If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

Qingquan Peak.

Mo Chengyue was still savoring the thrill of having angered Xiao Qinghan to the point of her chest heaving, while he himself slipped away as fast as he could.

His figure landed precisely in front of his master Yan Chenyu's cave.

"Master, what urgent military matter do you have that requires you to drag your disciple out of the ocean of knowledge in the Scripture Pavilion?"

He had barely landed when he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

I was having a great time slacking off when I was suddenly called back by my master with an urgent communication talisman. This feeling was even worse than being suddenly called into a meeting by the boss just before I was about to leave work in my previous life.

"Come in."

A lazy, husky female voice drifted slowly from the depths of the cave.

Mo Chengyue pushed open the door and entered.

A familiar atmosphere of extravagance washes over you.

The entire cave was warm as spring, with a thick snow fox fur carpet on the floor and moonstones embedded in the walls emitting a soft glow.

On the large, soft couch in the main seat, a stunningly beautiful woman was reclining on her side.

Yan Chenyu.

Today she wore a loose, smoky-colored gauze dress, the front slightly open, revealing a section of her delicate, fair collarbone.

Her long, jet-black hair was spread out casually on the soft couch and behind her without any hairpins.

This made her exceptionally beautiful face appear even more alluring.

Her eyes were half-closed, and the natural blush at the corners of her eyes gave her a languid, dreamlike quality, like a crabapple in spring slumber.

Hearing footsteps, she lazily raised her eyelids and looked at Mo Chengyue.

"Here you are."

She yawned, sat up, and stretched.

Even the loose-fitting gauze skirt couldn't hide her stunningly beautiful curves.

Mo Chengyue quickly lowered his head, focusing his attention on his nose and his mind.

Do not look at what is improper.

Although this master looks like a salted fish, he can't withstand a real fight when he gets angry.

"Master, you sent me a telepathic message saying there's something urgent, but I don't know what it is..."

Yan Chenyu blinked, seemingly trying to recall.

She thought for a long time before finally letting out an "Ah".

"Yes, it's important."

She sat up straighter, and with a wave of her jade hand, a cup of still-steaming spiritual tea floated to Mo Chengyue's front.

"Why are you standing? Sit down."

Mo Chengyue sat down as instructed, but he was inwardly puzzled.

What exactly happened?

Why don't you just say it, sir!

Yan Chenyu picked up another grape, peeled it, and slowly began to speak.

"About a week ago, I overheard the disciples talking outside, saying that you broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage half a month ago."

Mo Chengyue's heart skipped a beat.

That's it?

"Originally, I wanted to talk to you about your future cultivation."

Yan Chenyu sighed, a "this is so troublesome" expression on her face.

"But then I turned my head and forgot about it."

"I suddenly remembered it this morning while I was meditating."

Mo Chengyue's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

Therefore, what you call "extremely urgent" is true.

Is it just because you have a long reaction time that you only remembered to contact me a week later?

He felt like a million alpacas were galloping over his head.

"Master's wisdom and foresight are admirable."

After struggling for a long time, Mo Chengyue could only manage to squeeze out this one sentence.

"Um."

Yan Chenyu accepted her apprentice's "praise" with a clear conscience, finally getting the topic back on track.

"Your foundation for this breakthrough is much more solid than I expected."

She looked Mo Chengyue up and down, a hint of approval flashing across her face.

"Tell me, what happened? I remember that the cultivation technique you practiced shouldn't have allowed you to progress so quickly."

Mo Chengyue's heart tightened, but he wore a simple and honest smile.

"Hey, it's all luck. I worked with an 'iceberg' senior sister. It was a near-death experience, but I broke through as soon as I got back."

He brought out the speech he had prepared long ago.

Yan Chenyu didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded.

"Everyone's opportunities are different. Since it's your own destiny, then that's good."

She changed the subject, her expression becoming slightly more serious.

"Now that you've reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, there are some things you should know."

"In our current cultivation world, the mainstream cultivation system is the spiritual root system of the Master."

"Using one's own spiritual root as a bridge, one draws in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, refines it into true essence, and stores it in the dantian."

"This method allows for rapid progress and has a low barrier to entry, which is why it has become widely popular."

"Just like you've seen before, this is what happens when cultivators with this spiritual root system try to break through to the Core Formation stage."

"If successful, an inner core will form in the dantian according to one's own spiritual root attributes, triggering extraordinary phenomena in heaven and earth."

"For example, someone with a fire elemental root might have a sky full of crimson clouds; someone with a water elemental root might have a rain shower. The bigger the scene, the higher the potential."

