The Glory of the Tribe

After speaking with Senior Qishi, Jiang Xuan spent the entire night in cultivation.

On the tenth of March, early morning.
Jiang Cuiyun arrived at the back mountain.
"Xiao Xuan, I’ve identified all these items. Some are highly poisonous, others can be used for cultivating specific techniques. I’ve written all the details on this list," Jiang Cuiyun said, handing a bundle and a handwritten list to Jiang Xuan for him to review.

These were the spoils from the Ge brothers. There were many odd and curious bottles and jars, and Jiang Xuan had entrusted Jiang Cuiyun to handle the identification work.
Jiang Xuan opened the bundle and then looked over the list.
"These two items, even after consulting with some of the Black Armor Guards, they couldn’t identify them," Jiang Cuiyun said, pulling out a piece of black beast skin and a dark red compass. "But they said that this compass is likely some sort of formation disk and suggested I seek advice from Lord Lei Hong. But I didn’t want to disturb him without reason."

Whether or not to consult Lord Lei Hong about such trivial matters was something only Jiang Xuan, as the clan leader, could decide.
"Mm..." Jiang Xuan looked at the two items and said, "I’ll figure out what these are myself. Thank you for your help, Cuiyun Aunt."
"No need to be so polite."

Jiang Cuiyun looked at Jiang Xuan with affectionate eyes. "By the way, Xiao Xuan, Shen Taiping broke through last night. They say he has completely understood the 'Divine Might of Heaven and Earth' and is stronger than Chen Yuanzhou. He’s also here to challenge you, so... what will you do?"
Jiang Cuiyun’s expression showed some concern.
Even though Jiang Xuan was powerful, he was still only at the late stage of the Innate Realm. If something unexpected happened during the challenge... sometimes, Jiang Cuiyun even had the thought that maybe Jiang Xuan should leave. This child was carrying too much alone, with no one to share the burden of the tribe's pressure.

"I understand, Cuiyun Aunt. Don’t worry, I have a plan," Jiang Xuan smiled.
After Jiang Cuiyun left, Jiang Xuan carefully studied the two items.
The black beast skin was about a foot and a half wide and four feet long. One side had golden thread patterns, and the other side displayed incomplete intricate designs, with a drawing resembling a well in the center of the patterns.

The dark red compass looked like a typical formation disk, but when Jiang Xuan used his Thousand Threads Secret Technique to probe into the formation disk, he felt an overwhelming killing intent. In that moment, it felt as though he had fallen into an ice cave.
"Senior, Senior, are you there?" Jiang Xuan called out.
"Yes, what’s the matter?" The ethereal voice responded lazily.

"I have two items I don’t recognize."
"If you don’t recognize them, I can’t see them."
"Well, can I describe them roughly?"
"Go ahead."

Jiang Xuan described the two items, and the ethereal voice asked for several more details. Soon, Qianhuang provided an answer.
"The beast skin is the banner of the Black Abyss Palace."
The ethereal voice continued, "The well-like pattern you mentioned should be an ancient character for 'Abyss' (潭). According to legend, the Black Abyss Palace’s banner was divided into three parts. The piece you have should be the central one, and the golden thread pattern on the back of the beast skin is part of the map to locate the Black Abyss Palace."

"The Black Abyss Palace, the one from legend? It really exists?" Jiang Xuan was shaken.
There had always been legends of the Black Abyss Palace in Heitan Mountain. It was said to have been a powerful sect from ancient times, and the mountain was named after it. A cataclysmic battle in ancient times led to the palace’s destruction, and the Ten Directions of the Abyss were formed as a result.
But in the legends, the true Black Abyss Palace still existed.

It formed a myth around ancient ruins.
"It does exist, somewhere deep within Heitan Mountain. Anyone who finds it will inherit the Black Abyss Palace’s legacy," the ethereal voice explained.
"Then I—" Jiang Xuan immediately stood up, "Now that I have part of the map, should I..."

