Baiyuyi 37: After the Lightning

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Chapter 37: After the Lightning

Heavenly Tribulations.

Like a graduation test set by a sadistic professor, the Will of the Heavens would send down trials of primal elements at certain points in a cultivator’s cultivation as they tried to transcend on the path from mortal to immortal.

Pass and you gain greater power.

Fail, and you will likely be gravely crippled. Or dead.

KRAAAAAAACK-!

RUUUUMBLE-!

The first strike of Heavenly Lightning came down from above, shattering through ten levels of concrete and rebar before slamming into the failed gu ghost with an immense force.

It’s target was actually the Little Cultivator beneath the failed gu, but Yuan Chenglei’s body withstood the aftershock of the impact with his extremely high vitality – and a cushion consisting of the entirety of the parking garage and a ghost comparable to a Fifth Stage cultivator.

“Get back-!”

Mo Furen gritted his teeth as he yelled out an order, the hair on the back of his scalp standing on end as the currents from the Heavenly Lightning swirled around the area.

His warning was unnecessary, as his squad of Ghost Hunters had already been fleeing for their lives amidst the falling rubble and Heavenly Lightning.

Even the ghosts who still retained their senses had instinctively fled the scene, and those that could dove into their Haunts, entrusting their safety to their Ghost Hunter partners.

As the first bolt struck, the Ghost Hunters had even made sure to scoop up the Phantom Raisers as they fled.

It wasn’t out of altruism.

Getting caught up in someone else’s Tribulation will increase the intensity of the Tribulation, and letting someone else get caught up in it will also increase the intensity of the Tribulation!

That great hulking failed gu ghost already got caught up in it and upgraded the Tribulation by one level– if any one else got caught up in it, then ALL of them were going to be caught up in it, and if ALL of them got caught up in it, then this small section of the city could be obliterated from existence.

The second Heavenly Lightning crashed down and the failed gu ghost roared in anger, unable to understand what was going on and trying to find the origins of it.

The other ghosts who still retained their sense of selves had long since fled the scene, but the failed gu was nothing more than a dumb brute driven mad by the Phantom Raisers’ rearing.

Watching the second, then the third Heavenly Lightning Bolt strike, the Phantom Raisers felt like their hearts were bleeding as the failed gu wailed and raged, but there was nothing they could do as their precious hungry ghost was battered by the Heavenly Lightning.

Gods, they had just wanted to level up their hungry ghost with Ghost Hunter sacrifices, but not only did this bastard destroy their plans and destroy their precious ghost pot, now their ghost was getting caught up in that bastard’s Tribulation-!

The failed gu tanked the first three bolts of Heavenly Lightning by reducing the damage of the bolts as it attacked them with its malicious aura and ghostly powers, but by the fourth bolt it could do nothing but take the Heavenly Lightning directly.

It could only last two more Heavenly Lightning bolts before it disintegrated with a howl of unappeased rage, completely destroyed and unable to approach the revolving lantern.

Sisi shuddered from her Haunt in the pendant around Ghost Scholar’s neck.

The failed gu was dumb so it tried to resist the Heavenly Lightning with brute force, but even if she was out there, with her ghost cultivation and techniques, she’d guess she’d only last 1.5 Heavenly Lightning bolts.

She was a lot weaker than the failed gu, after all.

And more importantly, that dumbdumb, but scary, ghost tanked most of the Heavenly Lightning up until now, so now the Scaredy-cat didn’t have a cushion between him and the Heavenly Lightning-!

Sisi watched with horror as the seventh Heavenly Lightning began to fall –

Eh?

Sisi rubbed her eyes.

Did she just see things, or did something just fly into Scaredy-cat’s mouth?

KRRRACK-!

“Hoooooly sheeeeeeeeeet!”

Just when everyone thought the Little Cultivator was done for, his eyes suddenly shot open and he barely managed to move out of the way of the Heavenly Lightning with a screech.

Poor Yuan Chenglei had only just opened his eyes before he almost wet himself in fright scrambling out of the way of a gigantic lightning bolt that just tried to roast him, but after dodging it there was another one coming from above?!

Heyheyheyhey, what new fresh hell did he just wake up to!?

And why does his mouth taste so bitter it almost hurts?!!?

“Fleeting Steps Technique, move back 5 paces. Move left a pace, then right 7 paces. Right again -”

Yuan Chenglei flinched as a voice reverberated in his head, but it was a familiar voice so Yuan Chenglei gritted his teeth and blindly followed the instructions.

The onlookers were shocked as the Little Cultivator’s floundering movements suddenly turned into precise movements, dodging each Heavenly Lightning bolt by a hair.

“Guh.”

Yuan Chenglei grunted in pain as he forced his body to move.

Even though he dodged the lightning bolts, he couldn’t avoid the aftershocks.

If it wasn’t for the movement technique Laoban had recently taught him, Yuan Chenglei wouldn’t even be able to keep upright, let alone continue to dodge.

