dàn zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng líng jiè hái hǎo shuō ， rén jiè bù guò shì shē wàng bà le 。
但这种情况灵界还好说，人界不过是奢望罢了。
But in the Spirit Realm, such a situation was still manageable. In the Human World, it was merely a pipe dream.
fàng yǎn tiān yún shí èr zhōu 、 lí hé xiū shì cái jǐ gè ？
放眼天云十二州、离合修士才几个？
Looking at the Twelve States of Tianyun, how many cultivators were there who could perform the separation and union technique?
ér qiě qīng qí shǒu hù ， bì xū wán quán xìn rèn cái kě ， yīn wèi nà yàng zuò ， děng yú shì jiāng zì jǐ de xìng mìng jiāo dào duì fāng shǒu zhōng 。
而且清其守护，必须完全信任才可，因为那样做，等于是将自己的性命交到对方手中。
Moreover, even if Qing Qi guarded her, she had to fully trust them because doing so would essentially mean handing over her life to someone else. Given the general suspicious nature of cultivators, unless they were fellow sect members, no one was trustworthy.
yǐ xiū xiān zhě pǔ biàn duō yí de xìng gé ． chú fēi tóng mén ， fǒu zé qí tā rén gēn běn xìn bù guò jiù ná mèng rú yān lái shuō ． wǔ sè xiān zi nǎi tā de guī zhōng mì yǒu ， wàng tíng lóu yě céng chū lì bāng zhù guò tiān yá hǎi gé ， kě tā hái bú shì méi yǒu zhǎo liǎng rén xiāng zhù 。
以修仙者普遍多疑的性格．除非同门，否则其他人根本信不过就拿梦如嫣来说．五色仙子乃她的闺中密友，望亭楼也曾出力帮助过天涯海阁，可她还不是没有找两人相助。
Take Mu Ru Yan as an example; although Five-Colored Fairy was her close friend and Witing Pavilion once helped Lingyun Sect, she still didn't seek their help. She preferred to take more risks alone rather than entrust her life to others.
qíng yuàn yí gè rén duō mào fēng xiǎn ， yě bù yuàn jiāng xìng mìng jiāo dào bié rén de shǒu lǐ miàn 。
情愿一个人多冒风险，也不愿将性命交到别人的手里面。
Of course, Mu Ru Yan wasn't entirely narrow-minded. There was one person she completely trusted—Lin Xuan.
dāng rán ， yě bú shì shuō rú yān xiān zi jiù zhēn de xiá ài dào rú cǐ dì bù ， yǒu yí gè rén tā hái shì wán quán xiāng xìn de 。
当然，也不是说如嫣仙子就真的狭隘到如此地步，有一个人她还是完全相信的。
Naturally, it would be Lin Xuan. Unfortunately, after the battle on Fullou Island a hundred years ago, her younger brother had never been heard from again. She had worried and searched for him, even summoning Liu Ying and Su Jingchun to repeatedly inquire about his battle with the Corpse King, but there was no clear answer as to where he went.
bú yòng shuō ， zì rán shì lín xuān le 。
不用说，自然是林轩了。
As for other cultivators capable of warding off heavenly tribulations, Mu Ru Yan didn't trust them either. Thus, she could only be more careful herself.
kě xī bǎi nián xíng mǎn zhōu dǎo yī yì ． dì di jiù zài yě méi yǒu xiāo xī 、 shì hòu tā yě dān xīn zháo jí ． céng zhào lái liú yíng yǔ sū jiàng chún liǎng nǚ ， fǎn fù xún wèn lín xuān yǔ shī wáng dòu fǎ de qíng jǐng ， què máng wú tóu xù ． bù míng bái dì di jiū jìng qù le nǎ lǐ 。
可惜百年行满洲岛一役．弟弟就再也没有消息、事后她也担心着急．曾召来刘莹与苏绛唇两女，反复询问林轩与尸王斗法的情景，却茫无头绪．不明白弟弟究竟去了哪里。
After all,晋级突破不一定招来假天劫，关键在于天地元气操控是否出错。
zhì yú qí yú yǒu néng lì zhǐ xià tiān jié de xiū xiān zhě ． mèng rú yān yòu xìn bù guò ． yú shì zhǐ hǎo zì jǐ xiǎo xīn yì diǎn le 。
至于其余有能力指下天劫的修仙者．梦如嫣又信不过．于是只好自己小心一点了。
Mu Ru Yan had prepared for decades and was quite confident. However, as the saying goes, "Planning is in our hands; success depends on heaven."
