102 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

### Chapter 102 - Thunderstruck (Translation) --- This lightning tribulation was not something they imposed on her; Si Hua brought it upon herself. She spent an extended period fusing blood energy to better control A Ling. After their blood energies merged, it became exceedingly difficult to separate them. However, she never anticipated that A Ling would break free from her control using the Li Po Pearl and even achieve a breakthrough, leaving Si Hua to face the impending tribulation. For a human cultivator at the Golden Core stage, there are nine lightning tribulations; for demon cultivators, eleven; and for half-demons, a total of eighteen. Since Si Hua was taking on the tribulations for both herself and another, she would face thirty-six lightning tribulations in total. This was an immense trial for her. Shen Su gently lifted the Little Parrot from her head and slowly placed her into Lin Shui Yan's palm. "Lin Shui Yan, take your master and leave." Next, there would be eighteen Golden Core stage lightning tribulations and eighteen Nascent Soul stage tribulations — something Lin Shui Yan and the others could not possibly withstand. Shen Su and A Ling’s survival was uncertain, so it was best for Wei Nan Yi to leave with Lin Shui Yan and the others. Lin Shui Yan had never been the indecisive type. She was about to agree, but the Little Parrot fluttered twice in her palm and flew into the air, clearly unwilling to follow Lin Shui Yan. Her beautiful and smooth feathers were tinged with a layer of gray under the thunderclouds. Even those not undergoing the tribulation could be injured by residual strikes, as had previously happened to Wei Nan Yi, who now seemed to have forgotten all about the pain. Undeterred by danger, she stubbornly flew towards Shen Su. Shen Su shot a look at Lin Shui Yan, who failed to hold onto the Little Parrot. Lin Shui Yan, gazing at her empty palm, gave a stiff smile. "What's the use of glaring at me? If my master doesn't want to follow me, should I forcibly tie her up? Wouldn't that be highly unfilial?" Day by day, Lin Shui Yan was full of words, though seldom of much practical use. Ignoring her, Shen Su instinctively covered her beautiful fox ears that had reappeared, their fiery red fur gently scattering in the wind. She quickly covered her ears, rubbed them, and then extended her hand to catch the Little Parrot, who had landed on her shoulder. Wei Nan Yi may be blind, but she was always spot on when finding Shen Su. Wei Nan Yi recognized her scent, which brought mixed feelings of joy and sadness to Shen Su. At a time like this, she wished Wei Nan Yi would leave her side. The terror of lightning tribulation was something every cultivator should understand. Shen Su whispered to Wei Nan Yi, trying to persuade her, "Madam, please go with Lin Shui Yan and the others. Once I’ve weathered this tribulation, I will come find you." Words like these, Wei Nan Yi had heard many times before. Hearing them repeatedly, they lost their credibility. After a brief silence, when Shen Su wondered if Wei Nan Yi could still hear her, the Little Parrot suddenly trembled and spoke, "Xiao Su, didn’t you say I wasn’t a burden? Then why do you always leave me with others?" Hearing the Little Parrot's accusation, Shen Su couldn't help but smile wryly. It seemed that she had lost Wei Nan Yi's trust. She knew she was wrong. It wasn’t that she wanted to leave Wei Nan Yi with Lin Shui Yan, but rather with anyone else she trusted, like Leng Ru or even the Black Fox. But she only wanted Wei Nan Yi to survive. However, Wei Nan Yi seemed to prefer dying together over merely surviving. This realization caused Shen Su's heart to quiver. How could she say Wei Nan Yi didn’t care about her? How could she say Wei Nan Yi didn’t protect her? Wei Nan Yi was willing to die alongside her. Shen Su lowered her eyelashes and looked at the Little Parrot in her palm. The white Little Parrot, with its rosy claws clutching Shen Su's fingers tightly, didn't want to be passed around like a commodity. Her stubborn expression moved Shen Su. She understood that Wei Nan Yi's insecurity stemmed from her blindness, feeling safe only when by Shen Su's side. Shen Su bit her fingertip, pressing the bleeding finger to the Little Parrot’s beak. A trickle of blood stained the parrot's yellow-brown beak red. Other demonic beasts would crave Shen Su’s blood, eager to consume her, but the Little Parrot was different. She lightly pecked at Shen Su's fingertip and then turned away, as if in a huff. It seemed Wei Nan Yi would not follow Lin