bookbashuk Chapter 40 Tribulation
Chapter 40 Tribulation
The next day.
Fang Qing was pondering the elixir formula when he suddenly felt his cave tremble.
"They're here."
A thought struck him, and he stepped out of the cave and into the outside world.
Rumble!
Above, layers of dark, fish-scale-like clouds gathered, with lightning flashing within them, carrying an unfathomable pressure.
"So this is... the Heavenly Tribulation of Core Formation?"
Fang Qing murmured to himself, "To reach the point of triggering a heavenly tribulation... that second-tier serpent must have successfully advanced, right? But after the pill is formed, the tribulation will be the most dangerous moment."
Sensing the unfathomable spiritual power within the heavenly tribulation, many Qi Refining cultivators trembled with fear.
"roar!"
A roar came from the deepest part of the mountain gate, like a dragon or a snake, and it carried a chilling aura!
Splash!
The Seven Mysterious Azure Wave Array operated rapidly, and its emerald light suddenly shone brightly, protecting all parts of the sect.
"Today, my spirit beast is undergoing its tribulation. All disciples of my sect must remain where they are and refrain from any rash actions!"
A beautiful female voice, like jade beads falling onto a plate, rang out, and a powerful divine sense swept across several miles, giving Fang Qing a chilling feeling.
"I will obey the Ancestor's command!"
On the main island, Sect Leader Linghu flew out first and bowed to a Core Formation female cultivator in mid-air who resembled a goddess from a lake.
She wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her temperament was like a secluded orchid in a valley, her features were delicate, and she had a gentle and refined air.
If it were someone meeting her for the first time, they would probably find it hard to believe that this woman is the Core Formation Ancestor of the Azure Sea Sect—the Azure Wave Fairy, Ruan Zhixuan.
At this moment, Fairy Bibo was not too concerned about the situation inside the sect. Her beautiful eyes turned to look at the main island.
In a lake on an island, a giant snake suddenly crawled out. Its body was as thick as a vat, and its bluish-green scales were as large as a palm.
Even more surprisingly, the large bump on its head disappeared, replaced by a sky-blue unicorn horn!
This means that its bloodline is no longer that of a serpent, but rather a third-tier 'Chaotic Sea Serpent'!
"Hiss!"
At this moment, the monstrous sea serpent was overflowing with materialized demonic energy. Its body was coiled in a circle, its head raised, gazing at the dark clouds in the sky. Its vertical pupils held both a hint of fear and a hint of eagerness.
Click!
A bolt of lightning struck, its color bright white, carrying an awe-inspiring power.
The Chaotic Sea Serpent spat out an inner core to defend itself, and it successfully evolved to the third tier. The core inside its body was no longer a second-tier demon core, but a true third-tier demon core!
puff!
The blue inner core was the size of an infant's fist, and inside it seemed to ripple with a vast expanse of blue waves, transforming into layers of light curtains.
Stab it!
The first bolt of heavenly lightning shattered all the light barriers and struck the demonic energy, causing it to collapse by half.
Immediately afterwards, the second and third bolts of lightning crashed down!
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
"Zhong Xuanli...you dare?!"
With a sharp shout, Ruan Zhixuan unleashed the Seven Profound Azure Waves Array, which shone brightly, illuminating a figure.
He was as young as a boy, with white hair and a sense of vicissitude in his eyes. A mysterious icy light protected him perfectly. He was none other than the patriarch of the Zhong family, Zhong Xuanli!
"What wouldn't I dare to do?"
The young man roared, "If I allow your spirit beast to advance, my Zhong family will face annihilation!"
He formed hand seals, and under the illumination of the Ice Soul Mystic Light, a chilling aura that seemed to freeze magical power spread outwards, as if it were to bring the world back to the ancient times of ice and snow.
Click!
The sky and earth were covered in a blanket of white frost, and the lake was completely frozen.
Even the light screen of the Seven Mysterious Azure Wave Array seemed to have become much more stagnant.
