Almost simultaneously, everyone present, including Bubu and Shi You, felt a searing heat rise from the depths of their souls!
It was as if a flame had ignited, illuminating the originally ice-cold soul.
Soul Permanence!
This was Soul Permanence!
This realm was difficult for even some Emperor Realm existences to achieve.
A naturally formed soul was far harder to alter than spiritual roots.
After all, in the current world, no cultivation technique could enhance soul power.
Let alone Soul Permanence, even a slight increase in soul power would be considered an extraordinary blessing.
Yet now, their souls had directly achieved permanence!
Even Yun Ze's Yellow-grade soul instantly ascended to Heaven-grade!
Heaven-grade spiritual roots, Heaven-grade soul… throughout all of history, the number of individuals with such potential did not exceed ten fingers!
Yet now, Yun Ze, with his one-tier dual-yellow grade, had achieved such a leap in just about a year!
He had even… reached the Golden Core realm!
Yun Ze raised his eyes.
When he looked at the world again, he found the scene had changed.
Though he was seeing with the same eyes, the feeling was akin to the difference between an infant's perspective and an adult's.
The objects seen were the same, but the thoughts within were entirely different.
"Still dawdling!"
As he was lost in thought, Shi You, standing beside him, suddenly spoke, "The heavenly tribulation is coming! If you don't want your tribulations to overlap, hurry and run!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and tore a rift in the ceiling of the Nine Nether Gate!
"Quick! Leave according to your positions. I've prepared a tribulation-crossing formation and some elixirs a thousand miles away!"
Bubu was the first to react. She raised her hand and carved four spatial rifts, constructing one in front of each of them.
"Enter."
She was the first to step into a rift, followed by the other three.
As the four disappeared, only Shi You and Yun Ze remained in the center of the Nine Nether Gate.
"Ah, this…"
Shi You scratched his head, "I almost forgot about this. It seems there was such a method. Then I should be going too."
"Wait! What about me?"
Yun Ze was startled and quickly grabbed Shi You's arm.
He could already feel the tribulation cloud power gathering in the air, as if it could descend at any moment and turn him into charcoal!
"You? Your tribulation crossing place is up there. Can't you just go up yourself?"
With that, Shi You vanished instantly!
Unlike Bubu's spatial teleportation, Shi You simply disappeared, as if he had never existed in this space. What Yun Ze had grabbed seemed to be merely a shadow.
This technique was too bizarre! Even with his rapid progress, who knew how long it would take him to reach such a state.
Never mind, he should focus on the heavenly tribulation at hand!
Yun Ze sighed inwardly and looked up at the sky.
The Nine Nether Gate had been breached, but only about a third of the demonic liquid had been consumed.
If this were to be exploited by someone with ill intentions, it could very well cause a catastrophe.
He must remember to deal with this after crossing his tribulation.
With a thought, Yun Ze, like Bubu, carved a spatial rift and stepped into it.
However, his mastery of space still lagged behind Bubu's.
Bubu could carve four spatial rifts at once, sending four people in four different directions, but Yun Ze…
Even with his Golden Core cultivation, he could only barely send himself above the Nine Nether Gate, and only after Shi You broke through the barrier.
Yun Ze arrived above the barrier and glanced down at the ground, instantly spotting the formation Shi You had prepared for him.
He quickly entered the formation and, with just a glance, was speechless.
Should he say Shi You was too well-prepared, or too cautious?
Around the formation stood three spiritual swords, each at least a fifth-tier spiritual sword, equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage!
These were not the core of the formation, but merely ordinary materials to suppress it.
Further in, there were five Five Elements Divine Stones, also of fifth-tier quality. Deeper still was a barrier made of a strange metal.
Judging by the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from it, its quality was no lower than that of the Five Elements Divine Stones!
Sixth-tier! At least sixth-tier!
Yun Ze pushed open the barrier gate and entered, only to be surprised again!
Sixth-tier spiritual armor, sixth-tier spiritual swords, and even a ground full of sixth-tier spiritual elixirs.
This stuff… would be enough to make a group of Soul Transformation cultivators want to form a gang and rob him!
He wondered if the tribulation-crossing formations Shi You had prepared for the others were equally terrifying. If they were, who knew how much wealth he had accumulated over the years.
Yun Ze shook his head in amazement.
Just as he was about to change into the spiritual armor and sword, he heard a muffled sound from above.
BOOM!
This was the prelude to the lightning tribulation!
He quickly put away the spiritual sword and armor, but only put them away, not planning to use them directly. He even walked out of the barrier, to the edge of the formation, and looked up at the sky.
Lightning tribulation, huh?
It did seem quite terrifying, but he had a powerful backer!
Since Senior Shi had prepared so thoroughly, he might as well be a little reckless and witness this so-called heavenly tribulation for himself, to prepare himself for future tribulations when he wouldn't have such preparations.
Yun Ze acted on his thoughts, slowly floating into the air, outside the formation.
