After giving birth to Xiao Junyan, Xiao Man didn't get to hold him properly before rushing to rescue people. She ended up in the Cangxuan Continent and was busy surviving daily. Only in the quiet of the night did she have time to think about the child she had left behind.
The appearance of Xiao Zefang stirred up Xiao Man's longing for her child, and a sense of immense guilt arose in her heart. She felt exceptionally tender towards Xiao Zefang, yet she was powerless to help with his injuries, able only to watch him suffer and ache.
It was just like her own child; she knew where he was, but she couldn't be by his side to watch him grow. She couldn't even imagine how old her child would be when she finally reached the God Transformation stage.
Zefang stared at Xiao Man, who was so gentle she seemed to be melting, his eyes slightly moist. A sense of annoyance welled up within him. Why was he born male and not female? If he were a girl, could he openly possess such gentle tenderness?
Xiao Man poured all her maternal love onto Zefang, trying every way to alleviate the damage the heavenly lightning had inflicted on him. She indulged Zefang's every whim, causing everyone in the manor to gasp in amazement and become even more convinced that Xiao Zefang was her child.
"I told you Xiao Qi was her child, but you didn't believe me. If he wasn't her child, would she care for him so wholeheartedly?" Yan Yan whispered to Du Niangzi while biting into a pastry, "Speaking of which, who is this child's mother?"
"It's definitely not me," Du Niangzi said, looking at Shan Yun.
Shan Yun quickly waved his hands. "Don't look at me, it's not me either. I only knew Xiao Qin half a year before you did, and you can't have a child in just half a year."
"Xiao Qi, do you want some candy?" Du Niangzi dangled a skewer of candied hawthorn in front of Zefang. "Tell me who your mother is, and I'll give you this candied hawthorn."
Zefang showed undisguised disgust, his voice childishly clear. "My father said I shouldn't take things from strangers."
"I'm not a stranger; I'm friends with your father," Du Niangzi coaxed. "Look, your father is always busy and doesn't have time to play with you. Tell me who your mother is, and I'll take you out to play."
"I just want my father to play with me." Zefang was unmoved. These people, trying to pry information from him? He knew who his mother was, but he didn't know who Xiao Qin's wife was. If he dared to speak carelessly, he might be kicked out, which would be a complete loss.
"Don't you have a mother?" Du Niangzi leaned closer. "Or perhaps, you don't know who your mother is either?"
Zefang crossed his arms, putting on an air of being a little adult. He let out a soft hum and turned his face away, ignoring them.
Seeing this, Du Niangzi pinched the flesh of Zefang's cheek. "Little one, you're ignoring us now. Quickly tell us, who exactly is your mother?"
Zefang cried out in pain and wanted to retaliate, but he had lost all his strength and had become a child. He could only glare resentfully at Du Niangzi. Suddenly, a scene he had seen in the Tianyan Diagram flashed through his mind, and he involuntarily closed his eyes in agony. However, the fragmented images kept pouring into his mind, making his head feel like it was about to explode.
"Ah, it hurts!" Zefang clutched his head, screaming incessantly, even banging his head against a nearby pillar. Du Niangzi, startled, quickly shielded the pillar. Zefang’s head collided with her stomach, contorting her face in pain. Yan Yan and Shan Yun grabbed Zefang, but he struggled with such force that the two of them couldn't hold him down.
"Quick, go find Xiao Qin."
Xiao Man was in the City Lord's Mansion's library, perusing ancient texts for information related to heavenly lightning. Zefang's body was weak, his wounds wouldn't heal, and the residual power of the heavenly lightning was surging within him. If this continued, Zefang's life would be in danger.
"Little friend, what are you looking for?" Elder Xia, sleeping in a deck chair in the corner, asked curiously, watching Xiao Man's busy figure.
"Senior, do you know about lightning tribulations?"
Elder Xia said lazily, "I do. When one advances from the peak of Nascent Soul to the God Transformation stage, they must undergo a tempering by a bolt of heavenly lightning."
"Are all lightning tribulations the same?"
"Not exactly. Lightning tribulations also have types, and their power varies depending on the situation. The higher the cultivation, the more powerful the lightning tribulation. Similarly, heavenly elixirs and divine artifacts that defy the heavens will also attract lightning tribulations. Only by enduring the tempering of the lightning tribulation can one be considered successful."
"In a sense, lightning tribulations bring us benefits?"
"The lightning tribulations experienced during cultivation are naturally beneficial. However, there is another type of lightning tribulation that does not help temper the body or cultivate, but rather punishes."
"Punishes? For example?"
"Nine Heavens Divine Lightning," Elder Xia said slowly, shaking his fan. "Those struck by the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning have all violated taboos."
"What kind of taboo would attract the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning?" Xiao Man asked curiously.
"The Way of Heaven," Elder Xia's voice was as gentle as a breeze. "Those who violate the Way of Heaven will attract the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning."
"What happens if one is struck by the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning?"
"What happens?" Elder Xia sneered. "Naturally, there is no way to survive. If one dies on the spot, then it's all over. But if one doesn't die, the lightning power will surge erratically within the body, destroying one's foundation, severing the tendons and veins, causing them to suffer for a full forty-nine days before finally dissipating into nothingness."
Xiao Man's eyes were filled with shock. This meant that being struck by the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning was a sure death?
"Has no one survived?"
"Yes," Elder Xia looked at Xiao Man. "As far as I know, only one person has survived after being struck by the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning."
"Who? That amazing."
Elder Xia's face was full of apprehension, as if he did not wish to mention this person. After a long silence, he slowly said, "The Demon King Yu Ju." Soudan Novels.
A strange glint flashed in Xiao Man's eyes. This meant that if she wanted to find a way to cure him, she would still have to go to the Land of No Return?
"Then being struck by the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning means certain death?"
"You could say that," Elder Xia said slowly, shaking his fan. "Therefore, little friend, you must remember that the Way of Heaven cannot be violated."
"Elder Xia, how did Yu Ju survive?"
"He is a demon, going against the path of the immortals. We righteous individuals have no idea how he survived," Elder Xia glanced at Xiao Man. "Why are you suddenly asking about lightning tribulations?"
"Curiosity," Xiao Man said with a smile. "I heard that upon entering the God Transformation stage from Nascent Soul, one must endure a tempering by heavenly lightning. Elder Xia, are there many powerful cultivators at the God Transformation stage in our Cangxuan Continent?"
Elder Xia rolled his eyes. "Do you think God Transformation cultivators are like common cabbage? Many! On the entire Cangxuan Continent, the number of God Transformation cultivators can be counted on one hand."
"Tell me about some of the God Transformation cultivators, so I can broaden my horizons," Xiao Man said enthusiastically.
Elder Xia glanced at Xiao Man, took the wine gourd from his waist, and shook it, indicating that without wine, he couldn't tell stories.