Chapter 983
Azure Punishment Reaching Core Formation
"That's... the Gate of Trials?"
Song Qingxing was all too familiar with that portal. He had participated in the Five Elements Trial through that portal and had been sinking in this boundless sea of suffering for decades.
Is he finally about to reach the other side?
He walked resolutely toward the portal shrouded in light. As he moved forward, his body, which had been completely submerged in the sea of suffering, began to rise slowly and gradually surface.
It is clearly visible that wherever the bitter water has been contaminated, the skin and flesh have been completely corroded away, and even the skeleton is extremely mottled with a pitted and uneven surface.
Every step in this sea of suffering requires enduring pain and torment that is difficult for ordinary people to bear. Over the past twenty years, he has long since become accustomed to it.
After escaping the bitterness, his flesh and blood grew back, as if everything before had been just an illusion.
Looking at the door, Song Qingxing approached step by step, tentatively reaching out his hand. Only after confirming that there was no problem did he step inside. The surrounding space was distorted by an invisible force, and his figure disappeared with the vortex.
"Xi'er, I'm back..."
After passing through the trial gate, Song Qingxing appeared in a deep and quiet valley. The stone walls on both sides were steep and smooth, with faint traces of the ravages of lightning. The bottom of the valley was a completely scorched earth.
Above the valley stood a white-robed cultivator carrying a sword. He looked down at the mountain, his eyes filled with the arrogance typical of disciples of great sects, and said in a loud voice: "Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on passing the Five Elements Trial and the ultimate test of the Trial Path."
Now you can reap the rewards. This place is called Heavenly Tribulation Valley. Every survivor who passes the trial breaks through to the Golden Core stage here, and so far, the number has approached four figures.
Enjoy your moment, for the tribulation is approaching.
As he finished speaking, the once clear sky was suddenly covered by a thick layer of thunderclouds, and a strong wind swept through the valley, causing sand and stones to fly everywhere.
Song Qingxing could clearly sense that an extremely dangerous aura was locking onto him, leaving him no way to avoid it.
He looked up at the increasingly thick thunderclouds, his expression calm and without the slightest fluctuation.
After experiencing the brutal battles of the Trial Road and the extremely rigorous Five Elements Trial, how could a mere Minor Heavenly Tribulation possibly make him back down?
The wind and clouds gathered, and the thunderclouds almost pressed into the valley, as if they could be reached out and touched.
Understand the original, understand the mind, and see the Tao.
Compared to the tangible and substantial heavenly tribulation before them, this is the greatest gain from participating in this trial.
206.
He had just celebrated his 206th birthday in the Sea of Bitterness. At this age, breaking through to the Golden Core stage meant he was already among the top geniuses, enough to compete with the direct disciples of those ancient sects.
However, compared to prodigies like Song Changsheng and Zhao Yin, there is still a long way to go.
However, what he has always pursued is not speed, but the most perfect result.
In many cases, speed is merely a compromise made out of necessity.
He understood Song Changsheng just as Song Changsheng understood him.
If he had a choice, Song Changsheng wouldn't have rushed to break through to the Golden Core stage. Just like the Great City Lord back then, after hundreds of years of accumulation and preparation, he still compromised for everything he cherished, leaving a flaw in his life.
They are pioneers, so they need to fight for it—not for some vague title, but for the future.
In his youth, he was ignorant and regarded "love" as a burden, and even used it to advise Song Changsheng.
But his uncle told him that home is not a burden, but a haven, a support, and a refuge.
He used to scoff at it, full of disdain.
It wasn't until Song Changsheng proved him wrong through his actions that he realized he was wrong, and very wrong indeed.
Now, he is very grateful that he was born into the Song family.
The family provided him with stable cultivation resources. Even in the most difficult times, when the entire clan tightened their belts and the elders' salaries were reduced, they never gave him any discount.
His most respected uncle shielded him from all the hardships, allowing him to avoid racing against time and compromising with reality.
Understand the original, understand the mind, and see the Tao.
Entering the sea of suffering is not for the purpose of struggling to cross, but for the purpose of contemplation.
Now, he has found his own path. The door is still closed, but he knows that he will be able to push it open sooner or later.
That door is both a guardian and a symbol of inheritance.
Protect everything you cherish and pass on the family legacy.
He slowly closed his eyes, carefully sensing the changes in the wind.
The wind seemed to be responding to him.
