Kacha!

A thunderclap exploded over the Chanmeng Islands, and with it, the once bright sky instantly darkened. Thick, leaden clouds seemed to appear out of nowhere, rolling and spreading across the sea. Lightning danced in the clouds, and an invisible pressure descended from the sky.

In an instant, the once vibrant Zhanmeng Islands, filled with the sounds of birdsong, insect chirps, tiger roars, and monkey cries, fell silent. Before the overwhelming might of the heavens, even the most unruly creatures had to bow their heads in submission and show their awe.

However, on the most expansive island in the center of this archipelago, a young man dressed in a Taoist robe stood tall and proud outside the Taoist temple, gazing up at the rolling thunder overhead. His expression showed no fear, but rather was filled with joy.

"It's finally here!"

After three months of secluded cultivation, Feng Bingwen looked at the endless tribulation clouds overhead and felt the faint divine might filling the sky and sea, feeling quite gratified.

"The scale looks good!"

Heavenly tribulations are tests and punishments imposed by the Heavenly Dao on cultivators. Those with weak foundations or those who take shortcuts in their cultivation will only turn to ashes under the test of heavenly tribulations; there is no other possibility.

Only those with a solid foundation, who diligently study and cultivate themselves, and who have a thorough understanding of the key points of various realms, can be confident in seizing a sliver of hope under the test of heavenly tribulation, transforming themselves from a cocoon into a butterfly, undergoing a complete metamorphosis, and taking another step forward on the path of immortality.

However, the Way of Heaven is impartial and regards all things as straw dogs. A genius cultivator with unparalleled talent has no chance of surviving the test of the Heavenly Tribulation as much as a cultivator with a solid foundation but ordinary talent. If they are not careful, they will also end up as a handful of ashes.

Prodigies are given their own unique tribulations, the intensity of which is naturally beyond the tolerance of ordinary cultivators. This is also the fairest test of a prodigy's aptitude, as it is the result determined by the Heavenly Dao itself; who dares to question it?

Rumble—

Incandescent lightning, like a dragon or python, weaved through the dark clouds, bringing light to the gloomy world while also terrifying many living beings.

"Master, are you about to form your core?"

A golden ape dressed in a Taoist robe stood not far from Feng Bingwen. However, at this moment, he had completely concealed his terrifying demonic aura, not daring to reveal even a trace of it. If he were to leak even the slightest aura, the Heavenly Dao would judge that he was trying to interfere with the one undergoing tribulation, and that would also bring down the Heavenly Tribulation.

"No, I'm about to become an immortal!"

Feng Bingwen glanced at the unusually well-behaved golden ape, who responded with a serious and methodical expression.

"Become an immortal?"

Sun Yuansheng was taken aback, then chuckled twice, wondering if the lord thought he had asked a pointless question.

"You're joking!"

"Step back and do not interfere with my tribulation!"

Feng Bingwen's body was suspended in mid-air. Even with lightning flashing and thunder roaring above his head, he was not afraid. He even tried to use his thunder magic to see if he could control the heavenly thunder.

"Yes, sir!"

Although Sun Yuansheng, the Golden Ape of the Bright Light, was filled with worry and anxiety, he knew he couldn't say anything more in this situation.

Even so, the current situation was far beyond his expectations, because only a short time had passed since this lord announced his intention to form his core.

For a species like it, with its naturally strong bloodline, a hundred years is not even enough for it to grow to adulthood, and if it were to take a proper nap in just three months, it would take more than that amount of time.

In his opinion, the master he recognized was too hasty. There was no need for him to form his core so early; he could have spent one or two decades consolidating his foundation.

Once a cultivator reaches the Transcendent Realm and cultivates to a high level, their body naturally becomes different from that of ordinary people, fundamentally different from mortals. A young cultivator like Feng Bingwen could easily spend one or two decades in this realm, and there is no need to be so impatient.

Ultimately, this gentleman was just a mortal before, and he had not yet shaken off the mindset of being a mortal who was eager for quick success and instant benefits. As a result, he pursued speed in everything. However, in the path of cultivation, one must not seek speed, for those who seek speed will perish.

But it's no use saying anything now. The heavenly tribulation has already been summoned. We'll just have to wait and see how the golden core he condenses is after he survives the tribulation. If it's not good enough, we can find some ways to remedy it. Nothing is immutable, not even the golden core.