bì jìng jìn jí tū pò ， yě bù yí dìng huì zhāo lái nà jiǎ tiān jié de ． guān jiàn shì kàn duì tiān dì yuán qì de cāo kòng shì fǒu huì chū chā cuò 。
毕竟晋级突破，也不一定会招来那假天劫的．关键是看对天地元气的操控是否会出差错。
She had been closed up for three years, and everything seemed to be going well. But just when it mattered most,
qián hòu mèng rú yān zhǔn bèi le shù shí nián zhī jiǔ ． hái shì yǒu hěn dà bǎ wò 。
前后梦如嫣准备了数十年之久．还是有很大把握。
her spirit energy lost control.
kě sú huà shuō ， móu shì zài rén ． chéng shì zài tiān 。
可俗话说，谋事在人．成事在天。
Looking at the giant vortex above, Liu Ying's face was filled with worry.
tā bì guān yǐ jīng sān nián ． bìng miàn què shí pǒ wèi shùn lì ． kě piān piān zài zuì guān jiàn de shí kè ．
她闭关已经三年．并面确实颇为顺利．可偏偏在最关键的时刻．
"Senior Sister, has the Nine Palaces Mustard Sword Array been activated?"
líng lì què tuō lí zhǎng kòng le 。
灵力却脱离掌控了。
"If only," Su Jingchun's expression darkened further as she spoke.
wàng zhe tiān shàng nà jù dà de xuán wō ， liú yíng liǎn shàng mǎn shì dān xīn zhī sè 。
望着天上那巨大的旋涡，刘莹脸上满是担心之色。
Her lips moved slightly, and a cold voice echoed among them.
“ shī jiě ． jiǔ gōng xū sǒu jiàn zhèn kāi qǐ le me ？”
“师姐．九宫须叟剑阵开启了么？”
"Why?"
“ rú guǒ néng kāi jiù hǎo le 。” tīng le cǐ yǔ ， sū jiàng chún de liǎn sè yuè fā yīn mái xià qù 。
“如果能开就好了。”听了此语，苏绛唇的脸色越发阴霾下去。
The speaker was a woman in green imperial robes, around twenty-seven or eight years old, with an advanced-stage婴中期。
yīng chún wēi qǐ ． bīng lěng de shēng yīn luò zài zhòng rén de ěr duǒ lǐ 。
樱唇微启．冰冷的声音落在众人的耳朵里。
"Didn't you forget? The Nine Palaces Mustard Sword Array is different from ordinary arrays; it requires crystal stones to fill the gaps and stores primordial energy from the heavens and earth. That's why it has such terrifying power. After the battle on Fullou Island a hundred years ago, to counter the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect and Li Hai Valley, the Nine Palaces Sword Array had consumed all its primordial energy. In just one hundred years, there was no way it could recover. Therefore, the sect’s protective array couldn't be activated."
“ wèi shén me ？”
“为什么？”
Upon Su Jingchun's explanation, the other women were stunned, their faces turning grim. With a sect-protecting array to support them, they would still have some hope of withstanding the fake heavenly tribulation. But misfortunes never come alone; since the Nine Palaces Mustard Sword Array couldn't be activated, even though there were restrictions around Bai Feng Peak, they wouldn't provide much protection.
shuō huó de shì yī shēn chuān lǜ sè gōng zhuāng de nǚ zǐ ， kàn shàng qù dà yuē èr shí qī 、 bā nián jì ， yuán yīng zhōng qī 。
说活的是一身穿绿色宫装的女子，看上去大约二十七、八年纪，元婴中期。
Boom! A more terrifying explosion echoed in their ears. At the top of Bai Feng Peak, the vortex became deeper and more eerie. In its depths, lightning bolts as thick as a child's arm danced.
