bookbashuk Chapter 322: After swallowing a single golden pill, I realized my fate was not in the hands of heave
Chapter 322: After swallowing a single golden pill, I realized my fate was not in the hands of heave
"Family Cultivation: My Intelligence Updated Daily" is currently being serialized on Cola Novels and is not to be missed!
"Eleven years have passed, and Master still hasn't emerged from seclusion?"
At the foot of Qingya Mountain, a woman in green robes looked up at the cave on the mountaintop, a place where no one was allowed to enter, her heart filled with worry.
Now, eleven years have passed. Although Wang Menghan's appearance remains that of a young girl, her cultivation has advanced to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and she is only half a step away from the late stage, making her one of the true backbone forces of the family.
Zhang Lingyu did not inform her of the news when he went into seclusion, but she had a premonition at the time, she just did not know it would happen so soon.
When he returned from his training, he realized that he had been in seclusion for four years.
It seems that Master went into seclusion immediately after replying to that message.
Wang Menghan had asked Zhang Yuanhua about this not long ago, and the latter said that this was a very normal phenomenon. Unless one is exceptionally talented, it usually takes more than ten years.
Even Song Siyu, who visited Qingya Mountain two years ago, took nine years to successfully form her core.
As long as the soul lamp has not been extinguished, it proves that everything is peaceful.
As she gazed at the mountain peak in contemplation, a young man appeared from afar, bowed, and said, "Sister Menghan, the Grand Elder sent me to deliver a message, saying that you need to go there."
"What is it?"
"The beast tide in Tianliu City has grown larger, and the six sects have recruited more people. The order from Yuguang Pavilion arrived in the clan a few days ago, and the clan has now decided on the people to go on the expedition. My elder sister and eldest sister Yuan Yao will lead the group."
"Okay, I understand." These words finally made the woman shift her gaze from the mountaintop and prepare to follow the boy to the main hall.
In the end, it proved that the great calamity that True Monarch Yunhe had spoken of had indeed come true.
Starting a year ago, the demon race of the Wanling Mountains suddenly broke the century-old agreement on the beast tide and began to attack Tianliu City and other areas of Yanxing County one after another under the leadership of the Demon King.
The offensive was not large in scale, but this time the demon kings did not gather together. Instead, they led their respective demon clans to attack separately, stretching the battle lines very long.
In fact, the six sects were capable of handling these small beast tides, but the demonic sects in the Chu Kingdom were also starting to stir.
Not only did they carry out large-scale blood sacrifices against mortals within the territory of Zhao, but they also occupied a considerable amount of territory in the past.
As a result, the six sects had to divert their attention to fighting the demonic path, which meant that most of the pressure from the beast tide fell on the other sects and families.
The Zhang family, located next to Yanxing County, was naturally among the first wave of aristocratic families to be conscripted. A year ago, Mo Wuyai, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, Zhang Xingfeng, who was in the mid Foundation Establishment stage, and Xu Haisheng led their clansmen and vassal families to provide assistance.
We are short-handed and have no choice but to send more people to help.
Fortunately, the so-called shortage of manpower refers to the overall situation. After so many years of recuperation, and with the fact that the Zhang family sent only elite troops, the number of cultivators who died in battle was not large.
But everyone knows that this is only the beginning.
"Boom..."
As Wang Menghan took a step forward, a muffled thunderclap suddenly resounded from the thick clouds, stunning the two of them into standing still.
Not only them, but all the cultivators on Qingya Mountain unconsciously looked up.
The sky was clear; it didn't look like it was going to thunder and rain.
Could it be that someone is fighting magic overhead?
Or is someone attacking the clan?
"Could it be?" Wang Menghan's heart trembled violently, and reality confirmed her guess.
This rumble of thunder was just the beginning.
The next moment, the sky within a three-mile radius of the main peak of Qingya Mountain was quickly swallowed up by thick leaden clouds, and thousands of dazzling silver snakes roamed wildly in the sea of clouds.
Besides the sky, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surrounding Qingya Mountain also began to stir, resembling an apocalyptic scene.
