Chapter 87, first published on Jinjiang Literature City: Golden Core Tribulation + Spirit Management
Yao Sisi drove Lingyun all the way, suppressing her cultivation. While others went out to train and find opportunities to form their core, she was looking for inspiration for her natal magic weapon. But instead of finding a magic weapon, she couldn't suppress her cultivation.
When she rushed back to the sect, she didn't care about anything else, not even having time to go to the library to deal with the spirit's affairs. She went straight to the back mountain to prepare for a breakthrough.
She missed the message that Ri Jiu sent her.
Meanwhile, Qi Mu's cultivation also increased dramatically. The spiritual energy brought by the spiritual fire began to continuously cleanse his meridians. He sat cross-legged in his cave, wondering how much his cultivation would increase this time.
There weren't many people on the huge Jinming Peak to begin with, but suddenly two people were trying to break through, so it became lively, and everyone stood on the hillside chatting.
Liu Ying had just settled down on the new mountain peak and hadn't even had a chance to get to know the peak master when she learned that they were going out to train. She thought it would be another year or two before they met again, but to her surprise, they returned in just over a month.
After returning, he didn't even have time to say a word to them before going into seclusion.
If they hadn't seen the celestial phenomena and realized someone had achieved Core Formation, they wouldn't have known about this.
Liu Yuan knew that his young master and the peak master were about to break through their cultivation levels, but because he had to manage the affairs of the mountain, his cultivation level was not high to begin with, so he didn't suppress his cultivation and wouldn't mingle with the disciples. Even if he knew the news, he wouldn't tell them.
Liu Ying said to the people around her, "How long has our peak master been a disciple? His bone age must be less than 25, yet he's already about to form his core. Isn't that too monstrous?"
The person next to him chimed in, "I just reached the Foundation Establishment stage when I was 25, and I thought it was pretty good..."
"Yes, yes, it's quite common to reach Foundation Establishment in your twenties in a major sect, but it's considered very outstanding in a smaller sect. However, there aren't many Core Formation cultivators in their twenties, even in major sects!"
"It's not just a few, but reaching the Core Formation stage at thirty is considered genius. At this rate, they'll probably reach the Nascent Soul stage by fifty. Are they even human?"
"Sigh, it seems we're not cultivating immortality in the same world."
Liu Ying: "I heard that the one who trained with the Peak Master has also broken through in seclusion."
Everyone: "Huh? What kind of opportunity did they find outside? Breakthroughs are as easy as playing around for them."
"I don't know! If I did, I would have broken through by now, instead of being stuck at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage for seven years!"
"I heard that the Peak Master is with that childhood sweetheart. Do you think they might become a couple?"
The topic somehow veered off course to this point, and it was fortunate that there were few people on their peak; otherwise, if word continued to spread like this, the next step would be to hold a Daoist couple ceremony and send them to their bridal chamber.
Yao Sisi was unaware that her disciples were discussing her marriage. She assumed the conversation would revolve around the topic of Core Formation, since most cultivators specializing in weapon crafting were either very straightforward or very insensitive, and she couldn't think of any other direction.
But she forgot one thing: the person she found was only a part-time weapon refiner, not someone with the atmosphere of the Weapon Refining Peak.
The process of forming the core is very slow. First, the spiritual liquid filling the dantian must be condensed and squeezed. When it is squeezed to a certain extent, it slowly forms a solid. But this is not enough. It still needs to be continuously compressed and polished. The hard solid spiritual energy in the dantian will rotate at high speed, and at the same time, it will continuously absorb the spiritual energy from the outside world.
Yao Sisi swallowed a pill and continued to refine the golden core that was about to take shape in her dantian.
Different spiritual roots absorb different amounts of spiritual energy, and their golden cores also have different colors. There are almost no two golden cores that are exactly the same in this world.
Just like the inner core of a demon beast, the inner cores of demon beasts of different races are very different, and even those of the same race will have subtle differences.
The golden core within Yao Sisi's body gradually took shape, displaying two forms: golden and red. At the same time, these two colors were constantly merging, as if they were about to become one.
Inside another cave, Qi Mu had already broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, but the spiritual energy in his dantian was still very abundant, even causing him pain from the swelling. He sat cross-legged on a futon with the effect of calming the mind and gathering energy, and his cultivation level was still rising little by little.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but his cultivation was about to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. At this moment, the spiritual energy in his dantian was no longer so abundant and restless. He gently let out a breath, pausing his cultivation at the great perfection of the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, ready to challenge the late stage of Foundation Establishment at any time.
In fact, with his current cultivation level, it's not that he can't make a breakthrough, but he always felt that cultivation should not only be fast, but also have a solid foundation. Otherwise, an unstable foundation will definitely cause problems later on.
He longed to catch up with her, but not by sacrificing himself. What was the point of catching up temporarily if there was no future?
Isn't it all just working for someone else's benefit?
