After an exhilarating Lightning Tribulation, the tribulation clouds in the sky gradually weakened, no longer raining down lightning. The originally dense tribulation clouds, swirling with purple-black lightning, were now pulled by an invisible force, gradually becoming thin and transparent. The purple-black light slowly dissipated, replaced by a soft azure, like the first light of dawn, heralding the arrival of new life.
As the tribulation clouds dispersed, the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation brought down Heavenly Dao Spirit Dew. Specks of spiritual light, like stars scattering across the human world, contained the essence of heaven and earth and the mysteries of Law. These spiritual lights converged into a stream, slowly descending towards Xiaobai, who had been ravaged by the tribulation lightning. A small portion also spread outwards, merging into this heaven and earth, bringing an unprecedented concentration of Spiritual Qi and vibrant life to this area.
“It passed! The Sect Master’s Gu successfully passed the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation!” Fang Shixin looked at Li Mu and congratulated him sincerely.
“Indeed! For Xiaobai, the Sect Master spared no expense!” Qin Wentong looked at Li Mu, his eyes gleaming with profound respect, then sighed, “The True Spirit Thunder Tribulation has always been a huge threshold on the Cultivation path, with very few successful traversers. Xiaobai’s own Aptitude is exceptional, and with the Sect Master’s full assistance, it is truly rare to achieve what it has today!”
During Xiaobai’s Undergoing Tribulation of the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation, the various Spirit Treasures, Dao Artifacts, and even the Nine Nether Kun Whale that were sacrificed must have all come from Li Mu’s grand generosity. Otherwise, Xiaobai would likely have found it difficult to withstand the destructive power of the Heavenly Thunder.
“Seven-rank True Spirit! Moreover, it’s a Gu Cultivating into the Dao. Xiaobai’s future achievements are limitless!” Zhong Zilin exclaimed.
The other Elders of Seven Profound Sect nodded continuously, looking at Xiaobai, who was rapidly recovering while immersed in the Heavenly Dao Spirit Dew, with sincere envy. To have a Master like Li Mu greatly increased the chances of Cultivating into the Dao, which was a blessing Cultivators dreamed of.
Li Mu smiled without speaking at the Elders’ praises, his gaze always fixed on Xiaobai, his face revealing unconcealed joy.
Under the Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, Xiaobai’s status and attributes were clearly displayed in his eyes.
【Phantom Gu Spirit Insect】
【Rank: Seven-rank Phantom Spirit Gu Emperor】
【Characteristics: Soul Nightmare Dominator, Innate Spiritual Wisdom, Soul Spirit Devourer, Golden Jade Insect Body, Leader of Insect Swarms, Dream Divine Wings, Kun Whale Clone.】
【Status: Having undergone the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation’s baptism, successfully advanced to Seven-rank Phantom Spirit Gu Emperor. Divine Soul suffered damage from the tribulation lightning, rapidly recovering under the nourishment of the Heavenly Dao Spirit Dew, continuously consolidating its Cultivation and Realm while bathing in the essence of heaven and earth.】
【The Seven-rank Phantom Spirit Gu Emperor has transcended the mortal world, becoming the supreme existence among Gu insects. With its unparalleled Soul-devouring ability, enhanced spiritual wisdom, Soul-devouring heavens, and an indestructible Golden Jade Insect Body capable of immune to a large amount of physical damage, it can remotely control ten thousand types of insect swarms, sharpen its Divine Wings, is the absolute bane of yin-Soul type lives, and specializes in more profound phantom-Soul type Cultivation Techniques. It lives by Soul and fights by Soul.】
After seeing Xiaobai’s current attribute information, an indescribable joy and pride surged in Li Mu’s heart. Xiaobai’s transformation was not only a leap in its individual strength but also a perfect manifestation of his many years of effort and expectation.
With Xiaobai as a powerful trump card, Li Mu would no longer fear facing powerful Yao Beasts, cunning enemies, or even those high and mighty Cultivators, because Xiaobai’s existence gave him the capital to fight them.
