How did a demonic witch become the leader of the righteous path?

Chapter 91 Zhang Yanqiu Enters the Golden Core Stage (4,000-word chapter)

Ultimately, Yu Zhao did not agree to Wang Jiuxiao's request to join her team, citing her intention to go into seclusion after the apprenticeship ceremony as the reason for her refusal.

The chubby Wang Jiuxiao didn't press the matter further. His real purpose wasn't to find Yu Zhao, but to see Shen Yunshu.

Since Shen Yunshu couldn't just turn around and leave without seeing him, she casually started a conversation with Yu Zhao about exploring the ruins.

It wasn't that they really wanted to explore any historical sites; they were just looking for a topic of conversation, or as the saying goes, "making a fuss over nothing."

Seeing that Yu Zhao wasn't interested, the chubby boy stopped talking. He quickly came up with another topic, "Junior Sister Yu, have you heard? Your Jade Bamboo Peak Master, True Person Xuanji, went to fight with the Lord of the Dragon Palace. This matter has been widely discussed."

Yu Zhao really didn't know about this, but she became interested and asked the chubby boy, "Senior brother, who told you about this? I have no idea."

"I heard it from our Taihua Peak Master. It has already spread among the Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation experts. It is said that Xuanji Zhenren alone with his sword has suppressed all the powerful beings overseas, making them dare not move."

When talking about Master Xuanji, the chubby boy's eyes were full of admiration. Yu Zhao could tell that he admired Master Xuanji very much, so he teased him, "From what you're saying, Senior Brother, you seem to admire Master Xuanji a lot. Then why didn't you become a disciple of Jade Bamboo Peak in the first place?"

"I want to too, but the peak master of Taihua Peak is my ancestor, so I can only join Taihua Peak."

The chubby boy was very upset about this. He wanted to become a disciple of Master Xuanji, but the patriarch wouldn't allow it no matter what.

The chubby boy had no desire to learn the skills of the Wang family; he wanted to become a sword immortal like Xuanji Zhenren.

The chubby boy didn't realize that his words had left Yu Zhao speechless.

Goodness, so you little fatty are actually from a prestigious family.

How can we continue this conversation?

I hate kids from wealthy and powerful families like you!

Yu Zhao inwardly grumbled, but since the chubby boy had mentioned his family, Yu Zhao seized the opportunity to inquire, "Why can't you join another peak just because the peak master of Taihua Peak is your ancestor? Although our Dragon Tiger Holy Land is divided into various peaks, aren't we all one family?"

"That's really not it."

Seeing that Junior Sister Yu was interested, the chubby boy also became talkative, thinking that it would be a good opportunity to explain things to Junior Sister Yu so that she wouldn't offend people in the future because she didn't understand these things.

The two strolled around the outer town, chatting as they went. After organizing his thoughts, the chubby boy continued.

I

"The seven main peaks of our Dragon Tiger Holy Land are not from the same school. Take Taihua Peak, where I am, for example. Taihua Peak was called Taihua Sect a long time ago. Later, the sect leader at that time, who was also the first ancestor of our Wang family, followed the first Celestial Master and changed the name to Taihua Peak."

The only peaks that have truly been part of the Dragon and Tiger Holy Land lineage from the very beginning are the Celestial Master Peak where the sect leader resides and the Jade Bamboo Peak where you, junior sister, have joined.

The remaining five peaks are in a similar situation to Taihua Peak. Although so many years have passed and they have long since become one family, they still maintain a certain degree of independence from one another.

The chubby boy didn't go into details; he simply gave a brief overview of the situation, but there were some things he couldn't elaborate on.

Yu Zhao understood the implied meaning: the Dragon Tiger Holy Land is an alliance-type sect, and the seven main peaks retain a certain degree of autonomy.

Yu Zhao had guessed that the internal situation of the Dragon Tiger Holy Land would be complicated, but the complexity still exceeded her expectations.

There are probably a lot of these clan-based power struggles, so you have to keep hiding. Who knows if the fellow disciples who smile at you today will stab you in the back tomorrow?

Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Yu Zhao joked with the chubby boy, "Since they're not from the same sect, wouldn't the seniority among the disciples of the seven main peaks be quite confusing?"

"this----

The chubby boy was taken aback by Yu Zhao's focus and was momentarily stunned. After regaining his senses, he explained, "Actually, it's not that complicated. Every thirty years is a generation. For example, you and I are both under thirty, so we are naturally the same generation of senior and junior brothers and sisters."

Disciples aged thirty to sixty, regardless of their cultivation level, are all fellow disciples.

If they are disciples from the same peak, then it depends on their lineage. For example, I am a direct disciple of my peak master, because I have a very high seniority on Taihua Peak.

But once I leave Taihua Peak, I am just a junior disciple of the younger generation.

Why is each generation defined as 30 years?

When Yu Zhao heard the number thirty years, she thought of what the young monk Kong Xiang had mentioned before. At that time, the young monk said that cultivators under the age of thirty were the younger generation.

Yu Zhao remembered telling the little monk that if someone reached the Golden Core Realm before the age of thirty, how could others compete with them?

