Sacred Trial Chapter Seventeen: Soul Tempered by Heavenly Thunder

When Luo Chen opened his eyes once more, he was startled to see his own body standing upright before him. In front of his physical form, the soul-form of Jian Zhongli was watching him intently.

Luo Chen instinctively raised his hands, only to discover that he, too, was now a mere soul. Yet deep within his consciousness, there was an unmistakable sense that something essential had been lost from his spirit.

His mind was awash with emptiness. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a delicate and petite girl, floating soundlessly within the shimmering halo beside Jian Zhongli.

As he gazed at the sleeping child, an inexplicable sense of familiarity and warmth welled up in Luo Chen’s heart, though not a single memory of the girl surfaced in his mind.

“Senior, this…” he began uncertainly.

“This is the result of your soul and body being parted,” Jian Zhongli replied. “Come with me. As for your true body, I will carry it deep into the heart of the Thunderblade Grounds to temper it for you.”

With those words, Jian Zhongli turned. Luo Chen glanced once more at his own body. With a thought, he found that his soul-form could also travel through the air. He followed Jian Zhongli’s figure through winding, shadowy caverns, until at last they emerged on the edge of a broken cliff.

Countless bolts of lightning crashed down from the distant heavens, all converging at the base of the precipice.

Peering down from the sheer drop of several hundred feet, Luo Chen saw that where the heavenly thunder gathered, there lay a circular pool, a hundred yards in diameter.

What struck Luo Chen with awe was that, despite the continuous thunderbolts that struck the center of the pool, its surface remained perfectly calm, as smooth and reflective as a mirror.

“Luo Chen, that is where your soul will undergo its ordeal: the core of the Thunderblade Grounds—Heaven’s Tribulation Thunder Pool.

“When you enter, I will set a six-month Soul-Locking Array around the pool. Within its bounds, your soul will be torn again and again by the heavenly thunder, only to be reforged time after time.

“For the next six months, this cycle will repeat without end: in one instant, your soul will barely have reformed, and in the next, it will be ripped apart once more.

“The Soul-Locking Array will not only imprison your soul but also ensure that the fragments, when shattered by the thunder, can never escape its confines.

“This is a wisp of my own soul’s core. I hope you can keep the core of your own spirit from being destroyed by the thunder.”

As Jian Zhongli spoke, Luo Chen saw blue sparks gathering at the tip of his finger. A moment later, Jian Zhongli pressed his finger to Luo Chen’s brow, and the light merged into Luo Chen’s soul.

Then Jian Zhongli pressed his palms together, his hands moving rapidly in intricate gestures. At last, a golden array of runes formed before his chest. With a push, the array shot down toward the thunder pool below.

In midair, the array split—one became two, two became four, four became eight, until at last sixteen rune circles, each a yard across, surrounded the pool.

From each array, a blue stream of light shot forth and joined at a single point, forming a shimmering blue barrier that enclosed the entire thunder pool.

Luo Chen lifted his gaze to the storm above. With every crash of thunder, his soul seemed to tremble.

That overwhelming force, enough to destroy heaven and earth, pressed down on him with every breath, shaking his spirit to its core.

He could do nothing but swallow hard, a ripple of regret stirring in his heart for the choice he had made.

He glanced at Jian Zhongli, saw his silent gesture, and then descended through the air toward the thunder pool.

Lightning fell in torrents around him. Though fear pricked Luo Chen’s heart, he did not pause.

Soon, he reached the edge of the Soul-Locking Array. Turning, he looked back at Jian Zhongli’s distant, indistinct form, hundreds of feet above.

The next moment, Luo Chen felt the terrible energy of the thunder surging behind him.

He turned again, and saw the Soul-Locking Array part, a gap opening to release the thunder’s crushing pressure, which pounded directly against his soul.

He staggered back two steps, staring into the array. Taking a deep breath, he plunged forward.

No sooner had he entered than a bolt of thunder hurtled toward him. He instinctively tried to dodge, but pain and a rending sensation shot through his arm.

He looked down at his soul’s arm, where a small gash had opened, and the surrounding flesh and bone were turning to tiny fragments, drifting away into the air. Before Luo Chen could process it—

Another, even greater force pressed from above: two bolts of thunder, one after the other. Panic flashed across Luo Chen’s face.

He retreated a step, but the invisible barrier of the Soul-Locking Array blocked his way. The twin thunderbolts bore down on him; Luo Chen glanced aside, then leapt desperately.

A shriek of agony split the sky—pain like a thousand blades slicing flesh from bone filled Luo Chen’s consciousness.

Twisted with torment, he looked back to see that his soul, from the waist down, had been shattered into countless pieces, scattered like kites with broken strings.

The thunder’s pressure came again. Luo Chen, trembling, looked up in terror at the second approaching bolt, struggling to move what remained of his spirit.

A moment later, another scream tore through the heavens. In his fading awareness, Luo Chen felt his soul’s fragments drifting above the thunder pool, some settling on its calm surface, others scattered by the thunder’s wild energy.