Just as Li Mu was immersed in his boundless aspirations for the future, a brilliant light suddenly erupted from Xiaobai’s body. It was a sign that the Heavenly Dao Spirit Dew had been completely absorbed and its power thoroughly integrated.
As the light gradually converged, a delicate, palm-sized little person appeared before everyone. It had a pair of veil-like wings on its back, and its eyes sparkled with wisdom and agility. This was Xiaobai after its Humanoid Transformation.
At this moment, the entire Seven Profound Sect was shaken. The Elders marvelled at this incredible sight; they had never seen such a pure and powerful Spirit Body Humanoid Transformation. Xiaobai’s Humanoid Transformation was not merely a change in form but also a manifestation of its Soul’s perfect Fusion with the Heavenly Dao Law. Its strength and potential had undergone a qualitative leap at this moment.
Li Mu looked at the delicate and adorable Xiaobai before him, his heart overflowing with joy and pride. He gently extended his hand, and Xiaobai spread its wings, lightly landing in his palm. Xiaobai’s eyes looked directly at Li Mu; without words, they could feel the deep understanding and emotion between them.
“Xiaobai, you’ve finally undergone Humanoid Transformation.” Li Mu looked at Xiaobai with surprise and endless happiness.
“Wow, Xiaobai, so you’re a girl!” Xue’er exclaimed happily. She had always been full of curiosity and affection for Xiaobai, and now seeing Xiaobai transform into such a delicate little girl made her even more excited.
Upon hearing this, a faint blush appeared on Xiaobai’s cheeks. She seemed to not have expected her gender to be directly revealed by Xue’er. Her eyes, which sparkled with wisdom, now held a hint of shyness and bashfulness. She buried her head into Li Mu’s embrace.
Seeing this, Li Mu couldn’t help but laugh softly and quickly comforted her, “Don’t be shy, Xiaobai. Whether you’re a boy or a girl, you’re my dear friend.”
Xiaobai looked up at Li Mu with those spiritual eyes, as if she could read everything in his heart. She gently nodded, her wings flapping rapidly, transforming into a stream of light that circled around Li Mu, as if expressing her gratitude and loyalty to Li Mu in her own way.
“Xiaobai, come here!”
Xue’er couldn’t help but call out. Xiaobai’s current appearance was too adorable, like a petite porcelain doll, exquisite and charming, exuding a unique allure that made Xue’er irresistibly want to get close.
Upon hearing this, Xiaobai’s figure paused slightly, then transformed into a gentle breeze, elegantly floating towards Xue’er. She lightly landed on Xue’er’s outstretched palm, her two small hands gently gripping Xue’er’s fingers, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and friendliness.
“Xiaobai, your transformed form is so cute and beautiful!”
Xue’er’s eyes were filled with awe and affection. She cupped her hands carefully, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, not daring to exert any force.
“Thank you, Xue’er, I like you very much too! Hehehe!” Xiaobai suddenly responded, her voice like a young girl’s, clear, melodious, and lively.
Xue’er excitedly touched Xiaobai’s small, miniature body. The interaction between the two (one fox and one spirit) was warm and childlike.
The Elders of the Seven Profound Sect watched this scene, their faces filled with relieved smiles, unwilling to disturb them.
“Everyone, regarding Xiaobai, please keep it a secret for me,” Li Mu suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.
Li Mu’s gaze swept over the Elders present, and each of them felt the weight of his words.
Upon hearing this, the Elders all sobered their smiles, their expressions becoming solemn. Qin Wentong, Fang Shixin, and Ge Xinyu exchanged glances, deeply aware that Xiaobai’s successful Undergoing Tribulation of the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation was no small matter. Once it spread, it would likely attract unnecessary trouble, or even the covetousness of powerful enemies.
“Sect Master, we understand the gravity of the situation. This matter will certainly be kept strictly confidential, not allowing the slightest rumor to leak out,” Qin Wentong responded solemnly.
