Thus, Han Qianqiu led Bai Qiuyuan to an ancient battlefield ruin.
Legends spoke of ancient heroic spirits occasionally appearing within these desolate grounds, though few had ever truly witnessed them.
The ancient battlefield was vast and barren, a ruin in itself.
Consequently, many cultivators in the cultivation world chose this very place to undergo their tribulations.
At this moment, Bai Qiuyuan sat upon his Duanmo Sword, which hovered about a meter above the ruined ground, perusing the jade slip Han Qianqiu had given him earlier.
‘The Heavenly Tribulation (TL Note: ‘Tianjie’, a trial sent by the heavens to cultivators who break through to new realms) changes according to one’s cultivation level and individual talent.’
‘The stronger the Heavenly Tribulation’s power, the greater the cultivator’s potential.’
‘However, the Golden Core (TL Note: ‘Jiedan’, the stage after Foundation Establishment where a cultivator forms a ‘golden core’ within their dantian) Heavenly Tribulation’s power will not surpass the Golden Core level.’
‘Hmm? Is the Golden Core tribulation purely a lightning tribulation?’
‘It seems the tribulation’s maximum range is only a few hundred meters…’
‘The size of a sports arena from my previous life?’
‘That makes things much simpler.’
Beside him, Han Qianqiu watched Bai Qiuyuan calmly examining the jade slip, a speechless expression on her face.
“I’m seeing someone so composed during their first tribulation for the very first time.”
Upon hearing her words, Bai Qiuyuan chuckled, pulling another jar of Nine-Revolutions Golden Elixirs (TL Note: ‘Jiuzhuan Jindan’, a powerful healing and cultivation-boosting elixir) from his sleeve.
“I won’t die.”
Han Qianqiu: “…”
‘With so many Nine-Revolutions Golden Elixirs, it would be hard for him to die, wouldn’t it?’
Seeing the jar of elixirs, Han Qianqiu realized that the Heavenly Tribulation posed no real threat to Bai Qiuyuan, and a silent sigh of relief escaped her.
Bai Qiuyuan leaped down from the Duanmo Sword.
As he landed, he turned and gripped the sword, a smile playing on his lips.
“I’m ready. The tribulation can begin now.”
“Please help me guard the area.”
Han Qianqiu nodded.
Immediately, a sharp aura emanated from Bai Qiuyuan’s form!
His cultivation also began to surge, escalating from Half-step Golden Core directly towards the First Layer of Golden Core!
After witnessing this, Han Qianqiu flashed several hundred meters into the sky, positioning herself far enough to avoid being caught in the tribulation’s wake, and mused silently as she watched Bai Qiuyuan’s aura soar.
‘This guy has been suppressing his cultivation realm all this time?’
‘He’s only breaking through to Golden Core, yet his aura already carries a hint of the Second Layer Golden Core’s Dao韵 (TL Note: ‘Dao Yun’, the profound rhythm or essence of the Great Dao).’
‘It seems this tribulation will be a natural progression.’
Bai Qiuyuan closed his eyes, silently sensing the changes within his body with his divine sense.
Then… he opened the lid of the ‘bottle’ that was already on the verge of exploding.
Rumble!!!
Before Bai Qiuyuan had even fully formed his Golden Core, a thunderclap echoed from the previously clear sky!
Following this, a small patch of dark clouds, roughly the size of a common watermelon, materialized directly above Bai Qiuyuan.
Bai Qiuyuan: “?”
‘That’s it?’
But swiftly, the dark cloud in the sky began to expand!
In mere moments, it had spread to cover several square miles, encompassing a vast portion of the ancient battlefield!
Bai Qiuyuan: “…?”
‘I take back what I said.’
‘It seems larger than I imagined.’
Han Qianqiu: “?!”
‘Isn’t a few hundred meters the limit for a normal Golden Core cultivator’s tribulation?!’
Within the roiling dark clouds, purple lightning snaked and pulsed like celestial serpents!
An immense heavenly pressure descended, enveloping Bai Qiuyuan!
Rumble!!!
Just as Bai Qiuyuan anticipated the lightning’s descent, the tribulation underwent a further transformation!
The initially purple lightning began to shift, bleeding into crimson hues!
The color deepened relentlessly, as if gathering power, poised to annihilate Bai Qiuyuan with a single strike!
****
—At the Edge of the Ruins—
“What’s happening!?”
“Such a massive lightning tribulation!?”
A group of rogue cultivators fell into a frenzy due to the sudden heavenly phenomenon.