Shui Yan after all. Shen Su sighed softly and placed the Little Parrot into her bosom, gently stroking her back through her robes. "Madam, I won't abandon you." The Little Parrot nestled into her chest, her tiny claws kneading Shen Su's clothes. Her white feathers quickly reddened from the warmth. Perhaps feeling hot, the Little Parrot flapped her wings slightly and managed to peek out a bit, sticking out her little tongue to catch a breath of cold air before contentedly retreating back. Shen Su felt that Wei Nan Yi had grown a bit childish since becoming a parrot. Wryly, Shen Su flicked the parrot's wing. "Madam, don’t come out later." She still had the leisure to soothe Wei Nan Yi. Si Hua sneered and lunged at Shen Su. Even if she had to die in the lightning tribulation, she wanted Shen Su to suffer even more. But she forgot that she was alone; Shen Su had her allies. Shen Su didn’t even need to move as A Ling sprang in front of Si Hua. Although A Ling was only about fourteen years old and not particularly tall, her grip on Si Hua’s arm was strong. Though A Ling had some inherent timidity, she never hesitated to protect her comrades. "Old witch, don’t move." Si Hua’s gaze fell on A Ling’s icy blue eyes. Those unnaturally blue eyes endowed A Ling with extraordinary killing power. After acquiring the Li Po Pearl, her power became terrifying even to Si Hua. A Ling was born a killing weapon, independent of cultivation level. Si Hua saw another Jiang Rui Ping in her. She verbally belittled such people, but inwardly feared them. Pure killing power was inhuman. Maybe A Ling could kill her. Si Hua’s eyelids trembled, a hint of fear creeping into her heart. After escaping the forbidden land, she swore to seek revenge on Jiang Rui Ping. But here, facing similar power, she realized her body feared Jiang Rui Ping's strength more than her soul did. A shiver ran down her spine, and she felt an urge to flee. As Si Hua hesitated, the thunderclouds readied themselves. Two different kinds of lightning tribulations struck down simultaneously on Si Hua, one from Shen Su’s thundercloud, the other from A Ling’s. This was just the Golden Core stage tribulation, which Si Hua could easily dispel. But A Ling's tribulation carried an extreme power similar to her own constitution. The lightning not only paralyzed Si Hua but also chilled her to the bone, freezing her blood and covering her bones in frost. Every breath she exhaled came out as frosty mist. In her peripheral vision, she saw A Ling also struck by the tribulation. A Ling's skin split open, revealing stark white bones encased in frost. The frost flowers began to melt as a white glow emanated from her. A Ling was absorbing the power of the tribulation. No wonder people feared the Nine Killing Spirit Roots. No wonder Song Yu often said that such spirit roots should perish. It was sheer dread of their power. Si Hua always thought they should die. Today, she realized their constitution could even absorb tribulation power. Si Hua questioned herself — if Jiang Rui Ping died, would she ever overcome her? No, she would not. A Ling had only full-level spirit roots, while Jiang Rui Ping had twelve-level spirit roots. She no longer wanted revenge. Si Hua’s desire to see Jiang Rui Ping dead peaked. She didn’t want to fight A Ling. Her eyes drifted to the dark swamp, which oddly calmed her. She shook off A Ling’s hand and quickly sank into the swamp. Seeing her empty hand, A Ling hesitated and then looked up. "Master, the old witch fled." ### Chapter 102 - Thunderstruck (Translation) --- But where could Si Hua even escape to? The thunderclouds had already locked onto her. Burying herself in the swamp without putting up a fight would not bring her liberation but a gruesome death by lightning. The swamp's water would even amplify the tribulation’s power. Was Si Hua insane? Lin Shui Yan and the others had not yet retreated from the thundercloud zone. Watching Si Hua flee into the swamp, Ruan Yu pinched her nose in disbelief and asked, “Doesn’t she find it dirty?” Among all the companions, Ruan Tong had been with A Ling the longest during their flight. With an air of knowingness, she remarked, “A Ling, it looks like you’ve scared another one mad.” Fear of power was almost instinctive, especially power so extremely lethal. Si Hua was neither the first nor would she be the last person A Ling had frightened. Since someone had identified her as possessing the Nine-Kill Spirit Root, she had often attracted unwarranted disasters and strange pursuers. Many of them bolted in terror at the extreme cold she emanated before even engaging her in