Chapter 174 – First Taste of the Limit Trial, Heavenly Thunder Physique! (5k)

【You did not resist, merely silently activating your primordial energy armor and raising your Protective Hardened Qi.】

【You followed an entire continent into the belly of the giant beast.】

Seeing this, Su Xing’s heart leapt into his throat.

Whether he could break through his limits and step into the Void-Shattering Realm all depended on this attempt!

His gaze turned to the simulation panel.

【As the world spun around you, the surrounding mountains, stones, grass, trees, buildings, and landmasses were all rapidly dissolving.】

【You watched helplessly as lives vanished before your eyes, yet you were powerless to resist even the slightest bit.】

【You did your utmost to maintain your Protective Hardened Qi, guarding against spatial turbulence that could appear at any moment.】

【Soon, as explosions and spatial turbulence appeared with increasing frequency, all continents and lives disappeared one after another.】

【A powerful suction force pulled you deeper into the belly of the giant beast.】

【Like a miniature black hole, it madly devoured everything around it.】

【You barely managed to adjust your position, preventing yourself from being sucked into the black hole.】

【Gradually, it was not only mountains, water, and living beings that were dissolving—even the air was rapidly vanishing.】

【The entire space transformed into a near-vacuum state.】

【Due to the fluctuations of spatial turbulence, you were unable to enter the spirit field grotto-heaven to replenish your oxygen.】

【You could only sustain your breathing by dispersing your own spiritual energy and relying on the powerful lung capacity of a Body Tempering cultivator.】

【After an indeterminate amount of time, the surrounding environment grew increasingly hostile.】

【Nearly all matter visible to the naked eye had dissolved into nothingness. In the pitch-black, empty void of space, you alone remained as the sole surviving life form.】

【A feeling of loneliness and isolation welled up unbidden.】

【But fortunately, your Dao heart was steadfast, and you continued to grit your teeth and persevere.】

【After a while longer, you began to glimpse the faint remnants of worlds within the spatial turbulence.】

【Those were small worlds (instances), which had shattered into world fragments along with Earth’s destruction.】

【You dared not approach those world fragments, for you knew that their terrifying destructive force was something you could not resist even as a Void-Shattering Realm cultivator.】

【You began searching for a limit zone that you could actually withstand.】

【In such a hostile environment, with virtually no oxygen, it was already impossible for carbon-based life forms to survive.】

【But as a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator, relying on your Protective Hardened Qi to seal off inside from outside, this alone was not enough to push you to your limits.】

【Finally, you witnessed the collision of two world fragments. As spatial forces rippled outward, like two storm clouds crashing together, they erupted in blinding radiance and terrifying thunder.】

【You recalled what Niu Rilie had told you—the power of thunder was also a means to break through one’s limits!】

【And the thunder before you clearly far surpassed ordinary thunderous force.】

【But you dared not act rashly. You could only search for smaller world fragments, and after they collided and generated thunder, you would approach the edges of those thunder zones.】

【Boom boom boom!】

【Terrifying thunder struck at your body, and a single blow nearly destabilized your Protective Hardened Qi.】

【You hurriedly channeled your primordial energy with full force, stabilizing your Protective Hardened Qi.】

【At the same time, a wisp of thunder power struck your physical body.】

【This was no ordinary thunder—it was thunder imbued with a trace of the Law of Thunder!】

【You gritted your teeth and endured, feeling the tremendous pain radiating from your physical body.】

【You could feel this body of yours slowly approaching its limits.】

【You rested for quite a while before readjusting your condition, raising your Protective Hardened Qi once more, and approaching the next thunder zone.】

【Again and again you entered the thunder zones, again and again using thunder to temper your body.】

【After several rounds, you felt the strength of your body undergoing a metamorphosis, inching closer and closer toward your limits.】

【But at the same time, the primordial energy within you was being consumed at a tremendous rate.】

【Your Protective Hardened Qi was shattered multiple times during this process, and you could only repeatedly expend primordial energy to reconsolidate it.】

【This placed an enormous drain on your primordial energy.】

【Seeing that the rate of primordial energy recovery fell far short of the rate of consumption, you gritted your teeth and decided to enter the thunder zone once more.】

【Because you knew that only a true life-or-death crucible could shatter your limits and let you step into the Void-Shattering Realm.】

【And so, you entered the thunder zones several more times. In this process, your physical body not only approached its limits but also awakened a trace of thunder power.】

【Joy surged in your heart. You vaguely sensed that this wisp of thunder power would be of tremendous benefit to your future development.】

【As you continued using thunder to temper yourself, you noticed that the smaller thunder zones around you had all dissipated.】

【Only some slightly larger thunder zones remained. You hesitated.】

【Because the thunder power within those medium-sized thunder zones was far more terrifying, and you were not confident you could fully withstand it.】

