Chapter 296

Chapter 296: I Curse You, Idiot! (4000 words, two-in-one)

“The tenth Thunder Tribulation?!”

Within the Imperial Palace, the Emperor of Wu, observing from afar, was utterly astonished upon seeing the tenth tribulation thunder above the heavens.

When nine thunders had previously struck from the sky, the emperor already felt that Xu Ming might face difficulties, unable to help but worry for him.

Yet the emperor also believed Xu Ming would overcome it.

Xu Ming’s talent was exceptional, absolutely no worse than some famous geniuses throughout the ages.

But what the emperor didn’t expect was that after the ninth heavenly thunder, there would be a tenth one? Throughout history, have any geniuses who underwent tribulations experienced ten thunders?

At least, according to ancient records, none have.

“Your Majesty, this…”

Eunuch Wei looked at the thunder in the sky and thought the Zhuangyuan Lang was likely doomed.

Tenth thunder? Who could have anticipated that?!

“It’s up to his destiny.” The emperor stared ahead without shifting his gaze.

Whether or not he can survive this is entirely on him.

If Xu Ming survives this,

then truly, heaven protects the Wu Kingdom! I must ensure Xu Ming and Yanhan leave behind an heir!” “Shit!”

Standing on the plains, Xu Ming cursed aloud in his heart.

Although Xu Ming couldn’t see anything now, he had already heard the thunderous roar from the sky.

Moreover, the thunder had locked onto his energy.

Xu Ming knew another Thunder Tribulation awaited him.

Is this Tiandao messing something up?!

I’m just undergoing the Dragon Gate Realm Thunder Tribulation. Isn’t that enough? A mere Dragon Gate Realm Thunder Tribulation, really?

“Boom!”

Another thunderclap echoed.

Above the thunderclouds, nine women appeared. These women were manifestations of the thunder tribulation; some held pipas, others placed qin on their thighs, each embracing different instruments as they sat gracefully atop the clouds.

These nine women formed by the thunder were exceptionally beautiful, comparable to those ranked within the top ten of the Red Beauty List.

However, Xu Ming couldn’t see them, only sensing the increasingly intense energy of the thunder above.

He felt like he was being watched by countless eyes, as if saying, “What skills do you possess to dare steal the essence of heaven and earth?” “Huff…”

Xu Ming exhaled deeply, gripping his long sword.

Knowing the Thunder Tribulation was imminent, Xu Ming pondered what other tricks or cards he still had.

All preparations he made were aimed at enduring nine thunders.

Every treasure given by Yanhan was tailored for surviving nine thunders.

And treasures shouldn’t be used excessively.

During the tribulation, using too many treasures might anger the Great Dao, making it think, “This person is shameless, trying to pass the tribulation with external forces,” then sending even fiercer lightning.

That would backfire.

Otherwise, Wu Yanhan actually wanted to give Xu Ming a magical sword.

But giving him one might require removing other items.

Each item Wu Yanhan gave was carefully considered.

“Ching!”

A sound of a zither rang from the clouds.

Then came the sounds of pipa and flute. For miles around, music echoed. Commoners in the capital all looked up, curious about the source of this mysterious melody.

This tune, never heard before by anyone, was played solely for Xu Ming.

“It’s here.” Xu Ming focused his mind.

Under the grand celestial music, a large cauldron coalesced in the sky, descending toward Xu Ming.

In the world, it’s said that the cauldron is the foremost among all instruments.

This tenth Thunder Tribulation transforming into a Thunder Cauldron seemed to offer Xu Ming the highest level of treatment.

Exhausted, Xu Ming still resisted despite knowing death was almost certain.

His trembling hand holding the sword made him doubt whether his weakened self could withstand the tenth Thunder Tribulation.

Wasn’t all his effort futile?

Just then, a gentle breeze blew past, carrying a faint familiar fragrance.

“Move aside,” Xu Ming told Wu Yanhan standing before him.

Wu Yanhan, dressed in a long gown, faced the descending cauldron directly. “If I move, you’ll die!”

Xu Ming sighed helplessly. “You can’t stop this thunder. If you hadn’t come, only one would die. Now with you here, two will perish.”

