Chapter 56: The Third Heavenly Tribulation Awakening! The Jailer! A Warning from the Indestructible Glazed Body!

What do you call this?
Instead of surrendering, the enemy actually dares to take the initiative and attack me?
Can performance props at least try to act like performance props?
Xu Ran narrowed his eyes.
"Clang—"
His long blade flashed out of its scabbard, the sound of scraping gold and iron ringing sharply across the small arena.
In an instant, a crimson radiance surged from his chest, wrapping around Xu Ran's entire body like a blazing red fire.
He swung his long blade in a completely ordinary manner.
A gentle breeze swept past, and nothing happened.
"Tee-hee-hee..."
Seeing Xu Ran make such a grand display only to produce a mere breeze, the crystal-armored hyena-ghost gnashed its teeth at high speed, letting out a piercing, mocking laugh.
It seemed to be saying: *Is that it? Is that it? Is that it? I thought you were going to unleash some ultimate technique? And all you released was a fart? Even worse, a sheep's fart!*
Funny!
Hilarious!
The grin on the crystal-armored hyena-ghost's face grew even more ferocious.
Yet, just one-twelfth of a second later.
The anomaly occurred!
From within the pouncing body of the crystal-armored hyena-ghost, crimson laser beams shot out in all directions. They sliced the beast's body into neat, uniform pieces—its lower legs, thighs, buttocks, lower abdomen, upper abdomen, chest, neck, and head—turning them into neatly severed parts flying freely through mid-air...
They traced a graceful "disintegration parabola."
"Pfft—"
"Pfft—"
The change happened much too fast; the ferocious smile on the crystal-armored hyena-ghost was still spreading when it was already completely dismantled.
Only when the parabolic pieces flopped down and crashed onto the ground did the pupils of that alligator-like head finally reflect a delayed, belated terror.
"What happened?"
"My neck hurts..."
"Where is my butt?"
It felt a chilling draft around its neck, and its pair of eyes grew increasingly lifeless.
It was dead, with no possibility of ever reassembling to revive.
Xu Ran lifted his blade, admiring it with practiced elegance, and then flicked it with his finger.
"Hum—"
"Hum—"
The metallic chime was melodious and lingering, vibrating in a way that thrilled Xu Ran's soul.
Xu Ran: "It's over, Director."
Outside the arena.
The director stood dumbfounded, his pupils dilated in shock, staring fixedly at the impactful scene suspended in the air.
"Ah, what...???202020!!!"
Having taught for decades, this was the first time the director was shocked to the point of scalp numbness by a student's methods: "With just over 6,000 vital energy points, he can slice apart a crystal beast with 20,000 vital energy points in a single stroke?"
"Facing a crystal beast with 20,000 vital energy points, even if Zhu Yuheng and those other super geniuses pooled their strengths together, they could only flee in a panic..."
"This combat talent is simply terrifying!"
"No, no, no—it's his self-created saber technique that is far too bizarre!"
After swinging his blade, it was as if nothing had happened at all... yet it had actually landed squarely on the crystal-armored hyena-ghost?!
Moreover, even though he had only swung the blade once, it left eight neat incisions on the crystal-armored hyena-ghost, instantly causing total dismemberment?
It was bizarre enough to make one's hair stand on end.
The director leaped over to the corpse and carefully examined the wounds on the crystal-armored hyena-ghost.
"The incisions are smooth, and every single wound erupted at the exact same instant. This level of bizarreness and lethality... is completely comparable to the heaven-sent divine abilities brought by a golden bone marrow!"
Analyzing this, the director let out a deep breath.
He looked up at the SSS gold card he had drawn earlier.
He had originally thought it was merely an S-grade card.
Who could have expected it to reach SSS quality!
Invisibility + substitute paper doll + bizarre saber technique—a total of three heaven-sent divine abilities combined into one, plus the feat of slicing apart a crystal-armored hyena-ghost with 20,000 vital energy points in a single slash.
Could it be... that Xu Ran, who had cultivated for two years less, truly had a chance to contend for the top five?
Even if there was only the slimmest thread of possibility.
Right at this moment.
The smile at the corner of the director's mouth was so uncontrollable it practically looked like an assault rifle.
He walked over to Xu Ran, inspecting the blade closely before examining Xu Ran's arm.
"Kid, give me the bottom line: what level is your saber technique? What is the maximum vital energy value of a crystal beast you can kill?
What are the prerequisites for slicing apart an enemy? If the opponent's defense is extremely strong, will this technique fail?"
Xu Ran pondered: "If the opponent's defense is relatively high, it indeed cannot be sliced through."
The director mused: "I'd like to see how you perform against shield-type crystal beasts. Would that be alright?"
Xu Ran was just about to speak.
