I am a mortal who has achieved enlightenment through burning my secrets

Chapter 190 Thunder Knife
Near the northern part of Tianyuan City lies a vast plain divided into dozens of regions by numerous formations. There are almost no people here, because this is a place prepared by Tianyuan City specifically for cultivators whose tribulations are approaching. If someone wanders around here and accidentally triggers their own tribulation, they will truly become a laughingstock.

Moreover, compared to their own cave dwellings, undergoing tribulation here has another advantage: absolute safety. There will be almost no threats other than the heavenly tribulation itself. Any cultivator who dares to make a move here will be hunted down by the entire Tianyuan City, because no one wants to be ambushed after undergoing tribulation.

Those who can go into seclusion here are all people who are about to undergo a heavenly tribulation, and only cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage are qualified to go into seclusion here.

This is also the stage prepared by the two big shots for Xiao Wuji, and his first business deal will begin here.

"This is Luo Mo, the first generation of ascended cultivator, and this is Chi Rong of the Crimson Fire Dragon clan. Both of them are at the Refinement of Void cultivation level, and they are also the two who are closest to the Heavenly Tribulation among all those in seclusion."

A monk dressed as a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage led Xiao Wuji to meet his client.

The human cultivator was dressed in a pink robe and had a seductive appearance, making it difficult to distinguish between male and female. He must have been practicing a dual cultivation technique.

The demon cultivator was a burly, red-faced man in armor, who looked rather fierce.

"Xiao Wuji greets both of you fellow Daoists!"

Xiao Wuji bowed to the two men and said, "I presume Zen Master Jin Yue has already told you both, so I wonder what your choice will be?"

The alluring man, who had probably already made his plans, said without hesitation:
"I estimate that I will have a hard time surviving this tribulation. If you can lend me a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure, and I heard that it is the number one spiritual treasure on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Ranking, I would naturally be willing!"

"However, are you really sure that your so-called Great Luo Palace can withstand all the lightning tribulations unscathed? What if it suffers any damage..."

The burly, red-faced man chimed in, "That's right, the sissy asked the same question I was thinking of. If your magical artifact breaks, we can't afford to pay for it!"

"Don't worry, as long as it wasn't intentionally damaged, there's no need for compensation! I have confidence in the magic weapon I crafted!"

Although Xiao Wuji wasn't very confident in his weapon-refining skills, he was quite confident in the hardness of the Great Luo Silver Essence. Besides, the power of those two's heavenly tribulations might not even be as great as his own, so what did he have to worry about?

Despite being called a sissy, the flamboyant man showed no displeasure whatsoever, whether he was simply used to it or it was just a personal preference.

Xiao Wuji took out a palm-sized silver palace and threw it a short distance in front of him. The palace instantly transformed into a small palace.

Xiao Wuji led everyone inside, then pointed to the Nine Dragon Cauldron in the hall and said:
"My main purpose in crafting this treasure was to collect the power of heavenly lightning, so I had already considered how to lend it out!"

"You only need to master the Tongbao Technique and refine it slightly to be able to control it. Although you won't be able to control it at will, it will be sufficient for overcoming tribulations!"

After saying that, Xiao Wuji slapped the Nine Dragon Cauldron with one hand, and a Tongbao Manual of more than a thousand characters appeared, which was then displayed for everyone present to read.

This treasure had already been imprinted with the nine Emperor characters from the Daoist scriptures, and only he could wield it at will. Even if others obtained the Tongbao Technique, they could only use it superficially. Moreover, the main purpose of the Tongbao Technique was to allow the aura of the person undergoing tribulation to conceal the aura left on the magic treasure, so as to prevent the heavenly tribulation from involving them.

Although he coveted the gifts of the Heavenly Tribulation, it did not mean that he wanted the Heavenly Tribulation to come knocking on his door at any time.

Then, Xiao Wuji pointed his finger towards a corner of the hall, and a silver vine immediately flew down to the corner.

"While you are undergoing your tribulation, you will also have to use this puppet to withstand the heavenly lightning and temper the puppet for me. This is also part of the deal."

"Of course, this only applies to the two of you as role models. Any other newcomers who want to use my Great Luo Palace will have to pay a price!"

Xiao Wuji wasn't doing this tribulation-crossing business for charity; a little bit of heavenly lightning power wouldn't be enough.

No one said anything about Xiao Wuji's "win-win" behavior. For people like them with insufficient strength, it was already a blessing to survive the heavenly tribulation. No matter how precious the treasure was, it was not as important as life.

After listening to Xiao Wuji's words, one of them continued to study the Tongbao Manual, while the other demon walked up to the long whip-like puppet.

These vine-like puppets were truly beyond his comprehension; no matter how he looked at them, they didn't seem capable of withstanding the power of heavenly lightning. Thinking this, Chi Rong glanced at Xiao Wuji with some suspicion.

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Wuji suddenly put on a smiling face and said:

"It seems you two don't quite trust my methods. How about this..." As he spoke, Xiao Wuji casually took out the black Qilin scales he had just acquired and tossed them around in his hand.