“ zhū wèi nán dào wàng le ． jiǔ gōng xū sǒu jiàn zhèn yǔ pǔ tōng de zhèn fǎ bù tóng ． chú le xū yào jīng shí tián chōng 、 hái yào chǔ cún tiān dì jiān de líng qì ． suǒ yǐ cái yǒu nà yàng jīng rén de wēi lì ， ér shàng cì yíng zhōu dǎo yī yì ， wèi le duì fù wàn fú zōng yǔ lì hún gǔ ． jiǔ gōng jiàn zhèn cún chǔ de líng qì yǐ xiāo hào yī kōng ， duǎn duǎn bǎi nián de shí jiān ． gēn běn jiù bù kě néng huī fù ． suǒ yǐ hù pài dà zhèn shì méi yǒu bàn fǎ kāi qǐ de 。”
“诸位难道忘了．九宫须叟剑阵与普通的阵法不同．除了需要晶石填充、还要储存天地间的灵气．所以才有那样惊人的威力，而上次瀛洲岛一役，为了对付万佛宗与厉魂谷．九宫剑阵存储的灵气已消耗一空，短短百年的时间．根本就不可能恢复．所以护派大阵是没有办法开启的。”
More astonishingly, these lightning bolts were black.
tīng le sū jiàng chún de jiě shì ， zhòng nǚ yī dāi ． liǎn sè wú bù yīn mái le xià lái ， rú guǒ yǒu hù pài dà zhèn xiāng zhù ， dǐ dǎng jiǎ tiān jié hái shì yǒu bǎ wò 、 dàn wū lòu piān féng lián yè yǔ ， jiǔ gōng xū sǒu jiàn zhèn wú fǎ kāi qǐ ． bǎi fèng fēng sì zhōu ， suī rán yě yǒu jìn zhì shǒu hù ． dàn gēn běn jiù qǐ bú dào shén me míng xiǎn xiào guǒ 。
听了苏绛唇的解释，众女一呆．脸色无不阴霾了下来，如果有护派大阵相助，抵挡假天劫还是有把握、但屋漏偏逢连夜雨，九宫须叟剑阵无法开启．百凤峰四周，虽然也有禁制守护．但根本就起不到什么明显效果。
But upon reflection, it wasn’t strange at all; this was deep in the ocean, where water primordial energy was naturally abundant. Among the five elements of heaven and earth, water primordial energy was inherently black.
hōng ， gèng jiā kě pà de bào liè shēng chuán rù ěr duǒ 、 zhǐ jiàn bǎi fèng fēng dǐng bù ， nà xuán wō biàn dé yuè fā de shēn lián yāo yì le ． zài xuán wō shēn chù ， yǒu yī dào dào er bì cū de diàn máng pán xuán fēi wǔ 。
轰，更加可怕的爆裂声传入耳朵、只见百凤峰顶部，那旋涡变得越发的深莲妖异了．在旋涡深处，有一道道儿臂粗的电芒盘旋飞舞。
As time passed, the nearby primordial energy was almost entirely sucked into this place.
gèng bù kě sī yì de shì ， nà diàn máng jū rán shì hēi sè 。
更不可思议的是，那电芒居然是黑色。
Zzzz… A black lightning bolt struck first.
bù guò zǐ xì xiǎng xiǎng ． yě méi shén me hào qí guài de ， zhè lǐ wèi yú dà hǎi shēn chù ． shuǐ yuán qì zì rán zuì wèi fēng fù ． ér zài tiān dì wǔ xíng zhī zhōng ， shuǐ yuán qì běn jiù shì hēi sè 。
不过仔细想想．也没什么好奇怪的，这里位于大海深处．水元气自然最为丰富．而在天地五行之中，水元气本就是黑色。
"Bad luck!" Su Jingchun's expression turned alarmed. Although it appeared only as thick as a child’s arm, the primordial energy contained within was shocking.
suí zhe shí jiān de tuī yí ． fù jìn de líng qì jī hū dōu bèi xī dào le zhè lǐ 。
随着时间的推移．附近的灵气几乎都被吸到了这里。
Like a demon snake, it fiercely attacked Bai Feng Peak. At that moment, Senior Auntie was at her most vulnerable stage of晋级突破. A minor Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily kill her with such terrifying spirit energy attacks.
cī lā …“ yī dào hēi sè de shǎn diàn shuài xiān pī xià 。
刺啦…“一道黑色的闪电率先劈下。
Mu Ru Yan was the pillar of Lingyun Sect; if she were to fall by accident, the sect would surely decline. For both personal and public reasons, they must ensure Senior Auntie's safety.
