Chapter Eighty-Seven: Bear Wound

The heavenly tribulation of the Roc Immortal had already put Ye Sansi through immense suffering. Lightning had merged into his blood, the pain like skin being flayed and sinew torn apart. Though he had gained spiritual power, even the memory of it still chilled him.

Lightning wove itself into a net, turning the originally pitch-black sky bright as day. Even though Sky Wrath was formidable and could absorb the force of the tribulation, the bolts were too dense. Without Ye Sansi there to bear them, it would not have held for long.

Frowning, Ye Sansi said, “This is bad. Get inside the hall at once. Sky Wrath can hold out for at most the time it takes to burn a single stick of incense.”

Fang Yuan had led his disciples over, but it was already too late.

Though Sky Wrath still had some strength to resist, lightning slipped through the gaps between the sword beams and struck straight down. By the angle of its descent, its target was clearly Jin Sun.

Zheng Fan spread his hands, and the red and blue swords flew out, crossing into a single streak of light that rushed toward the bolt.

It seemed Zheng Fan’s strike was no small thing; it could actually contend with the lightning. When the two collided, they burst in midair into a surge of searing force.

The twin swords returned to Zheng Fan’s side. Even he feared the power of the tribulation and said, “This heavenly strike is truly fearsome. I can block only one blow and have no strength left. Miss Jin Sun, you’d better take shelter in the hall. The island master will surely keep you safe.”

Even as he spoke, another bolt came crashing down. It was clear there was no way to dodge it now. Sky Wrath was no longer there, and Ye Sansi could do nothing. Fang Yuan was high in the air; though he saw the lightning, by the time he arrived it would be too late.

In the blink of an eye, the lightning was already within ten paces of Jin Sun’s head. When Xiong Gang saw it, he immediately threw himself over her and held her in his arms.

The tribulation struck Xiong Gang’s back.

He was an ordinary mortal. How could he withstand such overwhelming force? He might be reduced to charcoal and dust in an instant.

The lightning pierced through Xiong Gang’s skin, about to sink into his blood and bones, when Ye Sansi came just in time and placed himself in front of him, cutting off the lightning’s brilliance at the waist.

Ye Sansi took the strike on his chest. The tribulation seemed to recognize him, felt some faint familiarity and warmth, and immediately withdrew much of its force. Ye Sansi only felt a slight numbness from the blow.

Seeing this, Ye Sansi thought, Why is the power so weak when the tribulation touches me? Could it be...

As he thought, he extended one hand. Sky Wrath, which had been hovering in the center, returned to him. With a leap, Ye Sansi landed neatly upon it and rode the sword straight into the sky.

“Sword Rain Technique, divide into two.” Ye Sansi cast the spell. Sky Wrath split beneath his feet into two swords, one of which flew into his hand.

Another bolt slipped out. Ye Sansi had no intention of dodging, nor did he use Sky Wrath to shield himself. He simply stood upright and met it with his chest.

On the training grounds, Liu Lingshuang caught a glimpse of Ye Sansi rising alone on his sword and behaving so recklessly that he seemed intent on resisting the heavenly tribulation with brute force. She was certain he had gone mad.

Seeing that Lingshuang was frightened, Li Taiyi hurried to comfort her. “Lingshuang, there is no need to worry. Brother Sansi never acts without thought. Last time he endured a tribulation and came through perfectly unharmed, did he not?”

In truth, Ye Sansi had no real certainty in what he was doing. Although lightning that touched his body would lose strength, there was no guarantee that this dense web of bolts could be resisted so easily.

The lightning that struck his chest indeed weakened exactly as he had expected.

Ye Sansi hurled the Sky Wrath sword in his hand through the gap that had just opened. Several bolts in the dense lightning net were drawn off course by it.

Ye Sansi turned both hands, brought them together before his chest, then spread them apart again. The eleven suspended Sky Wrath swords all rose at once, pressing straight toward the tribulation.

