Chapter 51: Brooding in Silence

Shen Luo spent a full three days breaking through the barrier. He heard only a muffled “boom,” and then a wild, overbearing surge of spiritual energy rushed into his body, shattering the obstacle.

He ascended through the fifth, eighth, and then ninth levels of the Heart Movement Stage—almost breaking through to the Golden Core Stage.

Yet, as the spiritual energy shuddering around the youth gradually calmed, Shen Luo made no attempt to advance further. His foundation was not particularly solid. His three great breakthroughs: the first had been aided by a spiritual fruit, the second by a divine beast talisman, the third by Su Li’s explosive surge of power. Before condensing his core, he needed more cultivation.

In truth, it wasn’t only cultivators whose spiritual energy could nourish their beast companions; contracted beasts could also provide great benefit to their masters. Especially those bound by a soul contract—the further they progressed, the deeper their mutual influence became.

Just as Shen Luo’s aura stabilized, a sudden, piercing chill erupted within the cave. White, misty frost billowed forth, condensing into a thin layer of ice on the walls—a biting cold that reached the bone.

Su Li paused and raised her paw, instantly sealing the cave entrance with her absolute domain.

“Brother Blue Jiao is advancing, too?” cried the Azure Bird in astonishment.

A remarkable scene unfolded—the storm of cold radiance within the cave spun rapidly, freezing into countless blue lotus-shaped crystals around Blue Jiao.

Su Li watched, clicking her tongue in admiration; her new little brother was proving quite formidable. At that moment, she sensed someone approaching, and was promptly lifted into familiar arms.

“You feel a bit heavier,” Shen Luo remarked, weighing her.

Startled, Su Li jerked her head up. How could that be? She instinctively patted her fluffy cheeks with her little paws, checking urgently.

A low chuckle escaped the young man, his pleased smile rather infuriating.

Su Li glared with round, feline eyes, indignant.

She leaped onto his shoulder, turned her back to him, and lashed his cheek repeatedly with her bushy tail—looking every bit the fierce, menacing cat!

Shen Luo couldn’t help laughing. He picked her up again and nipped her forehead. Instantly, the little beast quieted, curling up in his arms and scratching at his forearm in protest.

It tickled delightfully!

It was as if the sensation scratched right at his heart, melting him completely.

Shen Luo’s lips twitched into a smile as he stroked the fur on her back. His gaze landed on the… big yellow chicken before him. He paused, surprised. “Fengxi, what happened to you?”

“Master, I molted! Do I look handsome?” The little beast with orange-yellow feathers fanned its wings proudly.

Damn, it looked even more like a chicken now!

Su Li quickly curled her tail over her eyes, feeling somewhat ashamed as the leader. Not only was her follower foolish, perhaps his sense of aesthetics was questionable too.

Though unable to hear its words, Shen Luo could guess from the eager display.

He was silent a moment. “…Not bad.”

Su Li looked up in shock. Didn’t his conscience sting?

Shen Luo pressed his lips together, continuing to smooth her fur.

“Sister Tuan, what do you think?” came a soul-level inquiry from a certain beast.

Su Li silently flexed her claws.

Peace returned at once.

As human and beast endured the bird’s antics, a change occurred within the cave. Suddenly, every ice crystal cracked and shattered into billions of white specks.

Blue Jiao’s eyes snapped open, and in a streak of light, he shot out of the cave. Only when he was some distance away did he stop, hurling defensive artifacts recklessly to form layer upon layer of shields.

A thunderous “boom!”

Nine bolts of thunder, thick as tree trunks, crashed down with savage force.

When the group chased outside, they beheld a terrifying scene. Deafening thunder roared ceaselessly as a sea of lightning surged across the sky, heralding the next wave of dread power.

Having consumed the Sacred Realm’s ten-thousand-year Snow Lotus Heart, Blue Jiao had not only healed his wounds but broken through to the Beast Emperor stage in one leap.

Another wild volley of nine thunderbolts struck.

Su Li held her breath. Whether cultivator or beast, cultivation was always a struggle against the heavens—a path fraught with trials. The tribulation lightning was a double-edged sword: survive it, and the immortal path opened; fail, and one’s body would be blasted to oblivion.

With each lightning strike, Blue Jiao’s cultivation climbed higher.