“ bù hǎo ！， sū jiàng chún dà jīng fū sè ， zhè shǎn diàn kàn shàng qù zhǐ yǒu ér bì cū ， sì hū bìng méi yǒu tài guò jīng rén zhī chù ， rán ér lǐ miàn suǒ yùn hán de líng qì què dào le lìng rén chù mù jīng xīn de dì bù 。
“不好！，苏绛唇大惊夫色，这闪电看上去只有儿臂粗，似乎并没有太过惊人之处，然而里面所蕴含的灵气却到了令人触目惊心的地步。
With this thought in mind, Su Jingchun flicked her hand, and a silver bracelet with intricate patterns flew out.
yǒu rú yī tiáo mó shé ． hěn hěn de shì xiàng le bǎi fèng fēng de dǐng bù ． ér cǐ shí cǐ kè ， shī shū jìn jí zhèng dào le zuì guān jiàn de shí kè ． zhěng gè rén shì fēi cháng cuì ruò de ， bié shuō zhè kě pà de líng lì gōng jī le 、 jiù suàn shì yī míng xiǎo xiǎo de zhù jī qī xiū xiān zhě ， yě néng gòu jiāng qí miè shā diào de 。
有如一条魔蛇．狠狠的噬像了百凤峰的顶部．而此时此刻，师叔晋级正到了最关键的时刻．整个人是非常脆弱的，别说这可怕的灵力攻击了、就算是一名小小的筑基期修仙者，也能够将其灭杀掉的。
As the woman pointed, the bracelet swelled like a storm, layer upon layer of light rings rippling like water waves.
ér mèng rú yān kě shì tiān yá hǎi gé de zhī zhù ． yí dàn tā yì wài yǔn luò ． běn mén jué duì huì mǎ shàng shuāi luò xià qù de 。
而梦如嫣可是天涯海阁的支柱．一旦她意外陨落．本门绝对会马上衰落下去的。
It charged towards the black lightning. Boom!
yú sī yú gōng ． dōu bì xū ràng shī shū píng ān dù guò ， niàn jí zhì cǐ ． sū zhāng chún yù shǒu yī fú yī guāng càn càn de bǎo wù fēi lüè ér chū 。
于私于公．都必须让师叔平安度过，念及至此．苏张唇玉手一拂一光灿灿的宝物飞掠而出。
The two collided mid-air, creating an explosion that echoed as if two towering mountains were crashing into each other.
shì yī yín zhì de shǒu zhuó ． shàng miàn de huā wén fēi móu qí tè 。
是一银制的手镯．上面的花纹非牟奇特。
A gust of wind swept through. Su Jingchun, as the head of Lingyun Sect, was undoubtedly a top-tier expert even among late-stage婴后期 cultivators.
suí zhe cǐ nǚ yī zhǐ diǎn chū 。， nà shǒu zhuó yíng fēng bào zhǎng ． yī céng céng de guāng huán rú shuǐ bō dàng yàng 。
随着此女一指点出。，那手镯迎风暴涨．一层层的光环如水波荡漾。
But her face turned pale, and a faint red blood trace appeared at the corner of her mouth. The silver bracelet's surface showed numerous cracks like spider webs.
xiàng zhe nà hēi sè de shǎn diàn yíng 。 hōng 。
向着那黑色的闪电迎。轰。
The light quickly dimmed, and Su Jingchun’s eyes flashed with sorrow.
liǎng zhě zài bàn kōng zhōng xiāng chù 、 jù dà de bào liè shēng jiù fǎng fú shì liǎng zuò qiān zhàng gāo de jù dà shān fēng hōng rán duì pèng shì de 。
两者在半空中相触、巨大的爆裂声就仿佛是两座千丈高的巨大山峰轰然对碰似的。
Don’t look at this unremarkable bracelet; it was undoubtedly a top-tier defensive treasure that had accompanied her for centuries. Even after the battle on Fullou Island, it hadn't been destroyed, but now it lay broken here.
guā qǐ yī dào dào lǐ fēng ， sū jiàng chún shēn wèi tiān yá hǎi gé zhī zhǔ ． shí lì bú yòng shuō ． jí shǐ zài yuán yīng hòu qī de dà xiū xiān zhě zhōng 、 yě jué duì shì dǐng ér jiān ér de gāo shǒu 。
刮起一道道里风，苏降唇身为天涯海阁之主．实力不用说．即使在元婴后期的大修仙者中、也绝对是顶儿尖儿的高手。
But at this moment, she couldn't afford to be sad about her treasure.