combat. However, Si Hua’s reaction was odd. A Ling, despite her unique attributes, was still multiple realms below her. Si Hua’s fear was disproportionate. “Master, is she really at Nascent Soul stage?” Ruan Tong’s bafflement mirrored A Ling's own. Waiting for Shen Su’s response, A Ling blinked her wide, beautiful eyes, steadfast as another lightning tribulation struck her. Shen Su evaded the second bolt that targeted her, murmuring, “She is at Nascent Soul stage… She wasn’t frightened by A Ling.” Shen Su recalled Jiang Rui Ping, which helped her partially understand Si Hua’s behavior. Many feared Jiang Rui Ping, and Si Hua was merely one of them. Nothing unusual about that. The lightning tribulations didn’t spare Si Hua. Bolts of lightning cracked open a path into the swamp, diving into the murky mud. As the electric flashes flickered, Shen Su heard Si Hua’s muffled cries of pain. The uninterrupted lightning underground, with its violent tremors, made Shen Su’s heart tighten once more. “Something is wrong.” Indeed, something was wrong. Even though A Ling's tribulation was peculiar, it was still just a Golden Core stage tribulation. Si Hua should be able to dispel it easily. And the swamp's lightning seemed to linger excessively. As Shen Su listened intently to the sounds from beneath the swamp, the third lightning bolt struck down. Gripping the ice-attribute Li Po Pearl, A Ling seemed like a divine warrior. She didn’t dodge but absorbed the third lightning bolt directly, her small body greedily soaking up the tribulation's similar energy. Holding the Little Parrot close, Shen Su couldn’t withstand lightning strikes as A Ling did. Just in case, she wielded her twin Qinghuo blades for the third lightning bolt. As her power grew, the energy her spiritual tools harnessed also increased. With a swing of the red blade, she severed the lightning, breaking it into tiny lightning worms. Carefully, Shen Su corralled them, steadied herself, and focused all her demonic energy into her eyes in an instant. With her spiritual eyes, she saw the black spirit birds, each entwined with black lightning. The flickering black light almost seemed like a savage monster gripping their necks, ready to snuff out their life at any moment. The source of the black lightning was underground, in the swamp. The third lightning bolt had targeted both her and A Ling, so it would naturally strike Si Hua as well. As the lightning burrowed into the swamp, the black lightning became even more pronounced, seemingly feeding off their tribulation’s power. “Master, what did you discover?” Ruan Tong appeared behind Shen Su without a sound as Shen Su stared at the black lightning’s source. She instinctively replied, “There's something beneath the swamp.” Shen Su slowly turned her head, about to ask Ruan Tong why she hadn’t left to avoid accidental lightning strikes. Before she could speak, she saw Ruan Tong’s hair frizzed open, crackling with electric strands, her head resembling a flickering lamp. Biting her lip to stifle a laugh, Shen Su found the scene almost ridiculous. Ruan Tong was thoughtful and considerate. Sensing Shen Su’s suppressed laughter, she pointed back with a slight curve of her finger. “Master, if you want to laugh, go ahead. There’s someone worse off than me.” Following Ruan Tong’s gesture, Shen Su saw that everyone else had been struck by lightning too. Except for Lin Shui Yan, protected by the White Tiger, everyone else was in a sorry state. The lower-level cultivators had even had their clothes blasted off. This was her and A Ling’s tribulation. With so many outsiders, the lightning’s chaotic strikes were unsurprising. Pushing Ruan Tong slightly, Shen Su said, “You should leave quickly.” “Leaving now!” Ruan Tong and the others hesitated no longer, clambering onto the White Tiger’s back and taking the Black Fox with them as they vanished. The lightning tribulations continued, and Shen Su reached into her robes. “Madam, you…” Before she could finish, Wei Nan Yi refused, “I’m not leaving.” Shen Su began to reflect, pondering if her past actions had inflicted such harm on Wei Nan Yi that she now felt abandoned even during a lightning tribulation. She felt like a cruel master, yet Wei Nan Yi was not truly a parrot. Wei Nan Yi’s attachment to her wasn’t her imagination. Her thoughts were interrupted by the fourth lightning bolt, each more powerful than the last. Taking the full force of the fourth, Shen Su gripped her green and red blades tightly, merging them into a two-toned butterfly shield before her chest. It blocked the bolt, but the massive force pushed her back two