Worth It

"It has begun." Zhao Siliang, branch sect master stationed in Jiuxiao City, watched this lightning tribulation through a specialized technique, his expression grave. "Sect Master Zhao, there is no need to worry. Hall Master Bailu and several Origin Spirit realm elders have all said that First Seat Yaoguang's foundation in spirit refining is exceptionally profound. Tempering by heavenly lightning should pose no problem for him." Watching this heavenly lightning tempering alongside him was You Qianshan, domain lord of Jiuxiao Domain. The attack on Sun Moon Peak was arguably the greatest loss suffered within the territory of the Wuji Astral Palace since the conclusion of the war with the Moon Demon Empire. While mourning the victims through the Virtual Spirit Realm, the Wuji Astral Palace had also issued a stern, righteous public declaration that the attackers would be severely punished. Presently, the sky-patrol warships that had surrounded the Nine Cauldrons Sect had completely withdrawn. Without the threat posed by those sky-patrol warships, You Qianshan's pressure was naturally slashed dramatically, and his mood had improved substantially along with it. So much so that he was even in the mood to joke: "Rather than worrying about whether First Seat Yaoguang can complete his first heavenly lightning tempering, we should be considering how we can keep him in our Jiuxiao Domain. After all, many people in Red City want him over there. Hall Master Xu and Grandmaster Dong Liushui have mentioned more than once that they intend to invite him in person." Hearing this, Zhao Siliang felt a headache coming on as well. Compared to what Red City could offer, the Jiuxiao Domain... really held little appeal. At that moment, You Qianshan seemed to sense something. With a wave of his hand, a projection from the Virtual Spirit Realm appeared. Bailu, Xu Kong, Zhang Jianlin, and others were all present within it. "Domain Lord." "Sect Master." Seeing the two of them, the top Origin Spirit realm cultivators inside greeted them simultaneously. "No need to stand on ceremony," You Qianshan said with a smile. "Are you making a wager?" "Yes, betting on how many rounds of heavenly lightning tempering Yaoguang can actually endure this time," Xu Kong said. "Personally, I think it should be around fifteen to twenty strikes, which falls within the range of a 3-9 heavenly tribulation." "With Yaoguang's foundation, he can certainly survive a 1-9 heavenly tribulation. However, I urged him to prioritize safety. Furthermore, according to our observations, he is cautious and prudent by nature, so it likely won't exceed the scope of a 1-9 heavenly tribulation," Bailu said. Hearing her say this, Zhao Siliang nodded slightly beside You Qianshan. "Yaoguang's conduct... is indeed quite steady." "Be that as it may, what if First Seat Yaoguang feels during the tribulation that withstanding ten more lightning strikes poses no problem? Thus, I'll stick to fifteen to twenty strikes," Xu Kong said. "Then I bet ten to fifteen strikes. First Seat Yaoguang has always had a knack for creating miracles," Zhang Jianlin offered his assessment. He then turned to Zhao Siliang and You Qianshan. "Would the Sect Master and Domain Lord like to join in as well?" "I still have quite a bit of confidence in Yaoguang. I side with Xu Kong—fifteen to twenty strikes," You Qianshan smiled and said. "I choose Bailu—nine strikes or fewer," Zhao Siliang said. The group quickly settled on their respective estimates. Their so-called wager was merely a diversion to pass the time. At most, whoever won could brag about how sharp their judgment had been whenever the topic came up in the future; no real stakes were involved. And as they made their wagers, Yaoguang's Origin Spirit was already being struck by heavenly lightning, yin and yang colliding. Throughout this process, he could clearly feel his Origin Spirit being tempered, growing increasingly solid and dense. Just like a physical body growing sturdier and more powerful, capable of bursting forth with greater strength, at the Origin Spirit level, this manifested as the ability to accommodate and unleash even stronger divine mind. "Not difficult," Yaoguang murmured. His Origin Spirit continued climbing, heading straight into the depths of the Nine Heavens. The higher he went, the greater the commotion generated by the heavenly lightning drawn to his Origin Spirit. In the later stages, let alone Bailu, Zhang Jianlin, and the others who had received word beforehand, even the Great Cultivators within Longxiang City sensed it. "Someone is undergoing a tribulation?" "Which Origin Spirit realm Great Cultivator is attempting a breakthrough?" "Such dense rumbles of thunder... this Origin Spirit's foundation is remarkably deep!" All manner of discussions