Mo Chengyue listened attentively; these were all common sense, recorded in the Sutra Repository.

Yan Chenyu changed the subject.

"But you are different."

"The path you are now walking is the ancient way of spiritual practice."

"The ancient method does not rely on spiritual roots, but directly tempers oneself, absorbs and refines the pure essence of the sun and moon, and draws the pure yin and yang energies of heaven and earth into the body."

"Cultivate pure and profound true essence, break through your own limitations, and steal the creation of heaven and earth."

"The ancient cultivators' process of forming their core is not called core formation, but tribulation crossing."

"They will compress and condense all their true essence within their dantian to form a 'golden core'."

"This process will attract lightning tribulation."

"A tribulation of lightning?"

Mo Chengyue's pupils contracted slightly.

"That's right, lightning tribulation."

Yan Chenyu looked solemn.

"The Way of Heaven is majestic and cannot be stolen. When the accumulation of ancient cultivators reaches its peak..."

"When attempting to condense the gaseous true essence into a solid golden elixir, the heavens and earth will unleash the first tribulation of lightning as a test."

"No one can predict how many lightning strikes there will be, nor does anyone know how powerful they will be."

"Once you cross over, a perfectly formed 'golden core' will form in your dantian."

"From then on, their horizons broadened, and their combat power far surpassed that of other spiritual root cultivators of the same level. Their realm is not called the Core Formation stage, but the Golden Core stage."

"If you can't get through it, at best you'll be crippled for life. At worst you'll die and your soul will perish."

After hearing these words, Mo Chengyue felt a chill run down his spine.

He recalled the scene from seven years ago when the elder in charge of distributing cultivation techniques casually tossed him a unwanted copy of the "Yin Yang De He Jing" (Scripture of Yin Yang Virtue Harmony).

So, I'm in the newbie village, and they've given me a hellish starting guide?

It's the leftovers from other people's selections!

What the hell is this?!

He felt like someone who randomly drew a number in a game, only to find out that the number he drew was the only one on the entire server that couldn't be deleted.

It also has a hidden class that comes with a "get struck by lightning" debuff.

How can we play like this?

"Master... is this ancient method... legitimate?"

Mo Chengyue couldn't help but ask a question.

Yan Chenyu was amused by his question and chuckled lazily.

"Don't worry, it's perfectly normal. It's just that the road is a bit difficult to travel."

Yan Chenyu chuckled when she saw him looking like he was about to cry.

"Alright, look at how pathetic you are."

"The tribulation isn't coming tomorrow. You've only just reached the Foundation Establishment stage; you're still a long way from that point."

"Besides, although the ancient method is dangerous, the golden core cultivated from it is much stronger than our internal core. It has a more solid foundation and greater potential."

Mo Chengyue thought to himself: No matter how great the potential is, you still need to be alive to enjoy it!

"Since you have chosen this path, I will naturally help you."

Mo Chengyue looked at her expectantly: "What brilliant plan does Master have?"

"First, learn ancient scripts."

Yan Chenyu extended a slender finger.

"Aren't you on duty in the library right now? Perfect timing."

"Learning more ancient scripts will make it easier to read and understand those ancient texts, especially those cultivation notes."

"Many ancient cultivation techniques and tribulation-crossing experiences are hidden in those old, unread documents. These will greatly benefit your future cultivation."

"Secondly, practice lightning-based techniques and find lightning-controlling magical treasures."

She then extended a second finger.

"Since you're going to get struck by lightning anyway, you might as well take the initiative to understand it and adapt to it."

"Practicing thunder magic and thunder-controlling artifacts will not only give you greater resistance to lightning power, but in critical moments, you can even turn tribulation lightning into your own. This is called 'if you can't beat them, join them.'"

She held up her third finger.

"Third, consult people with practical experience."

"Go find your show-off senior, Xie Buci."

"Don't let his carefree and nonchalant attitude fool you, that guy is a genuine ancient Golden Core cultivator."

"The commotion he caused during his tribulation back then almost destroyed half of the sect."

"He's experienced. Let him teach you how to strike a cool pose when you get struck by lightning, and maybe even survive."

Upon hearing this, Mo Chengyue immediately felt that he had found a glimmer of hope.

Yup!

And there's Xie Buci, that old driver!

Mo Chengyue stood up with mixed feelings after listening to his master's reasonable advice.

He bowed deeply to Yan Chenyu.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the cave to find Xie Buci.

Ask them what it feels like to be struck by lightning.