Chapter 32

Representatives from the Five Sects and Three Paths had come to witness the tribulation. Coinciding with the year’s end, it was only natural for the visitors to exchange formalities, even among different sects.

After all, those who came were the elite from each sect, all at the late or complete stages of Foundation Establishment. They gathered in the main hall of Taiqing Peak, eager to see how Yu Si would undergo his tribulation, hoping to glean insights for their own future breakthroughs.

Even just for this purpose, the Five Sects and Three Paths had to bring appropriate treasures and rare materials as gifts.

The main hall of Taiqing Peak was bustling with people and filled with noise; the sounds of ceremonial greetings were unceasing. Master Huaiyun was in high spirits. Everyone knew how he had come to his position as sect leader. In the past, the Five Sects and Three Paths respected the sword of the sect master, but in his case, they revered the Kunwu Mountain Sect and the sword of his little junior uncle.

Huaiyun had never imagined he would become the sect master. He was dedicated to the Dao and had no grand ambitions, always thinking it would be fine to reach the Nascent Soul or Soul Accumulation stage. Yet, suddenly entrusted with this great responsibility, he felt the urge to breakthrough, but was bogged down by mundane matters, unable to train, seemingly stuck at the Soul accumulation stage.

Despite his modest ambitions, standing in this position had broadened his perspective. He often heard comments mocking how he came to be a sect master and jibes calling him the luckiest person in the Yuanshen Continent. Though he had grown numb to such remarks, they still irked him.

But now, the Five Sects and Three Paths had come for his personal disciple, Yu Si, and Huaiyun felt more vindicated than ever. His smile radiated from his eyebrows to his hair, and he treated everyone with the utmost respect.

As Huaiwei, his Dao companion, naturally accompanied and greeted the guests in the main hall. She had brought Xia Yiyao along, and although the girl still coughed frequently, she seemed to have adapted to her condition. For this occasion, she had put on makeup, looking especially charming and endearing.

Among the Five Sects and Three Paths, the Five Sects referred to the Kunwu Mountain Sect, Baiyu Pavillion, Xiya Tower, Suying Pavilion, and Xihu Tianzhu. The Three Paths were the Confucianism, Buddhist, and Daoist paths.

Confucianism is Jiugong Academy, Buddhism is Duyuan Dao, and Taoism is Taixu Dao.

The representatives were not all sect masters, but they were all highly esteemed elders. The various sects gathered together, their different robes adding to the grand scene, and many looked around with a sense of nostalgia.

An old Taoist in red, who had come with ulterior motives, was particularly notable. Although he and Yu Xizhi communicated weekly via a water mirror and the teaching was effective, it wasn’t the same as meeting in person. Kunwu Mountain Sect wasn’t his home, so he couldn’t visit frequently. Thus, he took this opportunity.

Seeing the grand scene before him, the old Taoist sighed, “In the blink of an eye, seventeen years have passed. This is the first time the Five Sects and Three Paths have gathered like this.”

Serving beside him was the eldest disciple of Baiyu Pavillion, Xuanyuan Heng, who was handsome and charming. Like the old Taoist, he wore red robes and had slightly upturned peach blossom eyes, causing several female cultivators from Xihu Tianzhu to blush. Hearing the old Taoist’s words, Xuanyuan Heng composed himself.

“Originally, the Five Sects and Three Paths held a sword competition every ten years, but the last decade saw a decline in numbers, so it was canceled. Hopefully, in the coming decades, we can restore the glory of the cultivation world.”

The old Taoist agreed, but then Xuanyuan Heng leaned forward, looking around, “I wonder, who is the second junior sister?”

“It can’t possibly be the one behind Master Huaiwei, can it? That person looks…”

At this moment, Xia Yiyao approached to pay her respects, her smile gentle and charming. “Greetings, Sect Master. This must be Senior Brother Xuanyuan? I’ve heard a lot about you. The master has arranged the best seats for you two. Please follow me.”

Xia Yiyao, swaying gracefully, led the way forward. Xuanyuan Heng couldn’t continue his sentence in her presence and, feeling uncomfortable, decided to take a risk and secretly transmit a message: “…like the idiot female protagonist I saw in a picture book the other day.”

