A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 367 Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire

Although his voice wasn't loud, everyone present was a Core Formation cultivator, so they could hear him clearly.

"A golden body Dharma form!" Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan trembled violently, abruptly turning to look at the white-robed cultivator. His eyes were filled with extreme shock and a desperate search for confirmation, his voice trembling slightly: "Fellow Daoist Duan... are you... are you sure? This is truly the extraordinary phenomenon of a body cultivator advancing to the Nascent Soul stage!"

He recognized the white-robed cultivator as none other than "Bing Xuanzi"—Duan Chen, who had risen to fame in recent years in the Yu Ling Sect and even the entire demonic path and was hailed as a genius!

This person is said to be knowledgeable and well-versed in ancient miscellaneous studies, and his words should not be untrue.

At this moment, deep within the cave, Luo Ming, the source of the dramatic changes in the outside world, is experiencing unimaginable torment.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the quiet room, completely naked, his skin displaying an eerie dark golden hue. The muscles, bones, and meridians beneath his skin were undergoing violent expansion, contraction, tearing, and reorganization in response to the frantic influx of spiritual energy and earthly evil energy from the outside world.

The spiritual energy, like billions of red-hot steel needles, pierced through every pore, impacting and cleansing the deepest impurities and bottlenecks within his body; while the earthly evil energy, like a heavy millstone and bone-corroding poison, was forcibly poured into him from the Yongquan acupoint on the soles of his feet, spreading upwards along his meridians and bones. Wherever it passed, there was excruciating pain as if his bones were being ground and his flesh was being corroded, yet it also carried a strange power of rebirth after destruction.

Luo Ming gritted his teeth, his veins bulging like dragons all over his body. His eyes were closed, and his face was slightly contorted with extreme pain.

"Advancing from body refinement to the Golden Body Dharma Aspect realm... indeed, it is extremely difficult!" Luo Ming thought to himself, but he had no intention of backing down.

Although body-refining cultivators face the same deadly, even more direct and cruel, risks when attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and condense their Dharma Body, unlike magic cultivators who might experience the "inner demon tribulation"—the tribulation of thunder and fire!

Cultivators must draw upon the power of thunder from the heavens and the true fire of the earth's core to temper their Dharma body through internal and external attacks, forging an indestructible golden body. This Dharma body is the "Nascent Soul" of body cultivators, the ultimate condensation of their blood, will, and life essence.

If the golden body of the Dharma Image cannot withstand the power of thunder and fire, it will shatter and disintegrate. At best, it will severely damage one's cultivation, destroy one's foundation, and cause one's realm to fall; at worst, it will annihilate both body and soul on the spot, turning into ashes!

It's similar to the tribulation of transformation for demonic beasts.

As time went on, the spiritual energy and earthly evil energy surging in from the outside became increasingly violent, almost forming a tangible energy tide that frantically impacted the layers of arrays and restrictions set up by Luo Ming, producing deafening roars.

At this moment, Qinghu Market was deserted and in a mess.

Those low-level cultivators who had reacted by the time they realized what was happening, after feeling the increasingly terrifying pressure of heaven and earth, as well as the heart-palpitating heat and destructive aura emanating from the depths of the earth, were already terrified and had long since fled.

Just then, a sharp, long howl filled with extreme pain yet also with an indomitable will suddenly erupted from the depths of Luo Ming's secluded cave, piercing through layers of restrictions and rock walls, and resounding through the sky!

With that long howl, the sky above the cave suddenly darkened! A colossal phantom slowly materialized in the core area where spiritual energy and earthly evil energy converged!

The phantom was nearly a hundred feet tall, its entire body displaying a deep, dark red color. A human-shaped outline was vaguely visible, but the details were blurred. It exuded a powerful aura and fierce pressure, like a primordial beast.

It was precisely the "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" Dharma form that was about to be formed by cultivating the "Myriad Spirits Blood Technique" to an extremely high level and combining it with the essence of Luo Ming's own various demon beast bloodstains!

A massive amount of spiritual energy and earthly evil energy, along with Luo Ming's soaring blood energy, seemed to have found their final destination, surging wildly into this dark red giant shadow.

With the frantic infusion, the giant shadow rapidly solidified and became clearer at a speed visible to the naked eye! One could even vaguely see a dark golden "armor" phantom covering its body with an extremely dim yet heavy and solid aura, bearing mysterious patterns!