【You wrestled with the decision—should you continue searching for small thunder zones to break through your limits, or should you enter a medium-sized zone to gain greater thunder benefits during the breakthrough?】

【In the end, you chose to go all in!】

【You stepped into a medium-sized thunder zone and felt the thunder around you—as if it possessed the power to destroy worlds!】

【Boom!】

【A bolt of thunder power struck your Protective Hardened Qi, and in just a single blow, it nearly shattered completely.】

【Shock filled your heart, yet you tried to absorb this wisp of thunder power before the next bolt arrived.】

【Within the medium-sized thunder zone, the thunder contained far more Law power. You understood that Law power was a terrifying force utterly beyond your reach at your current stage.】

【Thus you had to seize this opportunity and improve yourself as much as possible.】

【You endured the agony, letting the thunder power continuously temper your flesh, advancing step by step toward your limits.】

【But just then, another bolt of thunder came crashing toward you…】

【Boom!】

【In a blinding flash, your Protective Hardened Qi was completely destroyed.】

【Before you could raise another layer of Protective Hardened Qi, your body was annihilated by the endless thunder.】

【Along with your divine soul, obliterated by the power of Law…】

【You died!】

【This simulation has ended!】

After the simulation ended, Su Xing felt a sense of loss.

“I actually… failed…”

In those brief few minutes, Su Xing had watched the simulation text unfold before him with his heart in his throat the entire time.

During the process of breaking through his limits, Su Xing had relied on his formidable primordial energy and the divine ability Protective Hardened Qi to successfully endure the first several rounds of thunder tempering.

His physical body had continuously broken through, drawing ever closer to his limits.

He had even obtained a precious trace of thunder power…

But then Su Xing had chosen to push himself further, venturing into an even more powerful thunder zone, only to be annihilated by the thunder—all his efforts wasted in the final moment…

Su Xing fell silent for a moment, then posed a question to himself.

If he could do it over, would he still enter the medium-sized thunder zone and accept the tempering of that stronger thunder power?

Or would he… play it safe, continue searching for small thunder zones, and break through his limits to reach the Void-Shattering Realm that way?

“I think, if I had another chance… I would still choose the more powerful thunder zone and accept the tempering!”

A glint of determination flashed in Su Xing’s eyes.

The path of cultivation was, by its very nature, a struggle against the heavens.

If one always gravitated toward mediocrity, one would eventually stagnate, ultimately swept away and forgotten in the torrent of time.

“Clearly, accepting the thunder tempering from the small thunder zones… while it could also lead to the Void-Shattering Realm, the gains would be far less than what the medium-sized thunder offers!”

“And what I want is to be the strongest!”

Su Xing understood very well how precious the Law of Thunder was as a power.

Law power—this was a mysterious force that only Immortals could access.

For Su Xing, a mere Spirit Transformation stage cultivator, to come into contact with Law power was already an extraordinary stroke of fortune! If he could truly obtain Law power, Su Xing would reap countless benefits.

“What a shame… my Protective Hardened Qi is only at Major Mastery, not yet sufficient to withstand two consecutive bolts of thunder imbued with Law power…”

Su Xing sighed. Even though the thunder contained only a trace of Law, it was still beyond what he could currently resist.

“So then, how can I withstand two consecutive bolts of thunder power?”

Su Xing fell into deep thought.

The only solution he could think of right now was to advance his Protective Hardened Qi one step further, to the Perfection level! With Perfection-level Protective Hardened Qi combined with Perfection-level third-stage primordial energy, that would represent the absolute limit of Su Xing’s current realm.

“What a pity. I originally thought I could succeed on the first try…”

Su Xing sighed again.

He still couldn’t help muttering about the terrifying, hostile extreme environment inside the giant beast’s stomach.

For ordinary Divine Power Realm Great Perfection cultivators, they actually only needed to achieve primordial energy projection and form primordial energy armor to break through their limits.

Because their physical limits were lower, the extreme environments needed for their breakthroughs were considerably safer.

But Su Xing’s foundation was rock-solid, which meant he needed even more extreme environments to break through his own limits.

“If I can break through my limits in such an extreme location, then after advancing to the Void-Shattering stage, my combat power might directly rival mid-stage or even late-stage Void-Shattering cultivators, right?” A flicker of longing stirred in Su Xing’s heart.

“I’ll try one more time. This time I’ll cultivate the Protective Hardened Qi all the way to Great Perfection… If I still can’t withstand the continuous thunder power… then I’ll settle for the next best thing…”

Su Xing thought to himself.

His gaze turned to the rewards on the simulation panel.

【Longevity Seed】: Purple talent. Price: 1,000,000 energy points.