On the cliff above, Jian Zhongli watched the serene pool before turning and reentering the cavern.

Within the academy—

Down a small path, Qing Xuanyu ran in panic toward a nearby pavilion, clutching Xiaoya in her arms.

She looked down repeatedly at Xiaoya, whose eyes were tightly shut, her brow drenched in sweat, her face chalk-pale.

Xiaoya’s fists gripped Xuanyu’s robe with desperate strength, as if she were enduring unspeakable pain, muttering broken words under her breath.

“Brother… please don’t… don’t leave Xiaoya behind…”

Hearing the child’s pleas, Qing Xuanyu’s eyes grew damp, but she did not slow her pace.

As the pavilion loomed near, she summoned a shield of spiritual power, forcing the doors wide open.

Inside, the students who had been meditating looked up, startled, but Xuanyu paid them no mind, her gaze searching urgently.

“Who dares intrude on my Heavenly Arts Pavilion!” came a thunderous voice. In a flash, Baili Luohua appeared.

Xuanyu rushed forward, cradling Xiaoya. “Master Luohua, please—Xiaoya needs your help!”

The anger vanished from Baili Luohua’s face at the sight of the stricken child in Xuanyu’s arms. She reached out, sending a stream of spiritual energy into Xiaoya’s body. Two breaths later, Baili Luohua staggered back, blood trickling from her lips.

Xuanyu gasped in alarm. “Master, are you all right? What about Xiaoya?”

Wiping the blood away, Baili Luohua took Xiaoya from Xuanyu’s arms. Then she produced a rune and pressed it to the floor. In an instant, a pillar of crimson light shot upward, piercing the roof and soaring skyward.

Moments later, several figures flashed above the Heavenly Arts Pavilion. Inside, Baili Luohua waited anxiously, clutching Luo Xiaoya.

“Luohua, what’s happened that you’d use a summoning rune to call us all here?” asked a voice as seven people entered. They saw her anxious expression, and Qing Xingyue immediately stepped forward to examine Xiaoya.

“What’s going on?” The others crowded around, seeing the child bathed in sweat, her face twisted in pain. Xingyue looked questioningly at Xuanyu.

“Xuanyu, what happened?”

“Granduncle, I don’t know. A few minutes ago, Xiaoya and I were fine in the Thunder Pavilion, and suddenly she collapsed. I had no choice but to bring her here to Master Luohua.”

Everyone could see Xuanyu was telling the truth, but the suddenness of it all left them puzzled. Baili Luohua steadied herself and turned to Xingyue.

“Granduncle, I probed with my spiritual power. There’s nothing wrong with Xiaoya’s body, but a tremendous force has enveloped her soul. I was nearly harmed myself.”

At this, the others grew alarmed—any force that could threaten Baili Luohua was truly terrifying. Baili Wuyan, master of the Heavenly Fire Pavilion, swiftly placed a pill in Xiaoya’s mouth. At the same time, Baili Qingmei, master of the Heavenly Wind Pavilion, pressed her hand to Xiaoya’s brow, her eyes flashing with a green light.

“Soul-Seeking Technique!” The others watched in awe. As its name implied, the technique probed the soul, where all memories were etched. Under its scrutiny, nothing could be hidden. Yet, after only two breaths, the light in Qingmei’s eyes vanished, and she stumbled back, the others catching her.

All eyes turned to Xiaoya, still in Luohua’s arms. Qingmei steadied herself, meeting Luohua’s gaze.

“Luohua, go get Master at once.”

The group was bewildered, uncertain what had happened, but seeing the gravity on Qingmei’s face, none hesitated.

“What’s all this fuss about, calling this old man in such a hurry?”

Baili Qingtian’s voice sounded from outside as he entered, glancing at everyone’s anxious faces before stopping beside Luohua and looking at Xiaoya.

A golden light flickered from his hand into Xiaoya’s brow. After a few moments, his expression grew perplexed.

“Mufeng, fetch me nine soul cores from shadow beasts—bring them to my Celestial Micro Pavilion.”

With that, he took Xiaoya from Luohua and vanished.

The others followed suit, leaving only Luohua, who glanced at the bewildered students before turning to Xuanyu.

“Class is over for today. Xuanyu, return to the Thunder Pavilion.”

With those words, Luohua disappeared as well.

The next instant, she reappeared on the second floor of the Celestial Micro Pavilion. In a spacious, empty room, Baili Qingtian’s spiritual power enveloped Xiaoya’s floating body, soothing her pain little by little.

“Master, here are the soul cores you requested,” said Baili Mufeng as he entered. Qingtian took the nine jet-black cores, tossing them toward Xiaoya. Looking at the others, he spoke without hesitation.

“Form the Ninefold Spirit-Sealing Array!”

The others exchanged uncertain glances, but seeing the stern look in Qingtian’s eyes, they obeyed, standing in a circle around Xiaoya, a yard apart.

