Mysterious mirror hanging high

Chapter 1031 Price

"This [True Explanation of the Heaven and Earth Refining Furnace] is actually an auxiliary secret technique, created in imitation of a divine-grade destiny called [Heaven and Earth Furnace]."

"However, the divine-grade destiny called [Heaven and Earth Furnace] is extremely heaven-defying, capable of refining all things in heaven and earth to enhance oneself, while this [Heaven and Earth Refining Furnace True Explanation] can only temper the physical body... naturally it cannot compare to even a fraction of the destiny of [Heaven and Earth Furnace]."

"But its advantage lies in its specialization, and it can be used in conjunction with other refining techniques to improve the efficiency of refining rare and precious materials."

"It's a pretty good auxiliary body-refining technique."

Zhu Hongluan pondered for a moment and said, "This secret technique is divided into nine levels. I want you to master the first level within three years. This should not be difficult for you."

Jing Yu took the jade slip and said awkwardly, "I cannot accept such a reward without merit. Senior, this is really unacceptable..."

Zhu Hongluan sneered, "Heh, you are my [nominal disciple]. It's only natural for me to bestow a cultivation technique upon my own disciple. Why be so formal?"

"The matter of becoming a disciple under a pseudonym is really..." Jing Yu looked troubled.

"I've said it before, I don't care whose master orchestrated this. Anyway, I'm just a wandering immortal with a worthless life, what's there to be afraid of?" Zhu Hongluan's expression darkened: "Take it if I give it to you."

"but……"

"Since you obtained my cultivation technique, you have a karmic connection with me. Whatever you have taken from me today, you will have to repay me a thousandfold when the time is right!"

Jing Yu was dumbfounded. This was the first time he had ever seen someone forcibly bestow an opportunity upon someone, and judging from their words, it seemed that they were planning to repay a favor in the future!

He knew that most wandering immortals acted eccentrically and unexpectedly, but there were very few as unconventional as Zhu Hongluan.

"Senior Zhu, why are you spreading opportunities and mentoring younger generations so widely? What is your purpose in doing this?"

Zhu Hongluan smiled slightly: "After you have achieved a certain level of cultivation, I want you to do something for me."

"Of course, I might as well tell you... A Loose Immortal can only survive nine [Loose Immortal Tribulations] at most. No matter how talented a genius is, they cannot survive the tenth [Loose Immortal Tribulation]. But I'm going to give it a try. If I can succeed, I might not have to die."

"At that time, it might really lead me to a new path... but that's none of your business."

"But if I fail, I will naturally die and my soul will perish. If you then have enough power, you must help me do something I haven't finished."

"Of course, just do what you can."

Zhu Hongluan said in a deep voice, "I cannot reveal the specifics of what happened right now, as matters are best kept secret..."

"I will tell you before I undergo my tenth [Immortal Tribulation]."

Upon hearing this, Jing Yu's expression hardened. Zhu Hongluan's words had actually implied another meaning—

The previous nine [Tribulations of a Loose Immortal] were believed by this true disciple of the Fire Virtue Hall to be 100% capable of passing through!

This confidence undoubtedly stems from his past as the top prodigy of the Fire Virtue Hall.

After all, there are countless wandering immortals in the world, but those who can be compared to true immortals are extremely rare.

Not to mention the invincible [Nine Tribulations Loose Immortal] below the Golden Immortal level.

Then, Zhu Hongluan waved her hand and said, "Go down, I need to talk to Guo Tingshu alone."

After Jing Yu left, Zhu Hongluan waved her hand, and a protective array that sealed off the heavens and earth rose up, completely sealing the cave. She stared intently at Guo Tingshu for a long time before finally speaking:

“Young Guo, do you really not know where your Yin-Yang Thunder Technique comes from? To be honest, I’ve seen plenty of Yin-Yang supernatural abilities, and I’ve seen plenty of thunder techniques... But this is the first time I’ve ever seen a supernatural ability that combines the Yin-Yang Law with the Thunder Law.”

Guo Tingshu stammered, "Sigh... Senior Zhu, this supernatural power isn't that difficult to learn. How about I teach you?"

Zhu Hongluan chuckled and said, "I specialize in fire magic, and there's no lightning among my fundamental laws, so why would I practice lightning magic?"

Her expression was somewhat conflicted, but in the end, she seemed to have made up her mind. A glint of light flickered in her crimson eyes, and she let out a soft breath.

"Guo Tingshu, do you... have any blood relatives still alive? Parents, siblings, clan members, etc."

Guo Tingshu was taken aback for a moment, then honestly shook his head: "I ascended to the Immortal Realm from the lower realm. My parents and relatives all died in the lower realm long ago."

"Ah."

Zhu Hongluan nodded and then asked, "Do you belong to any sect? Who is your master? Do you have a mentor who taught you?"

Guo Tingshu shook his head again, his expression calm: "I have a master in the lower realm, but he did not ascend to immortality. Judging from the time, he should have passed away peacefully by now."

Zhu Hongluan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as she pressed on, "And what about your Daoist partner? Is there someone you're devoted to, someone you'd entrust your life to?"

“Uh…” Guo Tingshu looked slightly embarrassed and touched his nose: “This junior is single-mindedly pursuing the Dao and has never considered these things, nor does he have a Daoist partner.”

"What about your closest friends?" Zhu Hongluan's voice unconsciously lowered, her gaze fixed on Guo Tingshu: "Do you have any... close friends with whom you could entrust your affairs after death, friends with whom you would exchange your life?"

Guo Tingshu thought about it seriously, a slight regret showing on his face, but still shook his head: "I am a bit introverted and not good at socializing. Jing-ge is one of the friends I have made in recent years who I get along quite well with, but if we are to say whether we are close friends? It seems that we are still a little short."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Hongluan's expression darkened slightly, and finally, all her pent-up frustration turned into a sigh:

"Good, what a wonderful state of being unburdened and all alone."

Her words were no longer tentative and roundabout, but rather direct: "Guo Tingshu, I could have directly pressured you with force or lured you with benefits, but you are a tough nut to crack, leaving me unsure of how to proceed... So let's just be frank."

She leaned forward slightly: "I wish to undergo the tenth tribulation of a loose immortal, this is no exaggeration. However, throughout history, no one has been able to succeed, because the power of the tenth tribulation is far beyond that of an ordinary loose immortal tribulation, and the tribulation lightning within it is even more troublesome."

"After searching through ancient texts and deducing countless methods, I came up with a possible shortcut: if, at the moment the tenth tribulation descends and the tribulation lightning manifests, a cultivator skilled in the principles of Yin and Yang, who can perfectly integrate them into the lightning, could actively draw the lightning into their body, using Yin-Yang lightning techniques to temporarily 'neutralize' and 'balance' the source of the tribulation lightning, even if only for a moment... I would have an extremely slim chance to seize that fleeting opportunity and complete my final transformation."

Her gaze was sharp as a sword, piercing Guo Tingshu: "Do you understand? This cultivator needs to step into the edge of the tribulation cloud at the critical moment of my tribulation, and draw the most dangerous wisp of lightning upon himself. His fate will most likely be the destruction of his body and soul, the dissipation of his true spirit, and even the chance of entering reincarnation will be slim."

Zhu Hongluan paused, her voice tinged with a dryness she herself was unaware of: "My questions about your family, sect, Daoist partner, and close friends weren't just out of curiosity. I wanted to know, if I were to ask you to do this certain death, what price would I have to offer, what kind of compensation would I need to make you willing beforehand?"

"What exactly would it take for you to agree?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Tingshu simply shook his head: "I'm not willing."