As the two exited the spiritual pool's cave dwelling, they saw the sky above shrouded in dark clouds, lightning flashing across a vast expanse that stretched hundreds of miles.
Elian, concerned, took hold of Jiang Linglong's hand with a solemn expression.
"The stronger a cultivator's foundation, the more powerful the lightning tribulation. Be careful."
"Don't worry," Jiang Linglong replied calmly, her expression composed, exuding absolute confidence.
The lightning tribulation was the greatest challenge for a Golden Core cultivator. Many cultivators, after painstakingly condensing their Golden Core, perished under its strikes.
The root of this lay in the fact that mortal skills and treasures were no match for the might of heavenly tribulations. Even the most advanced third-rank treasures could easily be destroyed during such trials. Many cultivators exhausted their fortunes buying defensive treasures, with those lacking resources forced to borrow high-grade artifacts from friends.
Even with multiple treasures, most would find their possessions destroyed, with many impoverished cultivators meeting their end under the heavenly lightning due to insufficient preparation.
Generally speaking, possessing a single fourth-rank treasure significantly increased one's odds of surviving the tribulation.
While Jiang Linglong's exceptional talent meant her tribulation would be far stronger than average, her arsenal of four fourth-rank natal artifacts, coupled with the treasures acquired after defeating the Sky Python King, including the Earth Marsh Five-Smoke Net and Dragon Transforming Blade, gave her unparalleled confidence in weathering the ordeal.
"Watch me," Jiang Linglong said as she ascended to the heavens, standing tall amidst the celestial domain, ready to face her tribulation.
The commotion on Tianxu Mountain had drawn countless cultivators. Foundation Establishment disciples flew to distant vantage points to observe Jiang Linglong's trial from dozens of miles away, eager to witness this rare spectacle.
Even Purple Mansion cultivators like Chen Changxuan, Pan Boyuan, and Xu Qianyang had long been awaiting this moment, knowing the opportunity to observe a Golden Core tribulation was invaluable.
For half an hour, the tribulation clouds brewed and rumbled until, at last, they reached their peak. With a thunderous roar, a violet bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens.
"Boom!"
Elian's pupils contracted slightly. This was only the first bolt, yet its power rivaled the full-strength strike of a late Purple Mansion cultivator, illuminating the surrounding hundreds of miles.
For Elian, deflecting such an attack would require his utmost effort.
But Jiang Linglong remained unperturbed. With a simple gesture, she directed her Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword, which unleashed hundreds of feet of sword aura.
The dazzling radiance of the blade obliterated the tribulation's energy entirely, leaving nothing behind. And this was merely the beginning.
"Boom!"
Moments later, the second bolt descended, its power increasing by 50%, equivalent to a strike from a Purple Mansion ninth-rank cultivator.
Such force would compel even newly ascended Golden Core cultivators to take it seriously. But Jiang Linglong, still calm, wielded the Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword to effortlessly neutralize the energy.
The third bolt followed, its power reaching the pseudo-core level, nearly 60-70% as strong as a first-level Golden Core cultivator's full-strength strike. Yet once more, Jiang Linglong's Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword annihilated it without difficulty.
However, Elian's expression grew increasingly grave.
The tribulation consisted of nine bolts, each more powerful than the last.
Typically, the sixth bolt of a Golden Core tribulation matched a pseudo-core strike, with the final three bolts reaching the power of a full Golden Core.
Yet Jiang Linglong's third bolt already equaled a pseudo-core strike. The next six would surely all carry Golden Core-level power.
"Boom!"
As predicted, the fourth bolt descended moments later, its power rivaling a first-level Golden Core cultivator's full-strength strike.
Ordinarily, a newly ascended Golden Core cultivator facing such a bolt would need to unleash their full strength, relying on their ultimate techniques to endure.
But Jiang Linglong, having formed her innate Pure Yin Supreme Golden Core, possessed spiritual energy so dense and pure that even mid-Golden Core cultivators would pale in comparison. With a single swing of the Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword, she once again erased the bolt.
The fifth bolt's power increased by 80%, reaching the strength of a second-level Golden Core cultivator's strike.
For most fresh Golden Core cultivators, lacking extraordinary means, surviving such an attack would cost them multiple treasures. Yet Jiang Linglong, with her Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword, continued to meet each challenge head-on.
The sixth bolt escalated further, now equivalent to the power of a third-level Golden Core cultivator. For ordinary cultivators, overcoming such a strike without fourth-rank techniques or treasures would be nearly impossible.
It was said that Ancestor Xu, in his time, had used a fourth-rank defensive treasure to withstand the final bolt, though the artifact was severely damaged and required decades to restore.
With the first six bolts vanquished, Elian's worry deepened.
The sixth bolt had already matched the power of a third-level Golden Core strike. The final three bolts would likely reach the level of mid-Golden Core cultivators, a terrifying prospect.
"Boom!"
The seventh bolt thundered down, its power now comparable to a fourth-level Golden Core strike.
Facing this formidable force, Jiang Linglong's expression turned serious.
She chose not to wield the Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword this time. Though immensely powerful, the sword was only a lower fourth-rank celestial weapon. Its repeated use against such intense forces had already diminished its energy. Continuing to rely on it would risk severe damage.
With no shortage of high-grade treasures at her disposal, Jiang Linglong decided to rotate her resources.
This was where the advantage of having multiple spiritual roots became evident. The presence of several natal artifacts allowed her to handle tribulations with greater confidence.
Natal artifacts were inherently 30% more powerful than standard treasures of the same rank, while consuming only a fraction of the energy. This efficiency made them particularly valuable during tribulations when resource management was critical.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D