125: Death threats from third-rank masters! Mother and son reunite!

"Why?" Shen Xinrong also asked, puzzled.

This time, it was Yue Xiyan who, quite uncharacteristically, spoke up first.

"The Third Rank and below are different. Even if you don't cultivate, your cultivation will slowly increase. Those with good talent will increase faster, and those with poor talent will increase slower. However, those who can cultivate to the Third Rank are already dragons among men in terms of talent, so no matter how slow, it won't be that slow."

Shen Xinrong, hearing this, said blankly, "So, you mean as long as one reaches the Third Rank in cultivation, they will eventually reach consummation, right?"

Wenren Qingxuan and Yue Xiyan nodded in unison.

"Perhaps the rules of heaven and earth are like this. As long as one cultivates to the Third Rank, unless they are killed, they will eventually face a breakthrough to the Second Rank." A hint of helplessness appeared on Wenren Qingxuan's face.

"As long as one's cultivation reaches the Third Rank Consummation, even if they keep suppressing the breakthrough, they will eventually reach a critical point. At that time, they can only passively break through to the Second Rank, and even if the breakthrough is successful, they will still face a Heavenly Tribulation, still a near-death experience."

"So, it's better to choose to cultivate diligently. The younger one is when they break through to the Second Rank, the greater the probability of success!"

Shen Xinrong and the others all showed expressions of sudden understanding upon hearing this.

"No wonder Third Rank experts, despite having long lifespans, are still rare in this world."

"Even so, they live longer than those below the Third Rank." Wenren Qingxuan said calmly, "There has never been a Third Rank recorded in this world who died of old age. Perhaps this is the way of balance in heaven and earth!"

Princess Pingyang said with some reluctance, "Then does the Qingyang Sect's Sect Master truly have no chance of breaking through to the Second Rank?"

Wenren Qingxuan shook her head, "Nothing is absolute, but the probability is very slim. He is currently the most senior Third Rank in the Northern Territory. He probably can no longer suppress his cultivation."

"Today, he witnessed Shengyuan undergoing his Heavenly Tribulation and gained some insights, so he plans to give it a shot. Now that the Qingyang Sect has another Third Rank, even if he fails, the impact won't be significant."

"If he breaks through, then he will be the first native cultivator in the Northern Territory in several hundred years to break through to the Second Rank, which is of extraordinary significance!"

"Alright..."

Princess Pingyang nodded, her expression a little dazed. She hadn't expected cultivation to be so cruel...

Even powerful Third Rank experts still tremble with fear when facing a Heavenly Tribulation.

Does immortality truly exist in this world?

Few people in this world know the answer...

Li Shengyuan's Heavenly Tribulation continued, and the power of the triple Heavenly Tribulation—lightning, gale, and raging flames—was still strengthening, constantly washing over his Undying Golden Body and Yin Spirit.

For others, the Heavenly Tribulation was a nightmare, but for Li Shengyuan, it was a kind of enjoyment, a unique cultivation experience.

In addition to the initial azure lightning patterns on his Undying Golden Body, there were also gale and raging flames.

Li Shengyuan didn't know what they represented, but he could feel that they were not harmful to him.

As Li Shengyuan felt the tempering effect of the triple Heavenly Tribulation on him becoming weaker and weaker, the dark tribulation clouds above the nine heavens also gradually dissipated.

After the last wisp of raging flame from the triple Heavenly Tribulation disappeared, the dark tribulation clouds above the nine heavens finally vanished.

But it was already deep into the night, and bright stars replaced the tribulation clouds.

The Giant Spirit Hall ruins, which had been shrouded by tribulation clouds for over a month, finally returned to their former appearance.

The Heavenly Tribulation dissipated, his Yin Spirit returned to his physical body, and he let out a long breath. Feeling the surging power within him, a brilliant smile appeared on Li Shengyuan's face. All that was left was time to stabilize his cultivation.

"Third Rank..."

"And after being tempered by the Heavenly Tribulation, the condensation of my Undying Golden Body actually reached forty percent!"

"My Yin Spirit has also reached its peak, only one step away from the Yang Spirit!"

He hadn't expected the Heavenly Tribulation cultivation method to be so effective. Li Shengyuan was even a little reluctant for the Heavenly Tribulation to disappear.

