Chapter 250: Foundation Establishment Level Eight, Thunder Corpse Tribulation

Long Yiran was surprised. Wang Yu was, of course, referring to the breakthrough in physical cultivation. Conveniently, all three were undergoing their tribulations together, enhancing their collective strength.

He had not only received the Dragon Vein baptism, further enhancing his physical potential, but also possessed the Glazed Lotus Heart Elixir, an item crucial for breakthroughs. His chances were even greater than Long Yiran's.

The Thunder Corpse would first undergo a trial. Once Wang Yu understood the power of the lightning tribulation, Long Yiran would then test the effects of the Dispersing Thunder Array Flags. When everything was foolproof, he would initiate his own breakthrough. This would significantly increase the safety of continuing to explore the Sky Soul Sect ruins. There would be no need to retreat and wait for another opportunity; this time, he had to complete the Ancient Soul Art inheritance. Otherwise, his three unique refined corpses wouldn't even have a chance to fight together, which was unacceptable!

"I understand."

After checking the status of the Skyheart Dispersing Thunder Avoidance Array, Long Yiran couldn't help but praise it. "These array flags are truly profound. Their resistance to lightning power has almost reached the material's limit, especially their resistance to the might of heaven, which is paramount."

"The might of heaven?"

"Of course. When truly facing a lightning tribulation, that formidable heavenly might can crush a cultivator's will, preventing them from utilizing even eighty percent of their strength."

Wang Yu suddenly understood. When he was establishing his foundation, he had spent considerable effort understanding relevant information and insights from his predecessors. Later, when he went to Guiling, he hadn't learned much about the intricacies of Core Formation. His focus had been on improving his essence, qi, and spirit, as these were fundamental for forming a Golden Core. Consequently, he hadn't fully understood external factors like lightning tribulations. It was somewhat embarrassing that he needed a rogue cultivator to explain this to him.

"Let's first retreat to the edge of the secret realm. The entrance to the Sky Soul Sect is suitable for cultivating for a period. These blood corpses probably won't pursue us that far."

"Okay."

Having made up their minds, the two quickly exited the ruined buildings. Whenever they encountered blood corpses on the way, Wang Yu would use his divine sense to check them, looking for any tokens or similar items. If there was something, he would take it and then freeze the corpse; if not, he would simply freeze it directly. Although these blood corpses were formidable, once a method was found, dealing with them was relatively easy. Without considering the expenditure of true essence, the black solid ice he conjured was enough to seal ordinary blood corpses for several years.

After most of a day, they successfully broke out of the encirclement.

The area at the entrance of the secret realm was the only place not engulfed by blood mist, making it feel relatively safe.

Clatter—

As soon as they arrived, Wang Yu tossed down a pile of tokens, which clattered into a small mound. Most of these were disciple tokens, distinguished between inner and outer sect members. They were entirely covered in reddish-brown rust, making them incredibly mottled. Whether they were still functional would require a check. As long as the markings inside could be activated to react with the formations and restrictions within the Sky Soul Sect ruins, it meant they were still usable.

"Did you find anything like elder tokens or sect master tokens?"

"Does this count?" Long Yiran sifted through the junk and pulled out a token with less rust, inscribed with a large ancient character for "Heaven."

At the same time, Wang Yu pulled out a token with the character for "Earth."

"Could it be... the Sky Soul Sect distinguished its elders by 'Heaven' and 'Earth'?"

"Here's a true disciple token, with a name carved on the back."

After taking it, Wang Yu couldn't help but mutter with a strange expression. "Hun Tian Di..."

Seeing his strange expression, Long Yiran asked with interest, "Is there something wrong with that name?"

"No, just a coincidence. The Heaven and Earth elder tokens and this true disciple token might all be functional. Keep them safe."

"I'll take them?"

"You can try to repair them. Start with these ordinary disciple tokens."

"I see." Understanding Wang Yu's intention, Long Yiran was somewhat excited. "Brother Wang, ever since I signed the contract with you and started acting together, my luck has improved significantly. You can rest assured and leave this matter to me."

