Translator: AnubisTL

Above the boundless sea, a tall, solitary figure flicked his finger.

In the next instant, an arc of light streaked forth, tracing a path of yellow and blue, moving with incredible speed.

Then, the Thunderfire Core detonated, unleashing a blindingly brilliant light. The surrounding sea territory was struck by a tremendous shockwave, sending waves crashing skyward to a height of ten thousand zhang.

Boom!

The combined power of Heavenly Thunder and spirit fire annihilated nearly all matter in its vicinity.

Standing far away, Li Qing narrowed his eyes, secretly awed by the scene unfolding before him.

"Incredibly powerful," he murmured. "This could even threaten a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. If a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator took this head-on without a powerful defensive magic treasure, they’d be either dead or crippled!"

Of course, for Li Qing at his current level, this effect was hardly impressive. With his cultivation strength, even without the Thunderfire Core, killing cultivators below the late-stage Nascent Soul realm was as effortless as slaughtering chickens or dogs.

However, the Thunderfire Core possessed other advantages!

Firstly, activating the Thunderfire Core required virtually no cultivation base. Even a cultivator in the qi refining realm could trigger it to kill a nascent soul realm cultivator.

The only problem was that cultivators with extremely low cultivation levels couldn’t launch the Thunderfire Core with the speed Li Qing achieved, nor could they escape its blast radius.

Therefore, activating it was essentially a suicide mission.

Secondly, the Thunderfire Core could be stored for extended periods. As long as the balance between its internal thunder and fire energies remained undisturbed, it would retain most of its power even after hundreds or thousands of years.

"These eighteen Thunderfire Cores aren’t particularly useful to me," Li Qing mused. "I’ll return them to the sect’s treasury as part of our foundational resources."

"Furthermore, the Thunderfire Core’s destructive power is directly linked to the potency of the spirit fire and Heavenly Thunder used in its creation."

"Fan Tong’s transformation tribulation might have been formidable, but for cultivators of advanced cultivation levels, it was still somewhat lacking."

"Therefore, to enhance the power of the Thunderfire Core, it must be refined using even stronger Heavenly Thunder!"

For example, the heavenly tribulation encountered during the breakthrough to the divine transformation stage, or the spirit treasure tribulation that arises when refining a powerful spirit treasure.

Li Qing immediately recalled Old Man Chen Yuan’s earlier invitation. At that time, he would have the opportunity to collect the Heavenly Thunder from a divine transformation stage cultivator’s heavenly tribulation!

The Thunderfire Core refined using such a foundation would possess unimaginable power. Li Qing’s heart began to pound with anticipation.

"It’s beyond imagination! Even divine transformation stage cultivators might have to retreat in fear!"

Suddenly, Li Qing found himself eagerly anticipating Old Man Chen Yuan’s breakthrough to the divine transformation stage and the resulting thunder tribulation.

That would be his chance to collect that formidable Heavenly Thunder!

Unfortunately, Old Man Chen Yuan seemed to possess remarkable patience. For an entire year after Li Qing tested the Thunderfire Core’s power, there was no news of him.

Li Qing stored the remaining seventeen Thunderfire Cores in the sect’s treasure vault, treating them as part of the sect’s foundation. In the future, other disciples or elders could exchange contribution points for them.

Thus, peaceful days drifted by, and before they knew it, another three years had passed.

This year, someone within the Lingyun Sect was attempting to break through to the core formation realm!

"Hmm, this aura... is that Jin Bao?" Li Qing raised an eyebrow, then extended his divine sense to observe Daoist Jin Bao’s breakthrough attempt.

Daoist Jin Bao had originally introduced Li Qing to True Lord Fu Xuan. Later, after experiencing a series of events together, he joined the Lingyun Sect.

Within the sect, Daoist Jin Bao had gained considerable renown. Many disciples addressed him as "Martial Uncle" and maintained close relationships with him.

This was largely due to his possession of the Golden Light Dart, a magic treasure typically wielded only by core formation realm cultivators. Despite his foundation establishment realm cultivation, he could barely manage to wield it.

The aura naturally attracted the attention of many within the Lingyun Sect. Numerous disciples emerged from their seclusion to gaze toward the location of Daoist Jin Bao’s cave abode.

"Elder Jinbao is attempting core formation today? So sudden!"

"Will he succeed? Golden core formation is no easy feat!"

"It all depends on how well Martial Uncle Jinbao has prepared!"

"..."

When Li Qing returned to the sect from the Great Wilderness Domain, he brought back a substantial quantity of yin-yang spirit liquid. He remembered his promise to Daoist Jin Bao: to find him a superior core formation spiritual material.

Therefore, Daoist Jin Bao should have been exceptionally well-prepared for his breakthrough attempt.

The Lingyun Sect currently possessed ample reserves of Azure Jade Spirit Water and Heavenly Fire Treasure Nectar. Combined with the yin-yang spirit liquid, they had gathered three of the four core formation spiritual materials from the Human Realm, significantly increasing the chances of a successful core formation.

