Jiang Lu ran to an uninhabited mountain valley. Looking around, she saw that it was rich in spiritual energy and devoid of human presence.
She nodded in satisfaction. Not bad, not bad at all. She continuously suppressed the spiritual energy within her body and set up a Spirit-Gathering Array in the surrounding area.
Looking up at the azure sky, she let out a breath. The array drew in the surrounding spiritual energy, forming a spiritual energy barrier that enveloped her.
Qianming followed behind Jiang Lu, practically itching to go.
Finally, it could get struck by lightning!
How exciting!
“Master~”
Suddenly, the little fluffball in her pouch ran out and climbed into Jiang Lu's arms. Looking up at her with its big, watery eyes, it wore a slightly aggrieved expression.
“Why don't I have a name?”
Jiang Lu was startled. Oh no, she had forgotten such an important thing!
Her mind raced, but she didn't let any guilt show on her face. Resting her hand on her chin, her eyes darted around.
“How could that be? I was just thinking about it!”
“Mingyue, how about you be called Mingyue?”
Mingyue?
The Dark Qilin hopped happily in Jiang Lu's arms. It had a name!
Mingyue!
Mingyue!
It sounded so nice!
It sounded much better than Chi Li and Cang Chen!
It cast a sideways glance at Chi Li and Cang Chen, giving a soft huff.
Finally, it looked at Mengbao and gave a sharp, proud snort. It was definitely Master's favorite spirit beast!
“Alright, I'm preparing to advance. You guys stay by my side and protect me.”
Saying this, she pulled a large pile of demon cores and spiritual fruits from her space and handed them to the spirit beasts to replenish their spiritual power first.
Seeing the natural treasures piled before it, which were several times its own size, Mingyue swallowed hard.
It swore!
From this day on!
It was the happiest beast in the world!
It plunged its head into the pile, continuously stuffing spiritual plants into its mouth. In no time, it had crammed all these natural treasures into its mouth.
Chi Li and Cang Chen exchanged a look, their lips twitching. They also immediately began to eat. The heavenly tribulation was coming, so they had to replenish their energy.
Seeing this, Jiang Lu shook her head and chuckled.
She then sat cross-legged and began to meditate. The surrounding air suddenly froze, and then spiritual energy swirled into a circle, gathering toward Jiang Lu's dantian.
The spiritual energy of the valley violently surged toward her, gradually forming a vortex with her as the eye. The spiritual energy within the vortex continuously compressed, condensing into spiritual liquid. The entire barrier was shrouded in spiritual mist, obscuring everything inside.
The azure sky was gradually blocked by dark clouds, and the day grew dark as the entire valley was enveloped under those black clouds.
The cultivators training in this area were shocked. Someone was actually undergoing a tribulation here!
They immediately rushed toward Jiang Lu's location, but upon arriving, they were so intimidated by the scene before them that they dared not take another step forward.
The tribulation clouds rolling in from all directions completely enveloped the entire valley, making it so dark that one couldn't see their own hand. In the forest, pairs of golden and red eyes appeared, filled with bloodlust, confusion, and hesitation. After a couple of low whimpers, they fell silent.
As the tribulation clouds grew dense, purple lightning constantly danced within the clouds, and rumbles of thunder echoed from deep within, carrying a terrifying aura.
The onlookers who had come to investigate were so shaken by the sound that they hesitated, frozen in place, not daring to move.
Time slowly passed amidst the lightning and thunder. As the stars shifted, the tribulation clouds above the valley kept sinking, forming massive vortexes that pressed straight down, dispersing the original vortex of spiritual mist.
With the tribulation clouds above and spiritual energy below, the spiritual energy in the center of the vortex was compressed and gradually pushed outward, leaving a blank space in the middle that enveloped Jiang Lu. A beam of light pierced through the opening, shining directly on her.
From a distance, one could only see a single white speck of light.
Suddenly!
Her brow twitched, and a blinding flash of purple lightning instantly tore through the clouds. With a deafening roar, it plunged into Jiang Lu, wrapping her in lightning and releasing a brilliant, piercing light.
