Xu Xian rested his forehead on one hand while using the other to pinch and gently rub the bridge of his nose. The dull ache in his head began to subside.
“How long was I in meditation?” he asked casually.
“A hundred years,” the Little Book Spirit replied.
A hundred years?
Xu Xian was astonished. “That long?”
The Heart Demon Tribulation was different from the Red Dust Tribulation. While it was a process, it shouldn't have required the same immense amount of time for settling and realization as the Red Dust Tribulation did.
At the very least, this duration far exceeded Xu Xian's expectations.
The Little Book Spirit explained, “Master, after you entered meditation, the Twilight Emperor came. I couldn't stop Him. One of His thoughts entered your sea of consciousness and interfered with your Heart Demon Tribulation...”
Xu Xian’s brow furrowed at the news.
It was just as he had suspected.
“I knew He wouldn't stay quiet!” he muttered under his breath.
From the opening of the Emperor's Tomb four hundred years ago to its closing, the Twilight Emperor had never been idle.
When the whole world came to attack the Wendao Sword Sect,
He had sent that water Qilin.
Over those four hundred years, He had been frantically plundering and devouring Fanzhou's fortune to weaken the seal of this cage.
Xu Xian knew very well.
Those eyes had been watching him from the shadows the entire time.
With an opportunity like him reaching sudden enlightenment and undergoing the Heart Demon Tribulation, how could He possibly bear to miss it?
It was only logical that He would act.
It would have been strange if He hadn't.
This also proved that the Twilight Emperor was equally afraid of him overcoming his heart demons and breaking through to the Immortal Realm.
If nothing else, it proved that his path was the correct one.
No wonder his heart demon illusions had repeated over and over, and he had even fought with himself for so long at the end.
A century?
It seemed reasonable now.
He took out a pill and swallowed it, breathing in spirit qi to steady his divine sense.
After a long time,
He opened his eyes.
Everything was as it should be.
Exhaling a breath of turbid air, he took out a jar of old wine to celebrate by himself.
“Not bad.”
“A close call, but I made it.”
The Little Book Spirit leaned in and sat on his shoulder, offering a reminder. “Master, there is very little of Fanzhou's fortune left. I'm afraid this Sky Gate won't hold much longer...”
Xu Xian’s worried expression remained; he had felt it long ago.
“It's diminished again.”
He let out a sigh. “That guy really won't let anyone have any peace.”
The mere thought of it gave him another headache.
The Little Book Spirit looked as if it wanted to say something but hesitated.
Xu Xian noticed this immediately. He glanced sideways and said nonchalantly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
The Little Book Spirit stammered, “It’s nothing, really. I just feel that we have to kill that old thing. Otherwise, even if you become an immortal and ascend to the Heavens, Fanzhou will never know peace as long as He is here.”
That went without saying.
Xu Xian tilted his head back and took a drink.
The Little Book Spirit continued, “Furthermore, I strongly suspect that this fellow is in league with the dark creatures your master mentioned. Right now, He is absorbing Fanzhou's fortune so desperately because He has likely sensed something. He wants to use the dark creatures to help unseal Himself.”
This was also redundant information.
At least, it was to Xu Xian.
He had long since harbored similar suspicions.
The Twilight Emperor was born in the Boundary Sea.
He possessed some of the talents and abilities of the dark creatures.
There was bound to be a connection between them.
Since He could find this place, there was no reason He couldn't see through how and why the Sky Gate was sealed.
It was only natural for Him to make a move.
“The problem is, we can't kill Him, can we?” Xu Xian grumbled, frustrated.
The Little Book Spirit pursed its lips.
Xu Xian gave his shoulder a shrug.
The Little Book Spirit lost its balance and nearly fell off.
“What was that for?”
Xu Xian: “Speak.”
“Speak about what?”
Xu Xian: “What do you think?”
Knowing it couldn't hide anything from Xu Xian, the Little Book Spirit confessed honestly, “During the century you were in meditation, I pieced together more of my memories and thought of a way. Perhaps it could...”
