106,2 - Little Peasant Wife

The woman in white smiled and replied, "Liu'er, I've returned." Jing Ao Xue was taken aback. She had always thought the White Horse Priest was... masculine? Yet now, seeing him take a human form, she discovered it was actually a woman—a strikingly beautiful one at that, seeming almost ethereal. The White Horse Priest pushed open the door, saying, "It's inconvenient to speak outside. Let's go inside." The way he carried himself, it was as if he were the true master of the house. Jing Ao Xue didn't mind. She felt that the White Horse Priest's sudden return must have been prompted by a specific reason. She couldn't help but recall the phoenix that had formed a contract with Liu'er. Glancing at Shen Lü Man, they exchanged a look, and Shen Lü Man gave a slight shake of her head, whispering as she leaned closer, "The White Horse Priest's cultivation... is about mid-Gold Core stage." In the demon world, such a level of cultivation already placed one among the elite of the younger generation. It's important to understand that progressing within the demon race is difficult. A demon cultivator with good fortune and bloodline might still take decades or even centuries just to pass the Body Refining stage—plant-type demon cultivators may take even longer, spanning hundreds to thousands of years. In contrast, even a practitioner of average aptitude in the immortal cultivation world could reach the Foundation Establishment stage within thirty to fifty years. Shen Lü Man sensed that the White Horse Priest wasn't particularly old. Given his level of cultivation, it wasn't surprising that he had become a priest for the beast demon tribes. In the beast demon tribes, the competition is even harsher than among the plant demon tribes. Although bloodline is crucial, there still are those who refuse to submit. This is unlike the plant-type demon tribes, where facing a demon king like the phoenix evokes no thought of rebellion. But with beast demon tribes, things aren't so straightforward. Thus, even though the White Horse Priest was born with prophetic bloodline, to become a priest required the appropriate strength. However, he had once overreached, peering too deeply into the mysteries of heaven, which led to divine punishment, reducing him to a mere ordinary horse. Jing Ao Xue marveled; she hadn't anticipated that the once thoroughly ordinary white horse had such profound cultivation. It truly was... something she never would've guessed. Initially, when they met, he was in a pitiful state, being mistreated by a horse trader in the mortal realm, and later threatened by Shen Lü Man, a mere Qi Refining stage cultivator... For a Gold Core cultivator to endure such, it was indeed pitiful. Jing Ao Xue couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy, but realizing that with his current cultivation level, he surpassed them all combined, she knew things couldn't remain as before. Their approach to him had to change completely. Following the White Horse Priest, she was the second to enter the courtyard. Once Shen Lü Man closed the door, the group settled in the main hall. The White Horse Priest nostalgically gazed around the courtyard, saying, "In my quest to lift the curse of the heavenly way, I wandered most of the mortal realm, but the impression your courtyard left on me was the deepest." Jing Ao Xue chuckled, popping a candy into her mouth, "So, has your cultivation fully recovered?" The White Horse Priest shook his head lightly, "Not quite. I was at the late Gold Core stage back in the demon realm and didn't foresee such severe suppression by the heavenly way. With accumulated merit, I managed to lift the curse, yet my cultivation fell a stage. I'll need to return to the cultivation world to slowly rebuild it." He assessed the three of them and added, "Your progress, however, is astonishing. Jing Ao Xue's advancement is expected, given she's relearning, already having a foundation. Rebuilding poses no obstacles." "But..." He looked at Shen Lü Man, astonished, "You've advanced remarkably fast, crossing the Gathering Spirit and Body Refining stages in just a few years and nearing the Demon Core stage." Shen Lü Man explained, "Well... someone helped me, and I had some fortuitous encounters. My bloodline isn't bad, so naturally, the progress was swift." The White Horse Priest saw she wasn't inclined to share more and didn't press the matter further, having little interest in Shen Lü Man anyway. Turning with interest to Liu'er, he remarked, "Liu'er, you've grown into a young lady." Liu'er smiled, "I'm now fully ten years old, growing in age, which naturally brings changes." In recent years, with