It wasn’t a movement technique that traveled long distances quickly but one that allowed you to use your full power despite being unsteady on your feet, even in difficult terrain.

The Fleeting Steps Technique wasn’t a very popular movement technique, due to its limitations as a ‘movement’ technique that didn’t allow one to move very far with as much effort as other techniques, but it was the technique Laoban thought that Yuan Chenglei could use while also using the Shrinking Turtle Breathing Technique.

It seems to have come in handy…

When the last lightning bolt fell, Yuan Chenglei collapsed on the completely destroyed asphalt drenched in sweat, with the distinct scent of singed hair and burning permeating from his body.

As he lay there, completely exhausted in mind and body, the mist and smoke left behind by the lightning revolved around around him for a second before being sucked into his body, filling up his dantian, strengthening his body, and replenishing his stamina.

With great risk comes great rewards; this statement seems to be made for Heavenly Tribulations, as the leftover primal energy would give very distinct benefits to the one who survived it.

“F-fourteen Heavenly Lightning strikes…”

Mo Furen was struck dumb.

A normal Heavenly Lightning Tribulation for a Second Stage Cultivator ascending the Third Stage averaged about three bolts; on very rare occasions, usually when the cultivator was extremely strong for his stage, there could be five bolts.

But fourteen… this Little Cultivator was beyond unlucky.

No matter how strong he was as a Second Stage cultivator, there was no doubt that this Little Cultivator’s Tribulation had been seriously messed up by the presence of the other cultivators and that wretched failed gu.

Although the Heavenly Lightning did take care of that failed gu so Mo Furen was grateful, but …

Expert Ghost Scholar pensively looked around as silence fell throughout the devastated car park.

The Little Cultivator’s movements, although displaying his less-than-excellent skills, were precise and kept him alive.

He had little doubt that the Little Cultivator’s master was nearby, using sound transmission to instruct him, but Expert Ghost Scholar couldn’t hear it no matter how hard he tried.

Only someone much, much stronger than Expert Ghost Scholar or his own master would be able to use sound transmission without Expert Ghost Scholar being able to detect it. Furthermore, this mysterious master had raised a disciple with a stupid amount of vitality, no common sense, but ridiculously good techniques.

Expert Ghost Scholar was very interested in this mystery master the Little Cultivator was learning from.

He didn’t have long to wonder though; the man himself came walking through the air, although Expert Ghost Scholar was the only one to notice since he was the only one who was looking for him.

Everyone else was hesitantly making their way to check on the Little Cultivator sprawled out on the ground, or else keeping an eye on their Phantom Raiser captives.

Expert Ghost Scholar tapped his chin thoughtfully.

If he’s walking through the air, then the Little Cultivator’s master is at least a Sixth Stage cultivator … or … … or … …. …

Expert Ghost Scholar’s eyes widened as he recognized who the Senior was.

Tap.

A sneaker-covered foot touched down near Yuan Chenglei’s head as the temperature dropped, sending a chill into the air.

Mo Furen froze from where he was about to crouch down to ask the Little Cultivator how he was doing.

That – isn’t that person-!?

Mo Furen and the other Ghost Hunters were petrified as the person in question spoke.

“Little Cheng.”

Yuan Chenglei twitched and scrambled to sit up and turn towards that heavy sigh and stern voice.

“… Laoban-! I… this….” Yuan Chenglei still had no idea what was going on, so he didn’t even know what he could say to get himself out of trouble.

Poke

Before he could say anything else, Laoban had squatted down and poked him hard in the forehead.

“This? What is this? Do you even know what this is?” Laoban asked. His voice was light, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

“That’s…”

Poke

“No, I mean, I …”

Poke

Yuan Chenglei made a face that screamed, ‘Grievances!’ and clutched his forehead, saying, “Laoban, at least let me get a word out…”

“Haaa…” Laoban sighed heavily and gave Yuan Chenglei one more hard poke above where Yuan Chenglei’s hands were clasped before he sat back on his heels, propping his head on his hand and saying, “So? How did you get into this mess this time?”

“It wasn’t like I wanted to get into this… before I realized it, I was stuck in here…” Yuan Chenglei felt very wronged.

He really hadn’t done anything wrong this time, okay? The fault of this mayhem can’t be pinned on him, okay?

“Stuck in here? What do you mean, explain it clearly.”

Laoban couldn’t be blamed for not knowing what was going on; all he had noticed was the Heavenly Tribulation, causing his bad feeling to worsen, and he hurried over here in a flash.

Even so, the Heavenly Lightning had already destroyed the remaining traces of the Array by the time he arrived. He could only ask this little disciple what had happened before.

“This way is a common shortcut, yeah? So I was just going in, minding my own business, and then I was suddenly in a Flesh and Blood Devouring Array…”

When Yuan Chenglei said the words, ‘Flesh and Blood Devouring Array,’ the onlookers flinched as the Senior’s eyes sharpened intensely.

