Chapter 23: Tribulation: Get Lost, No Deal!
Chapter 23: Tribulation: Get Lost, No Deal!
Even though he nearly withered away from missing the Little Mushrooms, Li Si remained very cautious.
As night fell and the Dark Mist swirled, he obediently managed the Array Control Disk without making any small moves.
After all, even if he trusted himself, Old Madam might not. Her Heavenly Tribulation was due tomorrow; what if someone took advantage of the night to wipe them all out?
Right? The path Old Madam had walked was full of tricks.
So Li Si did absolutely nothing the whole night, sticking strictly to the rules—like the new moral role model and exemplary disciple of Floating Cloud Sect.
Only when dawn glimmered and the Dark Mist retreated, and theoretically there was no great danger left—especially after hearing that Senior Sister Jiang had started brewing the Great Soul-Returning Broth—did Li Si leisurely go behind a ruined house to relieve himself. He would bet anything that Old Madam wouldn’t notice him at that moment.
Then, relying on the Array Control Disk he held, he stepped lightly out of the Formation Array. But just one step out… Hmm, am I inside the array or outside?
Then—Palm of Great Joy and Sorrow, Fist of Angry Vajra Bodhisattva, Frolic Toad Skill of Love and Longing!
He knew the routine all too well. Li Si didn’t need much time; just a few minutes were enough…
At almost the same moment, the atmosphere inside the Stone House was grim and sorrowful.
Old Madam, who usually seemed ordinary, looked particularly spirited today. Her eyes were no longer cloudy, and she seemed thirty years younger.
Before her lay a peculiar handkerchief, on top of which rested a small wooden sword about an inch long, a jade hairpin, and a shiny golden copper coin.
Clearly, these three items were extraordinary.
As for Ji Chang and Xu Shen, who had been sickly and near death just two days earlier, they now wore solemn expressions, completely unlike their former playful selves—almost as if they had written “loyalty” on their faces.
Before Jiang Ying could finish brewing the Great Soul-Returning Broth, Old Madam spoke.
“I have a premonition. This great calamity, shifting between Reality and Illusion, has gathered its full force over the past two days and will strike today. This tribulation was deployed by that Evil God to hunt down the twelve of us True Immortals. For hundreds of years, it has advanced layer by layer, step by step tightening like a net—tug one thread and the whole web moves. We are like insects; moving forward is tragedy, retreating is tragedy. Only by facing it head-on can we have a slim chance of survival.”
“I undergo this tribulation today, life or death unknown. The fear of death is common to all—I do not blame you. If any wish to leave, I will not hold it against you.”
Old Madam spoke with great sincerity and openness.
Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and Jiang Ying immediately burst into tears, striking their foreheads against the ground until blood flowed.
“Master, I am willing to protect you through this tribulation. Even if my body is smashed to pieces, I will never regret it! If I flee from battle, may the Evil God cut me into a thousand pieces.”
Ji Chang and Xu Shen were already weeping and vowing their loyalty.
Jiang Ying couldn’t help but shed tears as well. When this tribulation came, she would not retreat; she just wondered if they, master and disciples, would still see tomorrow’s sun.
Faced with such loyal disciples, Old Madam was undoubtedly very pleased. She nodded repeatedly. “Good. Go call Li Si back. Let everyone eat and drink their fill, replenish their Magic Power fully. Our Floating Cloud Sect does not fear death—”
Before Old Madam could finish her sentence, she suddenly frowned slightly, her face showing surprise and doubt. She quickly began calculating with her fingers, while Ji Chang, Xu Shen, and Jiang Ying followed her movements, their hearts in turmoil.
Really?
No way, again?
That old woman, testing us again?
Wasting our emotions and tears, damn it! If only we had been gentler when we kowtowed to pledge loyalty—our heads are still ringing.
Two big curses!
For a moment, the atmosphere in the Stone House was extremely strange.
Old Madam’s expression was also extremely strange. After a full minute, she helplessly sighed. “How strange! My tribulation has actually been postponed for another three days. How odd! It shouldn’t be. Just a moment ago, the tribulation was like a raging torrent, unstoppable. How could it turn into a trickling stream so quickly?”
“All of you, step back for now. Allow me to deduce more carefully.”
Old Madam closed her eyes and resumed her usual indifferent state.
Ji Chang: …
Xu Shen: …
Jiang Ying: …
Li Si: ?
What happened inside the Stone House truly had nothing to do with Li Si, and he honestly had no idea. At that moment, he quietly drew one foot back and casually remarked:
(╯▽╰) So fragrant~~!
It turned out that giving the adorable Little Mushrooms plenty of space and time to develop led to the best harvest. He hadn’t gathered any mushrooms the past two days, but today he reaped a bountiful harvest of Seven Emotions Mushrooms.
Wow, just the incomplete forms of the Seven Emotions Mushrooms gave him twelve.