Wang Yu didn't answer, thinking about luck. His luck had always been poor, especially during the days when he was a spirit slave; his luck was truly terrible. Whenever he remembered it, it would encourage him to face the current predicament with an even more tenacious will. Of course, the Sky Soul Sect ruins couldn't be considered a predicament. Although there had been troubles, they were mostly over, and he had gained many benefits. A sect's foundation was far more than just dragon veins; after the scripture pavilion, the next target was the herb garden.

Looking up, he incidentally caught sight of the dark rift in the sky, and Wang Yu let out a long sigh.

"Sigh—"

Months later.

Wang Yu's surging aura slowly receded. Although the Dragon Vein baptism didn't lead to a breakthrough, it benefited his essence, qi, and spirit in all three aspects. In just three years, his true essence capacity, originally over 3,200 drops, increased by five to six hundred drops. Coupled with the growth from his storage slots and months of diligent cultivation, it finally surpassed 4,000 drops. In early January of the 42nd year of Deacon Wang's career, he successfully broke through to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment!

Counting the time, it had been five or six years since he came out. His progress couldn't be called slow, but it wasn't as much as he had imagined. Next, he would continue to accumulate and expand his true essence capacity. Once he reached 6,000 drops, he could reach the peak of the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment and break through to the ninth. Wang Yu felt that by the time the twenty-year agreement ended, he might not necessarily be able to form a Golden Core. Jin Miaoshan still had a tribulation-transcending treasure that he hadn't acquired yet. He definitely needed to get it before forming his Core. He could send a message through the Golden Chamber Pavilion in Myriad Poison Town. Jin Miaoshan was the direct superior for the Golden Chamber Pavilion in the Cloud Ridge Province region, making communication very convenient. He was also concerned about the dispute over Zhuoyue Province. After all, Guiling City was related to his cultivation resources after forming his Core. At that time, a set of Tier 3 cultivation elixirs would not be so easy to gather. He was inevitably affected by the pressure from Zhuo Shouqing's side.

After his cultivation breakthrough, Wang Yu took out the Grand Yin Corpse Nurturing Coffin. The Thunder Corpse's appearance was nothing like the intelligent Thunder Spirit Corpse in the lightning-stricken abyss. It was at the peak of Tier 2, its body covered in purple lightning patterns. Two fangs rested on its dark lower lip, and every breath of corpse aura it exhaled carried lightning. Lightning runes were carved on its bald head. As soon as it emerged, it roared with its head raised, as if celebrating its birth. Its appearance was far more imposing than the hunched Grand Yin Fiend Corpse. It was a type that combined armor and fiend, capable of both close and long-range combat. After observing for a while, he used corpse refining techniques to refine it further, pushing all aspects to their limits. Then, another zombie, tightly wrapped in talismans, floated out of the Corpse Nurturing Coffin. It was the Gold-armored Corpse. Under his control, the Thunder Corpse bit through the talismans and began to absorb the Gold-armored Corpse's essence. A massive amount of corpse qi and the fiendish energy of the armored corpse were completely swallowed by it. Soon after, its corpse core was also completely devoured. From then on, the Gold-armored Corpse was completely scrapped, but the Thunder Corpse gained immense benefits. Wang Yu took out the Yin Lotus Lamp and began to raise the Thunder Corpse's realm using corpse refining techniques. From time to time, he would shake the Corpse Suppressing Bell to prevent it from losing control after its promotion.

Ten days later, Wang Yu woke up Long Yiran, who was fully focused on repairing the tokens. He said with a serious expression, "Prepare the Dispersing Thunder Array Flags. The Thunder Corpse is about to undergo its tribulation."

Long Yiran gladly accepted and immediately began preparations. "Should we use them from the start?"

"No, wait until the Thunder Corpse can't bear it anymore. It's different from normal zombies; lightning tribulations can bring it great benefits. Resisting as much as possible will aid its future advancement."

"I will keep a close eye on it."

"Relax, just pay attention to the power of the lightning tribulation. After it, it will be your turn."

"Mhm."

Rumble~

At some unknown point, the sky of the secret realm was covered by dark clouds. Even the blood mist was forced to disperse, and below stood the rigid Thunder Corpse. Normally, the chances of a zombie successfully transcending a tribulation are pitifully low. Most require assistance from cultivators, preparing various magical treasures and array formations as aid, or using special geomantic formations to resist the power of the lightning tribulation. But the Thunder Corpse was an exception.