They were already terrified at how familiar the Little Cultivator was acting towards this biggest Bigshot in this city, no, in all of China (probably). Now this Little Cultivator was revealing everything bluntly without hiding a thing.

No, not that the Ghost Hunters had anything they really had to hide, but …

Rather, this level of familiarity … this Little Cultivator, the relationship he had with this Bigshot, no way…

Mo Furen looked at Expert Ghost Scholar in disbelief, but Expert Ghost Scholar merely nodded.

Yup. It’s probably what you think.

Mo Furen wanted to cry.

WTF, you’re White Jade Wings’ disciple!? Let us know first next time-!

If we had let this Bigshot’s disciple die… even though there wasn’t anything they could really do… still, Mo Furen felt like his limbs had gone numb as he thought of the close call they all just had.

Of course, his terror wasn’t anything compared to the maimed and restrained Phantom Raisers.

Who said we wouldn’t attract the Bigshots’ attentions, who?! This isn’t fair, Bigshot, if you’re raising a disciple, shouldn’t you teach him how to avoid trapping arrays? Why would your disciple just wander in without being aware of anything!?

While these two feuding group members were having similar reactions of distress, the Little Cultivator had explained the entire situation to the terrifying Bigshot.

The Phantom Raisers shuddered as White Jade Wings’ icy glare flicked over to them.

Even though they had taunted the Ghost Hunters about the Bigshots in town not caring about their misbehavior, that was only if they weren’t caught.

If all the Bigshots knew was that two groups from warring factions had gotten into a spat and one side murdered the other, it was likely that they wouldn’t care, but finding out someone had laid something as heretical as a Flesh and Blood Devouring Array on their land? This was a different matter entirely.

The Phantom Raisers weren’t too eager to find out what the Bigshots would do to them if they found out.

Not that they had a choice in it now.

White Jade Wings lazily turned his attention back to his trouble-finding disciple.

“So do you know what was happening when you woke up?” he asked.

“… I have no idea.”

Yuan Chenglei scratched his head. He woke up and was getting rained on – er, lightning-ed on.

“… Congratulations on surviving your first Heavenly Lightning Tribulation. You are now a Third Stage cultivator.”

“… … Wha- huh? No… eh?” Yuan Chenglei’s brain short-circuited.

Third Stage cultivator? What happened to Stages One and Two!?

“Furthermore, it was an abnormally strong Heavenly Lightning Tribulation. How you managed to trigger the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation unconscious…” Laoban sighed. He had some suspicions as to how it happened, but coming here to find Little Cheng the target of the Heavens while lying unconscious with a clearly malicious ghost above him…

Aiyaa… he had no children, but that sight caused him to understand the rage and heartache a father would feel to see his son lying in such a precarious situation. This was why he was against taking disciples. He wanted the last time he felt anything like this to be the day his wife died.

And to think this trouble-maker was only staring at him with a comical look of confusion on his face without even understanding the severity of the situation … …

Laoban could only take his frustration out on Yuan Chenglei by poking him fiercely in the forehead again.

Well, they could continue this once they returned. For now…

Laoban sighed as he stood up and ignored his little disciple, who was clutching his forehead tearily, and turned towards the others on the scene.

Although the Ghost Hunters didn’t have a real reason to be afraid, they were extremely nervous when faced with THE White Jade Wings’ gaze.

The only thing they were thankful for was that the Little Cultivator was honest and frank, reporting what had happened truthfully without any embellishments, but they were also embarrassed that he had revealed that they had been caught unprepared and were in a dire situation.

“… Well, it seems Little Cheng has troubled you.”

“N-nono, if anything, he saved us,” Mo Furen said.

“Not at all. I also have to thank you for teaching him previously.”

? Mo Furen was confused at first, but seeing White Jade Wings look towards Ghost Scholar, who was scratching his bald head sheepishly, he somehow understood the situation. Ghost Scholar was too well-known for talking anyone and everyone’s ears off.

“I understand that the Ghost Hunters must have their own intentions on these Phantom Raisers, but it seems that people have been underestimating me lately. Can we come to an agreement somehow?”

The Phantom Raisers trembled at the things Laoban had left unsaid.

No matter who ended up taking custody of them, they were certain that they were not going to meet a pleasant end.

Before Mo Furen and Laoban began to negotiate in earnest, Laoban patted Yuan Chenglei on the head.

“Go on back first. You’ve made Little Jingjing worried.”

“… Okay.”

Yuan Chenglei could sense that Laoban wanted to chase him away. He decided to obediently listen to Laoban and gave a small wave towards Expert Ghost Hunter before he scampered away.

He didn’t really want to see how the Phantom Raisers ended up.

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<a/n: No Fluvia because. I think if I drop Fluvia from time to time, the update rate might go up. Currently I’ll start on a Fluvia chapter and then not update until I finish writing it, but from now on I’ll just save it for the next update if it’s not ready when the rest of the update’s ready. That said, Fluvia’s still a semi-regular>