【Ten Years of Pill Refining Experience】: Pill refining insights, includes Perfection-level refinement insights for the mid-grade pill Rebirth Pill. Price: 5,000,000 energy.

【Primordial Energy Cultivation Insights】: Projection-level primordial energy at Perfection-level. Upon selection, the primordial energy seed within your body undergoes tremendous evolution, rendering your primordial energy endlessly self-renewing. Price: 50,000,000 energy.

【Low-Grade Spirit Liquid, 1 Million Drops】: Price: 100,000,000 energy.

【Protective Astral Aura (Major Accomplishment)】: A primordial energy divine ability. Major Accomplishment-level Protective Hardened Qi — within three chi of the astral aura, nothing can intrude. As long as the astral aura remains unbroken, one faces no danger. Already not far from divine ability Perfection. Price: 50,000,000 simulation energy.

【Heavenly Thunder Physique (Incomplete)】: Having undergone heavenly thunder baptism and body tempering through the Law of Thunder, the body contains the ultimate thunder power. Possesses an innately powerful sensitivity to the thunder element. Has a chance of forming a mutated spirit root — the Thunder Spirit Root. Slightly improves cultivation aptitude. Slightly improves the physical body. Price: 50,000,000 energy.

After seeing this simulation’s rewards, a gleam of light flashed through Su Xing’s eyes.

“Heavenly Thunder Physique!?”

“Could this be the benefit I can obtain after undergoing the thunder baptism?”

Su Xing was somewhat excited as he looked at the description of the Heavenly Thunder Physique.

Sure enough, after undergoing the thunder baptism, Su Xing would indeed gain some additional rewards.

“It can strengthen the physical body and cultivation speed, as well as affinity with the thunder element… and it can even lead to comprehending the Thunder Spirit Root!”

Su Xing was astonished.

One must know that the Five Elemental Spirit Roots were metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Each of the five elemental spirit roots had their own strengths and weaknesses, and they were the most common types of spirit roots.

But beyond the five elemental spirit roots, there were also special spirit roots — such as the Thunder Spirit Root!

The most powerful aspect of the Thunder Spirit Root lay in its ultimate destructive power!

It was even more than a step above the Fire Spirit Root.

One could say that if Su Xing obtained this Thunder Spirit Root, his offensive capabilities would be further enhanced.

Beyond that, the Thunder Spirit Root also possessed a natural suppressive force against evil entities, ghosts, and similar creatures.

Furthermore, after Su Xing achieved immortality, if the opportunity arose, possessing the Thunder Spirit Root would also allow him to attempt comprehending the Law of Thunder!

Thinking of this, Su Xing’s breathing grew somewhat rapid.

“It’s just a pity that this is still an incomplete Thunder Spirit Root… If I could fully endure the heavenly thunder baptism in the medium-sized thunder zone, I would surely obtain even more of the Law of Thunder’s power!”

“At that point, I should be able to obtain the complete Heavenly Thunder Physique, right?”

Su Xing murmured.

Afterward, Su Xing turned his attention to the pill refining insights talent.

Clearly, in this simulation, Su Xing had improved — or rather, optimized — the Rebirth Pill.

As a result, his proficiency with the Rebirth Pill had directly reached Perfection-level!

“This Rebirth Pill refinement experience could be brought out when the opportunity arises in the future… but it’s not needed at the moment…”

After deliberating for a moment, Su Xing declared without hesitation:

“For this simulation, I choose the Protective Hardened Qi (Major Mastery) and the Primordial Energy Cultivation Insights!”

As his words fell, the simulator’s notification sounded in Su Xing’s ears.

【You have successfully extracted Primordial Energy Cultivation Results. Cost: 50,000,000 energy. Remaining energy: 514,950,000 points.】

【You have successfully extracted Protective Astral Aura (Major Accomplishment). Cost: 50,000,000 energy. Remaining energy: 464,950,000 points.】

As the simulator notifications faded, two streams of mysterious power flowed into Su Xing’s body.

The first thing to change was the primordial energy seed within Su Xing’s body.

The primordial energy seed, which continuously flowed outward with primordial energy, became increasingly perfected within just a few breaths.

The speed at which it released primordial energy instantly doubled — and then some!

At the same time, Su Xing felt his primordial energy undergo a sublime transformation at that very moment.

More extreme destructive power, more formidable defensive capability!

And more enduring combat ability!

Su Xing closed his eyes slightly, silently experiencing the subtle changes in the primordial energy within his body.

“Offense and defense as one… Primordial energy truly is the foundation of a Body Tempering cultivator’s strength!”

The corners of Su Xing’s mouth curved upward slightly as he murmured.

Then, Su Xing began to assess the strength of his Major Mastery-level Protective Hardened Qi.

