Chapter 40: Tribulation Crossing
The next day.
Fang Qing was pondering a pill formula when he suddenly felt his cave dwelling tremble.
“It’s coming.”
His heart stirred as he walked out of the cave dwelling and into the open.
Rumble!
High in the heavens, layer upon layer of fish-scale-shaped black clouds gathered, lightning flickering within them and carrying an unfathomable pressure.
“So this is… a Core Formation Heavenly Tribulation?”
Fang Qing murmured inwardly, “To reach the point of drawing down a heavenly tribulation… that Second-Tier Horned Serpent must have successfully advanced. But after the pill is formed, crossing the tribulation is the most dangerous moment.”
Feeling the boundless spiritual power contained within the tribulation, many Qi Refining cultivators trembled uncontrollably.
“Roar!” A deafening hiss came from the deepest part of the sect’s mountain gate—dragon-like yet serpentine, carrying an awe-inspiring might!
Crash!
The Seven Profound Azure Wave Array rapidly activated, emerald light surging forth and enveloping every part of the sect in protection.
“Today, this venerable one’s spirit beast will undergo tribulation. All disciples of the sect are to remain at their posts and must not act rashly!”
A pleasant female voice, like jade beads striking a plate, rang out. A powerful divine sense swept across several miles, giving Fang Qing a bone-chilling sensation.
“We obey the Ancestor’s command!”
On the main island, Sect Master Linghu was the first to fly out, bowing respectfully toward a Core Formation female cultivator in midair who resembled a lake-born goddess.
She wore a pale-blue ruqun dress, her temperament like an orchid hidden in a secluded valley. Her features were delicate, carrying the gentle beauty of a refined young lady.
If one were meeting her for the first time, it would be hard to imagine that this woman was the Core Formation Ancestor of the Azure Sea Sect—the Blue Wave Fairy, Ruan Zhixuan.
At this moment, the Blue Wave Fairy paid little attention to the situation within the sect. Her beautiful eyes shifted as she looked toward the main island.
Within an island lake, a Horned Serpent suddenly crawled out. Its body was as thick as a water vat, with blue-green scales as large as a human palm.
Even more astonishing was that the large bulge on its head had vanished, replaced by a sky-blue single horn!
This signified that its bloodline was no longer that of a Horned Serpent, but of a Third-Tier Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent!
“Hiss—!”
The Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent’s body overflowed with tangible demonic qi. Its massive form coiled tightly, head raised toward the dark clouds above. In its vertical pupils were both fear and eager anticipation.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning descended, brilliant white and carrying overwhelming authority.
The Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent spat out an inner core to block it. Having successfully evolved to the third tier, what it possessed was no longer a Second-Tier Demon Core, but a true Third-Tier Demon Pill!
Puff!
The blue inner pill was the size of a baby’s fist. Within it seemed to surge vast azure waves, transforming into layers of radiant light screens.
Rip!
The first heavenly lightning shattered all the light screens and struck the demonic qi directly, causing it to collapse by nearly half.
Immediately after, the second and third bolts of lightning crashed down in succession!
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
“Zhong Xuanli… how dare you?!”
Ruan Zhixuan shouted sharply. The Seven Profound Azure Wave Array flared with light, illuminating a figure.
He appeared youthful, with frost-white hair and eyes filled with a sense of age. Ice-Soul Profound Light protected him so completely that not a drop could penetrate—it was the Zhong Family Ancestor, Zhong Xuanli!
“Why wouldn’t I dare?”
The youth let out a long howl. “If your spirit beast advances, my Zhong Family would face utter annihilation!”
He formed hand seals as the Ice-Soul Profound Light radiated outward. A freezing aura that immobilized true power spread everywhere, as though it were dragging heaven and earth back into an ancient era of icy desolation.
Crack!
The world turned frost-white, and the lake water froze solid.
Even the light barrier of the Seven Profound Azure Wave Array seemed to slow and stiffen.
