Chapter 1118: Three Years

The two sat discussing the Dao and gained new insights into cultivation.

To avoid disturbing Yun Youzi during his tribulation, Qin Sang stayed for a few days before bidding farewell and returning to Peach Blossom Valley.

Thus, three years passed.

During these three years, Yun Youzi mainly focused on secluded cultivation, and Qin Sang rarely disturbed him.

Qin Sang asked Yun Youzi about the Demon Realm, and as expected, Yun Youzi knew a great deal about it.

He also knew a thing or two about the demon king who stole the mysterious stone slab and shared a few rumors.

However, Qin Sang had no intention of troubling the demon king now. Stealing treasures from a demon king was too far-fetched, and Qin Sang would never entertain such a thought unless absolutely necessary.

This was especially true since Yun Youzi was at the critical juncture of his tribulation.

One day, Qin Sang was meditating in seclusion.

Continuously absorbing the power of the surrounding stars, Qin Sang had finally, not long ago, cultivated the Heavenly Demon Refining Form to the peak of the third layer, encountering another bottleneck.

This barrier was more difficult than previous ones.

He tried to use the star platform for star essence infusion, but the star essence was too weak, no longer sufficient to help him break through again.

In the current cultivation world, the most suitable place for star essence infusion was Pointing-Heaven Peak.

To go to Pointing-Heaven Peak, he would need the help of Qing Jun, but she had not returned for many years. Qin Sang could not find her and had no choice but to wait patiently.

After this, Qin Sang began to fully cultivate the Soul-Nurturing Sword Chapter and made rapid progress.

A streak of light flew into Peach Blossom Valley.

Qin Sang was startled awake from his meditation. He grabbed the streak of light, and his expression froze.

"He's about to undergo tribulation soon?"

The streak of light was a message from Yun Youzi: he had made all necessary preparations, and his tribulation day was one month away. He requested Qin Sang to stand guard for him!

The timing was even earlier than previously stated.

Qin Sang hadn't expected it to be so soon. He stood up, walked out of his cave dwelling in a hurry, paused, and looked towards Bai's cave dwelling.

He had always wanted to introduce Yun Youzi to Bai.

But since his last seclusion, Bai had not come out, staying strictly within his cave dwelling and focusing on comprehending the Corpse Soul Orb. Qin Sang didn't know how far he had progressed and dared not disturb him rashly.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Sang activated the cave dwelling's restrictive barrier and sent a message inside.

Although Qin Sang believed Yun Youzi had made all necessary preparations and that nothing would likely go wrong with him acting as protector, he called Bai for extra assistance, just in case.

A moment later, Bai's voice came from the cave dwelling, clearly carrying a hint of weariness: "Someone is undergoing the Nascent Soul tribulation? It might be good to observe."

The cave dwelling opened, and Bai walked out.

After such a long seclusion, Bai's aura seemed to have changed little from twenty years ago.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your significant progress in cultivation!"

Bai's sharp eyes recognized Qin Sang's transformation, and he sighed, saying, "Back then, we were evenly matched. Now, even without using that lightning technique, you can easily suppress me."

Despite Bai's praise, Qin Sang did not get carried away. He shook his head and said, "Without entering the Nascent Soul stage, all are but ants."

What if he became the foremost cultivator in the Golden Core stage?

Qin Sang's goal, from beginning to end, had always been to become a Nascent Soul Grandmaster.

Bai nodded, said nothing further, and after learning about Yun Youzi's background from Qin Sang, he retreated into the Corpse Puppet Bag.

Half an hour later, Qin Sang arrived at the agreed meeting place with Yun Youzi.

This place was on a desolate island on the edge of the Cloud Lake Great Marsh.

From a distance, he saw Yun Youzi and Li Yufu standing on the mountain peak. Qin Sang accelerated, his escape light flickering rapidly, and landed before them.

"Martial Uncle!" Li Yufu bowed respectfully.

Qin Sang noticed Li Yufu's unusually grave expression and eyes filled with worry, likely concerned for his grand-master.

The Nascent Soul tribulation was the first major tribulation encountered on the path of cultivation, a trial where success often came at the cost of countless failures.