In the spectator stands, Tiger Girl's sparkling eyes were filled with astonished brilliance. She clapped and cheered, wanting to congratulate Xu Ran.
But the next moment.
A deafening chime—like a bell struck with immense force—exploded violently within her mind.
Tiger Girl's face turned pale as she collapsed to the ground, bleeding from her mouth and nose, and lost consciousness.
Director: "???"
Xu Ran turned back to look, instantly deploying the Three Thousand Thunders movement technique and appearing beside Tiger Girl in a flash: "Fainted all of a sudden? Could it be the third heavenly tribulation? Has the third one really come?"
Tiger Girl currently possessed two abilities: the first was extremely high comprehension, allowing her to learn the Traceless Step and Invisibility technique even faster than Zhu Yuheng; the second was the Indestructible Glazed Body providing all-around defense, with a portion of her abilities still unrevealed.
Therefore, Xu Ran, Auntie Qin Lu, and the director had all guessed that Tiger Girl had yet another awakening awaiting her.
He hadn't expected it to truly arrive.
Director: "The third awakening is starting, right?"
Xu Ran nodded: "Yes."
Director: "Quick, carry her to Qin Lu's research center; she has true blood of crystal beasts over there. Wait, your speed isn't enough, let me take her."
Xu Ran said nothing, swept Tiger Girl up in a bridal carry, and unleashed the mastery-level Three Thousand Thunders at full speed.
At this moment.
Holding nothing back, the speed he erupted with instantly kicked up a series of sonic booms.
Watching Xu Ran vanish from his sight in the blink of an eye, the director stood dazed, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him.
"Huh?"
"Wait, exactly how many cultivation arts does this kid usually keep hidden? He just refuses to use them unless he has to, is that it?"
The director's mind went numb.
The speed just unleashed definitely reached the level of a heaven-sent divine ability!
"If he's still hiding other abilities, then the gap of practicing for two and a half years less can definitely be bridged."
"Should I start preparing the award speech now?"
The director paused, looked in the direction where Xu Ran had vanished, picked up the blade Xu Ran had dropped on the ground, and slid it back into its scabbard.
"Remember to clean up the floor."
With that instruction given,
the director walked over to the grand arena's spectator stands and quietly watched the other children match wits and courage with the crystal beasts.
...
On the other side.
Xu Ran landed at Auntie Qin Lu's research center and walked straight inside.
He saw Tiger Girl unconscious, blood still staining her nose and mouth.
Auntie Qin Lu seemed to have anticipated this: "Has the third awakening begun?"
Xu Ran nodded: "Right."
Auntie Qin Lu remained calm: "Alright, put her on the bed. Help her take off her shoes and socks."
"Ever since the second heavenly tribulation, the director had me prepare 100 drops of Tier 7 crystal beast true blood and 100 drops of Tier 8 crystal beast true blood, waiting for this moment at any time."
"As expected of the director, showing such profound foresight! I am truly in awe."
While flattering her, Xu Ran took off Tiger Girl's shoes and socks, revealing her sparkling, translucent, pinkish-white little feet.
Auntie Qin Lu walked over carrying a scalpel.
Assistant Little Liu conveniently placed the true blood storage apparatus to the side.
Department Head Qin skillfully sliced open Tiger Girl's toe, and drop by drop, the Tier 8 crystal beast true blood was channeled toward her feet.
The effect of Tier 8 true blood was more than twice as potent as Tier 7 true blood!
As the true blood of the Tier 8 crystal beast was rapidly consumed,
a crimson-gold radiance—visible only to Xu Ran—bloomed from Tiger Girl's chest, growing increasingly intense until it resembled a peculiar gemstone.
Time ticked slowly away.
100 drops of Tier 8 true blood plus 20 drops of Tier 7 true blood were completely depleted.
Tiger Girl's body could no longer absorb any more true blood, and the wounds on her feet healed at a visible rate.
Looking dazed and groggy, Tiger Girl opened her sparkling gemstone-like eyes with an adorable expression.
Xu Ran: "How are you feeling, Tiger Girl? Is your physical condition alright?"
Lying on the bed, Tiger Girl kicked her feet up into the air: "My feet feel a bit cool and chilly~"
Xu Ran was speechless: "Just put your socks and shoes back on..."
Tiger Girl: "Oh."
With a charming smile, she put on her shoes and socks, bounced off the bed full of vitality, patted her chest, and rubbed her delicate, slightly chubby baby face.
"I feel like I've gotten stronger again!!"
Xu Ran: "Of course, this time you consumed a full 100 drops of Tier 8 crystal beast true blood."
Tiger Girl: "That much?"
Xu Ran nodded: "Yes, hurry up and thank Auntie Qin."
Tiger Girl obediently said: "Thank you, Auntie Qin."
Xu Ran: "Auntie Qin, we're heading out."