He advanced to a minor realm, which took much less time than advancing to a major realm, and he finished before Yao Sisi. When he finished getting ready and was about to leave seclusion, a figure floated out from the hairpin on his head, who looked nine-tenths like him.
Dao Shen said, "I saw you were busy before and didn't have time to tell you, but when I was placed on that person, I seemed to have discovered her secret."
Qi Mu's eyes were sharp, and his gaze was full of suspicion as he looked at him: "I sent you to take refuge, not to spy on her."
Dao Shen said, "I didn't even fancy her. Why are you acting like your lover was stolen? And just because you're so hung up on her doesn't mean she's hung up on you. I think she has her own private cave dwelling, and it seems she's keeping a mistress there. You're just going to wait like an idiot like that. Let's see what you'll find out!"
Qi Mu didn't believe it at all: "Don't say anything. Her eyes don't look like those of someone who would keep a mistress. She has nothing to do but cultivate. Don't slander her."
Dao Shen's face darkened: "I've told you so much, and all you've heard is 'keeping a mistress in a golden house'? You haven't even verified it yourself, all you do is talk back. Who am I doing this for? Don't forget we're one!"
Qi Mu: "I'm not talking back, I'm just stating the facts. I understand her."
Dao Shen: "Understand? Heh...did she tell you about such a wonderful thing as her personal cave dwelling?"
Qi Mu: "So what if she doesn't have it? Am I supposed to tie her up and prevent her from having her own secrets? Besides, such things are extremely easy to kill and steal. Telling me more only increases the danger. Why do I have to know?"
Dao Shen: "..."
That's just sophistry. I think you're poisoned, and quite severely at that!
The two parted on bad terms, but although Qi Mu said those things, he was somewhat upset inside. He glanced at the dark walls around him, like the gloomy clouds that the wind couldn't blow away on a rainy day, which made him feel depressed.
He paused for a moment, composed himself, and came out of the cave to wait with the others for her advancement.
Just then, a disciple from the front peak came to deliver a message, saying to him, "This must be Fellow Daoist Yao's peak. The front peak has received news that Fellow Daoist Yao's friends are waiting for Fellow Daoist Yao to meet them at the sect's post station!"
Qi Mu paused, then said after a moment's thought, "Friend?"
Could it be that person?
His mood worsened.
The disciple who delivered the message said, "We are not sure if it is true, so we have someone wait at the post station. We need to confirm with Fellow Daoist Yao."
Qi Mu pursed her lips: "What kind of person did you see?"
The disciple who delivered the message hadn't actually seen Yao Sisi, so according to the rules, he naturally wouldn't tell her any detailed information. His reply was rather perfunctory: "A male cultivator who looked to be around twenty years old was accompanied by a young female cultivator who was only a teenager."
Qi Mu frowned, unable to recall who this person was for a moment. Given that person's personality, it didn't seem like they would take others under their wing. However, it wouldn't be convenient for him to leave now to check on her, as he needed to ensure her advancement, which was his top priority.
"You told the people over there to wait a little longer. The peak master is currently in seclusion. We'll discuss everything once he emerges from seclusion."
Just as he was speaking, a wind suddenly rose on the mountain peak, and the once clear sky was suddenly covered with dark clouds.
Lightning tribulation!
Seeing the unusual lightning tribulation, the disciple who was about to leave stopped and stayed in place to wait for and comprehend it.
Qi Mu looked up at the sky. Unlike the other excited disciples, he showed a worried expression. But this was a path that every cultivator had to take, and worrying was useless.
This tribulation was too rushed, and it's unknown whether she prepared any magical artifacts to resist the lightning tribulation.
In her cave atop the mountain, Yao Sisi sensed something was off about the lightning tribulation in the sky. She didn't know why, but this lightning tribulation was far more powerful than the Golden Core lightning tribulation she had seen in her notes; they were on completely different levels.
Outside, the disciples who were watching the Golden Core Tribulation gradually realized that something was wrong. Because the sect was full of talented people, the Golden Core Tribulation was quite common. Almost every few days someone would undergo the tribulation. They knew a little about the Golden Core Tribulation, but they had never seen such a grand and imposing Golden Core Tribulation before.
Inside the cave, Yao Sisi questioned the artifact spirit: "What's going on with this lightning tribulation? It's as powerful as the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation! How can I possibly survive it? It's clearly meant to kill me!"
The artifact spirit was also in a bad state. Half of the lightning tribulation was aimed at it, but it had just confronted a sixth-tier demon beast and managed to control it, which had taken a lot of effort. It would be difficult for it to overcome the lightning tribulation.
Seeing the rumbling in the sky, Yao Sisi didn't bother to bargain with the artifact spirit anymore. She shouted, "When the first wave of heavenly lightning comes down, come with me and throw that sixth-tier demonic beast out to block it!"
