"Master succeeded!"
Chen Jinshu and the others cried out in joy, disappearing from where they stood in the blink of an eye.
When they reappeared, they were already by Shui Huanmeng's side at the Huayue Pavilion.
"Disciple greets Master!"
"Congratulations on advancing through your tribulation and forming the Nascent Soul!"
The group spoke in unison, their eyes fixed on their master. Compared to before, when she had only reached the Golden Core stage, her aura and presence had changed dramatically.
A faint, almost imperceptible white mist now lingered around her entire body, ethereal and elusive.
"I already know what you have done," Shui Huanmeng looked at her disciples, her heart full of quiet pride.
To outsiders, it may have seemed as though Chen Jinshu and the others did nothing to help during the tribulation. But only Shui Huanmeng understood the significance of their actions.
Their arrival had deeply influenced Liu Huameng's change of heart later on, giving her the courage to pursue the one she loved. Though many things happened along the way, the ending was ultimately a good one.
"Master, are you planning to save him? Would that not go against the laws of heaven and earth?"
"He is not dead yet. His injuries are severe, but he still has a pulse. Saving him will help me resolve a knot in my heart."
At these words, no one said anything more. They simply watched as their master took action.
With her cultivation level, whatever she chose to do naturally had its reasons.
In no time, Shui Huanmeng used a secret technique to bring Chai Junhao back from the brink of death.
"He resembles him, but in the end, he is not the same person."
Shui Huanmeng looked at Chai Junhao one last time and shook her head slightly. That glance seemed to wash away all her past attachments.
When she awakened after the tribulation, she finally understood why her karmic trial had appeared here. It traced back to a promise made across several lifetimes, buried deep within her heart. Over time, she had forgotten it. Only by undergoing this tribulation had it surfaced once more.
Afterward, Shui Huanmeng erased the memories of everyone in the town, then left with her disciples.
When they reappeared, they stood on an isolated island.
"This is Yuqiong Island. I discovered it during my Golden Core travels. There is a fourth-grade low-tier spiritual vein here. It can help you all break through to the Golden Core stage."
"You remember the spiritual treasures I gave each of you to assist with this breakthrough. After years of preparation, it is finally time."
"Master, is this place really large enough for all of us to undergo the tribulation? Won't the lightning strikes interfere with each other?" Chen Jinshu voiced her concern.
"The space is a little tight, but I can ensure that at least two people undergo their tribulation at the same time without disruption. The strength and nature of each tribulation varies slightly between individuals," Shui Huanmeng answered with a light smile.
"Then Third Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Brother should go first. Let's take turns according to rank," Chen Jinshu offered. She wanted to observe how the others passed their tribulations and gain some experience. Besides, as the youngest, she would never dream of skipping ahead of her seniors.
"There's no such thing as order in facing a tribulation. Whoever is ready may go first. Weren't you eager earlier?"
"Enough. Forming the Golden Core takes anywhere from two to five months. With your talents, two months should be enough. Whoever starts first makes no real difference. As your seniors, they can lead the way. Keep at least one hundred li apart, and the interference will be minimal," Shui Huanmeng said, seeing they were still being overly polite.
"Yes, Master!"
Bu Yuanxiang and Huai Jingyi no longer hesitated. They flew off in opposite directions and chose suitable spots on the eastern and western edges of Yuqiong Island.
"You all shouldn't be idle either. Focus on refining your qi and observing your seniors' tribulations."
"The Five Continents Alliance will convene in a year and a half. You must be ready for battle at any moment. My only demand is that each of you obtain at least one Golden Core-tier spiritual artifact."
With a small nod, Shui Huanmeng placed a supportive restriction on each disciple, then turned to give instructions to those still waiting.
"We understand."
Hearing there was only a year and a half before the Alliance began, Chen Jinshu felt a rush of anticipation and tension.
Obtaining a Golden Core artifact at the Alliance would not be easy. She might have to go all out.
With that thought, she followed her Seventh Senior Sister to a spot not far away and began to cultivate.
...
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
From where Bu Yuanxiang was meditating, a strange fragrance suddenly spread through the air. White spiritual energy surged into the sky like a tornado.
The surrounding spiritual qi was drawn in violently. Overhead, clouds began gathering in preparation for a lightning tribulation.
Huai Jingyi intentionally delayed his breakthrough to avoid interference, planning to wait until Bu Yuanxiang finished hers.
Moments later, the entire island seemed to burst into bloom. Spiritual plants grew wildly, covering the ground in blossoms.
Boom—
The sky, now swirling with purple thunderclouds, let out a sudden, deafening crack of lightning that made everyone's heart skip a beat.
"The Golden Core tribulation is the weakest among lightning tribulations. The Nascent Soul tribulation is more than three times stronger. I concealed the tribulation with a secret technique, so you did not notice mine."
"Watch closely. Your senior sister is forming her Golden Core now. Before long, your turn will come."
As Shui Huanmeng spoke, she began explaining the key points of the Golden Core tribulation to Chen Jinshu and the others.
Boom—
A massive bolt of lightning, shaped like a thunder spear, came crashing down toward Bu Yuanxiang.
She held a precious orb in her hand, which radiated a bluish-green light, forming a barrier to shield her.
Even so, thin arcs of lightning still struck her body, making her expression twist in pain.
"If all goes well, your senior sister's Golden Core will be sixth-grade. That gives her a good chance of reaching the Nascent Soul stage."
"Like the Nascent Soul, Golden Cores are ranked from first to ninth grade. In the cultivation world, sixth-grade is already rare. Even I only reached seventh grade, both for my Golden Core and Nascent Soul."
Hearing this, Chen Jinshu felt a surge of respect. To reach seventh grade, her master must have endured countless hardships.
"What determines the grade of the Golden Core?" she asked.
"The density of spiritual qi and the amount of karmic burden. The fewer the burdens, the higher the chance of forming a high-grade core. As for demonic cultivators, when they attempt to break through, it is almost a death sentence. Even if they succeed, they rarely achieve more than third-grade."
"To reach the Nascent Soul stage later, they often resort to harming others. This is why you must never follow the path of demonic cultivation. If you do, I will personally expel you from the sect."
"We understand." Chen Jinshu nodded unconsciously.
Soon, Bu Yuanxiang passed through three waves of tribulation. Her body was charred in places, but her aura remained stable. With a few days of recovery, she would be fine.
Not long after, one hundred li away, Huai Jingyi began summoning his own lightning tribulation. The intensity was comparable to Bu Yuanxiang's.
Four months passed in a flash.
On the eastern side of Yuqiong Island, Chen Jinshu finally began her own tribulation. The purple thunderclouds above her crackled faintly with a golden sheen.
Watching from a distance, Shui Huanmeng's heart clenched, a trace of worry flashing across her face.
"Your junior sister is facing the strongest Golden Core tribulation: the Purple-Gold Lightning. Only those destined for a ninth-grade core will encounter it."