"You have guts, but unfortunately... if you were alone, with me guarding this third-tier formation, you wouldn't find the slightest chance."
Ruan Zhixuan scanned the surrounding void with her divine sense: "Where is Yu Yao Sanren? Come out too!"
Yu Yao Sanren of Tianxin Linked Islands!
This person is also one of the three Core Formation Ancestors of the Lesser Universe Sea, and is even more skilled in puppetry.
"Hehe... Fellow Daoist Ruan, Brother Zhong... This old Daoist is just here to mediate. We are all neighbors, we should get along harmoniously..."
A flash of light appeared in the void, revealing an old Taoist priest with a wrinkled face, riding a winged tiger puppet. His aura was unfathomable, seemingly possessing the power of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"snort!"
Ruan Zhixuan did not say anything.
The arrival of Yu Yao Sanren, even just by standing there, put immense pressure on the spirit beast undergoing its tribulation.
Moreover... there is also the pressure of Qi and various other interferences.
Needless to say, the Zhong family patriarch also recklessly attacked the great formation.
Ruan Zhixuan had no doubt that if she revealed even the slightest flaw, Yu Yao Sanren would probably tear off the mask and take action!
Click!
Just as the three Core Formation Ancestors were locked in a standoff, the lightning tribulation in the sky did not stop at all, falling in succession and giving the Chaotic Sea Flood Dragon no chance whatsoever.
Boom!
Finally, the sixth bolt of lightning rolled down, and within the incandescent lightning, there were even specks of blue light.
The lightning struck suddenly, carrying a sense of annihilation, turning the monstrous sea serpent to a charred black!
boom!
The sea serpent let out a mournful cry, its corpse collapsed to the ground, convulsing, and its life force rapidly dissipated.
"Haha... The orthodox Core Formation Heavenly Tribulation has nine stages, and your spirit pet only made it to the sixth. It seems your foundation is weak..."
Zhong Xuanli laughed heartily, his body protected by the Ice Soul Mystic Light, and gracefully left the battlefield: "What a scare... I'm off!"
He came here only to prevent the Chaotic Sea Serpent from successfully advancing to its next level.
Now that the goal has been achieved, it's time to leave.
Otherwise... Yu Yao Sanren might actually attack him!
In Xiao Huanhai, nothing else matters but strength; only power truly matters!
Tianxin Linked Islands is the weakest of the three, so the two of them will help the weaker one in order to maintain a balance of power!
Now that the Zhong family has even reached Jade Island, and the Bihai Sect's Chaotic Sea Serpent has failed to advance, the balance of power has reversed! No matter what benefits were promised to Tianxin Linked Island before, they may renege on their promises, so we must be wary!
"Hmph, you surnamed Zhong, I will avenge this humiliation!"
Ruan Zhixuan watched the Zhong family patriarch leave, but did not pursue him. She then looked at Yu Yao Sanren and said sarcastically, "Sanren, why aren't you leaving? Perhaps you want to ask for a cup of spiritual tea?"
"Hehe, it's not necessarily a bad thing..."
Yu Yao Sanren nodded with a smile and secretly transmitted his voice: "Fellow Daoist... the Zhong family has revealed too much of their strength this time, and that Zhong Lingxiu does indeed have the potential to form a Core Formation... In dealing with this kid, our two families may be able to join forces."
Ruan Zhixuan remained expressionless, secretly transmitted a few words, and watched Yu Yao Sanren leave.
After doing all this, she pressed down her escape light and came to the corpse of the Chaotic Sea Serpent.
puff!
A beam of azure light appeared, transforming into a blade that sliced open the abdomen of the Chaotic Sea Serpent, retrieving the third-tier demon core.
"Ancestor..."
A blue-robed cultivator appeared behind Ruan Zhixuan; it was none other than the slender-faced Sect Leader Linghu.
"What a pity, it was just a little short..."
He looked regretful when he saw the charred snake carcass.
"The dragon bloodline in this spirit beast is still a bit thin. Even with the sect's full assistance, it can only withstand five heavenly tribulations... Even without external interference, eight tribulations would probably be the limit."