“Is someone undergoing tribulation?!”
“Such an enormous lightning tribulation… if it truly is a tribulation, it must be a Soul Transformation (TL Note: ‘Huashen’, a cultivation realm beyond Golden Core) cultivator!!”
“No, no, it could also be some heaven-defying treasure appearing!”
“Think about it, this is an ancient battlefield!”
“Wouldn’t it be perfectly normal for a few ancient treasures to awaken here?”
“I bet this is caused by the revival of some ancient treasure!”
“A treasure has appeared!?”
“Seize it!”
****
—At the Center of the Tribulation—
Bang!!
An overflow of lightning struck near Bai Qiuyuan!
A massive crater, five meters wide and one to two meters deep, instantly appeared nearby!
And this was merely a stray bolt!
The Heavenly Tribulation above continued to brew!
Bai Qiuyuan gazed at the lingering power of the tribulation, falling into contemplation.
‘If the first bolt struck, I wouldn’t even have time to take an elixir before being reduced to ash, would I?’
“Be careful! This Heavenly Tribulation isn’t right!”
Han Qianqiu transmitted her warning to Bai Qiuyuan.
Bai Qiuyuan, however, replied calmly.
“Continue to guard me and keep people away from this area.”
After a moment of silence, Han Qianqiu chose to trust that Bai Qiuyuan could handle it himself.
She retreated to the very edge of the tribulation’s range.
Bai Qiuyuan looked up at the Heavenly Tribulation, a smile gracing his lips.
“I’m not the type to patiently wait for you to finish charging.”
“Carved Dragon.”
“Roar!!!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his sword rose! Accompanied by a dragon’s roar, a colossal ink dragon materialized!
It surged directly towards the Heavenly Tribulation!
Having reached Half-step Golden Core, this technique was even more potent than when he had clashed with Su Changling previously!
A pale red bolt of lightning immediately descended from the tribulation!
Boom!!!
The once mighty ink dragon instantly disintegrated!
Bai Qiuyuan merely smiled, observing the completely unharmed Heavenly Tribulation.
‘The test is over.’
Subsequently, Bai Qiuyuan activated his Lightness Art (TL Note: ‘Qingshen Shu’, a martial arts technique that enhances agility and allows for light-footed movement or even gliding), using his True Qi (TL Note: ‘Zhenqi’, spiritual energy cultivated by practitioners) to support his body as he flew towards the tribulation.
****
—At the Edge of the Heavenly Tribulation—
“It’s just ahead!”
“That treasure is mine!”
A throng of cultivators scrambled to the tribulation’s periphery!
Just as one cultivator was about to step into the lightning’s range, a commanding voice rang out.
“A tribulation is underway ahead. Cross this line… and die.”
The moment the female voice uttered its final word, an unimaginable, terrifying pressure abruptly erupted!
Some who were flying on their swords even lost their balance and plummeted from the sky due to this overwhelming aura!
“It’s a Grand Cultivator (TL Note: ‘Da Xiuxingzhe’, a general term used by cultivators for those above the Soul Transformation realm)!!”
‘Grand Cultivator, a collective term used by cultivators for those above the Soul Transformation realm!’
The one radiating this immense pressure was none other than Han Qianqiu!
Everyone instantly froze, not daring to doubt the veracity of Han Qianqiu’s words for a second!
Soon, the cultivators witnessed a black-clad figure soaring into the sky amidst the lightning.
Someone immediately cried out in astonishment.
“It’s not a treasure! Someone is truly undergoing tribulation?!”
“His lightning tribulation is actually this terrifying!?”
“What’s he doing in mid-air?”
“He can fly? Is he a Soul Transformation cultivator? Then… is this a Soul Transformation realm Heavenly Tribulation!?”
****
The cultivators who had rushed over were utterly stunned by Bai Qiuyuan’s Heavenly Tribulation and remained to watch.
Since cultivators who reach Soul Transformation can comprehend the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, they can fly without needing a sword. Therefore, everyone, seeing Bai Qiuyuan floating in mid-air without his sword, coupled with the immensely vast and seemingly formidable Heavenly Tribulation, subconsciously assumed he was a Soul Transformation cultivator!
In the distance, Han Qianqiu sat on her sword, and after seeing everyone obediently halt, she turned her gaze towards the center of the tribulation.
****
—Beneath the Heavenly Tribulation—
Bai Qiuyuan noticed the scene unfolding in the distance and chuckled inwardly.
