Chapter 198 Misty Rain Pavilion (Twenty-Six)
Xiao Qingyan looked at Jiang Gu in front of her with a complicated expression.
"The memory seal has been broken?" Jiang Gu's gaze fell on his forearm.
Xiao Qingyan clenched his fists uncomfortably, his expression tense, and said, "It's unlocked, but unfortunately, this memory doesn't belong to me."
He had previously used a magical artifact to read through the memories of the boy's remnant spirit along with Jiang Gu and Wei Feng, and finally learned his true origins—he was merely a "person" created by Xiao Dan through the boy's ghostly body and the remnant soul of A Zhuo, a pseudo-jade stepping stone that Xiao Dan kept by his side for unforeseen circumstances.
He finally understood why his mother disliked him so much, and he also understood Xiao Dan's illogical favoritism. After all, no one would be angry because an object they created was useless.
"What is the content in your memory?" Consultant Jiang asked.
Xiao Qingyan opened his mouth, his expression becoming increasingly strange. "They are all scattered fragments, and I can't see most of them clearly. Why don't I wait until I return these memories to Wei Feng, and then have him tell you?"
Jiang Gu gave him a cryptic look.
Xiao Qingyan felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze and said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm really sorry for shouting that earlier. If it weren't for that, Elder Nie would never have trusted me, and our subsequent plans wouldn't have been able to proceed smoothly."
"Does Xiao Dan know that your memories have been altered?" Jiang Gu asked.
Xiao Qingyan nodded. "But he didn't say anything. It should be irrelevant to him."
As he spoke, the desolation in his eyes deepened. He had agreed to bring Jiang Xiangyun and Jiang Gu into the Heaven and Earth Pavilion because they said they could help him become the Pavilion Master. After returning from Xiao Dan, he had become very suspicious of the two of them. However, Jiang Gu and Jiang Xiangyun convinced him once again—he didn't want to live his life in a daze under his father's protection. However, the truth was far more cruel than he had imagined.
“This body doesn’t belong to me. I can return this body, along with the memories, to Wei Feng and then help you leave this place.” Xiao Qingyan stared at him intently. “But in exchange, you must help me break free from Xiao Dan’s control.”
Jiang Gu was slightly surprised, "Do you really intend to do this?"
“I’ve lived in the illusion he created for over twenty years, and everything was fake…” Xiao Qingyan’s eyes revealed a hint of pain and struggle. “I am not A Zhuo, nor am I Xiao Qingyan or Jiang Gu. I don’t even know what I am, but I don’t want to live under Xiao Dan’s control forever, living in fear and waiting for the day when I will be refined by him on the Tongtian Road.”
"Okay," Jiang Gu agreed.
Xiao Qingyan smiled at him, "I originally thought you were my destined one, but in the end you were someone else's bride... If I had gone to find you earlier, and met you before Wei Feng, would things be different now?"
"No." Jiang Gu coldly dashed his hopes.
Xiao Qingyan was taken aback. "Why?"
"That's not possible."
Xiao Qingyan seemed to suddenly understand something, and said with a wry smile, "I originally thought this was just wishful thinking on his part."
A clap of thunder interrupted their conversation.
Xiao Qingyan looked up and saw that dark thunderclouds had gathered on the horizon. The rolling thunder seemed to foreshadow the arrival of the tribulation lightning. Soon after, a strong wind blew up, and withered leaves danced in the wind, making this ruined place even more desolate.
"Elder Nie instructed me to guard this area; all those cultivators are now under my control." Xiao Qingyan followed him into the ruins. "Why do you insist on undergoing your tribulation here?"
Following the route in his memory, Jiang Gu found the main hall where the mermaid statue had been. "There are remnants of a great suppression array here. The array's core is connected to two extremely powerful water veins, and there are divine artifacts inside."
"You intend to use these remnants of the formation and the Mirror Flower Scroll inside to transcend your tribulation?" Xiao Qingyan belatedly realized, and then became worried. "No, that's too risky. Not to mention that you have no idea how this formation was set up, the Mirror Flower Scroll has already recognized Xiao Dan as its master. If you try to use the power of this divine artifact to transcend your tribulation, he will definitely notice. Moreover, the location of the Floating Spring Ancient God Temple is too conspicuous. If Elder Nie and the others come, wouldn't we just be throwing our lives away for nothing?"
Xiao Qingyan considered this plan to be suicidal.
Jiang Gu glanced at him. "Otherwise, why would I bring you along?"
Xiao Qingyan abruptly stopped in his tracks, a chill running down his spine. "What do you mean?"
He soon understood Jiang Gu's intentions.
Jiang Gu added several variations to the original, dilapidated array. Although he had forcibly destroyed the original suppression array, he used a primordial spirit he had created himself. He added an extra layer of protective array to the part of the primordial spirit belonging to Song Sui, which had not completely dissipated but remained scattered throughout the array. He used this to transform the suppression into a tribulation-crossing array. His spiritual power was of the metal element, and metal generates water. Xiao Dan had set up these water-based arrays, which resulted in the metal element spiritual power in this ancient temple being exceptionally abundant. This was something he had noticed when he first came to the temple—the right time, the right place, and the right people. By choosing this place to undergo tribulation, he had taken full advantage of the favorable location.
As Wei Feng said, he could evade the Heavenly Dao to some extent when he made a solemn oath. Now that he was using Wei Feng's heart and Xiao Qingyan's body, which was once a ghost body cultivated by Wei Feng, they could combine to create a body for tribulation to resist the lightning tribulation. This gave him the advantage of human resources.
With two out of three slots occupied, Jiang Gu dared to fight even though he was seriously injured.
But Xiao Qingyan was still worried, "What if Elder Nie and Xiao Dan find out?"