Just as everyone was at a loss, a loud shout rang in everyone's ears: "Everyone from Qingya Mountain, leave immediately and retreat to a distance of five miles. Do not return without orders. Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"
"It's the Grand Elder's voice! What on earth happened? Why are violators not being dealt with according to clan rules, but being executed on the spot?!"
"Never mind that, quickly retreat to at least five miles away. I think this should be the so-called Golden Core Tribulation!"
"Golden Core Tribulation?! Is the Clan Chief about to succeed?"
The fear on the faces of the clansmen quickly faded, replaced by excitement and elation. This clan chief had not appeared for many years, and even though the clan's higher-ups hadn't said anything, anyone could guess who it was.
"My family is about to produce its second Golden Core cultivator?" The Zhang family member who had spoken earlier blushed deeply and could no longer walk, as if he wanted to stay there and watch Zhang Lingyu undergo his tribulation.
If he hadn't been dragged outside, he might have been discovered by the Foundation Establishment cultivators in his family, and would have inevitably been punished.
After everyone retreated to a distance of five miles, they discovered that the thunderclouds at Qingya Mountain were still gathering and showed no sign of descending.
The three clan leaders, Huang, Meng, and Du, were the first to arrive. As the earliest vassals to follow the Zhang family, the three clan leaders were among the first to exchange for Foundation Establishment spiritual items and successfully establish their foundations.
The four families have intermarried for hundreds of years, so when they signed the Netherworld Blood Pact, they chose to pledge eternal allegiance without hesitation, even if they hadn't signed it.
They have never betrayed us in the past few centuries, and they will never betray us again.
"This is the Golden Core Tribulation. I feel it's even more intense than the transformation tribulation of that poisonous dragon... It seems our master's cultivation is quite profound. I wonder if we will have this opportunity in the future."
"Brother Huang, you've only just established your foundation and you're already thinking about the Golden Core stage?"
"Yes, do you think the Golden Core is like cabbage in the field? Without hundreds of years of accumulation and talent, don't even think about it."
"Ah, poverty doesn't mean a lack of ambition!" The Huang family patriarch smiled, not taking these words to heart.
Yes, the Golden Core is far too distant for them at present.
Just as the clan leaders were chatting and laughing, an old man suddenly appeared in front of them.
Everyone present immediately bowed in a fluster: "We pay our respects to True Person Qingyuan/Grand Elder!"
"Lingyu's Golden Core Tribulation is about to begin. No one is allowed to approach. Such a scene is rare. You should observe it carefully here, as it will greatly benefit your cultivation and future breakthroughs."
The old man gave a casual reply, then looked at the thunderclouds that were still gathering in the distance, his brow furrowed, his heart filled with worry: "Such a powerful tribulation... Can we withstand it?"
He had experienced the tribulation of lightning and knew just how terrifying it was. Moreover, Zhang Lingyu's tribulation of lightning was slightly stronger than his own.
While they were pondering, everyone suddenly felt a white light before their eyes, followed by a thunderclap in their ears.
"The tribulation is about to begin!"
The cultivators quickly focused their minds and concentrated their energy, looking towards the summit of Qingya Mountain.
......
Inside the secret chamber, after eleven years, Zhang Lingyu finally slowly opened her eyes, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, and sensing the energy within her dantian. The flawless golden core seemed to yearn to roar to the heavens.
Eleven years!
After eleven years, the first step of Core Formation, "Core Condensation," has finally come to an end.
In countless days and nights, Zhang Lingyu almost gave up several times in his efforts to condense and refine this golden elixir.
There were even a few times when his magical power went out of control. If it weren't for the Golden Core Pill and many other pills supporting him, he would have almost failed.
If it fails, not only will we have to start all over again, but we'll also need to spend several more years just to heal.
Having reached this point, he could already be considered a Golden Core cultivator.
"Boom!"
Thunder roared once again high in the sky. Zhang Lingyu looked up and gazed through the roof at the gathering tribulation clouds above, shaking his head helplessly.
"Are you in such a hurry?"
The next instant, he took a step out and disappeared from the secret room.
When it reappeared, it was already standing on the summit of Qingya Mountain, directly below the tribulation clouds.
Under such terrifying power of heaven and earth, he was like an ant, and could be reduced to ashes with a gentle press.
But when this 'ant' appeared on the mountaintop, the Zhang family cultivators in the distance were filled with excitement, but even more so with worry.
