292: Chapter 292 First Level of Golden Core

"It's done!" Qin Changsheng was ecstatic. He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. His Aura at the Early Stage of the Golden Core was steady and majestic; his Dao foundation was firm, and his spiritual power was pure. His entire temperament had undergone a world-shaking transformation, evolving from the agility of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to the composure and majesty of a Golden Core Cultivator.

However, at the very moment he succeeded in his Breakthrough and his mind relaxed slightly, a faint white mist suddenly rose in the void not far away. The white mist quickly condensed, gradually forming a white illusory figure.

The figure was blurred and surrounded by a faint black Qi, emitting a cold and eerie Aura.

This was the Heart Demon hidden deep within his heart. During the Core Formation tribulation, the Heart Demon was most likely to take advantage of any opening. Once disturbed by a Heart Demon, at best, one's Golden Core would become unstable; at worst, one would suffer Qi Deviation and lose all cultivation.

Qin Changsheng's heart tightened, and he was just about to circulate his spiritual power to prepare to resist the Heart Demon's intrusion.

"My Yao Race..." Just as the white figure spoke these words, a golden light suddenly burst forth, instantly piercing through its body and shooting toward the white Heart Demon.

The golden light was extremely fast, hitting the white Heart Demon in an instant.

With a soft *sizzle*, the golden light collided with the black Qi surrounding the Heart Demon. The black Qi was instantly dissolved by the golden light, and the white Heart Demon let out a shrill scream. Under the scorching of the golden light, its form quickly became transparent and dissipated.

In just an instant, the Heart Demon that had just condensed was completely destroyed by the golden light, leaving not a single trace behind. Only a wisp of faint black Qi remained, which was thoroughly purified by the golden light and merged into the Spiritual Qi of the Cave-Heaven Blessed Land.

Qin Changsheng slowly stood up, feeling the stable power of the Golden Core within his body. He glanced in the direction where the Heart Demon had vanished, a look of realization and relief flashing in his eyes.

He knew clearly that the white figure just now was the Heart Demon born when he broke through to the Golden Core. If not for the automatic protection of the Golden Trait [Heart Demon], even if he succeeded in his Breakthrough, he would inevitably have been disturbed by the Heart Demon, leading to a damaged Golden Core or even falling into an irrecoverable state.

At the same time, Qin Changsheng was also very puzzled.

That Heart Demon had actually spoken of the Yao Race.

Had he been cursed by a powerhouse of the Yao Race at some point?

In the next instant, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky above the Cave-Heaven Blessed Land. Within the dark cloud layers, silver-white lightning bolts flickered faintly. Accompanied by the sound of low thunder, a terrifying Pressure swept down, enveloping the entire Cave-Heaven Blessed Land.

Qin Changsheng looked up, his expression calm and unruffled. He knew clearly that this was the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation.

He had long known from the core formation insights that whenever a Cultivator breaks through to the Golden Core Realm, the Heavenly Dao sends down a Lightning Tribulation to temper the Golden Core and test the Cultivator. Only by successfully resisting the Lightning Tribulation can one truly stabilize the Golden Core Dao foundation. If one fails to resist, the Golden Core will shatter and cultivation will plummet at best, or one will die and their Dao will vanish at worst.

But Qin Changsheng had no worries at all, because he possessed the Heavenly Dao Trait [Thunder God] and had many defensive Magic Treasures around him. To him, this Golden Core Lightning Tribulation was nothing more than an Opportunity to temper his Golden Core and posed no threat at all.

The [Thunder God] trait was a blessing from the Heavenly Dao, capable of invoking the power of lightning and resisting lightning damage.

Besides that, he also had many defensive Magic Treasures in his Storage Pouch, such as the grade 4 protective jade talisman and the Black Iron Defense Armor. Even if the Lightning Tribulation was more powerful, he was fully confident in resisting it easily.

*Rumble—* The low sound of thunder grew more intense. Within the dark clouds, nine silver-white lightning bolts suddenly condensed. Each was thicker than the last, containing majestic Heavenly Dao power and carrying an Aura of world-ending destruction as they crashed down toward Qin Changsheng.

Nine lightning strikes were the standard number for a Golden Core Lightning Tribulation, but they were also the greatest test of a Cultivator's defense and strength. Ordinary Golden Core Cultivators often had to give their all and even rely on many treasures to barely resist them; any slight carelessness would lead to total failure.

But Qin Changsheng's expression remained indifferent. When the first lightning bolt struck, he did not rush to use his defensive Magic Treasures. With a mere thought, the power of the [Thunder God] trait erupted instantly. The lightning halo around him suddenly became brilliant, and a golden lightning barrier appeared out of thin air, blocking his path.

With a *crack*, the silver-white lightning struck the barrier and was instantly dissolved, leaving only a faint wisp of lightning power that was absorbed by the [Thunder God] trait and converted into power to nourish the Golden Core.

Following that, the second, third... and up to the ninth lightning bolts struck in succession. Each was swifter and more powerful than the last. The booming sounds made the entire Cave-Heaven Blessed Land tremble slightly, fine cracks opened in the ground, and the surrounding Spiritual Plants and exotic flowers were turned to ash by the aftershocks of the lightning.

But Qin Changsheng remained standing where he was, calm and composed. At times, he activated the [Thunder God] trait to form a lightning barrier; at other times, he sacrificed the grade 4 protective jade talisman and Spirit Rune Shields. With layers of defense stacked, he completely neutralized the power of the nine lightning strikes.

The final lightning bolt was the thickest, containing world-destroying power. As it crashed down, Qin Changsheng waved his hand, and the Black Iron Defense Armor instantly covered his body. The spiritual light around him surged, and the power of the [Thunder God] trait and all his defensive Magic Treasures erupted simultaneously, forming an indestructible defensive barrier.

