C141 The Disappearing Qin Buyi!

Qin Buyi refrained from attacking for a simple reason: he was outmatched.

As for why the Azure Phoenix held back, Qin Buyi couldn't quite grasp the reason. He sensed the creature was sizing him up, possibly contemplating its next move.

The situation was utterly surreal. After all, a lightning tribulation is composed of lifeless lightning energy. How could it exhibit behaviors akin to a living entity? Yet, that's exactly what unfolded.

Their gaze locked for a quarter of an hour. Maybe the Azure Phoenix had figured Qin Buyi out, or perhaps it had grown impatient.

"Chirp~!"

With a sharp cry, the Azure Phoenix lunged at Qin Buyi.

"Finally," Qin Buyi muttered.

"Killing Swordsmanship: Obliteration, Immortal Slashing!"

"Killing Swordsmanship: Obliteration, Immortal Slashing!"

"Killing Swordsmanship: Obliteration, Immortal Slashing!"...

"Zheng!"

The Killing Saber trembled, its resonant hum filling the air. Qin Buyi unleashed the Immortal Slaying Combination Skill thirty times in rapid succession, pushing himself to his limits.

As the thirty dark blade beams left the Killing Saber, the Azure Phoenix, now grown to a colossal size, swooped in. It opened its massive maw and devoured the dark beams whole.

Inside the Azure Phoenix, the blade beams detonated, but the obliteration aura was instantly snuffed out by the creature's internal lightning force.

Without pausing, the Azure Phoenix continued its swift flight towards Qin Buyi. Before he could react, it swallowed him whole and sped off into the distance.

Among the onlookers, only Hee Yan and Ying Qian had the power to stop the Azure Phoenix's escape, but neither made a move.

Ying Zhi, growing anxious, pleaded, "Father, Dean Hee Yan, please lend your aid."

Ying Qian dismissed the request with a sharp rebuke, "Ridiculous!"

"Tribulation Crossing is not something we cultivators can meddle with. It is a natural phenomenon of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Any attempt to assist someone through the tribulation with formidable cultivation will provoke a backlash from the Great Dao itself."

"When the time comes, not only will we be unable to assist the one facing the Tribulation Crossing, but we too will be reduced to ashes by the backlash."

Hee Yan offered words of solace, "I understand the urgency of the Third Prince's feelings, but I regret to say that I am powerless to help."

Ying Zhi regained his composure, realizing that in his earlier distress, he had forgotten that one must not interfere with another's Tribulation Crossing.

"What will become of Mr. Qin?" Ying Zhi inquired.

Ying Qian responded with a sigh, "It's difficult to say; fortune and misfortune are unpredictable, and life and death hang in the balance."

Hee Yan advised, "Third Prince, given the severity of the Tribulation Crossing, please brace yourself for the possibility of grieving for your friend."

Ying Zhi's gaze grew distant as he murmured, "Grieve... I refuse to believe that Mr. Qin would meet his end this way. I simply can't accept it."

Despite his words, Ying Zhi had anticipated the outcome Hee Yan mentioned; he was just reluctant to accept it.

Ying Zhi stared in the direction the Azure Phoenix had vanished, remaining silent and motionless for a long while.

Hee Yan dispelled the transparent protective dome, addressing the assembled faculty and students of the College of Ming Dynasty, "Let's disperse and reflect on the insights we've gained over these past days."

The teachers and students were left wanting more, yet the unexpected turn of events during the Tribulation Crossing had taken them all by surprise.

Qin Buyi, the focal point of the Tribulation, had been devoured by the Azure Phoenix, vanishing without a trace.

There was no longer any reason for the onlookers to linger. They exchanged stories of their experiences with acquaintances and dispersed.

"These days have truly broadened our horizons. First, there was Instructor Qin Buyi's battle with the other five mentors, where he single-handedly overpowered them all, solidifying his status as the preeminent senior mentor."

"Indeed, those five battles are etched in my memory, particularly the things we'd never seen before—the virtual helmets, the opulent pods. Such exquisite craftsmanship."

"Hehe, I didn't glean as much as you all did. My entire focus was on the host displayed by the virtual helmet—such a stunning host."

"Hey, you old lecher, was the immersive experience of watching through the virtual helmet really meant for ogling the host?"

"In my opinion, the highlight was definitely Instructor Qin Buyi's Tribulation Crossing. It was a relentless onslaught, one wave after another."

"Consider this: the Tribulation Crossing Stage typically involves just nine tribulations. Instructor Qin Buyi summoned twenty-seven! Do you realize the magnitude of that? Even at the Mahayana Stage, the maximum is only twenty-nine tribulations."

"Did you feel it too? The power of that final tribulation—it had reached the Mahayana Stage. Absolutely terrifying! If I were in his shoes, I doubt I'd make it past the first one."

Before long, the arena had emptied until only a handful of spectators remained.

Ying Qian turned to Hee Yan and said, "Dean Hee Yan, I must attend to some state affairs back at the palace, so I'll take my leave now."

Hee Yan responded with a respectful gesture, "Your Majesty, travel safely."

Before departing, Ying Qian addressed the dazed Ying Zhi, "This young man is blessed with profound fortune; he won't meet his end so easily. Besides, with an immortal in his corner, there's no need for sorrow. Just wait patiently for his return."

Upon hearing these words, Ying Zhi snapped out of his stupor, murmuring to himself, "Indeed, with Mr. Qin's fortune and an immortal backing him, he's sure to survive. Haha."

Hee Yan watched Ying Qian with admiration, silently commending him with a thumbs up. "No wonder you're the emperor. That was masterful—just a few words and you've completely turned the Third Prince's mood around."

But internally, Hee Yan mused, "What does it matter if one is an immortal? They're merely more powerful beings, not gods above the natural order. Should they meddle with the tribulation, they too would face the wrath of the cosmic laws."

These thoughts, however, Hee Yan kept to himself, knowing that voicing them would plunge Ying Zhi back into despondency.

Seeing Ying Zhi's spirits lifted, Ying Qian vanished in the blink of an eye.

He didn't fly away; he simply vanished into thin air.

Hee Yan watched Ying Qian disappear, a look of admiration in his eyes. "That's the strength of the Half Immortal Stage for you. He's already able to break through spatial barriers and perform short-range teleportation."

Once his spirits were restored, Ying Zhi addressed Hee Yan, "Dean Hee Yan, I must take my leave now. Farewell!"

With Ying Zhi's departure, Hee Yan also chose not to linger. The arena was left with only Bao Shui and five other senior mentors.

Yu Jin gazed toward the horizon and turned to Bao Shui with a question, "Will Qin Buyi survive?"

Bao Shui first nodded, then shook his head, leaving the other four utterly baffled.

Ying Le demanded an explanation, "Bao Shui, what are you trying to say?"

Bao Shui clarified, "What I'm saying is, I simply don't know!"

In the first district, the Lan family members gathered anxiously around Azure and Great Immortal Huang.

Lan Wenhao inquired of Azure, "Qin Qing, what's the latest on Mr. Qin's condition?"

Qin Qing, Azure's formal name, was bestowed by Qin Buyi himself, and she had reveled in it for quite some time.

With a hint of despondency, Azure replied, "I've been trying to reach the old master, but there's been no response whatsoever."

Upon hearing this, a hush fell over the Lan family members.