As the saying goes, cultivation makes time imperceptible; half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
Within the modest cave, Lin Feng sat cross-legged, enveloped in a faint, shimmering aura of iridescent light, giving him an almost ethereal appearance. Near the cave entrance, Xiao Qiu sat perched on a rock, idly gnawing on a spirit stone. Its appearance hadn't changed much, perhaps looking a tad plumper, maybe due to more eating and less exercise recently. The noticeable difference was a thin cord around its neck, from which hung a simple gray storage ring.
It soon finished gnawing on the mid-grade spirit stone in its paws. Instead of grabbing one of the many spirit stones scattered around Lin Feng for cultivation, it raised a paw to its neck, brushed it against the storage ring, and a fresh spirit stone appeared before it. Xiao Qiu promptly picked it up and resumed its gnawing.
Indeed, through persistent effort, Xiao Qiu had finally learned to use the storage ring—a feat achieved about a month prior. It had thoroughly astonished Lin Feng at the time, though it wasn't actually that unusual. Many high-level demon beasts possessed intelligence rivaling humans, making learning to use a storage ring feasible. Even more impressive were the shape-shifting great demons, who were virtually indistinguishable from human cultivators and often even more powerful than their human counterparts of the same level.
Just as Xiao Qiu was pondering whether to bask in the sun atop the mountain or go bully the weaker demon beasts on the neighboring peak, its ears suddenly twitched. It turned its head towards Lin Feng, eyes sparkling with delight.
At the very moment Xiao Qiu turned, Lin Feng stirred from his cultivation. The iridescent light surrounding him flashed intensely several times before retracting entirely into his body. The potent aura that had been gently pulsing around him gradually subsided, quickly returning to stillness.
"Hu…" Lin Feng let out a soft sigh of turbid air, shaking his head with disappointment. "As I thought… I was being far too naive," he murmured. "The Nascent Soul realm… it's not so easily attained."
Although he had reached Golden Core Perfection a month ago, this final month of arduous cultivation had yielded no progress whatsoever. He couldn't grasp even the faintest sensation of forming his nascent infant. Despite having meticulously prepared all the necessary pills for the Nascent Soul formation, without touching the threshold of the Nascent Soul realm or finding that crucial spark of enlightenment, it was all futile.
"Continuing this seclusion serves little purpose now," Lin Feng reasoned internally. "The agreed time is almost up. It's best to fulfill the pact with An Xi Yue first. If we truly can find the Blue Moon Sect ruins… that would be an immense opportunity. I cannot afford to miss it."
Having made his decision, Lin Feng stretched his limbs and stood up. With a wave of his hand, he gathered the unused spirit stones scattered around him and retrieved several formation flags. Before he could even call out, Xiao Qiu shot onto his shoulder like a blur with a 'swoosh'.
Leaving the cave that had been his home for half a year, Lin Feng soared into the sky on his flying sword. The sea breeze swept over him, refreshing and invigorating. His hair, now grown past his shoulders, streamed loosely behind him, lending him a carefree air. He oriented himself and set course for Fanfin Island.
...
BOOM!!
He hadn't flown far when a tremendous thunderclap startled him. He glanced up at the clear sky, perplexed. "Thunder on a perfectly clear day? The weather at sea is truly bizarre. Is it about to rain?"
"Huh?!" His eyes snapped towards the direction of the thunder, sharpening instantly. "This… this isn't ordinary storm thunder!" he exclaimed, shock coloring his voice. "Someone is undergoing a tribulation here?! Such potent thunder spiritual power… This is… a Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation!!"
Far ahead on his right, the outline of a small island was visible. Above it, thunderclouds roiled violently. Thick bolts of violet lightning crashed down relentlessly from the heavens. Even at this distance, the sheer power was palpable. It was unmistakable – someone was undergoing a tribulation, specifically the tribulation for advancing to the Nascent Soul realm.
"A Nascent Soul Tribulation…" A flicker of envy passed through Lin Feng's eyes. "Worth observing. Perhaps I might gain some insight." Muttering to himself, he adjusted the trajectory of his sword light and flew towards the island.