The saying "No regrets after the elixir is completed" is meant for ordinary cultivators, because such a great method of reversing one's innate nature and recreating the universe is simply beyond their reach. Even if they knew about it, it would only increase their desires and bring them no benefit.

"Ouch, this won't work!"

Completely unaware of what the monkey head below was thinking, Feng Bingwen was grazed by a bolt of lightning, his whole body went numb, and he shivered.

"So this is what it feels like to be struck by lightning!"

Feng Bingwen, who had failed in his attempt to control the heavenly lightning with thunder magic, sighed, completely unaware of how outrageous and shocking his actions had been, and even less aware of the seriousness of the matter.

crackling sounds~

A barely perceptible arc of purple lightning flashed deep within the tribulation clouds. Feng Bingwen, who had been somewhat indifferent, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and a sense of dread washed over him.

Katza —

He suddenly looked up at the sky, only to see a pale red pillar of lightning crashing down directly above him, engulfing him completely.

This pillar of lightning remained between the sea and the sky for a full quarter of an hour before dissipating. The instant it vanished, a molten lava crater appeared on the ground, and in the crater, a young man dressed in a tattered Taoist robe, his face covered in black ash, floated.

"master!"

A tall woman with black wings flew low overhead, calling out anxiously. It was Han Ling from the Sky Clan. Feng Bingwen held a very different meaning for her.

"What's your hurry? This is only the first thunderbolt."

The young man abruptly stood up, tearing off his Taoist robe, which had been shattered by the lightning, and tossing it aside.

"You can't kill me with that."

"I'm so glad you're alright!"

Seeing the young man in front of her with his upper body exposed, Han Ling breathed a sigh of relief. However, after recovering her senses, she couldn't help but look at Feng Bingwen's tall and slender figure, and a strange light flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Although Feng Bingwen's face was extremely handsome and perfectly matched her aesthetic, and his muscular physique, which was gradually unfolding and even slightly taller than her, was also quite admirable to her, this level of male beauty was not enough to make her infatuated; she only saw something deeper.

Qi and Blood!

This old man was clearly a cultivator seeking immortality, yet his vital energy was no weaker than any Heavenly Martial Artist, and even surpassed it.

But the key point is not that. Han Ling's gaze fell on Feng Bingwen's body, which still had arcs of electricity jumping around. She was certain that this was not an illusion. Feng Bingwen's blood and qi were being tempered, and the potential hidden deep in his flesh and blood was being explored, transformed, stimulated, and unleashed!

In other words, after enduring a bolt of heavenly lightning, this gentleman's strength is increasing at an extremely rapid pace.

Outrageous!

This was Han Ling's first impression upon getting up close to Feng Bingwen. She had never heard of anyone being able to temper themselves with the power of heavenly lightning.

Small Bookstore

The traditional way to overcome tribulation is to dodge, avoid, and prolong the process. If you can hold out until the tribulation ends and you still have a breath left, you are considered to have successfully overcome the tribulation. However, only those cultivators with the strongest foundation and the most advanced inheritance can withstand the tribulation head-on.

She wasn't surprised at all that this old man could withstand the heavenly lightning, but she hadn't expected that he would actually enhance his potential and strength by using the power of the heavenly lightning.

Because this goes against common sense, it's not uncommon for martial artists to have considered trying to ride the heavenly tribulation of cultivators, using the heavenly lightning as a tool to hone themselves. However, after those reckless martial artists' repeated attempts, we can basically conclude that if you're tired of life and have no hope for the future, you can do this.

What are you looking at?

Feng Bingwen, who had just casually removed his clothes, now felt somewhat uncomfortable under the gaze of his female follower.

A second bolt of heavenly lightning was brewing in the clouds above his head, but he didn't have the energy to pay attention to it, since it wouldn't kill him anyway.

To be honest, Feng Bingwen felt quite comfortable after being struck by lightning. His whole body felt refreshed, and his blood and energy were more active than ever before. He didn't have any particular fetishes, but the feeling of being struck by lightning was really quite enjoyable.

"It's nothing? My apologies!"

Upon hearing Feng Bingwen's question, even Han Ling, who was usually as cold as ice and whose temperament was like a thousand-year-old ice, had a faint blush on her cheeks. After bowing slightly to Feng Bingwen, she flapped her wings and fled away from him as if escaping.

She didn't use any magical powers or supernatural abilities from beginning to end; she only used her innate wings, which wouldn't attract the attention of the Heavenly Tribulation. Otherwise, if the Heavenly Tribulation descended, wouldn't all living beings under the tribulation clouds turn to ashes? The Heavenly Dao isn't that cruel.

