The Tribulation of the Golden Core

In the following days, Lin Xiao's life gradually returned to normal.

In the game, Lin Qishuang was constantly cultivating and perfecting her aura in preparation for breaking through to the Golden Core Realm.

In the real world, Lin Xiao finally lived a peaceful life where she had no worries about food and clothing every day.

Even Qin Yanan, whom he feared the most, had somehow disappeared these past few days and hadn't bothered him at all.

This time, Lin Xiao opened the game again, just like before, to check Lin Qishuang's status.

[Ding: Detected that Lin Qishuang is ready and can break through to the Golden Core stage at any time. Host, would you like to proceed with the breakthrough?]

"Okay, it's finally done."

Upon seeing the prompt, Lin Xiao's eyes lit up.

After waiting for several days, Lin Qishuang has finally adjusted her condition.

Seeing Lin Qishuang meditating in her room, Lin Xiao didn't have time to think and directly transmitted his voice, "Little Shuang, are you ready to break through?"

Lin Qishuang, who was meditating in her room, was startled upon hearing this and looked up at the sky, saying, "Senior, is that you?"

In the past few days, although Lin Xiao had been secretly observing the situation, he never disturbed Lin Qishuang.

Therefore, Lin Qishuang was so excited when she suddenly heard Lin Xiao's voice.

"It's me," Lin Xiao's voice softened slightly as he transmitted his voice.

"I've observed that you've been preparing for many days, and now your aura is stable. This is the perfect time to break through to the Golden Core stage. Are you ready?"

Lin Qishuang quickly composed herself, a resolute glint in her eyes, and bowed deeply to the sky, saying, "This junior is ready and awaits your guidance, senior!"

She has been practicing diligently day and night for this day.

Now that I have received confirmation from my seniors, I feel both excited and a little bit nervous.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao said no more and directly clicked "Confirm Breakthrough" on the game interface, while simultaneously sending a telepathic message:

"Concentrate your mind and calm your spirit, guard your inner self, circulate your energy, and guide your spiritual power into your dantian. Do not be impatient!"

[Ding: Detected that Lin Qishuang is beginning to break through to the Golden Core Realm, requiring a large amount of spiritual energy. The host can recharge 10 to purchase spiritual energy.]

Seeing the prompt, Lin Xiao's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but complain in his heart.

As expected, breaking through to the next level inevitably requires spending money.

Fortunately, I made three million from selling swords before, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to support this ancestor's breakthrough.

Despite his complaints, he still clicked "Yes" without hesitation.

If Lin Qishuang breaks through to the Golden Core stage, she will bring him more benefits in the future, so this money will be well spent.

As Lin Xiao confirmed, a dense aura of spiritual energy instantly emanated from Lin Qishuang's body in the game screen.

At the same time, the spiritual energy in the room frantically converged towards it, forming a visible vortex of spiritual energy.

Lin Qishuang closed her eyes tightly, her brows furrowed, and her aura steadily rose, gradually approaching the Golden Core realm from the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Lin Xiao sat in front of the screen, staring intently at the image, feeling a little nervous.

I hope nothing goes wrong. This cost me a lot of spirit stones. If I fail to break through, the loss will be huge.

However, just as Lin Qishuang's aura was about to reach the threshold of the Golden Core realm.

Just as the spiritual energy within his dantian was about to condense into a pill, a sudden change occurred!

The spiritual energy vortex around Lin Qishuang suddenly became chaotic, and the originally gentle spiritual power became violent.

She suddenly opened her eyes, which were bloodshot, and a look of pain appeared on her face. A faint black aura even emanated from her body.

"Ugh—"

A painful groan escaped Lin Qishuang's lips as she clutched her head, her body trembling violently.

The previously steadily rising momentum instantly plummeted, even showing signs of dissipating.

[Ding: Warning! Lin Qishuang encountered a backlash from a mental demon during her breakthrough. If it is not suppressed in time, the breakthrough will fail, and she may even suffer a qi deviation, losing all her cultivation!]

"Inner demons?!" Lin Xiao's expression changed, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "It seems that Lin Qishuang will not be able to break through unless these inner demons are eliminated."

In the scene, Lin Qishuang's condition is getting worse and worse, and dark evil energy is constantly emanating from her body.