kě tā de liǎn sè ， què shuā de yī xià bái le ． zuǐ jiǎo biān shèn zhì yǐn yǐn yǒu yān hóng de xuè jì shèn chū ． ér nà yín zhì de shǒu zhuó ， biǎo miàn gèng shì chū xiàn le yuán shù rú zhī mǎng wǎng yì bān de liè wén 。
可她的脸色，却刷的一下白了．嘴角边甚至隐隐有殷红的血迹渗出．而那银制的手镯，表面更是出现了元数如蜘蟒网一般的裂纹。
The giant vortex gathered primordial energy from a hundred miles around, its power immense.
líng guāng xùn sù àn dàn le xià qù ． sū lǜ chún yǎn zhōng yě shǎn guò yī sī tòng xī 。
灵光迅速黯淡了下去．苏律唇眼中也闪过一丝痛惜。
Then another black wind blew out of the vortex. Its momentum far exceeded that of the previous lightning bolt.
bié kàn zhè shǒu zhuó bù qǐ yǎn ． què jué duì shì dǐng jiē de fáng shì bǎo wù ， bàn suí zì jǐ yě yǒu shù bǎi nián le ， shèn zhì lián yíng zhōu dǎo yī yì yě wèi huǐ qù ． méi xiǎng dào zuì hòu què bèi dǎ suì zài zhè lǐ 。
别看这手镯不起眼．却绝对是顶阶的防饰宝物，伴随自己也有数百年了，甚至连瀛洲岛一役也未毁去．没想到最后却被打碎在这里。
Su Jingchun bit her teeth, and a streak of light flew out from her sleeve. Its speed was so astonishing it left people breathless. After circling briefly, it transformed into a colorful phoenix, which sang as it approached the vortex.
bù guò cǐ shí cǐ kè ， tā yǐ méi yǒu shí jiān wèi zì jǐ de bǎo wù qù duō shāng xīn shén me 。
不过此时此刻，她已没有时间为自己的宝物去多伤心什么。
However, for some reason, it seemed like an egg hitting a stone, giving a sense of tragedy.
zhè jù dà de xuán wō lǐ ， huì jí le fāng yuán bǎi lǐ de shuǐ yuán qì ． wēi lì wú bǐ 。
这巨大的旋涡里，汇集了方圆百里的水元气．威力无比。
"Senior Sister, let me help you." Su Jingchun said resolutely. "No matter what, we must ensure Senior Auntie safely passes this test; otherwise, our Lingyun Sect will face disaster."
jiē zhe yòu shì yī dào hēi méng méng kuí fēng cóng xuán wō lǐ chuī chū ． qí shēng shì yuǎn bú shì gāng gāng nà dào shǎn diàn kě yǐ xiāng bǐ de 。
接着又是一道黑蒙蒙魁风从旋涡里吹出．其声势远不是刚刚那道闪电可以相比的。
Whispers of determination filled the air as other late-stage婴期 cultivators from Lingyun Sect also joined in.
sū jiàng chún yǎo le yǎo bèi chǐ ， yī dào pǐ liàn cóng tā de yǒng xiù zhōng fēi le chū qù ， qí sù dù qí kuài wú bǐ ， shèn zhì dào le lìng rén xīn jīng de jìng dì ． lüè yī pán xuán fēi wǔ ． jiù huà wèi le yī tóu cǎi fèng ．
苏绛唇咬了咬贝齿，一道匹练从她的永袖中飞了出去，其速度奇快无比，甚至到了令人心惊的境地．略一盘旋飞舞．就化为了一头彩凤．
In the sky, various kinds of spiritual light and strange treasures flew everywhere. With more than a dozen late-stage婴期 cultivators working together, they managed to block the hurricane without any serious danger.
yǐn jǐng gāo gē ． xiàng nà xuán fēng yíng shàng qù le 。
引颈高歌．像那旋风迎上去了。
However, the vortex's power showed no signs of weakening. Looking at the darkening sky, the women’s expressions turned extremely grim. Even with their combined efforts, could they survive this heavenly tribulation?