“Strange… Both the toughness and defensive power of this Protective Hardened Qi are more than double what they were before. And it still hasn’t reached Major Mastery Perfection?”

Su Xing examined it more carefully.

Then, reaching a conclusion, he murmured:

“My current Protective Hardened Qi has probably already approached Perfection-level… Unfortunately, it’s just a hair’s breadth away from Perfection… When I reach that point, I should be able to endure the continuous thunder power, right?”

Su Xing thought silently to himself.

After absorbing the boost in strength, Su Xing threw himself without pause into another week of his grinding lifestyle.

He skillfully refined pills, collected spirit liquid, and tended to his spirit fields.

By now, Su Xing had nearly finished cultivating all five hundred mu of spirit fields, putting every last one to efficient use.

The vast majority of the spirit fields — close to five hundred mu — were planted with Spirit grain.

The remainder was planted with spirit medicines such as Spirit-Gathering Flowers, Divine Power Vines, ginseng, Yellow Immortal Essence, and Essence Nurturing Grass.

And because the spirit field grotto-heaven was abundant with spiritual energy, combined with the boost from Su Xing’s Descendant of Shennong talent —

Su Xing had now harvested a small batch of spirit medicines.

He could even attempt to refine Organ Tempering Pills, Essence Nurturing Pills, Divine Power Pills, and other pills on his own.

“Tsk tsk, if these Essence Nurturing Pills and Organ Tempering Pills were to appear in the world… they would probably trigger a buying frenzy, wouldn’t they?”

“Unfortunately, there would be too many unpredictable variables at that point. Since simulation energy isn’t lacking for now, I’d better wait…”

Su Xing murmured.

As for the Divine Power Pill… this was a powerful pill capable of producing Martial Emperor-level powerhouses!

A single Divine Power Pill would probably send shockwaves through the entire Great Xia market.

Until Su Xing possessed the strength to disregard any assassination attempts and dangers, he had no intention of letting it see the light of day.

Soon, Su Xing took the week’s batch of pills, disguised his appearance and concealed his aura, then went to the villa to meet with Jin Congxue.

Today, Jin Congxue was wearing a light blue dress that looked perfectly youthful and girlish. Paired with her face that radiated both innocence and allure, even Su Xing couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances.

“Tch, you little pervert, where are you looking?”

Jin Congxue rolled her eyes, looking endlessly glamorous for a moment.

“If you really want to look… come find me tonight, and I’ll let you look all you want~”

With that, Jin Congxue beckoned seductively at Su Xing with a curled finger.

As a hot-blooded young man, Su Xing had to gulp down a big mouthful of ice-cold cola before he could contain the excitement in his heart.

Su Xing kept silently reminding himself.

“Su Xing, you must resist temptation! Our goal is to grow stronger! Women will only slow down the speed at which you draw your sword!”

After brainwashing himself like this, Su Xing said:

“Ahem, next time for sure!”

He then hurriedly changed the subject and added:

“By the way, how’s the development of the mine dungeon going?”

At this, Jin Congxue shifted to business as well and said:

“The personnel are all arranged, and development is pretty much done!”

“Next week, there should be a new batch of exotic metals ready to deliver! The quantity will be more than three to four times what it was before!”

Su Xing nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.

After chatting for a bit more, Su Xing took the week’s goods and left.

He skillfully took several large detours around the area, and after confirming no one was following him, Su Xing returned to the Dormitory and entered the spirit field blessed land.

Converting the week’s goods into energy, Su Xing’s simulation energy reached 498,000,000 points!

On the afternoon of August 19th, New Era 2024, Su Xing punctually initiated a new round of simulation.

“This simulation, I must push through in one go — awaken the Heavenly Thunder Physique and break through to the Void-Shattering Realm!”

Su Xing cheered himself on.

“Begin simulation!”

【Ding! This simulation costs 4,900 energy. Remaining energy: 498,330,000 points. Remaining simulation attempts: Unlimited.】

【Simulation begins!】

【Drawing a blue talent costs 10,000 energy. Drawing a purple talent costs 100,000 energy. Would you like to draw?】

“Draw a purple talent!”

Su Xing declared decisively. Although the goal this time was to reach the Void-Shattering stage, if he obtained a valuable purple talent, Su Xing wouldn’t mind pocketing it.

【Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained the purple talent: Self-Help Guru!】

【Self-Help Guru】: Purple talent. Your words possess astonishing artistry and infectious power, often making others believe you without question and even lay down their lives for you without hesitation. Note: The consequences of this talent are unpredictable. Actual effects depend on the target’s strength, personality, and the status gap between both parties. Please use with caution. (A certain self-help guru: “Give everyone who betrays me a million, and then those who remain loyal will be worth several small targets! If you understand, give me some applause!”)