better nutrition, martial training under Qin Yi Shu, and cultivation with Jing Ao Xue, her body developed swiftly. She was now nearly as tall as Shen Lü Man's chin. Roughly estimated, she stood about five foot one, considered a half-grown young lady both in the cultivation world and the mortal realm. The White Horse Priest laughed, "That's good. My primary purpose in returning was for you." Jing Ao Xue wasn't particularly moved by this disclosure, noting, "I've always been told prophecy is futile. Why are you still so fixated?" The White Horse Priest lowered her eyes, responding, "Because the heavenly way has a variable. Initially, I couldn't deduce who it was, but on closer inspection, I realized I was obscured by a single leaf—the true variable is right before me." He gazed intensely at Jing Ao Xue, "You were meant to die. Had you perished, everything would have proceeded along the path of the heavenly way. But you defied fate, altering everything that followed, yet some things remain unchanged, particularly concerning Liu'er." Facing Liu'er, he declared, "This year, you face mortal danger and bloodshed, with survival being minimal. I must stay with you, never leaving your side!" His tone was grave, causing Jing Ao Xue's heart to skip. She glanced at Shen Lü Man and, seeing her troubled expression, proactively asked the White Horse Priest, "Do you have any basis for this claim?" The White Horse Priest explained, "This is the first prophecy I've made since regaining my abilities. Whether it's accurate, I'm not certain, but we can't risk something happening to Liu'er. I'm sure you'd agree: better safe than sorry." Indeed, Jing Ao Xue nodded in agreement. Despite Liu'er's maturity, which meant much less worry for her and Shen Lü Man, the protective instinct of a parent couldn't allow them to dismiss this warning. Liu'er, as the concerned party, was the calmest. After brief contemplation, she replied, "In that case, thank you. But what is your true name? When I was little and naïve, I named you Little White. I'm sure that's not your real name." The White Horse Priest hesitated, "In the remote place of my birth, no one called me by name. After becoming the beast demon tribes' priest, they addressed me as Priest. If Liu'er wishes to know, you can call me Wu Yi Ling. It's the name bestowed upon me by the previous priest." Liu'er smiled, "Wu Yi Ling, if you're willing to stay with me, then please do." Perhaps she should find a chance to tell Wu Yi Ling that the phoenix resides within her, still in slumber. It seems what was said back then wasn't a lie; Little Grey truly suffered severe injuries. Even with her desperate attempts to enhance her cultivation, she still couldn't awaken Little Grey within. Feeling a bit guilty, she met Wu Yi Ling's eyes, smiling warmly in return. Wu Yi Ling smiled slightly, "I've also brought gifts for you all this time." With that, he retrieved three boxes from his storage space, "These are treasures I collected from the cultivation world. Each of you may choose one; they'll undoubtedly prove useful." Jing Ao Xue's eyes lit up. Though she had amassed a decent fortune, they were mundane items, practically useless in the cultivation world. Trophies from the cultivation world, given Wu Yi Ling's expertise, wouldn't be ordinary at all. Her interest piqued, she thanked him, offering a storage bag in gratitude, then casually selected one box from the three. Liu'er turned to Shen Lü Man, "Mother, you choose first." Shen Lü Man hesitated briefly before nodding, stepping forward to take one, leaving the last for Liu'er. The three of them, under Wu Yi Ling's approving gaze, opened their boxes right away. Inside Jing Ao Xue's box was a verdant green sword. With the original owner's memories, and being the daughter of a mid-tier cultivation family, she immediately recognized it as a spiritual weapon. In the cultivation world, weapon categories include: Artifact, Treasure, Spiritual Tool, and Spiritual Treasure. Spiritual Treasures are exceedingly rare, with less than fifty in the entire cultivation world, all held by Nascent Soul experts or powerful sects or families. While Spiritual Tools are more common, they remain invaluable. Even in the Jing family, there was only one. This lone Spiritual Tool remained shelved in the family's treasure vault, having yet to find a master, gathering dust all the while. Now, this Spiritual Tool, its previous owner's mark erased, was a gentle wood-natured weapon. She effortlessly imprinted her spiritual mark upon it, succeeding easily. If it had been a fiery spiritual weapon, it wouldn't have been so simple. Jing Ao Xue marveled at this rare treasure, reflecting