Chapter 360: Chapter 310: But We Kill Gods

On the second day after the Grand Hunt, someone from the Qin Kingdom Royal Palace arrived to deliver Xiao Mo’s reward.

After mother and son expressed their gratitude, Xiao Mo had hoped that this large sum of money would allow his mother to buy some jewelry and new clothes.

But Zhou Ruoxi set the Gold aside, planning to use it to help her son get married in the future.

As for the fine silk fabrics, Zhou Ruoxi gave Cuicui two bolts and planned to use the rest to make clothes for Xiao Mo.

When Xiao Mo learned of his mother’s intentions, he tried to persuade her for a long time.

Only then did Zhou Ruoxi reluctantly agree to use the fabrics to make two outfits for herself.

Xiao Mo knew it was useless to argue with his mother about her frugality; this was the biggest concession she would make.

’Perhaps when I’ve made something of myself, Mother will finally be willing to spend a little on herself.’

With the Grand Hunt over, Xiao Mo’s life returned to its usual routine.

When Huang Shan learned that Xiao Mo had beaten a Cyan Moon Wolf to death, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

After all, no one was more aware of his disciple’s talent and strength than Huang Shan.

"Your battle with the Cyan Moon Wolf turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It solidified your Realm, made your Blood Qi more vigorous, and gave you a taste of a life-and-death struggle. Now, you can attempt Foundation Establishment.

But, kid, I need to make one thing clear to you. No matter how talented someone is, there are always risks when attempting a Realm Breakthrough. Success is never guaranteed.

If you fail, the best-case scenario is that your Realm shatters, and you’ll never be able to advance again in this life. The worst-case is that you perish, your Dao crumbling as you depart from this world.

So? Do you still dare attempt Foundation Establishment?"

Huang Shan asked Xiao Mo, stroking his beard.

"Master, you’ve said that cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall back," Xiao Mo said with conviction. "If I didn’t dare, you would never have taken me as your disciple."

"Hahahaha! Excellent!" Huang Shan nodded in satisfaction. "I’ll come to your courtyard to get you tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Master. But Master, about my attempt at Foundation Establishment... could we please not tell my mother about it just yet?" Xiao Mo requested.

Huang Shan paused for a moment, but he quickly understood the boy’s reasoning. "Don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll just say I’m taking you out to spar with some others."

"Thank you, Master."

Xiao Mo offered a cupped-fist salute, finally able to rest easy.

’Otherwise, if Mother knew I was going to attempt a Realm Breakthrough, she would worry endlessly.’

Early the next morning, Huang Shan arrived outside Xiao Mo’s courtyard.

Huang Shan told Zhou Ruoxi he was taking Xiao Mo to spar with a few Martial Dao Cultivators his age.

Zhou Ruoxi didn’t seem to give it much thought and readily agreed.

"Mother, I’ll be leaving now. I promise I’ll be back soon," Xiao Mo said to his mother.

"Mm-hm." Zhou Ruoxi nodded, bending down to straighten her son’s collar and the hem of his robes. "Mo’er, remember to be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard."

"I will, Mother." Xiao Mo then followed his master out of the courtyard.

Watching her son’s receding figure, Zhou Ruoxi lightly bit her lip, her hand unconsciously tightening its grip on her sleeve.

"There’s no need to worry, My Lady. The Young Master is just going to spar; nothing will happen," Cuicui said, stepping forward to comfort her mistress when she saw her worried expression.

"You’re right..." Zhou Ruoxi raised her head, gazing into the distance. "My Mo’er is blessed with great fortune. Nothing will happen to him... He’ll be fine..."

...

By mid-morning, Huang Shan and Xiao Mo had arrived atop a barren mountain outside the Imperial Capital City.

At the summit, Huang Shan set up a large cauldron, filled it with spring water, and added the medicinal herbs for the Tempered Body process.

"When we Martial Cultivators undergo our Tribulation, we don’t bother with all the flashy rituals other Cultivators use. We don’t worship heaven and earth. If the heavens try to stop us, we shatter them with a punch. Why would we offer false reverence to the Celestial Dao?"

Huang Shan took a swig of ale.

"This is your final Tempered Body session in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Its purpose is to give you a much better chance of surviving, even if you fail the tribulation. Understand?"

"I understand, Master."

"Good. Now, get in."

"Yes!"

After Xiao Mo jumped into the great cauldron, Huang Shan lit the fire beneath it.

Xiao Mo felt that this final Tempered Body session of the Qi Cultivation Realm was far more painful than any before.

Before, the pain had been like his sinews and bones were being snapped apart inch by inch.

But this time, it felt like a great mountain was crushing him to dust, over and over again.

Moreover, during this Tempered Body session, Xiao Mo could clearly feel the herbs stimulating the Blood Qi and Spiritual Power within him.

An hour later, Xiao Mo could no longer suppress his Realm. His eyes flew open.

RUMBLE!

In the sky above, dark clouds gathered in an instant, filled with flashing lightning as peal after peal of thunder echoed from within.

BOOM!

Accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, a bolt of lightning shot straight down toward Xiao Mo!

When most Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators face their Thunder Tribulation for Foundation Establishment, they dare not resist. They can only endure it passively, fearing they might provoke the Celestial Dao.

But Xiao Mo threw a punch, as if to challenge the very heavens and earth!

Fifteen minutes later, the thunder faded and the Thunder Tribulation dissipated.

The sky above was once again clear and bright.

Beneath the clear sky, Xiao Mo lay on the ground, his clothes in tatters. His charred skin peeled away bit by bit, revealing new flesh growing underneath.

"How do you feel?"

Huang Shan walked over and nudged Xiao Mo’s thigh with his foot.

"Not dead..." Xiao Mo coughed a few times, smoke wafting from his throat. "...It’s just, I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to Mother when I get back."

"You silly kid..." Huang Shan sat down cross-legged beside Xiao Mo, sighed, and shook his head. "Do you really think your mother didn’t know what you were here to do?"

Xiao Mo turned his head to look at Huang Shan.

"Your mother, she is, after all, the daughter of the City Lord of Yunhui City in the Zhuang Kingdom. Her insight isn’t something an ordinary woman can match. She must have guessed that you were going to face your tribulation today.

She just didn’t say anything because she was afraid it would affect you."

Huang Shan ruffled Xiao Mo’s hair.

"You don’t want your mother to worry, kid. But isn’t it the same for her?"

"..."

Xiao Mo lowered his gaze, momentarily speechless.

"Alright, enough about that. Just go back to her with your head held high. The fact that you successfully completed your Realm Breakthrough is the best comfort you can give her. And now that you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, after today, it’s time for me to teach you the Spear Technique."

"Master, what is the name of our Spear Technique?"

Xiao Mo asked.

’I’d asked Master about the Spear Technique so many times before, but he refused to say a single word about it.’

"The name of our lineage’s Spear Technique... is just two words."

With a flick of his toe, Huang Shan sent an ordinary long staff at his feet flying up. He caught it in one hand and pointed it forward.

BOOM!

A barren mountain over two thousand feet away shattered, the top half collapsing as boulders tumbled down.

"Other Spear Techniques—

Kill men.

Kill Demons.

Kill ghosts.

But what we kill...

...is gods!"

Huang Shan’s voice echoed across the mountaintop.

"Therefore... 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

this Spear Technique is named...

Godslaying Spear!"