53: Chapter 53 Core Formation Tribulation

In all his years, this was the first time he had witnessed a Core Formation Lightning Tribulation with his own eyes.

Today was certainly an eye-opener.

"Elder Xiao, do you think Elder Zi Yun can succeed?" a young Disciple nearby leaned in and asked in a low voice.

"She can, definitely." Xiao Ye said firmly, but his heart was pounding—the dust-descending pill was his creation; if Zi Yun failed, wouldn't that ruin his reputation? Who would dare seek him for Alchemy then?

But on second thought, a perfect dust-descending pill offered a thirty percent chance. Thirty percent wasn't high, but it wasn't low either; it all depended on Zi Yun's own luck. He had done everything he could; the rest was up to her fate.

Rumble—

The first bolt of heavenly thunder struck down.

Purple lightning as thick as a bowl, carrying a world-destroying Aura, crashed straight toward the Immortal Cave.

Xiao Ye instinctively shrank his neck, breaking into a cold sweat for Zi Yun.

A pale golden light shield lit up above the Immortal Cave—the defensive Formation Zi Yun had set up in advance.

The lightning struck the shield, exploding into countless sparks; the shield trembled violently but held firm.

"Good!" Xiao Ye couldn't help but shout.

The second, the third, the fourth...

Each bolt of heavenly thunder was thicker and more ferocious than the last, shaking the entire mountain peak and causing rubble to tumble down. The defensive shield, which had been as steady as a mountain during the first bolt, began to crack by the fifth and shattered into dust by the seventh.

Xiao Ye's heart leaped into his throat.

When the eighth bolt struck, Zi Yun's figure finally appeared at the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

Her white clothes fluttered, her long hair danced in the wind, and she held a green longsword, facing the heavenly thunder head-on with an Aura even more ferocious than the Lightning Tribulation itself.

With one slash, her Sword Qi was like a rainbow, clashing with the lightning and producing a deafening roar.

The ninth bolt—

The final bolt, and the thickest one, as wide as a water bucket and so purple it was almost black, crashed down with a world-destroying Aura.

Zi Yun took a deep breath, pouring all her spiritual power into the sword's blade. She transformed into a streak of white light and charged up toward the heavenly thunder.

Boom—!!!

The heavens and earth lost their color, and all things fell silent.

Xiao Ye was blinded by the intense light, and his ears rang with a buzzing sound.

When the light dissipated, he opened his eyes and saw a figure floating in mid-air, surrounded by a faint golden spiritual light, radiating Immortal Qi like a goddess descending to earth.

Zi Yun.

The Core Formation was a success.

And judging by the purity of that golden light—it was a Red Core.

Although not the highest-grade Golden Core, it was already as rare as a Phoenix's feather in the Hehuan Sect.

She slowly descended back to the ground, her robes fluttering, her face calm, with the corners of her mouth slightly curled in a touch of reserved pride. Her expression seemed to say: "This lady is just that awesome."

"Con—gra—tu—la—tions—El—der—Zi Yun—!"

On the mountain peak, hundreds of Disciples shouted in unison, their voices rising in waves, shaking leaves off the trees and scaring the distant Spirit Beasts into howling.

Zi Yun nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping through the crowd before finally landing on Xiao Ye.

She She smiled slightly at him., that smile was three parts gratitude, three parts pride, three parts "see how amazing I am," and one part of an indescribable... provocation.

Xiao Ye stood in the crowd, mouth agape and eyes fixed, looking as if he'd been struck by lightning—not by the actual thunder, but by envy.

Holy crap... Core Formation. She really reached Core Formation.

He looked up at Zi Yun's Immortal Qi-radiating appearance and then at himself—a slight build that had just reached Foundation Establishment Stage 3 through Dual Cultivation. Envy grew like wild grass in his heart, making him wish he could Breakthrough right then and there.

"System!" he called out frantically in his mind. "Can you reward me with a Cultivation Technique that speeds up my cultivation?"

The System replied coldly, "Does the host not already have the Yin and Yang Invincible Emperor Manual? One night is worth ten days of another's hard work. Is that not fast enough?"

"Then how long will it take me to Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage using this technique?"

"Estimated thirty years."

Xiao Ye: "..."

Thirty years? By then, his son Xiao Yan would have reached Core Formation! As a father, how could he show his face if his son's cultivation surpassed his own?

The System seemed to sense his frustration and added, "The host need not worry. The official version of the System provides cultivation rewards for siring children."

"Huh? Cultivation rewards? Why haven't I received any?"

"What do you think? Since the System's upgrade, the host has yet to sire any offspring."

Xiao Ye was stunned, then counted on his fingers—it seemed... that was indeed the case.

But counting the time, it was almost here. Wan'er and the others were already eight or nine months along. In about a month, his concubines would give birth to nine children at once.

Heaven surely won't fail those who toil hard; sow in the spring, and there will surely be a harvest in the autumn!

He took a deep breath, his gaze becoming firm once more.

It seems he would have to focus on the speed of producing children from now on.

Alchemy cannot stop, Cultivate cannot stop, plowing the fields definitely cannot stop, and having children especially cannot stop!

Core Formation? Xiao Ye wanted it too!

And he wanted it to be even more magnificent, more stylish, and more... envy-inducing than Zi Yun's.

Zi Yun seemed to feel his burning gaze. She turned her head, winked at him, and with a slight curl of her lips, silently mouthed two words—

"Keep it up."

Xiao Ye read her lips, his mouth twitching. He had only one thought:

This woman is definitely doing it on purpose.

He clenched his fists, turned around, and walked toward the Lakeside Courtyard.

He needed to pack his things; it was time to go home.

On this trip home, he brought Luo Lili along, intending to hold a wedding ceremony for her.

After all, she was his woman now, and he couldn't leave her without a proper title.

—

Ten days later, Qingshan Town, Xiao Family.

The big red lanterns were hung up once again, and firecrackers crackled all day long, making it even livelier than the New Year.

But this banquet felt off.

The tables that used to be packed were mostly empty this time.

Few neighbors showed up, and not even anyone from the Zhang Family came. Xiao Ye inquired and found out—the entire Zhang Family had fled last month!

Many other small families had also fled.

Now in Qingshan Town, the Xiao Family dominated everything, and their word was law.

Xiao Ye scratched his head, completely puzzled. "It's not that bad, is it? I just held a few more banquets and collected a few more gifts. It's not like my Xiao Family didn't give return gifts!"

If Zhang Degao heard this, he'd probably be fuming from the grave: your Xiao Family held seven or eight banquets in a year, and at the very least five or six. Who could stand that? If we didn't run, we might as well have just given the Zhang Family to you.

Actually, Zhang Degao really did have foresight.

Because in a few days, Xiao Ye's concubines would give birth to nine children—which meant nine full-moon banquets would be held. It was terrifying just thinking about it: attending nine banquets and giving nine gifts in a single month—who could handle that?

With a "wah" cry, Liu Qianqian gave birth.

It was a son, fair and plump, with a loud cry.

Ding! Congratulations to the host for siring an offspring with a Mysterious Grade Medium Grade Spiritual Root! Reward: Five years of cultivation! 1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones! 1 x Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation Blueprint!

"Holy crap—five years of cultivation?!"