Then Terror Mushrooms and Longing Mushrooms came leaping out as if they were free.
Li Si was nearly exhausted by their enthusiastic onslaught.
Luckily, he was no longer the same as before. First, his flesh and bone evolution had reached 24%, directly cutting the Alienation Contamination Degree in half.
Second, he unleashed the ultimate Mind-cleansing Aura, which cut another quarter of the Alienation Contamination Degree. So in reality, the contamination he endured was only 25% of before—a huge relief.
Plus, with no worries about Magic Power consumption, he released his maximum-level Evil-Warding Aura repeatedly. In less than three minutes, this mushroom battle was over.
The harvest was so abundant it made Li Si question reality.
Among them, the 12 incomplete Seven Emotions Mushrooms contributed 4800 units of Gray Firewood and six Mushroom Remnant Husks, but the Alienation Contamination Degree only accumulated to 3%. So comfortable.
Nine Terror Mushrooms gave him 1800 units of Gray Firewood, with Alienation Contamination Degree accumulating only 1.8%.
Longing Mushrooms were a new variety with a completely different style. When the longing illusion appeared, Li Si’s bones went weak, nearly ruining everything. Thankfully, his Fate furnace was truly reliable—pouring a basin of cold water over him at the critical moment.
From this, he obtained another 1000 units of Gray Firewood, with Alienation Contamination Degree accumulating 0.6%.
In total, he gained 7600 units of Gray Firewood, with Alienation Contamination Degree at 5.4%. However, Magic Power consumption was quite high; he exchanged for two units of Gray Fortune at once, replenishing 2000 points of Magic Power before he managed it.
But compared to the gains, it was nothing.
Back in the Deserted Village, Li Si didn’t even bother dealing with distributing the harvest. He first replenished 1000 points of Magic Power for himself, then hurried toward the Stone House.
He remembered clearly: Old Madam’s tribulation was supposed to erupt today. As the leader of the Floating Cloud Four Heroes and a future prodigy, how could he desert?
Come on, you damned tribulation! Daring to bully my Master? Tired of living?
For Senior Sister, for Master, for Floating Cloud Sect—today I will fight with all I have!
Li Si, full of murderous intent, arrived at the Stone House. As soon as he opened the door, he froze.
Huh?
Why is everyone’s expression so strange? Did I open the door wrong? Or has Old Madam’s tribulation already passed? Or has Old Madam already… Oh! Old Madam is completely unharmed!!
Li Si instantly transformed into a cute, obedient, simple, and innocent little puppy. He knew nothing, saw nothing; he was innocent, just an extra. Then, he carefully squeezed in through the crack in the wooden door, staying so low-key he seemed almost invisible…
But in fact, he worried too much; no one glanced his way.
Old Madam continued her usual indifferent state. Ji Chang and Xu Shen followed suit, though their foreheads were bloody—who knew what had happened.
Senior Sister Jiang, who should have been brewing the Great Soul-Returning Broth, now looked deeply worried. The Great Soul-Returning Broth was almost turning into Meng Po’s soup.
“Senior Brother Li Si, I’m hungry…”
Someone tugged at his pant leg. It was Little Girl. Ah, at least there was someone normal in this Stone House.
Li Si quickly took over, brewing the Great Soul-Returning Broth while lining up Zhuwazi, Shanwazi, Little Girl, Little Bean, and Little Vegetable Root.
After finally finishing the pot of Great Soul-Returning Broth, Li Si routinely served Old Madam a bowl first. But then something terrifying happened: Old Madam didn’t move at all. What was she doing? Was she so upset she was refusing to eat?
“Junior Brother, don’t disturb Master for now. Divide this pot of Great Soul-Returning Broth among yourselves—it was originally prepared for you.”
Senior Sister Jiang looked worried; was she also refusing to eat?
Wait—Ji Chang and Xu Shen weren’t eating either. Normally, they would never refuse food like the Great Soul-Returning Broth. Right now, they were just safeguarding Old Madam, their Magic Power full.
So—no way, no way, could that terrifying thing have happened again?!
Li Si widened his eyes, utterly shocked, while feeling a bit of pity for his Master. Oh, at such an old age, what sin did she commit to endure this pain and suffering?
Damn it, if you have the guts, come at me, Chief Li!
What kind of hero bullies an old woman?
Li Si was angry. He gulped down four-fifths of the Great Soul-Returning Broth in one go, leaving only a little broth for Junior Brother Zhu, Junior Brother Shan, and the three little kids.
Senior Brother was doing this for your own good. You’re still young; going a little hungry is better than getting contaminated too early.
Ever heard of this choice?
1. Always half-starved, but you can live to 40.
2. Can eat your fill, but only live to 30, or even just 25.
“Ah, indeed, someone as kind as me is truly the hope of Floating Cloud Sect.”