steps. “Bang, bang,” came two abnormal sounds from the swamp as the fourth bolt opened another rift. More putrid soil surged up, revealing two decaying corpses. The force blasted them half a meter high before they fell back, shredded by the lightning. Bits of bone landed at Shen Su’s feet, and she quickly stepped back. She reacted faster, but A Ling, too focused on absorbing the lightning energy, didn’t notice the commotion underground until a rotting head flew at her. Staring at the half-disintegrated, mud-encrusted face, A Ling’s eyes widened in horror. The Li Po Pearl in her palm shone brilliantly, freezing the head before it could touch her. What struck A Ling’s head became a massive iceball. “Crash!” As the iceball shattered upon impact, the enclosed head also splintered, only a few strands of hair tangled within the ice shards. A Ling’s destructive capability was truly terrifying. Shen Su’s gaze shifted to A Ling, who rubbed her reddened forehead, turning angrily. “Master, why are there corpses down there?” Sighing, Shen Su said, “These corpses must be of cultivators lured here to be killed by the black spirit birds. They’re pitiful souls.” Of course, some might be like Du Jun Cai, whom she had secretly assassinated. But the exhumed corpses clearly weren’t his. Shen Su sighed over their fate, while A Ling, rubbing her forehead, growled irritably, “Pitiful? They deserved to die if they couldn’t recognize danger.” Hmm. That didn’t sound like something A Ling would say. She remembered A Ling as a timid yet resilient child. Though true, her statement seemed cold, more like something a Nine-Kill Spirit Root would say. Dodging another bolt, Shen Su asked, “A Ling, do you ever feel the urge to harm others?” “A little,” A Ling admitted honestly, without lying to Shen Su. “But Sister Ruan says I shouldn’t kill everyone I see, only the bad ones. Master, will you cast me aside?” A Ling, like Wei Nan Yi, feared abandonment. Did she indeed appear untrustworthy? Through their conversation, Shen Su began to understand. Possessing the Nine-Kill Spirit Root likely made one inherently more malevolent and obsessive — the price for their power. Yet, they could change with their environment, not being completely emotionless or cold-hearted beings. A Ling grew up with the other children in her village. Being young, she was always protected and loved by everyone, leaving no one to ignite the malice within her. Later, when they encountered danger together, they always shielded her first. She received a lot of love and care; in fact, she hadn't even had the chance to fully awaken her abilities at that time. There was truly no malice to be seen in A Ling back then. Later, she met Wei Nan Yi and Shen Su. Shen Su rescued them, and A Ling began to consider Shen Su and Wei Nan Yi as her own, treating them as people to be protected. Over the years, Ruan Tong possessed a divine body, often bestowing blessings on everyone. The pure and kind power of the divine body had a purifying effect on A Ling's soul. She didn't harbor the blatant malice toward the world like Lin Qing Huai, nor was she extreme or obsessive. The innate killing power within her was instead used to protect her companions. Hence, Jiang Rui Ping probably wasn't a bad person either; she cared for her senior sister and fellow disciples, although she disrespected her elders, likely due to her upbringing. Looking into A Ling's eager eyes, Shen Su shook her head. "No, I won’t." She wasn't foolish. A Ling, with her top-tier combat skills and obedient nature, was irreplaceable. Why would she push her away? Moreover, Wei Nan Yi always liked A Ling. Even if Shen Su were willing, Wei Nan Yi certainly wouldn’t be. Shen Su and A Ling managed to get through the first nine stages of the Golden Core lightning tribulation with some minor injuries, but nothing life-threatening. However, the next tribulation was at the Nascent Soul stage, and overcoming it would not be as easy. "Be careful," Shen Su warned A Ling sternly. "The Nascent Soul stage lightning tribulation is nothing like the Golden Core stage." A Ling obediently nodded and stomped on the ground. "Master, is that old witch still alive down there?" Something mysterious lay hidden beneath the swamp. Each lightning bolt struck, making the black lightning even fiercer, causing explosions and tossing up more corpses from below. Now, they were practically navigating over corpses to avoid the tribulation. As the black lightning intensified, the sounds of Si Hua's struggles weakened, her voice fading beyond a normal human’s hearing. Shen Su's sharp ears still picked up some noises from