At that moment, a crisp CRACK echoed from within Lin Che's body. His golden core went berserk, countless fissures spreading across its surface as torrential spiritual power raged through his dantian.
"Ying'er, get back!" Lin Che growled, his voice strained with suppressed agony.
Lin Ying had already retreated a thousand zhang away, her small hands clenched tight, eyes filled with worry. "Brother, be careful!"
Lin Che sat cross-legged atop the ruins and took a deep breath. His golden core exploded, transforming into a three-inch miniature Nascent Soul—its features identical to his own—seated in his dantian, wrapped in purple lightning patterns. Though small, it emanated a heart-chilling pressure.
The sky turned black in an instant. Clear skies became ink-dark as thunderclouds surged from all directions, forming a hundred-li vortex above Lin Che. Lightning serpents slithered. Thunder boomed. A terrifying Heavenly Dao pressure descended, forcing every living creature within a thousand li to prostrate and tremble.
"Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation?" Meng Qingcheng's voice rang out. She had appeared nearby at some point, hovering in the air in snow-white robes untouched by dust. Her beautiful eyes gleamed. "Interesting. Breaking through to Nascent Soul from Golden Core drew a Six-Nine Tribulation. Heaven itself must think your sins are too heavy."
[ WARNING: Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation incoming! 54 lightning strikes total, each 10% stronger than the last! Extreme power! Suggestion: Don't show off. Survive seriously! System has prepared a survival package for just 999 Slaughter Points... ]
"Scram," Lin Che snapped.
[ Got it Good luck! If you die, this System doesn't handle reincarnation services. ]
"RUMBLE—!"
The first tribulation lightning crashed down! The purple-black pillar was several meters thick, tearing space and leaving black cracks in its wake.
Lin Che didn't dodge. He tilted his head back and roared, taking it head-on with his physical body!
"Bring it—!"
Lightning seared his flesh, blood spraying. But his Nascent Soul grew more solid under the tribulation's tempering. Fine lightning patterns emerged on his skin like natural Dao runes.
Second! Third! ... Ninth!
Lin Che endured nine strikes. His body charred black as coal, hair standing on end, smoking. But his aura climbed higher. Injuries healed rapidly via the Cangxuan Soul Devour Art, each recovery making his body stronger.
"Brother!" Lin Ying cried out, tears pooling but not daring to approach.
"I'm fine." Lin Che grinned, showing bloodstained teeth. "This tribulation is perfect! Saves me ten years of cultivation!"
He met the tenth bolt head-on, punching! Fist force collided with lightning, creating a deafening explosion that leveled a hundred-zhang radius, sinking the ground three zhang deep.
[ Host using tribulation to temper body. Physical strength +10%! ]
"More!"
Lin Che charged the thunderclouds like a madman, meeting each bolt with his fists. Lightning erupted around him, shredding his flesh and reforming it again. Bones shattered under tribulation, then recondensed denser and stronger under spiritual power, taking on a jade-like luster.
[ Physical strength +20%! ]
[ Physical strength +30%! ]
[ Lightning Pattern Golden Core resonating with tribulation. Nascent Soul quality upgrade: Earth Grade → Heaven Grade! ]
[ Host, are you using Heavenly Tribulation as a massage? System is shocked! Suggestion: Consider opening a tribulation massage parlor. Great business potential! ]
By the thirty-sixth bolt, Lin Che's clothes had long turned to ash, revealing his muscular torso. Scorched skin flaked off, revealing pristine new skin beneath—crystal clear, flowing with lightning light.
[ Host survived half the tribulation. Earned title "Tribulation Enthusiast"! ]
When the fifty-fourth bolt gathered, the entire sky lit up, visible for a thousand li. Ten meters thick, purple-gold, like Heaven's executioner's blade, aiming straight for Lin Che's crown! At the vortex's center, a faint Heavenly Dao eye coldly watched the cultivator below.
"Break—!"
Lin Che threw his head back and roared—then swallowed the entire bolt whole!
"BOOM—!!!"
The lightning exploded inside him. Merchants shattered. Bones cracked. Internal organs turned to dust. But the next instant, the Cangxuan Soul Devour Art erupted, Doomsday Power fusing with lightning force. In his dantian, the three-inch Nascent Soul solidified completely, lightning flashing in its eyes, forming two natural thunder Dao patterns! The Nascent Soul wore lightning armor, wielded a lightning spear—like a Thunder God incarnate.
[ Tribulation survived! Host cultivation: Early Nascent Soul Stage! ]
[ Nascent Soul Grade: Heaven Grade! Combat power comparable to Late Nascent Soul! ]
[ Gained tribulation lightning power. Skill "Lightning Pattern Golden Core" evolved → "Lightning Source Nascent Soul"! ]
[ Lightning Source Nascent Soul: All lightning skills +100% power. Lightning tribulation resistance +50%! Next tribulation can be another massage. ]
[ Congratulations! Completed "Death-Seeking Tribulation" achievement! Reward title "Heavenly Tribulation Bane"! ]
Post-tribulation. Dense spiritual energy flooded toward Lin Che from all directions, nourishing his tribulation-damaged flesh and his Lightning Source Nascent Soul. This was Heaven's reward for tribulation survivors.
Lin Che stood, charred skin flaking off to reveal crystalline, jade-like new flesh beneath. Lightning surrounded him. Thunder serpents swam in his eyes. His long hair floated without wind, each strand crackling with electricity—like a Thunder God descended.
He clenched a fist. CRACK! Lightning exploded in his palm, spiderweb cracks appearing in space.
Meng Qingcheng stepped forward gracefully, her beautiful eyes gleaming. "Heaven Grade Nascent Soul? Interesting. I underestimated your temperament. Surviving Six-Nine Tribulation means you're crazier than I thought."
Lin Che grinned, lightning dancing between his teeth: "Sect Master, can I go to Mount Emei now?"
"You can." Meng Qingcheng nodded, her expression turning serious. "But be careful. Mount Emei is no Heaven's Mystery Sect. Its depths are darker. Especially that Holy Maiden..."
She left the sentence hanging.
Lin Che gazed into the distance, battle intent surging. "No matter how deep, I'm going."
"Because..." He clenched his fist, lightning exploding between his fingers, scorching space into wisps of green smoke, "The one I seek is there. If she doesn't give answers, I won't mind destroying another sect."
Lin Ying ran over and threw herself into her brother's arms. "Brother! I'm so glad you're okay!"
Lin Che ruffled his sister's hair, his gaze gentle. "Silly girl, I promised I'd never leave you."
[Chapter 25 Complete]