Lin Qishuang's eyes were unfocused, and she muttered to herself, "I'm not reconciled... I want revenge... I want you to pay the price..."

Lin Qishuang's inner demons stemmed from the Lingtian Sword Sect. She had been expelled from the sect and suffered countless humiliations, and the resentment in her heart had never subsided.

Now that he has broken through to the Golden Core stage, his mind is unstable, and this resentment has turned into a demon in his heart, taking the opportunity to retaliate.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiao quickly transmitted his voice, his tone stern, trying to awaken Lin Qishuang:

"Xiao Shuang! Wake up! Don't let your inner demons control you! Have you forgotten your original intention in cultivating? Have you forgotten your purpose of becoming stronger?"

However, Lin Qishuang was already controlled by her inner demons and couldn't listen to Lin Xiao's words at all.

The malevolent aura around him grew stronger and stronger, and his breathing became increasingly chaotic. He was on the verge of going berserk at any moment.

Lin Xiao frowned, quickly thinking of a solution.

Continuing to force a breakthrough will definitely fail.

[Ding: It has been detected that Lin Qishuang is troubled by inner demons. She must first overcome these inner demons before she can continue her breakthrough. Please assist Lin Qishuang in overcoming her inner demons.]

Note: After overcoming the inner demon, Lin Qishuang's favorability will continue to rise, reaching 100, at which point Lin Qishuang can break through the barrier and enter the real world.

Lin Xiao's eyes lit up when he saw the latest notification on the game interface.

Without much thought, he directly transmitted his voice to Lin Qishuang:

"Xiao Shuang, listen to me! Your inner demons stem from the resentment of the Lingtian Sword Sect. Suppressing them is useless; only by confronting them can they be completely eradicated!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qishuang's body stiffened slightly, as if she had a reaction. Her eyes remained unfocused, but she no longer continued her violent rampage.

Lin Xiao pressed his advantage, continuing to transmit his voice: "Stop breaking through now! I know you hate the Lingtian Sword Sect and those who have wronged you."

But you are currently controlled by your inner demons. Even if you successfully break through, you will only become a puppet of those demons. In that case, not only will you fail to avenge yourself, but you will also bring about your own destruction!

"Stop...breaking through?" Lin Qishuang murmured repeatedly, her voice hoarse, the pain on her face slightly relieved.

"Yes! Stop the breakthrough!" Lin Xiao said firmly.

"Your mind is currently unstable, and your inner demons are difficult to eradicate. Only by returning to the Lingtian Sword Sect, confronting the people and things you resent, and personally settling this score, can you completely slay your inner demons and eliminate the hidden dangers!"

"Return... to the Lingtian Sword Sect?" Lin Qishuang suddenly looked up, a struggle flashing in her eyes. "I was expelled from the sect and suffered endless humiliation. Wouldn't going back be like walking into a trap?"

"You are now at the peak of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from Golden Core. With the pills and cultivation techniques I gave you, ordinary disciples of the Lingtian Sword Sect are no match for you."

Lin Xiao slowly transmitted his voice, his tone both reassuring and confident: "Besides, when you go back, you're not walking into a trap, you're settling old scores, you're slaying your inner demons, and you're proving yourself!"

Only by completely letting go of resentment and vanquishing your inner demons can you focus your mind and successfully break through to the Golden Core stage!

Lin Qishuang fell silent, her murderous aura gradually receding, and her eyes slowly clearing.

She recalled the tragic experience of being expelled from her sect, the mocking looks she received, and her original aspirations for cultivation.

The inner struggle gradually dissipated, replaced by determination.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Qishuang bowed to the sky again, her tone extremely solemn, "This junior understands! Thank you for your guidance, senior! This junior will immediately cease my breakthrough, return to the Lingtian Sword Sect, slay my inner demons, and completely settle this grudge!"

[Ding: Lin Qishuang has voluntarily stopped her breakthrough. The backlash from her inner demons has been temporarily suppressed. The host must assist Lin Qishuang in eliminating the inner demons as soon as possible, otherwise the inner demons will erupt again!]

Seeing Lin Qishuang gradually regain her composure on the screen, Lin Xiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This is truly a rollercoaster ride; breaking through to the Golden Core stage requires running back to the sect to slay one's inner demons.

Can't this lousy game just give us a break?

The only good thing is that there doesn't seem to be any way to spend money this time?