As the sword formation advanced, the thunder gathered together into one mass. Ye Sansi adjusted the formation so the lightning could not rush through the spaces between the blades.

He himself passed through the sword formation and faced the black clouds of tribulation directly. Several bolts were drawn into his body, then passed through him into Sky Wrath. Aside from a slight prickling numbness, he felt no pain at all. He muttered to himself, “So the lightning really won’t hurt me. It feels gentle, passing through my body and then gathering into Sky Wrath again. The force shouldn’t become too overwhelming. No matter how fierce this lightning is, it still cannot escape Sky Wrath’s pull.”

The power of the tribulation flowed through Ye Sansi’s body, moving softly through his veins. He felt comfortable. It seemed his fears had not come to pass. No matter how much lightning there was, it would not injure him. This calamity could indeed be survived safely.

Ye Sansi remained suspended in the air for half an hour. At last, the heavenly tribulation dispersed. The black clouds vanished and brightness returned. Liu Lingshuang, standing on the training grounds, had been terribly worried for Sansi’s safety and paced anxiously in circles.

Although Zheng Fan was not especially familiar with Ye Sansi, he had felt a strange sense of closeness upon first meeting him. After sparring with him, he found Sansi to be talent worth cultivating, and he wanted to teach him some of his own self-created techniques. He certainly did not wish to see Ye Sansi injured.

As for Lin Nian'er, Li Taiyi, and Jin Sun, there was no need to mention their anxiety. They had all been on edge the whole time. After all, a heavenly tribulation was no mortal thing. Even demons who touched it would be reduced to ashes, let alone a mere mortal like Ye Sansi.

“I’m back.”

Everyone saw Ye Sansi descend on Sky Wrath, unharmed and sound. The tension in their hearts gradually eased.

Though Ye Sansi was safe, Xiong Gang...

Fang Yuan had already looked him over. Although Xiong Gang had only touched the lightning for an instant, he had fallen unconscious. His life was not in danger, but even Fang Yuan could not say when he would wake.

Ye Sansi asked, “What happened to Xiong Gang?”

Fang Yuan replied, “He has fainted, but this is unlike an ordinary collapse. He was injured by the tribulation lightning. Though it was only for an instant, how could a mortal body withstand the punishment of the gods? What I fear most is that Xiong Gang has lost his mind and may never...”

With tears in her eyes, Jin Sun asked, “Never what? Master, please, just say it.”

“Never wake again, I fear.”

At those words, Jin Sun burst into tears. Choking on sobs, she said, “It’s all my fault. I’m a bringer of disaster. Yesterday, when we went to the cliff, Brother Xiong nearly lost his life saving me. Today he took the lightning for me again. I am a demon, a curse! I’ve harmed Brother Xiong...” As she spoke, she struck herself hard across the face again and again.

Liu Lingshuang hurried over to stop her and held her tightly. “Xiao Sun, you do not need to blame yourself. Senior Brother Fang only said it that way. There are many capable people on the Immortal Island. Perhaps someone can still save Xiong Gang. He still has breath left in him, and even his clothes are unharmed. How could something be wrong? Don’t worry so much.”

“Senior Sister Lingshuang, I know you’re comforting me. Even Master said that a mortal body cannot contend with heavenly tribulation. I also know Brother Xiong’s injuries are no minor matter. How could healing him be that easy?”

Ye Sansi walked up to Xiong Gang, crouched down, and placed his hand on Xiong Gang’s forehead. After the time it took to burn half a stick of incense, he rose and said, “The remaining lightning in Xiong Gang’s body has been drawn out. I do not know when he will wake. Why don’t we ask Master to take a look? He will surely have a way.”

Zheng Fan nodded. “Very well, Junior Brother Ye. I’ll go into the hall with you.”

Fang Yuan also agreed. “I’ll go as well. You stay here and watch over him. Do not move Xiong Gang’s body lightly. We will be back soon.”