Si Hua. She seemed to be in excruciating pain. "Boom!" The first Nascent Soul lightning tribulation descended. Shen Su had experienced it years ago and was somewhat prepared this time. The Ming Phoenix Furnace and the Qinghuo Twin Blades simultaneously countered the lightning. Through the immense clashing power, the lightning slowly dissipated. A Ling covered herself with an ice layer thicker than stone using the Li Po Pearl. The ice shattered, and her body was flung aside, but she survived the first tribulation. The subsequent bolts would grow increasingly fierce. Worrying about A Ling, who was experiencing the Nascent Soul tribulation for the first time, Shen Su threw the green blade to her. "A Ling, can you manage?" A Ling returned the green blade, drawing a long silver chain from her storage pouch, an artifact Wei Nan Yi had given her. The chain glowed white, and the cold aura from A Ling transferred to her weapon. "Master, I’m fine." As Shen Su and A Ling prepared for the second Nascent Soul tribulation, a series of explosions erupted from the swamp below. “Bang, bang, bang,” one after another. Black mud splattered everywhere, tossing up more bodies. A Ling pulled Shen Su behind her, raising a hand to create an ice wall that blocked the debris and corpses. Shen Su was still puzzled when she saw Si Hua's body being flung out as well. Si Hua was entangled in black lightning, the same as the black spirit birds. Her flesh was torn, and even the face stolen from Lin Qing Huai was mostly obliterated. One empty eye socket was filled with black mud, and black-purple lightning flickered within a black pearl embedded in her hand. The pearl seemed grafted into Si Hua's flesh. It was the source of the black lightning. No wonder Si Hua couldn’t endure; it wasn’t just the lightning tribulation but also this pearl torturing her. Si Hua's face was mangled. She muttered hoarsely, "Kill me." "Boom!" At the moment her body hit the ground, black snakes emerged from the pearl, slithering into Si Hua's body, causing explosions before settling. A similar bead, possessing lightning power. Shen Su and A Ling instinctively looked at the white pearl in A Ling’s hand. Shen Su’s eyes gleamed green as she focused on Si Hua’s bead with her spiritual sight. Tiny soul particles clung to it, yet they feared approaching too closely. It was a treasure, carrying energy akin to their own pearl — pure natural power. As if sensing Shen Su’s gaze, two sinister black snakes sprung from the bead, darting towards them. Shen Su’s pupils contracted. She now identified the black-purple pearl as the Thunderbreak Pearl, one of the five Li Po Pearls originally supposed to be at Yanbi Mountain. The novel mentioned this powerful artifact aligning with heavenly energy, known for its destructive capabilities. The male protagonist nearly got shattered trying to tame it, barely managing to control its lightning power thanks to his unyielding will and robust physique. Si Hua must have discovered the Thunderbreak Pearl after diving into the swamp. Foolishly thinking she had found a treasure, she seized it, only to be assailed by its power. The merging energies of the thunder tribulation and the Thunderbreak Pearl turned her into a victim, helpless against the onslaught. Now, she couldn’t release the pearl even if she wanted. No wonder she ended up in such a pitiful state. Yet, why was this artifact here? It was supposed to be waiting for the male protagonist at Yanbi Mountain. Then again, she had encountered another Li Po Pearl early, the Icebreak Pearl, deviating from the expected timeline. So, encountering the Thunderbreak Pearl here wasn’t entirely implausible. But must it be so indiscriminate in its attacks? The black snakes swiftly approached. Shen Su prepared to strike, but A Ling gazed at her chest and pushed her behind. “Master, protect Shifu. I’ll handle this.” A Ling hurled the silver chain, binding the two black snakes. Frost rapidly encased the serpents, but this wasn’t enough to stop their lightning power. The snakes struggled, causing A Ling’s grip to slacken. Frustrated, she pressed the Icebreak Pearl against the chain, releasing a wave of frost that ensnared the snakes completely, immobilizing them. Yet, just as A Ling smiled, another tribulation bolt fell. Shen Su, alarmed, shouted, “A Ling!” She leaped to grab the chain, pushing A Ling aside. The lightning pursued A Ling as she rolled away, her hands releasing a continuous mist of frost that slowly decelerated the lightning’s advance. Seeing A Ling withstand the strike reassured Shen Su. The Ming Phoenix Furnace and Qinghuo Twin Blades