"call……"
A fierce wind howled, black robes fluttered in the wind, and muffled thunder boomed in the clouds of calamity, making the entire valley seem to tremble.
"Pattern"
Before we knew it, it started to rain, gradually increasing in intensity, the cold rain relentlessly washing over the smooth rock face.
The aura of impending doom in the air seemed to have been diluted considerably.
"Chong"
As the sword was drawn, Song Qingxing suddenly opened his eyes, staring intently at the tribulation clouds in the sky. Invisible sword energy surged around him, impervious to wind and rain.
"boom--"
Without warning, the first bolt of lightning struck down with a deafening roar, its purplish-gold hue standing out starkly against the dark valley.
Faced with this overwhelming divine might, Song Qingxing's only response was a single sword strike!
His sword flashed like a startled swan, and his body moved like a swimming dragon; the first heavenly tribulation posed no threat to him whatsoever.
The heavenly tribulation seemed to be enraged, and the second, third, and fourth bolts of heavenly lightning followed one after another, gradually transforming from purple-gold to crimson-gold, leaving him no time to catch his breath.
Song Qingxing remained as composed and terrifyingly calm as ever, using his sword to slay all the heavenly tribulations.
"Boom—"
Thunder rumbled, and the clouds seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, churning violently. The entire valley trembled violently, and pebbles mixed with rainwater kept rolling down.
The fifth bolt of heavenly lightning was rapidly brewing within the tribulation clouds, and even the rain seemed to carry leaping arcs of electricity.
This heavenly lightning bolt took longer to prepare than any before, and the surging tribulation energy caused the onlookers from the Boundless Sword Sect to unconsciously retreat even further.
"boom"
The crimson lightning struck down like a fiery serpent, instantly evaporating all the raindrops in the air.
Song Qingxing decisively swung his sword, cleaving the man in two, but the residual force still struck his chest, leaving it charred.
However, for him, this was only a minor injury.
"They actually survived the five tribulations of lightning so easily."
A look of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Wuliang Sword Sect cultivator watching from the sidelines. Back then, when he was undergoing the Lesser Heavenly Tribulation, he had to rely entirely on his willpower to get through the fifth one, and he couldn't find a single good piece of flesh on his body. Compared to Song Qingxing's performance, he was far inferior.
As the fifth bolt of heavenly lightning subsided, rain continued to fall from the tribulation clouds, nourishing Song Qingxing's body and the [Traceless Sword] in his hand. Heaven never hesitates to bestow its rewards, and the rain that fell far exceeded the limits that the tribulation seeker could withstand.
The rest, once it falls to the ground, will transform into nutrients that nourish all things. Any land that has received this rain will benefit for a long time to come.
Logically speaking, this valley, having received so much nourishment, shouldn't be in such a barren state.
Even while enjoying the refreshing rain, Song Qingxing did not forget to pay attention to this issue.
After observing for a period of time, he discovered that the excess rain did not merge into the soil beneath his feet, but disappeared into thin air, as if flowing into some unknown area.
Sweet rain is a reward from Heaven to those who undergo tribulation; ordinary containers cannot contain it, so few people collect it.
The Wuliang Sword Sect is a first-class sect with profound foundations; perhaps they have some special methods.
"Could this be the purpose of the Boundless Sword Sect?" Song Qingxing wondered, but he still felt that something was not quite right.
At this moment, the rain stopped, and the long-awaited sixth bolt of heavenly lightning crashed down...
As the morning light pierced through the inky black clouds, the wind ceased its howling. Song Qingxing, covered in wounds, stood at the bottom of the valley, bathed in sunlight. His Purple Mansion Furnace roared incessantly, and a perfectly round golden core hung above it, its surface evenly distributed with nine vortexes, frantically absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy.
Golden Elixir.
For the vast majority of people in the world, this is a realm that is difficult to reach.
But for Song Qingxing, this was just the beginning.
His future is full of endless possibilities.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist! Congratulations on passing the Heavenly Tribulation and attaining the Golden Core Realm, adding five hundred years to your lifespan."
The white-robed swordsman who had been there earlier immediately stepped forward to offer his congratulations, his eyes no longer showing the arrogance he had displayed before.
Song Qingxing has already won him over with his actions.
The world of sword cultivators is pure; the strong are respected.
His opponent may not be as strong as him now, but he will definitely surpass him in the future.
Thank you.
The white-robed swordsman took out a waist token from his robes and presented it with both hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist is the second cultivator to emerge from the Trial Path this time, and also the last. The Trial Path has been closed and will reopen in five years."
