Chapter 36: Immunity To Ten Thousand Bugs, Achieving Essence Refining
The body on Dojo Master Du’s back immediately stopped.
The crowd in the cultivation practice hall all turned their gazes toward the sound, landing on the person who had walked out.
And this person was Fang Shu.
He held one or two spirit stones in his hands and spoke gravely once more:
“Disciple Fang Shu has been in the dojo for half a year. I beg Du Shi for mercy to allow this disciple to undergo tribulation and knock on the gate ahead of time.”
The crowd clearly heard his words and were immediately astonished:
“This Fang fellow has only been in the dojo for half a year and is already so eager to undergo tribulation. Is he courting death?”
Some had strange expressions on their faces, their gazes first falling on Fang Shu, then on Xiang Xing Wu, muttering:
“Good grief, bewitched by lust, so desperate to win the prize and claim the beauty, not even afraid of dying in the Scorpion Basin.”
The disciples in the hall all viewed Fang Shu’s voluntary offer with pessimism, with no small number mocking or scorning him.
However, some did recognize Fang Shu and knew he was extremely diligent in the dojo, comparable to Shi Hou. These people spoke up to advise him, trying to comfort him.
For instance, Senior Sister Yu Er frowned slightly and stepped forward: “Fang Shu, you have just entered the dojo. The rule of one year before entering the basin is not to covet your tuition fees.”
She looked at Fang Shu meaningfully: “Do not be like Shi Hou, seeking quick success and instant benefits, losing the bigger picture and ruining your future.”
Beside her, Xiang Xing Wu, who had been watched by many, felt upon hearing Senior Sister Yu Er’s words the Du Gu Guan harbored displeasure toward her.
She too stepped forward half a pace, forcing a smile as she advised: “This Fellow Daoist Fang, our Seven Fragrance Tower has always been on good terms with your esteemed dojo. Something like the Plain Moon Jade will be available next year too. Fellow Daoist truly need not rush.”
But Fang Shu did not even glance at this woman.
His gaze was fixed only on Dojo Master Du’s body, his hands still holding one or two spirit stones.
Under the crowd’s gazes, Dojo Master Du slowly turned her body, her murky eyes falling on Fang Shu, scrutinizing and sizing him up.
To many’s astonishment, Dojo Master Du did not scold him directly but instead asked: “Fang Shu, the dojo has no disciples entering the Dao today. Tribulation is quite dangerous for disciples like you from the mortal world. Are you truly determined to undergo it ahead of time?”
Fang Shu spoke gravely: “This disciple is determined.”
Dojo Master Du’s expression remained unchanged. Without taking the spirit stones, she pointed at the Scorpion Basin, indicating Fang Shu should enter it himself.
Senior Sister Yu Er beside her, seeing this, stepped forward as if to say something.
But Dojo Master Du raised a hand to stop her, saying indifferently: “People have their own aspirations. Why force it?”
Seeing this scene.
Some came to their senses and began wondering if Fang Shu was actually hiding his true abilities, while others shook their heads, even more pessimistic about him.
Xiang Xing Wu was stunned for a moment. She quietly retreated into the crowd and also tucked the Plain Moon Jade into her sleeve.
This woman now felt somewhat awkward, and the look in her eyes toward Fang Shu carried a hint of displeasure.
She thought to herself: “How is this person so oblivious? Entering the dojo for half a year and already undergoing tribulation ahead of time. If he dies or becomes crippled, won’t it be blamed on our Seven Fragrance Tower’s prize?”
But she was helpless too. Dojo Master Du had already approved, and as an outsider, she could only watch from the sidelines.
Fang Shu paid no mind to the crowd’s attitudes. He merely cupped his hands toward Dojo Master Du and said: “Thank you, Master.”
He then turned around, nimbly removed his cultivation practice daoist robe, placed the one or two spirit stones on the robe, and with his muscles and sinews writhing, qi and blood surging, slowly walked toward the Scorpion Basin.
Once Fang Shu entered the Scorpion Basin, the qi and blood on his body surged even more vigorously, and many finally noticed something.
The frown on Senior Sister Yu Er’s face relaxed considerably.
“This kid’s qi and blood doesn’t look low at all.” Many whispered in discussion.
Only Dojo Master Du remained calm, watching the Scorpion Basin expressionlessly, neither sitting nor speaking, just standing by to observe.
Fang Shu was calm and composed, ignoring the crowd.
In the Scorpion Basin, he assumed his stance, knocking his teeth and swallowing as the nine insect face secret scripts on his body emerged one by one, writhing ferociously on his chest, abdomen, limbs, and other places, as if grinning menacingly at the surroundings.
The dojo disciples, seeing those insect face secret scripts, had changes in their expressions.
Especially those nearby; they suddenly felt a wave of heat seeping from the Scorpion Basin, hitting them in the face.
“Good grief, half a year! This kid mastered Insect Skill in half a year and even nurtured his qi and blood!?”
“He must have consumed some precious medicine!”
One after another astonished gaze fell on Fang Shu, with no more scorn or mockery.
Xiang Xing Wu, seeing the signs of qi and blood on Fang Shu’s body, had eyes full of surprise too, clutching the Plain Moon Jade in her sleeve, staring motionlessly at Fang Shu.
Hiss hiss hiss!
