Chapter 358: Chapter 220: Xiaobai Awakens

Li Mu frowned as he sensed the Thunder Tribulation’s thunderous eye locking onto him.

No way! Thunder punishment doesn’t affect the Painting Realm Treasure Mansion, yet it blames him? That shouldn’t be!

Li Mu’s heart raced with panic, unsure of what to do when a familiar voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

“Yippee! Master, master!”

At some point, a palm-sized little girl with colorful wings like a butterfly sprite flew to Li Mu’s face, timidly calling out.

“You, you, you are Xiaobai? You’ve successfully promoted? About to cross the Thunder Tribulation?”

Li Mu’s eyes widened as he looked at the little sprite before him, immediately understanding why the thunderclouds above were becoming denser. It turned out the thunderclouds were not locked onto him, but Xiaobai, who was always asleep in the Beast Taming Bag.

“Yes! Xiaobai is going to cross the tribulation!” Xiaobai smiled sweetly at Li Mu, but a trace of unresolved sorrow lingered on her face.

Seeing Xiaobai’s uneasy expression, Li Mu’s face changed slightly. Through the Spirit Taming Artifact Seal, he sensed Xiaobai’s fear. Understandably, Xiaobai’s Puppet Spirit Body, living by the soul, was loathed by Heaven and Earth, yet simultaneously extremely fragile as an insect cultivator. Crossing this tribulation might be fraught with danger.

However, the Thunder Tribulation gave Li Mu and Xiaobai no time to discuss. The thunderclouds roared, and thunder serpents flashed and gathered within. The first wave of the Thunder Tribulation, the first thunderbolt, was about to descend.

Witnessing this, Xiaobai flapped her wings, transforming into a streak of flowing light and flew dozens of miles away in an instant, initiating the tribulation crossing to avoid the residual impact of the tribulation thunder hurting Li Mu.

Thinking the target was escaping, with a “crack,” a thick blue thunderbolt struck Xiaobai, who was flying at high speed, directly; the heavenly might was awe-inspiring.

Immediately following, one blue thunderbolt after another struck down, quickly transforming Xiaobai’s tiny figure into a blue thunderball, crackling with countless thunder serpents.

“So terrifying, what level is this Thunder Tribulation?”

At some point, the Jade-Eyed Long-armed Ape flew beside Li Mu, asking, lost in the sight of the Thunder Tribulation.

Having just crossed his own Thunder Tribulation, he had thought his was terrifying enough. However, compared to this, his seemed insignificant.

Li Mu watched Xiaobai crossing the tribulation, fear gripping his heart over her life.

“This is the Nine-Nine Transformation Tribulation, and it’s triggered by a bug body. The chances of passing are extremely slim unless there is a tribulation-crossing tool to defend against part of the Thunder Tribulation’s power, perhaps saving her life.” The Two-Horned Cyan Moon Flood Dragon flew to Li Mu’s right side, fearfully watching the Thunder Tribulation, answering the Jade-Eyed Long-armed Ape.

Xiaojin and Xiaowa also put down their fighting, joining Li Mu’s side, worriedly watching the tribulating Xiaobai, fearing for her life.

As Li Mu’s spirit beasts, they have spent decades together, forming a deep friendship. Now, watching Xiaobai’s dangerously perilous Transformation Thunder Tribulation, their hearts couldn’t help but feel a heavy stone, weighed down with worry.

Li Mu sighed; Xiaobai, awakened, was immediately locked onto by the Thunder Tribulation. He hadn’t prepared any tribulation-crossing tools for her; it seemed inescapably fated.

What to do?

Watch helplessly as Xiaobai dies under the Thunder Tribulation?

Li Mu intently watched Xiaobai bracing against the tribulation, heart anxiously racing.

Xiaobai has achieved countless merits for him, saving him from danger multiple times. Li Mu couldn’t bear to watch her fail the tribulation and die from the Thunder Tribulation.

No! Can’t just sit there; there must be a way!

The Thunder Tribulation has just begun, in the Tribulation Crossing Spirit Stage. It’s still time to refine a Thunder Tribulation Spiritual Artifact to help Xiaobai resist the tribulation.

What kind of tribulation-crossing thunder artifact can help Xiaobai isolate the thunderbolt’s power?

Got it!

Li Mu’s mind rapidly turned, suddenly his eyes lit up with brilliance as he thought of an excellent idea and quickly acted.

Li Mu reached out, summoning the Extreme Yang Celestial Fire, silently utilizing the Eightfold Celestial Fire Forging Method. In an instant, he condensed the Celestial Fire Refining Furnace, placed dozens of pieces of Tier Two Thousand-Year Red Copper and Tier Three Geng Metal into it, and quickly began refining.