With that, he turned and left, Tiger Girl following closely at his side with a drooped head: "Big Brother Xu Ran, I might not be able to learn your Super-Burst Slash..."
She pouting her little lips, looking wronged.
Xu Ran: "You haven't even tried yet and you've already decided you can't learn it?"
Tiger Girl: "Mm... just now when I watched you swing your blade intently, warning bells suddenly chimed in my mind, and then I passed out."
Xu Ran raised an eyebrow: "Warning bells?"
Tiger Girl explained: "That's right, my Indestructible Glazed Body was warning me that if I forced myself to learn it, my body would shatter."
Xu Ran was puzzled: "Warning you? Your body would shatter? What's that about?"
Tiger Girl's sparkling eyes showed a look of deep thought: "I can't find the reason... sigh..."
Xu Ran pondered, then smiled and patted Tiger Girl's round head: "Don't sigh. Since the Indestructible Glazed Body is warning you, there's no need to force yourself to learn it. My [Super-Burst Slash]... well, for anyone else, it probably carries a certain degree of self-inflicted harm."
High-tier weapons, or even super-tier ones, couldn't withstand being swung like that multiple times...
If someone else forced themselves to learn it, they might end up dismantling themselves before managing to cut down an enemy.
Therefore, the warning from the Indestructible Glazed Body was likely meant to protect Little Glaze's safety.
Blinking her eyes, Tiger Girl enjoyed Xu Ran's soothing touch, a stubborn competitive gleam flashing in her eyes: "If I can't learn it, but Little Sister Yuheng manages to learn it, what should I do?"
Xu Ran chuckled dumbly: "Rest assured, if even you can't learn it, Zhu Yuheng most likely won't be able to either."
Tiger Girl: "Really?"
Xu Ran: "It should be true. One of these days I'll try teaching it to her, and chances are she'll pass out from it too..."
Tiger Girl: "Hee hee hee hee..."
Suddenly, she grew magnanimous: "Still, it would be pretty great if Little Sister Yuheng could learn it. Her offensive power is way too weak."
Xu Ran looked at Tiger Girl in surprise.
Tiger Girl gave a sweet smile: "Big Brother Xu Ran, let me tell you a secret in confidence: I've actually learned the Three Thousand Thunders technique, hehe."
Saying this, Tiger Girl transformed into a streak of lightning and darted away.
Xu Ran raised an eyebrow: "She actually managed to learn it? Truly living up to her crimson-gold bone marrow."
"It looks like I need to rack my brains and figure out how to get my hands on a crimson-gold bone marrow ahead of time. I'm only 80 fortune points away! Only 80 points!"
"Yeah! I can't just stay cooped up in the kindergarten all the time; I need to go out, take a walk, gain some practical experience, and trigger as many gold-tier achievements as possible."
Xu Ran nodded inwardly to himself. Feeling light on his feet, he was about to deploy the Three Thousand Thunders to catch up with Tiger Girl when—
Not far away, a familiar figure flashed past swiftly.
Xu Ran rushed over: "Uncle Ye, in two days when my super-tier long blade arrives, will you take me to hone my skills in the alien star battlefield?"
Ye Ping: "Have you learned the Vital Energy Lamp-Lighting Art yet?"
Xu Ran: "I'll learn it this afternoon."
Ye Ping: "..." He was left speechless for a moment. To be able to create a cultivation method that tripled efficiency on his own—learning a mere lamp-lighting art indeed only required an afternoon, or perhaps even less than an afternoon, just an hour.
But did he really want to take him to the alien star battlefield?
That was a chaotic zone with an extremely high mortality rate and viscous, corrosive pollution.
Taking an eight-year-old child to hone his skills in the alien star battlefield was crossing the line into excessive danger...
Yet, the moment he thought of how two years ago, Xu Ran had taken down a crystal beast with 40,000 vital energy points in a single dart throw,
Ye Ping felt he should agree to Xu Ran's request.
A full two years had passed; what was Xu Ran's true strength now? What hidden trump cards did he possess, and what tier of crystal beasts, resentment beasts, or phantoms could he kill in a single blow?
His curiosity was piqued, growing exceptionally intense.
*‘Why not act as his bodyguard and go witness Xu Ran's progress over the past two years? Let's see what kind of monstrous waves his comprehension and bone marrow can stir up...’*
Thinking of this, Ye Ping nodded solemnly: "Alright, we'll set off at ten o'clock two days from now. Remember to apply for permission from the director."
Xu Ran: "No problem, I'll go find the director right now. Besides, my weapon is still left over at the arena."
Bidding farewell to Uncle Ye, Xu Ran strode excitedly toward the arena at high speed.
Tiger Girl was waiting halfway: "Big Brother Xu Ran, where did you go?"
Xu Ran: "I ran into Uncle Ye and asked him to take me out for practical experience."
