Chapter 20: One Life Traded for Three Ways to Die

To guide the Root of Heaven and Earth Tribulation into the golden Bitter Sea, one naturally cannot rely on the Nine-Dragon Heaven-Burial Cauldron for refinement. Once refined, nothing would remain but a cluster of energy. To integrate it into the Bitter Sea, it must be subdued and assimilated, not refined. The Root of Heaven and Earth Tribulation is exceptionally volatile; it is not something just anyone can refine with ease. Moreover, the process is fraught with extreme danger. The slightest slip could lead to the total destruction of both body and soul.

"Think carefully. This process is a gamble between life and death. It is incredibly perilous, and in the end, you must rely entirely on yourself," the Cauldron Spirit warned Qin Ming.

To rise above others and defy the immortals, one must be willing to pay a price. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Those things that appear free have, in fact, already had their price secretly marked in the shadows.

"That dangerous? Is there any way to slightly increase the success rate?" Qin Ming asked. According to the Cauldron Spirit, this method of cultivation was essentially staking one’s life. If successful, he could amplify his offensive power, potentially reaching the pinnacle of historical attack strength. But if he failed, he would perish.

"Increase the success rate? Perhaps try at night," the Cauldron Spirit replied.

"At night? Is there some particular significance to that?"

"Because something is bound to go wrong sooner or later."

Qin Ming sighed softly, knowing he had to rely on himself. Without hesitation, he gripped the strand of the Root of Heaven and Earth Tribulation and pressed it directly into the center of his brow.

*Boom!*

Qin Ming’s body began to tremble violently. The Root of Heaven and Earth Tribulation was indeed savage; the moment it entered his body, his skin began to crack like a porcelain doll, covered in countless fissures. Compared to the exterior, the situation inside his body was even more terrifying—his meridians snapped, and his bones shattered.

*Puff!*

Qin Ming spat out a mouthful of blood, his body swaying unsteadily. He had known it wouldn't be simple, but he hadn't expected such horror. Gritting his teeth, he channeled the Undying Emperor Sutra. Simultaneously, his Undying Dao Birth Physique manifested its extraordinary nature, exuding a chaotic mist that coiled around him like shackles, tightening inch by inch to prevent his physical form from disintegrating. This was not orchestrated by Qin Ming, but by his own body. Closing his eyes, he focused his mind and channeled his Immortal Blood to repair his ravaged frame, while continuously working to assimilate the Root of Heaven and Earth Tribulation. This assimilation was a true gamble of life, merging his own blood and bone with the entity.

The process was agonizing. Every moment, his bones would shatter only to be mended once more. Through this life-or-death struggle, the progress of assimilation surged. The Cauldron Spirit watched on, clicking its "tongue" in admiration. It was truly worthy of being an Undying Dao Birth Physique—virtually inexhaustible, its vitality impossible to extinguish. Perhaps he really could guide this Root of Heaven and Earth Tribulation into his Bitter Sea.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Ming finally finished the assimilation. He was drenched in blood, looking like a man carved from gore. Yet, he remained indifferent, his eyes alight with brilliance—he had succeeded. It meant he could now guide it into the Bitter Sea.

*Crackling!*

A layer of lightning spread across the golden Bitter Sea. This was not the most terrifying part; the most daunting phenomenon was that dark clouds had gathered above the sea, with lightning flashing within them. This was Qin Ming’s unique manifestation: Great Thunder spanning the Golden Sea!

He had finally succeeded.

While Qin Ming was in seclusion, a cultivator dressed in burial robes searched the skies. He had been ordered by the Sect Master of the Corpse Sect to execute Qin Ming. Qin Ming’s aura had vanished within these mountains, and the cultivator could not lock onto his position. The stench of death clinging to the burial-robed man was thick, and in his foul mood, it became even more pungent.

"Where did that top sycophant of Qingzhou run off to? Don't let me find out where you're hiding, or else, hmph!" he muttered. "If I can't find that brat, I'll just head to the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Sect and slaughter the higher-ups and the disciples instead."

As he turned to leave, a calm voice sounded. "Or else what?"

The burial-robed cultivator jolted, preparing to spin around, but he was a moment too late. His body plummeted to the ground like a meteor, kicking up clouds of dust. The intense pain made him wince. As his vision cleared, he saw Qin Ming, who had just emerged from seclusion. After a brief moment of shock, a look of wild joy crossed his face.

"You are Qin Ming? Talk about stumbling upon something without even trying!"

Seeing the killing intent and delight in the man's eyes, Qin Ming immediately understood the situation. A counterattack from the Shenxuan Empire? Two things surprised him: first, their reaction was faster than he had anticipated; second, for a powerhouse like the Shenxuan Empire, one of the greatest factions in the Central Plains, they had sent only this one cultivator. It wasn't that the man was weak, but it didn't quite fit the stature of the Shenxuan Empire's elite.

"Are you a corpse?" Qin Ming asked, eyeing the man's attire with curiosity. It was truly bizarre; hanging from his waist was an incense burner with three sticks of incense stuck in it—three long and two short.

Hearing the word "corpse," the cultivator sprang up. "What corpse? I am from the Corpse Sect, sent to kill you!"

"Oh? Not a corpse? No matter, you will be soon enough."

Qin Ming clenched his fist. His internal phenomena surged; the golden Bitter Sea roared, and the Great Thunder erupted with brilliant lightning power. He swung his fist. At first, seeing the faint lightning on Qin Ming's fist, the cultivator was startled, but then he sneered. Qin Ming’s punch lacked any outward display of force—it was as if it carried no weight at all, implying that his offensive capabilities were mediocre.

"And here I thought you were a lightning cultivator!" the man mocked.

"Congratulations, you guessed right."

The moment he closed in, Qin Ming ceased suppressing his cultivation. *Boom!* A thick, golden light erupted, accompanied by strands of lightning.

"Bitter Sea Realm? You're a Bitter Sea cultivator? And a golden Bitter Sea at that? Hiss, is this lightning? You really are a lightning cultivator?"

The burial-robed man exerted every ounce of his power, realizing he had underestimated this target. Lightning cultivators and sword cultivators were synonymous with raw offensive power. He tried to block, but it was futile. The pair of fists were unstoppable, shattering his chest and punching straight through him, leaving him transparent from front to back, his beating heart visible.

Once the first move landed, Qin Ming shifted his fist into a sword, unleashing the Abyss Dragon Sword Technique. Piercing sword intent erupted, and six flying swords burst forth from within the cultivator’s body. With a wet *puff*, the man’s body was torn asunder, and he fell on the spot.

As the man died, Qin Ming said lightly, "Actually, I'm also a sword cultivator. You're lucky—one life, three ways to die."