Xukong felt pleased with Lin Mu's quick thoughts and nodded his head.
"Exactly! When you tried that it didn't work, right? I think we overlooked the vast difference of power between you and an actual Cub of Great slumber bear. First of all, a beast like that would not be found in a world like this at all. Instead, it would be in a higher leveled world where the heavenly laws are more active." Xukong said.
"What would that mean for me?" Lin Mu asked.
"That means the environmental conditions were simply not the same for both of you. Instead, what you needed was a little push which came in the form of the tribulation lightning. From what we saw it was the pure tribulation lightning that was intended for Bilao that struck you. It was not a mistake at all, nor was it a chance, it was clearly drawn to you.
I think the problem you have is a contradiction. While you should be able to form a Nascent soul easily like a Great Slumber bear, the world you are in is not optimum for it." Xukong explained.
Lin Mu listened carefully and went deep in thought. Five minutes later he felt like he understood it and had an idea of what he now needed to do.
"Seeing as I have not broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, I'm guessing that I need more bolts of Tribulation lightning." Lin Mu said.
"That's right," Xukong replied.
"But I can't trigger it on my own either due to the contradictions between the bloodlines method and the world's state." Lin Mu added.
"That's right as well," Xukong replied.
"Which leaves me with… stealing other's tribulations?" Lin Mu said, feeling a bit unsure.
"Well, that is indeed the most obvious solution." Xukong answered.
~Sigh~
"And how am I going to find cultivators undergoing heavenly tribulations?" Lin Mu asked.
"That is up to you. Though seeing as how about half of your core is covered in cracks, one more tribulation lightning bolt like this one or a couple more will be enough for you to successfully breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm and from your Nascent Soul." Xukong answered.
Lin Mu felt a bit disappointed that there was not an easier way, but then realized this was already a lot more than he had known before. At least now he knew what to watch out for, plus this not meant the only thing that was restricting his cultivation was now time or the lack of resources, but just the right opportunity.
'I should try moving now.' Lin Mu thought as he willed his hands.
At first, nothing happened, but after a few seconds, he was able to make his fingers twitch. Five minutes later, he was able to lift his hand and move it. Half an hour later he managed to sit up properly and finally when an entire hour passed he was able to walk around.
~Ahh~
Lin Mu grunted as he stretched his tense body. The sounds of his joints and bones popping could be heard as a wave of pleasure washed over him. He looked at his tattered robes that were quite dirty and damaged before removing them and cleaning up with the water that he had stored.
He then put on a fresh set of robes and got to checking on Little Shrubby. Lin Mu scanned him with his spirit sense and found that the beast was in a different condition than him. His heartbeats had gotten slower, and it was as if he was in deep hibernation.
Though when he checked Little Shrubby's Core and Dantian, they seemed to be quite depleted as well, but now there was a new pattern over Little Shrubby's core.
"Little Shrubby seems to have awakened an innate ability?" Lin Mu said.
"Ah yes! I almost forgot. Do you remember when he came to rescue you?" Xukong suddenly spoke.
"Hmm… I remember some fragments. But yeah, I saw him killing the elders and the disciples." Lin Mu replied. "And then… some illusory beasts that appeared around him
"Indeed. The seven illusory beasts that manifested around him are part of his innate ability that awakened as part of his bloodline." Xukong stated.
"Do you know what the innate ability is?" Lin Mu said as he stroked the fur of Little Shrubby.
"The innate ability he awakened is called as Seven Beasts Burst. The ability is very powerful and quite rare too. It is actually a confirmation that Little Shrubby has multiple Bloodlines that are mutating to form a single bloodline." Xukong replied.
Lin Mu felt happy for Little Shrubby, but then felt uneasy upon seeing his current condition again.
"Senior, why is he like this now though?" Lin Mu questioned.
"Seven Beasts Burst is an innate ability that demands a lot from its user. It not only boosts all aspects of the beast's strength but it also increases its cultivation base. Little Shrubby used it for the first time and kept it activated for a long time.
It's his blood essence that has been damaged, most likely. Thankfully, his bloodline seems to be recovering on its own. If not he would not have been in a hibernation state like this." Xukong explained.
Lin Mu nodded at this and then remembered what he was going to do earlier.
"Wait him awakening the innate ability and me getting the new sutra are linked." Lin Mu said.
"Linked? How?" Xukong questioned.
"When I was getting the sutra, I saw a lot of beasts. They were letting out their cries, but I couldn't understand them. But after more time passed, I began to understand it bit by bit, until it was the same as the human tongue for me.
It was they who taught me the Nurturing heart sutra." Lin Mu answered.
'Could it be…?' Xukong suddenly thought of something.
"Use the sutra and see what effect it has right now." Xukong urged.
Lin Mu nodded his head and sat down cross legged. He took a deep breath and finally started to chant the Nurturing heart sutra.
But the moment he did so, countless beasts across the world howled out as one.
