Chapter 30 "Master and Disciple"
"Senior Brother, what new gadget have you come up with this time? Is this another rapid deployment array device?"
Swearing to the founder of the Taiqing Sect, Lan Linge only asked this question before being called over by her own senior brother and locked into a wooden cage, becoming a guinea pig to verify this 'technological achievement'.
This wooden cage, taller than a person, was mainly made of thirty-six tied-down thunderbolt wood, with a layer of fine colorful 'iron' net inside.
Because the thunderbolt wood was bound together, the wooden cage looked somewhat shabby.
Above the wooden cage was a colorful long needle, while below was a ring made of seven divine thunder gods' iron; however, it was not a formation, and there were no restrictions on it. It was simply in the shape of a hexagram.
When a Qi Refiner ascended to immortality, they couldn't resist with formations. The thunder tribulation of the heavens disregarded all formation barriers.
Later Taoist treasures could have many uses, mainly relying on the restrictions inscribed inside and outside the treasure; according to Li Changshou's many years of research, one thing was confirmed - the principles of restrictions and formations were actually the same. Both used fixed 'symbols' and 'patterns' to induce spiritual energy, only differing in complexity and size.
[Restrictions]were condensed on top of treasures, which could be seen as an individual formation base. Most relied on the Qi Refiner to inject immortal energy to activate the restrictions, unleashing powerful effects;
[Formations]used formation bases as nodes, with spiritual energy flowing between them, mainly relying on the power of heaven and earth.
Although the principles were the same, the development directions were completely different; sophisticated later Taoist treasures could often integrate a complete set of restrictions into an area the size of a fingernail, while the power of formations often depended on the area of deployment and sought to blend with the power of heaven and earth.
Therefore, although Li Changshou was good at formations, he was not good at refining. There was no way around it. He had only been cultivating for one hundred and twenty years. After he could afford not to sleep, he rarely slept, and cultivating and pondering over refining elixirs, poison formations, and other miscellaneous tasks all required a lot of time; he wished to split each day into twenty-four hours, but ultimately his years of cultivation were short, and he had to make choices in his 'side jobs'. It was impossible to be omniscient and omnipotent.
Now, back to resisting the heavenly tribulation.
The heavenly tribulation disregarded formations and most defensive-type Taoist treasures; only some rare treasures could be used to reduce the power of the heavenly tribulation. - Pre-Natal Spirit Treasures and Supreme Treasures were not in the discussion; those things were too rare.
But Li Changshou had an advantage that others didn't - nine years of compulsory education.
What he had made now was the 'What-What Cage' from his high school physics textbook, used for lightning protection and often seen in some delightful electric shock performances.
As for the principle and such, Li Changshou had almost forgotten, but the structure should be like this without error.
Li Changshou instructed Ling'e, "Don't touch the surrounding nets."
Ling'e in the wooden cage shivered, her feet stepping on a wooden board, looking pitifully at her senior brother, "Senior Brother, what exactly do you want to do?"
"Just don't move," Li Changshou calmly said, taking out several talismans from his sleeve and casually throwing them ten zhang above the wooden cage, pointing at the talismans with his left hand from a distance.
Crackling sounds, lightning struck.
Several lightning bolts directly struck the suspended thunderbolt wood above the wooden cage. The 'iron net' around the wooden cage instantly lit up with small electric arcs, and the seven divine thunder gods' iron below immediately dispersed the lightning and absorbed it into the ground...
As Ling'e, who had been cowering, slowly raised her head, she looked around in amazement, full of admiration.
"What kind of treasure is this? It can actually resist thunderstorms."
Li Changshou said indifferently, "This is the Birdcage of the Law... Stay there a while longer, I'll try to increase the intensity."
"Senior Brother! Let's reconsider... Oh!"
Before Ling'e could finish, Li Changshou had already taken out a stack of yellow paper talismans from his sleeve, and with a wave of his magical power, threw them above the wooden cage.
These talismans triggered lightning strikes, causing thunderous explosions in the sky, smashing towards the wooden cage below!
For a moment, lightning surged, birds on Little Qiong Peak flew up in flocks, and various spiritual beasts were restless...
The experiment proved that the effect of this Law Birdcage was good, but it was unknown whether it would be directly shattered by a real heavenly tribulation.
As long as it could help his master withstand the first thunderbolt, everything else would be easier.
"Come out, you've worked hard."
Li Changshou called out and began to contemplate how to reinforce the wooden cage.
Ling'e couldn't help but complain, "Senior Brother, wouldn't it be the same to put a fish in it?"
"I want you to have some sense of participation," Li Changshou smiled, "Helping our master cross the tribulation, we both contributed."
Ling'e pursed her lips, tidied her hair beside her ear, and whispered, "Senior Brother, do we need to try again next?"
"I can't let you stay inside for the next test. As you said, go find a wooden barrel and catch a fish."
Li Changshou took out strands of brightly colored long ropes emitting five-colored light and continued to busily work, "The next test of thunder power will strike directly on you, and you won't be able to withstand it."
Ling'e agreed and hurried to the lakeside, avoiding her master who was meditating in the soundproof barrier, and walked on the lake surface.
A moment later, lightning flashed again on Little Qiong Peak...
This disturbance continued for three full days, but no one outside paid attention, thinking that someone was practicing lightning techniques.
It wasn't until Qi Yuan Old Taoist woke up from meditation, turned around with a satisfied face, and saw that his wrinkled forehead was covered with black lines.
The originally green and beautiful open space by the lake had turned into a black pit. His two disciples were squatting at the bottom of the pit, tinkering with a large birdcage...
Qi Yuan sighed helplessly, scolding, "You two aren't practicing properly. What are you messing around with down there!"
"Master! You're awake!"