repelled her own lightning tribulation, though her hands, clutching the Icebreak Pearl, were increasingly encased in a thick layer of frost, spreading up to her arms despite her efforts. The Icebreak Pearl always countered her power. Even fighting with spiritual energy, its duration in Shen Su’s grasp was limited. She always had to carefully time the Icebreak Pearl’s use, or she’d be immobilized before vanquishing her foes. This pearl seemed more suited for A Ling. As the frost gradually covered her entire arm, A Ling finally freed herself from the lightning tribulation and approached. She grabbed the silver chain and the Li Po Pearl, taking a deep breath. "Master, are you okay?" A Ling's clothes were partially torn apart, and there was a long wound on her arm. Shen Su looked at her with concern. "I’m fine, but you’re not." The power of the Nascent Soul stage tribulation was still too great. A Ling excelled in her innate potential and offensive abilities, but her defense wasn’t as strong as Shen Su’s. She lacked Shen Su’s bloodline and spiritual artifacts. At most, A Ling could withstand two more tribulation strikes before she couldn’t hold on any longer. Shen Su grew anxious. Before she could figure out how to separate A Ling and Si Hua's blood energy, the third tribulation bolt descended. A Ling didn’t even have time to dodge; her entire body was struck, crackling with tiny threads of lightning, her long hair partially scorched. Shen Su parried the lightning while asking A Ling, “A Ling, are you okay?” A Ling spat out a mouthful of black mist, dazed. “Master, it seems the lightning is weakening.” Shen Su paused, looking up. The lightning striking the Ming Phoenix Furnace only pushed it back half a meter before dissipating. This was not the strength of a Nascent Soul stage tribulation. If the power of the tribulation had vanished, it meant Si Hua was dead. Shen Su quickly looked to where Si Hua had been. Si Hua lay in the swamp, her body a mess of torn flesh, only half her face barely recognizable. The Thunderbreak Pearl had rolled out of her hand and lay in the black mud, no longer attacking Shen Su and A Ling. Si Hua was really dead, killed by the second Nascent Soul lightning strike and the Thunderbreak Pearl. A Ling yanked the silver chain, crushing the two black snakes. She clapped her hands, “Master, it looks like we won’t die now.” With the Nascent Soul power gone, Shen Su and A Ling could endure the tribulations. The normal lightning could no longer threaten their lives, and they soon withstood all the tribulations, awaiting their power evolution. Shen Su felt the surge of power after the tribulation faded. Golden Core Initial Stage, Golden Core Initial Peak, Golden Core Mid-Stage, Golden Core High Peak... Hmm? Looking up, Shen Su saw that the thunderclouds hadn’t completely dissipated and seemed to be preparing for another strike. A Ling, having stabilized her cultivation, came over, “Master, what’s wrong?” “It seems I can still break through.” This wasn’t her illusion; she truly had the power for it. A Ling also sensed Shen Su’s shifting aura, her mouth agape in surprise. “Master, you’re at Golden Core Peak? How can there be such a disparity when we’re experiencing the same tribulation? I barely stabilized at Golden Core Initial Stage.” That’s because Shen Su had the opportunities nearly costing her life. However, her foundation was unstable. If she continued to break through to the next stage now, she risked a backlash of inner demons. As Shen Su pondered, the parrot in her bosom, who had been still to avoid disturbing her, finally pushed open her robes and flew out. Looking anxious, the Little Parrot flapped her white wings vigorously. “Xiao Su, you can’t keep pushing for breakthroughs. Your current power comes from absorbing demon cores, not through combat and training. If you push further, you’ll be overtaken by your inner demons.” Wei Nan Yi cared about Shen Su’s life even more than Shen Su did. Shen Su always felt cherished by her concern, softening her tone. “Alright, I understand.” She cradled the parrot in her palm, gently tapping its head with her forehead. “Don’t worry, Madam, I won’t rush things.” The parrot's feathers quickly turned red, seemingly out of shyness. She bounced nervously in Shen Su’s hand, trying to hide herself, but ended up covering her head with her wings, only to have the feathers on her wings also turning red. Shen Su smiled at the parrot. For the first time, a genuine sense of relief after the tribulation spread through her heart, lifting the burden weighing her down. Si Hua was dead. They didn’t have to