Chương 234: Chapter 233: Thunder Tribulation

The Old Sect Master didn't have time to mourn the escape of his two-hundred-pound Silver Dragon Fish. He hurriedly turned to face Gu Yunyun, her expression cool and resolute. It was common for cultivators to travel after a breakthrough, especially in a small sect like Green Cloud, where resources were limited. Gu Yunyun's ninth-grade Golden Core gave her the talent to aim for Nascent Soul, but she'd need to seek out her own resources.

Still, her sudden decision, right after her breakthrough and without prior mention, had to be linked to yesterday's visit from the Divine Will Sect's Grand Elder, An Miaoli.

"You're not waiting for Ye Chen?" the Old Sect Master sighed. Gu Yunyun shook her head.

"No. I have little left to teach him, and now that he's reaching Golden Core, I can no longer shield him. I'll return in twenty years. With the Misty Sect gone, the sect has no enemies. Ye Chen's strength and ties to Divine Will Sect ensure he can protect Green Cloud if anything arises. I'll leave this Concentric Sword Talisman. If the sect faces true danger, crush it, and I'll return as fast as I can." Her resolve was firm, her arrangements meticulous. The Old Sect Master had no counterargument.

The sect was indeed free of threats, and he could still live another twenty years. Plus, there was Ye Chen. While it was unclear what grade of Golden Core he'd form, his success was almost certain. Two Golden Core cultivators were enough to secure Green Cloud Sect's stability. Gu Yunyun's travels to grow stronger would only benefit the sect. He nodded.

"Alright, but take this." He handed her a jade talisman.

"If you encounter danger, use it. The sect will know your location and come to your aid. Remember, you're always part of Green Cloud Sect. No matter how big the trouble you stir outside, you can always return. We may not be able to fully protect you, but we'll never abandon you." Gu Yunyun accepted the talisman with a solemn nod. Then, from her storage ring, she produced a pile of items and handed them to the Old Sect Master.

"Please pass these to Ye Chen for me." He accepted them with a nod. Gu Yunyun took a step, ascending into the sky, and returned to her small courtyard. Peach blossoms bloomed vibrantly, and a spring bubbled gently. Gu Yunyun surveyed her surroundings, her gaze lingering. With a gentle lift of her hand, she plucked a purple wind chime from a tree, its crisp notes ringing softly. With a thought, the chime shrank, and she fastened it to her wrist. A slight shake produced a delicate jingle.

Ascending into the sky, she cast one final, deep glance at Ye Chen's seclusion chamber. She'd always liked the story he once told her. If she couldn't accept his complexities, she'd leave for twenty years. If, upon her return, Ye Chen still waited for her with unwavering devotion, she'd embrace it all. If his passion had cooled, that wouldn't be a bad outcome either—she'd remain his master forever. Her departure wasn't solely to escape her conflicted feelings.

The Sword Peng's inheritance she'd received was incomplete. If she could complete it, not only could she break through to Nascent Soul, but she might even reach Deity Transformation. As a sword cultivator, her sword heart was clear. Once decided, she harbored no regrets. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Withdrawing her gaze, Gu Yunyun tossed out her sword and soared away on its edge. No one in Green Cloud Sect noticed her departure.

Only the faint chime of the wind bell lingered, carried away by the breeze.... In the blink of an eye, a year passed since Ye Chen entered seclusion. Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er visited daily. Sun Ruoxin even managed a trip back to Green Cloud Sect. Yao Xi's cultivation deepened steadily. An Miaoli returned once more, this time with An Yuyi, who had successfully broken through to Golden Core, only to leave disappointed when Ye Chen remained in seclusion.

People came and went, all concerned for him, but his seclusion chamber remained silent, stirring anxiety in their hearts. Only the Old Sect Master's smile never faded. As he often said, a long core-forming seclusion meant one of two things: either the cultivator was mediocre, grinding through by sheer persistence, or they were exceptional, forming a formidable Golden Core. Ye Chen clearly wasn't the former. That left one possibility: he was forming a ninth-grade Golden Core. Two ninth-grade cores in one sect!

The thought kept a grin plastered on the Old Sect Master's face round the clock. His only regret was the three-hundred-pound fish that got away—a true pity. So, he fished with even greater fervor. A dragon's roar reverberated through Green Cloud Sect, sending disciples pale and trembling. Even the Foundation Establishment elders felt their hearts race, their spiritual Qi stalling.

The spiritual Qi not just within the sect, but beyond, surged toward Sword Peak, forming a dense cloud layer that plunged Green Cloud Sect into darkness.

"Gu Yunyun formed a ninth-grade Golden Core, but her phenomenon wasn't even a tenth of this," the Old Sect Master muttered in disbelief. He recalled his own core-forming, a meager wisp of spiritual Qi—how could the gap be so vast? Another dragon's roar echoed. The sea of spiritual clouds blanketing the sect began to swirl, forming a vortex like celestial waters pouring into Sword Peak. Half a day later, the sect brightened as the spiritual cloud dissipated, but the shock on everyone's faces lingered.

Feeling the thinned spiritual Qi around them, a single question burned: what kind of Golden Core could consume such an immense amount of spiritual Qi without bursting? All eyes turned to Sword Peak, eager to see Ye Chen emerge. But then, the sky darkened again. The crowd gaped—more spiritual Qi? No, something was different. A black cloud had formed above Sword Peak, crackling with terrifying thunder. A heavenly tribulation? For a Golden Core breakthrough? Impossible!

Tribulations were for Nascent Soul, not Golden Core. Had the heavenly tribulation become so weak it now targeted Golden Cores? What was happening? Green Cloud Sect was thrown into a frenzy of shock.... Atop Sword Peak, Ye Chen, having successfully formed his core, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was deeper, more radiant, like a starry river. Sinking his consciousness inward, he saw a perfectly round, five-colored Golden Core floating in his dantian, etched with divine patterns.

Each pattern resembled a true dragon, shifting and flowing, expounding the essence of the True Dragon Treasure Technique. The only pity was that the technique was too powerful. The Ancestral Dragon could rival Immortal Kings, and most of its moves were beyond Ye Chen's current capacity—using them might make him explode. Still, the spiritual enhancement alone boosted his combat power tremendously. What intrigued him most was the five-colored Golden Core.

Weren't Golden Cores supposed to be golden, varying only in brightness by grade? Why was his five-colored? He couldn't fathom it, but he knew it was extraordinary. Its unique abilities were yet to be explored. Now wasn't the time for that, though. Ye Chen raised his head, mist swirling in his eyes as he gazed at the sky. First, he'd face the thunder tribulation summoned by his five-colored Golden Core.