Tiger Girl's eyes brightened: "Practical experience? An actual battlefield? Can you take me with you? I'm very strong too, you know."
Xu Ran: "No can do. You have to turn eight years old, finish learning the vital energy cultivation method, and then master the vital energy lamp-lighting art before you can go!"
Tiger Girl was slightly surprised: "Big Brother Xu Ran, the place you're going for experience is actually the alien star battlefield?"
Xu Ran: "Smart!"
Tiger Girl worriedly noted: "Won't it be too dangerous? Big Brother Xu Ran is only eight years old..."
Xu Ran was completely unphased: "Precisely because there's danger, it counts as real experience."
Tiger Girl opened her mouth as if to say more, but the two of them had already arrived at the spectator stands of the arena.
Down below,
Zhu Yuheng and the others were still engaged in "combat."
The director stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Sensing Xu Ran and the others approaching, he turned and waved at them: "Come over here, hold onto your weapon properly. From now on, you must never casually discard your weapon. Even if you need to rescue your Little Sister Glaze, remember to keep a tight grip on your gear. This is a kindergarten, so the safety coefficient is high, but what if it were the alien star battlefield?! If you lost your weapon there, you wouldn't be able to save a single soul!"
The director's tone was stern.
Xu Ran accepted the lesson respectfully: "I will keep it in mind, Director."
The director nodded, then looked toward Tiger Girl with a kindly expression: "Is Little Glaze feeling better now?"
With a sweet smile, Tiger Girl hopped up and down beside the director a few times: "I'm completely fine! Full of energy!"
The director couldn't help but chuckle: "Not bad, not bad. For your third awakening, you actually consumed 100 drops of Tier 8 crystal beast true blood! I'm afraid that remaining portion of your latent abilities is going to be utterly exaggerated."
The director sighed in admiration as he patted Tiger Girl's head.
During her first awakening, she consumed 20 drops of Tier 7 crystal beast true blood, gaining comprehensive abilities including high comprehension, explosive vital energy growth, and formidable physical strength.
During her second awakening, she consumed 70 drops of Tier 7 crystal beast true blood, gradually acquiring the multidimensional defense of the Indestructible Glazed Body.
During her third awakening, she consumed 100 drops of Tier 8 crystal beast true blood... what kind of situation that would result in was unimaginable.
One could only say—she truly lived up to the title of [King of Tribulation Bearers]. Her monstrous potential was even a notch more brilliant than the current [Time Bone Marrow], second only to Xu Ran, who possessed the "Do-As-You-Please Bone Marrow."
It was just that she was truly young; with only 328 days left until the God-Slaying Team Selection Tournament, she hadn't even turned eight yet.
By the time she turned eight, the remaining cultivation time left for her would be a mere 270 days.
The children of her same batch had practiced for two years and seven months longer than her! That gap wasn't exactly easy to bridge!
The director felt a trace of anxiety, then glanced back at Xu Ran...
Judging from his performance of slicing apart the crystal armor hyena-ghost with a single blade earlier, Xu Ran could rely on his semi-divine cultivation method and his self-created [Burst Slash Saber] to erase a significant portion of that gap.
However, a gap of two and a half years wasn't something that could be wiped out in just a few months; even if he could narrow it, a gap still existed.
Xu Ran's opponents were one and all unfathomable—
Just how many heaven-sent divine abilities could [Mirror Supreme] Qin Yihou replicate? Did she have hidden trump cards?
[Microscopic Myriad Forms] had never once gone all out; everyone guessed she possessed even more bizarre methods!
[Sin-Purposing Thousand Thunders] was the most destructive all-rounder hexagon warrior.
[Eight-Armed Infant Primordial] was a monarch in the realm of spiritual power, also a super genius who had never revealed his full strength.
These five were absolute kings, and there might still be heavyweights hidden behind them.
Thus, whether he could squeeze into the top five and revive the glory of Jing Province left the director feeling quite nervous indeed.
However,
Xu Ran didn't care about the anxious look in the director's eyes at all; he went straight to the point: "Director, two days from now, once the super-tier Rock Spirit Ring-Hilt Saber is delivered, I'm going to ask Uncle Ye to take me to the alien star battlefield for practical training."
The director rejected him with a reflex-like response: "What? You want to go to the alien star battlefield for training? No, absolutely not! That brat Ye Ping is getting way too out of hand! How could he agree to such a thing?! Let me tell you, I will never consent to this!"
Xu Ran: "..."
The director's reaction seemed a bit unusually intense? Oh no, could it be that no amount of begging or pleading on his part would get them to let him go to the alien star battlefield?
What about my golden achievements? My Myriad Tribulations Flame? My invincible physical body...
"I don't want to wait even a single moment longer! I have to persuade the director!"
Xu Ran's gaze suddenly turned resolute.