The patterns on this armor phantom were seven or eight parts similar to the natural patterns on the Xuanwu carapace, clearly related to the part of Xuanwu true blood that Luo Ming had refined!

The "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" Dharma Image is about to be completely solidified! Once solidified, it will mean that Luo Ming has crossed the most crucial first step in body refining - the formation of the Dharma Image!

However, the real calamity was about to strike!

"Boom—!"

In the sky, the thick thunderclouds, which had been breached by the surging blood energy, seemed to be completely enraged, emitting deafening and terrifying thunder! Countless tiny silver-white lightning bolts darted and converged wildly in the clouds, and a destructive aura was brewing and intensifying! The sky seemed about to collapse.

At the same time, from the depths of the earth, a low roar like molten lava came! From the cracks in the ground throughout Qinghu Market, what spewed out was no longer pure gray-black earth evil energy, but rather "earth evil true fire" mixed with scorching dark red, exuding an aura that could burn everything!

The flames twisted and rose, echoing the thunderclouds above, casting an eerie glow across the entire sky.

Heavenly thunder and earthly fire! The tribulation of being engulfed by thunder and fire has officially begun!

Luo Ming, who was in the core of the secret room, suddenly opened his eyes! His eyes were bloodshot, but his pupils were as calm as ice.

He could clearly feel the throbbing emanating from the "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" dharma image above his head, which was closely connected to his own flesh and soul, as well as the terrifying heavenly might that was about to descend, enough to destroy everything.

"They're here!"

Luo Ming roared inwardly, no longer holding back! The mental technique of the "Myriad Spirits Blood Manual" was activated wildly, and the vast blood and qi in his body, along with the original power that had fused with part of the Xuanwu True Blood, were poured into the Dharma Image above like a burning volcano!

At the same time, he focused on two things at once, exerting all his strength to activate the mysterious green energy that was born from his Fiery Wood power in his dantian. This energy flowed rapidly through his severely damaged meridians, bones, and internal organs, bringing a cool sensation and powerful restorative power wherever it passed.

Outside the cave, the "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" Dharma Image, which was a hundred feet tall and had already condensed into a dark golden armor phantom, suddenly opened its tightly closed "eyes" which were entirely condensed from dark red blood and qi!

Two beams of blood-red light, almost tangible, shot out from his eyes, soaring into the sky and tearing an even bigger hole in the low-hanging thunderclouds!

"roar--!"

Fa Xiang looked up to the sky and let out a silent yet soul-shaking roar! The boundless power of blood and qi transformed into a visible dark red blood smoke, soaring into the sky and even causing the thick thunderclouds to churn violently, and the speed at which the lightning gathered to slow down!

However, this provocative act seems to have thoroughly angered the heavens!

"Snap—!"

A terrifying bolt of lightning, only as thick as an arm but extremely condensed, radiating a dazzling silver-white light and with faint golden runes flowing within, tore through the clouds without warning and struck the head of the "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" dharma form, which had just been raised, with a speed beyond the perception of divine sense!

Almost at the same time as the lightning struck, several thick pillars of "Earthly Fiend True Fire," reddish-black in color and radiating terrifying high temperature and corrosive aura, erupted from the ground below like cages from all directions, instantly engulfing, entangled, and scorching the massive body of the hundred-foot-tall Dharma Image!

"boom--!!!"

Lightning exploded! Flames engulfed the sky!

The "Myriad Spirits Blood Body" Dharma form let out a deep, painful roar. The dark golden armor phantom on its body surface flickered violently and erratically under the thunder and fire. Its massive body trembled violently, and the blood and qi on its surface surged violently, even showing fine cracks, which were then repaired by the abundant blood and qi inside.

Destruction and rebirth repeatedly occur on this hundred-foot-tall golden statue.

……

In the distance, a jet-black streak of light, moving at incredible speed and leaving behind a muffled sonic boom as it flew, hurtled toward Qinghu Market! Within the streak of light emanated an undisguised, immense pressure and chilling aura befitting a Nascent Soul cultivator!

High in the distance, the expressions of Lu Xuan, the two elders Tong Gui, and Duan Chen, who had been watching all along, suddenly changed!