“I don’t need your concern!” Wu Yanhan coldly retorted. “I’ll shatter this thing for you!”

Her Martial True Qi dispersed around her, forming a golden dragon shielding both of them.

“Why bother? You could become the first Empress in the world. As a Martial God Body, you can reach the pinnacle of martial arts. You have a bright future ahead.” Xu Ming’s voice became urgent. “I’ve already…”

“I’ve already said, it’s none of your business!” Wu Yanhan interrupted, her fist energy growing stronger while the cauldron drew closer. “I won’t let you die!”

“BOOM!!”

Thunder roared across the sky, winds howling for hundreds of miles.

The magic array of the Wu Kingdom’s imperial city activated automatically. A golden river-dragon of fortune raised its head and roared at the thunder in the sky, warning it not to approach.

“Wu Yanhan, move aside! You can’t stop it!” Xu Ming shouted!

Even at his peak, he wasn’t sure he could withstand this tenth heavenly thunder.

Though Yanhan was a martial genius, so what?

Interfering with someone else’s tribulation makes the thunder even more ferocious!

Even cultivators of higher realms wouldn’t easily interfere in the tribulations of lower ones!

“Shut up!” Wu Yanhan angrily snapped.

“Why are you so stubborn?!”

“I don’t need your lessons! What good is the future you talk about!” Wu Yanhan clenched her fists tightly, her heart calm as she gazed at the thunder above. “A future without you isn’t worth anything!”

“BOOM BOOM!”

“What did you say?”

The thunder was too loud for Xu Ming to hear clearly.

“I curse you, idiot!”

Wu Yanhan shouted loudly, throwing a punch.

“HOOOOWWWWW!!!”

A True Qi dragon surged toward the Thunder Cauldron.

This punch carried all of Wu Yanhan’s strength. The dragon collided with the cauldron, causing her chest to ache and blood to spew out.

But she merely slowed the descent of the cauldron slightly.

Feeling the increasing pressure of the approaching thunder,

Xu Ming’s mood grew calmer instead.

Perhaps when facing death gradually, one becomes peaceful.

But Xu Ming didn’t want the girl in front of him to die with him.

“What methods… what methods are left…”

Xu Ming tightly gripped his sword. Scenes flashed through his mind.

“Kid, watch this sword carefully.”

On Three Stone Peak, Xu Cang swung his sword within Xu Ming’s mind.

“Sword techniques, Sword Qi, Sword Intent—none are superior or inferior. Master one aspect, and you can achieve greatness.”

In the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, Wang Xuan taught Xu Ming the Grass Character Sword Technique.

“Why have you returned, Senior?”

After the Purple Mist Grand Ceremony, Xu Ming lay in bed. Not long after bidding farewell, Xu Cang had returned.

“No reason. Just forgot something for you. Consider it my gift to you.” Saying that, Xu Cang tossed a paper ball onto Xu Ming.

“What is this?” Xu Ming was puzzled.

“When you’re at your wit’s end, open it. It might help.” Xu Cang waved his hand. “I’m leaving.”

Xu Ming took out the paper ball Xu Cang had given him from his storage bag.

As soon as Xu Ming unfolded the paper ball, even though he couldn’t see, the three characters written with Sword Qi were clearly perceived by him.

“Move!”

Sensing these three words,

Xu Ming couldn’t help but smile.

Indeed.

These three words lacked sophistication but perfectly matched Xu Cang’s character.

Yes, move!

The opening principle of the Heaven Opening Fist is to throw the final punch even if you know you’ll die.

The conclusion of the Grass Character Sword Technique is to swing the last sword even if you have no sword, even if you’re holding a blade of grass.

Only by throwing that punch and swinging that sword will you know the final outcome! Xu Ming lifted his head, closing his eyes to observe everything in the sky.

The paper in Xu Ming’s hand shattered into powder, and the Sword Qi of those three words merged into his longsword.

At this moment, Xu Ming’s spiritual energy was depleted, and his Martial True Qi was completely gone.

But Xu Ming still remembered the sword moves.

Xu Ming’s sword still contained Xu Cang’s Sword Qi.