As is customary, our sect bestows upon fellow Daoists the position of Guest Elder, granting them not only an independent cave dwelling within the sect but also the right to borrow all scriptures within the permitted scope from the Scripture Pavilion.
This is your guest's token, please keep it safe.
Song Qingxing took the waist tag and found that it had the character "玄" written on it.
Li Yuxia had mentioned this to him when he entered the Trial Path. The guest tokens of the Wuliang Sword Sect are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. They are not divided by cultivation level as is commonly done, but by contribution points.
Once you accumulate enough contribution points, you can level up. Different ranks correspond to different privileges. It is said that the privileges of a Heavenly Guest Elder are even higher than those of a True Monarch Elder of the Boundless Sword Sect.
Survivors of the Trial Path can directly obtain the status of a Xuan-level Guest Elder, with authority comparable to that of a Golden Core Elder in the Sword Sect. This can be considered as recognition and investment from the Boundless Sword Sect.
Many mediocre people may participate in the trials, but those who can pass the Five Elements Trials are absolutely geniuses, one in ten thousand, with limitless future achievements.
According to surveys and statistics over the years, the probability of a trial survivor breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage is very close to one in five, which is already an extremely high number, considering that the Trial Path is repeated every sixty years.
Most of the cultivators who came to participate in the Trial Road had no background and were unable to resist the enticements of the Boundless Sword Sect.
Over the years, the Wuliang Sword Sect has accumulated a terrifying number of guest elders, including many Nascent Soul True Monarchs and even Divine Transformation Supremes.
Even if only a very small portion of them serve the Boundless Sword Sect, it is still a considerable force.
This is also the main reason why the Boundless Sword Sect has been able to stand firm for so long.
Song Qingxing certainly had no intention of serving the Wuliang Sword Sect.
However, he was very interested in the library that was said to house half of the world's classic swordplay texts, so he had no reason to refuse.
"Excuse me, who is the other person?"
As far as Song Qingxing knew, at least four people, including himself, had obtained the [Dice of Destiny], but the other party had just said that only two had passed the trial.
If only one of the three people could survive, he hoped that person would be Shen Jingchuan.
They had fought side by side before.
He also recognized the other party's strength and character, and it would be a pity if he were to perish on the path of trials.
The white-robed cultivator couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this: "What a coincidence, that person was also asking you."
However, adhering to the rule of complete confidentiality, I did not tell him that since you are both asking each other, I can arrange for you to meet.
Upon hearing this, Song Qingxing understood immediately and asked directly, "Is it Shen Jingchuan?"
"Yes, that's him."
"In that case, there's no need to meet."
The white-robed swordsman raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not press the matter further.
Sometimes, it's not necessary to meet in person; just knowing that the other person is still alive is enough, since the relationship between the two parties wasn't particularly deep to begin with.
After bidding farewell to the white-robed cultivator, Song Qingxing first went to the cave dwelling arranged for him by the Boundless Sword Sect, where he spent three months consolidating his cultivation. Afterward, he set off to visit Li Yuxia.
If it weren't for the other party's generous sharing of knowledge, he wouldn't have been able to maintain the upper hand throughout the trial.
Furthermore, since he had accepted the bounty offered, it was only right and proper for him to pay a visit.
Upon arriving at Li Yuxia's cave, he immediately sensed a familiar aura.
"It's you."
"I knew you'd come here. We've been through thick and thin together, aren't you going to say goodbye before you leave?" Shen Jingchuan said lazily, stretching as he chewed on a blade of grass.
Is this necessary?
"Of course it's necessary. There aren't many people with a stronger desire to kill than me. It's a pity not to get to know someone I'm compatible with."
"Your name is Shen Jingchuan."
"And then, does that mean you've gotten to know each other?"
"Shouldn't we exchange home addresses and contact information so it'll be easier to stay in touch?" Shen Jingchuan said, winking.
"Not interested."
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Qingxing walked past him and entered Li Yuxia's cave.
It wasn't that he had any issues with Shen Jingchuan, but he had killed too many people and made too many enemies. He didn't want to involve the Song family, even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance.
Watching Song Qingxing's aloof figure, Shen Jingchuan wasn't annoyed. He simply smiled and said "Interesting," before leaving the Wuliang Sword Sect with a carefree air.
He always believed in the saying, "If we are destined to meet again, we will meet again!"
...(End of this chapter)