It's unclear how much time has passed. Almost all the spiritual energy in the forest has been depleted, yet the maiden in the cave shows no signs of breaking through. Countless white dots swirl around her, illuminating the entire cave.
Jin Bao'er knew this, of course! But to escape her inner demons, she had to kill Lou Yun and Su Xianzhi! With her current strength, it was impossible! Advancing to a sufficiently powerful level was her only chance! The longer she delayed, the worse it would be.
However, the majestic Heavenly Tribulation in the sky wouldn't give her time to suppress her inner demons…
"Boom!"
A blinding bolt of lightning instantly descended from the sky, striking the person in the cave with an unyielding, absolute power, causing the entire cave to collapse with a roar, sending debris flying everywhere!
The lightning accurately hit the maiden in the cave, without a hint of hesitation!
As electricity coursed through her, a tearing pain spread through her entire body, making her face contort! Her magical robe was instantly destroyed, and her dantian was in chaos.
Immediately following, the second wave of lightning unleashed its fury!
"Boom!"
Pain… a heart-wrenching pain! She never imagined that advancing to the Nascent Soul stage would be so agonizing… comparable to the power of her own Golden Core self-detonation!
Inside the Immortal Abode, Long Lixing watched this scene with a grave expression. He seemed to feel the maiden's pain, his face growing grim! Her meridians were broken, only to be slowly repaired and healed by the spiritual energy…
After the second wave of lightning struck, the area around Jin Bao'er was already a mess! Sparks could be seen faintly flashing on the scattered stones.
Seeing this, Long Lixing's eyes widened. This was… a formation? So, she had already set up a defensive formation beforehand? That's how she reduced the power of the lightning… But this was only the second wave!
The advancement to the Nascent Soul stage involved seven Heavenly Tribulations, representing the fairness, severity, purity, majesty, execution, purification, and tempered rebirth of the Heavenly Dao!
Jin Bao'er had endured the second wave of severity. Next was… purity. Many cultivators, unable to pass this stage, would choose to use defensive formations to resist. This was why some Nascent Soul cultivators, despite having sufficient cultivation and power, were not strong enough themselves.
As he had almost anticipated, the third bolt of lightning descended with a dazzling brilliance, striking Jin Bao'er's heart directly!
"Mmm…"
A pained groan echoed. Long Lixing instinctively frowned but made no move! To become stronger, such pain was inevitable.
Fortunately, although Jin Bao'er was not a kind person, she hadn't committed any truly heinous acts. She finally endured it.
Next was majesty. This was also the heaviest of the Heavenly Tribulations!
"Boom boom!"
Two flashes of light appeared in succession. Even Long Lixing couldn't help but be shocked! This was abnormal! Heavenly Tribulations always descended in stages. Why did two strike at once this time? Majesty and execution…
She's going to die!
This thought flashed through his mind, and his body acted before his brain could. He was about to possess her…
"Don't come out!"
A weak murmur sounded, yet it carried an unyielding defiance and stubbornness!
Long Lixing paused. At the same moment, the Heavenly Tribulation struck Jin Bao'er fiercely…
"Ah!!"
A heart-wrenching scream emanated from the swirling white light. The person within was instantly scorched black, currents of electricity swirling around her, ferociously destroying her body!
Jin Bao'er felt her body go numb, sinking into darkness. Her mind was blank, and she barely had the strength to open her eyes.
Her life force was almost undetectable. The white spiritual energy accelerated its repair, flooding into her body, bringing about a new life from within!
Sensing this, Long Lixing showed no signs of relaxation, his tone growing even colder!
"Everyone else uses defensive formations to dodge. Are you stupid? Who do you think you are, daring to challenge the majesty and execution of the Heavenly Dao… Humph! Do you want to die that badly?"
He was angry. He knew Jin Bao'er's actions were the most advantageous, yet he couldn't help but mock her, his rage burning!
As the spiritual energy repaired her, the pain gradually returned! Hearing his words, Jin Bao'er was too weak to reply!
Fortunately, this Heavenly Tribulation seemed to be delayed, waiting for two full minutes before the sixth wave… purification, arrived.
For others, this might have been the easiest stage. But for Jin Bao'er, it was the most difficult! Purification referred to the eradication of the sins and inner demons deep within the soul! If Jin Bao'er refused to let go of her obsession, the Heavenly Tribulation might even purify her along with it!
"Boom!!"
The soaring lightning seemed to be excited, eagerly descending with streaks of golden light, sacred and inviolable!
However…
"Pfft!"
As soon as the lightning struck, Jin Bao'er cried out in agony! Golden and silver light fiercely attacked her body… Her strong willpower furiously suppressed the inner demons, yet it was stimulated by the intense radiance of the lightning. Her physical body ached severely, and her spirit endured indescribable torment!
A moment later, Jin Bao'er suddenly opened her vacant eyes. A thick black gas surged out from her body, rapidly spreading to the surroundings…
The Heavenly Tribulation seemed to find something amusing, relentlessly crushing and purifying it on her.
Long Lixing's face instantly changed drastically! He roared.
"Jin Bao'er! Wake up!"
The continuous destruction of the Heavenly Tribulation would soon destroy her soul along with her body! She would turn to ashes!
However, the maiden in mid-air was entangled by memories of her inner demons, struggling in pain.
In her memories…
She saw Zhan Hun break as he tried to save her, his sword spirit perishing!
She saw herself fleeing repeatedly, only to be hunted by others. Those ferocious cultivators wanted her as a cauldron, to utterly humiliate her!
She saw Su Xianzhi in the arms of the Demonic Lord Li Yan, arrogantly approaching her, and then hacking off her fingers!
Pain… so much pain!
Hate… so much hate!
A vast wave of hatred erupted again, and black gas surged out once more, completely engulfing the radiance of the lightning. All spiritual energy retreated in fear, no longer daring to repair her body…
Long Lixing was shocked!
This was the first time he had ever seen someone consume the purifying Heavenly Tribulation with their own hatred and sorrow!
Let alone humans, even demonic beasts, dragons, elves, and ghost cultivators could not achieve this.
Jin Bao'er was on the verge of becoming a demon!
As this thought crossed his mind, Long Lixing raised his hand with a grim expression, even preparing to control her body. He absolutely would not let her inner demons run rampant.
However, perhaps because the purifying Heavenly Tribulation was consumed, the black gas gradually began to shrink…
Outside, a white tiger was also observing this scene, its expression extremely grim!
Its thoughts mirrored Long Lixing's. Both believed Jin Bao'er was about to become a demon! If that happened, would she still be herself?
However, the small creature beside the white tiger's paw noticed the anomaly first.
"Huh? The black gas seems to be decreasing?"