Having wiped out the Yagi Shrine's stronghold, Zhang Shaozhong finally felt a great deal of relief from the anger he had been holding back because of Su Lan's death.
The three of them found a relatively clean spot in the eerie Aokigahara forest and took a short break to catch their breath.
The main issue is Zhang Shaozhong. He just forcibly absorbed so much evil god energy and touched the threshold of the Chaos Golden Core. His aura is still a bit unstable and he needs to stabilize it.
"Damn it, we really lost out this time. We almost got eaten by that old monster."
As Zhang Shaozhong circulated the Chaos Technique to regulate the surging energy within his body, he muttered to himself with lingering fear.
Ye Meier rolled her eyes at him, her face still a little pale, but she didn't hold back: "Serves you right! Who told you to rush in like a fool? If you do that again, I... I won't save you!"
That's what she said, but when Zhang Shaozhong was swallowed just now, she was so anxious that she almost burned herself out.
Ling Qingxue didn't speak, but silently channeled a wisp of pure and peaceful immortal energy into Zhang Shaozhong's body to help soothe the meridians that were somewhat damaged by the energy impact.
Her movements were very gentle, and her eyes held a hint of lingering fear and undeniable concern.
Zhang Shaozhong felt a warmth in his heart as he felt the slightly cool immortal power, and chuckled, not daring to retort.
Just as he had regulated his breathing and felt better than ever before, even the nascent form of his Chaos Golden Core had solidified a tiny bit—
Without warning, the sky over the entire Mt. Fuji area suddenly darkened!
It wasn't just ordinary dark clouds obscuring the sun; it was as if the entire sky was covered by an invisible hand, creating an indescribable, soul-chilling sense of oppression, like a heavy lead weight, instantly enveloping an area of hundreds of miles!
Rumble—!!!
A deep, rumbling thunder, seemingly from the heavens above, rolled in from afar!
That was no ordinary thunder; it contained a supreme, cold, and ruthless will of judgment!
"What's going on?!"
Ye Meier suddenly raised her head and looked at the sky, which had suddenly turned as black as ink, with a look of surprise and uncertainty on her face.
Ling Qingxue also stood up abruptly, her icy blue eyes gazing solemnly at the sky. Feeling the increasingly intense pressure of heaven and earth, she said in a deep voice, "This is... the aura of a heavenly tribulation!"
"Heavenly Tribulation?"
Zhang Shaozhong was taken aback, then his expression changed slightly, "Who wants to undergo tribulation? Besides us..."
His words came to an abrupt end.
Because he sensed that terrifying pressure from heaven and earth, that inexplicable sense of being locked on... it seemed... it was... perhaps... its center point was himself?!
At the same time, the ascetics in Japan at the foot of Mount Fuji and even further afield were all alarmed by this sudden celestial phenomenon!
Kyoto, the residence of an ancient Onmyoji family.
An old Onmyoji who was meditating suddenly opened his eyes, looked in the direction of Mount Fuji, and his expression changed drastically: "Such terrifying divine might... Is a powerful being about to undergo tribulation at Mount Fuji?! Quick! Prepare the car! No, send our shikigami directly there! Such an opportunity to witness a heavenly tribulation is a once-in-a-millennium event!"
Nara, a Buddhist temple with a thriving incense offering tradition.
The old monk, who was striking the wooden fish, paused, and the sound of the wooden fish stopped abruptly.
He looked out at the dark sky and murmured, "Amitabha... Calamity clouds are shrouding the holy mountain. Could it be that a demon has been born, triggering heavenly punishment? Or... is a fellow Daoist attempting to defy the heavens? This old monk must go and see."
More often, there were ninjas, priests, and samurai hidden in the corners of the city or in the secret places of the mountains and forests... Regardless of whether they were righteous or evil, regardless of their level of cultivation, as long as they sensed this earth-shattering pressure, they were all like sharks that smelled blood. Whether out of curiosity, awe, or wanting to take advantage of the chaos, they all rushed towards Mount Fuji from all directions at the fastest speed!
Suddenly, the Mount Fuji area, which was usually considered a forbidden zone, became the focus of attention for the Japanese training community!
Aokigahara Tree Sea.
Zhang Shaozhong felt the increasingly clear and firmly locked power of the heavens upon him, and his face turned green!
"Holy crap! No way?! They're really after me?!"
He pointed at his nose, almost jumping up, "I'm only in the late Foundation Establishment stage! I haven't even fully formed my Golden Core yet, what kind of Heavenly Tribulation am I undergoing?! Has this damned Heaven made a mistake?!"
Ling Qingxue's expression was extremely serious. After carefully sensing it, she said with certainty, "There's no mistake, the Heavenly Tribulation is targeting you. I'm afraid... it's related to that nascent Chaos Golden Core you've condensed. The Dao of Chaos is tabooed by Heaven and Earth, hence the tribulation that has been sent to test you. This is... the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulation!"
"The Heavenly Tribulation of the Forty-Nine Heavens?!"
Ye Meier gasped, "My husband hasn't even fully formed his Golden Core yet, how did he attract this thing?!"
She panicked too; the Heavenly Tribulation was no joke!
Especially this kind of heavenly tribulation, its power is definitely not small!
Moreover, under the heavenly tribulation, outsiders have no way to intervene, otherwise they will get burned and the power of the tribulation will be multiplied!
"Damn it... God, are you kidding me?!"
Looking at the dark tribulation clouds overhead, which were pressing down lower and lower and were beginning to crackle with blinding lightning, Zhang Shaozhong felt the power of heaven and earth that was enough to make even a Golden Core cultivator's legs go weak. He cursed the heavens and his ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart.
But he knew that cursing wouldn't help.
This calamity cannot be avoided; we can only withstand it!
"My lord, concentrate your mind and calm your spirit, and fully circulate your chaotic energy! The Heavenly Tribulation is both a test and an opportunity! If you can overcome it, your Chaos Golden Core will be completely stabilized, and your future will be limitless!"
Ling Qingxue forced herself to calm down and quickly instructed, "Mei'er and I will protect you and prevent outsiders from interfering!"
"My husband! Hang in there!"
Ye Meier also said urgently, "Once you've overcome your tribulation, I'll throw you a celebration banquet!"
Zhang Shaozhong looked at the two women beside him who, though anxious, remained steadfast in their support, and nodded heavily.
The fear and complaints were suppressed, and a fierce determination to never give up surged up.
"Damn it, bring it on! So what if it's thunder? I've even swallowed the Orochi, do you think I'm afraid of your little sparks?!"
Without further hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and began to fully circulate the Chaos Technique to adjust himself to his optimal state.
Gray energy swirled around him, and the nascent form of the Chaos Golden Core trembled slightly within his dantian, radiating an indomitable will.
Boom! ...
The first bolt of tribulation lightning, like a giant purple python tearing through the sky, carrying an aura of destruction, slammed down fiercely towards the gray figure in the sea of trees!
The Heavenly Tribulation of the Fourth Nine Days has officially begun!
Meanwhile, from all directions around Mount Fuji, numerous figures could be faintly seen rapidly approaching... The ascetics from Japan have arrived!
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