Volume One: The Misty Cloud Immortal Palace Chapter 112: Fairy Hanabi

Chapter 112: The Firework Fairy

Boom! Thunder roared across the sky, lightning weaving through the air. Inside the alchemy prison, the place had turned into a ravaged battleground of heavenly tribulation. Endless layers of terrifying thunder roared through the void like a surging river, continuous and unceasing.

Since ancient times, cultivators choosing to undergo tribulation would always seek out vast, deserted areas—first, to avoid disturbance. Everyone knows that crossing a tribulation is a pivotal moment in ascending to a higher realm; it is a matter of life and death. One careless move could reduce the cultivator to ash, their soul scattered. If anyone interrupted at such a moment, the chance of failure would drastically increase. Even if they did nothing but hurl insults, it could disturb the cultivator’s mind, causing their spirit to waver. This sensitivity is because tribulation crossing is a transition not only of the body and spirit but also of the mind. Once this balance is broken, it leads to demonic possession—at best a drop in realm and madness, at worst, immediate demise and dissolution.

Secondly, to avoid creating karmic retribution through killing. Tribulation crossing is a solitary ordeal. If any other beings remain within the tribulation zone, they risk being struck dead by the lightning. Usually, these beings are weak and untrained, making the tribulation an unfortunate calamity for them. As for other cultivators who happen to be in the area, it is even worse. Their immortal bodies act as lightning rods, forcing them to endure a passive tribulation. This kind of passive tribulation does not follow normal rules; it seems as if the heavenly thunder is intent on punishing them until they are struck down.

Previously, Zhou Hao and Firework had already strategized inside the Yin-Yang Cauldron on how to deal with Nangong Xun and the Night Envoy. With their usual strength, even fighting to the death with the Yellow-Skinned Gourd would not easily grant them advantage. However, by utilizing Firework’s tribulation during her ascension to the Golden Immortal realm, the situation would immediately turn in their favor.

According to Zhou Hao’s knowledge, unless a Great Immortal or higher intervenes, passive tribulation is unbreakable. While its effect disregards realm differences, if a powerful cultivator far surpassing the one undergoing tribulation acts, they can forcibly kill the tribulation subject, ending the tribulation instantly. After all, if the tribulation subject dies, what purpose does the tribulation serve? Therefore, if a cultivator at the Great Immortal level appears, even though they face passive tribulation, they can preemptively kill the tribulation subject, causing the tribulation to dissipate immediately.

As expected, their assumptions proved correct. Nangong Xun and the Night Envoy were both in the Upper Immortal realm. Under normal circumstances, they could easily crush a Golden Immortal, but being locked inside the tribulation zone, any hesitation would invite a merciless thunderstorm. Striking out would only invite the thunder’s backlash. Thus, they could not kill Firework, who stood at the center of the tribulation. Their only choice was to flee the storm. Any delay meant being entangled by the heavenly thunder, risking the total loss of their cultivation.

Which immortal would dare casually challenge the majesty of heavenly tribulation? It is like walking a tightrope in the sky—every step is a gamble with life itself.

On the ground beside the bronze cauldron, Zhou Hao shielded everyone with the Yellow-Skinned Gourd. Its mouth emitted a white light that enveloped the group, protecting them from the thunder’s wrath. The Yellow-Skinned Gourd had an extraordinary origin, once a winning artifact of the Great Immortal Deng Tulang. Over countless years, it passed through many hands, becoming a treasured immortal relic. Under its protection, there was no need to fear inadvertent passive tribulation.

At this moment, Zhou Hao and the others only needed to calmly wait under the gourd’s shelter for Firework to complete her tribulation in the sky.

“Zhou Hao, you’re incredibly clever to think of using passive tribulation!” Yu Nan and Xiao Shanshan both praised him in unison, their eyes shining with joy.

From earlier worries to this great reversal, it had truly been a small journey of the heart. Everyone was amazed by Zhou Hao and Firework.

“Actually, it’s all thanks to Firework!” Zhou Hao smiled, looking up at the thundercloud above. Within it was a red figure enduring the heavens’ torment and the relentless lightning strikes.

Firework had been reborn through the Solar Spirit Fire in the Great Immortal’s cave. Already at the lower immortal perfect realm, she was now undergoing the refining of the human pill inside the Yin-Yang Cauldron with Zhou Hao. It was the perfect moment to break through. Thus, they conceived the idea of forcing Nangong Xun and the others into passive tribulation. Even if the lightning couldn’t kill them, it would terrify them to death. Hahaha...

