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Chapter 167: Golden Core Tribulation
🕑 Added 2025-09-24 15:29:47 +0000 UTCA/N: This is the chapter I mistakenly uploaded before, lol. Anyways, this arc focuses more on prep time and character development. Expect more interactions with the Tuna and Veliona later ;)
*****
Golden Core Realm.
It is a qualitative change from the three previous major realms. The cultivators’ hard power could no longer be compared with Earth’s technology. All sorts of hit weapons, including nuclear bombs and honkai fission bombs, could be tanked by their bare bodies. Large-scale destruction could easily occur with each of their movements.
Unlike Herrschers that are glass cannons, Golden Core Realm cultivators have indestructible bodies, god-like thought speed, and extremely tough souls.
Most importantly, they are eligible to affect the higher dimensions with ease. It is why only Golden Core cultivators and above are qualified to have an honorary title.
For Golden Core Realm, it is the “True Lord” (lit. Zhenren).
‘This is the Bubble World’s boundary.’
I looked at the sea of void around me. I did not go far before bumping into the Sea of Quanta’s barrier.
My fingers touched the endless layers of high-dimensional power. It is formed via quantum entanglement.
With a slight force, my fingertips pierced straight onto it. My hand formed into a claw as it sank deeper, to no avail.
{Quantum Entanglement Barrier: Divine Law}
It is self-explanatory. The short burst of power I used with Shamash reached the Nascent Soul Realm. Breaking from the Bubble World’s insides seemed more difficult, reaching the threshold for the Divine Transformation Realm’s Divine Laws.
Dao Laws, Dharma Laws, and Divine Laws.
These correspond to the powers of Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divine Transformation, respectively.
These high-dimensional powers transcend the current reality. Breaking planets and exploring star systems are nothing but superficial power. Having a higher-dimensional power matters the most.
It is why Herrschers are “hackers”. They have the physique and limitations of a human, not surpassing Foundation Establishment Realm at best. Yet, they hold powers comparable to the planet shattering Golden Core Realm.
Unlike cultivators that built their powers step by step, Herrschers skipped this grueling part by borrowing power from the Cocoon of Finality. Only, this led to their lacking comprehensive improvements.
Most likely, this is the pattern throughout the worlds held by the Imaginary Tree.
Rumble-!
I looked above. The thunder tribulation followed me to outer space. It wasn’t only that—three other tribulations are brewing up atop it.
Golden Core Realm tribulations are stronger in scale. Its power varies as the Dao Laws become disordered, forming a four-layer tribulation instead of the sole thunder tribulation.
It consists of the four:
Nine Turn Heavenly Thunder Beasts.
Soul-Cutting Gale.
Netherworld Flame Punishment.
Heart Reflecting Curtain.
The first three are physical. They can be resisted with a lot of means. It is the fourth one that is “tricky”. It is the equivalent of Inner Demon Tribulation in some other novels. All of one’s doubts, regrets, and pent-up evil will erupt.
Only those with a “clear heart” can easily go through it. Cultivation Hearts help a lot in this regard. Fourth level cultivation hearts essentially guarantee safe passage within this tribulation.
After passing them all, the “blessing” follows.
Rumble-!
Buzz-!
The first wave of thunder tribulation struck down. The vision of a roc dove down from the skies.
Sou-!
The sound akin to a zipper rang. Void cracked with the coming of my fist.
Bam-!
The Dao of Extremity emerged from my arm. It instantly obliterated the descending purple-red thunder beast.
Countless threads emerged out of the tribulation. Unlike before, they are tangible to my fingers.
The Dao of Extremity enhances “everything” to their limits. It is the thing that allowed for intensive body tempering.
Once it is applied to the Dao of Causality…
Bzzt-!
BANG-!
Three different thunder beasts in the form of a huge eagle, elephant, and a turtle are ejected out of the tribulation clouds. They instantly explode, reduced to nothing after their causal lines are touched upon. It is stable alone, but if the external conditions are entangled onto it…
Their “karma” headed for self-destruction.
Their power did not come to waste. All of them are drawn inside the mysterious space offered by the [Ten Directions Body Art]. Its true uses as a “refining furnace” emerged upon reaching the [Great Accomplishment] mastery. It is no longer as limited as before.
I left them alone.
I continued to play around with these two high-end Dao Laws.
The Dao of Causality has a lot of uses—from divination, fortune telling, up to tampering with one’s karma. The last part is basically rewriting their fates, arranging variables to be less favorable to them. A luck curse of sorts.
Once the variables take place in reality, the targets are bound to suffer bad outcomes.
The Nine Turns Heavenly Thunder Tribulation ended in this manner.
What came next is the soul cutting gale. This time, it is the Dao of Five Elements that came into play.
Instead of the usual rotation enhancement, all five Dao Laws are used at the same time. They began fusing under my eyes, turning into a ball of gray cloud.
It is none other than [Creation Qi]. Its nature is different from the dual cultivation ones. It contains the secrets of creation itself.
Meaning…
With creation comes destruction.
Swoosh-!
Crack-!
Shatter-!
The thousand mile wide gale broke down into the purest essence. It is also stashed inside the mysterious space. I also kept it as it is along with the thunder tribulations’ power.
My depleted spiritual qi is replenished by the low sixth grade spirit vein. My recovery rate outclassed my previous selves, being able to fully recover in a minute.
It is all thanks to the [Great Accomplishment] of the [Xiutian Art].
The third tribulation came forth.
Sou-!
Pale blue flames erupted from my body. It greedily shot towards the falling crimson-purple flames.
I decided to lend it a helping hand. I used the Dao of Five Elements once more, pushing the tribulation flames towards destruction. The pale blue flames took advantage of it and devoured its essence.
The final tribulation soon came forth…
*****
The distance of five thousand kilometers did not pose a problem for a cultivator.
Kiana focused her spiritual consciousness on a straight line. Two of her three cultivation realms reached the Late Purple Mansion, with her Body going from the late stage to the peak stage.
Given enough time, there is hope for her body to reach the Golden Core Realm. Naturally, it entailed doing more dual cultivation sessions.
She recalled her hundreds of “losses” and blushed. She habitually touched her flat abdomen. Memories erupted uncontrollably, causing her to breathe heavily. Her thick thighs trembled at the thought of her “abuse”.
{“...So you two did it?”}
“Yes.”
Kiana nodded confidently. She sighed one last time before regaining her composure. Her right hand pressed upon her breasts, feeling her heartbeat gradually calm down.
“It’s no good for kids like you.”
Her implication was clear: Kiana is still greedy for Shi Tian’s company. She may have compromised with the “sharing” part, but she will never relinquish her wants to be by his side.
It is extremely unfair to Seele, almost as if Kiana is discouraging her.
But…
{“It is of no use. Seele will push through. She will be happy with a simple kiss.”}
“How did you know?”
{“...Because I am her.”}
“...”
The tinge of guilt inside Kiana increased.
‘If it is really the only way…’
She tried to convince herself to ‘accept’ this concession wholeheartedly. Its effects remain unknown for the time being.
Being with Shi Tian…
To feel his warmth and care…
That is something Kiana is willing to fight for. The contradiction between friendship and love inside her can only be resolved by a sincere talk with Seele—something impossible for now.
“He will definitely talk with you. Say what’s truly on your mind. We will… figure this out together.”
Despite the lack of response, Kiana knew the other Seele agreed with it.
“For now, you deserve to know about his disappearance a year ago…”