Having said that, it immediately doubted itself and tried to distance itself from the idea. “I said perhaps. I can't guarantee it will succeed.”
Xu Xian knew there was more. He quickly asked, “Treat it like a dead horse to be revived. Let’s hear it.”
“There are risks,” the Little Book Spirit replied evasively and solemnly.
Xu Xian was amused. “Given our current situation, do you think I'm afraid of risks?”
The world was on the brink of destruction.
What risk could be greater than that?
After a brief moment of deliberation, the Little Book Spirit laid it all out. “The Twilight Emperor can't be killed, but that doesn't mean He has to be killed. We can lock Him up just like Grandpa Tortoise.”
Xu Xian had naturally considered this idea before.
Using the same method.
Suppressing Him within the Sword Mound.
But...
“Didn't you say it was impossible?”
The Little Book Spirit explained, “Originally, it was. The Twilight Emperor is simply too strong, after all. Even if we locked Him inside, the Sword Mound might not be able to suppress Him. Therefore, before that, we have to strike Him and cripple Him.”
The more Xu Xian listened, the more confused he became.
Cripple Him?
You?
Or me?
Who among us is enough?
He stared straight at the spirit as if looking at a fool.
The Little Book Spirit uttered two words.
“The lightning tribulation.”
Xu Xian’s brow furrowed. “The lightning tribulation?”
“Yes, the lightning tribulation.”
Xu Xian seemed to realize something and couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. He asked tentatively, “Just like with Little Shan?”
The Little Book Spirit confirmed, “Yes.”
Using the lightning tribulation,
To suppress the Emperor,
And then seal Him...
This line of thinking...
Xu Xian fell into a brief silence. It had to be said, it was indeed feasible.
The Little Book Spirit elaborated, “I was actually inspired by Li Qingshan. The Great Dao lightning tribulation is born from the Heavenly Dao to settle all karma in the mortal world. When a mortal undergoes a lightning tribulation, not even an Immortal King or an Immortal Emperor would dare to interfere lightly for fear of being tainted by another's karma.”
“Karma is a tricky thing.”
“It's hard to explain.”
“It's ethereal and intangible.”
“However, it is a certainty that interfering with someone else's lightning tribulation will inevitably provoke heavenly wrath.”
“Master, you can find where the Twilight Emperor is located,”
“And undergo the Immortal Lightning Tribulation there.”
“Although the Twilight Emperor has awakened, His physical body is still imprisoned.”
“He can't run even if He wants to, and He can't hide even if He tries.”
“As long as He becomes entangled in your karma and triggers heavenly wrath, Fanzhou's Heavenly Dao will surely bring down heavenly punishment.”
“Even if He doesn't die,”
“He will lose a layer of skin.”
“When that time comes, we can follow the example of Grandpa Tortoise and imprison Him upon the Divine Sword Pool...”
Xu Xian calculated silently.
This was indeed a way.
Even though,
Doing so was somewhat risky.
Using a lightning tribulation as a weapon?
That was no laughing matter.
But Xu Xian had the confidence.
A mere lightning tribulation,
He truly didn't take it to heart.
It was worth a try.
With a plan in mind, he asked the Little Book Spirit, “The Sky Gate is sealed. Are you certain you can draw down the heavenly lightning tribulation?”
“Yes.”
Xu Xian didn't press for details and went straight to the point. “What are the odds of success?”
The Little Book Spirit gave an ambiguous answer. “Fifty-fifty.”
“Hmm?”
The Little Book Spirit said, “Not losing is winning.”
Xu Xian was taken aback.
Then he chuckled.
Who did it learn that from?
He drained the wine in his hand and made the final decision. “Then let's do it... Let's gamble.”
The Little Book Spirit immediately began to flatter him.
“Master, you've got guts!”
Xu Xian stood up, nodded to the sword spirits, and walked away.
Since he had decided to do this,
He had to prepare early.
First,
He had to find the Twilight Emperor's location.
Second,
He had to be fully prepared for the lightning tribulation...
“The path of immortality?”
“Let’s see if I can take that step...”
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