on Wu Yi Ling's generosity in gifting it to her. With renewed gratitude, she planned to refine it on the mountain the next day. Shen Lü Man's box contained something equally extraordinary. As soon as the box was opened, a rich green mist began to envelope the main hall. Its aroma was entrancing, and Jing Ao Xue could sense that the mist contained a substantial concentration of wood-based energy. Even the protective array in the mountains couldn't compare in richness. Once the mist slowly dissipated, Jing Ao Xue felt her own cultivation had slightly advanced. Upon closer examination, she saw a dark green tree trunk inside the box. Curiously, she asked, "What is this? Such abundant spiritual energy!" Shen Lü Man took a careful look and, surprised, remarked, "Could this be... the Nine Turns Jade Vine Wood?" Wu Yi Ling let out a surprised sound and said, "So you recognize it. I thought it was scarcely known." Realizing something, he added, "Oh, I forgot. Since it's from the same lineage as your true form, the bloodline inheritance you received would naturally let you recognize it." He circled the Nine Turns Jade Vine with his gaze and continued, "Honestly, these boxes were randomly taken from my space. Since you picked this one, it's your destined item. It will provide you the opportunity to advance to the Demon Core stage. With this, I believe that after some secluded cultivation, you'll achieve it in no time." Hearing this, Jing Ao Xue immediately laughed and said, "That's quite a valuable item. You're truly generous!" Wu Yi Ling gave a slight smile. He had been enlightened by Shen Lü Man's words and spent years accumulating merit, simultaneously honing his mind. When he regained human form, he even faintly touched upon the threshold of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, so although this treasure was precious, it couldn't compare to the enlightenment he received from Shen Lü Man. Thus, it was only a fitting repayment. He turned to Liu'er, encouraging her, "Liu'er, why don't you see what's in your box?" Truthfully, his storage included some rare treasures from extensive searches and others passed down as inheritance or given by the previous beast priest. He didn't necessarily have affinity with them and couldn't open many of the treasure boxes, so he was unsure of each one's contents. Yet, given what Jing Ao Xue and Shen Lü Man uncovered, it was clear Liu'er's box wasn't ordinary. Liu'er looked at her box, inexplicably hesitating to open it. Unaware of her thoughts, Jing Ao Xue prompted, "Liu'er, open it and take a look." Liu'er smiled and nodded, easily opening the box. Inside was a piece of white jade. Over the years, due to Jing Ao Xue frequently exchanging silver for jade, Liu'er had seen much, enhancing her taste. She quickly recognized the excellent quality of this piece. However, it was nothing more than that—a high-quality piece of jade by mortal standards, bearing no designs or inscriptions. Liu'er picked up the white jade, which was about the size of her hand, cooling to the touch. Examining it in the candlelight, she turned it over and over before shaking her head at the curious Jing Ao Xue, saying, "It's just an ordinary piece of white jade." Jing Ao Xue didn't understand and examined it closely, finding it indistinguishable from those in her storage bag. She glanced at the White Horse Priest. Given his broad knowledge, he took the jade, contemplated for a moment, and solemnly stated, "The jade itself is not special." Jing Ao Xue made a noise of understanding, nervously eyeing Liu'er, worrying she might be disappointed. But Liu'er wasn't. Wu Yi Ling's gift of opportunity was something she couldn't dismiss or feel dissatisfaction towards. Moreover, given the preceding gifts to her mother and Shen Lü Man, it was evident this jade was indeed her destined item. Seeing Wu Yi Ling's grave expression flicker, she inquired, "Is there more to this jade than meets the eye?" Wu Yi Ling took a deep breath, bitterly smiling, "The jade itself is ordinary. What's extraordinary is its significance and value." Placing the jade on the table, she asked, "Do you know where this jade originates?" Both Jing Ao Xue and her family shook their heads, their knowledge limited. Wu Yi Ling explained, "This is a sacred relic of my tribe. To be precise, it's part of it." She pursed her lips, contemplating how to proceed. Jing Ao Xue, patient, urged, "Take your time, no rush." Wu Yi Ling paused, then spoke to Liu'er, "My tribe's sacred relic is a legacy from a hundred thousand years ago—a two-person tall, half-person wide blank white jade tablet still standing in the forbidden land. This piece is