"What are you trying to do? Are you perhaps lusting after me?"

With a thought, Feng Bingwen summoned the Purple Dragon Armor and put it on. Now he was over fifteen years old and had a tall and strong physique. Although he was not yet a fully grown adult by human standards, his physique was no less impressive than that of any adult.

"It seems I need to be more careful in the future, and not let female cultivators take advantage of me!"

Feng Bingwen was alert to himself. It wasn't that he was narcissistic; he was already quite good-looking in this life, and after acquiring the Dao Body, his temperament was even more refined. Only his master could rival him.

boom--

Before the thought could even finish forming in his mind, a pale yellow pillar of lightning crashed down, as if a thousand mountains were pressing down on him, directly crushing Feng Bingwen's figure into the ground.

"Damn it!"

Feng Bingwen cursed inwardly. He felt like he wasn't undergoing tribulation, because what he was facing didn't seem like lightning, but rather like...

"Hmm? Five Elements Heavenly Thunder?"

Understanding this did not make Feng Bingwen any more at ease, because the evolution of heavenly lightning was highly targeted, which was a test for cultivators.

Under the second bolt of lightning, Feng Bingwen endured for even longer, so this bolt of lightning had weight. Not only that, but it also had all the characteristics of lightning, so Feng Bingwen was tormented to the point of ecstasy.

Half an hour later, the pale yellow lightning pillar dissipated between the sea and the sky. Feng Bingwen and his followers then used their innate abilities to reach the vicinity of the sinkhole created by the lightning.

"Sir, are you alright?"

"Master, are you still there?"

Although they knew that their master's talent was unparalleled among his peers, the speed at which he formed his core was simply too fast, making it hard not to worry. The fact that the tribulation clouds in the sky had not yet dissipated was the best proof of this, but they still needed to find out the current state of their master.

"What are you doing? This is only the second bolt of lightning. Do you think this is enough to kill me?"

Wearing purple dragon armor, Feng Bingwen rose from the cave created by the heavenly lightning, looking at those guys who were obviously relieved with annoyance.

Feng Bingwen knew that these guys followed him with a strong purpose, but every action of living beings in this world has a purpose, which is a very normal thing. Do you think that others want nothing and just follow him for the sake of following him? There is no such thing as a free lunch. Keep dreaming.

"Master, how are you feeling? Is your magic power sufficient? If not, I can borrow some elixirs from the other disciples' residences."

"No need, I feel great right now."

Feng Bingwen flatly rejected his followers' suggestion. This was not out of bravado, because under the pressure of the second lightning bolt, he clearly felt that the progress of his martial arts inheritance had greatly improved, and he had reached a new peak.

"Sir, please be careful and do not be careless!"

"That's right, this is a heavenly tribulation, don't underestimate it!"

Feng Bingwen's condition reassured his followers, but his current attitude made them somewhat worried.

"Come back and tell me these things after you've survived your tribulation."

Feng Bingwen responded, "What do these guys think he is? Do they really think he has no understanding of the Heavenly Tribulation at all?"

Moreover, a considerable number of his followers do not need to undergo tribulations. This is exclusive to those who cultivate and seek the Dao. For example, in martial arts, unless one reaches an extremely high level, one will not encounter a heavenly tribulation.

According to a chance reading he did, legend has it that in the extremely ancient and desolate period, cultivators did not need to undergo tribulations. It was only due to unknown changes that later generations of cultivators had to face various trials given by the Heavenly Dao, and if they were not careful, they would die and their cultivation would be destroyed.

Crackling sounds!

The third bolt of pure white lightning struck almost immediately, followed by the fourth bolt of dark heavenly lightning. After two consecutive heavenly tribulations, even Feng Bingwen was somewhat exhausted, and bloodstains could even be seen between his armor and stomach.

but,

boom--

The fifth bolt of pale blue lightning followed closely behind, crashing down with a deafening roar. Feng Bingwen's figure was once again enveloped in endless tribulation lightning. The injuries he had sustained from the four bolts of lightning began to heal rapidly, and his aura surged accordingly...

---Aside---

I only had a little tomato and egg soup with lard today, and there were just a few drops of oil on the surface. I'm still in pain. I'm so fed up. What did I do to deserve this? I didn't even eat a bite of meat, and this damn thing is about to flare up. Damn it!