Translator: AnubisTL
"Senior Zhu, I'm afraid I'll have to trigger the Innate Tribulation. Is there any way to keep Elder Jiang and the others alive?"
The difference in strength between the two sides was too great. Gu Feng had no other way to escape, so he could only trigger the world-shaking Thunder Tribulation.
This was the only option among limited choices. If the other side only had five elder-level cultivators, Gu Feng wouldn't have resorted to this strategy. Unfortunately, the Unwavering Sect elders had also joined in.
He had to strike first, otherwise, if the opponent's attacks poured down, Gu Feng might not even have the chance to trigger the Thunder Tribulation.
According to Zhu Qingyan, when the Thunder Tribulation of the Myriad Tribulations Physique was triggered, the rules of heaven and earth would automatically lock onto cultivators within a certain range, mistaking them for those obstructing the tribulation. Based on their realm, corresponding Thunder Tribulations would strike them down simultaneously.
Although Elder Jiang and the other two were high in realm, the power of the Thunder Tribulation would also increase accordingly. They wouldn't be able to withstand it for long before facing Dao Dissipation and Body Demise.
At this moment, Gu Feng only had two choices: either die together with Elder Jiang and the others, or survive alone while Elder Jiang and the others perished along with the ten assassins.
He was smart and decisive, figuring out the pros and cons in an instant.
"With their strength, it's difficult, but we can try. With luck, they might be able to survive!" Zhu Qingyan said in a low voice, sounding a bit uncertain after seemingly pondering for a moment.
"Oh? Quickly, tell me!" Gu Feng immediately perked up. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he was willing to try to save the lives of the three elders.
"Have them enter the Storage Ring!"
"That won't work! Cultivators can't survive in Storage Rings for long, and the current Storage Rings on me can't contain them either. They would burst!" Gu Feng immediately rejected this idea. Storage Rings couldn't store living beings; this was an iron-clad fact.
People had tried before to trap cultivators in Storage Rings, but they were directly shattered, completely useless.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I haven't finished speaking," Zhu Qingyan interrupted Gu Feng and continued, "Have you noticed that during your previous tribulation, the Storage Ring wasn't attacked by the Thunder Tribulation? The reason is that Storage Rings are viewed as inanimate objects by the Heavenly Dao, lacking rebellious nature, so it doesn't bother to strike them!"
"Indeed, as you said, cultivators can't survive long in Storage Rings, but they don't perish immediately upon entering either.
My method is to have them enter the Storage Ring, then let them out to breathe every so often.
They can't withstand the full Thunder Tribulation, but using this method, they would only endure about one-tenth of it in total. If they still can't survive that, then they're just too weak, and their demise would be deserved!"
Zhu Qingyan spoke rapidly. Gu Feng listened attentively, his eyes growing brighter, making up his mind to use this method.
The sounds of shouting and cursing from both sides reached his ears!
"The Qiu Family is also a renowned great family in Cloud Prefecture. Five prominent figures ambushing a nameless junior in the Postnatal Realm on the road—aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if word gets out?" Elder Jiang glared angrily, bursting out in rage.
"Hahaha, Gu Feng may be in the Postnatal Realm, but he's no nameless junior. Which force in Cloud Prefecture doesn't know Gu Feng's great name now?" An elder from the Qiu Family laughed heartily.
"Your Unwavering Sect is no better, taking advantage of the situation. For decades, you've competed with our Sunset Glow Sect. Though our relationship has been mediocre, it hasn't reached the point of incompatibility. The competition has always been fair. Our Sunset Glow Sect respects your Unwavering Sect and can face you as worthy opponents. We never imagined you'd stoop so low!" Elder Hu pointed accusingly at the elders from the Unwavering Sect, his anger uncontrollable.
An elder from the Unwavering Sect opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but was stopped by a companion beside him.
