Chapter 740: Condensing Spirit Pill

"Tonight? Tonight?!" Yan Chuan thought he was hearing things. Advancing to the Soul Transformation stage — was that something one could achieve just by deciding to do it today? He had prepared to reach that stage within twenty years.

Furthermore, advancing to the Soul Transformation stage meant facing a lightning tribulation, which required extensive preparations and no room for error. For Lu Yang, helping someone advance to the Soul Transformation Stage, especially someone already halfway there, was quite simple—it was merely a matter of a single pill.

Immortal sect disciples prioritize their own cultivation levels when cultivating, using elixirs at most as supplementary aids. After all, elixirs were external aids, and power gained from external sources could be flawed, hindering future cultivation. Yan Chuan, however, was different. As a rogue cultivator, reaching the Nascent Soul stage was already incredibly lucky for him. He had changed cultivation methods countless times to get there, which had muddled his Qi flow, making further advancement difficult. Taking elixirs, in his case, could actually help purify and regulate his Qi flow.

"Senior Brother Lu, do you have elixirs that help people break through to the Soul Transformation Stage?" asked Tao Yaoye. If they were on Pill Refining Peak, such elixirs would be abundant, but this was the East Sea. Who would casually carry elixirs they didn't need?

"Coincidentally, I do." Lu Yang fumbled a few times in his identity jade token and pulled out a bottle of elixirs. As the perfectly round elixirs poured out, Yan Chuan's eyes widened in astonishment.

"The Concentration Pill?" This was a priceless and rare elixir, almost impossible to find on the market. He had seen it at auctions twice, both times fetching astronomical prices; once, the bidder was even a disciple from Yingzhou Island. Even Yingzhou Island disciples had to acquire Concentration Pills from outside, which showed how valuable the elixir was. This particular Concentration Pill came from a Suanni's inheritance. When Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou went to the Demon Realm, their Third Senior Sister hadn't brought a greeting gift, so she took them to retrieve the legacy of a Suanni she had killed upon her arrival in the Demon Realm. Among its possessions was this Concentration Pill.

Lu Yang had never seen a Soul Transformation Stage lightning tribulation before, so this was a good opportunity to broaden his horizons. "It's no use to me, Great Hero Yan, so it's yours." Lu Yang casually tossed the Concentration Pill to Yan Chuan, as if it were a mere candy bean. Great Hero Yan caught the Concentration Pill with both hands, cherishing it immensely.

"But... but I haven't prepared for the lightning tribulation yet." The hope of advancing to the Soul Transformation Stage was in his hands, but Yan Chuan also knew his own capabilities. He was just an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, and without proper preparation, the chance of being struck dead by the lightning tribulation was extremely high.

"Oh, right, lightning tribulations can actually kill people." Lu Yang suddenly remembered a fact he had overlooked for a long time. Lu Yang thought about everyone he knew and finally recalled an example: "Speaking of which, the only person I know who was struck dead during a tribulation was Qin Haoran." If Qin Haoran hadn't been struck dead, there wouldn't be the current Li Haoran.

"Immortal Fairy, do you have any ideas?" Lu Yang pondered for a long time before deciding to ask the resourceful Immortal Fairy for a solution.

"The most important thing about surviving a lightning tribulation is confidence. As long as you have enough confidence, the tribulation is just a formality."

"Really? Is there such a theory?" Lu Yang thought to himself, why had he never heard of this?

"At least, that's how I've always passed my lightning tribulations, and it was the same for my immortal tribulation."

Lu Yang: "..." Does that really have anything to do with confidence? Isn't it just because you're incredibly powerful, Immortal Fairy? If this method were told to Great Hero Yan, he'd probably be struck dead by the lightning tribulation, full of confidence. Since the Immortal Fairy couldn't be relied upon, they would have to rely on themselves.

"Junior Brother Li, you have the most experience. Do you have any ideas?"

Li Haoran thought for a moment and said, "The most important thing about enduring a tribulation is relying on oneself. If others assist, the lightning tribulation's power will only increase, so we cannot interfere when Great Hero Yan undergoes his tribulation."

"However, given Great Hero Yan's cultivation level, enduring the lightning tribulation will indeed be difficult. In that case, we could try using magic treasures to resist it. But using magic treasures isn't an ideal solution, as it won't provide the body-tempering effect of the tribulation. If he advances to the Soul Transformation Stage this way, he'll be inherently weaker than others."

"We should find a method that can temporarily boost Great Hero Yan's physical body."

At this point, Meng Jingzhou came up with an idea: "How about this: Great Hero Yan temporarily possesses me and uses my body to undergo the lightning tribulation. That would temper his soul. At the same time, Great Hero Yan could balance his own corpse on my head, which would temper his physical body."

"Once both the soul and body are tempered, combining them means both are tempered."

Yan Chuan didn't find this method particularly reliable.

After much discussion, they ultimately chose the simplest method: feeding him elixirs. The spatial rings they had just collected contained elixirs for temporary bursts of power, all meant for Soul Transformation cultivators, so their effects were absolutely reliable. If Great Hero Yan felt he couldn't endure, he could take one.

"Great Hero Yan, relax and believe in yourself." Lu Yang ultimately didn't forget the Immortal Fairy's method and encouraged Yan Chuan before his tribulation.

"I will not fail your trust!"

Yan Chuan clasped his fists, his expression resolute. He was now filled with an unprecedented sense of confidence; with five immortal sect disciples wholeheartedly helping him, it would be unreasonable not to feel confident.

Yan Chuan went to the mountaintop and told everyone to keep their distance. He first consumed the Concentration Pill, and the 'half-step' he had been hovering at finally crossed the threshold into the Soul Transformation Stage! His entire body felt like a glowing ember, burning hot from the inside out.

Rumble. Dark clouds gathered, rolling incessantly like spilled ink. Lightning flashed and thunder roared within them, resembling dragons and snakes dancing wildly, illuminating the entire night sky as if it were day.

"Bring it on!" Yan Chuan roared, an air of complete resolve about him. A fiercely brilliant bolt of purple lightning struck down from the highest clouds, its power overwhelming and unstoppable, carrying destructive force directly towards Yan Chuan. He narrowed his eyes, let out a low cry, and formed hand seals. Instantly, a brilliant golden light erupted around him, forming a massive golden shield that absorbed the divine lightning bolt, a strike powerful enough to shatter mountains.

The other two heroes witnessed this scene, deeply moved. The lightning tribulation's power was terrifying; could their elder brother truly withstand it?

"This lightning tribulation doesn't look very strong, does it?" Man Gu transmitted via spiritual sense.

"This is what a normal Soul Transformation Stage lightning tribulation is like," Li Haoran explained. While it was like a drizzle to them, it was a tremendous test for Yan Chuan. As the thunderclouds churned, increasingly powerful bolts of lightning struck down one after another, each more terrifying than the last, as if intent on shattering Yan Chuan's Dao Heart and physical body. Yet, Yan Chuan surprisingly did not take any elixirs, resisting each baptism of the lightning tribulation purely with his own cultivation.

After the lightning tribulation, the dark clouds dispersed. Yan Chuan sat cross-legged on the mountaintop, his clothes tattered and his hair charred black, looking like a beggar. He opened his eyes, felt the power he had just gained, and, unable to suppress his joy, laughed heartily.

He flew down the mountain and bowed deeply to Lu Yang and the other four: "Thank you all for your help. Your immense kindness is something Yan Chuan can never repay!"

"Elder Brother, you succeeded?!" The other two heroes' voices trembled as they hugged Yan Chuan, laughing and crying. Yan Chuan also couldn't help but cry. He had believed he would spend his entire life stagnating at the Nascent Soul stage, with no hope of ever reaching Soul Transformation. Yet, unexpectedly, with the help of Lu Yang and the others, he had successfully advanced to the Soul Transformation stage without even needing to consume any explosive elixirs!

The Immortal Fairy was smug, unsurprised by this outcome: "See? Didn't I tell you that confidence is all it takes to pass?"

Lu Yang was genuinely surprised; he hadn't expected confidence to be so effective. Did this mean he could also pass his tribulations in the same way?

"With me protecting you, you'll definitely be full of confidence, and your tribulation won't be a problem!"

Lu Yang's firm confidence wavered.