The young monk's answer was that no one could reach the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty. Yu Zhao was quite curious at the time, but he didn't ask for details.

Now that the chubby boy brought it up, she just casually asked about it.

"I'm a little curious now, Junior Sister Yu, who was your master before? Why didn't they teach you such common knowledge?"

The chubby boy just casually made this comment, and without waiting for Yu Zhao's reply, he continued, "This is related to the record for the fastest person to enter the Golden Core realm in the current cultivation world. The record for the fastest person to enter the Golden Core realm in the current cultivation world is thirty years old. Later, everyone agreed that every thirty years is a generation."

"Has no one ever broken this record?"

"Perhaps this existed ten thousand years ago, but in the last ten thousand years, this is the fastest record, and the person who set this record is none other than the Celestial Master Lingxiao."

"How could no one have broken through? Not to mention others, you and I are already at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Senior Brother Wang, you are at most twenty this year, with ten years left. You will definitely be able to enter the Golden Core stage, and it is very likely that you won't even need ten years."

Yu Zhao felt that entering the Golden Core stage in thirty years was not difficult, in fact, it was quite simple. She didn't understand why no one had broken this record in all these years.

Could there be some secret hidden here?

When Yu Zhao praised him, the chubby boy waved his hands repeatedly, "Junior sister, please don't flatter me. I don't know how I can break the record set by Master Lingxiao."

"Someone once told me that cultivation is about cultivating a Dao heart, a Dao heart that trusts itself. If you don't even believe you can succeed, then you definitely won't succeed."

"Junior Sister, you can just listen to these words and let them go. They are right but not right. It's not about saying that you can achieve something and that you have gathered the supreme Dao heart. It's about truly believing without any doubt that you can be invincible in the world and can prove the Dao and become an immortal."

But that's too difficult. You can never fool yourself; you know your own limitations and capabilities best in your heart.

"I think what you said is wrong, Senior Brother Wang."

"What's wrong?"

"I----"

Just as Yu Zhao was about to have a good talk with the chubby boy, he suddenly sensed an extremely terrifying aura gathering in the air.

The chubby boy sensed it too, and the two stopped talking and looked up at the sky together.

The once clear sky turned into a thick cloud cover, lightning flashed in the air, and the power of heaven and earth gathered, creating a terrifying pressure that almost made the chubby boy lose his footing.

"Who is cultivating lightning magic?" the chubby boy muttered as he circulated his cultivation to resist the pressure. Then his expression changed drastically. "No, this is the Golden Core Tribulation!"

"Looking in this direction, is that the main peak?"

Which senior disciple on the main peak is undergoing the Golden Core Tribulation?

Just as the chubby boy was wondering, he saw a figure rush into the air. The figure was dressed in white and looked like an immortal.

He recognized the figure; it was Zhang Yanqiu, his senior brother from this generation!

"How could this be? How is this possible?"

At this moment, the chubby boy felt his worldview collapsing. Senior Brother Zhang Yanqiu was actually undergoing the Golden Core Tribulation! How old was Senior Brother this year? He was definitely not in his thirties—how could he have entered the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty?

"Senior Brother Wang, look, I told you someone could break this record."

Yu Zhao pointed at the figure in mid-air and said that she had clearly seen who was undergoing the tribulation. This was a slap in the face to the little fat boy.

I knew it! The new generation surpasses the old; how could the newcomers be inferior to the pioneers?

That makes sense.

At this moment, the chubby boy could no longer hear Yu Zhao's words. His eyes were filled with the white-clad figure in the air, and all his attention was on that figure.

Zhang Yanqiu, who is not yet thirty years old, is undergoing the Golden Core Tribulation. This not only shattered the little fat boy's worldview, but also left the elders of the Dragon Tiger Holy Land dumbfounded.

Even Xuanji Zhenren and Tianshu Zhenren showed up.

It even startled a few of the old monsters who were in seclusion in the Dragon Tiger Holy Land.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the figure bathed in the heavenly tribulation in mid-air.

If that figure successfully overcomes the Golden Core Tribulation, it will have made history.

At this moment, the entire Dragon Tiger Holy Land was on high alert, the sect-protecting formation was activated, and all the high-end combat forces were deployed to secretly protect Zhang Yanqiu.

The most nervous of them all was Master Tian Shu, whose disciple, on whom he had placed great hopes, was undergoing his tribulation.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he knew how terrifying the Golden Core Tribulation was, and he also knew what kind of rule it was that one could not enter the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty.

Just as Yu Zhao thought, how many geniuses have there been in the past ten thousand years? But why is it that no one can enter the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty?

The secrets within are known only to those at the Nascent Soul stage. It's not that they don't want to enter, nor that they can't, but that they cannot enter!

Entering the Golden Core stage after the age of thirty is like a law engraved in the rules of Heaven.

Over the millennia, countless brilliant minds believed they could break this ironclad rule, but all perished under the calamity of heaven.

The power of the Heavenly Tribulation is vastly different between entering the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty and entering it after the age of thirty.