The tribulation clouds were almost fully condensed.
The dark clouds almost obscured the entire sky.
Yun Ze could even see four patches of dark clouds gathering not far away, presumably the tribulation crossing grounds for Bubu and the others.
However…
Why did the dark clouds above his head seem a little strange?
From a distance, others' dark clouds were either black, or black with hints of purple or red.
These were all normal phenomena, but why were his clouds starting to fade!?
In an instant, the originally ink-black dark clouds receded, leaving only thick milky-white clouds in the sky.
Were these things going to fade? But it wasn't raining!
Even if they were to fade, couldn't they at least wait until after he had crossed his tribulation? The tribulation hadn't even begun, and the clouds were gone. How was he supposed to proceed!
"Yun Ze!"
Just as Yun Ze was feeling confused, Shi You's voice suddenly echoed in his ear.
"Senior Shi?"
"Quickly enter the formation! Don't be overconfident! This should be the legendary Nine Profound Samsara Tribulation!"
"Nine Profound Samsara Tribulation?"
Yun Ze paused slightly, his brow furrowed, and he quickly asked Shi You, "Senior Shi, you said Nine Profound Samsara…"
BOOM!
Before Yun Ze could finish his question, a pure white lightning tribulation struck directly from the sky!
Yun Ze didn't have time to react, let alone resist. Only the Jianyun Armor on his wrist sprang out at the first instant.
However…
When the lightning tribulation descended, it turned to dust and vanished into the air.
The Jianyun Armor was merely a second-tier spiritual armor, capable of withstanding attacks from the Core Formation stage at best. How could a Core Formation stage spiritual armor withstand the heavenly tribulation of a Golden Core stage cultivator?
Yun Ze's brow furrowed. While feeling a slight regret, he inwardly felt a sense of foreboding.
A tingling sensation surged through him!
This feeling was…
His Qi Sea was shaking! And it was intensifying!
Yun Ze's heart trembled, and Shi You's voice echoed in his ear.
"The first tribulation is the tribulation of the Qi Sea. There are elixirs in the white medicine bottle. Take them quickly. Although they cannot resolve it, they can temporarily alleviate it! After the heavenly tribulation passes, it will naturally be cleared!"
"Hurry back into the formation. The subsequent heavenly tribulations will be even more terrifying. Wait until the ninth tribulation to come out!"
"...Senior Shi."
Yun Ze pondered for a few seconds, not taking out the elixir, but a wry smile appeared on his lips, "Is there a possibility that I can extend the time of the heavenly tribulation?"
"This level of Qi Sea shaking… I'm actually quite in need of it."
What was the most frequent thing Yun Ze did when expanding his Qi Sea during the Qi Refining stage?
Wasn't it to shake his Qi Sea, and after achieving the goal of expansion, use his Heavenly Mandate Blood to repair it?
Now, with three Immortal Jades among his Five Elements Origin suppressing his Qi Sea, why would he fear a mere Golden Core stage heavenly tribulation?
No matter how much it shook his Qi Sea, it would only result in one outcome: Yun Ze's Qi Sea would continuously expand!
After expansion, it would be directly restored by the Immortal Jades!
Under such circumstances, the longer the heavenly tribulation dragged on, the more beneficial it would be for Yun Ze.
Shi You was stunned, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Soon, he understood the crux of the matter and could only chuckle wryly, saying nothing more.
Forget it, forget it. He was old, not as good as the younger generation at having fun.
Then he would just watch from the side and only intervene if it became truly dire.
Shi You stopped paying attention, and Yun Ze remained in his spot, looking up at the sky.
As the first lightning tribulation descended, the second was already brewing, and the color of the floating clouds in the sky began to deepen.
From pink, it gradually turned to deep red!
The moment the deep red formed, a crisp sound rang out in the air!
CLANG!
Here it comes!
Yun Ze casually took out his Immortal Fragment and instantly condensed it into a sword shape with his spiritual power!
Although it was only a third-grade sword artifact, in terms of material, its strength was definitely not inferior to a ninth-grade sword artifact.
During tribulation crossing, it would naturally be more useful than ordinary sword artifacts!
As the crimson lightning tribulation descended, Yun Ze did not hesitate. He did not enter the formation but met it with his sword!
Instantly!
The sword blade struck the lightning tribulation. The edge cut through the lightning, and the sword body, transparent like the surface of a lake, reflected the surging lightning.
He blocked it… right?
A hint of joy flickered in Yun Ze's eyes, but it was immediately followed by a frown.
The moment the Immortal Fragment cut through the lightning tribulation, the crimson lightning surged into his body!
His muscles tore inch by inch. He had no time to react before he fell into the formation.
His bones, flesh, skin, and even the hair on his skin could feel the pain!
Coupled with the continuous shaking in his Qi Sea, Yun Ze vaguely felt as if he were about to die!
This was the closest he had ever been to death, and he didn't even have the strength to resist!
But in the next instant…
Miao Jue drew out the Water Origin.
