Chapter 381: Why Does This Thunder Mark Look a Bit Like a Bite Mark?
As expected, exploiting a bigshot's system wasn't that easy.
Suspended midair once again, Luo Wusheng came to this painful realization.
The moment the trial map shifted, the waters above the arena reacted like they'd been waiting for him. Without hesitation, a tendril of water shot out, wrapping around his ankle—and another coiled around Ling Shuangxue's—dragging the two escapees right back up into the air.
Only now did Luo Wusheng realize something crucial:
The cooldown period for this trial wasn't based on when you escaped... it was based on the original punishment duration—as in, how long you were meant to "serve your sentence."
Using system permissions to skip ahead could buy time, sure, but not a permanent solution.
The Sword Emperor's trial mechanics were truly on another level.
Luo Wusheng glanced at the watery tendril binding his leg. He knew from experience: if he so much as twitched, the thing would multiply.
With a resigned sigh, he looked across at the other figure dangling beside him.
Well… it wasn't all bad.
At least his beautiful wife was hanging upside down with him.
For some reason, that made him feel... oddly comforted?
Of course, he couldn't show that on his face. Otherwise, even with Ling Shuangxue's usual gentle temperament, she might just deck him out of sheer annoyance.
So, the ever-crafty Holy Saint of the Demon Sect chose to play innocent.
He put on a sincerely regretful expression.
"Uh… I really didn't think this would happen. Seriously. Want to just… go back?"
Ling Shuangxue let out a soft, helpless sigh.
"Forget it. Let's continue, this is not my first time, anyway."
According to her husband, this trial was something they'd have to complete eventually.
If they were going to end up strung up like this no matter what, they might as well grit their teeth and finish it.
And honestly? The current situation was still better than before.
At least now she wasn't the only one hanging upside down while a certain someone—who was definitely not her beloved—stood nearby smirking like it was all a joke.
With him beside her, also dangling like a roasted duck, she felt a strange sense of emotional equilibrium.
Somehow, it made her heart feel a little lighter.
But just as she was about to relax, her gaze drifted… And her brows furrowed.
Her eyes locked onto Luo Wusheng's right shoulder.
"…Now that I look at it, I hadn't noticed before… What's going on with that thunder mark on your shoulder?"
A flash of suspicion gleamed in the Sword Sect Peak Master's eyes.
"Why does the pattern look so faded now? And... why does it look kind of like a human bite mark?"
Luo Wusheng froze.
Completely still.
After all, ever since the stored thunder core inside Yao Ji's bite had been fully refined by his tribulation-devouring ability, the original thunder pattern had reverted… Back into the shape of that bite.
He had to admit—That pink-haired fox girl truly lived up to her status as a Peak Tribulation Crossing cultivator.
The mark she'd left on him was permanent—utterly indelible.
It had fused with him.
Become a part of him.
And since it hadn't caused him any pain or spiritual disturbance, Luo Wusheng had gradually... almost completely forgotten it was even there.
But now—His wife, who had definitely seen every part of his body before, had suddenly noticed it.
And as her tone cooled and her eyes narrowed—
Luo Wusheng felt a chill run down his spine.
Cold sweat almost broke out across his back.
'Calm down… just stay calm... Shuangxue still thinks it's just a thunder mark. As long as I keep it cool, this isn't too hard to explain…'
Right as Luo Wusheng tried to compose himself, another water tendril slithered down from above and coiled tightly around his other leg.
Apparently, some mysterious judgment system had interpreted his inner panic as "struggling."
"..."
Seeing the thoughtful expression on his wife's face, Luo Wusheng nearly lost control of his facial muscles.
But he quickly pulled himself together and said—calmly, or at least as calmly as he could manage:
"This… like I said before, it's the result of my imperfect mastery over thunder power. Now that I've gained deeper insights and reached the Nascent Soul Realm, most of the mark has faded—only this small bit remains."
He kept his voice steady as he added, "And as for why it looks like a bite mark… that's purely a coincidence. I don't have control over how the pattern morphs. Besides, if it really was a bite mark, would it have lasted this long? You've seen how fast I normally heal…"
Okay, maybe he was overselling it.
If that extra water tendril hadn't suddenly shown up, this might've actually sounded convincing.
Ling Shuangxue seemed deep in thought after hearing his explanation.
"So you're saying… once you fully master your thunder power, the mark will disappear?"
"…It should," he replied, as confidently as possible.
Deep down, Luo Wusheng silently vowed: Next time I see Yao Ji, I'm going to shout, "Yao Ji, please take back your blessing!"
Then again… that felt like a waste.
The mark did have protective properties, after all. It was also a token of Yao Ji's affection.
And who knew? Maybe he could even seal another tribulation lightning inside it later.
No, best to just find a good way to cover it up.
Come to think of it… if he died and revived, would that mark disappear?
Wait—what was the current situation with his resurrection anyway? If he revived in that overlapping space, would his body reform on Xiaofeng Mountain when he exited?
Or would the resurrection location follow the Antediluvian Nether Eye and drop him straight into the Imperial Pool?
His thoughts drifted unconsciously.
Until he realized his wife was still thinking.
Clearing his throat quickly, Luo Wusheng changed the subject.
"Ahem—being hung up like this is pretty boring. Want to hear a story?"
Ling Shuangxue glanced at him, then slowly closed and opened her eyes.
"…Alright."
Maybe she was overthinking things a little.
Luo Wusheng secretly let out a breath of relief. Outwardly, he remained as composed as ever.
"Let's see… legend has it that in the Great Desolation era, there was a great human emperor with the surname Niu."
"He lived incognito beside a mortal family named Hu. One day, a snake spirit and a scorpion spirit came from the south and captured seven children from the Hu family—children this emperor had grown quite fond of. Enraged, he revealed his true identity and returned to the Immortal Realm—"
About half an hour passed., which to a cultivator like them, is not long at all.
When they were finally released from their watery restraints, and the black swords scattered across the ground began to tremble in unison, Ling Shuangxue furrowed her brow.
Time had passed too fast.
She hadn't gotten to hear the end of that story.
Even though it wasn't some profound sword cultivator legend, it had a strange allure—especially the part revealing that the Hu family's son-in-law, the one behind everything, turned out to be a pangolin spirit.
But the trial wouldn't wait for storytelling.
All around them, the familiar earthen mounds beneath the black stone swords began to bulge, one after another.
The auras rising from within surged with terrifying speed—reaching the Nascent Soul realm in mere seconds.
Both of them immediately shed their idle thoughts and shifted into combat mindset.
Surrounded by a dense field of Nascent Soul energy, they moved as one. In perfect synchronization, they raised their hands.
In Ling Shuangxue's hand appeared her ever-reliable Cold Light Sword—its blade gleaming with a cold, sharp brilliance.
As for Luo Wusheng—of course he wasn't going to use [Phantomless 2.0]. If he did, the whole trial would be meaningless.
Instead, he drew the sword gifted to him by a certain slightly foolish Nascent Soul cultivator: the infamous Dog-Egg Sword.
Yes, the name was ridiculous.
But the sword itself? A solid mid-grade artifact. And not just any mid-grade weapon—among them, it was one of the best.
Currently, it was the strongest sword he owned aside from [Phantomless 2.0].
'...I really need to give this thing a better name later.'
As that thought crossed his mind, lightning began to crackle across his right arm, wrapping around the blade like a living current.