arose among the Great Cultivators. At the same time, they contacted their friends to inquire about the situation. Zong Lian, Sect Master of the Hundred Refinements Sect, was no exception. Through communicating with his friends, he soon got an answer, which left him... utterly astounded. "Yaoguang? Isn't he a Star Lord?" "I only learned recently myself that First Seat Yaoguang cultivates both spirit and body, and his prowess in spirit refining far exceeds his body refining. Otherwise, how could he possibly oversee the situation at Zixiao Institute?" The Foundation Establishment spell cultivator answering him said, "I heard long ago that First Seat Yaoguang's foundation in spirit refining was profound. Now that he has charged straight into the azure skies to temper his spirit through lightning tribulation, it makes total sense. One only wonders how many strikes of lightning tribulation he can endure in one go." "Dual cultivation of spirit and body..." Hearing his friend's words, Zong Lian could not help feeling a twinge of melancholy. When Yaoguang had first arrived at the Hundred Refinements Sect, Zong Lian had genuinely hoped he would stay to carry on the sect's lineage. Yet now... Listening to the rumbling heavenly thunder high above the Nine Heavens, he ultimately let out an easy smile. "Forget it, forget it. A genius like this is simply not something a tiny pond like our Hundred Refinements Sect can hold. If I had forcibly kept him here back then, it would have only ruined his future." With that thought, he swept away the lingering regret in his heart and gazed up at the vault of heaven as an onlooker, witnessing the rise of a true prodigy. ... Rumble! Above the vault of heaven, the thunder was relentless. Streaks of Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning continually battered Yaoguang's Origin Spirit. Each strike fell like a blacksmith's hammer. Amidst sparks and bursts of fiery light, his Origin Spirit was forged into something even denser and firmer. Moreover, as he plunged deeper into the celestial reaches, the falling lightning grew ever denser. In theory, receiving eighty-one strikes—a nine-nine tempering—of Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning marked the pinnacle of this stage. However, reaching this stage was an entirely different matter from being able to reach the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer. This was because as one penetrated deep into the Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning layer, the lightning drawn by the Origin Spirit would grow increasingly concentrated. Not only would thunder dragons dance erratically around the cultivator at every moment, but they might even suffer simultaneous strikes from two or three, or even five or six, or eight or nine bolts of heavenly lightning at once. Such intensity was naturally beyond comparison to those cultivators who underwent a single lightning strike and immediately concluded their tribulation. The terms "3-9 heavenly tribulation" and "9-9 heavenly tribulation" carried the inherent connotation of being able to withstand three or nine lightning strikes simultaneously. Just like now... Deep within the thunder layer, more and more bolts crashed down upon Yaoguang's form. Three, four... It was even climbing toward five and six! Watching this from afar as a guardian, Zhao He, a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator, could only observe, but Xu Kong, Bailu, Zhang Jianlin, and the other Origin Spirit realm cultivators rose to their feet in sheer astonishment. "This..." "Directly reaching the depths of the thunderclouds on his very first tribulation?! Isn't that far too reckless?!" "Didn't they say First Seat Yaoguang acts with prudence? How... how could he penetrate so deeply into the heavenly lightning layer all at once?" These Origin Spirit realm cultivators wore looks of grave concern. Even Zhao Siliang and You Qianshan lost their smiles. Although Yaoguang was currently still the First Seat of Zixiao Institute, following his submission of the design schematics for the Zixiao Type 13 flying sword, his weight and significance had already surpassed even branch sect masters and domain lords like them. If the slightest mishap were to occur... it would be a monumental loss for the entire sect. ... Within the thunder layer. As time ticked by, more and more heavenly lightning crashed down. At first glance, Yaoguang's Origin Spirit appeared completely submerged in lightning. Zhao Siliang and the others were even debating whether to order Zhao He and his men to charge into the thunder layer to rescue him. Just as their anxiety peaked, however, the thunder layer before their eyes gradually settled down. The violently churning, vortex-like thunder layer began to disperse. "Is it over?" "Wait, this