The supposed idiot female protagonist was oblivious. Despite her illness, which her makeup couldn’t completely hide, she looked delicate and fragile. In the cultivation world, gender boundaries were not strictly enforced. Kunwu Mountain Sect had even produced several formidable female leaders, so no one thought that female cultivators had to be weak. Many senior sisters from various sects were known for their boldness. Seeing Xia Yiyao like this made her appear particularly endearing to most.

However, preferences vary.

It was clear that Xuanyuan Heng, the exceptionally handsome senior brother of Baiyu Pavillion, did not favor frail beauties. The entire Baiyu Pavillion was known for its lack of tact. Disinterested, Xuanyuan Heng shifted his gaze, finding the scenery of the wind and waterfall outside more appealing than the girl before him.

By the time the old Taoist and his companion arrived, Sect Master Tan had already taken his seat. Beside him sat a girl who bore a three-part resemblance to him. Her face was serious as she leaned forward, intently watching the cliff below, oblivious to the newcomers.

Xuanyuan Heng’s eyes lit up as he pulled a chair to sit beside her.

“Senior Sister Tan, what are you looking at? Let me see too.”

The girl in the Xiya Tower robes was Tan Mingtang, the only daughter of Sect Master Tan and a prominent figure in Xiya Tower. Without looking at Xuanyuan Heng, she knew who it was.

“I’m naturally watching Second Junior Sister.”

Xuanyuan Heng was slightly taken aback and followed her gaze.

The Kunwu Mountain Sect was nestled within an eight-hundred-mile range of mountains, with Taiqing Peak as the tallest among them.

Yu Si had chosen this area for his tribulation.

The young man focused entirely on his task, oblivious to the commotion in the main hall of Taiqing Peak. Spiritual energy swirled around him, both inside and out. If one had opened their spiritual eye, they would see the intense flow of spiritual energy, the ambient aura converging quietly, with lightning flashing within the clouds, poised to strike when the moment was right.

Heaven and Earth treasures formed a formation around him, as external assistance was permissible for tribulation crossing. This was the first Foundation Establishment to Golden Core breakthrough in over a decade, and the buildup of heavenly lightning over three days indicated its formidable power. These numerous formations were meant to shield him as much as possible.

Cultivators had excellent vision. A closer look revealed a girl in simple Kunwu robes and basic hair accessories squatting on a large rock not far from the boy.

The girl held a thick stack of talismans, tossing them left and right seemingly at random, but upon closer inspection, it appeared she was creating a formation with the talismans!

She intended to form a formation outside of the one set by Master Huaiyun!

Xuanyuan Heng’s eyes grew brighter, his expression increasingly serious. His fingers, hidden in his sleeves, couldn’t help but rub together in excitement. He felt a strong urge to write, wishing he were back at Baiyu Pavillion, where he could summon the junior disciples to bring him ink and paper to freely express his thoughts.

As his urge reached its peak, causing his fingers to move restlessly within his sleeves, almost tearing the cloud-patterned fabric, Yu Xizhi below finally threw out the last talisman.

The talisman formation was complete, and the girl seemed to sense something. She quickly activated a teleportation talisman, appearing beside the old Taoist in red. Before she could even greet him, the sky darkened abruptly, and a thunderous roar echoed.

The long-awaited lightning tribulation finally descended from the clouds with a mighty crash!

The young man sitting on the ground abruptly opened his eyes.

As the vast lightning tribulation descended, some among the spectators reminisced about their own breakthroughs, while others, witnessing this for the first time, were stunned.

Some felt the vastness of the heavens and earth, realizing their insignificance and trembling in fear. Others felt an endless battle spirit, their blood boiling with the desire to stand beside Senior Brother Kunwu and face this force of nature together.

The boy standing in the formation wore a blue robe, fluttering despite the lack of wind. His high crown of purple jade remained steady. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, standing tall and straight, ready to draw his sword against the lightning!

In this grand spectacle, no one noticed the faint crackling sound from the yellow talisman paper. The talisman lines intertwined, forming patterns that became visible just as the first lightning bolt struck.