die. After Shen Su stabilized her cultivation and the thunderclouds finally disappeared, Ruan Tong and the others returned, their hair singed and frizzled. The kids, still having a conscience, came to express their well-being to Shen Su one by one. Shen Su was touched, but seeing their hair all puffed like cotton made it hard to suppress her laughter. Lin Shui Yan noticed her stifling a laugh and teased, “Master, you’re not much better off than us.” Shen Su didn’t understand at first, moving a hand to her head to realize her previously smooth hair had been blasted into a puffy mess by the lightning, covering her head entirely. Her smile froze, awkwardly tugging her mouth. After everyone had laughed enough, Shen Su pointed to the Thunderbreak Pearl and said to Ruan Tong, “Ruan Tong, go get that pearl.” “Alright.” Ruan Tong, ever obedient, moved to pick it up. A Ling, having witnessed the pearl’s terror, was alarmed and yanked Ruan Tong back. “Master, that pearl is very dangerous!” “That’s the Thunderbreak Pearl, one of the twelve Li Po Pearls just like the one you have,” Shen Su explained. “It’s a rare treasure, and I believe Ruan Tong is well-suited for it.” Shen Su wasn’t trying to harm Ruan Tong. After considering the novel’s plot, she genuinely thought Ruan Tong was the best candidate for the Thunderbreak Pearl among them. Shen Su’s greatest virtue was her lack of greed; she genuinely treated those she trusted well. She didn’t covet treasures for herself, just like she thought the Icebreak Pearl suited A Ling. Now, seeing the Thunderbreak Pearl, she thought of Ruan Tong. In the novel, the Thunderbreak Pearl’s lightning power was said to resonate with celestial energy, the strongest offensive power among the twelve pearls. If Ruan Tong, with her divine body, couldn’t tame it, then it wasn’t meant for them. Even Si Hua at Nascent Soul stage had been killed by it. Shen Su had no desire to endure an hour of its lightning to gain its approval. A Ling hesitated. Trusting Shen Su, she released Ruan Tong. Shen Su’s instincts were correct. The Thunderbreak Pearl, which harmed anyone coveting its power, lay still in Ruan Tong’s hands. Even its minor resistance ceased under Ruan Tong’s divine aura. It seemed she had snatched another item meant for the protagonist. However, the pearl undeniably suited Ruan Tong. Her main deficiency had always been her lack of offensive methods. With the Thunderbreak Pearl, she now possessed the so-called divine punishment power. If Mu Ling saw this, she would envy her terribly. Speaking of Mu Ling, Shen Su hadn’t heard about Mu Ling's whereabouts from Ruan Tong and A Ling. “Where’s Mu Ling?” Standing beside her, A Ling took out her storage pouch and waved it in front of Shen Su. “She can’t die anyway, so I sealed her and put her in the storage pouch.” Unexpectedly, A Ling used the storage pouch for keeping the living Mu Ling in. Shen Su chuckled, slicing her finger to feed the parrot blood, simultaneously contemplating the next step. Now, having reached Golden Core, she could fulfill her promise to Jiang Rui Ping and visit Mount Linxian. According to the novel, Jiang An and Yu Mu Han had left Mount Linxian for Yanbi Mountain by now. However, getting into Mount Linxian as an outsider was a challenge. Besides, Wei Nan Yi was only at the fifth stage of Qi Condensation; going to Mount Linxian wasn’t safe yet. Moreover, many of the sect’s children were missing, and it was uncertain how many were still alive. They had to find them and seek revenge. Before Shen Su could decide their next destination, A Ran, having recovered his senses after Si Hua's death, suddenly screamed, “Master, we’re sinking!” Shen Su froze. Looking down, she saw they were indeed sinking into the swamp rapidly, their bodies gradually encased in the black mud, sapping their energy, making it difficult to struggle. Shen Su quickly tucked the parrot into her bosom, ensuring she wouldn’t be separated, then scanned their surroundings. The pearls in Ruan Tong and A Ling’s hands glowed sporadically, linked to the depths of the swamp. The pearls were pulling them under. “A Ling…” Shen Su reached out to grab A Ling, intending for her to release the Icebreak Pearl. However, their sinking sped up suddenly, and they all plunged into the swamp, losing their sense of balance and control over their bodies. Shen Su's outstretched hand barely managed to grasp the bell on the Black Fox's neck. As she tightened her grip on the bell, her consciousness slowly faded away. --- 沈素想伸手抓住阿绫，想让阿绫松开手里的冰破珠，可她们下沉的速度突然变快，所有人直接陷进了沼泽里，身体也丧失了重心，只能随着沼泽而动，沈素伸出的手最后只够到了黑狐脖子上的铃铛，在她一点点攥紧铃铛以后，渐渐失去了意识。 ---