manner of ending is wrong... Any Origin Spirit realm cultivator ending their tribulation does so in only one way: by withdrawing from the thunder layer. So long as one enters the thunder layer, the clash of yin and yang will inevitably generate lightning, regardless of who the cultivator is. Right now, the thunderclouds have dispersed, rather than following a descending figure until lightning can no longer reach..." Experienced as they were, Bailu, Xu Kong, Zhang Jianlin, and the others exchanged glances, all feeling an ominous premonition. Had Yaoguang's Origin Spirit... been destroyed?! Yet almost the instant this dreadful thought arose, an even more brilliant purple glow suddenly bloomed higher above the cloud layer. This purple light did not produce any deafening thunderclap; instead, it flashed fleetingly like an aurora. Yet the moment it appeared, every Origin Spirit cultivator who understood its significance looked up in shock. "Zixiao Divine Lightning?!" "That's impossible!" Bailu and Zhang Jianlin cried out in disbelief on the spot. The reason the clouds of the Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning layer had dispersed was because Yaoguang had charged into the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer?! On his very first tribulation, he had actually blown through the 1-9, 3-9, and 9-9 heavenly tribulations all at once and entered the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer?! How... How was this possible?! Leaving aside the Heavenly Palace cultivators, across the entire Nine Cauldrons Sect, Great Cultivators who had survived Zixiao Divine Lightning were so rare that not even one could be found per domain. For instance, Vice Hall Master Bailu, who was originally in charge of all matters concerning spirit cultivators in the Jiuxiao Domain, was only capable of entering the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer, but dared not draw down Zixiao Divine Lightning for tempering. As for Xu Kong... He had undergone tempering by Zixiao Divine Lightning, but like Fang Jie and the others, he had only been transferred here from elsewhere due to the recent tensions across the East Sea Archipelago. This alone showed just how prestigious Origin Spirit realm cultivators who had survived the Zixiao lightning tribulation were. Yet right now... Undergoing his very first tribulation, Yaoguang had directly entered the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer?! It was simply... unprecedented! Unfathomable! Zhao Siliang and You Qianshan reacted with utmost speed. Zhao Siliang immediately barked in a low voice, "Lock down the information! Not a single detail of today's tribulation may be leaked outside!" You Qianshan promptly instructed the others, "Head deep into the Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning layer at once and put up the pretense of a rescue! Xu Kong, go up to the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer, and then announce that you have completed your sixth round of Zixiao Divine Lightning tempering!" Xu Kong, Bailu, Zhang Jianlin, and the others also realized the gravity of the situation. He was too much of a genius. The spirit refining talent Yaoguang displayed was practical proof of something astounding. With this level of talent... Bailu even felt that the wild hope she had harbored days ago might truly become reality. Yaoguang... genuinely had hope of breaking through his shackles and taking that crucial step forward. Therefore, before he truly reached that stage and before the Nine Cauldrons Sect possessed adequate capability to protect him, Yaoguang had to keep a low profile. Otherwise, he would undoubtedly become a prime assassination target for hostile forces. "Understood!" The group voiced their assent. Origin Spirits leaving their bodies simultaneously, they soared straight into the Nine Heavens. Once the group had departed, Zhao Siliang and You Qianshan finally let out a breath of relief. Watching the purple light flashing incessantly at the horizon's edge... their worry gradually dissipated, replaced by irrepressible euphoria. "Is our Jiuxiao Domain... about to produce such a world-class Divine Path prodigy?" "Ever since Yaoguang exhibited that Origin-Spirit-like miraculous ability at Zixiao Institute and easily guided the work of all those artifact refiners, I guessed that his talent in the Origin Spirit path was probably no less remarkable than his gift for artifact refining... Now it seems we still underestimated him." As the two spoke, they promptly realized something else. "Quickly, report this wonderful news to the Sect Master!" You Qianshan said emphatically, "Sparing no cost to have the Patriarch step in and destroy a sky-patrol warship just to protect Yaoguang... it was worth it! Completely worth it!"