rán ér bù zhī wèi hé ， què fǎng fú xiàng shì jī dàn pèng shí tou shì de ， gěi rén yī zhǒng bēi zhuàng de gǎn jué 。
然而不知为何，却仿佛像是鸡蛋碰石头似的，给人一种悲壮的感觉。
At that moment, from afar, a commotion arose as the other elders of Lingyun Sect rushed to support them…
“ shī jiě 。 wǒ lái bāng nǐ “ bù cuò ， wú lùn rú hé ， yě yào bāng zhù shī shū jiāng zhè yī guān píng ān dù guò ． fǒu zé wǒ tiān yá hǎi gé 、 jiāng yǒu dà huò 。 wén běn 。．
“师姐。我来帮你“不错，无论如何，也要帮助师叔将这一关平安度过．否则我天涯海阁、将有大祸。文本。．
An hour later.
jiāo chì shēng fēn fēn chuán rù ěr duǒ 、 zài cǐ dì de yuán yīng qī xiū xiān zhě bìng fēi jǐn yǒu sū jiàng chún yí gè ． liú yíng 、 jī yuè rú ． yǐ jí qí tā de nǚ xiū yě dōu fēn fēn chū shǒu 。
娇叱声纷纷传入耳朵、在此地的元婴期修仙者并非仅有苏绛唇一个．刘莹、姬月如．以及其他的女修也都纷纷出手。
The sky remained overcast. Su Jingchun wiped the blood from her lips with a slender hand. In just this time, she had lost three treasures. Even as a major cultivator, she was so affected; the other elders were even worse off.
yī shí jiān ． tiān kōng zhōng líng máng sì shè ， gè zhǒng gè yàng de qí bǎo zòng héng fēi wǔ ， shí yú míng yuán yīng qī xiū shì chū shǒu ． zhōng yú yǒu jīng wú xiǎn de jiāng jù fēng lán xià 。
一时间．天空中灵芒四射，各种各样的奇宝纵横飞舞，十余名元婴期修士出手．终于有惊无险的将飓风拦下。
Almost all the elders of Lingyun Sect were present, with nearly a hundred fellow sect members hovering beside them.
kě xuán wō zhōng de shēng shì 、 què méi yǒu fēn háo jiǎn ruò ． wàng zhe nà yīn chén de tiān sè ， zhū nǚ de biǎo tè wú bù biàn dé nán kàn yǐ jí ． tā men zhè xiē rén jiù suàn hé lì 、 shì fǒu jiù cóng zhè tiān jié zhōng chēng guò qù ？
可漩涡中的声势、却没有分毫减弱．望着那阴沉的天色，诸女的表特无不变得难看以极．她们这些人就算合力、是否就从这天劫中撑过去？
But the scene in the sky showed no signs of weakening. She seemed to have underestimated this legendary heavenly tribulation too much.
But in the Spirit Realm, such a situation was still manageable. In the Human World, it was merely a pipe dream.
Looking at the Twelve States of Tianyun, how many cultivators were there who could perform the separation and union technique?
Moreover, even if Qing Qi guarded her, she had to fully trust them because doing so would essentially mean handing over her life to someone else. Given the general suspicious nature of cultivators, unless they were fellow sect members, no one was trustworthy.
Take Mu Ru Yan as an example; although Five-Colored Fairy was her close friend and Witing Pavilion once helped Lingyun Sect, she still didn't seek their help. She preferred to take more risks alone rather than entrust her life to others.
Of course, Mu Ru Yan wasn't entirely narrow-minded. There was one person she completely trusted—Lin Xuan.
Naturally, it would be Lin Xuan. Unfortunately, after the battle on Fullou Island a hundred years ago, her younger brother had never been heard from again. She had worried and searched for him, even summoning Liu Ying and Su Jingchun to repeatedly inquire about his battle with the Corpse King, but there was no clear answer as to where he went.
As for other cultivators capable of warding off heavenly tribulations, Mu Ru Yan didn't trust them either. Thus, she could only be more careful herself.
After all,晋级突破不一定招来假天劫，关键在于天地元气操控是否出错。
Mu Ru Yan had prepared for decades and was quite confident. However, as the saying goes, "Planning is in our hands; success depends on heaven."
She had been closed up for three years, and everything seemed to be going well. But just when it mattered most,
her spirit energy lost control.
Looking at the giant vortex above, Liu Ying's face was filled with worry.
"Senior Sister, has the Nine Palaces Mustard Sword Array been activated?"
"If only," Su Jingchun's expression darkened further as she spoke.
Her lips moved slightly, and a cold voice echoed among them.
"Why?"