He took out a long robe from his storage artifact and put it on, covering his body which now bore the triple Heavenly Tribulation patterns. The Son of Heaven Sword also returned to his hand.

Holding this quasi-divine artifact again, Li Shengyuan's feeling was vastly different from before!

Now, he was qualified to unleash a bit of the quasi-divine artifact's power.

Facing the tens of thousands of Northern Territory cultivators who had come to watch his breakthrough, Li Shengyuan's expression was calm, but he was still a little surprised.

He hadn't expected that merely breaking through to the Third Rank would attract so many people to watch...

Perhaps when he breaks through to the Second Rank in the future, he could cordon off an area and charge admission to those who want to watch. He wondered how effective that would be.

Li Shengyuan felt it wouldn't be bad...

Finding his hundred-zhang giant ship, Li Shengyuan floated over gracefully.

But upon seeing the beautiful woman in palace attire, smiling at him from the ship's bow, surrounded by the women, Li Shengyuan paused, then joy filled his entire body.

During the last period, he had been entirely focused on preparing for the breakthrough, and his mother was far away, so he hadn't realized that his mother, whom he hadn't seen in months, had arrived!

Suddenly speeding up, Li Shengyuan arrived at the bow of the giant ship almost instantly. Looking at the woman with a gentle smile on her face, the smile on his lips could no longer be hidden, and then he inexplicably felt a lump in his throat.

"Mother, why are you here?!"

Wenren Qingxuan gently raised her hand to smooth Li Shengyuan's somewhat disheveled long hair on his forehead, a hint of heartache in her eyes. Looking at her son, who had grown so big, she inexplicably wanted to cry...

But she held back, smiling indulgently, "I missed my son, so I came to see you!"

"After a few months, why do I feel like you've grown taller again? I have to stand on my tiptoes to pat my son's head!"

Li Shengyuan chuckled happily, "There's no reason for Mother to stand on tiptoes. I can just bend down."

"My son is the best!" Wenren Qingxuan narrowed her eyes and smiled.

"Come, tell Mother properly what you've been doing during your days in the capital...

Are those two naughty children, Tangtang and Xinghe, listening to you?

Is your grandfather still well? When you go back, persuade him well and tell him not to overwork himself!"

"..."

The mother and son, who hadn't seen each other for several months, didn't ask about cultivation or official matters, but instead chatted about everyday topics.

Li Shengyuan cherished the family affection in this life very much, and the emotions of twenty years were deeply etched in his memory.

The Third Rank experts from various sects wanted to meet Li Shengyuan, congratulate him, and get acquainted, but Li Shengyuan refused them all.

He hadn't seen his mother for several months, and they had so much to talk about.

These Third Rank experts, who had cultivated for many years, naturally could not understand Li Shengyuan's cherish for family affection.

It was a rare opportunity to see his mother, so Li Shengyuan also called his close acquaintances for a meal.

There weren't many people; besides his own family, there were Liu Zhen and his three Golden Uniform good brothers, and the taciturn Ye Hangzhou.

As for the other brothers on the giant ship, he gave them all leave to relax...

Yue Xiyan was originally going to leave with her two disciples, but Wenren Qingxuan pulled her back forcefully.

Of course, Yue Qingmeng was overjoyed, her beautiful eyes shining as she looked at Li Shengyuan throughout, the affection in her eyes obvious to anyone.

Yue Xiyan, however, seemed very uncomfortable, feeling that the scene was strange.

But after Wenren Qingxuan held her hand and chatted like good sisters for a few moments, she gradually relaxed.

This lively and heartwarming scene made Yue Xiyan momentarily dazed...

"Mother, how is my father doing at the border?" Li Shengyuan finally asked about his father's situation.

Wenren Qingxuan, who was busy trying to establish a good relationship with Yue Xiyan, said impatiently,

"Don't worry, he won't die!"

This made Li Shengyuan very helpless. After the Giant Spirit Hall was divided, he would make a detour to the border to see his father and see if he could help him.

The poor fellow, he wondered if he was currently holed up in some corner, eating gruel and wild vegetables.

At the same time, the man in the long robe, who was disguised and being dragged by his subordinates to a brothel to listen to music, suddenly sneezed...

"Who's thinking of me?" Li Mu muttered softly, rubbing his nose.

"General, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine... Are you trying to get yourself killed? Don't call me by my rank outside, call me Old Li!"

"Understood, General!"

"..."