“Impressive courage. Unfortunately… if it were only you alone, with me presiding over this Third-Tier grand array, you would have no chance whatsoever.”
Ruan Zhixuan’s divine sense swept across the surrounding void. “Where is Jade Yao Daoi]]]]]]]]]]]st? Come out as well!”
Jade Yao Daoist of the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands!
He was likewise one of the three Core Formation Ancestors of the Small Huan Sea and was especially skilled in puppet arts.
“Hehe… Fellow Daoist Ruan, Brother Zhong… this old daoist merely came to mediate. We are all neighbors—peaceful coexistence would be best…”
A flash of light appeared in the void, revealing an aged daoist with a face full of wrinkles, riding a winged tiger puppet. Its aura was unfathomable, seemingly possessing the might of late-stage Foundation Establishment.
“Hmph!”
Ruan Zhixuan said nothing.
Even if Jade Yao Daoist merely stood there, it placed immense pressure on the spirit beast undergoing tribulation.
Not to mention the pressure of aura, and all manner of interference.
And there was also the Zhong Family Ancestor, recklessly assaulting the grand array.
Ruan Zhixuan had no doubt that if she revealed even the slightest opening, Jade Yao Daoist would immediately tear off all pretense and strike!
Crack!
As the three Core Formation Ancestors confronted one another, the heavenly tribulation showed no pause.
Lightning fell in rapid succession, giving the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent no respite.
Boom!
At last, the sixth heavenly lightning thundered down. Within the blazing white bolt were specks of blue light.
The lightning struck fiercely with annihilating intent, scorching the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent pitch black!
Bang!
The serpent let out a mournful cry. Its body collapsed to the ground, twitching as its aura rapidly dissipated.
“Hahaha… an orthodox Core Formation heavenly tribulation has nine bolts. Your spirit pet only endured up to the sixth—looks like its foundation was lacking…”
Zhong Xuanli laughed loudly. With Ice-Soul Profound Light protecting his body, he drifted away from the battlefield. “A false alarm, after all… I take my leave!”
He had come solely to prevent the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent from advancing successfully.
Now that his goal was achieved, he naturally departed.
Otherwise… Jade Yao Daoist might very well turn on him instead!
In the Small Huan Sea, all words were empty—only strength was real!
The Heavenly Heart Linked Islands were the weakest of the three powers, so the other two would support whichever side was weaker to maintain balance.
Now that the Zhong Family had attacked Jade Island and the Azure Sea Sect’s Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent had failed its advancement, the balance of power had reversed! Any benefits previously promised to the Heavenly Heart Linked Islands could be reneged upon—one had to be on guard!
“Hmph, Zhong… today’s humiliation will be repaid!”
Ruan Zhixuan watched the Zhong Family Ancestor depart without pursuing him. She then looked at Jade Yao Daoist and said with a mocking tone, “Daoist, you still haven’t left. Could it be you wish to stay for a cup of spirit tea?”
“Hehe, that would not be unacceptable…”
Jade Yao Daoist nodded with a smile, secretly transmitting a message: “Fellow Daoist… the Zhong Family exposed too much strength this time, and that Zhong Lingxiu indeed bears the bearing of Core Formation. In dealing with this child, perhaps our two factions could join forces.”
Ruan Zhixuan’s expression did not change. She replied with a few transmitted words and watched Jade Yao Daoist leave.
Only after all this did she descend in a streak of escape light, arriving beside the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent’s corpse.
Puff!
A streak of deep-blue radiance appeared, forming a blade that sliced open the serpent’s abdomen and extracted a Third-Tier Demon Pill.
“Ancestor…”
A blue-robed cultivator appeared behind Ruan Zhixuan—it was Sect Master Linghu, with his gaunt features.
“It’s a pity. In the end, it fell just short…”
Seeing the charred corpse, he revealed a look of regret.