*Boom—* The lightning slammed hard into the barrier, erupting in a blinding light. The shockwave swept in all directions, but it could never break through that defensive barrier. Finally, the lightning power gradually dissipated, completely absorbed by the [Thunder God] trait.

All nine lightning strikes had fallen, yet not one had managed to harm Qin Changsheng in the slightest, nor had even his robes been damaged.

The dark clouds over the Cave-Heaven Blessed Land gradually dispersed, and sunlight spilled through the clouds. The lightning Pressure in the air also vanished, leaving only the faint lightning halo lingering around Qin Changsheng.

At the same time.

Countless dark clouds and lightning power also appeared above the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Why has lightning appeared in our sky?"

"And so many dark clouds?"

"Someone must be breaking through to the Golden Core and Undergoing Tribulation!"

"What Golden Core Tribulation?"

"Which Uncle-Master is about to reach the Golden Core?"

"It seems to be in the direction of Martial Uncle Hu Nan's Immortal Cave?"

"Is Martial Uncle Hu about to undergo Core Formation?"

"Martial Uncle Hu is not even fifty years old, right?"

"Core Formation before the age of fifty—this is probably the youngest Golden Core Cultivator in the Southern Region!"

"Martial Uncle Hu's talent is truly incredible!"

For a moment, the Disciples, deacons, and Elders within the Heavenly Sword Sect all stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky in unison, their expressions varying from shock and curiosity to awe.

The Golden Core Lightning Tribulation was a major event in the cultivation world. Every time it appeared, it meant a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was breaking through to the Golden Core and becoming a pillar of the Sect.

They just hadn't expected Hu Nan to suddenly undergo Core Formation.

At the same time, they still highly acknowledged Hu Nan's talent.

After all, Hu Nan was the number one Prodigy of the Southern Region, had obtained the Dragon Abyss Sword, and had even won first place in the Exchange Conference.

In the Sect Main Hall, Sect Leader Xuanyangzi had been sitting with his eyes closed, regulating his breath. Sensing the lightning Pressure and Golden Core Aura in the sky, he snapped his eyes open. A hard-to-believe glint flashed in his eyes as he instantly vanished from the hall, stepping into the air to look toward Hu Nan's Immortal Cave.

His Late Stage Golden Core Aura spread out majestically. His expression was solemn, yet it could not hide the shock in his eyes.

Scenes from twenty years ago involuntarily surfaced in Sect Leader Xuanyangzi's mind.

At that time, Hu Nan had just broken through to Foundation Establishment and came to the Sect Main Hall to pay his respects.

Originally, Sect Leader Xuanyangzi was prepared to take Hu Nan as his Disciple and hand the Heavenly Sword Sect over to him.

But after learning that Hu Nan was merely a Four-Element Spiritual Root Cultivator, he abandoned that idea and no longer considered passing the position of Sect Head to Hu Nan.

At the same time, he had also asserted that Hu Nan's successful Foundation Establishment was already his highest possible achievement.

It would be fundamentally impossible for him to undergo Core Formation.

Yet now, in less than twenty years, Hu Nan had already successfully undergone Core Formation and even drawn the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation.

"How can this be?"

"Could Hu Nan's Opportunity be so strong?" Sect Leader Xuanyangzi looked toward Hu Nan's Immortal Cave with a complex expression, filled with shock, surprise, and a faint, hard-to-detect trace of regret.

If he had known earlier that Hu Nan could successfully undergo Core Formation...

He should have taken Hu Nan as his Disciple back then and protected him.

The Hall of Law Enforcement.

Lin Zhentian's face was terrifyingly grim.

He and Hu Nan had a grudge.

Back then, at Lin Hao's Foundation Establishment ceremony, he had secretly tampered with things and shattered Hu Nan's Dantian.

He had also placed many poisons on Hu Nan's body.

Yet he didn't expect Hu Nan to not only be perfectly fine but to have also successfully undergone Core Formation.

If he had known Hu Nan's talent was this good, he would have done whatever it took to kill Hu Nan back then.

However, Lin Zhentian wasn't overly worried.

After all, he was already at the Late Stage of Core Formation and had learned a Golden Core Divine Ability. He believed that with his strength and methods, he could definitely kill Hu Nan easily.

In the square, Lin Hao stood in place, his face as pale as paper.

All along, Lin Hao had considered himself the number one Genius of the Heavenly Sword Sect. He had been gifted since childhood, his cultivation Speed was extremely fast, and he was far ahead of his peers, usually receiving great favor from the Elders and the Sect Master.

But now, the talent he was so proud of seemed to become worthless in front of Hu Nan.

That Hu Nan, whom he had always looked down upon and considered mediocre, had actually successfully broken through to the Golden Core and become a Golden Core Cultivator, while he was still stuck at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. A world of difference now lay between him and Hu Nan.

Jealousy and resentment coiled around Lin Hao's heart like venomous snakes, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He stared fixedly in the direction of Hu Nan's Immortal Cave, a look of malice and ruthlessness flashing in his eyes as he prayed frantically in his heart: "Strike him dead! Strike him dead quickly! Let this Lightning Tribulation cause his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"

Within a pavilion in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Fairy Qingling, dressed in a long dress, quietly watched the tribulation lightning high in the Nine Heavens.

"Golden Core Lightning Tribulation?" Fairy Qingling murmured softly, her voice cold but unable to hide the surprise in her tone.

She turned her gaze toward the direction of Hu Nan's Immortal Cave.

In her cold eyes, her emotions were complex and hard to discern, filled with shock, confusion, awe, and some other inexplicable feelings.