"Ha… haha…"
Lang Tian let out a broken laugh, teetering on the edge of madness, echoing through the blood-mist that had yet to fully dissipate.
"Tch… it's too unfair…" he muttered, clutching his head with both hands, his body trembling. "Five heavenly thunder strikes… If you truly endured all five, heavens know how powerful you could have become…"
"Hm? I did endure all five," Yue Ling replied casually, shrugging as if it were a trivial matter.
"What?! You really withstood all five thunder tribulations?!" Lang Tian stared at her in horror. "Then… why did you only form a False Core?!"
Yue Ling let out a sigh, her tongue clicking in frustration. "Tch… if it weren't for those damned demonic beasts interfering, I would have succeeded. At that moment… my Golden Core was nearly complete."
"Wait… didn't you have the Demonic Jiao's Skeleton protecting you at the time?!"
"It did. But it wasn't enough," she nodded, her voice growing heavy. "I didn't realize it then, but looking back… they weren't just causing chaos. They came to kill me. To seize my Golden Core the moment it took form."
Lang Tian's gaze darkened. "I understand…"
The cultivation world had always known one truth—
When a demonic beast broke through, it was at its weakest. Spiritual energy in disarray, mind submerged in deep meditation, body defenseless. If a Heavenly Tribulation struck at that moment, they were no different from a living target amidst a storm of divine lightning.
For other demonic beasts, it was the perfect opportunity to strike.
Some devoured their prey to absorb their bloodline and foundation.
Others attacked simply to eliminate a future threat in its infancy.
But as Lang Tian reflected… a chilling truth dawned upon him:
Humans… were no different.
In this world, the strong devoured the weak. And the weak would do anything to escape their frailty.
Wasn't he… a living example of that?
"There was even a Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast…" Yue Ling said softly, her gaze falling to her hands. "I was forced to break through before my Golden Core could stabilize."
She clenched her fists, her voice thick with a thousand unspoken regrets.
"The result… was this False Core. Haha… perhaps my path of cultivation… ends here."
She sighed.
"But at least… I'm still alive."
Lang Tian's fists tightened. His teeth clenched, his eyes burning with regret.
"If I had known… if I had been there to protect you…"
"Hey, what are you saying?" Yue Ling interrupted, her hand gently resting on his trembling arm. "Don't be foolish. This isn't your fault. If anyone's to blame… it's me, for not preparing enough."
She turned to gaze at the misty cave behind them, then lifted her eyes to the sky, where the fog lingered, untouched by light.
"This path… is one no one has ever walked before. No one knows what lies ahead. No matter how well you prepare… it's never enough."
But then, she turned back to him, and her smile blazed brightly.
"I failed, yes. But that doesn't mean you will fail. Now we know the Heavenly Tribulation will come. I can prepare better! This time, I'll be by your side. I'll protect you until your Golden Core takes form!"
Lang Tian froze.
A torrent of emotion surged within his chest as he grasped the true weight of her words.
Yes…
His Senior Sister had walked this shrouded path alone. No guide. No protector. Facing thunder tribulations, demonic beasts, and death itself.
All to pave the way for him today.
But… that would only happen if he dared to step onto this path of Demonic Cultivation.
"Lang Tian…" Yue Ling called softly, her voice like morning mist, her eyes sparkling with light. "Do you trust me? Are you willing to entrust your cultivation future to me? To walk with me through darkness, through despair and madness… to seize power, freedom… and vengeance upon this world?"
Lang Tian didn't need to think.
Without a shred of hesitation, he dropped to his knees, the sound of his knees striking the cold stone echoing faintly, his hands clenched tightly before his chest.
"Please guide me, Senior Sister!"
Yue Ling faltered.
Her shoulders trembled slightly, tears welled in her crimson eyes, shimmering.
"Y-You… are you truly certain?" Her voice quavered. "This path… is perilous. You know that, don't you?"
"Of course I know," Lang Tian replied firmly. "But I don't care."
His voice was resolute. His eyes blazed with unyielding determination.
"I need to become stronger. I need power. And more than that… You saved my life. Not once, but twice."
He raised his head, meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve.
"This life of mine already belongs to you. I will walk this path. I will grow stronger. And I will lead us both out of this hell!"
With that, he bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the ground.
"Master!"
"Wait!"
Yue Ling panicked, hurriedly pulling him to his feet.
"Hey, what are you doing?!"
Lang Tian blinked, bewildered.
"Huh? Was I not sincere enough? What must I do to learn this path from you?"
Yue Ling burst into laughter, ruffling his hair as if he were a child.
"Haha! That's not it, you silly! I'll teach you everything I know, whether you're my disciple or not."
She smiled warmly.
"Besides… I prefer you calling me Senior Sister."
"But—"
"Hey, you said you want to learn from me, yet you won't even listen to my first request?"
"Oh… right! Thank you, Senior Sister!"
Lang Tian bowed again, this time with a radiant smile brimming with resolve.
"I'll give it my all! I won't let you down!"
"Well done, Little Junior Brother." Yue Ling smiled, then turned to the massive corpse behind them.
She pointed to the remains of the Fourth-Grade Demonic Wolf, where black smoke still rose and crimson blood pooled across the ground.
"Now then, help me deal with this one, will you?"
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
Yue Ling retrieved a beast-carving dagger from her storage pouch, its edge so sharp it seemed to slice the very light reflecting off it.
She handed it to Lang Tian, who accepted it with both hands, his eyes blazing with determination.
Without hesitation, he set to work.
Under Yue Ling's guidance, the two began dissecting the demonic beast's corpse.
Flesh.
Hide.
Bones.
Organs.
Piece by piece, they carefully harvested its essence.
In the air echoed the clinking sounds of carving, the pungent stench of blood, and the lingering demonic aura that had yet to dissipate…