Facing the impending lightning tribulation, it instinctively roared at the swirling dark clouds. When the lightning tribulation accumulated to a certain stage, a thunderous roar burst forth, and heaven and earth seemed to be illuminated by this lightning bolt. With a crackle, a white lightning bolt struck the Thunder Corpse with unperceivable speed. The purple lightning within the creature's body was also forced out, and purple and white electrical light intertwined. Aside from a large crater being blasted into the ground, the Thunder Corpse showed no obvious signs of abnormality. This situation even made Wang Yu marvel; the Thunder Corpse was indeed a marvel among unique species. It didn't fear the lightning tribulation; instead, the tribulation would transform into nourishment for its growth.

"Impressive." Long Yiran continued to form hand seals, ready to activate the twelve Dispersing Thunder Array Flags at any moment.

The Core Formation lightning tribulation was a cultivator's first tribulation in their cultivation journey, also signifying truly entering the path of immortality! It wouldn't have many strikes, only three lightning bolts. Only when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future would there be nine lightning bolts.

The Thunder Corpse had already withstood the first strike. The second lightning tribulation, a bluish-white bolt, surged down with nearly double the power.

"Boom—"

This time, the Thunder Corpse wasn't as effortless. Its body surface turned scorched black, and purple lightning runes lit up on its bald head, continuously absorbing the tribulation's power. At this moment, the last lightning tribulation struck.

A few breaths later, Wang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. The tribulation was successful! Indeed, the Thunder Corpse was special. Its very existence seemed to be for transcending tribulations, and it was Wang Yu's refined corpse. He wondered if it would be effective when he underwent his own tribulation, used as a lightning-blocking magical artifact.

"I feel like it's worth trying. Even tribulations that the Demon Corpse can't pass, the Thunder Corpse might be able to help with. It would benefit both," Deacon Wang muttered this in his heart.

On the other hand, not having to use the Dispersing Thunder Array Flags also made Long Yiran relieved. She was afraid that if the timing wasn't controlled well, Wang Yu's precious treasure would be harmed. It was best that it could withstand all three lightning tribulations on its own. With the Thunder Corpse's tribulation as an experiment, both she and Wang Yu had an estimate of the Core Formation lightning tribulation's power. Compared to the Nether Tiger Thunder, even the most powerful third lightning bolt of the Core Formation tribulation was far inferior. This was a colossal gap, demonstrating how terrifying the power of the geomantic formation was. He wondered if the nine twisted mountain peaks of the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect also had this consideration.

After putting the Thunder Corpse back into the Corpse Nurturing Coffin for recuperation, Wang Yu asked Long Yiran, "How was the experience?"

"It felt pretty good. Most importantly, I gained a lot of insight into the unpredictable might of heaven."

Recommended book by a friend: "Farming Wizard, Then Cultivating a Witch?"

Blurb: As the last wizard apprentice, I cultivated a witch?

Leo transmigrated to a world of elemental desert abandoned by wizards. A thousand years ago, wizards left to conquer the multiverse. As the sole remaining wizard apprentice in this plane, Leo was in despair. Such an elemental desert could not support the birth of a formal wizard. Fortunately, he had a cheat. A "Divine Tree" seed that had transmigrated with him. Once planted, it could treat a certain area of land as its "territory." Reclaiming wasteland, farming, breeding, mining... any activity beneficial to the "territory" would provide nourishment to the Divine Tree. The growth of the Divine Tree would not only expand the "pasture" but also give rise to various divine phenomena, bringing new extraordinary powers to this spirit-deprived land. The day the "territory" enveloped all planes would be the day the "Emperor" ascended to the supreme throne. And it all began when Leo plucked the Divine Tree fruit, gave it to a young girl, and thus birthed the world's first true witch...

"Witches are the world's primary productive force."

Many years later, Leo Lionheart, the first fated wizard emperor of the myriad realms and director of the Wizard Strategic Deception Bureau, wrote in his memoirs:

"When your enemies slander you as the source of evil, possessing demonic powers, you'd better truly have them, and be even more powerful than they say."

(End of this chapter)