"If you go now, even if you find it, it will be the road to death," Qianhuang interrupted. "If you want to search for the Black Abyss Palace, you need to at least reach the Transcendent Innate stage, the Tribulation Realm... just to have enough strength to protect yourself."
Jiang Xuan calmed down, thought for a moment, and then sat back down.
"I’ll listen to you, Senior," Jiang Xuan said.

"The beast skin is difficult to destroy even for gods or demons. You can carry it with you, keep it in your chest as soft armor," Qianhuang casually reminded him.
"Good!" Jiang Xuan nodded and put the beast skin away. He then picked up the dark red compass and asked, "Senior, what is this compass for?"
"It should be the Sword Tribulation Tome."

Qianhuang continued, "A Tribulation Tome is an item made by a Tribulation Realm cultivator before their death. They pour out all their cultivation and willpower into a formation disk, which becomes an auxiliary cultivation tool. It’s usually prepared for their descendants. A sword cultivator makes a Sword Tribulation Tome, and a knife cultivator makes a Knife Tribulation Tome."
"The conditions for creating a Tribulation Tome are very strict and require vast financial resources. Most Tribulation Realm cultivators never have the chance to make one during their lifetime, so these items are extremely rare. They are often available for purchase at a high price, and even Tribulation Realm cultivators will envy them."
Qianhuang explained in detail what a Tribulation Tome was.

"How could such a treasure end up with the Ge brothers?" Jiang Xuan wondered with excitement. "It’s probably something their master, Lü Kong, gave them. Lü Kong has caused trouble for fifty or sixty years, killing people and seizing treasures as part of his daily routine. He might have stolen it from someone."
"Lü Kong is a top-tier Tribulation Realm cultivator who has carved his own path. He doesn’t need the Tribulation Tome, so giving it to his disciples is reasonable," Qianhuang agreed with Jiang Xuan’s guess.
"So, how should I use this?" Jiang Xuan asked, looking at the formation disk in his hands.

"Grip it with both hands, channel your Innate strength into it, and slowly twist it while sensing the changes within," the ethereal voice suddenly sped up. "Wait! Before you use it, I need to remind you of three points. First, the Tribulation Tome has a usage limit. Every time you use it, a portion of the Tribulation Realm willpower inside it will be consumed. It can’t be used more than twenty times, or the Tome will be destroyed."
"Since the Ge brothers had it, they must have used it. Even if each of them only used it once, you can use it at most a dozen times."
"I understand," Jiang Xuan nodded.

"Second, to use the Tribulation Tome, your cultivation must be at the Innate Realm’s full stage, and you must have comprehended the Divine Might of Heaven and Earth. This is the foundation. But since you’re cultivating Black Abyss Power, and your Chasing Wind Blade is complete, your blade skills are sound, so you can use it. But be cautious."
Jiang Xuan nodded again.
"Third! You must understand, don’t be greedy! The Tribulation Tome contains the cultivator’s life insights, but you can only use it a few times. If you try to comprehend his techniques, movement, secret skills, and blade skills all at once, you’ll fail to gain deep understanding of anything. You’ll just skim the surface and hinder your progress."

"So, I should focus solely on blade skills," Jiang Xuan said firmly. "His techniques and secret skills are certainly not as powerful as what you’ve taught me, Senior."
"You little rascal, did I say I would teach you Tribulation Realm techniques?" Qianhuang chuckled and scolded.
"Hehe," Jiang Xuan grinned.

"Go ahead and meditate," Qianhuang finally said, then fell silent.
Jiang Xuan followed Senior’s instructions, placed his hands on the formation disk, closed his eyes, and twisted it slowly while extending his consciousness. The formation disk erupted with a mesmerizing glow, enveloping and consuming his body. This was an illusionary formation, designed to protect the user while using the Tribulation Tome. Jiang Xuan seemed to disappear before the transmission stone, but in reality, he was still seated there.
His consciousness entered the Tribulation Tome.

A sudden immense pull made Jiang Xuan’s vision go black, as if his consciousness was being swallowed.
Then, a vast scene unfolded before him.