leftover scrap from that time." "The key is a hundred thousand years ago, a new type of race appeared on the Hongze Continent: the demi-humans, unheard of in the cultivation world. And frankly, the cultivation world isn't only the Hongze Continent." "The Hongze Continent is but a medium-level world, beyond which lies the greater cultivation world called the Qiankun Realm. The cultivation levels we know of today—those like Out of Body, Dividing Spirit, Integration, Tribulation, exist in the Qiankun cultivation realm." The revelation was stunning. Liu'er, raised in the mortal world, might not grasp its full weight. But Jing Ao Xue and Shen Lü Man, despite their tenuous understanding of the cultivation world, always believed it existed solely on the Hongze Continent. They knew of cultivators reaching the Out of Body stage or higher, like sixth-grade alchemists above the fifth grade. Yet, for millennia, there'd been no talk of an upper realm in the cultivation world. On the Hongze Continent, the late Nascent Soul stage marked the pinnacle. No higher cultivation existed, or else it would be widely known. Shen Lü Man's face grew serious, "Are you sure about this?" Wu Yi Ling confirmed, "Absolutely. This is a secret passed down among priests; presently, including you three, barely more than a dozen people know of this, making even Nascent Soul cultivators scarcely aware." The cultivation world's historical records stretch back millions of years yet never mention the Qiankun Realm. This suggests someone's purging the information. And yet, some things linger, like the alchemy master grades, among others... Cultivators once speculated but found no leads, gradually shifting focus to their cultivation. After Nascent Soul, unable to advance, they might seek Qiankun Realm clues, all the while keeping this secret. Were it not for Liu'er's future significance and Jing Ao Xue and Shen Lü Man being unpredictable by the heavenly way, Wu Yi Ling wouldn't risk divulging such a secret. Jing Ao Xue sighed deeply, "I suspected as much before, and here it is. But that's far removed from us now. Let's return to the main topic. What's up with this white jade?" Wu Yi Ling was momentarily stunned by Jing Ao Xue's nonchalance, impressed by her carefree attitude. She'd remained composed while others would've jumped at the revelation, truly astonishing. Wu Yi Ling, half-smiling, replied, "Alright, here's the situation. This white jade is a fragment from our sacred blank white jade monument. Though a leftover piece, no more than three fragments exist." "This is one such fragment, missing for ten thousand years. I have no clue how it appeared, let alone in my storage. It only means the jade's destined with Liu'er." "And that white jade monument was left by a female cultivator from a hundred thousand years ago who created the demi-humans. She's uncommon among humans, having gained the Phoenix Demon King's favor and forming a close relationship. They even shared a love affair—a rumor in the demon realm. But she'd already married and vanished suddenly afterward..." "The Phoenix Demon King erased all traces of her existence. Yet even without this, those traces inexplicably disappeared, leaving no one able to recall her visage or even her name." The White Horse Priest Wu Yi Ling gravely concluded, "Therefore... Liu'er must be deeply connected to our demon king; otherwise, she wouldn't have such a fate in common with this female cultivator." Jing Ao Xue's eyes widened... She couldn't help but roll her eyes, thinking: this conclusion is a bit off. Besides, the phoenix indeed shared a deep bond with Liu'er—they'd concealed their marriage contract from her and Shen Lü Man. How could their connection not be profound? But she kept silent, suggesting to Liu'er, "Since this item is meant for you, hold onto it. It may prove useful in the future." Liu'er, though intelligent beyond her years, felt bewildered: how could something from a female cultivator thousands of years ago relate to her? Everything about this legendary female cultivator had vanished, hadn't it? How was there still a white jade monument in the demon realm, along with this fragment she held? Voicing her doubts to Wu Yi Ling, the latter rubbed her forehead, saying, "This was left by the female cultivator herself. Allegedly, only those destined can know her true identity, and others aren't." "Even though this issue has troubled countless others, over the past ten thousand years, I've only known of two destined individuals—one being the Phoenix Demon King, who forgot about it after reincarnating, and the other person... is you." Thus, Liu'er must indeed have a remarkably intertwined