Edited by: Dr.Lock
Proofreader: Arya
The wind began to howl.
Noticing a cultivator attempting to break through, the Laws of the world responded accordingly.
Unlike other worlds, within this lost world of the Old Gods, the Element of lightning was the strongest.
It represented the will of the Gods, capable of destroying everything.
It was God’s punishment!
Because of that—–
Although Gu Qing Shan hadn’t actually begun his breakthrough, the dark clouds had gathered so much that it extended all the way up to the horizon.
The entire world was plunged into darkness.
Gu Qing Shan also felt that a bit unexpected.
Normally, Tribulation clouds would naturally cover a large enough distance to ensure that it would strike the cultivator without fail.
But this was the first time he saw Tribulation clouds so huge it covered the entire sky.
In just a few moments, the Tribulation clouds had become so thick that the occasional flash of lightning arcing across the sky would seem like a ferocious beast hiding among the clouds.
The majesty of Lightning gradually showed itself to the people below.
“Oh my god, there’s no way anyone would be able to take this level of Lightning Tribulation” one Bramble Bird guard commented.
Hearing that, Laura couldn’t help but ask: “Ilya, you’ve sparred with him before, I need you to make an objective judgment. Can he survive this level of Lightning Tribulation with his current strength?”
Sensing the power gathering in the sky, Ilya gave her evaluation: “If it maintains at the current level, I think he can still take it, however, I heard that a cultivator’s Lightning Tribulation would become stronger step by step during the process…”
“Why did he choose to break through in a world with Lightning Tribulation this strong? I don’t understand!” Ilya was also confused.
Laura bit her lip, unable to say anything.
The wind was getting stronger.
The bracelet of bells hovering in front of Gu Qing Shan began to ring with clear and resounding chimes.
Looking at the bracelet, Ilya suddenly trembled.
“I got it!” she muttered.
“What?” Laura instantly asked.
Ilya replied: “The way for a cultivator to become stronger is to steal and siphon resources from nature to supply themselves and increase their own strength. That’s why whenever they break through, the sky would rain lightning and all sorts of evil creatures would show up to interfere, this is the same fate that every cultivator of every world has to face”
She took a deep breath before continuing: “That’s why he’s currently using the common Law of all worlds and that bracelet in an attempt to summon the Tianma”
“If it works, even without paying any price, the Law of the world itself will unleash the Tianma to try and kill him!”
“Really… how does one even come up with such a solution?” she sighed.
Laura wasn’t at all relaxed: “But the Lightning Tribulation here represents God’s punishment, its power is magnified significantly, and Tianma are creatures that feasts on the soul of humans, wouldn’t they just eat him alive?”
“Let’s keep watching, he won’t do things that pose too much of a risk to himself” Ilya told her.
“That’s not the case at all” Laura smiled bitterly: “Ever since I met him, this guy has been doing only the most dangerous things possible”
While they talked, another unnatural phenomenon had already occurred.
From the void of space around the plaza, a purple-glowing imp suddenly appeared.
This wasn’t a Tianma, simply an evil creature that happened to notice a cultivator breaking through.
Back in the cave system of Shen Wu world, Gu Qing Shan had already seen these types when he broke through at the time.
From a certain point of view, the responsibilities of these monsters and the Tianma were the same: to interfere with a cultivator’s breakthrough.
They were called ‘evil’ simply because they were a cultivator’s natural enemy.
『 Ah, a cultivator, hak hak, delectable food full of spirit energy… 』
The imp spoke while drooling.
The Earth sword flashed, showing itself from the void of space.
In the blink of an eye, it had already taken the imp’s head.
Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes and said: “Don’t take their lives, if we cause too much strife, it won’t be good for business negotiation”
「 Is that so? Alright 」the Earth sword replied.
It slowly flew back, silently hovering by Gu Qing Shan’s side.
Another evil creature came out from the void of space.
Countless skewers of bones protruded from its body, shaking to the wind as if they each had their own sentience.
Compared to the previous one, this fiend seemed much stronger.
『 Ah, a little one that’s about to breakthrough Sainted realm, just enough for today’s meal 』
The fiend muttered as it completely exited the void of space.
This time, the Earth sword didn’t move quite as fast as before.
It silently flew forward and lightly struck the fiend’s head.
The fiend instantly turned into a panicked shadow, slipping into the void of space and disappeared.
For the next while, every evil creature that showed up was ‘gently returned’ by the Earth sword.
The strangest thing was that even after an incense’s worth of time, there were still no Tianma that appeared.
The Tianma Empress didn’t show up either.
There were a few times when Gu Qing Shan faintly sensed some Tianma’s presence, but they were apparently afraid of something as they quickly fled.
What are they afraid of?
Gu Qing Shan was silently surprised.
It shouldn’t be this way at all since the Tianma had already appeared in this world once before, all sorts of other evil creatures had shown up and the Laws of the world had even invoked the strongest level of Tribulation!
This meant that Gu Qing Shan’s Tribulation had already been recognized by the world itself.
