Chapter 376

Duan Xingyun knew that only those who truly cared about them would risk entering the Forbidden Land to find them. So, despite his burning anxiety for Lu Sangjiu, he patiently recounted the general situation to everyone.

"You’re saying that before the Heavenly Tribulation descended, she was fighting that Female Immortal Cultivator at the Body Integration Realm?"

Fa Shan frowned. "You didn’t recognize her?"

Duan Xingyun shook his head. "Currently, the only sects known to have Body Integration Realm cultivators are our Four Great Sects and the Four Small Sects. Among the Supreme Elders of these eight sects, only five are Female Cultivators, and I’ve met them all before."

"I can confirm she is definitely not any of them, and the techniques she used were ones I’ve never even heard of."

A look of confusion and a trace of worry appeared on Fa Shan’s face. "A Body Integration Realm cultivator who’s never been heard of?"

’If such a person really exists, how could she have remained unknown for so many years of cultivation, only to cause trouble for Lu Sangjiu the moment she appears?’

’It’s obviously not about the Demon God Hall, either. After all, Li Qiancheng received the inheritance right under her nose, and she didn’t show the slightest intention of stopping him. Her only goal was to go after Lu Sangjiu.’

Everyone present couldn’t help but ponder the identity of this Female Cultivator, but after a long while, it was clear no one had a clue.

Of course, their ability to get distracted by these thoughts didn’t mean they weren’t worried about Lu Sangjiu’s safety. It was because although Yan Lingzhi had returned to the Seven Emotions Sect, he was constantly helping them keep an eye on the Life Tokens of Lu Sangjiu and her group. If something had happened to Lu Sangjiu, he would have contacted them immediately. The fact that there had been no news meant Lu Sangjiu was fine. Their entire group knew this, so while they were all worried, they were still able to remain rational.

While everyone else was stumped by the Female Cultivator’s identity, Xie Ningyuan... He gazed at the raging bolts of lightning, his heart heavy.

He was the only one who knew about the long-standing grudge between Lu Sangjiu and the Pseudo Heavenly Dao.

So, after hearing Duan Xingyun’s account, his very first thought was—Upper Realm Cultivators.

’It’s impossible for someone to cultivate to the Body Integration Realm without anyone noticing. After all, the resources required are innumerable. It’s not something that can be achieved by just one person hiding away somewhere and cultivating quietly.’

’Especially since this person appeared with a clear target, focusing solely on Lu Sangjiu. It forced him to consider the possibility that an Upper Realm Cultivator had descended to this world.’

’She’s only at the Golden Core Stage, yet she fought a Body Integration Realm expert to a standstill... Just what kind of incredible hardships did she face that forced her to summon a Heavenly Tribulation just to fight her opponent to the death?’

’He knew better than anyone that Duoduo had just gone through its Tribulation Crossing not long ago. Logically, it should be impossible for it to advance to the Nascent Soul realm now. They must have used some desperate, reckless method.’

’Duoduo originally signed a contract with Lu Sangjiu out of fear of death, yet now it was forced to take such a huge risk. One could only imagine what kind of desperate situation Lu Sangjiu must have been facing.’

With every new thought, another pang of pain struck Xie Ningyuan’s heart.

In the past, he had never particularly pursued power, but now he keenly felt the pain of his own powerlessness.

So much so that he knew she was struggling to survive within the Heavenly Tribulation, yet he couldn’t help in the slightest and could only wait here.

’The path of a Buddhist Practitioner... what is it, really?’

’If I cannot even save a single person, how can I speak of saving all living beings?’

’If I cannot even love a single person, how can I speak of loving all of humanity?’

Emotions surged through Xie Ningyuan’s heart like never before, roaring as if to question the very world itself.

He suddenly recalled what the Abbot had once said: that the path of the Buddhist Practitioner they currently walked was not necessarily the right one. Perhaps by following one’s heart, one could forge a new path.

’Then why must he choose between his life and the one he loves?’

’He loved Lu Sangjiu. He wanted to live, to travel with her across a thousand rivers and mountains, to witness all the facets of life... and he didn’t want to lose the power to protect her.’

’He had already watched his master die right before his eyes because of his own powerlessness. Now... was he to just stand by and watch her die here as well?’

"...My path should not be like this."

His voice was calm, yet his words seemed to carry immense weight.

The others instinctively looked at him, only to be shocked to discover a powerful fluctuation suddenly erupting from the energy in his body!

A dazzling Buddha Light gradually enveloped him. Within the light were wisps of blackness, the result of his Cultivation Technique’s backlash.

At this moment, however, the blackness was receding at a visible rate, as if something intangible was mending him.

Everyone was stunned. They all instinctively retreated, putting some distance between themselves and him.

"What’s happening to him..."

Fa Shan narrowed his eyes. "It seems like an epiphany, but it’s far more intense."

He had never seen such a situation before. ’This monk... I really can’t figure him out.’

After the wisps of black within Xie Ningyuan’s Buddha Light rapidly faded, the process suddenly seemed to hit a bottleneck. The last few strands of the surging black substance showed no sign of disappearing.

Although the others didn’t understand what was happening, they could tell that this was not good for Xie Ningyuan.

Luo Linlang, who had spoken so harshly to him earlier, couldn’t help but worry. "He... he’s not going to be in trouble, is he?"

Fa Shan’s expression was grave. "No one has ever encountered a situation like his. Who can say for sure?"

"But I believe he has his own destiny. He doesn’t seem like the type to die in a place like this. Let’s just wait."

Lu Sangjiu’s ordeal wasn’t over yet, and now something had happened with Xie Ningyuan. This endless wave of incidents was truly exhausting for everyone.

But... there was truly nothing anyone could do to help. What else could they do but wait?

While Xie Ningyuan’s situation was at a stalemate, Lu Sangjiu’s Heavenly Tribulation finally reached its last bolt.

This bolt of the Heavenly Tribulation took longer to gather than any before it. The thunder was immense; forget getting close, just a single glance was enough to make one’s heart palpitate with fear.

Fa Shan murmured with a grave expression, "A Heavenly Tribulation this powerful... even I wouldn’t be confident in surviving it. She..."

His voice trembled on the last word.

The others immediately grew tense, hardly daring to breathe. They stared intently, endlessly praying in their hearts that Lu Sangjiu had to make it through safely. As long as she was alive, even with just one breath left, they could save her!

Inside the Heavenly Tribulation, Lu Sangjiu was not faring well.

She was unaware of the events outside, her every ounce of strength focused on resisting the Heavenly Tribulation.

Although the Heavenly Punishment Qi inside her had helped immensely, this Heavenly Tribulation was simply too tyrannical. It was already a miracle that she had lasted this long.

By now, there was barely an uninjured spot on her entire body. She was holding on through sheer force of will alone.

’I still have to protect Duoduo... Duoduo risked its life for me. If I die, it will surely die too.’

’I absolutely cannot fall... I can’t!’

She tilted her head back slightly, her gaze stubbornly fixed on the final bolt of the Heavenly Tribulation gathering above. She muttered to herself, "...The last time, I died in a Heavenly Tribulation. This time, I absolutely will not repeat the same mistake!"

BOOM!

Finally, the last bolt of Heavenly Thunder, its light glinting in her eyes, descended with a roar, carrying with it the power of annihilation!