Fang Shixin also nodded, adding, “Xiaobai’s successful Undergoing Tribulation of the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation not only signifies a leap in her personal strength but also a significant foundation for our Seven Profound Sect. We will certainly guard this secret strictly.”
All the Elders nodded in unison, their faces serious, almost ready to swear a Heavenly Dao oath on the spot.
Seeing this, Li Mu felt a little relieved. He gently raised his hand, gesturing for everyone not to be overly nervous, and his tone softened a bit: “Elders, I have always trusted you, but at this moment, there is one more thing I need to trouble you with. There are many Disciples in the Sect, and it is inevitable that news might leak. I can understand the shock and curiosity in the hearts of those Disciples who witnessed the tribulation. Therefore, I hope that the Elders can personally go to each peak to appease the Disciples’ emotions, and at the same time, emphasize the importance of confidentiality.”
Upon hearing this, the Elders all accepted the command and successively bid farewell to Li Mu, returning to Seven Gods Peak to admonish their respective Disciples.
Watching the Elders depart, Li Mu’s gaze fell on Xue’er, who was playing with Xiaobai.
Xiaobai’s successful Undergoing Tribulation of the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation finally allowed Li Mu to breathe a sigh of relief. However, Xue’er’s True Spirit Thunder Tribulation was not far off either. The Bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox within her body was fluctuating with increasing intensity, as if it could trigger a resonance with heaven and earth at any moment.
As a descendant of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox, Xue’er’s True Spirit Thunder Tribulation would be even more perilous than that of ordinary Yao Beasts. It would not only test Xue’er’s Cultivation and will but also be an extreme tempering of her Bloodline Power.
Li Mu dared not be negligent in the slightest and needed to prepare thoroughly for Xue’er’s Undergoing Tribulation.
“Xue’er, stop playing! Let’s go back!” Li Mu interrupted Xue’er and Xiaobai’s frolic, signaling.
Upon hearing this, Xue’er looked up at Li Mu, a trace of unusual emotion flashing in her fox-like eyes. Being sensitive to emotional reactions, she immediately sensed Li Mu’s current mood and quickly became compliant, silently walking to Li Mu’s side and taking his hand.
While Xiaobai’s successful Undergoing Tribulation of the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation was certainly cause for celebration, Li Mu’s entire focus was now on Xue’er, fearing that she might not pass the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation. Her safety became his greatest concern, which made Xue’er both happy and a little sad.
Xiaobai also seemed to sense their emotions. It flew to the side of the Kun Whale Clone, put it away, and then spread its wings, landing on Li Mu’s shoulder. It slowly sat down and affectionately rubbed its small head against Li Mu’s cheek.
Li Mu smiled slightly, feeling a bit better. His figure flickered, and he used the Five Elements Escape Technique to take Xue’er and Xiaobai away from the back mountain.
Next, Li Mu began to prepare for Xue’er’s Undergoing Tribulation of the True Spirit Thunder Tribulation. Xue’er also diligently immersed herself in Cultivation. She yearned to be with Li Mu forever and did not wish to become a burden to him due to her weakness. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to Cultivation, refining her Bloodline Power, absorbing pure Spiritual Qi, and strengthening her Physical Body and Divine Soul.
Time flew like a white steed, and in a blink of an eye, two years passed swiftly. During this period, Xue’er’s growth and transformation were remarkable. She not only successfully condensed the Bloodline Power of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox to its extreme but also made significant progress in Cultivation, her strength now incomparable to what it once was.
And Li Mu did not waste time either. Not only did he prepare a complete set of Spirit Treasures and Dao Artifacts for Xue’er’s Undergoing Tribulation, mirroring the methods used for Xiaobai, but he also added many contingencies on top of that.
Just as Li Mu thought life could continue this peacefully, a sudden sword light streaked across the sky, accompanied by a clear sword hum, landing in front of the main hall of the Seven Profound Sect’s Sect Leader’s Mansion. When the sword light dissipated, it revealed a middle-aged man dressed in a green robe with a long sword on his back. It was Sword Master Feng, who had not appeared for a long time.