Master Tian Shu was naturally worried about his disciple. On the one hand, he hoped that his disciple could break this law, and on the other hand, he was afraid that his disciple would also perish.

This feeling made Master Tian Shu so anxious that he clenched his hands so tightly that he didn't even notice his nails digging into his flesh.

"Senior brother, don't worry, Yanqiu has succeeded."

Noticing her senior brother's nervousness, Xuanji Zhenren reassured him, saying that her senior brother was just too worried and hadn't noticed that Zhang Yanqiu was about to succeed in the Heavenly Tribulation.

After Xuanji Zhenren's reminder, Tian Shu Zhenren realized what was happening and immediately threw his head back and burst into laughter: "My Dragon Tiger Holy Land will surely prosper, will surely prosper! Hahahaha!"

Many high-ranking officials also showed joy on their faces. Regardless of any dirty secrets they might have had in the past, they were united at this moment.

Zhang Yanqiu broke the laws of heaven and successfully entered the Golden Core realm, which made everyone feel as if they were witnessing the arrival of a new era, which naturally brought them joy.

Not to mention that the genius who created this miracle was one of their own.

The tribulation lasted for about half an incense stick's time, which was neither short nor long. When the lightning subsided, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sunlight shone on Zhang Yanqiu.

At this moment, Zhang Yanqiu was so radiant.

He didn't linger. After passing the Golden Core Tribulation, he immediately disappeared and returned to his cave to continue his seclusion and stabilize his cultivation level.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, five days have passed since Zhang Yanqiu overcame the Golden Core Tribulation.

But the storm caused by this incident continues, with discussions not only taking place within the Dragon Tiger Holy Land but also throughout the entire cultivation world.

Zhang Yanqiu instantly became famous throughout the cultivation world.

For a time, he was incredibly popular and was hailed as the greatest genius of his time.

Yuzhu Peak, inside Yuzhao Cave.

Yu Zhao and Shen Yunshu were playing chess. As Shen Yunshu made her move, she chatted with Yu Zhao, "Sister, didn't you also expect that Zhang Yanqiu would reach the Golden Core stage before you?"

"I've got it. He has a profound foundation and a perfect base. All he lacked was that last bit of strength. It seems that his trip to the Fallen Demon Valley was very fruitful for him, and it just filled that gap."

Of all the geniuses Yu Zhao had ever met, aside from that overpowered little green tea, Zhang Yanqiu would rank third.

The second was her senior brother at Qingfeng Temple.

That person was truly exceptionally talented, but unfortunately, he died young.

Zhang Yanqiu was even better than him, and most importantly, Zhang Yanqiu had better luck.

Although the concept of destiny is mysterious and profound, Yu Zhao was certain that it existed.

Zhang Yanqiu was a genius with a perfect foundation. Coupled with good fortune, Yu Zhao would be surprised if he couldn't reach the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty.

"Then, sister, now that he's attracting the world's attention, shouldn't you also prepare to enter the Golden Core stage?"

As the person who knows Yu Zhao best, Shen Yunshu is well aware of her sister's abilities; reaching the Golden Core realm is a piece of cake for her.

"No rush."

Yu Zhao shook his head and gave a wry smile: "I didn't expect the cultivation world to make such a fuss about entering the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty. Zhang Yanqiu caused too much of a stir this time. If I were to enter the Golden Core stage at this time, the commotion would only be greater. It's too dangerous."

To others, such fame might seem like a good thing, but to Yu Zhao, it was as dangerous as lighting a torch in the dark.

She would never do such a thing. In fact, Yu Zhao planned to wait until more young prodigies had entered the Golden Core stage before she did, so that she wouldn't attract attention.

With so many outstanding talents, people get used to it and naturally stop paying much attention.

On the path of cultivation, it's meaningless to argue about who's the longest; only those who survive can be revered. It's all about who lives the longest.

Yu Zhao was very clear-headed about this.

"Little sister, don't let Zhang Yanqiu's success go to your head and make you blinded by her, trying to reach the Golden Core stage too. What we sisters need to do is hold on!"

Fearing that Shen Yunshu might lose her temper, Yu Zhao reminded her, "For you and me, there's not much difference between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core. Don't be greedy for momentary pleasure."

"Don't worry, sister, I know what I'm doing."

Shen Yunshu isn't stupid; how could she possibly covet this little bit of glory?

Her childhood experiences and her time at Qingfeng Temple taught her to hide, and it was best not to attract anyone's attention.

There's a reason why the two women could become such close friends. They are both very clear-headed. Yu Zhao knows how to pretend, and Shen Yunshu is good at hiding her true intentions and is also cunning. Neither of them has the impetuousness of youth, and they always plan three steps ahead for each action.

"Junior Sister Yu, is Junior Sister Shen here? Zhang Yanqiu has come to pay a visit!"

As the two women chatted, a voice transmission came from outside the house. Hearing this voice, the two women got up and went out of the room. Yu Zhaogou

After dismantling the isolation array set up by the Emperor's Banner, they headed towards the peak entrance to greet Zhang Yanqiu.

Yes, my Golden Core friend.