So—– why hasn’t any Tianma showed up yet?
Gu Qing Shan couldn’t think of any reason on the spot.
But he maintained a clear mind and continued his near-breakthrough state, constantly using his inner sight to monitor the bracelet.
The chimes of the bell resounded in the air.
Time slowly passed.
At a certain point.
Finally, the void of space was disturbed.
In a flash, a faint but glorious light of the sun set appeared, illuminating the entire plaza.
Within that light, countless faint female voices resounded.
They all sung:
“Little doe sing faint, eating apples on the field;
We have a guest, the metal drums beat;
A moon so bright, when will it fade;
A worry so far away, it can’t be cleared”
Gu Qing Shan was shocked.
He had seen the Tianma descend many times before, but never in such a grand manner.
Just who came this time?
While he was thinking, a crack had opened in the void of space.
Flower petals scattered everywhere as music played.
A mature, beautiful woman stepped out from the crack in space.
She wore a jet black robe, her eyes sharp and clean, her body soft and slender, a beauty among beauties.
But unlike other Tianma, this black-robed woman’s expression didn’t contain a single bit of charm or allure, only solemnity and majesty.
With a flower born from each of her steps, she slowly landed in front of Gu Qing Shan.
She silently observed him.
Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes and carefully looked.
The one who came wasn’t the Tianma Empress.
Gu Qing Shan spoke apologetically: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to call you here, I was actually waiting for someone”
『 You were waiting for someone? 』the black-robed woman asked.
“Yes, I was waiting for another Tianma” Gu Qing Shan replied.
『 Ah? Then what is the relationship between you and that Tianma? 』the black-robed woman asked.
Gu Qing Shan froze a bit.
What kind of relationship…
For some reason, he felt that he had to answer this as truthfully as possible.
This was his instinct, a sense of intuition that transcended all rationale.
“Ah, she and I have a cooperative relationship” Gu Qing Shan sincerely answered.
『 Cooperation? …but what could a human and Tianma cooperate for? 』the black-robed woman shook her head.
“Mutual benefit, I pay her the asking price so that she helps me win against an enemy” Gu Qing Shan replied.
Hearing that, the woman stared at him for another long while.
Gu Qing Shan really couldn’t understand at all.
But this Tianma felt so unique that even when the Earth sword had silently asked him if it needed to attack, he still had it hold back.
He continued: “Then, if there’s nothing else, can you please leave? I still need to wait for my business partner”
『 Business partner… 』the black-robed woman muttered.
She thought for a bit, then waved her hand.
The chilling Tianma bracelet suddenly chimed in joy and flew into the woman’s hand.
Gu Qing Shan’s eyebrows raised and quickly stood up.
Even if his intuition was telling him not to do it, this bracelet was the Tianma Empress’ token, he couldn’t just let others take it away for no reason.
Gu Qing Shan took the Earth sword in hand and sincerely spoke: “ Ma’am, I’m very sorry, but I can’t let you take that bell bracelet”
『 Why not? 』the black-robed woman asked.
She was still observing him, the look in her eyes seemed as if she was looking at some sort of monster she’s never seen before.
“This bell bracelet belongs to someone else” Gu Qing Shan replied.
The black-robed woman spoke: 『 Of course this bracelet belongs to someone else, I know that very well. But what I don’t know is—- 』
She finally went into the main issue: 『 As a cultivator, what is it you need that you took my daughter’s token and tried to summon her so secretly for? 』
Daugh…ter?
This is her daughter’s token?
Gu Qing Shan froze.
Although he had prepared a lot of countermeasures, with several hand seals prepared in silence, he still couldn’t quite maintain his calm.
The group not too far from them all heard the black-robed woman’s words.
Laura froze.
Ilya froze.
The guards all froze.
They all looked at Gu Qing Shan.
Wha-what are you calling a small debt? This clearly seems like… another sort of debt.
Wait a minute——
This guy… and a Tianma…
Is he crazy? Or did he hit his head somewhere?
Just look, even the mother had personally come!
The crowd looked back at the black-robed woman.
She kept standing there without saying a word, not releasing even a little bit of presence or emotions.
She simply put the bracelet away, placed both hands behind her back and looked at Gu Qing Shan without blinking.
Seeing that, Gu Qing Shan silently put his sword away.
He can’t cause more misunderstandings.
To confirm, he asked again: “You said, this is supposedly your daughter’s personal item?”
『 Indeed I am 』the black-robed woman spoke without changing her expression, 『 this is my daughter’s Tianma Bell that had been with her since birth, never lost nor given to anybody before, so I’m extremely curious right now 』
『 Tell me clearly, how did my daughter’s little bell come into your hands? 』
Gu Qing Shan has never actually panicked before in his life.
But right now, his composure, calm or anything resembling that all disappeared without a trace.
“About that, erm, it’s a long story… I can explain…”
He suddenly gulped, unable to think of the words to say.
The current situation almost seemed to be more dangerous than facing the [Demon King Order].
