C143 He Had Entered the Tribulation Crossing Stage!

Great Immortal Huang had become Qin Buyi's pet, albeit reluctantly and halfway through his journey.

Initially, there were some unpleasant run-ins between them.

But as days passed in the Small Chiliocosm, Great Immortal Huang grew to love it here, finding it infinitely better than his solitary existence in the Penglai Secret Realm.

He was surrounded by a powerful and inscrutable master, Boss Xiaoqing with his occasional clunky charm, and the Lan family who showed him immense respect.

Despite Qin Buyi having moved on from those early conflicts, Great Immortal Huang couldn't shake them off.

He believed that any discord with his master would surely cloud his future prospects.

Amidst his brooding, Qin Buyi suddenly scooped him up.

As Qin Buyi affectionately ruffled his head, he asked, "What's on your mind, little beast?"

Basking in the warmth of Qin Buyi's touch, Great Immortal Huang contentedly narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Heh, just daydreaming."

Once their playful moment ended, Qin Buyi handed an egg, crackling with surface lightning, to Azure, instructing, "Azure, place this egg alongside the Black Dragon Egg."

Azure, hauling an egg nearly as large as itself, took flight.

Quickly returning, Azure inquired with curiosity, "Master, it's done. Can the egg, transformed from the Azure Phoenix, actually hatch?"

Both Azure and Great Immortal Huang had felt the presence of Qin Buyi and the Azure Phoenix upon their arrival in the Small Chiliocosm.

They had also witnessed the transformation of the colossal Azure Phoenix into an egg.

Qin Buyi replied with uncertainty, "I'm not sure."

The words of the Azure Phoenix upon entering the Small Chiliocosm echoed in his mind: "If I'm not mistaken... Qin Buyi, you truly are..."

But before the Azure Phoenix could finish, it was overwhelmed.

Confounded, Qin Buyi considered consulting the System, though he suspected the answer would be to wait until his powers grew stronger.

Contemplating his cultivation, Qin Buyi converted the remaining 1,140 points from the System Mall into attribute points.

By the Seventh Stage's metric, 80 points per attribute point, he amassed a total of 13 attribute points.

After adding the remaining eight attribute points, Qin Buyi had a total of twenty-one attribute points allocated to his stats.

Qin Buyi accessed his personal information panel:

Name: Qin Buyi

Desolate Body: Intermediate

Attribute Increase: +10%

Cultivation: Seventh Rank, Early Tribulation Crossing (1021/2000)

Divine Consciousness: Middle Tribulation Crossing

Strength: 1021

Speed: 1021

Physical Stamina: 1021

Attack Power: 1021

Defense: 1021

Fortune: 1021

...

Killing Saber: Seventh Stage (1021/2000)

Broken Blade (2/9)

Attack Enhancement: +20%

Attack Power: 1021

Killing Saber Technique: Seventh Stage (1021/2000)

Attack Power: 1021

Azure Dragon: Seventh Stage (1021/2000)

His cultivation had fully advanced from the peak of the Combination Stage to the early period of the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

His Divine Consciousness had similarly ascended from the early to the middle period of the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Qin Buyi estimated that if he were to duel with Inferno, who was at the Half Step Mahayana Stage, the chances of victory would be evenly matched.

Even if he couldn't secure a win, he wouldn't be easily defeated.

A flicker of happiness crossed Qin Buyi's face as he mused, "That's right, with my breakthrough to the Tribulation Crossing Stage, I can now execute the seventh form of the Killing Saber Technique, Duan Qianchen."

The seventh form, Duan Qianchen, of the Killing Saber Technique had been a long-anticipated skill for Qin Buyi.

He drew the Killing Saber and began to practice Duan Qianchen within the confines of the Small Chiliocosm.

From a distance, Great Immortal Huang and Azure observed Qin Buyi honing his saber skills.

Suddenly, a surge of energy rippled through Azure, and his cultivation soared to the early period of the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Great Immortal Huang inquired of Azure, "Boss Xiaoqing, have you made another breakthrough?"

The reason he asked "again" was that Azure had experienced several breakthroughs while they were playing together.

Azure, somewhat baffled, turned to Great Immortal Huang and asked, "Yes, what about it?"

After a moment of awkward fumbling, Great Immortal Huang finally muttered, "Boss Xiaoqing, don't you think the way your cultivation is advancing is rather peculiar?"

"Every time the old master levels up, you're right there with him, breaking through as well," observed Little Azure, finally understanding why Great Immortal Huang had been hemming and hawing. With a chuckle, he tapped Great Immortal Huang's head with his dragon claw and said, "Ever since the old master hatched me, I've never had to worry about advancing my cultivation."

"Every time the old master's power grows, mine does too."

"That's why I don't bother with cultivating on my own. All this time, I've been too busy having fun."

Watching his own Combination Stage cultivation with a hint of envy, Great Immortal Huang mused, "Is this what they mean by getting stronger while lying down? Boss Xiaoqing, doesn't that make you wonder?"

Wrapping his claw around Great Immortal Huang, the Azure Dragon whispered, "I've been curious, sure, but what's curiosity compared to the joy of play? I bet the old master has cast some mighty spell."

"Our fates have been bound together for ages. If anything were to happen to the old master, I'd be the first to go."

"But I'm not concerned about that. The old master is too powerful to fall easily."

"And if that day ever does come, to die alongside the old master as his pet would be an honor."

After hearing Little Azure's reflections, Great Immortal Huang stood in contemplation before declaring, "Once I've made my mark, I hope the old master treats me the same. You're spot on, Boss Xiaoqing. I want my life bound to the old master's."

"And then... then I'll get stronger without effort and play every day, just like you."

Great Immortal Huang hadn't yet asked Qin Buyi for this favor, knowing that such a powerful spell would likely consume a fortune in treasures.

Rashly asking might lead to rejection, so he preferred to focus on how he could contribute, saving his request for when he'd earned it.

With an encouraging glance, the Azure Dragon patted Great Immortal Huang's shoulder and said, "You'll have to put your back into it, then."

Great Immortal Huang nodded with determination, "I'm on it!"

Meanwhile, as the two creatures conversed, Qin Buyi had already completed his saber practice.

He approached Azure and Great Immortal Huang and announced, "Let's go, we're heading out."

The Azure Phoenix had been in flight for three days, by now far beyond the reaches of the Ming Dynasty's domain.

Given the Middle Period Mahayana Stage's flying speed, after three days of non-stop travel, its whereabouts were anyone's guess.

The "outside" Qin Buyi referred to was certainly not the entry point they had used with the Azure Phoenix.

He intended to use the teleportation gate left behind in the Small Chiliocosm to make their way back to Area One of the College of Ming Dynasty.

Qin Buyi, leading the two creatures, crossed through the teleportation gate.

They materialized in Area One, home to the senior mentors of the College of Ming Dynasty.