"Let's have a contest. Whoever beats me gets these three black Qilin scales. If you're not satisfied, I can add some more materials and help him forge a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure that's listed on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Ranking!"

"Fellow Daoist, is what you say true?"

Hearing Xiao Wuji say this, both of them became excited, and even Zen Master Jin Yue beside them looked on with envy. Although the black Qilin scales were precious, it was not something that an ordinary person could do to refine them into something that would be listed on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Ranking.

If it were truly that easy, then the number of spiritual treasures on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Ranking wouldn't be a mere hundred or so. It's hard to say whether there are even a handful within the entire human and demon realms. Now, they can obtain one for free simply by defeating a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator—how could these two not be excited!
"Of course it's true, and I absolutely will not use this Great Luo Palace! How about that, isn't that very sincere?"

"Which of you comes first?"

"Me first, me first!" ×2
……

Chant!

High in the sky, a crimson dragon over a hundred meters long and a silver snake of the same length were locked in a fierce battle.

The Crimson Flood Dragon was surrounded by fiery clouds, with crimson flames transforming into dragons that weaved through them. Every move it made was enhanced by the crimson dragon flames. This was the innate flame of their Crimson Flood Dragon clan. Those with rich bloodlines could control it naturally without cultivation, and its power was extraordinary.

Black runes, as dense as scales, flickered intermittently on the surface of the "Silver Serpent." Each time these black runes lit up, they absorbed a portion of the fiery cloud surrounding the Crimson Dragon. These were runes extending from the Devouring Dao, far less perfect than the Dao within the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, yet they still possessed miraculous effects.

Chi Rong gripped a section of the "silver snake's" body with his claws, channeling his secret techniques to enhance his power. Runes flickered within the fiery jade-like scales covering his body. Years of cultivation had refined his scales into something akin to a natal magic weapon, its defensive power comparable to a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure. No matter how the other branches of the puppet struck them, they couldn't breach its defenses; this alone was enough to make him invincible. However, the puppet was also exceptionally tough; he had just exhausted all his methods but couldn't tear it apart. He had no choice but to transform into his original form and engage in a protracted battle. He refused to believe that this person's magical power could surpass his own.
Below, Xiao Wuji looked at the scales on the Crimson Fire Flood Dragon's body and commented, "The Crimson Fire Flood Dragon does have some skill, doesn't it? It looks a bit like a natal magic weapon of my human race!"

Listening to Xiao Wuji's self-talk, Zen Master Jin Yue was speechless. This was a great supernatural power of the Crimson Fire Dragon Clan. Although Chi Rong hadn't mastered it, saying it like that was somewhat insulting.

Jin Yue wanted to explain, but seeing Xiao Wuji's arrogant demeanor, he kept quiet. After all, he was just a young man who had never learned his lesson. It was better to teach him a lesson, lest he lose his life in the future.

Just as Jin Yue's mind was in turmoil, he suddenly saw Xiao Wuji reach out his palm and grab at the "silver snake" in the sky. Purple lightning burst forth, instantly repelling Chi Rong's claw.

"Purple Lightning Shadow Blade!"

Xiao Wuji silently chanted in his heart, and the vines of the Thunderous Hell Vine instantly intertwined, with countless bolts of lightning flashing around him, transforming into a pool of lightning that temporarily forced Chi Rong back.

Then, all the lightning suddenly receded, clinging to the vines and forming a giant blade over a hundred meters long.

This sword has the Thunderous Hell Vine as its spine and the Purple Lightning Yin Thunder Blade as its blade. Its sharpness is fully exposed, exuding an extremely intimidating aura.

"cut!"

At Xiao Wuji's command, the enormous blade seemed to teleport, blocking Chi Rong's path as he chased after Xiao Wuji's main body, and slashed down with a single strike.

"Fellow Daoist, I concede defeat!"

His scales tore apart, blood gushing out. Looking at the hundred-meter-long thunderous blade pressed against his neck, Chi Rong accepted his defeat with a heavy heart. This seemingly unremarkable puppet was actually stronger than him. This boosted his confidence in his tribulation-crossing.

With this puppet around, I could do it myself!
Xiao Wuji put away the Thunder Blade, and the Thunderous Hell Vine Puppet transformed back into its vine shape and fell into Xiao Wuji's hand.

At the same time, another "Xiao Wuji" flew over from a distance, followed by that alluring man, though he now looked rather disheveled.

It turns out that Xiao Wuji hadn't personally taken action. He had only sent his three thousand Thunder Illusionary Bodies, carrying the Great Five Taboo Coins, to fight the alluring man, while his main body controlled the puppets to battle Chi Rong. It could be said that he had almost never personally participated, yet he still easily defeated two Void Refinement cultivators.

Lei Huan transformed into lightning and entered his body, while the Great Invincible Coin returned to its original form as a bracelet hanging on his wrist. Those three True Spirit Scales, in the end, still belonged to him.

……

(End of this chapter)