"Neither the Sunset Glow Sect nor the Qiu Family knows our true stance. We can seize the opportunity to severely injure the five cultivators from the Qiu Family. Otherwise, if a real fight breaks out, it won't be this easy!"
"Understood!"
The five from the Unwavering Sect communicated briefly, instantly unifying their opinion. They decided to put on a show of deception.
"Hahaha, your Sunset Glow Sect has suppressed our Unwavering Sect for so many years. Did you ever imagine this day would come?"
"Without Gu Feng, your Sunset Glow Sect's Outer Sect won't be able to make much of a splash. You might even be kicked out of the Swamp Zone by other forces joining hands."
"Kekeke, to the victor go the spoils. With Gu Feng dead, your Sunset Glow Sect will never have a chance to turn the tables!"
The five elders from the Unwavering Sect transformed into Oscar-worthy actors, their expressions flawless and body language rich, leaving no trace of their true intentions.
The ten people from the two factions surrounded Gu Feng and his group of ten, their faces twisted into ferocious smiles.
"What should we do? Break through?"
"It's too difficult. We couldn't handle the five from the Qiu Family before, and now with five more from the Unwavering Sect, it's even more impossible!"
Elder Jiang and the other two exchanged words, realizing that the current situation was unsolvable. With their strength, they could at most last a hundred moves before being killed.
Even without Gu Feng, they couldn't escape, let alone with him here now!
"Elders, I have a plan, but the risk is extremely high!"
Seeing the enemy's attack formation taking shape with no possibility of a miracle or variable, Gu Feng decided to take a gamble with the three elders!
"I've cultivated to the peak of the Postnatal Realm. I'm going to initiate the Innate Tribulation. Don't resist, enter my Storage Ring. Based on past experience...
Every hundred breaths, I'll let you out for air. Please prepare for the tribulation in advance... Endure for a few breaths, then I'll send you back into the Storage Ring, cycling like this... You might have a chance to last until the Thunder Tribulation ends!"
Gu Feng thought the three elders would hesitate, but to his surprise, they agreed decisively as soon as he finished speaking.
In a situation of certain death, having hope to survive was worth trying, regardless of the final outcome!
"Alright, then please be ready! When inside the Storage Ring, try to suppress your realm as much as possible!"
"Understood!"
The five from the Qiu Family on the left looked at the five Unwavering Sect elders on the right, their lips curling into strange smiles.
After killing Gu Feng, they would leave Cloud Prefecture and live in the capital, unafraid of retaliation from other forces. The Unwavering Sect, however, would likely have to stay behind and bear the wrath of those forces in place of the Qiu Family.
The family head was truly wise, finding a scapegoat. The Qiu Family would surely prosper!
Meanwhile, the five on the right side cast meaningful glances at the five from the Qiu Family. They had already agreed that in the instant of attack, they would instantly kill the two strongest cultivators in the opposing formation!
At this moment, the three elders of the Sunset Glow Sect were no longer panicking. The ten cultivators surrounding them were doomed, but they still had hope for survival.
Thus, the three factions stood in a standoff in the void, each with vastly different intentions.
At this time, the sky was cloudless for thousands of miles. The early spring breeze, carrying a slight chill, brushed against everyone's faces like the gentle caress of a fairy's hand, inevitably bringing a sense of peace and tranquility.
The thirteen elder-level figures present simultaneously unleashed their auras. Magnificent spiritual radiance illuminated the sky, bursting forth with crackling sounds.
This mountain range seemed to be covered by a giant lid, becoming incredibly oppressive. Below, some spirit herbs were flattened to the ground by the pressure emanating from them.
Gu Feng, surrounded by the three elders, silently absorbed the remaining three types of Divine Fluid from the Three-Mouth Incense Burner into his body. His spiritual power, body refinement, and soul instantly reached perfection.
In a flash, his body surface gleamed brilliantly, like white jade, emitting flawless light. This was a sign of the birth of an Innate Body!
"Senior Zhu, do you want to hide in the storage ring?"