In his heart, both Xiao Dan and Elder Nie were insurmountable mountains.
“The Eight Pavilions and the Misty Rain Terrace have a very thorough understanding of the Jade Steps. If my guess is correct, the Jade Steps can draw upon the power of the Mirror Flower Scroll. I am a Jade Step, and so are you.” Jiang Gu looked at the divine artifact still operating underground. “Since we are both undergoing tribulation through the Jade Steps, why can’t it be you?”
Xiao Qingyan pointed to himself in shock, "I'm undergoing tribulation? I haven't made any progress for six whole years!"
Jiang Gu was silent for a moment, which was rare. Xiao Qingyan saw the disdain in his eyes and weakly retorted, "There are many cultivators who are stuck at the Great Perfection of Mahayana. Many have not made any progress for hundreds or thousands of years. The Eight Pavilions recruit geniuses who are one in ten thousand. You can't even enter the sect if you don't have a Heavenly Spiritual Root. That's why they are all True Immortals and Golden Immortals at the young age of two or three hundred. My aptitude is too ordinary. Six years... is not a long time."
If Wei Feng had said these words, Jiang Gu would have certainly ridiculed him and given him a lesson, but since the words came from Xiao Qingyan, Jiang Gu didn't react at all. "It's alright, I have my own way."
As they were speaking, the lightning tribulation arrived with a deafening roar.
Thousands of miles away, Elder Nie sensed the fluctuations in spiritual energy. In the blink of an eye, his divine sense arrived at the ruins of the Floating Spring Temple, only to find Xiao Qingyan alone.
He stood in the center of the ruins, with the ever-rotating Mirror Flower Scroll beneath his feet, and blinding bolts of lightning striking him.
There are people guarding the area nearby.
"Why are you suddenly about to undergo tribulation and break through?" Elder Nie asked the man.
Xiao Qingyan, wearing the body of a wooden puppet, had cold sweat beading on his forehead. "Reporting to Elder Nie, the young master was studying the Mirror Flower Scroll left by the Master when he had nothing to do. As a result, he suddenly comprehended the profound mysteries of heaven and earth within it and broke through."
"It can be considered a stroke of luck." Old Nie nodded. "Indeed."
"Elder Nie, the young master's tribulation was sudden. All the disciples were sent to search for him, but the young master refused to let them return. Only I am left to protect him. I dare to ask Elder Nie to help protect the young master. If anything happens, I am but a lowly person and I am afraid I will not be able to explain to the Master." Xiao Qingyan's heart was in his throat.
Elder Nie stared intently at the person undergoing tribulation within the magic array. It seemed that the lightning tribulation was particularly fierce due to the influence of the suppressing array. However, considering how much Xiao Dan cared about Xiao Qingyan, he nodded and said, "It's alright, I'll accompany you to protect you."
Seeing that another lightning tribulation was about to level the entire Floating Spring Temple, and that the magical treasures set up by "Xiao Qingyan" had already been destroyed, although there were many life-saving magic seals left by Xiao Dan on his soul, it was still right under his nose. If he used these magic seals, it would be a sign that he was incompetent...
Thinking this through, Elder Nie decisively took action, providing the person undergoing tribulation with several more magical treasures, including rare and top-grade magical artifacts.
However, the further along the lightning tribulation went, the more ferocious it became, and Elder Nie couldn't help but feel suspicious. "Something's not right with this lightning tribulation."
Xiao Qingyan, standing nearby, stared in shock at the lightning that seemed to split mountains and shake the seas. He took a few steps back and cried out in panic, "It's over! Young Master!"
Seeing this, Elder Nie could only suppress his doubts for the time being. After thinking for a moment, he decisively summoned the divine artifact he was carrying. The artifact was specifically designed to resist lightning tribulations. Xiao Dan had bestowed it upon him, but he hadn't even had a chance to use it himself. Instead, he used it to block this deadly attack for "Xiao Qingyan" in the formation.
Cracks were faintly appearing on the artifact. Elder Nie's heart was bleeding with heartache, but he had to pretend to be calm and said in a deep voice, "Young master, don't be afraid. I will protect you and make sure you get through this tribulation safely!"
More and more cultivators from the Eight Pavilions were drawn to the tribulation, and many cultivators who wanted to show off in front of Xiao Qingyan offered their magic treasures to help them through the tribulation.
Across the clouds, thunder, sand, and fallen leaves, Xiao Qingyan, who was in the center of the formation, met the gaze of Elder Nie, who was diligently protecting the formation from the outside.
Then, a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
Old Master Nie slowly frowned.
at the same time.
Wei Feng stared at the massive lightning strike in the distance, his eyes turning bloodshot with anxiety.
He glared fiercely at Jiang Xiangyun, Yao Li, and the others who were blocking his way, and roared angrily, "I told you to get out of my way!"
Countless ghostly patterns swept over him, and even in his severely injured state, he forcibly summoned the divine form of the Divine Kite Shark. Both his body and primordial spirit were covered in wounds, and if it weren't for the protection of the black jade bracelet, he would probably have been annihilated.
Jiang Xiangyun, who had been fighting with him for most of the day, was at a loss for words. Even with Yao Li joining forces, they couldn't subdue the little monster, and both of them were seriously injured. He earnestly said, "My dear nephew, if you won't listen to me, you should at least listen to your master. He instructed me to take you away first. While everyone is attracted to this tribulation lightning, we should leave this place quickly."
Upon hearing this, Wei Feng sneered, "Jiang Gu? Why should I listen to him!"
"Not good!" Yao Li was the first to react, rushing forward to protect Jiang Xiangyun inside the spatial artifact.
The ghostly pattern, transformed into black mist, shrieked and forcefully broke through the formation, heading straight towards the direction of the lightning tribulation.
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