The third wave. The fourth.

“Aaah!” he finally howled in pain, unable to endure.

But!

After the seventh wave, the wrath of the heavens still did not abate—the lightning showed no sign of ceasing.

“How can this be?” Shen Luo’s expression changed dramatically, and his gaze toward Blue Jiao filled with deep concern.

Tribulation lightning varied at each stage: nine bolts for Golden Core, three sets of nine for Nascent Soul, five sets for Out-of-Body, six for Divided Spirit, seven for Great Ascension, eight for Transcendence, and finally ninety-nine bolts of purple lightning for the Sun God stage.

“It’s because the Snow Lotus Heart is a treasure of the Sacred Realm!”

A voice sounded from behind.

“Brother Hu!” the Azure Bird exclaimed joyfully, spinning around—and was instantly stunned.

The man before them was breathtakingly beautiful, his elegance surpassing even Gu Hongshang by several degrees.

“Master.” He stopped, unfurled a green folding fan, and his crimson robe gaped open ever so slightly—radiating a seductive, wicked charm.

A large hand suddenly covered Su Li’s eyes.

A gentle, low voice sounded above her head: “Look at that too long and your eyes will go bad.”

Su Li: …

Tiger Soul was crestfallen—his dignity as a shape-shifter crushed by his master’s callous blow.

“Brother Hu,” Azure Bird suddenly called.

Tiger Soul looked up.

“Isn’t this what you always call an eyesore?”

The corner of Tiger Soul’s mouth twitched.

“And you’re so gaudy like this,” Azure Bird added innocently, as if stating a fact without the slightest qualm.

Tiger Soul nearly choked, a thousand galloping horses in his heart. So infuriating! What a trash script—his entrance wasn’t cool at all. He wanted to file a complaint.

He hurriedly changed into normal black robes and asked miserably, “Master, how about now?”

Shen Luo’s expression softened somewhat.

Thunder rumbled overhead, black clouds rolling endlessly across the sky.

As the sound grew ever closer and louder, they stared stiffly at the roaring snakes of lightning above, which crashed down like raging tides.

Tiger Soul declared, “The Sacred Realm treasure has drawn ninety-nine bolts of thunder. He won’t survive.”

Shen Luo’s brows knitted. Focusing his senses, he felt through the contract that Blue Jiao’s life was fading fast. He could hold back no longer: “Tiger Soul, let’s go help Blue Jiao!”

Tiger Soul’s face changed drastically. “You’ll die! You might not survive even a single bolt!”

“So what?” A faint smile appeared in Shen Luo’s eyes, his tone resolute. “We’re partners.”

The three beasts were deeply shaken.

Tiger Soul pressed his lips together and instantly transformed into a massive white tiger, sweeping up Shen Luo and the two beasts onto his back and charging forward.

The Heavenly Dao, as if sensing their intent, sent the black clouds surging like a tide. The lightning grew even more savage and violent.

Each bolt of purple lightning flayed Blue Jiao’s flesh and split his hide. His mind was numb—there was only excruciating pain. He no longer even had the strength to smile bitterly; in his heart, he wondered in despair: Is this the end for me?

Suddenly, the crushing pressure eased.

He lifted his heavy eyelids and saw his master, his leader, the silly bird, and that annoying Tiger Soul. His heart trembled fiercely.

How utterly foolish! Didn’t they know this would kill them all?

His eyes burned with unshed tears. Blue Jiao felt helpless, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

A bolt of lightning crashed down on their combined barrier, making everyone’s blood and energy churn, their internal organs wracked with pain.

The power of lightning struck Su Li’s beast core. Her deep red feline eyes instantly turned gold as a long-dormant, tyrannical consciousness seized control.

She raised her head, a hint of mockery in her gaze, as if to say: Do you intend to stand in my way?

Thunder roared ceaselessly.

Su Li lifted her paw and sent a surge of pure profound power skyward.

In an instant, the clouds parted and the sky cleared. Impatiently, the seven-colored radiance bestowed by the Heavenly Dao poured down.

It was as if they were bathed in soft, warm clouds. Their wounded bodies began to heal. Su Li let go, blacking out and sliding limply off the young man’s shoulder.

In a daze, she was gathered once more into that warm, reassuring embrace, and finally lost all consciousness.