Alas, fate often defies expectations. Perhaps due to the deteriorating cultivation environment in this realm, Daoist Jin Bao’s breakthrough attempt took an unexpected turn!

"Not good!" Sensing the crisis, Li Qing immediately rushed out and flew to the entrance of Daoist Jin Bao’s cave abode.

Daoist Jin Bao, in the midst of his core formation, suddenly experienced a chaotic surge in his aura. The true essence within his body showed signs of reversing and collapsing.

His foundation was too unstable! The Spiritual Qi Tide he had drawn was insufficient, causing a critical failure during the formation of his Golden Core.

"Jin Bao! Are you alright?" Li Qing asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Daoist Jin Bao had no time to respond. His entire focus was on the misshapen Golden Core forming within his body.

Without hesitation, Li Qing effortlessly breached the restriction guarding Daoist Jin Bao’s cave abode.

Inside, Daoist Jin Bao’s facial features twisted into a grotesque grimace.

Li Qing opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words or action.

Even as a powerful mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator, he could offer no assistance during this critical process. Cultivation was ultimately a solitary endeavor, and he couldn’t reverse the outcome.

Finally, Daoist Jin Bao’s core formation failed. The true essence that had coalesced into the Golden Core completely dispersed, surging backward through his meridians.

"No! I refuse to accept this!"

Cough!

Daoist Jin Bao’s eyes snapped open, and he coughed up a mouthful of crimson blood. The violent backlash had severely damaged his internal organs, inflicting a fatal wound.

Seeing this, Li Qing immediately acted to stabilize his injuries, locking his remaining life force within his body.

But Daoist Jin Bao’s face was etched with despair. He truly couldn’t accept this outcome—it was simply too unfair.

"Ancestor Limitless, I prepared so thoroughly, yet I still failed..."

"Three portions of core formation spiritual material... Is my talent truly so lacking? Am I destined to be forever estranged from the Great Dao?"

Daoist Jin Bao murmured softly, his eyes completely losing their light.

Hearing this, Li Qing sighed and said, "It’s not entirely your fault. After the demonic cataclysm, the cultivation environment in this realm has become increasingly harsh and unforgiving."

Daoist Jin Bao forced a pale, weak smile. "So it was just bad luck, then?" he said.

"Ancestor Limitless, just let me die. I refuse to live on as a cripple, clinging to life in vain."

Li Qing couldn’t bear to watch him die. Though their acquaintance wasn’t deep, they had shared a connection.

However, Li Qing could only preserve his life. The collapsing, backflowing true essence was beyond recovery.

Still, this was a remarkable outcome. Normally, a cultivator who failed their core formation attempt would face certain death, their body and cultivation extinguished.

Li Qing exerted all his strength to disperse the surging true essence within Daoist Jin Bao’s body, forcibly preserving his life.

However, Daoist Jin Bao’s cultivation was completely lost. He had fallen from a highly respected elder to an ordinary person with no cultivation whatsoever.

For Daoist Jin Bao, this outcome was no different from death.

In just a single day, he had been utterly ruined, reduced from a revered sect elder to a useless husk.

The perilous nature of the cultivation path was laid bare in this moment.

Li Qing wanted to offer words of comfort, but found that nothing he could say seemed appropriate.

In this situation, Daoist Jin Bao needed only solitude to process his grief.

"You have made significant contributions to the sect," Li Qing said. "You may continue to reside within the sect, enjoying the privileges and compensation of an elder."

"Furthermore, the Hall of Technique Transmission lacks a Hall Guardian Elder. If you are willing, you may serve in that role."

Li Qing wasn’t even sure if the Hall of Technique Transmission actually needed an elder. But since he had offered, even if the position was already filled, it would now be vacant.

Daoist Jin Bao, his heart as cold as ashes, mechanically nodded, offering no further words.

Li Qing sighed. "Focus on your recovery," he said. "As long as you’re alive, there’s still hope. Don’t let despair consume you."

With that, Li Qing departed.

News of Elder Jinbao’s failed core formation attempt spread quickly throughout the sect. Many members visited him to express their concern.

However, Jinbao remained secluded in his cave abode, refusing all visitors and immersing himself in his despair.

Sect Leader Xu Xia immediately issued an order: anyone caught kicking Elder Jinbao while he was down would face severe punishment.

As a result, no one dared mock the former Lingyun Sect elder. Even fellow sect elders who coveted Daoist Jin Bao’s Golden Light Dart abandoned their schemes after True Lord Fu Xuan and Chu Lingyi issued stern warnings.

No matter how strictly a cultivation sect enforces its moral standards, some individuals with twisted intentions will always emerge.

But as long as the leadership remains upright, the lower ranks can’t stray too far from the righteous path.

(End of the Chapter)

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