Upon seeing the rapidly approaching black light and sensing the familiar, chilling aura of the Ghost Spirit Sect's techniques within it, Lu Xuan's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with terror and despair.

"It's...it's a Nascent Soul Elder from the Ghost Spirit Sect! How could they arrive so quickly?! This place is extremely far from the Ghost Spirit Sect's headquarters, could it be...this person just happens to be on business nearby!"

His heart turned cold. If this Nascent Soul elder of the Ghost Spirit Sect were to launch an attack at the critical moment of Luo Ming's tribulation, the consequences would be unimaginable! In Luo Ming's current state, how could he possibly be distracted by an enemy of the same level?

The two elders, Tong and Gui, exchanged a glance, their faces simultaneously revealing expressions of relief and ecstasy! With their sect's Nascent Soul ancestor personally present, they instantly felt their backs straighten and their confidence grow!

Regardless of who that body cultivator undergoing tribulation is or what his background is, since he dared to attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage within the Ghost Spirit Sect's territory and caused such a commotion, he deserves an explanation!

Should they recruit them, expel them, or... take advantage of their weakened state during their tribulation to seize their opportunity? The decision will rest with the Nascent Soul Elder!

Duan Chen frowned slightly, gently waving his folding fan. His gaze swept over the Dharma image in the distant thunder and fire, the rapidly approaching black escape light, and Lu Xuan's changing expression. A thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He simply retreated several dozen feet to create a safer distance, adopting a posture of observing the situation.

Although he had already sent a message to the sect, there were no Nascent Soul elders from their Yuling Sect nearby.

The black light arrived in an instant, stopping abruptly not far from the two elders, Tong and Gui. The light dissipated, revealing a figure.

The man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, wearing a black robe embroidered with ferocious demon patterns. He had a rather refined appearance, with three long wisps of beard, giving him a scholarly air.

However, his narrow eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, flashing with cold light when they opened and closed. The eerie ghostly aura emanating from him, a peak early Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and the majesty of someone who had long held a high position, made people afraid to look directly at him.

However, his narrow eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, flashing with cold light when they opened and closed. The eerie ghostly aura emanating from him, a peak early Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and the majesty of someone who had long held a high position, made people afraid to look directly at him.

It was none other than Wang Tiangu, one of the Nascent Soul elders of the Ghost Spirit Sect!

"Greetings, Elder Wang!" Old Ghost Tong and Old Ghost Gui bowed respectfully.

Wang Tiangu nodded slightly to the two men in response.

His gaze was like lightning. He first glanced at Lu Xuan, who was pale-faced not far away, and then lingered on Duan Chen, who was standing alone, for a moment. Then, he focused all his attention on the core of the earth-shattering thunder and fire phenomenon in front of him—the hundred-foot-tall dark golden dharma image that was floating in the thunder and fire!

Looking at the powerful aura emanating from that Dharma image, even Wang Tiangu's refined face couldn't help but reveal a hint of emotion and surprise.

"When did such a profound body cultivator emerge in Tiannan, whose cultivation method seems to be extraordinary as well?" Wang Tiangu quickly pondered in his mind.

"Judging from the scale and power of this lightning and fire inflicting on his body, this person's ambitions are not small, and the condensed Dharma body is probably of a very high grade. Moreover, choosing to attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage near a market town with no backing and no one in charge, he is most likely... a rogue cultivator, or someone with weak backing."

His eyes flickered, and thoughts raced through his mind: "If he is a rogue cultivator... if I can appear and 'recruit' him when he has successfully transcended his tribulation and is at his weakest and in dire need of stabilizing his realm, and offer him great benefits, perhaps I can add a powerful body cultivator guest elder to my Ghost Spirit Sect, greatly increasing our strength."

"But if this person fails to transcend the tribulation, or suffers severe damage to his vital energy after transcending the tribulation..." A barely perceptible glint of greed flashed in Wang Tiangu's eyes.

If it were merely a cultivation method advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, he might have other ideas at this moment. However, advancing to the Body stage is quite different. If he dares to enter and cause trouble at this time, and is caught in the celestial thunder and earth fire, it would be no joke.

He instantly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, but his face remained expressionless. He simply stood with his hands behind his back, quietly observing the tribulation of thunder and fire ahead, as if he were just a bystander who happened to be passing by and was attracted by the strange phenomenon.