Lan Ling'e shouted excitedly, "Senior Brother made a treasure for you to resist the heavenly tribulation. It has been struck by lightning dozens of times, and the fish inside are still alive!"
Li Changshou also said, "Master, please wait a moment. This item will be finished soon."
"Oh?" Qi Yuan's expression changed, immediately wanting to come down and see what new treasure his eldest disciple had concocted.
But as this Old Taoist moved his feet, his face suddenly changed, staring at the eastern sky, motionless.
Lan Ling'e looked up and asked, "Master, what's wrong?"
"Sigh," Qi Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, softly said, "The heavenly tribulation is here."
Just four words made Li Changshou and Lan Ling'e's smiles disappear instantly.
The two immediately jumped out of the pit and looked to where their master was looking. They saw a gray-black cloud appearing in the eastern sky, swiftly flying towards the Du Xian Sect.
"Ling'e, hurry!"
Li Changshou immediately said, "Take this cage to the tribulation site selected by Master on the back mountain! Make sure to bury the six divine iron rods underneath!"
"Yes!"
Lan Ling'e directly lifted the 'Law Birdcage' with her slender arms, driving clouds towards the back mountain, completely disregarding her image as an immortal.
At this moment, Li Changshou was even more anxious than his master. He took out a brocade box from his sleeve and rushed to Qi Yuan.
"Master, this is a treasure that I painstakingly refined. It can help Master pass through one heavenly tribulation. If you find it hard to resist the next heavenly tribulation after the first one, use it immediately."
Qi Yuan Old Taoist smiled as he looked at Li Changshou, his eyes flickering gently, and said softly, "Keep this treasure for yourself. Use it when you cross the tribulation in the future. Don't waste it on your master."
"Master!"
Li Changshou knelt directly in front of Qi Yuan Old Taoist, stuffing the brocade box into his hands, and said urgently, "Master has nurtured and taught disciples for a hundred years, guiding disciples into the Dao, without ever blaming or demanding anything from disciples. This is the only thing disciples can do for Master. If Master doesn't accept this treasure, disciples will destroy it now!"
Qi Yuan hesitated for a moment, "Is that true?"
"Absolutely!"
"Very well," Qi Yuan took the brocade box in his hand, "Let's go to the back mountain now. Don't let the heavenly tribulation destroy our residence."
The gray clouds flying from the east had already arrived at the Du Xian Sect.
Li Changshou immediately drove a white cloud, pulling his master towards the back mountain.
"Master, save your magical power. By the way, Master, do you have enough pills on you? During the tribulation, you can use various pills for healing and restoring your energy. Are they all prepared? Why did this heavenly tribulation come without any warning?"
"They are prepared, they are prepared," Qi Yuan Old Taoist smiled at Li Changshou in front of him, and in his heart, he recalled the shy and somewhat bewildered boy who had just arrived at the mountain with him many years ago...
In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.
Although the boy back then took a bit of a wild path later on, he had grown up after all; Qi Yuan had used up all the savings of Little Qiong Peak on him, just hoping he could successfully become an immortal...
"Changshou ah, if Master can't get through the heavenly tribulation, Little Qiong Peak will be handed over to you. If the sect wants to take back our Little Qiong Peak, don't stop them. Just listen to the arrangements of the sect. I've already begged several familiar fellow disciples beforehand. They will take you and Ling'e to other peaks for cultivation."
"Master, you will definitely get through the heavenly tribulation!"
Li Changshou said firmly, "Be confident! We must not be discouraged now. This is a trial given by the heavens. Once it passes, the sky will be broad and vast. If living beings do not strive for this slim chance of survival, why bother to walk in the world? Any desperate situation has a slim chance of survival. Only by plunging into the desperate situation can one survive!"
Qi Yuan Old Taoist sighed lightly and smiled bitterly, "My good disciple, don't you understand these principles? Why are you so cautious in your daily life?"
"Master's teachings, disciples have never forgotten them for a moment. Disciples' caution is only to avoid falling into desperate situations."
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the back mountain of Little Qiong Peak. Ling'e kept waving her hands in a clearing in the woods. Li Changshou pulled his master and jumped down, unceremoniously pushing his master into the newly made wooden cage.
Then he immediately bent down to check how the birdcage was placed, took out a pile of bottles and jars and threw them into his master's hands, and finally closed the wooden cage, pulling Ling'e to fly rapidly.
The gray clouds from the east had already arrived at Du Xian Sect.
Li Changshou shouted loudly, "Master, resist with all your strength! The elixir must be used after the first heavenly tribulation!"
Qi Yuan nodded solemnly, looking up at the cloud, waves of magic power surged around him, and the hem of his robe fluttered without wind.
Ling'e shouted loudly, "Master, you can do it!"
"For Master, I must fight for myself this time too!"
Qi Yuan Old Taoist looked up at the sky, his eyes shining.
One struggle, one destiny!
Suddenly, a dragon roar descended from the cloud, and a thousand-foot-long azure dragon with fiery red scales rushed out of the gray cloud, fiercely slapping its claws on the protective mountain formation.
The mountain protection formation glowed, the peaks trembled lightly, and the earth roared everywhere!
At the same time, a deep and thick voice descended from the sky!
"The one in charge of the Du Xian Sect, come out and answer!"
Wait a minute!
Azure dragon? Calling out?
This gray cloud is also outside the mountain protection formation and does not disregard all formation characteristics...
Although there was pressure, upon careful sensing, it was not the might of the heavens...
"Eh? Isn't this Master's tribulation cloud..."
Lan Ling'e tilted her head, Li Changshou couldn't help but hold his forehead; Qi Yuan Old Taoist, standing in the birdcage, twitched his mouth a few times.
This old Taoist silently turned around, slowly squatted down.
Oh Heavens above, this time, I've really lost face!