The woman in green at the front, in particular, gripped her sleeves tightly and bit her lip.
"Boom!"
Before everyone's eyes, the first bolt of lightning finally struck, and the corresponding 'ant' also began to move at the same time.
Zhang Lingyu lightly patted the storage bag at his waist, from which a small, dark shield flew out.
It was the Lesser Sumeru Shield, a low-grade magic weapon given to him by True Monarch Yunhe. Now that he was a Golden Core cultivator, this magic weapon could also display its true power.
A silvery-white waterfall of lightning poured down from the center of the tribulation clouds, dimming the spiritual light on the surface of the small shield. However, supported by a continuous stream of magical power, it still managed to maintain a slight stalemate with the tribulation lightning.
However, only a few dozen breaths later, the small shield was blown away, and the first lightning bolt, weakened to only 20% of its original strength, slammed into Zhang Lingyu.
The people watching from afar were terrified. It was almost impossible for them to withstand the tribulation lightning with their physical strength, and many of them were so frightened that they almost fainted.
Zhang Yuanhua, who was standing at the very front, was not flustered at all. According to his divine sense, Zhang Lingyu was not seriously injured at all. Instead, she used the tribulation lightning to temper her physical body.
"This kid seems to want to use the tribulation lightning to perfect his 'Thunderbolt Bone Forging Scripture'!"
The "Thunderbolt Bone Forging Scripture" was created after comprehending the tribulation of thunder, and its cultivation method also relies on heavenly thunder to temper the physical body. Now is the perfect time.
However, Zhang Lingyu did not dare to be careless. Only after weakening the tribulation lightning to a certain level did he dare to withstand it with his physical body.
Even with only 20% of the tribulation lightning remaining, it still caused him excruciating pain, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
However, judging from his chest, the fifth lightning pattern was almost fully formed.
After the power of the first tribulation lightning was exhausted, five lightning patterns on his chest lit up in turn, transforming into a lightning armor that covered his entire body.
The Thunderstrike and Bone Forging Sutra has been successfully completed!
Unfortunately, the tribulation lightning wouldn't give him a chance to celebrate. The second tribulation lightning had already been brewing and struck down the instant the first tribulation lightning dissipated.
Its power is more than three times greater than that of the first one.
Now Zhang Lingyu dared not withstand the attack with his bare body. The Small Sumeru Shield reappeared above his head, and at the same time, he threw out three mid-grade fifth-level defensive talismans to enhance the shield.
The outermost spiritual barrier shattered instantly upon contact, and the second and third layers only lasted for a mere four breaths.
However, this also successfully weakened the power by nearly three layers.
Zhang Lingyu reacted quickly and threw out three more talismans, but due to the haste, they were only weakened by 20%.
So he poured all his magical power into the small Sumeru Shield, while simultaneously activating the Thunderstrike Bone Forging Scripture and the Six Paths Mysterious Thunder Flying Sword, carefully absorbing the wisps of lightning within.
However, the good times didn't last long. Cracks began to appear on the small Sumeru Shield, and some parts of the edges even started to crack.
After about half an incense stick's time, the magic weapon finally gave way and was once again thrown away, crashing into a certain spot on Qingya Mountain.
Fortunately, its mission was accomplished, and the second tribulation lightning bolt had been completely consumed.
However, the third one did not descend immediately as expected. People in the distance looked up and saw the dark clouds churning in the center of the tribulation clouds, as if something was being conceived.
After a while, a faint golden light began to flicker within it.
Although it was very faint, it instilled a deep-seated fear in everyone. Zhang Yuanhua's smile vanished, and his face turned extremely pale.
He instinctively took a step forward to help, but found that his sleeve was being tugged.
Looking back, it was Zhang Xingyao.
"Thank goodness, Xingyao pulled me back, otherwise it would have been a disaster!"
The old man was startled by his own actions, breaking out in a cold sweat. He first nodded his thanks, then looked up at Zhang Lingyu again, muttering, "Lingyu...you must pull through!"
Zhang Lingyu began preparations long after the second lightning bolt disappeared. He first quickly threw out array flags to set up the array, and then activated all the talismans.
Then he uttered a low shout: "Elder Puppet!"