The Two-Horned Cyan Moon Flood Dragon, Jade-Eyed Long-armed Ape, Xiaojin, Xiaowa widened their eyes, dumbfoundedly watching Li Mu suddenly start refining artifacts, unsure of what kind of tribulation-crossing spiritual artifact he intended to create to defend Xiaobai from tribulation thunder.

In less than twenty breaths, Li Mu had refined a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact, a golden hollow sphere artifact.

Li Mu beamed with joy, promptly throwing the Lightning Avoidance Ball toward the tribulating Xiaobai, simultaneously notifying Xiaobai through the Spirit Taming Contract Seal on how to use it.

Xiaobai would heed Li Mu’s command and cherish any intent he has.

Xiaobai moved against the tribulation thunder once more, capturing the Lightning Avoidance Ball, following Li Mu’s guidance by entering the ball, hiding herself inside, and closing the Lightning Avoidance Ball.

The tribulation thunder struck the void one after another, unable to inflict any harm on the Xiaobai inside the Lightning Avoidance Ball.

“This?” The Two-Horned Cyan Moon Flood Dragon’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.

“What’s going on? Master, what kind of tribulation-crossing spiritual artifact is that? Just a mere Tier Three, yet it avoids the tribulation thunder?” The Jade-Eyed Long-armed Ape was similarly stunned, incredulously asking Li Mu.

“Because it’s a Faraday Cage!” Li Mu smiled slightly, responding.

“Faraday Cage?” murmured the Two-Horned Cyan Moon Flood Dragon, eyes growing more bewildered.

A Faraday Cage is a cage formed from metal or conductive materials, named after Michael Faraday, the physicist and founding figure of modern electromagnetism science. It’s a specialized piece of equipment used to demonstrate electric potentials, act as a static electric barrier, and illustrate principles of high-voltage electrification.

The principle and structure of a Faraday Cage are exceptionally simple, akin to modern vehicles’ metal exteriors, forming an equipotential body capable of isolating lightning. Thus, people inside cars need not fear getting struck by lightning during storms.

Li Mu combined modern lightning avoidance knowledge and the Faraday Cage’s construction principle to urgently refine a Lightning Avoidance Ball for Xiaobai, shielding her from the initial fierce physical tribulation thunder.

Of course, the Lightning Avoidance Ball cannot aid Xiaobai in overcoming the entire Thunder Tribulation. Thunder Tribulation manifests in diverse types beyond physical damage, such as Divine Sense Tribulation, Heart Demon Tribulation, Illusory Heart Tribulation, etc., varying based on the tribulation crosser’s growth.

However, Xiaobai, as an insect cultivator with an exceptionally fragile physique, primarily cultivating Divine Soul and Primordial Spirit, most fears the tribulation thunder causing significant physical harm. Having this Lightning Avoidance Ball artifact shields her from the initial hazardous physical tribulation thunder, markedly increasing her chances of successfully crossing the tribulation.

Regarding the subsequent tribulations, she must rely on herself to overcome them.

The tribulation thunder continued to strike, yet Xiaobai, hiding within a Lightning Avoidance Ball, produced a Lightning Barrier, rendering the thunder incapable of locking onto her, countless lightning bolts violently rained on the ground surrounding the Lightning Avoidance Ball, thunder like torrential rain, aimless, turning the entire area momentarily into a Thunder Marsh.

The terrifying scene prompted Li Mu and the four spirit beasts to swiftly retreat dozens of miles to avoid unintended collateral damage from erratic lightning strikes.

“Master, you’re truly capable. With that tribulation-crossing spiritual artifact’s aid, Xiaobai certainly will cross the Thunder Tribulation.” The Jade-Eyed Long-armed Ape gazed at Li Mu in genuine admiration.

“Indeed! Such lightning avoidance artifacts seem not difficult to refine! If word spreads, other cultivators needing to cross tribulations will surely flock to them!” remarked the Two-Horned Cyan Moon Flood Dragon, looking at Li Mu with emotions.

Prompted by these words, a thought stirred within Li Mu, considering whether to mass-produce Lightning Avoidance Balls for sale.

Li Mu pondered briefly, subsequently abandoning the notion. The Faraday Cage principle was too simplistic, its promotion would be laborious without much benefit, and easily replicated; he was efficient enough at refining artifacts, unnecessary to rely on this method for wealth.

Time ticks away moment by moment. Unable to strike Xiaobai shielded within the Lightning Avoidance Ball, the thunderclouds similarly altered, retracting continuously, no longer casting blue thunderbolts.

“Crack!” A sky-splitting sound ensued as a purple lightning bolt suddenly struck down, instantly smashing the Lightning Arrester into debris, targeting Xiaobai within.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep