1118: Mud and Clay

Mud and Clay

Seal of the Void: A sealing technique of unspecified classification requiring two people to complete. 2

Can be used by cultivators of any realm with the only base requirement being that both participants be on the same spiritual and mental wavelength because once the technique is executed the innermost thoughts, desires, and even memories of either participant can be seen and felt by the other.

Once the process is started it cannot be stopped. The more both participants trust each other the stronger its effects will be.

Zou Huan let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Han Rong who seemed to be much more at ease. He opened his mouth to say something and after some hesitation asked, "Are you sure you're okay with this? Last time-"

But Zou Huan gestured for him to stop.

"This time is different. We have no other choice."

After a few seconds of silence Han Rong jokingly patted him on the back, "It could be worse, much worse. This thing is far too big for us to understand so let's just do what we can. If nothing else we can say we tried."

"Yeah, I know, let's do it."

Sokol jumped down from Zou Huan's back and moved over to the edge of the pit to look in Hao Xuan's direction. He was standing there completely open as heavenly thunder licked the space around him preparing to attack.

"You have to hurry otherwise the inner tribulation will end soon in victory."

"Inner tribulation?! Hao Xuan is?!" Han Rong was once again startled to hear about something he had only read in books.

Where the standard tribulation was a test of the body and spirit sometimes, extremely rarely, it was heralded by the tribulation of the mind.

It was extremely difficult to even know it was happening let alone defend against it. Many scholars argued it was not even an actual heavenly tribulation but simply the aftereffects of one on the weak-minded individuals.

It presented itself in stark contrast to the physical tribulations without even so much as a sound.

The cultivator undergoing the tribulation would begin to have dark thoughts ranging from suicide to merely giving up. They would lose all hope for the future and the will to fight along with it. They would second guess themselves and the reasons for their existence.

It varied slightly from person to person but the end would be the same for all. If they could not keep these dark thoughts away then the very first bolt of heavenly thunder would reap their souls since they would not be able to defend against it properly.

Han Rong's expression turned grim as he gestured for Zou Huan to join him.

"We have to hurry. Come," he made a fist with his right hand extending it towards Zou Huan while the other hand was held in front of his chest with forefinger and the middle finger facing upwards.

Zou Huan nodded, bracing himself for what was to come. He extended his left hand balled up into a fist to meet Han Rong's while the right hand was held in front of his chest in the exact same manner.

They closed their eyes as the wind and rain picked up speed battering against their bodies like steel bullets. Their breathing slowed to a crawl until it was in tandem with one another and all other sensations were slowly cut off.

Their spiritual senses met along the arms as the middle door within their central mind palaces opened in unison allowing for their true souls to fully reveal themselves.

A tsunami of voices, images, and emotions were exchanged between them.

Outside the area between their brows began to light up with a golden aura. Both of their lips were moving in sync mumbling the incantation.

Sokol watched them for a few seconds before looking over his shoulder.

"Yes, I can do that."

The wind suddenly slowed before picking up its pace. It was communicating with him in a way that only he could understand.

"It doesn't matter how dangerous how it is. It's my duty. I will do it."

The wind slowed again in an obviously despondent manner making Sokol smile. If one looked closely it would seem like there was a hand caressing his cheek lovingly.

"Why are you sad? I'm not. You gave me another chance to see abba so I will not run away."

As soon as he finished talking Sokol jumped into the pit. The fall was more than 40 meters which no mortal could survive but a few feet off the ground a gust of wind suddenly blew in from nowhere reducing his speed.

He landed gently on the ground before sprinting towards Hao Xuan at full speed. The same as before his speed was much faster than an average human since with every step he could cover several meters.

But when he got within 100 meters of Hao Xuan that quickly changed as short bursts of lightning began to hit wherever he was about to step making him change his direction.

He dodged left and right as best he could but eventually one of them hit his right hand which instantly turned to dust.

He grimaced from the pain but did not let it slow him down one bit.

Fifty meters, thirty meters, twenty meters, the closer he got the deadlier the lighting became.

Sometimes gusts of wind would come out of nowhere and push him out of the way but he was hit twice more. His upper right shoulder was charred black missing most of it and there was a hole just above his left hip.

Strangely enough no blood came out. It looked as if his body was made from clay but the pain he was feeling was more than real.

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