“That’s right, scare them to death! Didn’t you see just now? Nangong Xun and the Night Envoy looked like they’d seen ghosts and ran away like scared children. Hahaha...” The turtle couldn’t stop laughing.

Yu Nan also glanced up toward the thunderstorm’s center and softly said, “But this Golden Immortal tribulation still requires much effort. We can only pray she passes through safely.”

Hearing this, Zhou Hao nodded. “I have faith in Firework. Though I haven’t advanced in realm during this pill refinement, my Golden Immortal foundation is solid. I believe her breakthrough will go smoothly.”

Watching the white-clad youth speak spiritedly about another woman, Yu Nan inexplicably felt a surge of emotion—somewhat anger even—but she quickly shook her head, dismissing such thoughts.

“Firework is just a little sister in Zhou Hao’s eyes; he supports and cares for her. What nonsense am I thinking? I’m just too sensitive! Besides, Su Qing is dead now; no one will compete for Zhou Hao.”

Above, Firework shifted between human form and a lotus shape amidst the lightning, undergoing tribulation and transformation. Unlike Zhou Hao’s previous fierce resistance against heavenly tribulation, she was comprehending the Dao of thunder, welcoming the lightning with open arms, neither avoiding nor attacking it.

Such a path was perilous—only death by body explosion awaited! Yet Firework’s body remained intact. The lightning flowed through her and leaked out, while the fiery red lotus grew even more vibrant, as if the thunder was purging impurities from her body, revealing her essence more purely.

Below, Zhou Hao and the others were stunned. Firework’s tribulation was truly extraordinary. Others resist and fight their tribulations, but she seemed to use the raging lightning to cleanse herself, utterly fearless of heavenly punishment.

Lightning danced wildly, thunder rolled endlessly. At the center, Firework was surrounded by tribulation, but surprisingly, she was one with the Dao, born close to thunder. The divine lightning was not destroying her but perfecting her.

The tribulation soon ended. Firework transformed into a blood-red lotus, crystal-clear and radiant, rooted in the void. Waves of heat surged forth, and a mighty pressure enveloped the alchemy prison. The lotus had nine petals, each sprinkled with dazzling red light rain like meteor fire or fairy light—exquisitely beautiful!

At the lotus’s seed pod fluttered a golden flame, flickering in the wind. This flame was much more intense than when Zhou Hao first saw it.

The Nine-Petal Fire Heart Lotus’s core was this golden flame—a manifestation of Firework’s cultivation and true spirit. She had grown from a fire lotus seedling, whose core was not a seed but a cluster of golden-red flames. Strangely, as the seedling matured into a full lotus, the golden-red flames faded, eventually forming this golden flame.

“She is now a true mid-stage Golden Immortal. By realm alone, she is the strongest among us!” Green Snake murmured, gazing at the brilliant lotus above.

The turtle immediately retorted, “No, no, no, that’s not certain! Once I breakthrough, I’ll jump straight from early Golden Immortal to Upper Immortal realm. Then I’ll be the strongest. Ahahaha... Hey, why are you hitting me? What if my smart head gets broken?”

“Goose is wrong! Goose is really wrong! I shouldn’t contradict you! ... Stop squeezing, if you squeeze my neck again, I really will die...”

Soon, the turtle’s cries were more pitiful than a slaughtered pig. While Green Snake appeared polite to others, with the turtle, she was a total tomboy.

Suddenly, Firework completed her tribulation and immediately transformed into human form, descending. The surrounding tribulation dissipated, everything returning to normal.

Petite in stature, exquisitely beautiful in face, the post-tribulation red-clad loli Firework shone with a sweet and adorable radiance, as if she emitted light. Wearing a scarlet robe, her red hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders. Her crimson pupils flickered with lively brilliance, and her entire being radiated spiritual energy.

“You’re even prettier now. I should call you the Firework Fairy—getting cuter by the day!” Zhou Hao met her gaze, and she smiled broadly, her neat white teeth flashing brightly.

“Wait, Fairy? Am I really that small?” Firework suddenly seemed to recall something, pouting her cherry lips. “I’m over a thousand years old, hardly little!”

Zhou Hao covered his face, embarrassed, and could only chuckle awkwardly. “My mistake, my mistake. I should say: welcome Firework Fairy on successfully crossing the tribulation, ascending to Golden Immortal, a glorious return! Everyone, applause!”

Clap... clap...

Awkwardly, Zhou Hao was the only one clapping.

“That’s more like it! From now on, I, Firework Fairy, officially debut! I will leave my name in history and be famed for all eternity!” Firework quickly revealed her tomboy side, boldly throwing her arms around Zhou Hao’s neck—though she jumped up to do so.