A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Inside the Spiritual Qi Vortex, the newly formed Nascent Soul sat cross-legged above Lü Zhong’s head. It resembled a fair-skinned newborn and bore a slight resemblance to him.

At this, a faint smile appeared on the Nascent Soul’s face. The pink color that had suffused its entire body receded like a tide, replaced by a body as brilliant as a river of stars. This was the "Star Source Nascent Soul."

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, a cultivator’s Dantian becomes a secondary weak point. This is because the Nascent Soul resides only in the Purple Mansion within the Sea of Consciousness, merged with the Primordial Spirit. When necessary, it can swiftly exit through the Tianling Baihui Acupoint to escape the physical body.

As for the Dantian, it is merely a place to store Magical Power.

Once the Nascent Soul and Primordial Spirit merged, a terrifying Spiritual Pressure emanated from Lü Zhong.

The surrounding rubble and vegetation floated into the air, lifted by this immense power.

At this very moment, he could be considered a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

’Next up is the final step!’

Lü Zhong opened his eyes and gazed at the roiling thunderclouds in the sky. Without hesitation, he consumed the Thunder Infant Grass and the other two remaining Nascent Soul Immortal Guides. Simultaneously, he began to rapidly absorb the surrounding nature’s spiritual energy, causing the already immense Spiritual Qi Vortex to suddenly expand severalfold. He also remembered to refine the Star Core, absorbing Star Force to recover his Magical Power.

Of course, he also began taking the Tier Four Qi Recovery Pills he had prepared in advance.

The more Magical Power he recovered, the higher his chances of successfully overcoming the Celestial Tribulation.

He finally understood the meaning of "a drop in the bucket." Even though he was frantically absorbing nature’s spiritual energy from the outside world, supplemented by years of accumulated Star Force from the Star Core and the aid of Replenishing Qi Pills, his Magical Power was still recovering at a maddeningly slow trickle.

What’s more, Lü Zhong himself had profound Magical Power reserves to begin with, and this trait had been carried over into the Nascent Soul Stage. His Qi Sea was far larger than that of cultivators at the same stage, which made his Magical Power recovery seem incredibly slow in comparison.

Meanwhile, everyone in the vicinity—whether it was Shuini, Qingding, or the Spiritual Crane—was rapidly moving away from the Thunder Field to avoid being caught in the Thunder Tribulation.

If a Nascent Soul Cultivator were to be caught in it, the Tribulation Thunder they would have to face would not be the Six-Nine Celestial Tribulation, but the legendary "Nine-Nine Great Celestial Tribulation."

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, a heart-palpitating aura suddenly descended upon the world. The Thunder Sea, which had been brewing all this time, finally unleashed the first bolt of Tribulation Thunder.

’The Six-Nine Celestial Tribulation. As the name suggests, that means fifty-four bolts of Tribulation Thunder...’

Lü Zhong, relying on his body tempering, had a physique far superior to that of artifact or Magic Cultivators of the same stage. He withstood the first bolt of Tribulation Thunder head-on, feeling only a numbing sensation spread through his body. Tempered by the Tribulation Thunder, his Nascent Soul became purer, its brilliance turning inward.

The benefits were immense.

Meanwhile, another Thunder Pattern appeared on the Wood Thunder Seal in his Sea of Consciousness.

At the same time, the Thunder Seal itself was undergoing a subtle change. It actually began to share the same origin as the Tribulation Thunder, emitting an aura similar to that of the Celestial Tribulation.

Life followed in the thunder’s wake.

Since ancient times, the Celestial Dao has always left a sliver of hope. The remnant Tribulation Thunder, far from destroying his body, transformed into a potent life force. It began to nourish Lü Zhong’s body, repairing broken capillaries and healing various hidden injuries in his flesh until all its power was exhausted.

’Having a strong physique really pays off!’ A look of delight appeared on Lü Zhong’s face.

He had not been seriously injured just now, so after the life force converted from the Tribulation Thunder had finished repairing his wounds, it actually began to nourish his physical body. The effect was hundreds, if not thousands, of times stronger than the nourishment from Immortal Spiritual Qi.

Unfortunately, the Tribulation Thunder did not have much power left.

As Lü Zhong watched with anticipation, another bolt of Tribulation Thunder fell. Its power had increased, but it was still within the limits of what his body could endure. Afterward, another surge of life force emerged.

This cycle repeated until the ninth bolt of Tribulation Thunder descended.

Unlike the first eight bolts, this ninth one was not white but silver, and it emanated a terrifying aura that made even his Nascent Soul tremble.

Not daring to be the least bit careless, Lü Zhong brought out the Star Mirror.

With a raise of his hand, a sky full of Light Mirrors coalesced.

Effortlessly.

No fewer than a thousand of them.

BOOM!

The Tribulation Thunder finally struck.

With unstoppable force, it crushed all obstacles in its path. Its remaining power, still potent, slammed heavily onto the Star Mirror, causing the treasure to emit a series of wails.

Tempered by the Celestial Thunder, the Star Mirror was also undergoing a Metamorphosis.

It effortlessly broke through the previously insurmountable Eleventh-Layer Prohibition.

Suddenly, Lü Zhong sensed a faint consciousness emanating from the Star Mirror.

"A Magical Treasure’s consciousness?" he said, his expression a mix of shock and doubt.

Possessing an Artifact Spirit is one of the prerequisites for a Magical Treasure to advance into a Spirit Treasure. Countless Nascent Soul Cultivators have wracked their brains and exhausted their efforts just to have their Lifebound Treasures give birth to an Artifact Spirit.

And for a Magical Treasure to develop a consciousness is a precursor to the birth of an Artifact Spirit.

Now, it had appeared after being struck by Tribulation Thunder.

’This is a curse, not a blessing!’

Lü Zhong quickly sobered from his initial pleasant surprise.

If it had been any other time, he would have immediately withdrawn the Star Mirror and carefully nurtured the wisp of consciousness within the Magical Treasure, allowing it to grow until it became an Artifact Spirit that his peers would envy.

But now was not the right time.

...

As the final bolt of Tribulation Thunder fell, the dark clouds that had blotted out the sun vanished in an instant. The persistent celestial phenomenon of the visible stars also disappeared, leaving only the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Husband... did he... did he succeed?" Yu Feng’Er stopped her tears and asked, overjoyed.

"Yes, he succeeded," Shuini said with a light chuckle.

Then she took Yu Feng’er’s arm, and they flew straight toward Tide Cave.

「Meanwhile.」

Lü Zhong appeared inside Tide Cave.

He currently had his eyes closed, contemplating the changes within himself before and after his advancement.

His Magical Power had undergone a qualitative leap in both quantity and quality compared to the Core Formation Stage. As for his Divine Sense, thanks to the Metamorphosis of his Divine Soul, its range had surged to over 3,400 zhang. When fully extended, it could cover a distance of more than twenty li.

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