An old man from somewhere on Qingya Mountain below responded quickly, transforming into a stream of light and flying into the man's hand.
Looking at the intricately patterned box in his hand, with a thought, the treasure instantly transformed into a suit of armor, its surface radiating a dazzling spiritual light.
At the same time, the golden light at the center of the tribulation cloud finally fell. In everyone's eyes, the golden light only flickered slightly, and the array and spiritual shield set up in mid-air shattered in response.
Upon closer inspection, Zhang Lingyu had vanished from mid-air.
However, they soon found out where the person had gone. A dazzling golden light suddenly burst forth from the summit of Qingya Mountain, followed by a deafening roar.
Countless rocks tumbled down from the mountaintop, but fortunately, the various buildings constructed by the Zhang family on the mountain were sturdy enough that there was not much damage.
Looking at the flattened summit of Qingya Mountain, it took everyone a while to recover. In just an instant, Zhang Lingyu's technique was shattered, and he himself was smashed down.
...
Before everyone could fully react, Zhang Lingyu, who had been struck on the mountaintop by the lightning, slowly climbed out of the deep pit. He tried his best to stand up, but his body felt like it was falling apart and he wouldn't obey any commands.
Left with no other choice, he had to kneel on one knee, panting heavily.
"Such powerful tribulation lightning! It's more than five times stronger than the second tribulation lightning..."
Faced with the third tribulation lightning, all his methods crumbled as quickly as clay chickens and earthenware dogs. Because the tribulation lightning fell so fast, he couldn't even see it clearly.
In his vision, the golden light only flickered for a moment before crashing down on him.
Fortunately, we had Elder Kui's help...
Even before the third tribulation lightning was fully brewing, he was already refining pills while simultaneously channeling his magical power into the Spirit Puppet Myriad Transformations Box.
Looking back now, my back is already soaked with cold sweat.
Without this Nascent Soul cultivator's natal magic weapon, it probably wouldn't even have left ashes.
Even so, he's not in much better shape now. Even though the Spirit Puppet Transformation Box blocked most of the impact for him, the rest still entered his body.
The body that was perfected by the "Thunderbolt Bone Forging Sutra" is now in complete chaos internally, with countless broken ribs and magical power running rampant in the meridians.
Fortunately, the golden core was not damaged, and it was far from being exhausted.
After silently swallowing a healing pill, he was about to ask the old puppet about the origin of his calamity when everything before him began to become increasingly blurry.
Endless darkness surged in from all directions, enveloping him completely.
Once inside, you can feel your thoughts slowing down, as if you're about to fall asleep at any moment.
The Tribulation of Inner Demons!
Like many ancient texts, this calamity came silently, leaving people unaware of when they were caught in its clutches.
Fortunately, at the last moment when darkness completely enveloped him, Zhang Lingyu, relying on the last bit of clarity, swallowed the Water Moon Bright Divine Pill that he had been holding in his mouth.
......
After an unknown amount of time, the world finally brightened up.
When Zhang Lingyu came to his senses, he found himself in an environment that was both strange and familiar. He was standing in a very bright room.
The surrounding furnishings are no longer made of traditional wood, but of some indescribable material.
On the right side, there is an extremely transparent and thin object. Through this object, you can see the scenery outside. The lush green mountains have disappeared and been replaced by tall buildings.
He observed everything with curiosity, trying hard to recall exactly where he was.
Everything here is so familiar, as if I have lived here for many years.
"Lingyu, what are you standing there for? It's time to eat."
A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to look at a corner of the room and saw a beautiful woman carrying food and greeting him.
Another man, sitting in a chair with a book in his hands, also turned his head to greet me.
With just that one sound, he instantly knew where he was.
Isn't this my own home?
How could you forget even this?
"Hey, here it comes!"
Zhang Lingyu smiled and agreed, but after taking a step, she suddenly froze in place.
He felt a cool sensation rush from his chest to the top of his head, and he felt much more awake.
When she came to her senses, her eyes were filled with complex emotions as she looked at the couple in front of her.
"What's wrong, Lingyu? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, it's just that I haven't seen you two for a long time, and I miss you a bit."
