134: Candlelight Flickering

Inside the room, the candlelight flickered. Situ Jun held the hands of the two women, his gaze soft yet unquestionable.

Jiang Qingwan lowered her head, the tips of her ears turning red like the sunset glow.

Cherry, however, was like a cheerful skylark, bouncing as she spread out the brocade bedding. Her bell-like voice echoed through the bed curtains: "It should have been like this long ago! From now on, those gossiping old women won't dare say that Sister Jiang and I are like rootless duckweed..."

Situ Jun smiled and flicked Cherry's nose, then turned to look at the still somewhat uneasy Jiang Qingwan:

"Don't overthink it. From now on, this is your home."

His voice was low and firm, carrying a reassuring power.

Jiang Qingwan's heart trembled. She looked up at Situ Jun, the candlelight making his features appear even more gentle.

As the night deepened, the faint sound of the night watchman's clapper drifted in from outside. Lying on the couch, she listened to the steady breathing beside her, her thoughts as tangled as a mess of hemp.

Su Yunniang's sarcastic remarks from earlier that day now intertwined with Situ Jun's doting gaze.

The days when she had been adrift and helpless in the Prince's Mansion contrasted sharply with the feeling of being cherished now. Her eyes grew slightly warm as she buried her face in the soft brocade quilt.

Meanwhile, in Northern Border City, undercurrents surged in the night.

Inside the Wang Family residence, Wang Xuanyang leaned back in a red sandalwood chair, playing with a jade thumb ring presented by Western Regions Merchants, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

He let out a cold snort:

"Situ Jun is nothing more than a brat at the Foundation Establishment Stage. How dare he plot against me?"

He turned and instructed the servant waiting bowed:

"Go, tell those Western Regions Merchants to act according to the plan tomorrow at the third quarter of the Hour of the Snake."

The servant bowed and accepted the order, hurrying away.

On the other side, Zhu Changpo's hidden guards were lurking around the perimeter of the Wang Family residence, their keen eyes watching every movement within.

Suddenly, a guard spotted several dark shadows jumping over the wall and immediately signaled his companions to follow.

"It seems Commander Zhu's worries were correct; the Wang Family is indeed about to take action."

The guard muttered under his breath, the vigilance in his eyes deepening.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion, Situ Jun appeared to be fast asleep, but his mind was actually clear.

After Cherry and Jiang Qingwan's breathing became long and even, he gently rubbed his somewhat sore waist and, with a thought, the familiar System interface appeared before him.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for winning Jiang Qingwan's heart. Reward: 1000 heavenly luck value.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host, Jiang Qingwan's cultivation has broken through to the First Layer of Foundation Establishment. Reward: 5 years of cultivation. The Host is about to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Breakthrough will occur within three days; one day has already passed.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host, Cultivation Technique and Physique have improved. Reward: One Advanced lucky draw.]

A sharp light flashed in Situ Jun's eyes. Moments later, he gently pulled the slipped quilt over the two women, and with a flash, he disappeared from the City Lord's Mansion.

He radiated the pressure of a Half-step Nascent Soul. Wherever he passed, those with ill intentions woke up from nightmares, feeling a terrifying Aura sweep by. When they probed with their Divine Sense, they only saw a blurry figure speeding past, thinking it was some passing Senior expert.

Soon, Situ Jun reached a desolate place far from Northern Border City and found a cave on a cliff to enter.

Nascent Soul Stage!

This was a massive watershed on the path of cultivation, the mark of truly entering the ranks of high-level Cultivators! It was a Realm dreamed of by countless Cultivators!

Transforming the Golden Core into a Nascent Soul and solidifying the Divine Soul not only greatly increased Lifespan but also allowed one to comprehend the Heaven and Earth Laws and command the power of heaven and earth! Its power was far beyond what the Golden Core Realm could compare to.

A sharp light burst from Situ Jun's eyes, and an unprecedented surge of desire and Battle Intent rose within him.

He let out a slow breath and sat cross-legged, adjusting his state to its Peak.