“Begin!”

As Qingtian’s order fell, their hands moved in rapid gestures. In moments, nine small arrays appeared beneath their feet.

The arrays passed through their bodies and gathered above Xiaoya, stacking one atop the other.

“Unite!”

The nine arrays shot through Xiaoya’s form, shattering each soul core suspended around her. Wisps of black light seeped from the cores, merging into the array. At last, the nine arrays settled to the ground, forming a large circle five meters wide.

Nine black lines rose from the floor, finally sinking into Xiaoya’s body.

The group breathed a sigh of relief. Within the array, Xiaoya now seemed to sleep peacefully, her color returning bit by bit. Baili Luohua approached Qingtian and gazed at the sleeping child.

“Master, what on earth happened to Xiaoya that you would resort to the Ninefold Spirit-Sealing Array?”

The others looked at Qingtian with the same confusion. All knew this array was no ordinary seal. It used the nine soul cores of shadow beasts as its foundation, harnessing the spiritual power of nine virtuous practitioners, to form nine layers of soul-sealing power.

Any being sealed within, if their cultivation was beneath the third tier of the Void Realm, would have their soul forcibly suppressed.

Qingtian turned to the window, looking toward the distant Thunder Pavilion, and sighed.

“The force within this little girl, as Qingmei discerned, was transmitted via the medium of the soul. But most of its strength—eight or nine tenths—has already been borne by another soul. That’s why the girl herself was not grievously harmed.”

Baili Luohua clapped a hand over her mouth in horror. The power within Xiaoya could harm even her and Qingmei in an instant—if someone else had borne the brunt of it, just how terrifying must the original force have been?

She dared not imagine further, but looked at Xiaoya, bewildered and deeply troubled.

“Enough. The Ninefold Spirit-Sealing Array has now locked her soul. All we need do is wait for her to awaken naturally. Luohua, stay here and watch over her. The rest of you, return to your duties. If any of you delay the Sacred Land Trials in half a year, I’ll have your hides!”

“Yes, Master!” they all replied, watching as Qingtian vanished. For a moment, each of them choked up, then departed in silence, leaving only Qing Xingyue and Baili Luohua behind. Xingyue glanced at Xiaoya. As a gentle breeze stirred, he, too, vanished.

Time flew by; in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

In the courtyard of the Thunder Pavilion, Qing Xingyue watched as Xuanyu sat at a stone table, eyes fixed on the building. A pot of wine and a box of pastries sat before her.

Xingyue shook his head with resignation and walked over.

“It seems the technique that boy gave you really works. In just a month, you’ve reached the Earth Spirit realm. At this rate, when the Sacred Land exam arrives, our academy will have quite the surprise for the world.”

“Granduncle, you’re overthinking it. If it weren’t for Grandfather’s conditions, I’d never take part in any trial.”

“All right, all right, I’ll say no more,” Qing Xingyue replied, rolling his eyes and sitting across from her.

He noticed her tightly clutching the prescription that Luo Chen had given her, and a sense of helplessness washed over him.

“Xuanyu, it’s been a whole month. Are you really going to wait for that boy, just as the rumors say?”

“So what if I am?” she answered calmly. “You know my temper better than anyone. If he’s gone for a month, I’ll wait a month. If he’s gone for a year, I’ll wait a year. If he never returns, I’ll wait a lifetime. My heart belongs to him alone, even if it means turning my back on my family and enduring the world’s scorn. I will not change.”

The determination and composure in her words left Xingyue at a loss. He knew, better than anyone, that once his granddaughter set her mind to something, no one could sway her. Perhaps it was because she had been so spoiled from a young age.

Yet only Xuanyu herself knew that those words were no idle boast.

She recalled her past: once the pride of her family, the focus of all admiration—until her spiritual veins failed her.

Then her family stripped her of everything she had ever known, even seeking to marry her off as a concubine for the sake of profit, all the while claiming it was for the good of the clan.

Thinking on it now, Xuanyu felt both bitter amusement and a pang of regret for her former naivety.

She had believed that by fleeing that suffocating cage, she could carve out a place for herself in the world. Yet all she had done was escape a small prison, only to enter a larger one.

People drew near only for her beauty. She spent years running from grasping hands, from the dangers that came with her looks.

She saw more of the world, met all kinds of people, and learned the ways of society, growing ever more weary and disillusioned with the ugliness around her.

She had lost hope until, by chance, she heard whispers of the Thunder Pavilion’s secret arts. Traveling from afar, risking everything for a chance to reshape her spiritual veins, she entered the selection.

She never imagined she would meet Luo Chen—a boy who would take her from confusion to astonishment, and finally to deep infatuation.

Even when she offered herself as a bargaining chip in her grandfather’s negotiations, she had no resentment.

And later, when he shattered his own spirit veins to save her, she realized her heart had already been given to him.

It was this youth, Luo Chen, who had allowed her to glimpse a sliver of light and purity in a world grown rusted and foul.