47: Retreat to build the foundation, the heavenly calamity comes

The news of Lin Gou entering seclusion spread like a storm, sweeping across the entire Qingyun Sect overnight.

His Inner Sect mountain Peak, once deserted, instantly became a Holy Land for the entire Sect.

Below the mountain Peak, people gathered in droves.

Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples, a dense crowd, all craned their necks, pointing and gesticulating at the tightly shut Immortal Cave door.

Every face was a mix of awe, curiosity, and fanaticism.

“Have you heard? Senior Brother Lin is going to attempt Foundation Establishment!”

“Nonsense! I just want to see with my own eyes what kind of earth-shattering phenomena a monster like Senior Brother Lin, who could contend with a Ye family Prodigy during the Qi Refinement Stage, will cause when he attempts Foundation Establishment!”

“Does that even need saying? It’ll definitely be a cataclysm!”

“I’m only concerned about whether he’ll succeed… Foundation Establishment is a gateway to hell!”

Discussions rose and fell, yet were strangely kept at an extremely low volume, as if fearing to disturb the true Dragon awakening in the mountain.

Even the powerful Divine Sense, undetectable by ordinary Disciples, hovering above Qingyun Sect, remained locked onto this mountain Peak twenty-four hours a day.

Those were the Sect’s Grand Elders.

These old monsters, who usually appeared and disappeared like Dragons, were now, by an unspoken agreement, dedicating their attention to a Disciple’s Foundation Establishment.

This act was unprecedented.

The night was like water.

Moonlight cascaded down.

A figure in plain white, treading on moonlight, quietly arrived before Lin Gou’s Immortal Cave.

It was Zhao Linger.

Her white robes were whiter than snow, her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her beautiful face, under the moonlight, was filled with worry.

In her hand, she held a warm, white jade box.

The Immortal Cave stone door opened silently.

Lin Gou’s figure appeared at the entrance, as if he had long anticipated her arrival.

“You’ve come.”

Zhao Linger said nothing, only gently handed over the jade box in her hand.

“This is what you risked your life for; it should rightfully be yours.”

Her voice was very soft, yet carried an undisguised tremor.

The jade box opened.

A Spiritual Plant, crystal clear throughout, as if condensed from moonlight, lay quietly within.

It was the complete foundation establishment grass.

Lin Gou looked at the grass, then at Zhao Linger’s eyes, filled with concern, and did not refuse.

“Thank you.”

He knew that this grass, coupled with the SS-rank death reward “Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment Catalyst,” would stir up an incredibly terrifying storm in the skies of Qingyun Sect.

Zhao Linger bit her lower lip lightly, wanting to speak but hesitating.

She wanted to ask, “Do you have confidence?”

She wanted to say, “Don’t push yourself.”

But in the end, she only gave him a deep look, and all her unspoken words transformed into the simplest of instructions.

“I’ll wait for you.”

Having said that, she turned and resolutely melted into the night.

Lin Gou watched her disappear, then turned and walked back into the Immortal Cave.

The stone door boomed shut.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Lin Gou sat cross-legged, his expression terrifyingly calm.

He had adjusted his state to its absolute Peak.

Then, with a thought, he moved.

The iridescent foundation establishment grass.

The simple and unadorned “Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment Catalyst.”

The two items floated before him.

A look of extreme fervor flashed in Lin Gou’s eyes.

He no longer hesitated, opening his mouth and swallowing the complete foundation establishment grass whole.

Boom!

The immense medicinal power, like a breached flood, instantly exploded!

Immediately after, he picked up the “Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment Catalyst” and, without hesitation, pressed it against his glabella!

Om—

An ancient Aura, as if from the primordial Universe, emanated from the token, instantly resonating with the medicinal power, cultivation, and Divine Soul within his body!

An invisible fluctuation, centered on him, spread out across the entire world!

Rumble!

A dull roar, like an ancient battle drum, came from the Nine Heavens.

Above Qingyun Sect, the clear sky, previously cloudless for thousands of miles, instantly turned pitch black without warning!

Thick, impenetrable dark clouds furiously gathered from all directions, forming a gigantic, suffocating black vortex directly above Lin Gou’s mountain Peak!

Its scope was so vast that it enveloped the entire Qingyun Sect!

Whoosh—

The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth frantically poured into the vortex!

The Sect-protecting array let out an unbearable hum!

“What’s going on?!”

“Why is the sky dark?!”

The Disciples watching below instantly erupted, looking at the apocalyptic scene in the sky with extreme shock and horror.

A fear originating from the depths of their Souls seized everyone’s heart.

Deep within the deliberation hall, several Grand Elders suddenly opened their eyes, their Divine Sense filled with unbelievable horror.

“This… what kind of phenomenon is this?!”

“Such a scale cannot possibly be caused by an ordinary Foundation Establishment!”

“Could it be that kid?!”

Just then.

At the center of the dark tribulation clouds, streaks of purple lightning began to condense.

A majestic Heavenly Might, like a divine mountain collapsing, enveloped them with a roar!

All Disciples below the Golden Core Stage trembled in their hearts, their legs turning to jelly.

Thump!

Thump!

Countless Disciples, no longer able to bear the pressure, their knees giving way, directly knelt on the ground!

“It’s a Heavenly Tribulation!”

“It’s a Foundation Establishment Heavenly Tribulation!”

The Sect Head’s authoritative voice, now trembling intensely, resounded in the heart of every Elder!

“Legend has it that only ancient mighty cultivators and Sons of Destiny would attract a Heavenly Tribulation baptism during the mere Foundation Establishment Stage!”

“Our Qingyun Sect is about to produce a true Dragon!”

The entire high-level leadership of Qingyun Sect was thrown into unprecedented shock and disarray.

They worried, they feared, they were afraid that this true Dragon would turn to dust under the Heavenly Tribulation.

However.

Inside the Immortal Cave at this moment.

The object of everyone’s worry was trembling with excitement.

He suddenly tore off his upper garment, revealing his incredibly firm muscles.

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Immortal Cave, looking directly at the surging tribulation clouds in the sky.

He stuck out his tongue, excitedly licking his somewhat dry lips.

His eyes were like a starved glutton, seeing a peerless feast.

“System, are you ready?”

“My self-service feast… has arrived!”

Rumble—!

The instant his words fell, the Immortal Cave door exploded with a roar!

Debris flew everywhere!

Under everyone’s jaw-dropping gaze.

A shirtless figure shot out from the Immortal Cave, soaring into the sky!

He didn’t set up arrays!

He didn’t summon treasures!

He didn’t even show the slightest intention of resisting!

He was like an arrow released from a bowstring, actively flying towards the tribulation clouds that represented death and destruction!

He’s crazy!

He’s absolutely crazy!

The tribulation clouds in the sky seemed to be thoroughly enraged by this ant’s provocation.

Boom!

The first bolt of purple divine lightning, as thick as a water bucket, descended with an Aura of destroying everything!

However, facing this world-shattering blow.

Lin Gou did not dodge or evade.

He spread his arms in mid-air.

He faced the purple lightning.

And let out a hearty, utterly exhilarating laugh!