"Of course I need to. I can't withstand a complete Thunder Tribulation. Now it seems that using Thunder Spirit Grass as a body might not be a bad thing. At least I can stay in the storage ring until the Thunder Tribulation ends!
Don't worry about me. I'll come out of the storage ring based on my own situation and then absorb the Thunder Tribulation power to strengthen myself!"
"Understood!" Gu Feng nodded silently and whispered to the three elders beside him, "I'm about to begin. Please be ready!"
"Gu Feng, you could have avoided death, but unfortunately, you killed two prodigies from my Qiu Family. The grudge between us has been formed. Don't blame us for being ruthless!
In your next life, be more low-key. Trash should have the awareness of being trash. Attempting to defy the heavens only leads to death!"
An elder from the Qiu Family sneered, his aura already condensed to the extreme. After finishing these words, he roared: "Kill!!"
"Kill!!!"
The five elders from the Unwavering Sect on the other side also shouted their battle cry almost simultaneously, rushing rapidly towards Gu Feng!
"Breakthrough!!!"
Gu Feng silently shouted in his heart. A mysterious light emerged from the soles of his feet, rising upwards along his body and into his head.
"There's some delay!" At the moment of breakthrough, Gu Feng sensed an aspect he had overlooked - the Thunder Tribulation was slightly delayed.
"Three elders, defend for a moment!" He shouted, and the three elders took defensive positions, steadily guarding Gu Feng, preparing to face the impact of ten experts.
"Hahaha, can you defend against this?
Die!!"
The five Qiu Family elders, with bloodthirsty expressions, launched an all-out attack against the three!
However, to their surprise, the five Unwavering Sect elders on the other side also unleashed a powerful strike. But it wasn't aimed at Gu Feng. Instead, it curved midway, directly attacking their most vulnerable spot - their backs!
Hiss—
This is bad!
"The Unwavering Sect isn't here to help my Qiu Family, but to save Gu Feng!" Qiu Shiwei's eyes bulged with rage as he inwardly roared, desperately trying to redirect his attack. However, in a battle between experts, losing the initiative means losing everything. Even though his reaction was quick, his back still suffered severe damage!
Puff—
Puff—
Two sounds of blood spraying rang out almost simultaneously. Two Qiu Family elders instantly lost their fighting capacity, their faces pale, unable even to maintain their hovering state.
"Elder Jiang, Elder Hu... The five of us were sent by the Sect Leader to rescue Gu Feng!"
"Haha, surprised? Shocked?"
"Our acting fooled everyone, didn't it?"
"Although the Unwavering Sect and Sunset Glow Sect are competitors, it's all healthy competition. How could we possibly do such despicable things?"
The situation reversed. The five elders from the Unwavering Sect disabled two members of the Qiu family with a single strike. Along with the three from the Sunset Glow Sect, the outcome was no longer in doubt, and the mood lightened accordingly.
Looking at the three elders surrounding Gu Feng, their mouths slightly open and eyes wide with astonishment, the newcomers' smiles grew even broader, all feeling smug about their earlier deception!
"Gu Feng, did you activate it?" Elder Jiang asked in a low voice, looking at Gu Feng with a terrified expression. The other two wore similar expressions.
Gu Feng's eyelids twitched, and he felt like cursing inwardly. The Unwavering Sect came to help, but why did they have to keep it secret? Even if it was to catch everyone off guard, couldn't they have given a subtle hint?
What a mess this has become!
Acting is fine, but please don't get carried away at crucial moments.
Now they might just act their way into getting him killed!
"Look, dark clouds are gathering in the sky. It's about to thunder!" Gu Feng pointed at the sky, saying with a grimace.
(End of the Chapter)
📚 Read [FD] on Patreon.com/AnubisTL – Up to c240. [+2]
☕ Support me and Read Ahead for just $5/mo.
🎯 Translated [2] Novel [400k+] Words and counting!