The speaker was a woman in green imperial robes, around twenty-seven or eight years old, with an advanced-stage婴中期。
"Didn't you forget? The Nine Palaces Mustard Sword Array is different from ordinary arrays; it requires crystal stones to fill the gaps and stores primordial energy from the heavens and earth. That's why it has such terrifying power. After the battle on Fullou Island a hundred years ago, to counter the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect and Li Hai Valley, the Nine Palaces Sword Array had consumed all its primordial energy. In just one hundred years, there was no way it could recover. Therefore, the sect’s protective array couldn't be activated."
Upon Su Jingchun's explanation, the other women were stunned, their faces turning grim. With a sect-protecting array to support them, they would still have some hope of withstanding the fake heavenly tribulation. But misfortunes never come alone; since the Nine Palaces Mustard Sword Array couldn't be activated, even though there were restrictions around Bai Feng Peak, they wouldn't provide much protection.
Boom! A more terrifying explosion echoed in their ears. At the top of Bai Feng Peak, the vortex became deeper and more eerie. In its depths, lightning bolts as thick as a child's arm danced.
More astonishingly, these lightning bolts were black.
But upon reflection, it wasn’t strange at all; this was deep in the ocean, where water primordial energy was naturally abundant. Among the five elements of heaven and earth, water primordial energy was inherently black.
As time passed, the nearby primordial energy was almost entirely sucked into this place.
Zzzz… A black lightning bolt struck first.
"Bad luck!" Su Jingchun's expression turned alarmed. Although it appeared only as thick as a child’s arm, the primordial energy contained within was shocking.
Like a demon snake, it fiercely attacked Bai Feng Peak. At that moment, Senior Auntie was at her most vulnerable stage of晋级突破. A minor Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily kill her with such terrifying spirit energy attacks.
Mu Ru Yan was the pillar of Lingyun Sect; if she were to fall by accident, the sect would surely decline. For both personal and public reasons, they must ensure Senior Auntie's safety.
With this thought in mind, Su Jingchun flicked her hand, and a silver bracelet with intricate patterns flew out.
As the woman pointed, the bracelet swelled like a storm, layer upon layer of light rings rippling like water waves.
It charged towards the black lightning. Boom!
The two collided mid-air, creating an explosion that echoed as if two towering mountains were crashing into each other.
A gust of wind swept through. Su Jingchun, as the head of Lingyun Sect, was undoubtedly a top-tier expert even among late-stage婴后期 cultivators.
But her face turned pale, and a faint red blood trace appeared at the corner of her mouth. The silver bracelet's surface showed numerous cracks like spider webs.
The light quickly dimmed, and Su Jingchun’s eyes flashed with sorrow.
Don’t look at this unremarkable bracelet; it was undoubtedly a top-tier defensive treasure that had accompanied her for centuries. Even after the battle on Fullou Island, it hadn't been destroyed, but now it lay broken here.
But at this moment, she couldn't afford to be sad about her treasure.
The giant vortex gathered primordial energy from a hundred miles around, its power immense.
Then another black wind blew out of the vortex. Its momentum far exceeded that of the previous lightning bolt.
Su Jingchun bit her teeth, and a streak of light flew out from her sleeve. Its speed was so astonishing it left people breathless. After circling briefly, it transformed into a colorful phoenix, which sang as it approached the vortex.
However, for some reason, it seemed like an egg hitting a stone, giving a sense of tragedy.
"Senior Sister, let me help you." Su Jingchun said resolutely. "No matter what, we must ensure Senior Auntie safely passes this test; otherwise, our Lingyun Sect will face disaster."
Whispers of determination filled the air as other late-stage婴期 cultivators from Lingyun Sect also joined in.
In the sky, various kinds of spiritual light and strange treasures flew everywhere. With more than a dozen late-stage婴期 cultivators working together, they managed to block the hurricane without any serious danger.
However, the vortex's power showed no signs of weakening. Looking at the darkening sky, the women’s expressions turned extremely grim. Even with their combined efforts, could they survive this heavenly tribulation?
At that moment, from afar, a commotion arose as the other elders of Lingyun Sect rushed to support them…
An hour later.
The sky remained overcast. Su Jingchun wiped the blood from her lips with a slender hand. In just this time, she had lost three treasures. Even as a major cultivator, she was so affected; the other elders were even worse off.
Almost all the elders of Lingyun Sect were present, with nearly a hundred fellow sect members hovering beside them.
But the scene in the sky showed no signs of weakening. She seemed to have underestimated this legendary heavenly tribulation too much.