Then, from the System space, he took out all the precious Medicinal Pills he had obtained from previous tasks—Nascent Stabilizing Pills, spirit-concentrating pills—and a large number of High-Grade Spirit Stones to replenish his spiritual power, piling them beside him.

"Begin!"

Situ Jun took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The Dragon-Phoenix Grand Derivation True Scripture operated at full power!

Within the Dantian, that Golden Core which had reached the Golden Core Great Perfection and was covered in Dragon scales and Phoenix patterns suddenly erupted with brilliant golden light and crimson flames!

Boom—!

A majestic Aura far exceeding the limits of the Golden Core Realm exploded with him at the center! The entire cave trembled! The stone walls of the cave cracked, showing fine fissures.

"Liquefy the Golden Core, use the Divine Soul as a guide... Nascent Soul... Condense!"

Situ Jun shouted inwardly. The majestic spiritual power, like a river breaking its banks, frantically crashed against the barrier of the Golden Core!

At the same time, his powerful Divine Sense was highly concentrated, like an invisible hand reaching into the Golden Core to guide the soon-to-be-born life Origin!

This process was incredibly painful!

Shattering the Golden Core was like grinding one's own core inch by inch!

The violent energy rampaged through his Meridians. If not for the mysterious nature of the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Derivation True Scripture, his strong Physical Body, and the Medicinal Pills constantly neutralizing the violent heat of the Dragon-Phoenix True Essence, Situ Jun might have failed the Breakthrough and damaged his Foundation!

On the surface of his body, golden light and crimson flames churned violently, at times feeling like a raging fire and at others like falling into an ice cellar.

Veins bulged under his skin, and sweat was frozen into ice pellets or evaporated into gas as soon as it emerged.

In his Sea of Consciousness, illusions sprouted and Heart Demons rose one after another—regrets from his past life, the fear of slaughter, and worries for the safety of Su Yunniang, Liu Xuaner, and the others... These were all part of the "Heart-Inquiry Tribulation" that must be experienced to break through to the Nascent Soul!

"Hmph! Mere Heart Demons, you think you can block my path to the Dao? Break!"

Situ Jun's will was firm. The Dragon and Phoenix phantoms in his Sea of Consciousness roared, tearing the illusions to shreds. He kept his mind clear and frantically absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, pouring it into his body.

Time passed in the midst of extreme pain and the confrontation of will.

After an unknown amount of time... "Crack!"

A crisp sound of shattering, seemingly originating from the depths of his Soul, rang out!

Inside Situ Jun's Dantian, the Golden Core encircled by the Dragon and Phoenix completely shattered! Endless golden and crimson specks of light filled the space, like a nebula at the birth of the Universe!

Then, at the center of the nebula, a tiny speck of light emitting a Chaos luster suddenly lit up!

It was like a greedy vortex, frantically devouring all the energy from the Golden Core fragments, Situ Jun's essence blood, Divine Sense power, and the majestic Spiritual Qi from the outside!

The speck of light rapidly grew and solidified... Gradually, a little figure about three inches tall, translucent as jade, with facial features identical to Situ Jun's and surrounded by faint Dragon shapes and Phoenix shadows, slowly took shape in the center of the Dantian Qi Sea!

The little figure sat cross-legged with eyes closed, looking solemn and dignified, radiating a life-level pressure that transcended the mundane!

The Nascent Soul was initially formed!

At the very moment the Nascent Soul opened its eyes!

Boom—!!!

Above the cave, even through the massive mountain, boundless and terrifying Heavenly Tribulation clouds suddenly gathered!

Dark purple clouds rolled, and lightning as thick as mountain ranges surged within them, the destructive Aura locking onto the core of the Secret Realm!

That was the trial sent by heaven and earth to Cultivators who defied the heavens—the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation!

(Reached 300,000 words, thank you for all your support! We've hit a major milestone, so let's see if the platform gives me any traffic. At 200,000 words, the book was locked for half a month and was only released after being modified beyond recognition, which killed the traffic. This is my first time trying an improper novel, and I'm quite ashamed. I've heard that every 100,000 words is a traffic checkpoint; if the daily reads don't even hit 1,000 in the next few days, it's going to be very hard to move the story out of Northern Border City.)