Before long, Li Mu, having heard the news, hurried out of the Artifact Refining Room to personally greet him.
Sword Master Feng’s gaze was like a torch, fixed on Li Mu, a smile playing on his lips as he quickly went to meet him.
“Li Mu, long time no see, your Cultivation has improved quite a bit again,” Sword Master Feng’s voice carried a hint of approval, but more so, a sense of solemnity.
“Greetings, Sword Master! Sword Master, you flatter me.” Li Mu bowed slightly in respect, responding humbly with a smile.
Sword Master Feng’s visit at this time must be for an important matter. Li Mu quickly led Sword Master Feng into the main hall.
“Sword Master, may I ask why you have come this time?” After Sword Master Feng took his seat, Li Mu went straight to the point.
Sword Master Feng nodded gently, looking at Li Mu and introducing gravely, “Elder Li, I have indeed come with a major mission to entrust to you. Recently, although the dispute between our Xuantian Sword Sect and Taiyi Sect has settled, the dormant forces in the Nine Nether Land seem to be stirring, ready to move. The Nine Nether Land is an Outer Domain permanently shrouded in Nether Qi, with isolated information and full of dangers, posing no small threat to our Sect.”
After a slight pause, Sword Master Feng continued, his tone revealing an undeniable resolve, “To consolidate our Sect’s position and deter the minor forces beyond the domains, our Sect has decided to establish a sturdy stronghold on the edge of the Nine Nether Land and secretly arrange an Ancient Teleportation Array. Once this array is built, it will allow us to instantly mobilize the Sect’s elites, giving us the initiative whether responding to sudden situations or launching proactive attacks.”
“Arranging the Ancient Teleportation Array is something Elder Li excels at. Therefore, I need to trouble Elder Li to accompany me to the Nine Underworlds Beyond the Domains,” Sword Master Feng looked at Li Mu, finally stating the purpose of his visit.
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Li Mu’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Although he had lived in seclusion and dedicated himself to closed-door Cultivation within the Seven Profound Sect for years, he had heard about the changing situation within and outside the Xuantian Sword Sect. Although the Xuantian Sword Sect had gained an advantage in its recent confrontation with the Taiyi Sect, the threat from external forces had never truly been eliminated, and it had become even more complex due to the two Dao Sovereigns being trapped in the Nine Nether Secret Realm.
However, with each of the thirteen Sword Elders and several Sword Masters equipped with a Dao Weapon, their strength had greatly increased, allowing the Xuantian Sword Sect to gain the upper hand in its recent contest with the Taiyi Sect. Nevertheless, the fruits of victory did not allow the entire Sect to relax, as there were still many external forces coveting them.
Li Mu had been able to spend several years safely in the Seven Profound Sect precisely because of the Xuantian Sword Sect’s protection. He naturally would not refuse Sword Master Feng’s request, nor did he have any reason to refuse.
“Sword Master is far-sighted. Li Mu will naturally do his utmost to assist the Sect,” Li Mu said firmly, without any hesitation.
“However,” Li Mu changed the subject, a troubled expression on his face as he suggested, “The path to the Outer Domain is extremely perilous and requires detailed planning and ample preparation. May I ask Sword Master to grant me two days to make thorough arrangements?”
Upon hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Sword Master Feng’s lips, and he naturally had no objection: “Elder Li is absolutely right. This matter is of great importance and indeed requires careful preparation. You can rest assured and prepare. The entire Sect, whether it’s resource allocation, personnel recruitment, or any other needs, will fully cooperate with you.”
Li Mu bowed again, gratefully saying, “Thank you, Sword Master, for your understanding. Li Mu will not fail your expectations. Within two days, all preparations will be complete.”
Sword Master Feng smiled and gently waved his hand, signaling Li Mu to go and make arrangements.
Li Mu turned and left the main hall, decisively. (End of Chapter)