Though the distance was considerable, Lin Feng's speed was formidable. Within moments, he neared the small island, halting about a kilometer away. The island, roughly ten li in diameter, was completely engulfed in the colossal shadow of the tribulation clouds. The one undergoing the tribulation was likely at the island's center, hidden from view. Lin Feng's spiritual sense couldn't reach that far, and even if it could, he wouldn't recklessly probe. It would be a profound insult to the tribulator and an extremely dangerous act that could disrupt the delicate process.
"So this is a true Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation…" Lin Feng breathed, awestruck as he watched the lightning bolts, thick as a man's thigh, strike down. He had once believed his own Four-Nine Thunder Tribulation during his Golden Core re-condensation could compare. Now he knew he was wrong. Even the final set of multi-colored heavenly lightning he'd endured paled in comparison to the raw fury unfolding before him.
This realization led to an unsettling thought: if his Golden Core tribulation had far exceeded the 'normal' intensity… wouldn't his Nascent Soul tribulation be even more terrifying than this?
The mere idea sent a chill down his spine…
Shaking his head vigorously to dispel the grim notion, Lin Feng refocused on the scene ahead. Soon, he noticed something peculiar.
"No protective formations? And no one else guarding them either…" he observed, incredulous. "This person has incredible nerve! To dare undergo tribulation here, in this state?"
Undergoing tribulation was perilous beyond measure. Danger stemmed not only from the tribulation lightning itself but also from the surrounding environment. The slightest interference during the process could lead to catastrophic failure. For the tribulator to attempt this in the Starry Sea, completely unprotected, was sheer audacity.
"This is the Starry Sea! If powerful demon beasts are drawn by the commotion, the consequences…" His thought was abruptly cut short as his heart lurched. He snapped his head towards the sea surface to his right. Beneath the waves, a massive shadow was streaking through the water, heading directly towards the island ahead.
"Seriously…?" Lin Feng was speechless for a moment, a wry thought forming. "Just what I was worried about. Did my thoughts summon it?"
He glanced back at the island. The tribulation raged on. If this demon beast broke through now, the tribulator would be in grave peril. He frowned, considering for a few seconds, then muttered decisively, "Fine. Though we don't know each other… since I'm here, might as well lend a hand."
He dipped the tip of his sword. Light flared from the blade as he shot forward like an arrow, plunging straight into the churning sea without hesitation.
WHOOSH… BOOM!!
Moments later, the sea in that area erupted violently. A muffled explosion sent a geyser of water skyward. Lin Feng burst back through the surface amidst the spray, his aura flaring briefly. Deep beneath the waves, the enormous shape of the demon beast thrashed wildly before fleeing frantically into the distance.
It had merely been a peak Level Three demon beast. Dispatching it had required little effort from Lin Feng.
"Hmm?!"
However, just as Lin Feng brushed off his hands, ready to resume observing the tribulation, his expression suddenly shifted. He looked up sharply towards the distant sky.
Three streaks of light were hurtling towards him. They were already close. In the blink of an eye, they arrived, halting only a few dozen meters in front of him.
Three middle-aged male cultivators stood there. Each radiated fierce, murderous intent, their faces marked with cruelty – clearly not men to be trifled with. Their eyes swept over Lin Feng dismissively before locking onto the island behind him, flashing with surprise and suspicion.
"Their aura!!" the man on the left blurted out, disbelief etched on his face. "He's undergoing tribulation here?!"
The man on the right had a flicker of panic in his eyes. "Damn it!" he cursed. "After we beat him half to death and he fled… he actually found a chance to undergo tribulation! We absolutely cannot let him succeed!"
The man in the center, evidently the leader, recovered from his initial shock. A savage glint filled his eyes. "Of course he won't succeed!" he snarled. "Luckily we arrived just in time! Today, he dies here! Get ready!"
The man on the left pointed at Lin Feng. "There's someone guarding him, Boss! What about this one?"
"Idiot!" the leader spat venomously. "Kill him too!!"
"..."
Lin Feng observed the three men, listening to their exchange. A muscle twitched near the corner of his mouth. He sighed, a note of profound weariness in his voice.
"Gentlemen," he said calmly. "If I said I was just passing by… would you believe me?"