Forty-nine yellow talisman papers flew together, their lines so strong that normally invisible patterns briefly appeared. The lightning crashed onto the talisman formation, only to be dispersed along the intricate talisman lines. By the time it reached the surrounding Heaven and Earth treasure formation, it had diminished to mere worm-like tendrils.

Yu Si, aware of what Yu Xizhi had done outside, had been informed beforehand and accepted his sister’s kind gesture.

As the tribulation began, nine lightning bolts in total were expected, representing a major change in realm. Master Huaiyun had mentioned that the Heaven and Earth treasure formation could withstand 40% of the tribulation’s energy but might collapse before the final bolt. Yu Si had been prepared to endure the lightning himself.

However, as his sword intent and fighting spirit surged, the vast lightning only roared above him without even touching his purple jade crown.

Yu Si was momentarily stunned.

Is this talisman formation made by his sister… so powerful?

Breakingthrough was breaking through, and distraction lasted only a moment. If the lightning hit the person undergoing the tribulation, it had an advantage. If not, then man would triumph over heaven, and the Golden Core would form naturally.

Yu Si focused, feeling a slight warmth and brightness in his dantian as a pure, round golden core appeared!

The lightning bolts continued to fall, one after another. The forty-nine talisman papers, like a lone boat in the terrifying heavens, were gradually charred and torn, reducing in number from forty-nine to thirty-nine, then twenty-nine, but the formation held firm. The lightning dispersed into the mountain cliffs, charring the surrounding forests, and as the lightning bolts grew thicker, the Heaven and Earth treasure formation swayed. Some lightning struck Yu Si, but it was like a tickle, not causing any real harm.

In the blink of an eye, eight heavenly lightning bolts had passed, and the golden core within Yu Si had begun to take shape. A golden glow emanated from his body. The handsome young man in the blue robe let out a clear shout, drew his sword with a sharp clang, and leapt out of the formation, heading straight for the final lightning bolt!

The female cultivators of Xihu Tianzhu, who were holding their qins, called out in worry.

Xia Yiyao clutched Master Huaiwei’s sleeve tightly, exclaiming, “Master, Senior Brother… what’s he doing?”

The young man fought against the lightning, battling the forces of heaven and earth. His sword intent filled the space, shining as brightly as the lightning itself. The onlookers, filled with fervor, felt their hearts surge with excitement. Xuanyuan Heng even took a step forward, standing tall with his sleeves already tattered and torn, having had an epiphany during the ceremony, achieving the complete stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.

No one noticed the girl who had returned after casting her talismans. She stood quietly, and with each fragment of yellow talisman paper that shattered, her eyes grew brighter. When Yu Si leapt out, taking all the talismans into the lightning, merging talisman intent with sword intent to slash through the lightning and achieve his Golden Core, the girl looked down thoughtfully at herself.

In her Dantian, a beautiful, perfectly round golden core was also quietly rotating. She, too, had broken through amidst the grandeur.

…

The ceremony was attended by many.

Yu Si’s successful formation of his Golden Core was a grand event in the cultivation world, especially since Baiyu Pavillion’s Senior Brother Xuanyuan Heng had also benefited, nearing his own Golden Core breakthrough. Several other disciples from the Five Sects and Three Paths seemed to gain insights as well, causing a bit of a commotion.

Meanwhile, task slips from all over the Yuanshen Continent continued to flow into the task hall at Ziyuan Peak.

Seventeen years ago, during the Battle of the Sun Eclipse, both the demon realm and the human world were engulfed in flames. The demon emperor perished, and the heavens wept. The cultivation world paid a tremendous price.

Now, the cultivation world has taken a breather and is beginning to recover. A new generation of disciples was emerging, and the demon realm was undergoing similar changes.

In recent times, the task hall has received more reports of unusual occurrences than in the past two years combined.

Shen Ye, holding his sword, saw from afar that Yu Si had achieved his Golden Core and felt at ease. He left a congratulatory gift at Yu Si’s quarters and then, with his sword in hand, led two junior disciples towards the Kongti Desert.

In his hand, he held a task slip, its small characters sharp and clear.

Upon closer inspection, the words “snake” and “gu” (poison) seemed to flash.