Clang—
Qianming let out a sharp hum, and the lightning falling on Jiang Lu was split in two. Half was absorbed by Qianming, while the other half, tempered by the sword, entered Jiang Lu's body, widening her meridians and tempering her physical body.
The surrounding spiritual plants shattered upon impact with the lightning; trees were snapped by the strikes, and spiritual herbs were burned to ashes.
This heavenly tribulation was incredibly domineering!
The numerous cultivators who had come to investigate did not dare to take a single step closer from the distance.
While they were still in shock, another roar echoed from the dark, heavy tribulation clouds.
The surrounding cultivators couldn't help but gasp, their bodies trembling slightly. What kind of cultivator was undergoing a tribulation here? Golden Core? Or Nascent Soul?
If it was Golden Core, how could it be so domineering? But if it was Nascent Soul, it didn't quite look like a Nascent Soul tribulation either.
The crowd's expressions varied, filled with solemnity and complexity.
As everyone knew, when a cultivator underwent a tribulation, they had to face the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, which consisted of a total of thirty-six purple heavenly lightning strikes.
The first twelve lightning strikes were the Body-Tempering Tribulation, cleansing the cultivator's physical body and shedding their mortal coil.
The middle twelve lightning strikes were the Heart-Burning Lightning, testing the cultivator's Dao Heart and tempering their soul. If the cultivator's Dao Heart was not firm, their physical body would be reduced to ashes.
The final twelve lightning strikes were the Dao-Seeking Lightning, testing the cultivator's understanding of the “Dao.” It was unpredictable and pointed directly at the flaws in their myriad laws; if their resolve wavered, they would be severed from the Great Dao.
After these thirty-six strikes, the Golden Core would form, and they would officially step onto the path of the Great Dao.
After the first bolt of lightning fell, the second followed immediately.
Rumble!
Purple lightning continuously struck down toward Jiang Lu.
One strike!
Two strikes!
Three strikes!
Under the continuous tempering of the heavenly tribulation, Jiang Lu's physical body became increasingly powerful. She could feel the pulling of every muscle, her meridians growing robust, and her bones becoming sturdier.
If someone were to say she was a body cultivator, it would certainly be believable.
Soon, the eleventh bolt of lightning crashed down!
Qianming let out another hum, its blade trembling slightly as sword light flashed—the result of being forged by the lightning strikes.
Once the twelve strikes passed, it would be the inner demons!
The spirit beasts guarded Jiang Lu while keeping an eye on the falling lightning.
The surrounding cultivators stared at the rolling black clouds above the valley, looking up while instinctively taking steps backward.
If everyone found out that Jiang Lu was breaking through to the Golden Core realm at the tender age of thirteen, it would surely stir up a massive storm.
Seeing that his message to Jiang Lu remained unanswered, Ye Qing frowned. What was this young disciple of his doing?
It had been a month since he sent the message, and she hadn't responded. Could she be in seclusion?
With her measly Qi Condensation strength, what kind of seclusion would require a whole month?
No, he had to ask his senior sister.
Medicine King Pavilion Master: %#”^:#%^%*
“Whose disciple is she anyway?! You unreliable fool!”
Amidst the lightning, Jiang Lu's brow furrowed slightly before smoothing out.
The twelfth bolt of lightning crashed down, followed by the thirteenth, the fourteenth...
In this life, she only sought to fulfill her wishes from her past life, pursuing the path of longevity, and due to the karma of her rebirth, she wished to show a bit of kindness in this world.
She had no inner demons, no greed, and no path of retreat. The continuous pounding of the heavenly tribulation only served to make her Dao Heart even more stable.
The twenty-fifth bolt of lightning crashed down. Jiang Lu's Dao Heart remained rock-solid, unaffected. Instead, because Qianming blocked most of the tribulation, the lightning that fell on her felt much gentler.
She felt the laws within the tribulation clouds roaring. Was this what it meant for a cultivator to battle the heavens with their physical body?
Myriad living beings fought the heavens for longevity. This was the final shred of mercy the Heavenly Dao reserved for living creatures, and each bolt of lightning was a test.
The Heavenly Dao seemed to sense something, letting out a soft murmur that was drowned out by the surrounding thunder.
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