Bixiao became addicted to going to Jiang Yun's Cave Abode to mooch Spiritual Tea, and she never missed a single visit.
As it turned out, Jiang Yun suddenly decided to wander around the Lecture Hall today. Bixiao, who had gone to his Cave Abode to mooch tea at the appointed time, couldn't find him. So, following the trail of other disciples, she finally found him at the Main Hall of the Lecture Hall.
She hadn't been outside the main hall for long when she assumed Jiang Yun was discussing serious matters inside. So she peeked in cautiously for a while, and just Kinnara wanting to test his Dao Heart. Not understanding the details, she thought there was something fun going on inside, so she quickly went in.
"Bixiao, what are you doing here! Aren't you the one who hates cultivation the most?"
"Senior Brother, how dare you say that? I went to your Cave Abode to have tea, but you weren't there. I had to search all over the mountain."
Fortunately, some of my fellow disciples spotted you, and with their guidance, I was able to find my way here.
Besides, I haven't neglected my cultivation. I ask you out for tea every day precisely for the purpose of cultivation!
Hmph, look at me, I've been going to your place every single day to mooch tea in order to improve my cultivation. I'm so diligent, you can't slander me!
"Pfft..."
Hearing her spewing nonsense, Kinnara couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Jiang Yun looked at Bixiao's arrogant demeanor with a helpless expression; he really owed her something!
"You know your behavior is called 'mooching'! It's not like I didn't give you Spiritual Tea, but you insist on coming to my place every day to join in the fun. I've only had a few days of peace and quiet, sigh... what a waste!"
"Well... I was just trying to save some Spiritual Tea! You see, you sit at the mountain gate every day, it must be pretty boring, I was just keeping you company to pass the time."
"By the way, Senior Brother, what fun things are you and Kinnara Brother Kinnara doing?"
Seeing that things were not going well, Bixiao rolled her eyes and immediately changed the subject.
"Bixiao Sister Bixiao, Senior Brother has crafted two Spiritual Treasure for the Lecture Hall. One is this silver-white Nine Tribulations, used to temper Dao Heart; the other is that dark blue Nine Prohibitions, used to enhance combat skills. I'm just about to test the power of these two Spiritual Treasure!"
Kinnara answered Bixiao's question on Jiang Yun's behalf.
"Bixiao, you've come at the right time. These two Spiritual Treasure haven't been used since they were refined. You and Kinnara should try out the effects of the Spiritual Treasure' Mortal Tribulation's first!"
Jiang Yun seemed to have thought of something interesting, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes and between her brows.
To Bixiao, that smile was utterly malicious, and she couldn't help but shiver, waving her hands repeatedly to refuse Jiang Yun's suggestion.
"No... no... Senior Brother, Senior Brother Kinnara is enough. If you think there aren't enough people for the experiment, I can go and call some other fellow disciples for you! Hehe... I'll head out now."
As she spoke, she retreated towards the entrance of the main hall, completely devoid of the excitement she had shown when she entered.
"Oh, there's no rush. You can call the other junior brothers for me after you've tested the effects of the Spiritual Treasure!"
"Oh dear, the other senior brothers are all highly skilled; only they can truly test the power of the Spiritual Treasure during the trial! My cultivation is low, so I can wait a bit longer. I can't hold back the Senior Brother's efforts."
"Hehe... well, you don't have a choice now. You're already here, how can you not go in and try it out first!"
Seeing Bixiao trying to escape, Jiang Yun unleashed a burst of Magical Power from his right hand, activating the Nine Tribulations Tower. Instantly, a tremendous force of attraction emanated from the tower, firmly pulling Bixiao in. Bixiao cried out in alarm, "No! Senior Brother, I was wrong!..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was tumbling and sucked into the tower.
Seeing that Bixiao had already gone inside, Jiang Yun turned her head and smiled at Kinnara.
"Junior brother, it's about time. Why don't you go in and see how it works?"
"Ah... ha... well, junior brother will go in and try it out now, no need for senior brother to do anything!"
Kinnara was speechless. He had never seen Jiang Yun with such a wicked sense of humor before. He quickly and obediently entered the Nine Tribulations through the first-floor tower gate.
This Spiritual Treasure, the Mortal Tribulation Tower, has seven levels, corresponding to different cultivation levels from Earth Immortal to Great Luo Immortal. The tribulations within the tower are divided into nine types: "Greed Tribulation," "Anger Tribulation," "Ignorance Tribulation Wrath Tribulation," "Separation Tribulation," "Unobtainable Tribulation," "Meeting Those Hatred Tribulation," "Fear of Death Tribulation," "Mortal Tribulation," and "Dao Seeking Tribulation."
The three tribulations of greed, anger, and ignorance are tests of the three physical emotions within human nature: greed, rage, and delusion. These three emotions can be a driving force for a practitioner's spiritual journey, but they can also become obstacles. The purpose of these three tribulations is to learn how to control these three emotions and break through their obscuring of one's true nature.
The three tribulations of Separation from Loved Ones, Association with the Hated, and Unfulfilled Desires one desires are more reflected in the life experiences of a living being than the previous three. The longer one lives and the more experiences one has, the more likely one is to go to two extremes regarding these three tribulations. One either sees through the ways of the world, after all, time is a great healer, it can wash away all psychological torment, making a person numb and freeing one from all worldly concerns, or one develops an obsession, which, as time goes by, ferments and becomes more and more mellow, making it impossible to extricate oneself.
Sometimes, through repeated experiences, if one can comprehend the principle of "dependent origination and emptiness," increase one's wisdom, observe the impermanence of all phenomena, and let go of Desires, one can naturally break through the three kalpas. However, if one clings to attachments and takes attachments as the path, it may not be a bad way to break through the kalpas.
The other three tribulations—the Tribulation of Fear of Death Tribulation and the Mortal Tribulation the Mortal World—involve one's life and death experiences and memories within the illusionary realm, constantly questioning one's true nature and strengthening one's belief in the Dao. The Tribulation of Dao Seeking Tribulation requires facing the Heavenly Dao Will directly. This is a kind of Dao Tribulation that not ordinary people can trigger unless one's Daoist practices are beneficial to Heavenly Dao. If one can pass the test, one 'Dao Heart will naturally become clear, Heavenly Dao will favor one, and one's cultivation will be smooth sailing.
Each level presents a corresponding test to those who enter the tower. In fact, the difficulty of each level is similar, but it manifests differently in different beings. With each tribulation overcome, one 'Dao Heart becomes stronger.
Of course, different tribulations will produce different effects after being overcome. The clearer a person's Dao Heart is, the less interference they will encounter in their future cultivation, and their faith will be more steadfast, which is of great benefit to breaking through the bottleneck of their cultivation realm.
At this moment, the two people who entered the tower had already begun their respective tribulations. As the one who refined the Spiritual Treasure, Jiang Yun could monitor their status in real time.
When forging this Spiritual Treasure, he incorporated many familiar stories from his Previous Life into these tribulations, believing that those classic plots would surely provide them with considerable inspiration.