Seeing that something was blocking the way, the spirit naturally agreed. When the golden lightning bolt that looked thicker than a bucket fell from the sky, Yao Sisi and the spirit worked together to throw the sixth-order demon beast out. With a loud "boom", the sixth-order demon beast let out a miserable scream. Before even smelling the burning, it was directly cleaved into dust.
But the tribulation lightning did not end there; it continued to strike downwards. Yao Sisi used all her spiritual energy to withstand the remaining aftershocks.
The area around Jinming Peak attracted more and more disciples to watch, and even some elders came out, after all, this tribulation lightning was as powerful as a Nascent Soul cultivator.
One of the elders said, "It doesn't look like a Golden Core Tribulation. It looks more like a punishment for some great demon who has committed serious sins."
Another person said, "I just heard a monster scream. I don't know what happened, but judging from the way this tribulation is going, it's not over at all and is brewing the next wave. This means that the person on the peak is alright for now."
On the mountain peak, the mighty tribulation lightning terrified the disciples. Some had already packed up and started to move away. Even from such a distance, they couldn't withstand the residual power of the tribulation lightning, let alone how much power it would take to undergo the tribulation inside.
Yao Sisi sensed that the second wave of lightning tribulation was about to strike, so she simply opened the barrier between spaces and, when the second lightning tribulation descended, she directly struck into the space.
She gritted her teeth and spat out a mouthful of blood, while at the same time hearing the wail of the artifact spirit. In the past, she would not have been able to find the location of the artifact spirit's body, but now, by using the power of the lightning tribulation, she was able to pinpoint the location of the artifact spirit's hiding place.
There was nothing it could do; it could evade its own detection, but it couldn't evade the detection of Heaven.
Good heavens, she thought to herself: You tricked me back then and dumped me in this world without even thinking to inform me. This time, I've finally gotten my revenge.
What goes around comes around; no one escapes the wrath of Heaven!
The spirit never expected that at the last moment, she would open the spatial barrier and attract the lightning tribulation. Moreover, the lightning tribulation struck it accurately, causing it so much pain that its soul was about to be annihilated.
That's outrageous! This contractor is so heartless!
Yao Sisi didn't have time to pay attention to what the artifact spirit was thinking. She also realized that this tribulation was not entirely aimed at her. What did she have that she could directly provoke the wrath of the Heavenly Dao and cause such a commotion? All of this was inextricably linked to the artifact spirit.
Although she didn't understand why Heaven looked down on the spirit of the artifact and made things difficult for it, the thick golden lightning struck directly at the place where the spirit spring had originally taken root. She even saw a strange face seemingly emerging from the spirit spring.
Yao Sisi gritted her teeth, her fingers covered in damp soil. She had just collapsed onto the ground in the space, and the lightning tribulation had not spared her at all. She had almost shared the power of the tribulation with the artifact spirit.
Not only was the spirit of the artifact suffering from the deformity, but she also felt as if she were being pierced by a thousand arrows.
The second wave of lightning tribulation has finally passed, and the dark clouds in the sky are growing thicker and thicker. It's unknown how powerful the next wave will be.
Yao Sisi struggled to her feet, leaving deep scratch marks from her fingernails. She slowly sat up and asked, "Spirit, how are we going to withstand this third wave?"
The spirit remained silent in the water source for a long time. Seeing this, Yao Sisi did not expose it. She slowly crawled out of the space and began to take out magical artifacts from her storage bag. Logically speaking, if there were a lightning rod, the tribulation would be much easier to pass. However, in order to test cultivators, the Heavenly Dao's tribulation is dynamic and will not strike one place in one place. Even if you use a magical artifact or something else to block it, it must be activated instantly. Otherwise, not only will it not be able to block it, but the tribulation may also bypass it and attack you.
Yao Sisi picked up two magical artifacts, as if she were about to throw them into the sky at any moment. She said to the artifact spirit, "I didn't expect this lightning tribulation to be so powerful. If I had known, I would have locked up a few more demonic beasts in the space. In a critical moment, I could have thrown them out to block them."
They made no mention of drawing the lightning tribulation inside.
The spirit was still recovering. Not only was its physical body injured, but it was also angry. It never expected that its contractor would drag it into this mess at such a crucial moment. It couldn't help but accuse, "There are too many demonic beasts, and I can't control them all. Ever since I brought you into this world, my body has never been healthy. You've been exploiting me all along!"
Yao Sisi thought to herself, "You really know how to play the victim: How can this be called exploitation? Didn't I try my best to do the things you gave me? But my cultivation level is too low, and I was willing but unable to do them! I didn't do it on purpose, right?"
The spirit was still considering whether what she said was true or false when the next wave of lightning tribulation arrived. Before it could hide, the contractor, who had been speaking so confidently, suddenly directed the lightning tribulation towards it.
boom!
The lightning bolts seemed to have eyes, splitting into two groups. One of them struck the location where the artifact spirit was hiding without fail, causing cracks to appear there.
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