The three of them rode their swords to the front of the hall and then entered.

To their surprise, Fang Jian had collapsed on the ground. Seeing this, Zheng Fan hurried over, helped him up, and cried, “Uncle Jian, Uncle Jian, wake up. Don’t scare me like this.”

“Fan, I’m fine.” Fang Jian slowly opened his eyes and said, “It’s only that the tribulation lightning was overbearing. My cultivation is shallow. While sustaining the island-protecting formation, I exhausted my power and strained my meridians. I’ve only suffered a minor injury. I’ll recover after resting a while. It’s nothing, nothing...”

Fang Jian then asked, “How is the tribulation? I saw it clear outside. Has it been passed?”

“Master, the tribulation has indeed passed, but Xiong Gang was struck by lightning and severely wounded. Please, Master, save him.” Ye Sansi was so anxious that sweat covered his forehead.

Fang Jian slowly stood. “How could this happen? That is truly terrible. Come, bring me to see him. We cannot delay this.”

With Zheng Fan’s support, Fang Jian staggered down the steps and reached the training grounds. He went up to Xiong Gang, bent down, felt his pulse and meridians, and examined him carefully. After the time it took to burn half a stick of incense, he straightened, shook his head, and said slowly, “There is no remedy left in heaven or earth...”

Jin Sun collapsed at once and fell to the ground as well, crying, “Brother Xiong, Xiao Sun is sorry. You treated me so well, yet I have taken your life. My sins are deep. I should be the one to die. I’ll go with this worthless life of mine.” With that, she drew her sword and laid it across her throat, intending to end her own life.

But Ye Sansi had not forgotten the matter of Lu Yu. He had long since kept himself ready. The moment Jin Sun raised her sword, he acted with Sky Wrath and knocked her blade flying, cutting off her impulse to die.

Fang Jian shook his head. “Child, how can you be so impulsive? When I said there was no remedy left in heaven or earth, I did not mean there was not a single method left. Though mortal things cannot be cured, if you can find an immortal, there may still be hope.”

Ye Sansi said, “As Master has said, how are we to find such an immortal?”

“There are legends of reclusive immortals in the far north. But the journey is long, the climate is extreme, and there are countless savage and wicked beasts. I fear...”

Jin Sun hurriedly said, “Island Master, I am willing to go. No matter how dangerous or difficult it may be, I want to try. Please point the way.” As she spoke, she knelt and struck the ground with her head again and again.

Fortunately, Fang Jian helped her up, or she would have broken her forehead open.

Fang Jian said, “Since you are willing to go, I will certainly grant it. Only, I fear those immortals are eccentric and may test you. If we help you too much, they may take offense and refuse your request...”

Jin Sun nodded repeatedly. “I understand. Only by enduring hardship and passing the trials on my own can I reach the far north and earn the immortal’s approval.”

“Yes, yes. As long as you understand, that is enough.”

Ye Sansi said to Fang Jian, “Master, I also wish to accompany her. Xiong Gang is my brother. As the elder brother, I cannot stand by and do nothing.”

Liu Lingshuang, Li Taiyi, and Lin Nian'er all agreed.

Fang Jian shook his head and said slowly, “Do not rush. I have not yet finished speaking. You are disciples of my Immortal Island, and I must be responsible for you. With your current cultivation, entering the far north would be no different from sending yourselves to your deaths. There is not the slightest doubt of it.”

“Then, Master, what should we do?”

“Three years. Stay on the Immortal Island for three years. Then fight Zheng Fan. The victor may go to the far north. If you lose, then wait another three years.”

The demand was harsh, but the five of them had no choice but to agree. They all understood that Fang Jian was acting for their own good. If they wanted to enter the far north three years from now, they would have to train and cultivate with utmost diligence. Each of them hoped that in three years’ time they would be able to defeat Zheng Fan and save Xiong Gang as soon as possible.

Their enemy for the next three years would be Zheng Fan.