In Xu Ming’s mind, the image of Xu Cang wielding that sword kept reappearing.

“Move!”

Xu Ming’s ears echoed with Xu Cang’s voice.

As Wu Yanhan struggled to hold off the Thunder Cauldron, she felt her hand lightly grasped.

The focused Wu Yanhan immediately lost concentration.

“What are you doing?”

Wu Yanhan blushed slightly, annoyed.

Why is he holding my hand at such a crucial time?!

“I’ll handle it.”

Still with his eyes closed, Xu Ming reached out and accurately tapped Wu Yanhan’s forehead.

“You…” Wu Yanhan’s face turned red, forgetting they were in a life-or-death situation.

It was the first time she’d been so intimately teased.

Xu Ming smiled and said, “This is my Thunder Tribulation, and I must handle it myself. Hiding behind a girl doesn’t count as skill. If word gets out, wouldn’t I be laughed at by the world?”

“Showing off what? You’ve already…”

Wu Yanhan stopped speaking halfway, surprised.

Only now did she notice that around Xu Ming floated numerous swords.

These swords were all made of Sword Qi, various shapes hovering around like hanging pearl curtains.

Xu Ming raised his ordinary sword, and the surrounding swords made of Sword Qi gathered towards it like summoned.

The iron-forged sword trembled continuously, as if it would explode into iron powder at any moment.

“Didn’t I tell you I learned a technique on Three Stone Peak? During the battle with Xia He, I didn’t fully use it. Now, I’ll demonstrate the technique I learned on Three Stone Peak.”

Xu Ming smiled and spoke.

“This technique is called—Opening Heaven.”

As he finished speaking, Xu Ming swung his sword! The falling cauldron was instantly split into two halves.

The Sword Qi continued upward, heading straight for the nine fairy-like figures created by the thunder tribulation.

The music from the nine fairies grew more frantic as notes transformed into thunder attempts to block Xu Ming’s sword.

But everything dissolved into illusions before the Sword Qi.

“Boom!”

Under Xu Ming’s Sword Qi, the nine fairy-like figures vanished instantly, and a rift appeared in the heavens.

Through this rift, Wu Yanhan saw magnificent halls and auspicious beasts flying.

But it was only a fleeting glance.

Wu Yanhan doubted if it was an illusion.

Could there be another world behind the heavens? Could it be a mirage?

Soon, the rift closed, and the dark clouds dissipated, revealing a pool of thunder in the air.

Wu Yanhan frowned.

This pool of thunder seemed to be tilting continuously?

“Princess, we should retreat. The Zhuangyuan Lang is about to receive the blessing of the thunder tribulation. If others enter, it will be seen as stealing Tiandao’s fortune, turning them to ashes.”

At this moment, Old Huang appeared on the mountain peak and told Wu Yanhan.

“Wait, I’ll catch you.” Wu Yanhan said to Xu Ming.

“Hmm.” Xu Ming wanted Wu Yanhan to share the blessings of Tiandao.

But hearing what Old Huang said, Xu Ming immediately dismissed the idea.

“Then let go of my hand first.” Wu Yanhan glared at Xu Ming.

This guy was still taking advantage of her! “Oh, oh, sorry, didn’t notice.” Xu Ming released Wu Yanhan’s hand.

Wu Yanhan, embarrassed and angry, moved away.

The pool of thunder poured down, blue lightning liquid cascaded like a waterfall onto Xu Ming.

Xu Ming’s body had already created a deep crater.

This crater was quickly filled with the lightning liquid.

Xu Ming felt his bones, muscles, and flesh being reshaped. The burned skin peeled off gradually, and new skin grew.

Impurities in his body were expelled and absorbed by the lightning liquid.

Two incense sticks later, Xu Ming suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils glowing with lightning.

Western Sect of Demons.

Mo Zhu’er, who underwent questioning by the Black Lotus Sect, was not only the Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect but had now been promoted to Elder.

She looked toward the Central Plains.

As she gazed, Mo Zhu’er smirked.

Western Thunder Temple.

A master slowly opened his eyes, looked up, pressed a hand on the temple’s Thunder Buddha statue, clasped his hands together, and chanted deeply, “Amitabha…”