In an instant, Yun Ze felt his injuries being instantly repaired, but in the next instant, he felt the same sensation as before!
Could this crimson lightning, like the white lightning, have a continuous effect?
How was he supposed to play this game!?
Yun Ze's heart trembled, and soon Shi You's voice echoed.
"The second tribulation… is to temper the physical body. It lasts for nine times. Legend has it that only one person has endured it. If you can endure it, your physique will transform into the Heavenly Spirit Body!"
"Your body will be free of impurities, impervious to all evils, and you will ignore any cultivation restrictions in the world! Your cultivation speed will also increase again!"
"I didn't intend to tell you this. Surviving the heavenly tribulation is already a blessing from heaven and earth. But since you've accepted this tribulation, then accept it well!"
Listening to Shi You's voice in his ear, Yun Ze couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
Nine times?
While he was speaking, the second time had already passed.
Wasn't it just nine times?
He would endure it!
Yun Ze lay on the ground, looking up at the tribulation clouds whose color was changing again in the sky. The joy that had just arisen in his heart instantly vanished.
This was only the third time, and it was happening again?
Even if you were sending someone to their doom, you should at least leave them some time to eat and drink!
As the tribulation clouds turned orange, Yun Ze closed his eyes!
The lightning tribulation descended.
Yun Ze was ready to accept further torment with his body and mind, but in the next instant, he heard a sound as faint as a mosquito's hum.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw a ripple spreading outwards.
And then… nothing more.
The third wave of this so-called Nine Profound Samsara Tribulation had dissipated.
That's it?
Yun Ze felt his body being torn apart and reassembled for the fourth time, but a smile appeared on his lips.
At this rate, he might be able to lie down and get through this Nine Profound Samsara Tribulation?
"The third tribulation is the tribulation of the divine soul."
Shi You's voice echoed in his ear again. "It specifically targets the divine soul. But you and I have both heard the Sound of the Great Dao, so we are immune to this lightning tribulation."
"More importantly, the fourth lightning tribulation specifically targets the Golden Core. If the Golden Core is not condensed stably enough, the tribulation-crosser may directly perish."
"This… Senior, your formation should be able to easily withstand… withstand it, right?"
Yun Ze didn't want to speak like this, but his body was already undergoing its fifth reconstruction.
The pain was self-evident.
With each reconstruction, his body expelled some impurities, and his physical strength continued to increase.
But no matter how strong his body became, the crimson lightning tribulation would shatter it again and again!
This fifth shattering and reconstruction, the pain was already more than a thousand times that of the first time!
Yun Ze now understood why only one person in the world had endured it.
With this kind of lightning tribulation, it was likely not that they couldn't withstand the shattering of their bodies, but that they couldn't bear the pain of their bodies being shattered!
Yun Ze now wished he could slap himself. Why had he insisted on being so playful back then? What was wrong with staying honestly in the formation?
At worst, he wouldn't get the Heavenly Spirit Body, and he would just cross the tribulation properly!
"I thought you would want to personally cross this tribulation."
Shi You's voice sounded again. "The fourth tribulation does specifically target the Golden Core, but if you can pass this tribulation, your Golden Core will transform into a Glazed Golden Core."
"Unlike ordinary Golden Cores, if a Glazed Golden Core is formed, not only will your cultivation speed increase a hundredfold, but at the Nascent Soul stage, you will even gain an extra color, or even two!"
"Cross it! Who said I wouldn't cross it!"
Yun Ze had just undergone his sixth physical reconstruction. He forced himself to stand up, and at this point, he could barely use the art of aerial flight.
He stepped on auspicious clouds and flew out of the barrier again.
His divine soul was already permanently solidified, and his soul power no longer needed improvement, but this Golden Core… a Glazed Golden Core!
Not to mention the hundredfold increase in cultivation speed, which would be the greatest aid to his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, nor the addition of one or even two colors, which meant for the Nascent Soul stage.
Just the name Glazed Golden Core sounded so powerful!
Who would choose to give up in such a situation?
He would cross the tribulation with peace of mind, as he had an Emperor Realm expert guarding him!
Yun Ze flew out of the formation again, and the lightning clouds above had transformed into a golden yellow!
As the golden lightning tribulation descended, Yun Ze instinctively closed his eyes.
He no longer intended to dodge.
He knew that with this kind of lightning tribulation, it was almost impossible to avoid!
Unless he entered the formation and protected himself with an all-around defense, no matter how he shattered the lightning tribulation, it would still strike him!
Instead of drawing his sword to block again, he might as well just wait!
Wait for the lightning tribulation to descend and see what it could do to him!
The golden lightning tribulation descended from above Yun Ze's head and directly entered his Qi Sea. While merging with the crimson lightning tribulation, it also found the five Golden Cores.
As if it had intelligence, it instantly transformed into five streams, each drilling into one of the five Golden Cores!
At the same time, the 235th Qi Sea oscillation and the seventh physical reconstruction began!