Soon, the gu worms secretly nurtured in the Scorpion Basin, as always, fiercely pounced on Fang Shu and injected toxin into his skin.
Facing the gu worms’ bites, Fang Shu showed no fear. He continued standing silently in his stance, simply suffusing his qi and blood.
In his perception, a tingling sensation gradually spread from his feet and hands throughout his body, while his blood flow, stimulated by the gu poison, surged madly, sweeping through his entire body.
Amid the scorching heat, purple-gray sweat seeped from his skin.
Few noticed this point; even those who did were baffled.
But Senior Sister Yu Er, who was watching Fang Shu closely, suddenly thought of something.
Her eyes turned unusual as she carefully looked Fang Shu up and down, as if seeing him for the first time.
Soon, one hundred breaths passed.
Like Shi Hou earlier, Fang Shu, stimulated by the poisonous insects in the Scorpion Basin, had lush qi and blood that had already condensed into vague smoke.
He only needed to endure a moment longer to easily cross the tribulation gateway and become a one-tribulation Essence Refining Immortal.
This sight shocked many, changing their expressions further.
Even Xiang Xing Wu, who had retreated into the crowd, involuntarily stepped out, her face showing expectation, her eyes fixed only on Fang Shu.
Her face flushed again, and she revealed the Plain Moon Jade on her wrist.
As for Shi Hou, who had just moments ago worried her greatly, she deliberately ignored and temporarily forgot him.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
As Fang Shu’s qi and blood grew ever more vigorous, on the verge of taking the final step, everyone’s hearts tightened.
And at that moment, Fang Shu suddenly opened his eyes.
He held back his qi and blood, his gaze looking into the Scorpion Basin.
This action made many exclaim:
“Fang, hurry and knock on the gate! Damn it, stop dawdling.”
With Shi Hou’s precedent, everyone understood that Fang Shu’s action was likely an attempt to refine even more superior precious blood.
Some even shouted to Senior Sister Yu Er: “Senior Sister, save this fool quick. Entering the Dao is what matters.”
But contrary to expectations, Senior Sister Yu Er, who usually cared deeply for the dojo disciples, merely pursed her lips at this moment, staring fixedly at Fang Shu without interfering.
Not only Senior Sister Yu Er, but Dojo Master Du did the same, saying nothing, not even asking, merely narrowing her old eyes slightly.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes.
Fang Shu reached out and scooped up poisonous blood from the Scorpion Basin, just like before.
But he did not pour the poisonous blood into his mouth; instead, he formed sword fingers and slashed open the insect face secret scripts on his chest, abdomen, and back one by one.
The insect faces formed by twisting muscles were already ferocious; once slashed open, they looked even more terrifying.
Fang Shu applied the poisonous blood in his hands directly onto the nine insect faces.
In an instant, the poisonous blood entered his body. He gritted his teeth, and his qi and blood burned like fire, boiling furiously!
But this was not enough. Seeing his physical body adapt to the insect blood, Fang Shu suddenly lay back.
This action made many’s visions blur, thinking he could not endure and was collapsing.
Some even cried out directly.
But even after most of Fang Shu’s body sank into the poisonous blood, Dojo Master Du by the Scorpion Basin still did not act.
Only then did the crowd vaguely realize that Fang Shu had not fainted but had deliberately sunk into the poisonous blood.
Hiss hiss! The sound of snakes and insects crawling filled the Scorpion Basin.
The dense gu worms soon crawled all over Fang Shu’s body, forming a terrifying human shape that horrified onlookers.
This appearance seemed even more perilous than Shi Hou’s “drinking poisonous blood and eating poisonous insects.”
But in truth, the various gu worms only crawled on Fang Shu’s body surface; the toxin could only enter from outside, far less dangerous than poisonous blood entering the abdomen.
Amid the crowd’s horrified gazes, Fang Shu, carrying the gu worms all over him, slowly rose from the basin as if no one else were there.
Splash! As poisonous blood and snakes and insects flowed off, he assumed a posture and sat in the lotus position.
For those undergoing tribulation in the Scorpion Basin, using the secretly nurtured myriad insects to knock on the gate naturally required being covered fully by insects to count as the most complete tribulation ritual.
In the hall, Dojo Master Du saw this scene. Her expression showed little change, but her gaze clearly softened, revealing a hint of appreciation.
Thump thump, time passed.
While the crowd was still shocked by the swarms covering Fang Shu’s body and even mouth and nose, soon a drum-like sound appeared in their ears.
Before they could react, a ten-foot-tall qi and blood essence smoke suddenly formed with a snap, standing tall in the cultivation practice hall!
Splash splash.
The snakes and insects clustered together scattered in panic like thunder-shocked hibernators, dropping crookedly from Fang Shu’s body.
At this moment, Fang Shu emerged from the insect swarm, his expression serene, skin healed and flawless white, like a white porcelain doll, quietly sitting cross-legged in the Scorpion Basin.
Around him, snakes and scorpions fled, the gu worms seeming to guard or prostrate, forming a one-foot-square empty space, not daring to approach again.
Under everyone’s attention, Fang Shu naturally stepped into Essence Refining, impervious to myriad insects.
He sat quietly in the poisonous blood, already transcendent, no longer a mortal.
Just post it directly to avoid keeping everyone waiting. But please, monthly tickets!