fate with the Phoenix Demon King. The White Horse Priest had always struggled to locate the demon king, so his only option was to stick closely to Liu'er. Given that Liu'er was fated to face a life-threatening peril this year, he had to protect her and ensure she remained alive until she eventually met the demon king. Liu'er acknowledged with a soft murmur and a smile, "Very well, there's no rush. When we go to the cultivation world in the future, I'll take a trip with Mother to the demon realm." Shen Lü Man hesitated at the mention of returning to the demon realm. Having been cast out long ago, she hadn’t considered the possibility of returning. By rights, being wholly demon herself now, she should be able to return. Though she wasn’t particularly attached to the people of the demon realm, it was her birthplace, after all; perhaps it was time for a visit. She nodded to Liu'er, "Alright, when the chance arises, I'll take Liu'er to see the demon realm." As soon as she finished speaking, Jing Ao Xue clapped her on the shoulder and laughed, "Don't forget about me, dear." Shen Lü Man acknowledged her with a nod, noticing the White Horse Priest’s gaze fixed intensely on Liu'er. She changed the subject, "It's getting late. Let me get dinner started, and Jing Ao Xue, come help." Jing Ao Xue agreed readily, following Shen Lü Man into the kitchen. Wu Yi Ling quickly sat down next to Liu'er, asking, "How have you been these past years?" Liu'er smiled, "I've been well, thank you for asking. But what about you? After such a severe heavenly punishment, how did you manage to recover to this state?" Wu Yi Ling sighed, "The heavenly way always favors the human race, especially those in the mortal realm. By bestowing them with favors and earning their gratitude, one can accumulate merit. This is why Buddhist and Confucian cultivators like to train in the mortal realm. I've encountered several cultivators on my journey, none of weak cultivation—I feel..." She paused abruptly, prompting Liu'er to ask curiously, "What?" Wu Yi Ling hesitated, then shook her head, gazing at the rising moon, mumbling, "Something significant is about to happen. Stay close to me at all times, understand?" Liu'er could tell that she truly cared, nodding in agreement, "I will." She had been counting the time. In five years, the Nangong female cultivator would return for her, and by then, Zhang Qiao'er might also come back. Zhang Qiao'er! She harbored deep hatred for this person, and that hatred hadn't diminished over time. If she didn’t eliminate her, she would always be haunted by a heart demon. Once young and naive, her resentment and anger had been childish. But after learning from her adoptive mother and master, she understood how vast the world was and how small humans were. Unlike her adoptive mother's grand ambitions to save an entire nation, Liu'er simply wished to protect her loved ones. This was her path to cultivation. Zhang Qiao'er had sown seeds of a heart demon in her when she was young, lingering throughout her years of cultivation. The hatred was intense, often waking her from dreams in confusion. It seemed... the animosity wasn't so simple; beyond her mother and adoptive mother, it felt as though Zhang Qiao'er had wronged more people she cared about. Yet she couldn't recall, nor was there proof of such a thing. Thus, the simplest solution was to kill Zhang Qiao'er, reducing future complications. Her cultivation reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, and she assumed Zhang Qiao'er, in the cultivation world and a year ahead, might surpass her level. But that was fine. If strength failed, she could resort to wit! She would ultimately avenge her grievances! A fleeting flash of red flashed in her eyes, unnoticed by Wu Yi Ling beside her. As Shen Lü Man finished dinner, Wu Yi Ling—having long since stopped eating and already maintaining a fasting regimen—headed to the study to meditate. After Jing Ao Xue and the others dined, they decided to venture into the mountains for cultivation the next day. After a night's rest, the group, including Wu Yi Ling, set off for the deep woods at first light. Once they reached the wooden cabin in the mountains, Jing Ao Xue rested her chin in her hands, ready to support Shen Lü Man. Shen Lü Man was on the verge of a breakthrough; despite her intentions, she wasn't sure when it would happen. While she considered forcing her way through, it risked harm and could lead to a regression in cultivation and lasting afflictions. However, with Wu Yi Ling's gift and her fortuitous encounter the day before, her chances of success improved significantly. Taking out the Nine Turns Jade Vine Wood from the box, she took a deep breath, transforming her form into blood-red vines to wrap around the dark green trunk. The vines actively absorbed the aura from the Nine Turns Jade Vine Wood, and within her core, the originally dense spiritual energy mass began to spin wildly. Wu Yi Ling was also standing guard and, utilizing a mid-grade spiritual stone and a magical array disc from her storage space, began setting up a defensive formation. This served both to prevent curious woodland creatures from wandering in and to defend against the impending heavenly tribulation. In the cultivation world, each level advancement entailed a tribulation, for cultivation is a path against heaven, and the heavenly way unleashes tribulation lightning at the Gold Core and Nascent Soul stages. The higher the cultivation, the greater the potential, and thus the more severe the tribulation. Demon cultivators, lacking divine favor, faced even harsher tribulations. As she was in the mid-Gold Core stage, she was barely able to assist Shen Lü Man. Jing Ao Xue and Liu'er, with their lower cultivation levels, were kept outside the spiritual energy cyclone by Shen Lü Man’s circulating core energy. Suddenly, a fierce wind blew through the mountains. Jing Ao Xue gritted her teeth, retreating until she reached the sturdier shelter of the wooden cabin, where she managed to steady herself slightly. Clinging to the door frame, Liu'er watched as Jing Ao Xue seemed ready to go to Shen Lü Man. She quickly said, "Mother, stay back for now." The surrounding light grew dim as layers of dark clouds amassed in the sky, obscuring most of the daylight within moments. The previously light, faint clouds deepened into darkness, turning the sky into a night-like blackness, with the clouds resembling a tsunami wave, relentlessly rolling over one another. The unusual mountain weather quickly drew attention from the entire village. Given the timing of the spring equinox, they were planting in the fields, but now paused to gaze up at the ominous dark clouds. An elder, worried, exclaimed, "Calamity! It must be a celestial dog devouring the moon." The younger people, startled at first, soon realized from past knowledge that it didn’t resemble what they understood as a celestial dog eating the moon. Even so, such an abnormal celestial event typically signified an unworthy ruler. And if not, there were always those who would exploit this omen. Take Qin Yi Shu, for instance. She stood at the Qin family’s gate, holding the ever-inquisitive and eager-to-rush Qin Wu Shuang, gazing toward the mountains and thinking: Cultivators are truly extraordinary—this must be Jing Ao Xue and her group. Gu Bai Wei, supporting her belly, came to the gate with the help of servants and asked, "Yi Shu, what's happening? Why has it suddenly gone dark?" Qin Wu Shuang clapped her hands, "Mother, look! There must be a great monster in the mountains; Mother, let’s go fight it!" Shen Tai Hua strolled over casually and, hearing this, knocked her on the head, "Courageous, aren't you? It's storming fiercely over there, and you want to march over to your doom!" Qin Wu Shuang pouted, "But I'm strong! I'm not afraid of lightning. I can catch it and then throw it away…" While she rambled on with childlike talk, Gu Bai Wei laughed and cried, "What a child! Stop talking nonsense—come inside. I suspect it will rain soon. Yi Shu, be careful not to catch a cold." Now an eight-star martial artist, Qin Yi Shu wouldn’t get sick from mere rain, and she didn’t bother to explain, just smiling in response as she moved, "You’re right, as the lady is pregnant, take care." The two paid little mind to the increasingly strange celestial phenomenon, returning to their stable home before the fierce winds could grow stronger. Meanwhile, in the mountains, above Shen Lü Man, the first strike of tribulation lightning stirred. The blood-red vines had just absorbed the dark green trunk when the first bolt descended, striking her form. Jing Ao Xue, with her keen eyesight, saw this unfold, pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan, feeling utterly powerless to assist. All she could do was pace back and forth, glancing at the menacing storm clouds. The vines endured the initial onslaught, though charred afterward. As the spiritual energy within her core circulated, the burnt blackness gradually faded. But no sooner had it dissipated than the second bolt hit, striking the vines directly. Before the vines could recover, the third and fourth bolts came in rapid succession, each more intense than the previous one. Seeing this, Jing Ao Xue was almost beside herself with worry. Unwilling to just stand there helplessly, she closed her eyes and attempted to channel her wood-element abilities through the marriage contract, directing them to the vines. She couldn't approach the area where the lightning tribulation was occurring. With her current cultivation level, she couldn't withstand even the simplest initial tribulation. Although deeply worried for Shen Lü Man, she couldn't just rush in recklessly. Seeing that Jing Ao Xue had finally calmed down, Liu'er brought out all the mid-grade spiritual stones given to her by the Nangong female cultivator and placed them within the defensive formation. The White Horse Priest, Wu Yi Ling, was steadfastly protecting Shen Lü Man. If not for her consistently mitigating the lightning tribulation's intensity, the vines would have suffered even further devastation. As Shen Lü Man faced the tribulation alone, everyone present was doing their utmost to assist. The continuous crash of lightning from above was loud enough to be heard from a great distance. The villagers were terrified, huddling indoors to escape the unknown calamity. However, chaos reigned in Wu Zhi Yong's household—the thunder had startled his sister-in-law into labor, and it seemed imminent. Yet, they couldn't venture out to find a midwife in such a situation, and she was only seven months pregnant, indicating a premature birth. Wu Zhi An was in a frantic state, nearly in tears. The two elderly parents were equally anxious, but Uncle Wu, seasoned and in charge due to his age, instructed, "Zhi An, stop standing there uselessly and get to the kitchen. Boil more hot water." "Zhi Yong, go fetch the maids from the backyard. They're from the capital and have some medical knowledge. Have them watch over your sister-in-law." "And my wife, go and stay with your daughter-in-law. She's unsettled now, and she needs someone steady. It doesn't matter if we lose the child—what's crucial is to save her life!" With orders given, the chaotic Wu family sprang into action. Within moments, Wu Meng Qiu appeared in the front courtyard with the housemaids. Now thirteen, she said to her grandfather, "Grandfather, I'll go check on Auntie." Uncle Wu waved her off, anxiously puffing on his pipe, hands trembling despite his outward calm. Every childbirth among the women in his family was a significant ordeal and test. When he entered the kitchen, he found his second son wiping tears, infuriating him enough to smack the back of his head. "Once your wife has this child, no more! If there's another, I won't stand for it!" Wu Zhi An quickly promised, "No more, no more. I'd rather it be me bearing them." His wife was frail yet inexplicably intent on bearing children. She had already delivered three sons and still wanted more. If not for her fervent desire, he wouldn't have been caught off guard! But this time must be the last. He won't fall for it again. Oh, my dear wife, please be safe! Lost in a swirl of anxious thoughts, tugging at his hair, Wu Zhi An only annoyed Uncle Wu further with his ineffectual display. He gave him a swift kick, leaving him to stand guard outside. Back where the tribulation raged, the vines beneath the lightning quaked, unable to rise. Jing Ao Xue had been tallying the strikes. Human cultivators' tribulations number thirty-six, forty-nine, sixty-four, or eighty-one strikes, typically one of these. However, she'd counted more than a hundred strikes already upon Shen Lü Man. The heavenly way indeed treated demon cultivators unjustly. With cultivation already challenging, the tribulation posed a life and death barrier. Had her contract not sensed Shen Lü Man's lingering life energy, she'd have rushed in by now. The relentless lightning grew fiercer with no end in sight. Not only did Treasure Village stir beneath the mountains, but the surrounding villages were likewise alarmed. On the outskirts of town, Lady Lan was lounging in her courtyard, enjoying music when the servants hurriedly reported the news. Though distant from the village, dark clouds looming far off were visible, with no clear sight of the commotion. Lady Lan squinted, amused, "I didn't expect a cultivator daring enough to advance in the mortal realm—brazen, foolish." She pondered, instructing a servant, "Send ten men toward those clouds. Find out which esteemed cultivator from the cultivation world is there. If they're not too proud, invite them to my estate for tea." The servant assented promptly, heading off to arrange the send-off. Lady Lan sat up, twisting her wrist in the sunlight. Her hand's skin alternated between the supple smoothness of youth and— (Note: The provided text is scripted to avoid pop-up ads, utilizing the permanent domain (xbanxia.com).)