‘It feels good to have someone watching your back.’
Subsequently, Bai Qiuyuan took a deep breath.
Ninety percent of the True Qi in his dantian converged and compressed within the Duanmo Sword!
After a few seconds of silence, Bai Qiuyuan smiled, his expression calm.
“Cleave.”
The next moment, a cold flash of light erupted, and the Heavenly Tribulation, which even the ink dragon couldn’t harm, was cleaved in half in the blink of an eye!!!
The half-formed thunderclouds immediately scattered in large swathes!
The previously clear sky was revealed through the rift where the tribulation clouds had been split!
Bai Qiuyuan smiled as he consumed an elixir, his True Qi instantly replenishing to full!
Then, looking at the Heavenly Tribulation, Bai Qiuyuan chuckled.
“Your charging takes quite a long time, doesn’t it?”
“Before you finish powering up, how about I chop you a dozen more times?~”
No sooner had Bai Qiuyuan finished speaking than the Duanmo Sword in his hand began to rapidly gather power again!
The colossal tribulation clouds visibly trembled for an instant!
Then they began to shrink!
In a flash, they reverted to the size of a watermelon!
Following this, they vanished from the sky at the fastest possible speed!
The sky, which had been shrouded by the tribulation, instantly returned to clear, boundless blue.
The Heavenly Tribulation… fled!
Bai Qiuyuan was dumbfounded.
Bai Qiuyuan: “…?”
‘No way…’
‘You didn’t even strike me once, and you… ran away?’
‘Does the Heavenly Tribulation have consciousness?’
‘Then…’
‘Did I succeed in my tribulation, or not?’
Crack!!
Just then, a shattering sound echoed in the sky!
Bai Qiuyuan heard it and looked up at the sky in confusion.
He saw the clear sky begin to shatter!!
Bai Qiuyuan: “???”
Bai Qiuyuan stared in disbelief.
Han Qianqiu and the crowd of cultivators watching from afar were also utterly dumbfounded.
Because… the sky had broken!
A massive black裂缝 (TL Note: ‘Liefeng’, a rift or crack) appeared in the sky!
Through the rift, one could glimpse the inky night sky and countless stars!
This formed a stark contrast with the clear sky bordering the fissure, creating a powerful visual impact on everyone!
Bai Qiuyuan lowered his head, contemplating the Duanmo Sword in his hand.
‘Am I… this strong now?’
‘No…’
‘Although the power of that last sword strike was considerable, it absolutely couldn’t have shattered the sky…’
‘The power to shatter the sky would require at least Soul Transformation cultivation…’
‘I’m only at Golden Core; it’s impossible for me to do that.’
‘Then what is this?…’
Before Bai Qiuyuan could fully grasp the situation, he felt his True Qi undergoing a qualitative change within him!
All of his True Qi transformed into a purer form of spiritual energy!
His original dantian also coalesced into a Golden Core!
However, what puzzled Bai Qiuyuan was that his Golden Core wasn’t pure gold, but was instead covered in purple-black patterns.
Bai Qiuyuan inspected it thoroughly but found no abnormalities.
Suddenly, a series of notification sounds rang in Bai Qiuyuan’s ears.
[Ding~ Modifier permissions increased!]
[Unlocked Sword Intent Level: 0 (Modifiable) NEW!]
[Acquired Passive Skill: Heavenly Tribulation Nullification [ON] NEW!]
[Acquired Passive Skill: Full Immunity to Negative Statuses [ON] NEW!]
[Acquired Permanent Permission: Time Reversal NEW!]
[Acquired Permanent Permission: Item Stat Modification NEW!]
[Unlocked Golden Core Personal Talent Skill: Spatial Talent NEW!]
“…”
Bai Qiuyuan furrowed his brow.
“Heavenly Tribulation Nullification? Does that mean I won’t encounter any more tribulations in the future?”
“Wouldn’t that make me invincible?”
****
—In the Distance—
Many of the spectating cultivators, having witnessed the sky-cleaving sword strike and the rift that lingered in the heavens, fell into an uproar!
“He actually dispersed the Heavenly Tribulation with a single sword strike!?”
“What level of cultivation is required to achieve something like that!?”
“Impossible! There’s never been a precedent for someone breaking through like this before!”
“Could that person be an Integration Stage (TL Note: ‘Lianxu Qi’, a cultivation realm significantly higher than Soul Transformation, known for disrupting void) Ancestor capable of shattering the void!?”
“How beautiful…”