Ruan Zhixuan remained very calm, showing no sign of anger or frustration.
"Alas... the chasm of Core Formation is truly difficult." Sect Leader Linghu sighed, then stared at the inner core in Ruan Zhixuan's hand with burning eyes.
"We always leave room for maneuver in our actions. If the Sea Dragon can survive the tribulation lightning, all the better. If it can't, it will still be of use..."
Ruan Zhixuan suddenly sneered: "Actually, this is for the best. Otherwise, seeing it successfully overcome its tribulation, Yu Yao Sanren would definitely throw away his pride and join forces with Zhong Xuanli to attack the Seven Profound Azure Waves Formation..."
"Now that he has failed his tribulation, he naturally retreated. Before leaving, he even sent a telepathic message asking if I intended to join forces against that Core Formation seed, Zhong Lingxiu. How impartial he was..."
After listening, Sect Leader Linghu's expression remained unchanged, clearly indicating that this matter was within his expectations: "When Zhong Lingxiu was cultivating her Qi, she condensed her divine sense and mastered the Ice Soul Cold Light, a second-tier technique that only Foundation Establishment cultivators can cultivate. If she is not eliminated, she will surely become a great threat in the future! Tianxin Linked Island is not happy to see my family produce a second Core Formation cultivator, but does it expect the Zhong family to produce one? This matter... I think we can cooperate on it."
"Fine... You are the sect leader, so you decide."
Ruan Zhixuan toyed with the inner core in her hand, then suddenly smiled alluringly: "The Chaotic Sea Flood Dragon failed its tribulation, and the other two families have lowered their guard against our family. This is a golden opportunity... I will use the 'External Alchemy Technique' passed down by our ancestor to refine this water-attribute demon beast's inner core into an external core called the 'Tide-Rising Pearl.' Your attributes are compatible with it, and after refining it, you will possess the combat power of a Core Formation cultivator, allowing you to unexpectedly destroy Zhong Xuanli and Yu Yao Sanren... This debt needs to be settled properly!"
"The ancestral master's external alchemy methods are truly profound and wondrous!"
Sect Leader Linghu only recently learned of this ingenious method and was full of praise for it.
"Master Bihai was indeed a genius... It's just a pity that the outer core he had made from the core of a third-tier peak Azure Dragon was mysteriously lost. Otherwise, my Bihai Sect would have been able to unify the Lesser Ocean long ago."
Ruan Zhixuan sighed slightly, then suddenly looked at Sect Leader Linghu, her expression becoming serious: "This matter of external alchemy needs to be kept secret; it can't be like this time with the Flood Dragon."
Mentioning this matter, Sect Leader Linghu immediately became solemn: "The leak of the matter of the Chaotic Sea Serpent last time must have been due to a traitor within our sect. Although we managed to keep it a secret from most of the Foundation Establishment elders, the special pills, spiritual energy, and blood food that the Chaotic Sea Serpent needed for its advancement required a considerable number of people to handle... It is indeed possible that clues were discovered."
"Therefore... matters of external alchemy are known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me."
Ruan Zhixuan gave her last words of advice, then vanished in a flash of light.
Sect Leader Linghu bowed deeply, a hint of fervor seemingly burning in his eyes, before his expression turned to one of grief. He addressed the belated Foundation Establishment elders, including Wanbao, Tianxing, and Tianding, saying, "Our sect's Spirit Venerable failed his tribulation and tragically perished..."
"That despicable Zhong family!"
Elder Tianxing stared at the corpse of the Chaotic Sea Serpent with eyes practically bloodshot.
"Alright... The Ancestor has taken the most important materials from the Chaotic Sea Flood Dragon. The rest are for Wanbao and Tianding, you two... Make good use of them to replenish the sect's treasury and prepare rewards for the disciples..."
Sect Leader Linghu reverted to his usual shrewd demeanor: "The Zhong family has achieved its objective and will likely withdraw its troops soon... The great battle is over!"