Yun Youzi himself, with his robes fluttering, appeared very unconstrained, showing no trace of nervousness in his expression.

"My friend," Yun Youzi said in a clear voice, tossing over three jade bottles, "these are spiritual pills I recently refined to aid in tribulation. I collected a bit more spiritual herbs than needed, so I managed to refine two sets. Here's one for you."

Qin Sang raised his hand and caught them. He found that the jade bottles contained spiritual pills of various colors: some could restore true essence, while others could heal soul and physical injuries. All were prepared specifically for the heavenly tribulation.

Although they weren't divine medicines like Soul-Cleansing Liquid that could increase the success rate of forming a Nascent Soul, taking them during tribulation could still provide significant help.

Qin Sang had originally intended to acquire some from the merchant guild, but unexpectedly, Yun Youzi had already prepared them for him.

From Yun Youzi's hands, they were all top-grade spiritual pills with excellent efficacy.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Qin Sang did not stand on ceremony and accepted them all.

Based on Qin Sang's understanding of Yun Youzi, he was actually not as relaxed as he appeared.

Who would dare to underestimate the heavenly tribulation?

Yun Youzi's demeanor was slightly different from before.

Three years of secluded cultivation were not just for refining pills; Yun Youzi also thoroughly savored all his life experiences, making his Dao heart even clearer.

In Qin Sang's view, he subtly gained a touch of indifference.

"The tribulation site has been chosen in the western part of the Cloud Lake Great Marsh, which is very secluded..."

Yun Youzi led the two towards the depths of the Cloud Lake Great Marsh. As they traveled, he explained, "The Abyss of Sin has occupied most of the Heavenly Path Alliance's territory, forcing some of their sects to relocate north. The Lesser Cold Domain ceded the Cloud Lake Great Marsh for them to settle. The Cloud Lake Great Marsh is much livelier now than before; otherwise, there would be no need to choose such a secluded place..."

Forming a Nascent Soul and undergoing tribulation also involves spiritual energy infusion. While it doesn't strictly require a powerful spiritual vein, not just any place will suffice.

Yun Youzi carefully selected an island in the Cloud Lake Great Marsh. This place lacked a top-tier spiritual vein, but it was where several hidden spiritual veins converged.

He had long ago set up a grand formation on the island in preparation for the tribulation.

Staying at the Taiyi Pill Sect, with the protection of the sect's grand formation and the sect master personally guarding, would undoubtedly be the safest choice.

Yet Yun Youzi preferred the trouble and was willing to take the risk to undergo tribulation outside.

"I've already checked," Yun Youzi said. "The area around the island is very barren, with no traces of Nascent Soul cultivators or transformed great demons. However, when the heavenly tribulation descends, if there are any deeply hidden demonic beasts at the bottom of the lake that are startled by the drastic changes, they might emerge. That's where you two come in..."

The three continued without pause, venturing deeper into the Cloud Lake Great Marsh.

The Cloud Lake Great Marsh was vast, but most of it consisted of barren waters, especially the western part, which had little value.

Along the way, they encountered a considerable number of cultivators, mostly from the Heavenly Path Alliance.

The further west they went, the fewer cultivators they saw.

During the last stretch of their journey, they didn't even see a single person.

"We're here!"

Yun Youzi stopped in an open expanse of water. With a sweep of his sleeve, the water parted to either side, revealing the outline of a spiritual formation.

The small island within the formation was only about ten li in circumference.

On the island, a solitary, precipitous peak stood tall, pointing towards the sky.

This was the tribulation site Yun Youzi had chosen!

Yun Youzi's eyes were calm. He said nothing, simply nodded to Qin Sang and Li Yufu, and then flashed into the grand formation.

The Nascent Soul tribulation could only be overcome by oneself. Outsiders could not offer assistance and even dared not approach too closely, lest they trigger a change in the heavenly tribulation and perish together.

Li Yufu's face was filled with worry.

Seeing Yun Youzi sitting cross-legged on the mountain peak and the spiritual formation gradually closing, Qin Sang let out a soft breath and said, "Let's go too."

They flew to a desolate island not far away, to await the descent of the heavenly tribulation!