Although the little sparrows were silly birds, with their company, her days weren't dull. Teasing them occasionally was even quite fun.
After all the little sparrows were called over, the silly one from before finally recognized Su Qing.
With the little sparrows' help, cleaning the house was relatively easy. Although Su Qing hadn't learned any spells yet, the sparrows had. They could use some simple and practical spells. It was just a pity that the little ones hadn't transformed yet, so the kitchen staff couldn't teach them any powerful spells.
However, Su Qing felt... this was enough. She didn't expect these little ones to help her fight. Having them by her side was sufficient.
After the courtyard was made to look brand new, Su Qing stood in the courtyard, looking at the ginkgo leaves rustling in the wind.
"It's a pity for you. You didn't have to suffer this calamity!"
Su Qing patted the tree, seemingly talking to herself. She knew that all things possessed a spirit. Even an ancient stone before a door, after accumulating essence over days and months, might one day produce a household guardian spirit! However, the ginkgo tree before her was probably just an ordinary ginkgo for now.
"Grow well from now on! Perhaps after a thousand years, you might become a spirit tree."
Su Qing smiled faintly and turned to leave. The little ones followed, chirping away.
It was now noon. Su Qing planned to go to the kitchen to get something to eat... she hadn't eaten for several days and was now famished. Besides, now that she had her sense of taste, she was even more eager to eat something... to savor the flavors.
Arriving at the kitchen, several burly men saw Su Qing... and were slightly stunned. But they were demons, after all. Although they hadn't come to see Su Qing on that day, they still recognized her.
"Congratulations on your successful transformation, Miss Su Yingqing!" the men said.
"Thank you," Su Qing said. "Is there anything to eat?"
"The usual?"
"I'd like to eat what humans eat..."
"Understood!"
There wasn't much idle talk between them; they understood Su Qing's needs in just a few words. They quickly went to prepare it. Before long, several meat dishes were served. At the same time, they also brought cutlery for Su Qing. A spoon.
"You've just transformed, miss. You probably don't know how to use chopsticks yet, so make do with a spoon! Although it's not great for picking up food, it's better than fumbling around."
Although the burly men looked rough and tough, they were chefs, after all. They were thoughtful.
After thanking them, Su Qing began to taste the dishes. The feeling of regaining her sense of taste... was somewhat subtle and wonderful for Su Qing. It seemed all her hard work... hadn't been in vain. As a child of the Flowery Kingdom, her pursuit of delicious food was naturally not insignificant. Unfortunately, she was a snake before and could only swallow things whole. Now that she had her sense of taste back, everything naturally tasted delicious.
The men watched from the side without laughing, then turned to tease the little sparrows.
After a moment of reflection, Su Qing said, "Brothers, don't feed them too much. Look how fat they've become."
The men laughed heartily, saying they wouldn't feed them so much anymore. But then they turned around and secretly fed them again.
Su Qing sighed inwardly but didn't say anything more, pretending not to have seen. She just couldn't help but feel that the little sparrows' journey to lose weight was a long and arduous one!
In the first few days after her transformation, Su Qing's spirits were quite high, and she seemed interested in doing everything, so much so that her cultivation slacked a bit. However, Su Qing's enthusiasm quickly faded. After all, the future was long. Even if there were many things she hadn't done, there would be opportunities in the future. The most important things at present were still cultivation and facing the tribulation.
Although her Master and Senior Sister had said the tribulation would come in a few days, Su Qing didn't know which day it would be exactly. She could only cultivate diligently and methodically.
A few more days passed. It had been a sunny day, but suddenly, the weather changed, and a strong wind began to blow. The ginkgo tree in the courtyard was battered by the wind, its leaves scattering and branches trembling.
Su Qing felt something and came out into the courtyard.
She knew... the remaining two tribulations of the Core Formation Tribulation were coming. She also knew that this time it definitely wouldn't be so simple. But Su Qing had no path of retreat...
If one could flee the Transformation Tribulation and make up for it with a Transformation Pill, then for the Core Formation Tribulation, there was absolutely no possibility of escape. If she couldn't pass it, there would be no chance to remedy it. A lifetime of cultivation would end right there.
"I thought the Lightning Tribulation would be the most difficult... but unexpectedly, it was the simplest."
Su Qing's expression remained unchanged, but she couldn't help complaining inwardly. With a thought, she transformed, changing back into her original form. She herself had no spells to deal with this calamity. So, rather than enduring it with a delicate human body, it was better to revert to her original form. At least her skin was thicker and tougher.
For a moment, the wind blew fiercely, and many tiles from Su Qing's roof were blown away.
The disciples in the distance were naturally aware of what was happening in Su Qing's courtyard. Luo Yingjun looked at the sparrows beside her, her brow furrowed with worry.
"Why are these two tribulations so much more difficult than the one I faced..."
"Perhaps it's a difference in innate talent?" Liu Yingtong replied from beside her. "When I faced this tribulation... it was even weaker."
"If it's just due to talent, then that's a good thing... but the affairs of the world are too complex for you or me to fathom."
Luo Yingjun couldn't help but look towards the main hall where Patriarch Bodhi resided, saying, "Perhaps only the Patriarch knows the reason why."
"Just believe in Junior Sister... for her to have come safely from Shanbuzhou Jambudvipa, her fortune must not be low."
"You don't seem worried at all."
"But what's the use of worrying? Even if we worry, neither of us can face the tribulation in her place."
Luo Yingjun gave him a displeased look, couldn't be bothered with him anymore, and turned to comfort the sparrows. Liu Yingtong looked utterly confused, not knowing how he had managed to offend his Senior Sister. He only felt that he had spoken the truth. So, he didn't bother thinking about it anymore. He continued to wait attentively for Su Qing to pass her tribulation.
At this moment, Bodhi was sitting upright on his cattail hassock. The open doors of the hall allowed him to see the changing weather outside. But his gaze was not fixed on the outside. He held a horsetail whisk, his expression calm.
Looking at the three-eyed divine general before him, he said faintly, "What business does the True Sovereign have with me?"
"Naturally, I would not dare to disturb the Patriarch without reason," Erlang said, clasping his fist. But he did not directly state his purpose.
"Oh? Then tell me, what is it? If it's nothing, then please leave." Patriarch Bodhi already looked as if he was seeing a guest out.
Erlang paid no heed, merely being mysterious.
But Bodhi snorted coldly and said faintly, "You are a martial god, True Sovereign. Why have you started acting like those civil gods? Rest assured, I will not interfere in this heavenly tribulation. My disciple can pass it..."
Erlang's expression tensed, but he was not displeased, merely clasping his fist again. "That would naturally be for the best."
"Not good, not good..." The Patriarch suddenly began to laugh, as if joking, "Since you've come to my door for no reason, you should leave something behind before you go! As it happens, my disciple is in need of a weapon. Why don't you leave that three-pointed, double-edged spear of yours?"
"This..." Erlang was also stunned. He had thought his mission was complete and was preparing to leave. But he never expected the Patriarch to be so shameless as to directly ask him for his weapon. And it was a divine weapon that had been with him for a thousand years.
"If you're unwilling, then giving something else is also fine." The Patriarch, indicating he wasn't some kind of demon, said, "As long as it's not too inferior to that three-pointed, double-edged spear of yours."
Erlang smiled wryly, thinking to himself that he had truly taken on a difficult task this time. This Patriarch was indeed not an easy person to deal with. No wonder this task had fallen to him...
"True Sovereign, are you still at ease in the Heavenly Court these days?" Patriarch Bodhi saw Erlang's wry smile but paid it no mind, merely looking outside and saying faintly, "The wind outside has stopped."
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