiting for the next.

“Why hasn’t it come down yet? Damn, Heavenly Thunder Tribulation has nine layers of lightning body—I absorbed one round and only reached 5% of the first layer. Who knows how long it’ll take to complete all nine? Had I known, I wouldn’t have brought out the Banshee Veil!” Chen Xiang spat, frustrated.

The nine layers of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation are hidden, each person’s bone structure affecting cultivation progress, so the technique’s description omits them—one only learns during practice.

As a body-tempering technique, even at 5% of the first layer, he could feel his physique had doubled in strength. If he reached full mastery of all nine, how indestructible would his body become? Perhaps nearly saintly.

Having tasted the benefits, he was no longer so wary of lightning tribulation, even eager for more.

Yet he waited for ages, the thunderclouds above rumbling but refusing to drop their bolts, leaving him impatient.

Just as his impatience peaked, the valley’s sole exit opened.

The elder who’d brought Chen Xiang to the Hidden Frost Sect entered, beaming.

He smiled at Chen Xiang: “Young Chu, you’ve passed the third trial. I’ll take you to the fourth.”

The leaders had devised a clever scheme—Chu Liuxiang desired to complete all four trials, so the fourth would be set in the forbidden pavilion, whose restrictions were controlled solely by the Sect Master. Even the Ancestor couldn’t leave without his permission.

First, lure Chu Liuxiang inside, then study him at leisure.

“What? It’s over?” Chen Xiang exclaimed, incredulous. “Just this little bit of thunder? Too easy! No, no, you need to give me something tougher, or I’ll feel guilty passing!”

The elder stumbled, thinking, “This little bit of thunder? It’s as powerful as a perfected Nascent Soul—if I couldn’t withstand it, how could you think it easy?”

“Young Chu, the thunder was strong enough—I couldn’t resist it myself, so you’ve already passed,” the elder replied bitterly.

Chen Xiang knew he spoke the truth; without his gear and techniques, he wouldn’t have dared to face those bolts head-on. Still, having found a rare thunder pool, how could he let it go so easily?

“No, isn’t it said that the longer you persist, the better your results? I’m feeling itchy today—unless I’m struck by lightning, I’m uncomfortable. You go on ahead!” he insisted, frowning.

“Ding! Host ‘Chen Xiang’ has prepared for triple-nine thunder tribulation—may descend at any moment!”

“To be continued...”