"Long time no see? Lingyu, what nonsense are you talking about? Aren't you home every day? It seems you really are sick. After dinner, we'll have to take him to see a doctor."
"Yes, we'll go after we finish eating."
The couple chatted back and forth, but Zhang Lingyu, standing still, showed no intention of moving an inch.
"Lingyu, what's wrong with you? We can talk after we finish eating." After repeated calls went unanswered, the man seemed to get angry and tried to get up to pull her away.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Lingyu knelt down on the ground with a "thump".
The couple were so frightened that they didn't know what to do. They quickened their pace to pull him away, but the next second the other person slapped them on the head three times.
Zhang Lingyu stared intently at them, looking at her parents whom she hadn't seen for decades, trying her best to etch their images into her mind, and said with tears in her eyes:
"The inner demon tribulation is indeed powerful, able to reflect the most vulnerable side of a person's heart. Although I know it's all fake, I really want to see it one more time, just one more time."
"Lingyu, what are you talking about? Don't you see me every day?"
"Yeah, we're not dead..."
Her parents' words still echoed in her ears, but Zhang Lingyu remained unmoved. After an unknown amount of time, their voices grew fainter and fainter, and the figures of the couple and their surroundings began to become increasingly blurry.
The familiar darkness enveloped him once more, leading him to an unknown land.
......
Five miles away from Qingya Mountain, as the tribulation clouds in the sky began to slowly dissipate, whispers rose and fell among the crowd.
"The calamity clouds have dissipated... Did the clan leader succeed?"
"It should have succeeded by now... Don't forget about the inner demon tribulation... Wait a little longer."
"But the inner demon tribulation only lasts for a moment to the outside world. It started when the lightning tribulation dissipated. There should be a strange phenomenon in the sky at this moment."
As the strange phenomenon failed to materialize, everyone was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
They've already overcome such a terrifying heavenly tribulation, so how could they not have overcome the tribulation of inner demons?
Logically speaking, that shouldn't be possible. They know their clan leader's temperament better than anyone. When he gets ruthless, he'll kill even a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the clan without hesitation.
What kind of inner demon could make him stop here?
The chatter of the crowd made Wang Menghan, who was in the middle of it all, feel extremely uncomfortable.
Already worried about the powerful tribulation lightning, the current situation made it seem as if the worst possible outcome was about to unfold before their eyes.
She felt dizzy and everything in front of her began to blur, and she almost fell from mid-air.
Fortunately, Zhang Yuanyao caught her successfully.
"Sister Yuanyao, Master..." Wang Menghan could no longer control her emotions, and tears finally streamed down her cheeks.
"The clan leader succeeded."
With just those words, she instantly stopped crying. The surrounding chatter had ceased, replaced by gasps of amazement.
Looking up slightly, one could see that the tribulation clouds above the distant Qingya Mountain peak had completely dissipated, and what remained were large swathes of clouds formed from spiritual energy. Before long, it began to rain.
This is no ordinary rainwater, but a gift from heaven and earth, the wondrous dew recorded in ancient texts.
Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, a shirtless man slowly climbed up from the mountaintop, gently rising into the air to bathe in the ethereal dew.
Zhang Lingyu gently patted her storage bag, took out more than a hundred jade bottles, and used her magic power to collect the celestial dew. At the same time, she opened her mouth and inhaled the dew that filled the sky.
As soon as the spiritual dew entered the stomach, it transformed into incredibly pure spiritual energy. Part of it gathered in the golden core in the dantian, while the rest flowed into the limbs and bones.
Nourished by the spiritual dew, his body, which had been severely injured by the lightning tribulation, has fully recovered!
Having repaired his body, the celestial dew continued to nourish his body and soul. He felt so comfortable that he wanted to roar to the sky.
According to the ancient texts, such phenomena would not last long. Perhaps it was because his tribulation was too terrifying, or perhaps it was because he had accumulated a great deal of spiritual energy, and the spiritual rain lasted much longer than others.
After the strange phenomenon ended, Zhang Lingyu slowly descended to the mountain peak, feeling the abundant magical power and powerful physical body within him, and couldn't stop smiling.
He thought to himself, "Only after swallowing this golden pill do I realize that my fate is not in the hands of heaven!"
The ancients were right!
......
......
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