“The Flood Dragon bloodline within this spirit beast was still too thin. Even with the sect’s full support, it could only withstand five bolts of heavenly tribulation. Even without external interference, eight bolts would have been the absolute limit.”
Ruan Zhixuan was exceedingly calm, showing no trace of anger or frustration.
“Sigh… the chasm of Core Formation is truly difficult to cross.” Sect Master Linghu sighed, then stared at the inner pill in her hand, his gaze burning with desire.
“We always leave ourselves room. If the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent crossed the tribulation, all the better. If it failed, it is still useful…”
Ruan Zhixuan suddenly sneered. “In truth, this outcome is not bad. Otherwise, if it had succeeded, Jade Yao Daoist would certainly have discarded all face and joined Zhong Xuanli in attacking the Seven Profound Azure Wave Array…”
“Now that the tribulation has failed, he withdrew. Before leaving, he even transmitted to ask whether I intended to join forces against that Core Formation seed, Zhong Lingxiu. How exquisitely impartial of him.”
After hearing this, Sect Master Linghu’s expression remained unchanged—it was clearly within his expectations. “Zhong Lingxiu condensed divine sense while still in Qi Refining and even cultivated Ice-Soul Cold Light, a Second-Tier method only Foundation Establishment cultivators can practice. If he is not eliminated, he will surely become a great threat. The Heavenly Heart Linked Islands do not wish to see our sect gain a second Core Formation combatant—do you think they would tolerate the Zhong Family producing one? This matter… I believe cooperation is feasible.”
“Very well. You are the Sect Master—decide as you see fit.”
Ruan Zhixuan toyed with the inner pill in her hand and suddenly smiled alluringly. “With the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent’s failure, the other two factions will lower their guard against us. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity… I will use the Founding Ancestor’s secret External Pill Art to refine this water-aspected demon beast inner pill into an External Pill—the Tide-Birth Pearl. Its attributes match yours. After refining it, you will possess Core Formation combat power and can catch Zhong Xuanli and Jade Yao Daoist off guard and wipe them out… this debt must be carefully settled!”
“The Founding Ancestor’s External Pill method is truly marvelous!”
Sect Master Linghu had only recently learned of this ingenious technique and could not help but marvel.
“The Azure Sea Founding Ancestor was indeed astonishingly talented… it’s just a pity that the External Pill he refined from a peak Third-Tier Azure Flood Dragon Demon Pill was mysteriously lost. Otherwise, our Azure Sea Sect would have unified the Small Huan Sea long ago.”
Ruan Zhixuan sighed softly, then suddenly looked at Sect Master Linghu, her expression turning solemn. “This External Pill matter must be kept secret. We cannot let it repeat what happened with the serpent.”
At this, Sect Master Linghu immediately grew serious. “The leakage of the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent’s matter last time… there must have been an internal traitor within the sect. Though we concealed it from most Foundation Establishment Elders, the special pills required for the serpent’s advancement, as well as the spiritual energy and blood-feed supply, involved many hands… it is indeed possible that clues were discovered.”
“Therefore… the External Pill matter will be known only by heaven and earth, you and me.”
After delivering this final reminder, Ruan Zhixuan transformed into a streak of light and vanished.
Sect Master Linghu bowed deeply to the ground.
A flicker of fervor flashed in the depths of his eyes, but in the next instant, his face was filled with grief as he addressed the late-arriving Elders Wanbao, Tianxing, Heavenly Cauldron, and the others: “Our sect’s spirit venerable failed its tribulation and tragically perished…”
“Damn the Zhong Family!”
Elder Tianxing stared at the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent’s corpse, his eyes nearly splitting with rage.
“That’s enough… the Ancestor has already taken the most important materials from the serpent. The rest will be entrusted to you two, Wanbao and Heavenly Cauldron… properly replenish the sect’s treasury and prepare rewards for the disciples.”
Sect Master Linghu resumed his usual shrewd demeanor. “The Zhong Family has achieved its goal and will likely withdraw soon… the great battle is over!”